Hancock County, IA

BALSAM LAKE, Wis. – A North Iowa man has pleaded guilty in a deadly collision in northeast Wisconsin. Michael Charles Barkema, 49 of Klemme, entered a guilty plea Monday in Polk County District Court to one count of homicide by intoxicate use of a vehicle. Law enforcement says Barkema had...

Heidi Metz, Senior Life Solutions program director at Hancock County Health System, recently earned the Certified Psychiatric and Mental Health Registered Nurse Certification credential from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. According to a news release, Metz has worked at HCHS’s Senior Life Solutions for two years. She has been with...

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with OPN Architects for design and consulting services on the courthouse improvements project. OPN has offices in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, which is the location that will provide services for the Hancock County project. County officials have committed to Phase 1 of the overall surveying, investigation and planning services that may be needed at a cost of $46,585 plus related expenses of $9,926.

Hancock County Republicans held their first annual Red, White, Blue and You family values fundraiser on June 13 at 99 Bottles Winery in rural Garner, welcoming Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg as their primary speaker. Event organizer Jim Nelson of Britt said there has been a need to start an annual...

Winnebago and Hancock County natives have been named to college spring semester honors lists recently. Wartburg College (Dean's List recipients) - Hannah Anderson of Forest City, Hannah Bruns of Hanlontown, and Brea Dillavou of Forest City. Kirkwood College (Dean's List recipients) - Lucas Weiland of Britt, Robyn Bowman of Lake...

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors will meet on Monday morning with a discussion on secondary roads with County Engineer Jeremy Purvis. He will also present for discussion the Iowa Department of Transportation Agreement for Traffic Safety Improvement Program. Drainage matters will be reviewed as the board looks at work...

Representing the greenhouse committee for West Hancock’s upcoming fundraiser, West Hancock High School Agriculture and FFA instructor Carolyn Badje cites a goal of raising between $68,000 and $88,000 to make a new greenhouse construction project a reality. Badje will be visiting Britt area retailers on June 17 and joining the...

Hancock County supervisors approved a resolution allowing for two road closures while construction crews work to bring two county bridges back up to legal load standards. “Iowa Avenue, between 260th and 270th Streets, is planned to be closed later this fall for replacing the bridge along that stretch with a new corrugated metal pipe culvert,” county engineer Jeremy Purvis said. “It is a three-ton restricted bridge right now.”

Hancock County is once again exploring options of moving its rural recycling program from Waste Management to the Landfill of North Iowa. This discussion comes after the Hancock County Board of Supervisors received the last two bills from Waste Management that were over $6,000 each. According to Supervisor Gary Rayhons, this large amount is not sustainable.

MaxYield Cooperative recently contributed $1,500 to the Hancock County Agricultural Museum and Pioneer Village. According to a news release, the check that was presented to museum board members Darrell Schaper and Mark Matern will assist the board in completing capital improvement projects at the museum. “MaxYield Cooperative is proud assist...

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors will meet on Monday to review a 28E Agreement with Central Iowa Community Services. This mental health region that the county has just joined provides treatment, education, crisis, and support services to all of its clients. It also provides online chat services for patients and connects them with the Your Life Iowa Crisis Line. The group also provides coordination services which has assistance in finding and applying for the programs and services to reach the goals of each patient they serve.

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors voted to form a 5-person work group on Monday to decide how to spend the more than $2 million the county expects to receive over the next two years from the American Rescue Plan Act. According to the National Association of Counties, Hancock County can expect to receive $2,064,753. The work group will consist of Hancock County Supervisor Jerry Tlach, County Attorney Blake Norman, Auditor Michelle Eisenman, Engineer Jeremy Purvis, and Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Buffington. Board Chairman Gary Rayhons analogizes why the group is needed.

KANAWHA, Iowa – A reported shooting in Hancock County Monday night turned out to be a hoax. The Kanawha Police Department says It and multiple other law enforcement agencies were sent to the 200 block of West 9th Street in Kanawha just after 9:30 pm for a possible shooting victim and an active threat. After a couple of hours, investigators determined this was an incident of “swatting” directed at a particular household.

(ABC 6 News) - A fake 911 call led many enforcement agencies to a home in Hancock County Monday night. Just after 9:30 p.m., many surrounding law enforcement agencies were called to the 200 block of West 9th Street in Kanawha for a possible shooting victim and an active threat.

HANCOCK COUNTY, Iowa - A 19-year-old man was picked up on a warrant Monday in connection to an alleged baseball bat assault. Kendrick Dyslin, of Forest City, is facing charges of willful injury and going armed with intent. According to court documents, Dyslin and another man went to Garner on...

Additional federal income necessitated amendment to Hancock County’s current fiscal year budget recently. Supervisors on June 1 approved the formation of a working group of county officials to review requirements as well as study use and documentation of funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act. Those estimated funds include...

A large crowd of hundreds gathered to honor area military veterans at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt on May 31. The service was hosted by VFW Post 347 and American Legion Post 315 on a sunny and temperate Memorial Day morning. The West Hancock High School band led by Jennifer Rosin played special selections and songs of U.S. armed services. Veterans in attendance stood to be recognized when songs of their military branch were played.

Hancock County natives received degrees from Iowa State University in Ames on May 7 and 8. Students had the opportunity to attend in-person ceremonies and celebrations at Hilton Coliseum and Jack Trice Stadium, which were livestreamed for those who preferred a virtual option due to COVID-19. Britt - Anna Chizek,...