Daily Freeman-Journal, Webster City, IA

14/09/2026

STRATFORD -- They are the unsung heroes of every community. Across rural Iowa, where small towns are like islands in a massive sea of corn and soybeans, where the roads stretch out long and hard from any hospital or emergency room, volunteer fire and rescue departments are a life-line for local residents. They answer the call in the midst of summer floods and winter storms, often responding to help people they have known all their lives.

So, when a volunteer fire department grieves for one of its own, an entire community grieves with it. Such is the case this week in Stratford and surrounding communities with the sudden death of Assistant Fire Chief Grant Carlson.

STRATFORD — They are the unsung heroes of every community. Across rural Iowa, where small towns are like islands in a massive sea of corn and soybeans, where the roads stretch out long and hard from any hospital or emergency room, volunteer fire and rescue departments are a life-line for local res...

14/09/2026

Webster City remembers 9/11:

On Friday, two commemorative exercises were held in Webster City to mark 25 years since four airliners were commandeered on September 11, 2001 and flown into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and another target which was thought to be the U.S. Capitol or White House. Public officials, firefighters, a...

14/09/2026

STRATFORD -- Every time Grant Carlson responded to a call for the Stratford Fire and Rescue Department, he was carrying on a family tradition. Sixty-four years ago to the month, the Stratford community mourned the death of Carlson's grandfather, Carl Harold Larson.

Like Carlson, Larson was a long-time chief for the Stratford volunteers. On Sept. 21, 1962, he responded to a fire in a pile of lumber at the co-op elevator. The fire had been almost entirely put out when Larson collapsed, according to news reports at the time. Fellow firefighters began immediate life-saving measures, but he was not to be brought back. The Hamilton County medical examiner ruled that it was likely a sudden heart attack.

STRATFORD — Every time Grant Carlson responded to a call for the Stratford Fire and Rescue Department, he was carrying on a family tradition. Sixty-four years ago to the month, the Stratford community mourned the death of Carlson’s grandfather, Carl Harold Larson. Like Carlson, Larson was a long...

14/09/2026

The Webster City girls tennis team earned a 9-0 victory over Hampton-Dumont/CAL here last Thursday.

The Lynx got singles wins from Natalie Segar, Gabbie Sebert, Chloe Bakken, Abby Heckert, Olivia Bergman and Hayee Ades. All six scored straight-set triumphs.

Ades did not drop a game in her singles match, nor in doubles with Ava Otteros.

The Webster City girls tennis team earned a 9-0 victory over Hampton-Dumont/CAL here last Thursday. The Lynx got singles wins from Natalie Segar, Gabbie Sebert, Chloe Bakken, Abby Heckert, Olivia Bergman and Hayee Ades. All six scored straight-set triumphs. Ades did not drop a game in her singles ma...

14/09/2026

The Webster City football team was unable to get in the win column this past Friday night, falling to perennial power Clear Lake in their 2026 home opener by a final of 70-14.

Kaleb Hansen ran for 54 yards and a touchdown, and Alex Staley hit Grant Arends for a 24-yard score. Arends also had a sack and forced a fumble that he recovered on defense for the Lynx (0-3 overall).

The Webster City football team was unable to get in the win column this past Friday night, falling to perennial power Clear Lake in their 2026 home opener by a final of 70-14. Kaleb Hansen ran for 54 yards and a touchdown, and Alex Staley hit Grant Arends for a 24-yard score. Arends also had […]

14/09/2026

JEWELL – The South Hamilton football team couldn’t slow Southeast Valley on Friday, falling 54-0.

The Jaguars raced out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring four more touchdowns in the second to lead by 48 at the intermission.

JEWELL – The South Hamilton football team couldn’t slow Southeast Valley on Friday, falling 54-0. The Jaguars raced out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring four more touchdowns in the second to lead by 48 at the intermission. For the Hawks (1-2 overall), Wyatt Gelder ran for 91 yards on...

14/09/2026

The Women's club meeting has been moved back to the Jane Young House today due to rainy weather. Still at 12:30 p.m.

11/09/2026

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) approved $39.84 million in workforce housing tax credits statewide on Tuesday, confirming the funds will support up to 2,093 new housing units in Iowa in fiscal year 2027. Two new housing projects in Webster City were awarded the highly-sought after tax credits; a 109-unit rental apartment community on west Wall Street, and three single family homes in Brewer Creek Estates. The tax credit awards are announced each year in September.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) approved $39.84 million in workforce housing tax credits statewide on Tuesday, confirming the funds will support up to 2,093 new housing units in Iowa in fiscal year 2027. Two new housing projects in Webster City were awarded the highly-sought after tax...

11/09/2026

Editors note: The following is a first-hand account from Trena Madison, a cousin of Alan Yungclas of Webster City and Leah Maass of Ellsworth. Trena was living in New York on September 11, 2001. Trena is a descendant of Trena Thorson Madison, whose sister, Talitha Thorson, was the grandmother of the Webster City Yungclas family. Al's father, Bruce Yungclas and Phyllis Thorson (Madison) were close, and their families spent a lot of time together in the Webster City area. Today, Trena lives in Minneapolis, moving from New York about a decade ago. She shared this account of her experience that day with Al, who has shared it with the Daily Freeman Journal.

Being there… Editors note: The following is a first-hand account from Trena Madison, a cousin of Alan Yungclas of Webster City and Leah Maass of Ellsworth. Trena was living in New York on September 11, 2001. Trena is a descendant of Trena Thorson Madison, whose sister Talitha Thorson, who was the ...

11/09/2026

25 years ago, schools, businesses, governmental agencies and transportation across our country came to a sudden stop, as the shock of an attack on the United States became apparent. Planes full of innocent people were used as missiles to inflict unspeakable terror on our country.

Everyone was impacted, somehow. A few memories of that day have been shared by those who lived here in Webster City. It was hard to carry on, business was not normal that day. And looking back is hard. For those who contributed their memories, our thanks.

25 years ago, schools, businesses, governmental agencies and transportation across our country came to a sudden stop, as the shock of an attack on the United States became apparent. Planes full of innocent people were used as missiles to inflict unspeakable terror on our country. Everyone was impact...