News

City to collect more taxes with proposed four-mill decrease

While the City of Holton’s property tax levy for its 2024 budget will drop by more than four mills, the city will collect $55,856 more in local taxes for the year, the Holton City Commission learned on Monday. The city’s new assessed valuation has been set at $27,931,587, which is up $2,853,886...

Pride of Hoyt Days set for this weekend

This year’s Pride of Hoyt Days activities, set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 18-20 in Hoyt City Park, will feature several of the annual event’s familiar activities, such as a parade, games and craft and food vendors, it has been reported. But this year’s event will also feature the “Hoyt...

Revenue Neutral Rate tax statements mailed

The Jackson County Clerk’s Office mailed 10,894 revenue neutral tax rate notices to county property owners last week, according to Jackson County Clerk Kristie Richter. These notices are not a bill but a notice of each government entities’ intent (or non-intent) to exceed the revenue neutral rate...

Online reservations available for camping spots at Banner

Reservations for camping spots at Banner Creek Reservoir are now being taken through Campspot, an online reservation system. Kurt Zibell, Banner Creek Reservoir director, said the new online system launched in early July to help streamline the reservation process at the lake, located west of Holton...

Hammersmith Manufacturing president and CEO Ed Hammersmith recently checked brush cutters and tree saws waiting to be shipped out from the company’s Holton facility. The implements are part of Hammersmith’s Vail Products line, the majority of which is manufactured at the Holton facility. (Photo by Brian Sanders)

Hammersmith finds success with Vail line made in Holton

Seventeen years ago, Horton-based Hammersmith Manufacturing expanded into Holton to take over the recently-vacated Alamo Group facility at 10th Street and Vermont Avenue, more than doubling the available space for the company’s production lines of heavy-duty construction equipment. Today, the...

Lightning strike apparent cause of house fire near Circleville

An early Monday structure fire at a residence east of Circleville was apparently caused by a lightning strike and rendered the residence a total loss, it has been reported. Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse and Holton Fire Chief Scott Baum both reported that firefighters from area departments and...

Keep an eye out for invasive teasel weed

Jackson County officials are asking residents to keep an eye out for teasel, an invasive plant that can get out of control quickly. “Teasel is a very invasive plant that will take over your fields and roadsides,” said Scott Kieffaber, public works director. “If you happen to see it in Jackson...

Garrett Larson, Rossville High School art teacher, is shown above standing in front of a new mural he is painting on the west side of the former Delia school building. The mural depicts a scene from a Prairie Band Potawatomi powwow.

New mural, sculpture being added in Delia

It’s a warm Saturday morning in the southwest Jackson County community of Delia, where a UTV is busy dragging the ball field near the former Delia school for weeds and the occasional train whistle punctuates the quiet. It’s also a good day to install a steel sculpture on the south outer wall of the...

Cruise Night is Friday

On Friday, Aug. 4, owners of classic cars and trucks are invited to head over to Holton’s Town Square for a cruise and a free barbecued pork sandwich dinner. It’s the annual “Cruise Night” and GNBank annual community appreciation dinner, with cruisers invited to show up on the Square starting at 5...

Child care task force forms here

For many Jackson County parents, finding affordable and reliable daycare options for their younger children is no easy task — a matter that’s prompted a group of county residents to form the Jackson County Early Childhood Development Task Force. The volunteer group that formed in late February, now...