Winona Whitaker, Clinton Herald Journalist Profile

Articles

Making moonshine in Iowa

2 weeks ago | thegazette.com | Winona Whitaker

The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced. WILLIAMSBURG — While researching a historical novel, Ann Hanigan Kotz learned a lot about prohibition and bootlegging. Kotz paired that knowledge with her imagination and created a novel centered on Iowa’s bootlegging history before and during Prohibition. Kotz talked about Iowa’s alcohol history at the Marengo and Williamsburg libraries April 2.
Chamber plans holiday events for last quarter of 2024 | Southeast Iowa Union

Oct 17, 2024 | southeastiowaunion.com | Winona Whitaker

In this November 2023 file photo Santa Claus asks Nolan and Clayton Gorsch what they want for Christmas during Night …
Poweshiek County papers keep their head above water as print dies

Apr 22, 2024 | thesandb.com | Winona Whitaker |Zoe Zappas

Three local newspapers in Poweshiek County exist mainly in print despite the steady decline in print circulation — the Grinnell-Herald Register, the Poweshiek County Chronicle Republican (PCCR) and The Montezuma Record. Since 2005, the newspaper industry in the United States has lost one-third of its newspapers and two-thirds of its newspaper journalists, according to a Northwestern University study released in November.
State reorganizes mental health regions

Apr 21, 2024 | southeastiowaunion.com | Winona Whitaker

MARENGO — The State of Iowa is reorganizing its Mental Health Regions, tentatively moving Iowa and Johnson Counties out of the east and into the southeast. Mae Hingtgen, East Central Region chief executive officer, told Iowa County Supervisors last week that Iowa and Johnson County mental health representatives are lobbying to keep Iowa and Johnson Counties together and to keep them in the eastern district with Linn County.
Message shown, not spoken

Apr 18, 2024 | southeastiowaunion.com | Winona Whitaker

WILLIAMSBURG — Some Williamsburg High School students laughed when blue tarps were removed from two wrecked vehicles on West Street revealing a girl lying face down on the hood of a truck beneath a shattered windshield. They knew the girl wasn’t dead, though she didn’t move during the entire time students watched the crash scene. They knew the classmate in the driver’s seat wasn’t guilty of vehicular homicide and that the two students slumped in the car in the ditch were not bound for hospitals.
Wannamaker: Tax abatement encourages growth

Apr 16, 2024 | southeastiowaunion.com | Winona Whitaker

MARENGO — Des Moines and former Marengo resident Rick Wannamaker told Marengo City Council members that offering 100% tax abatement would help Marengo grow. “It encourages people to do some good things with their property,” Wannamaker said. Marengo offers tax abatement, but it isn’t enough to entice people to the city, said Wannamaker during the April 10 meeting. It needs to be 100%, he said.
Council tables decision on snake sales

Apr 16, 2024 | southeastiowaunion.com | Winona Whitaker

MARENGO — The Marengo City County tabled a decision on the sale of snakes in the city limits until it could again question the business owner who made the request. Dylan Pritchard, owner of Corn Fed Frags at 594 Easter Ave., asked the council last month to amend city code to allow him to sell ball pythons in his shop. Councilman Bill Kries said that about half the people who contacted him are in favor of it, and about half are against it.
Hospital asks for parking ban on Lafayette Avenue

Apr 16, 2024 | southeastiowaunion.com | Winona Whitaker

MARENGO — Banning parking along Lafayette Avenue south of Compass Memorial Healthcare will alleviate congestion as patients come and go, said Barry Goetsch, Compass chief executive officer, during a Marengo City Council meeting April 10. Goetsch asked the council to prohibit parking along the street. May Street is currently closed due to construction on the hospital property, and Lafayette is now the only way in and out.
4-H Club celebrates 100 years

Apr 14, 2024 | southeastiowaunion.com | Winona Whitaker

CONROY — “It’s hard to imagine 100 years,” said 4-H Leader Cassie Bott. That’s how long Hilton Willing Workers 4-H Club has been around. The chapter began when Calvin Coolidge was president, said Bott. People got their news from the radio. The Willing Workers hosted an open house earlier this month in Conroy to celebrate 100 years of 4-H members.
‘Stages’ recalls theater chaos

Apr 14, 2024 | southeastiowaunion.com | Winona Whitaker

AMANA — While Iowa cornfields and cattle farms don’t evoke images of movie production, the state is no stranger to film or live theater. Jonesy McElroy grew up on a dairy farm between Belle Plaine and Marengo, equally as far from the stage of Broadway as from the lights and cameras of Hollywood, yet for 10 years McElroy learned the business in Iowa County.