Twenty-two Wilton JH/HS choir students participated in the River Valley Conference Honor Choir, hosted in Wilton on Oct. 2. Guest conductors Jesse Bunge from Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School directed the seventh and eighth grade choir, and Tim McMillin from the Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble and Simpson College directed the high school choir. It was a great day of making music, ending with an awesome concert! more

Dean Hugo Arp, age 84, of Tipton, formerly of Walcott, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.  A private family funeral service will be held in New Liberty. A private family burial will take place in Rochester Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Rochester Cemetery in Dean’s memory.  Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com. more

Caroline Josephine “Carol” Smith, 90, of Durant, passed away Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, at the Wilton Retirement Community in Wilton. Visitation was held on Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bentley Funeral Home in Wilton.  Funeral services were held on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.  at Grace United Church of Christ in Wilton, with Pastor Patrick Slessor officiating.  Burial took place in Durant Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Church of Christ.  Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com. more

Before you send those old sneakers or your running shoes to the landfill, why not help the Wilton Fine Arts Guild lend a hand to the planet, those less fortunate, and clear your clutter. more

The public is invited to the annual meeting of the Muscatine County Fair.  Join the board 6:30 p.m., Oct. 24, at the Activity Center for supper, drinks, and a silent auction.  A free-will offering will be collected for the meal, a cash bar will be open, and there will be several silent auction baskets you won’t want to miss.  more

The high school football season is not a sprint as it takes eight weeks to determine district champions and playoff spots.  more

The vibes in the Durant volleyball locker room this weekend must have been immaculate. more

The Wilton cross-country teams made it to October as the season is speeding towards the annual River Valley Conference meet soon.  more

After a promising start to the evening, Durant’s football team struggled in the cold, wind and rainy conditions last Friday in a 42-7 loss to Cascade in the final home game of the season. more

The Wilton volleyball team is struggling as they head into the River Valley Conference Tournament this week.  more

The Durant-Wilton Food Pantry will be open Tuesday, Oct. 17, from 9-11 a.m. and 6-7 p.m. The Clothes Closet will be open Saturday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. – noon. more

The TriCounty Heritage & Genealogy Museum in Durant received a 1909 Durant Savings Bank Calendar Plate as a donation.  The Durant Savings Bank was originally located in a red brick building in the 700 block of 5th Street.  In 1912, the bank built a new building next door, located at the corner of 5th Street and 8th Avenue.  The bank was purchased in 1935 by Liberty Trust & Savings Bank.  Russell Mumm donated this plate to the museum in 2014. more

The Nichols Fire and Rescue will hold its Soup Supper Gun Raffle Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Nichols Fire Station. more

I wish the entire community of Durant could’ve heard the joy in our son’s voice when he called to tell me that the bond had “PASSED!” more

Iowa has a problem retaining college graduates. In a May 2022 study (National Economic Research Bureau Working Paper #30088, “Grads on the Go: Measuring College-Specific Labor Markets for Graduates”), researchers found that Iowa ranked 41st in “net import and export of college graduates across states.” In other words, upon graduation from one of Iowa’s colleges or universities, young people leave the state for greener pastures.  more

Wilton Police Report more

Durant Police Report more

It’s time to update things. more

Candidates for city and school board elections for Wilton and Durant released last week by the Muscatine and Cedar County Auditor’s Offices for the Tuesday, Nov. 7 election.  more

Ronald Hansen of Liberty Trust & Savings Bank, Durant, was honored recently by the Iowa Bankers Association for more than 50 years of service to a bank. more