Karen Spurgeon

Iowa

Publisher at Bloomfield Democrat

Retired music teacher. Current publisher of The Bloomfield Democrat, Bloomfield, IA

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Articles

Helton will deliver commencement address

2 days ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

Klaus instructs students on living a meaningful life Joni Helton, long-time kindergarten teacher at Davis County Elementary, will deliver the commencement address for the Davis County High School class of 2025. After retiring as a kindergarten teacher in the Davis County Schools in 2019, Helton has taught preschool at Wigwam Daycare and Preschool and served as a member of the Davis County School Board.
Mental health office to open in Bloomfield

2 days ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

Starting July 1, Bloomfield will have its own mental health care coordination office, an outreach initiative of Southern Iowa Mental Health Center (SIMHC) headquartered in Ottumwa. Lori Drummond, Director of Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers, said last week outreach offices are being opened in seven locations: Bloomfield, Fairfield, Keosauqua, Centerville, Albia, Oskaloosa, and Sigourney.
Students inspired by NFL’s Cooper DeJean

2 days ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

Cooper DeJean, NFL cornerback and punt returner for the Philadelphia Eagles, was in Bloomfield last week to inspire students in the Davis County Schools. DeJean, originally from Odebolt, played for the Iowa Hawkeyes and received All-American honors in 2023. In 2024 he was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the NFL draft.
Gingerich Greenhouse has new owners

2 days ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

Lynford and Laura Miller of Bloomfield purchased Gingerich Greenhouse from Herman and Bertha Gingerich on July 1, 2024. The business includes three different greenhouses with a total of 20,000 square feet including 5 bays that are gutter connected. The Millers took possession of the 30-year-old business on Jan. 1 of 2025 and moved into the nearby house during the afternoon of Jan. 18 after the Gingeriches moved out that morning.
Arts Council strives to bring back community theatre

1 week ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

Since 1977, the Davis County Players have produced a fall musical and a spring play nearly every year. The public has been entertained with outstanding productions of “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Guys and Dolls,” “My Fair Lady,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Oklahoma,” “South Pacific,” “Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Sister Act” “Natalie Needs a Nighty,” “Beams Are Creaking,” and many more notable productions.
Steffen family experiences love, heartbreak, yet feels blessed

1 week ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

Kyle and TaNisha Steffen will be celebrating Mother’s Day next Sunday feeling closer to God than ever before following the death of their seven-month-old son Elias on March 10. “It’s comforting to know that everything we went through in the past year is not for naught,” TaNisha said. “I feel closer to God through this journey than ever before,” Kyle added.
Council awards development funds, supports daycare

1 week ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

The Bloomfield City Council awarded $115,000 in community development funds to eight nonprofit organizations at its May 1 meeting. The annual disbursements were set at:• $40,000 for Bloomfield Main Street,• $20,000 for the Mutchler Community Center,• $1,500 for the Davis County Historical Society,• $2,000 for the Senior Citizen Center. • $1,500 for Davis County Tourism,• $15,000 for DCDC,• $6,000 for the Bloomfield Historic Preservation Commission,• $29,000 for the new daycare.
Child Care Resource and Referral offers assistance

2 weeks ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

Locates providers; helps with opening in-home facilities As Davis County parents scramble to locate childcare for their children following the reduction in service by Wigwam Daycare and Preschool, Karen Lauer, Leann Andre, and Megan Davidson of Child Care Resource and Referral of Central Iowa are stepping forward to help individuals locate daycare for their children and/or open in-home daycare.
School district approves zero-cost rental for daycare facility

2 weeks ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

The Davis County School Board approved a zero-cost rental agreement on April 21 with a non-profit organization to utilize a district building for providing daycare services. The building to be used is the former Davis County Daycare building now owned by the school district. Anne Morgan began heading up a quickly-formed coalition of local entities to fill a void in daycare services when Wigwam Daycare announced it would be decreasing its enrollment from 145 to 60 at the end of the school year.
Coalition takes the reins on daycare emergency

2 weeks ago | bdemo.com | Karen Spurgeon

Building and utilities to be provided at no costA coalition of Davis County entities quickly sprang into action to address Davis County’s daycare emergency after Wigwam Daycare and Preschool announced it would be reducing its enrollment from 145 to 60 at the end of the school year. When Supt.