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travelmag.com

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10 Old-School Iowa Hobby Shops Where Trains And Kits Still Line The Shelves

Ever walked into a store looking for one small thing and ended up wanting half the shelves?. That’s exactly the trouble I have with a good hobby shop, especially when model trains and building kits are involved. I might arrive looking for a replacement part, only to spend the...

Iowa · 11d
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Cedar Rapids Gazette

partner publisher · 642 followers
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Cedar Rapids ventriloquist treated with jokes on Halloween

CEDAR RAPIDS — You’ve got to work for your goodies when trick-or-treating at the Naughtons’ house. Dennis Naughton, a Cedar Rapids lawyer and a semi-professional ventriloquist, has kids tell a joke in exchange for a treat. He’s been doing that for around a decade, with some families telling him their kids pick out and practice their jokes in advance of Halloween. Naughton already is jittery at 4:30 p.m. Halloween night. Dressed in a Revolutionary War costume repurposed from the America 250 celebration, his eyes dart to the window as he waits for the first trick-or-treater to arrive. His skeleton assistant, Bonehead, sits ready on his stool on the Naughtons’ front porch on Grand Avenue SE. Bonehead is a bit of a mess. His head is a different color from his body, his jaw sits at an angle and his eyes bulge in two different directions. He’s oddly endearing, as if he’s used to being the butt of the joke himself. When visitors arrive, Naughton pulls a metal grip in Bonehead’s rib cage, and the skeleton explains the rules for a treat in a grating voice. Some kids aren’t sure how to approach Bonehead. One tiny toddler dressed as a minion

Cedar Rapids, IA · 12d

visitmasoncityiowa.com

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Festive Farmstead's Halloween Musical Light Show

Watch Festive Farmstead come alive with thousands of lights synchronized to Halloween music! Park and tune in to our FM station, and enjoy the show from your vehicle, or watch from our outdoor viewing area. This even is family-friendly and completely FREE! No hayride ticket is needed to enjoy the light show.

Mason City, IA · 13d
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Radio Iowa

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South Tama teacher is recognized for her work in the dramatic arts

A central Iowa teacher will be inducted into the Iowa Thespian Hall of Fame during a special event at the University of Northern Iowa next month. Dixie Forcht is a teacher and librarian at South Tama Community School District and is also the high school’s theatre director. Forcht says she’s thrilled to be included.

Cedar Falls, IA · 13d
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masoncityia.com

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Tis’ the Season of Thanks

The holiday season will be in full force soon, and that brings many work, school, and family celebrations. Here’s another one we invite you to attend: Operation Thank You: Snow Much Thanks on Thursday, December 10, from 4–6 PM at the Music Man Square. It’s the Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce’s way of saying “thank you” for being a member and celebrating the year coming to an end.

Mason City, IA · 15d

hometowncurrent.com

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Branson star Doug Gabriel brings variety show home to Iowa

When Doug Gabriel was coming of age in the 1970s, “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” was a staple in his Cedar Rapids home. The variety show left quite an impact on him. “We grew up on Sonny and Cher,” Gabriel said while calling from his home in Branson, Missouri. “They had some great skits and fantastic songs. We loved watching that show and other variety shows, as well as the Dean Martin roasts. It was a good time since there were so many different types of entertainment that were part of those shows. It was an amazing era.”

Branson, MO · 15d

Iowa State Daily

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Dance studio owner to TikTok creator: Sadie Roskens puts creativity into motion

From dance studio owner to social media creator and full-time advertising and fashion merchandising student, freshman Sadie Roskens finds a way to balance it all. Roskens, from Eldora, Iowa, uses her TikTok account to inspire positivity and originality. “I just like shining my light through my social media,” Roskens said....

Eldora, IA · 16d

Cedar Rapids Gazette

partner publisher · 642 followers

Time Machine: The huge gas storage tower in C.R.

I don’t remember what I was researching when I came across a Gazette photo of a “gas storage holder.” It was huge, and had been located at First Street and Ninth Avenue SE. I thought it seemed a little dangerous to have a structure holding that much natural gas so close to downtown Cedar Rapids. The exceptionally large structure was “dodecagonal,” meaning it was 12-sided. The grainy photo was intriguing, so I clipped it and stored it for future research. The tower is today’s Time Machine column. I called The History Center, looking for a clearer photo of the tower and maybe a little more information and came up empty. Of course, The Gazette, repository of Eastern Iowa history, rarely fails me. The back story In May 1925, the Cedar Rapids Gas Co., a subsidiary of the United Light and Power Co., took out a quarter-page ad in The Gazette congratulating the newspaper on its “splendid new building” on Third Avenue and Fifth Street SE. The ad also announced the gas company’s construction plans. “We find it necessary to expand our facilities from year to year. More mains, services, meters and works equipment are required each year,” the ad read.

Cedar Rapids, IA · 16d

KIMT

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CBS correspondent brings national park journey to Mason City

MASON CITY, Iowa — CBS Sunday Morning correspondent and bestselling author Conor Knighton will present "Leave Only Footprints" at North Iowa Community Auditorium on Sunday. The presentation starts at 3 p.m. at the NIACC campus. It's part of the 2026-2027 NIACC Performing Arts & Leadership Series, presented by the G.G. George Family and Sam & Deb Hunt.

Mason City, IA · 19d

Cedar Rapids Gazette

partner publisher · 642 followers

Author Jeff Kinney brings ‘Wimpy Kid’ tour to Cedar Rapids

Jeff Kinney, international bestselling author of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books, wants to know if you are ready to step into the ring. Kinney will be in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Oct. 28, for an event organized by Swamp Fox Bookstore in Marion as part of his national tour promoting the release of the 21st “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book: “Fight or Flight.” But this isn’t your average book event. Kids and parents can expect a lively, interactive show featuring the ideas they will read about in the latest installment of the blockbuster series. In “Fight or Flight,” protagonist Greg Heffley faces his biggest challenge yet as he becomes a target for the school bully, putting his hard-earned expertise navigating the rough-and-tumble world of middle school to the test. When a secret binder filled with Greg’s notes on the school’s biggest bullies falls into the wrong hands, his world quickly begins to unravel, setting him up for a race against time before the truth comes out. Kinney, chatting by phone from his An Unlikely Story bookstore in Maine, said he’s excited to be meeting his readers on the road again. “We’re rolling into town in an oversized

Cedar Rapids, IA · 19d

clearlakeiowa.com

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Clear Lake Events This Week:October 22-26, 2026

All events are free unless noted. Friday | 11:30 AM – 1 PM | $30, Registration Required | Palms Ballroom. Reconnect with Lake Leadership alumni over lunch from Rivara, hear updates on Surf District revitalization, explore the “Not Fade Away” immersive experience, and enjoy an exclusive sneak peek tour of the Oaks Hotel.

Mason City, IA · 21d

KCRG

publisher · 25.5K followers

Cheating allegations circle online during Iowa High School Boys Golf post-season

Council Bluffs, IA · 22d

northpine.com

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Coloff Sells Northeastern Iowa FM Station to Manager

KMCH’s 6kW/100m (class A) signal serves an area between Dubuque and Waterloo. It carries a full-service mix of Adult Contemporary, Classic Hits, and Country known as “Mix 94.7.”. Meyer joined KMCH in 2005 as an account executive and has been station manager since 2015. Tony and Sue Coloff...

Manchester, IA · 23d

cbs2iowa.com

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Downtown mural nears completion at Five Seasons Park

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A windowless building overlooking the Cedar River is getting a colorful makeover as two artists transform its exterior into a mural inspired by water, engineering and nature. The city of Cedar Rapids selected Iowa City artist Thomas Agran for the $41,250 project, which will cover...

Cedar Rapids, IA · 22d

radioonthego.com

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Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Iowa Falls-Alden head to Clear Lake for state qualifier

The Hampton-Dumont-CAL and Iowa Falls-Alden cross-country teams will chase state meet berths Wednesday at a Class 3A state qualifying meet at Veterans Memorial Golf Club in Clear Lake. In the girls race, HDC sophomore Sylvie Morton is seeded 13th at 21:02, and eighth grader Maci Pralle is 17th at 21:38....

Iowa Falls, IA · 22d

kwayradio.com

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New Art Exhibit in Waverly

A new exhibit is open at the Waldemar A. Schmidt Gallery inside the Bachman Fine Arts Center on the Wartburg campus. The exhibit, called Pictures at an Exhibition, features works thematically connected to the scenes portrayed in each movement of Modest Mussorgsky’s composition by the same name. Visitors are encouraged to bring headphones and a device that can scan QR codes and play music so they can listen to each movement of the piece while viewing the related works of art. The works in the exhibition include late artists with connections to the Wartburg Community Symphony and Wartburg College, Gary Kelley and Arthur C. Frick II, as well as works from the Wartburg Permanent Collection, Wartburg student and community submissions, and works by elementary students. The gallery is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Waverly, IA · 22d

cbs2iowa.com

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Downtown Waterloo to host Halloween trick-or-treat event

WATERLOO, Iowa — Families can trick-or-treat at downtown Waterloo businesses Oct. 31 during a free Halloween event. The annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat runs from 10 a.m. to noon. Businesses will hand out candy, and vendors and a trunk-or-treat will be set up in Lincoln Park. The event also includes photo opportunities.

Waterloo, IA · 24d

superhits1027.com

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“Monkey See” is this year’s River City Sculptures on Parade “People’s Choice” winner

MASON CITY — The “People’s Choice” winner of this year’s River City Sculptures on Parade display was announced at last night’s meeting of the City Council in Mason City. “The People’s Choice winner this year is currently located at the MacNider Museum. It is...

Mason City, IA · 22d

cbs2iowa.com

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Grant Wood scholar to discuss 'American Gothic' book in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Grant Wood scholar Wanda Corn will discuss her new book about the artist’s best-known painting during a free program Nov. 15 at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. The presentation begins at 1 p.m. Corn’s book, The Couple with the Pitchfork: America Gothic from...

Cedar Rapids, IA · 23d

KIMT

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World-class brass band coming to NIACC this fall

MAASON CITY, Iowa — The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass will perform at the North Iowa Community Auditorium on Oct. 29. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the NIACC campus and is part of the 2026-2027 NIACC Performing Arts & Leadership Series. Hearing Associates and KCMR 97.9 FM are presenting the event.

Mason City, IA · 24d