Times-Register

Betty Carol Rentschler, 82, of St. Olaf, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.      

Survivors include her husband, Curtis; five children, Rick (Beth) Rentschler of St. Olaf, Cindie (Lonny) Kuehl of Garnavillo, Brenda (Troy) Haberichter of Bagley, Wis., Julie (Steven) Fette of Coggon and Roxanne (Terry) Puelz of Garnavillo; 13 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; one brother, Carl (Dottie) Syverson of El Monte, Calif.; and one sister, Connie (Ervin) Jones of Swisher. She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Randy Rentschler.    

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

“It’s a day to remember and thank a veteran for the freedoms we have,” Joel Bankes said about the Veteran’s Day holiday. The retired Air Force master sergeant reflected fondly on his time in the military, service to the country and of the places it took him. 

A Central graduate in 1967, Bankes joined the military at 17, turning 18 while attending basic training at Lackland Air Force base in Texas. Service and life kept him from northeast Iowa until 2011, when, at the urging of his third wife, Karen, they moved back to the area. It was an unexpected decision, but Bankes is glad they did it because it reminds Karen of home back in upstate New York and it’s a safe place to live. 

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

An ambitious, young entrepreneur resides among us. Ten-year-old Collin Holdsworth is trying to break into the world of newsprint media with a monthly newsletter called The Elkader Gazette. 

The homeschooled Collin, who arrived from Texas earlier this year when the Holdsworths decided to move closer to family, was excited to “see something new” and to experience shorter summers without the blistering deep south heat. There is also the scenery—the hills, bluffs and Mississippi River—which has been stirring. “Nice, positive” people have also been encouraging. 

Plans also in works to extend sewer, water

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

At a Nov. 5 special meeting, the Monona City Council officially approved the annexation of six parcels of real estate adjacent to the city’s southwest boundary, on the south side of Highway 18/52 and west of Falcon Avenue, into the city limits. All necessary paperwork will now head to the Iowa Secretary of State’s office for final confirmation.

Three property owners—representing the six parcels—had requested voluntary annexation. That included Kwik Star, which originally prompted the conversation due to plans to expand at its location just off Highway 18/52.