Wilton-Durant Advocate News

The New Strand Theatre has a single movie screen and stage. The theater seats 230 people and has showings Friday night, matinees Saturday and Sunday and evening showings Saturday night.

113-year-old small town theater charts new future

First he was a kid in the audience. Later he worked the concession stand. Now Mac Howes owns West Liberty’s New Strand Theatre and hopes to offer today’s families the same thrills he enjoyed as a kid. more

Xiomara Levsen, Editor, West Liberty Index | 3/29/23

Axe & Oak Whiskey House owner Fred Grunder laughs as he collects a bottle of whiskey from the bar.

‘It’s a matter of taste’

There’s one television in the corner of Axe & Oak Whiskey House in Wilton, but business owner Fred Grunder said it’s only for select games. more

Garrett Ammesmaki, Editor, Advocate News | 3/29/23

Wapsi Center conservationist Mike Granger identifies trees.

First-time tasters are sweet on homemade syrup

Wapsi Environmental Center near Dixon held a maple syrup demonstration on March 4. more

3/29/23

Iowa spring turkey season just a week away

Thunderous calls from competing Toms trying to out-do one another for the attention from nearby hens, rattles through Iowa’s timber each spring. This annual ritual is witnessed by hunters who attempt to mimic the call of a lonely hen, to attract a frustrated Tom to come search her out. more

3/29/23

Room for all, great and small

Debbie Wallace is a firm believer in the healing power of love. more

Erin M. Gentz | 3/28/23

Two arrested in Atalissa with stolen vehicle

Two have been arrested in a Wednesday morning vehicle theft that included a brief on-foot chase in Atalissa, according to a press release from the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office. … more

By Garrett Ammesmaki Editor, Advocate News | 1/11/23

River Valley Conference shoot-out for Jan. 7 and 21

MONTICELLO - The River Valley Conference announced the first ever Basketball shoot-out for boys’ and girls’ basketball. The boy’s event will be Saturday, Jan. 7 at Kirkwood … more

Ryan Stonebreaker | 12/28/22

2nd graders write to Santa: Why they're on the nice list

Here are the students who are on Santa's nice list. more

12/28/22

Wilton Hustlers 4-H seeks sledding location

The December meeting of the Wilton Hustlers was called to order Dec. 4 by Cora Marine and Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sarah Marine. The window walk is planned for later today. Keeleigh … more

12/28/22

Wilton police reports, Dec. 4-10

Dec.4 Traffic stop W 5th Street and Maple Street for expired Registration. Driver cited for no insurance. Parking problem in the 500 block of Chestnut. Handled by the Officer. The … more

12/28/22

Durant police reports, Dec. 11-17

Dec. 11Citation for parking violation in the 900 block of 3rd Street.Assist Durant Ambulance with a medical call 800 block of 3rd Street.Assist the Iowa State Patrol with a vehicle fire. Also … more

12/28/22

From left, Junior High Choir member and seventh grader Laylah Boutelle with Ms. Jeanine Link.  They played a piano duet of "Up on the Housetop" as pre-concert music.  All of the 7th grade students are   learning how to play the piano thanks to a donation from the Durant Legion, which supplied 10 electronic keyboards, stands, headphones and music books for the students.  All of the 7th grade students will receive piano instruction throughout the year in their Music Rhythm class which occurs every trimester.

Variety spices Durant winter concert

Variety spices Durant winter concert Durant students added variety to this year’s winter concert, including skits, solos and other surprises along with the Christmas classics. “I … more

By Garrett Ammesmaki, editor | 12/28/22

Wilton visited Durant Dec. 20 for a renewal of this legendary rivalry. Durant boys and girls prevailed. They meet again, Feb. 7, in Wilton.

Win over Durant lifts Wilton boys to 6-1 on the season

DURANT - The Wilton Beavers improved to 6-1 overall with a 66-54 win over rival Durant on Tuesday, Dec. 20 in Durant. The victory came less than 24 hours after the Beavers suffered their first loss … more

By Ryan Stonebreaker, Advocate News | 12/28/22

Hayley Madlock drives up court for Wilton versus, Durant, Dec. 20 at Durant.

Wilton girls break losing streak with win at Durant

DURANT - The Wilton Beaver girls basketball team was in need of a victory and they got it. The Beavers came into their last pre-Christmas break game with rival Durant on a 2-game losing streak … more

By Ryan Stonebreaker, Advocate News | 12/28/22

Holidays sparking interest as year comes to an end

In the next few days, Chamber and Development Alliance members will be getting a letter highlighting the great work the group has done this year and asking for continued membership in our merged … more

Becky Allgood, Director, Wilton Chamber and Development Alliance | 11/23/22

Durant School District enrollment figures climb

Anytime a school district sees an increase in Iowa, that’s a good thing. That’s the consensus of Superintendent Joe Burnett after providing updated enrollment figures to the Durant School … more

Tim Evans, AN Editor | 11/23/22

Police Chief Orville Randolph presented special recognition awards to Sergeant Mike Meyer, on right, and officer Brian Utter, center, for going above and beyond the call of duty. Utter, ho wa given a lifesaver award, was dispatched to Casey's General Store in Durant on July 4, at 3:46 pm, finding a person unresponsive in his vehicle at the gas pumps. While the Durant Ambulance Service was enroute., officer Utter made contact with the individual and determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance. As the Durant Ambulance Service arrived Utter immediately administered NARCAN to the unresponsive person. After still being unresponsive a second dose was administered, making the subject responsive. The individual admitted to consuming a controlled substance that, if Utter had not given NARCAN, could have been fatal for this individual. Meier started with the police department as a part time officer, full time officer, and now Sergeant. When we wished to start a school resource officer program, he was willing to take on that program with great effectiveness and pride. Sgt. Meier brought with him the program of vehicle inspections and other investigative techniquesused by the department He has taken on being part of the Iowa LEIN program and served on their Executive committee. "Whenever I need something done I can turn to Sgt. Meier and know that it will be done and done correctly," said Chief Randolph.

New concessioon stand to rise in Feldhaun Park

The City of Durant decided to build a new concession stand at Feldhahn Park, got a chance to offer their opinion on Pickle Ball/Tennis courts, and heard a plea from the Durant Chamber of Commerce to … more

Tim Evans, AN Editor | 11/23/22

Austin Hafferty, an employee with the Wilton Municipal Light and Power,, hang new Christmas Lights on the community Christmas Tree Tuesday morning near Wilton's Historic Depot.

Wilton leaf pickup woes resolved

Residents might say the City of Wilton is re’leave’d! Not only does the city now have their leaf vacuum up and running again, but it is making up for lost time by offering free landscape … more

Tim Evans, AN Editor | 11/23/22

The finished result of a remodeled Kalona home, with new garage, completed by a summer internship class of high school students.

Valuable trade instruction

Teaching the trades has been a passion for Tim Rouse since coming to Durant High School 20 years ago. Raised in a trades-oriented family where his dad was a carpenter, Rouse has helped groom … more

Tim Evans, AN Editor | 11/23/22

Durant police plan to begin speed enforcement

The Durant Police Department will begin an Automated Traffic Enforcement Program throughout the city on December 2nd, 2022, to increase safety and reduce crashes. As a part of this program, numerous … more

11/16/22