Under the Water Tower Lovilia News

If you want the kids to come to your house, turn on your porch light, and they will come to get their treats. Leave your light off if you don’t want to participate.

Weldons Move to Albia

Bill and Betty Weldon have remodeled the old bait shop south of the Hwy 5 and hwy 34 intersection and a block west. It is now a duplex. Bill and Betty live in one and Lola Ivins will occupy the second apt.

The Weldon house in Lovilia has been sold to the Rebel family from Melrose, Iowa.

We wish them all well in their new housing.

Romanco-Lathrop Wedding

Macey Romanco, daughter of Kelly and Jenny Romanco of Albia, and Chad Lathrop, son of Dean and Nathalie Lathrop of Albia celebrated the sacrament of marriage. The wedding was held on Oct. 2, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and officiated by Father Mark Yates.

The reception was held at the Gathering Grounds near Bussey. Tom Romanco, grandfather of the bride, crafted personalized wooden cake stands for each table.

Grandparents were honored guests of the bride and groom: Mary Ann Freshwater, Mike and Rita Freshwater; Tom and Donna Romanco of Lovilia; and Larry and Helen Mitrisin.

Mrs. Lathrop is a first grade teacher at Grant Elementary in Albia The couple are the owners of Sweet Pickin’ farm which specializes in strawberries. Mr. Lathrop, who is in the Lathrop Farms company, helped create the Gathering Grounds by doing the dirt work and rock hauling. May God bless your marriage now and forever.

Dawson Bonnett Breaks School Record

Dawson is the first male cross country runner at Albia Community Schools to make it to the state competition for all four years of high school. His grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Ray Doser also of Lovilia.

Ethan Stalzer, sophomore, also earned a birth at state for his second time. They will compete at Ft. dodge.

Coach Ratliff says Dawson and Ethan work hard and support the team and are respectful and good leaders

Congratulations men and run swift and sure at State!

City Election Nov. 2nd

Be sure to vote for mayor and city council. Every vote counts.

Philip, age 58, of Lovilia, died Oct. 6, 2021 at University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.

He was born on July 21, 1963 in Albia to William and Phyllis (Foster) Hughes.

He graduated from Eddyville High School with the class of 1981. On July 17, 2010 he married Valerie Stanfield.

His working years were with Ajinomoto, Southern Iowa Mechanical, and Winger. Philip enjoyed trapping, fishing, hunting, motorcycles, and chainsaw art.

He is survived by his wife, and children: Tony (Rachael) Hughes, Shayne (Kari) Hughes, Stacy (Harold) Lear, Heather Hughes, Jo Laugerman, and his siblings: Paul (Pam) Hughes, Jim (Peggy) Hughes, and 16 grandchildren.

Funeral services were Oct. 13 at the First Christian Church of Eddyville officiated by Pastor Nick Hughes and Pastor Paul Hughes. Military rites were by American Legion of Albia, Lovilia, and Melrose.

May he rest in peace.

Prize for Colton Groenendyk

Colton won a hunting trip from a hunter’s group that picks one disabled young person each year for this chance.

He and his father went to the hunt site and using a crossbow, Colton, bagged a doe that weighed in at 186 pounds. He donated the meat to HUSH which distributes the venison to families who need food aid.

Colton will get a second trip and can shoot a buck with a muzzleloader. The group will pay for the head mount and process the meat. Colton will take the venison for his family. Congratulations on the prize and the hunting adventure.

Ethan Stalzer Shines in Cross-Country

At the recent 19 team Centerville cross-country meet, Ethan ran the course with a time of 17minutes and 14 seconds. That time won him 5th overall. The coach said,” Ethan is such a strong runner for being a sophomore”. Congratulations, Ethan.

Ethan is the son of Brad and Mindy Stalzer and the grandson of Kathy Welsh and the late Joe Welsh.

Gladys Kraber Genskow Winning Coach

Gladys coaches the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont volleyball team who has run up this season, 27 wins and only 3 losses. This makes the team their conference’s volleyball championship team. Congrats to the coach and the team.

Gladys is the daughter of Fred and Goldie Kraber.

Detour is Finished

Today , Oct. 16th, Hwy 5 south of Lovilia was back open for through traffic. If you put off a visit due to detouring you can now plan to visit us!

North End Tap Anniversary Party Oct. 16

Kimmie Keegel DeBrouse, new owner, is celebrating the one year anniversary of her management with corn hole games in the afternoon and Whiskey Rebellion band to entertain from 8pm-midnight. There will be a $5 cover charge at the door. Good food all day and evening.

Best wishes for many more years in business in Lovilia.

Oct. 18th Blood Collection

Blood donors will be giving on Monday, Oct. 18th at the Lovilia Community Building. Appointments are necessary due to covid and masks must be worn. Bring your picture ID. Thanks to all donors.

City Election Mayorial Race

The only contested seat in the city election is for mayor. If you are not registered to vote, get up to the Monroe County auditor’s office and register.

The following three men are running for mayor:

Pat Gilbert ( current mayor)

Justin Lang (a current city councilman)

and Billy McCombs.

Lovilia voters get to the polls and cast your vote. The choice is yours.

Gerald Spaur Birthday Party

Gerald will be 86 years old on Oct. 28, 2021. His family will have a open house for him at the Lovilia Community Building on Oct. 30th from 1-4 p.m.

If you can not attend, they would appreciate cards sent to: Gerald Spaur, 2402 E Avenue North, Lovilia, Iowa 50150

Update of Pettyjohn Fire

Dennis and Mary Pettyjohn had insurance on their home which burned to the ground Sept. 26th west of Lovilia. They have moved into an apartment in Lovilia while they ponder housing and future plans. We wish them the best.

Childcare Center Coming to Lovilia

Jessica Manser has announced plans to open a childcare center in 2022. She will give a nod to the Lovilia school mascot and call the center, “Little Lions Childcare Center”

Best wishes for success and giving this opportunity to Lovilia parents and children.

The book is titled: Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America. Author Beth Hoffman moved from San Francisco with her partner, John Hogeland, to take over John’s family’s 530 acre farm. The book dives into their personal difficulties in taking over and running an intergenerational farm and the challenge of making money farming.

She later explores ways to improve farmers lives, rural communities, and the environment.

The book is available at Island Press.org. If you use the code: HOFFMAN, you will get a 20% discount. Or you can order from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or buy it from your local independent book sellers.

Congratulations on publishing your book and hoping the sales go well.

Welcome to Iowa Beth and welcome home John.

Lovilia Hwy 5 Detour in Place

Since the DOT is replacing a culvert under highway 5 at the south of Lovilia, you must detour to reach Albia. So out of towners be alert, GPS around us in any of several dusty county roads. Or to avoid the gravel, turn at the Bussey stub and go to Bussey. Turn left at Wilson’s store and go on paving out to Hyway 63 four lane. Then go to your destination.

Detour is to be in place through Oct. unless they are able to do it quicker.

When to Trick or Treat

The Lovilia city council has designated Saturday, Oct. 30th for the goblins to trick or treat between 5pm and 7pm.

Residents who want the kids, turn on your porch lights and pass out treats.

If you do not want to do this, leave your porch light turned off.

Kids and chaperones, please do not knock on houses with no porch light on.

Have fun and stay safe! Look both ways when crossing streets and don’t walk down the streets. Too many cars will be out and about.

Boo!!