Kathy Peterson of Alta, has been elected chair of the Iowa State University Alumni Association Board of Directors. Peterson is a 1995 Iowa State University graduate in speech communication and a life member of the Alumni Association. Professionally, Peterson brings a strong background in human resources and talent development to the ISUAA Board. ...

Local 4-H members did not sit idle during the worst of the pandemic. Their creativity did not wane, nor did their dedication and discipline for their animals and projects. They worked hard toward the BV County Fair, not even knowing if it would happen. But the fair did go on in July, and they were thankful to show their hard work and be with their 4-H friends again...

About 50 motorcycles with more than 60 riders took to the road for the fundraiser event, “Power Solutions 4th Annual Ride for a Cause,” on July 25th. The caravan made seven stops between Alta and Spencer and waved to an 8-year-old Makenzie Connor in Spencer who is battling leukemia. Her parents are TJ Connor and Heather Marchand...

Reghan Harms was among 225 graduates to receive bachelor’s degrees at Northwestern College during commencement ceremonies Saturday, July 18. Twenty-four students received Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, while the rest of the graduating seniors were granted Bachelor of Arts degrees...

Ready Set GROW learning center’s summer care program children enjoyed a splashtacular afternoon at the Alta pool recently. / RSG photo

As of now, the Alta-Aurelia School District is moving forward with the “Enhanced Traditional Plan” and hopes to have students back in the classroom in August. Below is an excerpt from the Superintendent’s July 15th letter. “Enhanced Traditional Plan” - We would continue school as normal with enhanced safety precautions in place such as increased hand sanitizer availability, increased frequency of cleaning of high touch areas, limited visitation to campuses, etc., in order to possibly prevent the transition to a hybrid or full distance learning option. ...

Alta-Aurelia schools are preparing for numerous COVID-19 adjustments when schools reopen on August 24th. The district plans to reopen with an enhanced traditional learning scenario, with students in the classroom. Sonia Galvin, Alta-Aurelia District School Nurse, updated the school board at the July 20th meeting on the district’s Health Services COVID-19...

When Alta-Aurelia schools potentially reopen in August, a nurse will always be available. The school district is stepping up efforts on several fronts due to COVID-19, and one effort is to increase the nursing staff from 1 1/2 to 2. A full-time nurse will work in both Alta and Aurelia for the 2020-21 school year...

Join us for a bridal shower in celebration of Sarah McMichael, bride of Alex Larson, on Saturday, August 8 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at the Shelter House in Alta. We will respect social distancing and celebrate outdoors, weather permitting. Please bring your favorite recipe for entertaining to share with Sarah. Sarah is the daughter of Glenn and McMichael of Nashua...

If you’re looking to see a large collection of historical antiques, from a musket dating back to the Civil War, to a wedding dress from 1899, the Aurelia Heritage Center has what your looking for. The building we see now went through a number of different changes. In 1937, the building was bought by Arthur Larson from William Honsbruch and was used as a garage and filling station. Larson then took on the dealership for DeSoto and Plymouth, altering the building to make a large display room...

Upper Iowa University is pleased to announce Hillary Friedrich of Alta, IA, graduated in May with a Master of Business Administration degree in Human Resources Managment Emphasis.

The 2020 Buena Vista County Fair royalty was crowned on July 9th at the fairgrounds in Alta. Queen is Beauna Thammathai and King is Nate Stark. Beth Greenfield was named both first runner-up and Miss Congeniality in the queen category. Annabelle Christensen was named Little Miss and Levi Lindgren Little Mister...

Buffalo Ridge Cafe is strikingly noticeable along Hwy. 7 in Alta, having been constructed from the original train depot and an old train car made into a unique seating space. Like many restaurants, it has been temporarily closed for months as a result of the pandemic...

Dear Parents, First, let me thank you for your support and understanding as we, as a nation and community, responded to the unexpected invasion of COVID-19 in March. I am very proud of the way our Alta-Aurelia School District students, parents, employees, and community leaders handled the demands we were faced with to protect everyone as we continued to educate and feed our students during the most unusual of circumstances. ...

When people between Alta and Spencer hear the commotion of a caravan consisting of anything on wheels on July 25th, know it is for a good cause. The “Power Solutions 4th Annual Ride for a Cause” will make it a special day for 8-year-old Makenzie Connor of Spencer who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to her family...

After some uncertainty, the Northwest Iowa Bulldogs are scheduled to start their season this Saturday, July 18th at Valor Field in Aurelia. The Bulldogs will take on the Western Dakota War Eagles. Both teams are new to the UCFL (United Championship Football League) and look to start the season with a win...

Alta’s Shelter House fireplace and chimney have not been functional for years, but the city’s park board says the chimney in particular is in need of repair. The matter was discussed at the July 6th Alta City Council meeting. The Shelter House is available for rent from May through October for events...

The Buena Vista County 4-H Special Sheep participants celebrated the Fourth of July exhibiting sheep at the Corderman Farm. Over the past 15 years, Rusty and Karen Corderman have led the Special Sheep Program mentoring a grand total of 128 youth. Youth participants learn about sheep and practice showing the livestock. ...

It was a collective effort recently to keep the softball field ready during the Alta-Aurelia tournament. /Photos by Crain Shultz

Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta is reorganizing how they meet the needs of their church family in the age of COVID-19. Programs and worship services are accessible online, and outdoor services are the norm. “No one is anxious to move inside,” Senior Pastor Doug Corlew said. They are taking it a week at a time...

Pam Henderson, co-president of the Alta Community Chamber, said that to her knowledge, businesses in Alta that had closed due to COVID-19 have reopened with the exception of two restaurants. The pandemic has brought both pros and cons to area businesses, and Kathy Peterson, President of PeopleWorks, Inc., sees the glass half full. Her company specializes in leadership training and development and is also a venue for meetings and parties...

Aurelia Police Department recently issued a reminder on the local ireworks ordinance. The use of consumer fireworks will be enforced as follows: • It is unlawful for any person to use or explode consumer fireworks at times other than between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on July 4th and Fridays and Saturdays falling between the dates of June 28th and July 6th (also on December 31)...

AgriGold is pleased to introduce Jason Hinkeldey of Alta, Iowa, as the newest member of the brand’s 2020 Sales Intern Program. Hinkeldey will be working closely with his local AgriGold Key Account Specialists, Trevor Schnuckel and Jon Foell, sharing the AgriGold story and growing brand awareness. Hinkeldey is currently a student at Iowa State University...

The Alta pool reopened June 15th for swim lessons and will fully open to the public July 1st. The two parks and playgrounds have also reopened. “We have made adjustments to the operations of the pool,” Heidi Reetz, chairperson of the Alta Park Board, said. “We have stepped up disinfecting and cleaning of things.” Another change is that the diving boards will not be open and chairs will not be provided. People can bring their own chairs...

The Alta library is currently closed to the public entering the library due to COVID-19, but pick-up service for patrons is available. The staff continues to work, providing services in a completely different way than before. They also took extra time this week to distribute library activity packs to families during the free lunch distribution. The packs contain supplies for kids to work on projects and activities...

In a special meeting Tuesday, the Alta council discussed regulating residential pools in the city, eventually voting 3-2 to allow waivers for the summer of 2020, as the city works toward updating the code before next spring. Currently, city code requires six feet fences around pools for safety, but officials admit the regulation is vaguely worded. Also, reportedly, a former code enforcement officer had told some residents they could put up pools without the fencing...

Superintendent William Walters discussed reopening of schools in the fall at the June 8th Alta-Aurelia School Board meeting via livestream. He spoke about the Iowa Department of Education’s “Return to Learn” initiative which provides guidance and information in response to COVID-19...

What started out as a negative Facebook page to members of the Alta community, has turned into the Alta community fighting back with kindness and love. In a time of “We are all in this together” with our COVID pandemic, a time of coming together with the Black Lives Matter movement, and loving thy neighbor in our small town communities, some still find it assumingly fulfilling to tear down others. ...

Bill and Barb Fulcher of Alta will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 13th. They were married June 13, 1970 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ames, Iowa with Father Melvin Hemann officiating. The couple has four children - Kristen (David) Heupel, Jefferson, Iowa; Bret (Kristel) Fulcher, Leawood, Kansas; Curt Fulcher (fiancée, Dain Finney), Overland Park, Kansas; and Andrea (Michael) Huelsing, Highlands Ranch, Colorado and 10 grandchildren. ...

U.S. Cellular continues to invest in its fast, high-quality network with a new cell site along 550th Street on the northwest side of Aurelia. The site enhances U.S. Cellular’s network in Aurelia and along Iowa Highway 7 and U.S. Highway 59. It is among more than 920 sites U.S. Cellular has across the state...

The following students were recognized for high achievement at the May 23rd Alta-Aurelia High School graduation. Valedictorians and salutatorians are not designated. Instead, students who have maintained a grade point average of 4.0 and 3.5 and above are recognized...

The Aurelia teachers are wishing all Warriors a safe and enjoyable summer in this unique project. The annual “checkout photograph” had to get a remix this year with some artistic help. It went out over social media with the teachers’ message: “We will miss you. See you in the fall!”...

Julie Hahn of United Bank of Iowa spoke at the June 1st Alta City Council meeting about the bank having entered into a purchase agreement for the old quilt shop building on Main Street. “Our plan is to remove the structure and construct a drive-through that will run along the south side of the main building and exit into the street,” she said. It would require a sidewalk elevation change to make the exit to the street, and she asked council members to consider the proposal...

At the June 1st Alta City Council meeting, the council accepted the resignation of Randy Sievers, Alta Code Enforcement Officer, who held the position since March. “He was hired at a bad time with this COVID-19. He couldn’t do his job as far as inspecting buildings which was a big part of it,” Mayor Kevin Walsh said...

Students recounted their experiences through the years and the unusual senior year they were dealt as they gave speeches at the Alta-Aurelia High School class of 2020 commencement. The ceremony took place on May 23rd in a different sort of way. The 50 graduates were seated on the football field, spaced apart, wearing masks as their friends and families watched from a distance outside the fence line...

Scott Mitchell will take over as the new principal at Alta-Aurelia High School and is looking forward to the 2020-21 academic year ahead. Principal Tom Ryherd, with the school district for 14 years, is approaching retirement. “Working with students to help them achieve their goals” is what Mitchell appreciates most about working in education...

The ICR Future Career and College Fair is being held Sunday, May 31 from 1-3 pm, featuring more than 70 colleges, universities, and career resources from across Iowa and the nation, enabling high school students to engage with experts and explore future opportunities...

The Alta-Aurelia High School commencement is scheduled for this Saturday, May 23rd at 2 p.m. at the Alta football field. The event had to be rescheduled from last weekend due to weather.

The Buena Vista County Fair hosted a unique fundraiser event May 16 - a drive in movie projected on the back of the fairgrounds grandstand in Alta. The turnout for the showing of Toy Story 4 was so good that the fair board hopes to do another such event...

One routine that Alta city councilman Tom Lane has always kept is gardening and sharing his vegetables with the community. Now is no exception; in fact, he has recently increased the pace, knowing some residents have an inadequate food supply due to the pandemic and job loss. He makes food deliveries at least weekly and last week provided food to about 170 families in and around Alta...

Alta-Aurelia School District is slated to receive financial relief funding through the federal CARES Act this month. The district is expected to receive about $77,500. Iowa received $71.6 million in elementary and secondary School Emergency relief. $64.4 million was earmarked for Iowa school districts for mitigating the impact of COVID-19...

Mason Barnes, 8th Grader at Alta-Aurelia, finished 3rd in season rodeo Saddle Bronc Steer Riding, 8th in Breakaway Roping, 12th in Goat Tying, and 18th in the All-Around for the year in the state of Iowa. Mason qualified for the National JH Rodeo Finals in Saddle Bronc Steer Riding. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 virus, the JH National Rodeo scheduled to be in Iowa this summer has been canceled...

Quarantine hasn’t kept the Alta-Aurelia community from expressing its “Kindness Counts” mantra. / Composite courtesy AA Schools

United Bank of Iowa - Alexa Fredericksen and Diogo Sliefert Bernie Saggau Award - Alexa Fredericksen Jim and Pat Wall Legacy Scholarship - Jair Lopez First Cooperative Association Scholarship - Matthew Arnts and Alexa Fredericksen GFWC Aurelia Scholarship - Sarah Sundene...

Alta - Aurelia High School Principal Tom Ryherd detailed plans for the Sunday, May 17th high school commencement, speaking to board members at the May 11th Alta-Aurelia School Board meeting which was livestreamed. The graduation will take place on the original date at 2 p.m. on the football field in Alta, weather permitting...

Sirens and flashing lights from Alta fire trucks through city streets is a common occurrence during the pandemic, and is not done because of emergencies but to brighten the lives of children on their birthdays. The Alta Fire Department is once again going above and beyond. When they hear of kids’ birthdays, they know it is time for a surprising drive-by, complete with sirens and flashing lights...

The Alta VFW has cancelled the Memorial Day Program on May 20, due to the COVID-19 virus. The new flags will be dedicated at the 2021 ceremony. Weather permitting, some of the flags may be displayed outside the school building in Alta. The VFW asks everyone to remember all our veterans past and present...

End of school year details have occurred over the past few weeks in the Alta-Aurelia School District. The school year officially ends May 22nd, although schools were closed in March due to COVID-19. Principals discussed the improvised end-of-year procedures at the May 11th school board meeting which was available by livestream...