Independence Bulletin-Journal

2 days ago | communitynewspapergroup.com | Jeff Forward

A group of 15 Waverly-area pastors from 10 different churches in the city and wider Bremer County sent a message to officials from the city of Waverly on Monday, expressing their opposition to and asking the city to reconsider the LGBTQ Pride float parade being planned for an undetermined day in June.

3 days ago | communitynewspapergroup.com | Jeff Forward

One of Waverly-Shell Rock’s most beloved educators was honored recently at a ceremony at her alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa, with a prestigious state award recognizing her dedication and commitment to students and speech education. Lisa Phyfe, Waverly-Shell Rock High School English and speech teacher, was awarded the 2025 Speech Educator of the Year award from the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Iowa High School Speech Association. “I’m very excited.

3 days ago | communitynewspapergroup.com | Jeff Forward

During a brief ceremony on April 18, Shell Rock Mayor Mike Klinefelter officially acknowledged May 5 as National Poppy Day in Shell Rock alongside Carol Ann Kruse, the National Poppy Day chairperson for the Shell Rock Avery-Sleight American Legion Auxiliary Unit 393. “It is just a patriotic thing,” Kruse said of Poppy Day. “We don’t sell them (poppies), but people can give a donation.

3 days ago | communitynewspapergroup.com | Jeff Holmes

VINTON — The streaks continue for the the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes. Streak one came Thursday night as the Vikes ran their winning streak to three with a 3-0-zip win over Celar Creek-Amana at the Karr Athletic Complex. Streak two goes to freshman goalkeeper Rylee Boggess and her defensive wall for a fourth-straight shutout that includes their 0-0 drama with Marion two week prior. The match was scoreless through the first half, but Payton Lefevere cured that in a hurry.

4 days ago | communitynewspapergroup.com | Jeff Forward

A Tripoli man who had twice appealed his sentence for two criminal charges that he had pleaded guilty to in December 2023 lost his final appeal on Tuesday, April 15, and is now ordered to serve his original four-year state prison sentence. Bremer County Attorney Darius Robinson said Tracy Vern Buchholz, 54, of Tripoli turned himself in to the Bremer County Jail on Thursday, April 17, and was expected to be transferred to custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections on Friday, April 18.