Community

AMES– Ordering trees from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) State Forest Nursery just got easier. A new online sales site– http://nursery.iowadnr.gov/– features dozens of quality native Iowa trees and an easy check-out process.
Also new in 2017 are changes to how nursery stock can be used to accommodate a wider audience of people wanting to order bulk trees:
• Customers can purchase trees in bundles of 25, compared to previous order minimums of 200.
• Seedlings can be used for any purpose, including windbreaks or decorative landscaping.

NORTH LIBERTY– The doors of Liberty High School opened to 757 students Wednesday, Aug. 23, as the 2017-18 school year started for the brand new school.

NORTH LIBERTY– The North Liberty Fire Department held their annual Salute to Summer event Saturday, Aug. 19, at their fire station. The annual event, the only fundraiser for the volunteer firefighters, has traditionally been held at Bobber’s but moved to the station this year.
Firefighter/EMT Mallory Barney, this year’s event Chairperson, said the ever-increasing call volume was a factor in moving the event.

DES MOINES– Two North Liberty amateur cake decorators took home awards from the Cake Decorating competition, judged August 7, prior to the start of the 2017 Iowa State Fair.
Entries were judges on execution, difficulty, appearance, neatness, originality, design, edible applications and use of color.
Ashley Briggs and Monica Walz, both of North Liberty, placed in the following categories:
Adult Open - Sculpted
1) Ashley Briggs, North Liberty
Adult Open - Single Tiered
1) Ashley Briggs, North Liberty
Adult Open - Tiered
2) Ashley Briggs, North Liberty
3) Monica Walz, North Liberty

IOWA CITY­– “You’re going to be the one in your family who’s going to show hogs,” the late Tom Wall said to Rose McAtee, a fifth grader at Solon Middle School and junior member of the Graham Champions 4-H club.
Rose remembered the conversation she had with Wall at the annual Special Olympics banquet with which her family helps.
“He talked to me for about an hour about hogs,” she said. “He was a big pig farmer. We were kind of close to him. Then when I heard he passed away, I wanted to show hogs in honor of him.”