Wilton-Durant Advocate News

The fire ring area in Durant's Feldhahn Park will receive a fire pit made from bricks courtesy of an upcoming Eagle Scout project by incoming Durant High School senior Luke Abels.

Feldhahn Park to benefit from Eagle Scout project

Durant parks, especially Feldhahn Park, are going to get some tender love and care thanks to Luke Abels, an incoming Durant senior, who presented plans for his Eagle Scout project to city council … more

Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 6/17/20

Six-foot social distancing means no 2020 Wilton prom

After delaying the event, and perhaps the inevitable, as long as possible, Wilton High School has canceled its 2020 prom. At the June 10 school board meeting, high school Principal Marc Snavely said, … more

Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 6/17/20

Durant school board members are shown "socially distanced" in the cafeteria for the first live in-person meeting held in months amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Durant schools using summer to tackle several projects

For the first time in months, the Durant school board convened at the school during its regular meeting June 8, moving the meeting to the cafeteria in order to better adhere to social distancing … more

Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 6/10/20

Wilton High School class of 2020 grad parade

Wilton High School held a parade for graduating seniors May 31, and the class of 2020 had perfect weather for a parade of cars around Wilton along the annual Founders Day route. Schools have been … more

Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 6/4/20

Durant High School hosts 2020 grad parade

Durant High School held a parade for graduating seniors May 17, the date that commencement would have been held for the class of 2020. Schools have been closed since mid March due to the COVID-19 … more

Photos by Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 5/20/20

School's out for 2019-20

DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced, on April 17, that all school districts and nonpublic schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 … more

4/22/20

Lisa Burmeister's kindergarten room at Wilton Elementary School is shown above during what should have been a normal school day last week. Instead, area schools are shut down for four weeks due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Wilton and Durant schools closed March 16 and will reopen April 13.

COVID-19 shutdown creates whirlwind week for school districts

This week, the Wilton and Durant school districts find themselves in the middle of their scheduled spring breaks. Yet amid the current novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, it marks week two of a … more

Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 3/25/20

The map above, courtesy of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows states with confirmed coronavirus COVID-19 cases. Iowa had 22 confirmed cases as of March 16. (Note that numbers likely changed after press time.)

Area schools to close four weeks as COVID-19 spreads

As the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic spread last week nationwide, including in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds held several press conferences, with perhaps the most significant being Sunday, March 15, … more

Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 3/17/20

More than 350 students from Wilton and Durant high schools were able to meet with representatives from 34 area businesses during the third annual career fair held March 5 at the Wilton Community Center.

Career fair reaches 350-plus Wilton, Durant students

Local high school students had a unique experience March 5, as more than 350 Wilton and Durant high school students were able to meet and interact with 34 businesses and organizations from Wilton, … more

Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 3/11/20

Durant board approves teen mother's school permit request

Members of the Durant school board have dealt with their fair share of school permit requests in recent years. Typically, in order for students at least 14 1/2 years old with a permit to be granted a … more

Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 3/11/20

An artist's rendition, courtesy of Martin Gardner Architecture, of what the $2.65 million Wilton commons project will look like when it opens by the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Wilton school board members were presented with 63 pages of documents at a work session Jan. 22, where they were told the plans are nearly done.

Wilton High School commons plans '99 percent done'

Members of the Wilton school board got a much more intricate look at the upcoming Townsend Commons addition coming to the Wilton High School gymnasium during a work session Jan. 22. Mark Moine and … more

Derek Sawvell, AN Editor | 1/29/20

The Durant High School choir will be delivering singing Valentine’s Feb. 13 to Durant locals and those within 10 minutes of the high school. Singing Valentine’s can be performed in person for $10 or over the phone to anyone who has a valid U.S. phone number for $5. To order, send an email to cinnamon.kleeman@durant.k12.ia.us or find more information at Durantchoirs.weebly.com. Pictured are Durant choir members (from left): Jealn Heald, Ashley Shelangoski, Amanda Claypool, Drake Roach, Kyrnan Liske-Rochholz, Mackenzie Oberlander, Lexi Schlapkohl, Isabelle Mathis, Alexis Woodford, Nora Ramer and Christian Durham. Not pictured: Rayana Hollenbeck and Allie Taylor.

Wondering what to get that special someone for Valentine's Day?

Singing Valentines are coming to Durant and surrounding areas Feb. 13. The Durant High School choir will be performing a song, complete with a custom Valentine’s Day card, in person or over the … more

Ashley Darnold, AN Reporter | 1/23/20