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Areal view of Garner Community Christian Childcare site under construction. Submitted photo

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:35pm

GC4 Child Care earns enhanced Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) rating

GARNER – In December, Garner Community Christian Child Care (GC4) achieved a Level 2 Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) rating. The accomplishment makes GC4 eligible for a $3,200 monetary bonus that it...

The first meeting of 2026 for the Garner City Council was Jan.13, 2026. Council members are: (L-R, seated) Glen Juhl, Damon Quandt, Mayor Tim Schmidt, (standing) Matt Graham, Darrell Schumacher, and Marline Lewerke. Rebecca Peter | The Leader

Tue, 01/20/2026 - 2:48pm

Council supports Service Award Program for fire department

GARNER - The annual report for the Garner Fire Department was presented to the Garner City Council on Jan. 13. "Currently, we have 28 well-trained, dedicated volunteers providing coverage in the area...

GHV's Kaleb Feld gets a takedown during his match with St. Ansgars Christian Stocker. Feld won the match by fall in 0:53. Rick Ermer photo

Tue, 01/20/2026 - 2:00pm

Cards Take Down NK in Quad

FOREST CITY - The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura boys wrestling team competed in a quad hosted by Forest City on Thursday, January 15. The Cardinals defeated the Vikings 54-27 and lost 22-50 to Forest City...

The members of Kanawha's city council as of January, 2026. From left to right: Dana Kraft, Jessica Fowles, Tim Lodin and Mayor Randolph Yeakel. Missing: Chad Lang. Ben H | The Leader

Tue, 01/13/2026 - 1:51pm

Meet the new city council of Kanawha!

KANAWHA, IA - Back in December of 2025, the newly elected members of Kanawha's city council officially took the Oath of Office, with their first complete meeting being held on January 6. Additional...

GHV's Gunner Fry (top) pinned Eagle Groves Ethan Schreiber at the GHV Quad Meet. Rick Ermer photo

Tue, 01/13/2026 - 12:08pm

Cards Drop a Pair of Duals

GARNER – The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura boys wrestling team competed in a quad wrestling meet on Thursday, January 8 against West Hancock, Eagle Grove, and North Union. The Cardinals lost to West...

TOP HEADLINES

Jill Kramer HCEDC Director

HCEDC in Action: What Does Hancock County Economic Development Actually Do?

01/20/2026 - 2:44pm
Retiring council members Amber Jenniges and Don Bell were honored for their years of service to the City of Garner at the December 9 city council meeting. Jenniges was a council member from 2021 to 2025. Bell served on the council from 2019 to 2025. Rebecca Peter | The Leader

Garner City Council learns of potential effects of IT on youth

12/16/2025 - 1:28pm
Education leaders recognized for commitment to learning

12/16/2025 - 12:59pm
Garner to "Light up the Night" this Saturday

11/18/2025 - 1:45pm
Police: Suspect killed two, then shot himself

11/11/2025 - 2:41pm
72nd Veterans Day Program at GHV on Nov. 11

11/04/2025 - 4:21pm
Veterans Day programs at West Hancock

11/04/2025 - 4:18pm
Darrin Crow (pictured) will present, "Morbid Curiosities"at the Garner Public Library, 6 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 30. Submitted photo

Storyteller Brings Edgar Allan Poe To Life

10/28/2025 - 3:20pm
Halloween happenings in Hancock County

10/21/2025 - 4:04pm
Robert Butin

Garner man authors Sci-Fi book for teens

09/24/2025 - 12:09pm
2nd Annual Oktoberfest, Saturday at Garner!

09/23/2025 - 12:25pm
Jackson Trulson

Jackson Trulson: National Math Star

09/16/2025 - 1:57pm
GHV Hall of Fame Profile: Paul Nelson

09/16/2025 - 1:42pm
GHV Hall of Fame Profile: Sara Carlson

09/09/2025 - 2:46pm
DNR investigating copper release near Garner

09/01/2025 - 8:24am

News

01/21/2026 - 2:10pm

Klemme City Council Appointments for 2026

KLEMME - The first meeting of 2026 for the Klemme City Council was held January 5. Appointments and committee assignments for the year include the following: Dave Abele will serve as mayor pro-tem. Abele will also represent Klemme on the North...

GC4 Child Care earns enhanced Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) rating

Council supports Service Award Program for fire department

Former Britt Police Officer files Discrimination Suit

Committee appointments at Britt City Council meeting

Meet the new city council of Kanawha!

Opinion

Jill Kramer HCEDC Director

01/20/2026 - 2:44pm

HCEDC in Action: What Does Hancock County Economic Development Actually Do?

Economic development is often talked about, but not always understood. Many people think it’s only about recruiting new businesses or large projects. In reality, much of the work happens quietly and close to home. At Hancock County Economic...

The View from Here

It’s time to give the Governor a clean bill on property rights

Response to State Sen. Klimech

Supervisor Jermeland respondents to letter

An Open Letter to the Hancock County Board of Supervisors

Sports

01/20/2026 - 2:13pm

GHV Basketball Sweeps North Iowa Bison

GARNER - Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinal girls and boys basketball scored wins over the North Iowa Bison at home, on Tuesday, Jan. 13. GHV Girls Dominate in Win, 59-3 The GHV girls basketball team (9-4) took on the North Iowa Bison (3-9) on...

Cards Take Down NK in Quad

Eagles Drop to 1-11 on the Season

Illness, injuries plague Eagle grapplers

West Hancock Girls Drop One to Bulldogs

Cards Drop to 3-9 on the Season

Obituaries

01/22/2026 - 3:07pm

Joseph Van OOrt

Joseph Homer Van Oort, 68, passed away on January 21, 2026, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation with family will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Joe was the first baby born in Hancock County on...

Melinda S. Hartman

Janet R. Fredin

Evelyn "Lynne" Quintus

Special Sections

Everyday Heroes 2025

West Hancock Class of 2025

GHV Class of 2025

2025 FFA Special

The Leader

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