Butler County Tribune-Journal

10/07/2025

Get into the Halloween spirit by joining Heery Woods for their Annual Halloween Hike Tuesday, Oct. 21st.

This year’s theme, Nature’s Superheroes, features a candle-lit trail where participants meet BAT-man, SPIDER-man, ANT-man, The WASP and Wolverine, and learn how these animals inspired comic book heroes. The non-scary, educational hikes are free and open to all ages, with refreshments served afterward in the lodge.

Hike times begin at 6:00, 6:15, 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. Pre-registration is encouraged by calling 319-346-6551 or emailing [email protected].

10/06/2025

📅 Mark your calendars!
We’re excited to welcome families to our North Butler Open Houses regarding the upcoming PPEL vote!
Come meet our team and committee members, tour the classrooms, and learn more about what the Physical Plant & Equipment Levy can do for our school!

We can’t wait to see you!

10/06/2025

Don’t Forget….this week’s Monday Fun Day is Mad Hatter Day!! 🎩 It will be a day of silliness! Kids of all ages can join us in the morning for stories & silly hat making, and the afternoon is for the upper elementary-age kids with an interactive movie! 👒

10/05/2025

This may be your last chance to enjoy the Shellrock before the temperature drops!

Join the Butler County Conservation Board for the Fall River Paddle next Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at 9 a.m. Participants will enjoy a scenic nine-mile trip along the Shell Rock River, beginning near Heery Woods Park and ending at Shell Rock Park (weather permitting).

Kayaks, paddles, and PFDs will be available for those who need them, but space is limited and registration is required by calling 319-346-6551. Paddlers are responsible for their own carpooling.

10/03/2025

Congratulations to our 2025 Homecoming Court!
Queen Candidates: Marlee Kelm, Shaynah Ledtje, Madeline Meyer, Sydney Lovrien, Hannah Wangsness and Paige Kampman
King Candidates: Dawson Barnett, Camden Behrends, Kale Bohr, Westen Jensen, Swarnam Bista, and Kaiven Kielman

More Homecoming Information to come!

10/03/2025

Vote on North Butler School Levy Returns to Ballot
By Jensen Johnston

The North Butler Schools District will once again ask voters this November to approve a Voter-Approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (VPPEL), a measure that could generate roughly $400,000 annually for facility and technology needs.

Superintendent Bryan Boysen said the levy is critical for addressing high-cost repairs and long-term maintenance at the district’s two campuses in Allison and Greene. “This is money that can only be spent on physical needs, grounds, buildings, infrastructure, technology. It can’t be spent on salaries or other items,” Boysen said. “We need to make sure these buildings are up to code, safe and secure for our students.”

The proposed levy would be set at the maximum $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation and could be approved for up to 10 years. If passed, the funds would be used for projects including roof repairs, elementary bathroom upgrades, secure entry improvements, and classroom updates.

Last spring, North Butler sought the same levy but voters rejected it. Boysen said the district has since increased efforts to inform the community through mailers, local media, open houses, and public meetings. “We didn’t do as good a job letting the community know what it is last time,” Boysen said. “This time we’re working to be as transparent as possible so voters understand exactly what they’re being asked to support.”

Across Iowa, VPPELs are common. As of Fiscal Year 2022, about 83% of school districts, 272 in total, had voter-approved levies in place, generating roughly $201.1 million statewide. Among them are Clarksville and Waverly-Shellrock School districts. Large districts such as Cedar Rapids and Des Moines have long relied on VPPEL funds for facility improvements, technology upgrades, and vehicle purchases.

Boysen said North Butler hopes to follow suit. “Investing now saves in the long run, and we’re investing in our most valuable resource: the students,” he said.

Voters within the district will see the VPPEL on the ballot in November. To learn more or calculate your tax contribution visit: https://www.northbutler.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/District%7CVPPEL%20Levy%20Information

10/02/2025

Clarksville Popcorn Stand Wraps Up Season with Community Spirit and Tradition
By Jensen Johnston

The last bags of buttery popcorn were sold last Sunday, marking the end of another successful season for Clarksville Popcorn Stand. With only 10 pounds left, volunteers worked nonstop to keep up with the steady line of customers eager for one final taste.

The stand, a Clarksville tradition since 1930, was originally founded by Cecil and Lulu Lowe as part of Grapp’s store. Over the decades, it has changed hands several times, from the Lowe family to sisters Arlene Klunder and Gladys Stobbe, then to the Kelm family, before the Clarksville Volunteer Fire Department took over operations in 2008. Since 2020, it has been managed as a community effort, staffed by three committee members and more than 15 volunteers.
Each summer, the stand operates from late May through Labor Day or until the kernels run out. The committee purchased 1,000 pounds of popcorn at the start of the season, which quickly disappeared as customers from across the area flocked downtown. Prices remain affordable, with small bags costing as little as 25 cents and large bags $2.50, though most visitors take home several at a time.

For many, the connection to the stand is personal. Committee member Jeff Kolb is related to former owners Arlene Klunder and Gladys Stobbe, while one guest this season recalled her family ties to founders Cecil and Lulu Lowe. Others make the trek from surrounding towns, including Waterloo, Waverly, and Denver, to stop by every weekend.

All proceeds are reinvested back into Clarksville. In 2024, seven projects benefited from the stand’s roughly $4,000 in annual donations, including improvements for the Clarksville Amvets Community Center, the Open Door Youth Center, the Clarksville Food Pantry, and Butler County Conservation’s Nature Center. Similar totals are expected from this year’s sales.

As the final bag was sold, the popcorn stand once again proved itself more than a concession stand, it remains one of Iowa’s few surviving popcorn stands and a symbol of community, tradition, and small-town pride.

Photography by Jensen Johnston.

10/01/2025

UPDATE: Pre-K photos have been added.

North Butler Schools Elementary launched its first-ever Student of the Month program last Friday, recognizing students who demonstrate positive character traits throughout the school year. Each month, a different virtue will be selected as the theme, with September focused on respect.

During the first ceremony of the year, students from preschool through sixth grade were honored for the ways they show respect in their classrooms and around the school. Each received a medal and certificate. The program also included a skit from fifth- and sixth-grade student council members Brecklyn Junker, Finn Pitzenberger, and Teddy Shook, who introduced October’s theme of kindness.

The September honorees were:

Preschool: Henry Jacobs and Emma Landers
Kindergarten: Andi Allen and Boe Frerichs
First Grade: Grayson Landers and Kasen Bluhm
Second Grade: Myles Rademaker and Sage Frerichs
Third Grade: Weston Martzahn and Blaise Miller
Fourth Grade: Kinnley Bluhm and Lance Wubbena
Fifth Grade: Lila Barnett and Sienna Kluiter
Sixth Grade: Dakota Burkholder and Hunter Vanlangen
Teachers praised the honorees for their consistent kindness, willingness to help others, and the respect they show toward classmates, teachers, and school materials. The program will continue throughout the school year, with October highlighting kindness as the next virtue.

Photography by Megan Brouwer.

10/01/2025

Last week, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office received several reports of “check washing,” a fraud scheme where mailed checks are stolen, altered, and cashed in other states. Most of the cases involve Discover Card payments, though authorities say this is part of a larger nationwide problem rather than a local targeting.

Residents are encouraged to monitor their accounts, confirm that checks are cashed by the intended recipient, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. Federal postal investigators are currently handling the case.

Read more in next weeks edition.

10/01/2025

October is National Principals Month, and we want to take a moment to thank our incredible Principals for the leadership, dedication, and compassion they bring to our schools every day!

10/01/2025