On July 11, 2011 around 4 am Tama County was hit by a straight-line wind that measured forces up to 130 miles per hour before meteorological towers disintegrated. Not a single human life was lost, but $100+ million in lost productivity was suffered through the loss of animals, buildings, infrastructure, crops, and other protective vegetation. [...]
2011 EDIES Story 19 of 24: Small Rural School District’s Robotics Program Takes Flight
Engineering and creative problem solving are the building blocks of any product design or manufacturing process. These skills need to be fostered in our youth as early as possible in order for them to engage their college and workforce environments with considerable experience already achieved. The “Steel of the Knights” Union District Robotics program provides [...]
2011 EDIES Story 9 of 24: Dysart Ag Museum & Interpretive Center shows us how dough is made
When the Dysart Historical Society set out to raise $125,000+ in just a few months they did not just knock on one door. They pieced it together from 7+ foundations and organizations each contributing a couple thousand dollars in addition to donations from local businesses, nonprofits and individuals. But just as important was the in-kind [...]
2011 EDIES Story 4 of 24: How Three Coops Became an Ally to Compete in a Regional Market
In 2011 Tama-Benton Coop, Linn Coop Oil Company, and East Central Iowa Coop came together to form a limited liability partnership to act on a market opportunity they spotted to sell seed corn and seed beans inside a trade territory covering five counties. Mel Campbell explains how this new corporation came about, which will be headquartered [...]
Fun Update: Wheels are turning on the next Murder Mystery Dinner. Join us in Dysart, Jan 21.
The 1929 real world murder of Scott Rouse at Whiskey Bottom had never been solved. But last year over 120 people came together at Pilgrim Heights Camp & Retreat Center in rural Montour and assumed a unique character from the Tama County history books to piece together the originally scripted mystery with secrets to protect [...]
Elections Update: Major changes in elected officials for Tama County, Iowa’s communities in 2012
If Tama County, Iowa really is a microcosm of the national political makeup and attitudes as national media has alluded to in the past, then what would you conclude if six or seven out of twelve towns elected new mayors? Even Meskwaki elected a new chairman. It is not a surprise that in general American [...]
Historic Preservation Update: Historians from all over the state spending more time in Tama County, Iowa
This weekend thousands of people traveled to Tama County, Iowa to experience a friendship tradition that is almost 100 years old: The Meskwaki Powwow. But Tama County is just getting warmed up for the upcoming list of historic preservation events to follow over the next few weeks. Tama County Historic Preservation will also be extending a [...]
Storm Update: How are business opportunities and our job market impacted by the 7/11/11 Derecho
Tama County, Iowa has been holding strong on a $13.42 average hourly wage through the recession, and rebounded to a 6.1% unemployment before the straight-line storm hit. Though this is very comparable to the State’s 6.0% unemployment, (and extremely favorable compared to the national 9.1% unemployment) wages are still significantly lower in Tama County than [...]


