Times-Register

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

Being an Iowa native is special, and living in Clayton County as a resident of Elkader since 2007, Jennifer Garms has made the most out of it. The current county auditor is seeking a second term this fall to build on a legacy of transparency and communication, and ensuring that residents are consciously aware of the issues and how those issues affect them. 

It’s a career path that began as deputy auditor in 2007, shortly after Garms’ arrival in Elkader. It has since stretched into the community, with stops as president of the Elkader Opera House Theater Board and co-chair of the Main Street Elkader Promotions Committee, to currently serving on the Elkader Library Board. 

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

An impassioned debate over street closures took place last week during a work session prior to the Elkader City Council, and there was no shortage of opinions and suggestions. At the heart of the debate is whether Elkader streets and alleys should be closed at all, regardless of the event, so the session was held to gather further public input, especially from businesses most affected by the closures. 

Main Street Elkader Executive Director Kate Lower presented several email comments, which expressed concern over the lack of communication and signage pertaining to street closures and when they will occur. 

Friends of Yellow River State Forest is exploring the possibility of restoring Iowa’s first and only fire tower and making it accessible to the public. To that end, a volunteer with the Friends group, Vicky Peterson, is working with Jennifer Price of Price Preservation Research, a historic preservation consultant, and the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office to get the fire tower listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

The Central volleyball team had a tough past week, dropping two matches in straight sets. 

On Sept. 29, the Warriors took on MFL MarMac, losing 25-15, 28-26 and 26-24. While the match was competitive, and the Warriors actually outperformed the Bulldogs in certain statistical categories such as serve efficiency, serve aces and blocks, they could not overcome a disparity in kills and kill errors.