Obituaries
SPORTS
The Bloodhounds' named Homecoming Royalty Wednesday night. Kylie Lumino was named Homecoming Queen and Cal Hennings was honored at Homecoming King at festivities in Central Park as part of Homecoming Week in Fort Madison.

Hounds need to stop explosive plays

FORT MADISON – The parades are over the King and Queen have been crowned and now it’s time for the Bloodhound football team to get down to business. The Hounds (2-2) take on Keokuk at home Friday …

Central Lee boys win 1A/2A title at MP

MT. PLEASANT – Drake Newton is continuing a very strong freshman cross country season for Central Lee. The Hawk ran a 17:04.55 to take 3rd place just 4.5 seconds behind Mediapolis’ Will …
FORT MADISON - Adalyn Kruse wanted that kill to end the match. The first pass on match point in Holy Trinity’s sweep of Central Lee went to the right side, so Kruse had to set up again on the left …
WEST POINT – Andrew Swanson, of Machesney Park, Illinois was the winner of this weekend’s Broken Anvil Backyard Ultra race in West Point. Swanson ran a total of 129.17 miles just one lap ahead of …
LEE COUNTY NEWS

Area events slated for domestic violence month

LEE COUNTY - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month DVIP/RVAP invites the community to join them for a month of awareness and support for victim-survivors of domestic and dating violence. …

Governor calls for special session on steel plant incentives

DES MOINES— Governor Reynolds will convene the General Assembly of Iowa on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., for a special session with the sole and singular purpose of enacting amendments to …

President confirms Mesabi plans for Iowa

President Donald Trump announces a $15 billion steel manufacturing facility slated for southeast Iowa from the oval office Monday afternoon.

LEE COUNTY – President Donald Trump confirmed rumors of a possible steel mill facility in Lee County in a national address Monday afternoon. Trump told the nation that Mesabi Metallics has …

Madsen named Regional Teacher of the Year

MADSEN

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 …

Dots being connected on possible project in Lee County

LEE COUNTY – Some preliminary dots are starting to be connected in what may be pointing to a possible large-scale development planned for Lee County in the Green Bay bottoms. – is it capital B …

Wolgemuth adds greenhouse to bitcoin proposal

LEE COUNTY – The much-maligned developer of a proposed bit coin center has offered up a new way to possibly address the concerns Fort Madison residents have around the project. Dustin Wolgemuth …

District 2 candidates square off on county issues

LEE COUNTY – One of the most interesting local races that few are paying attention to is the District 2 Supervisors race between former Fort Madison city councilmen Chris Greenwald and Tom Schulz. …

110 run in 6th Broken Anvil

WEST POINT – Nic Chiri’s a little weird. And if that’s weird, there should be no normal. Chiri, the head wrestling coach at Fort Madison High School and director of maintenance for the …

For the Record - Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Fort Madison Police Report 09/28/26 - 8:00 AM - Fort Madison police responded to a report of a hit and run in the 1500 block of Avenue G. 09/28/26 - 12:28 PM - Fort Madison police responded to a …

For the Record - Monday, September 28, 2026

Fort Madison Police Report 09/25/26 - 11:01 AM - Fort Madison police cited Ginger Faye Grooms, 24, of Burlington in the 2000 block of Avenue B on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. …

For the Record - Friday, September 25, 2026

Fort Madison Police Report 09/24/26 - 6:50 AM - Fort Madison police responded to a report of larceny and theft in the 2400 block of Avenue J. 09/24/26 - 7:35 AM - Fort Madison police responded to a …

For the Record - Thursday, September 24, 2026

Fort Madison Police Report 09/23/26 - 1:09 AM - Fort Madison police responded to a report of vandalism in the 4600 block of Avenue J. 09/23/26 - 1:35 PM - Fort Madison police responded to a report of …

For the Record - Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Fort Madison Police Report 09/22/26 - 3:00 PM - Fort Madison police arrested Erica Ann Boudreau, 36, of Fort Madison at 18th Street and Avenue M on a charge of driving while barred. She was held in …

For the Record - Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Fort Madison Police Report 09/21/26 - 7:37 AM - Fort Madison police responded to a report of burglary in the 1100 block of 48th Street. 09/21/26 - 11:28 AM - Fort Madison police responded to a report …

Opinion

LWV president wants full debates

Dear Editor: A fundamental pillar of our democratic process is the expectation that those in office and those seeking public office must answer directly to the people they represent or wish to …

Law enforcement should also inform the public

The school field trip tragedy last week at Lake Macbride State Park again demonstrated the adage that a rumor can travel halfway around the globe while the truth is still putting on its shoes. …

Lots to think about for a project we're not supposed to think about

So, the absolute worst-kept secret in Lee County, is that a foreign metals company is looking at putting a very large steel production facility in Green Bay Bottoms south of Koch’s Iowa Fertilizer …
Education News
EDUCATION NEWS

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 …

Central Lee among schools in Choose Iowa program

DES MOINES - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that 125 Iowa public and private schools will receive funding through the Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program to purchase …
LATEST NEWS
FORT MADISON – The square footage that makes up the courts area at Victory Park could very well be cursed. The park with it’s almost brand new six-court pickleball facility is in deep with …
DES MOINES - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is …
In June 2026, Tumblers & Threads, a new women owned business sprouted on the corner of 9th Street, its exterior a black and white building with a charming pink and blue sign of their name with …
FORT MADISON – The Old Fort Madison Preservation effort kicked into full gear Friday night with a campaign kickoff to raise just over a million dollars in private donations to help restore the …
Norbert Wilfred Box, age 84, died at the home he built for his family on Thursday evening, September 24, 2026. There was always an open-door policy at the farm, and in the days leading up to his …
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
Chamber travel information session planned
FORT MADISON – Have you ever dreamed of standing beneath the Acropolis, exploring ancient ruins, wandering charming seaside villages, or watching the sun set over the Aegean Sea? The Fort Madison …
Farmers Savings Bank CEO Clayton Davis, far left, and bank officers Allyson Sanders, Carol Delaney, and Allyson Woolridge are looking forward to the opening of the bank's Fort Madison branch. Davis said the bank is slated to be ready before the end of the year.
Farmers Savings Bank sparks iconic building
FORT MADISON – When opportunities knock, you open the door. Or in the case of Farmers Savings Bank, you buy a building. The Wever-based bank is currently contracting with Schickedanz Construction …
FOECKE
Foecke named to New York Life executive board
BURLINGTON – Brian Foecke has been named a member of the 2026 Executive Council of New York Life. Members of the Executive Council are among the top 20 percent of New York Life’s elite sales …