Obituaries
SPORTS

Lady Hounds push No. 2 Assumption

DAVENPORT — Kelly Knustrom tried to fight off the emotion as she talked about her team, but it was a difficult battle at times. Fort Madison’s volleyball season ended with a three-set loss to No. …
Central Lee junior Aubree Bunnell finishes the chute Thursday at the IGHSAU girls' Class 2A state qualifier cross-country meet in Iowa City. Bunnell ran a 20:25.4 for a fifth-place finish and return trip to next weekend's state meet in Fort Dodge.

Newton, Bunnell advance to state meet Friday

IOWA CITY – Aubree Bunnell collapsed into the hands of a family member and was pulled from the finish line under the roping to get her out of the way of other finishers Thursday afternoon in Iowa …
FORT MADISON - The first point of Holy Trinity’s volleyball postseason came on a kill from freshman Kate Pieper. The third point belonged to Brynn Denning, another freshman. The Crusaders’ …
WASHINGTON – A couple slices of peanut butter toast and a turkey, cream cheese, and pickle wrap was all Hunter Wiegand needed to get to his second straight state cross-country meet. The senior ran …
LEE COUNTY NEWS

 
Lee County News

Early voting heavy in Lee County

LEE COUNTY – With less than five days remaining before the general election, Lee County officials are seeing high numbers of absentee and early voting numbers. In 2021 Governor Kim Reynolds signed …

For the Record

For the Record - Monday, November 2, 2026

Fort Madison Police Report 10/30/26 - 7:15 PM - Fort Madison police responded to a no injury accident in the 5700 block of Avenue O. 10/31/26 - 12:49 AM - Fort Madison police arrested Myrissa Jean …

Opinion

Swarmhenge now at Empty Nest

Caden Hinkle did it again—he created another yard sculpture out of RR ties.  The first one was a raised-garden bed.  I had him notch the ties so they fit together like Lincoln Logs.  …

The parking lot test -- and the steel mill exception

There is a simple way to assess how much Iowa governments think ordinary citizens deserve to know, and engage in the debate, when officials have an initiative they are eager to undertake. Call …

Keokuk reader endorses democrats on Tuesday

Dear Editor: As a former city council member, I know firsthand how difficult it is to maintain a budget in rural Iowa, especially with a declining population and a state government that continues to …
Education News
CENTRAL LEE SCHOOL
MADSEN

Madsen named Regional Teacher of the Year

LEE COUNTY - The Iowa Department of Education today announced nine teachers from across the state have been selected as the 2027 Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year, following the inaugural 2025 …

HTC gets state support of early child program

FORT MADISON - The Iowa Department of Education recently approved 10 community-based providers to deliver services to young learners and their families through the Statewide Voluntary Preschool …

Solar panel work complete at high school

FORT MADISON – At the Fort Madison School District board meeting Wednesday last night, Director of Maintenance Nic Chiri said in his presentation several summer projects for the district have been …
LATEST NEWS
For the past four months, we’ve been trapped in a zeitgeist that all comes to an end on Wednesday – for a little while, anyway. Our mailboxes have been filled on a daily basis with flyers from …
Alyce C. Lair, 87, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away at 10:15 PM on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on March 25, 1939 in Nebraska to John “Jack” and …
FORT MADISON - November’s exhibition at Fort Madison Area Arts Association at 825 Avenue G, generously sponsored by Bartlett Instruments, explores the legacy of a mother’s influence on her family …
FORT MADISON – The Meller Family Health Center got a drop -in from Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-1) and USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Glen Smith Tuesday afternoon. …
FORT MADISON – A fertilizer leak on Ortho Road Monday required intervention from the Lee County Hazardous Materials team and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. According to a release from …
Health News
Lee County Health Department Administrator Michele Ross talks with visitors of the department's Kids' Health & Safety Fair at the Meller Family Health Center Thursday evening.
Kids' Health Fair more than health fare
FORT MADISON – The Lee County Health Department showed off just a little bit Thursday afternoon at the Meller Family Health Center. LCHD staff and volunteers held the third-ever Kids’ Health …
Great River Health gets CMS notice
WEST BURLINGTON - Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Centers released information Wednesday about a broken link that led to a formal notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requiring …
Kaitlin Krueger, of Counseling Associates, signs a declaration of participation at Wednesday morning's Thrive Iowa launch at Quality Inn & Suites in Fort Madison.
Restore Hope helps kick off Thrive Iowa
LEE COUNTY – The Thrive Iowa effort is officially underway. After rolling out the basics of the program in February, a new grant-funded initiative to help those struggling to gain a foothold on …
Business News
The former KL Megla building, current home to Lee County Economic Development Group and several tenants will be put up for sale following a meeting today of the Southeast Iowa Regional and Economic Port Authority board. LCEDG will be moving into the former Dollar General store across the highway.
LCEDG and SIREPA agree to sell Montrose center
MONTROSE – The building that currently houses the Lee County Economic Development Group will be for sale in the near future. And LCEDG operations are likely to move across Hwy. 61 into the former …
Dept. of Energy official to visit Denmark Thursday
DENMARK – Staff from the U.S. Department of Energy will be in southeast Iowa on Thursday to review project sites and talk about the area’s utility and grid resilience projects. The event will …
CenturyLink to end landlines this month
LEE COUNTY – Per a spokesperson with CenturyLink (Lumens Technologies) the communication provider notified Iowa customers that they will be ending landline service on Oct. 18. The company sent …