BGM students are looking sharp at the 2026 BGM Prom on Saturday, April 11. Pictured are Reed Slater and his date, Ana Coleman. Photos submitted by P&P Photography and parents.

​        Laural Hollopeter, aka “The Cookie Crumb” has decided to start a farmer’s market this summer at his home just east of Victor.
         The 190th Street Market will be held on Hollopeter’s acreage located just one mile east of the Victor’s St. Bridget’s Church on the south side of the road.
          The address is 1152- 190th St. (Old Highway 6).
          Dates for the market are June 13 & 27, July 11 and 25, Aug. 8 and 29.  September and October dates are TBD.
        “I have plenty of green space for vendors,” noted Hollopeter, who has been planning this market for a couple months. “There will be a $25 fee to be in the market each date. This will help to pay for advertising, porta potties and trash pickup.”
        The market will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each date.  This will be an open-air market, so tents or trailers are recommended.
       “There are not a lot of big trees on my area as I built a new home about 15 years ago and the trees are still growing,” said Hollopeter. “You may set up the afternoon/evening the day before or the morning of the event.  We just need to all be ready to vend at 8 a.m.  This is a rain or shine event, and we hope for no rain except when it is over.”
          There will be a lunch vendor onsite for grilled food furnished by Hy Vee.

      Tyler Richton and the High Bank Boys, left, and Not Quite Brothers pictured at right.

​      Don’t miss out on the concert this Saturday!
      Get your tickets here https://bit.ly/NQBatFlagFest
    We are excited to have Tyler Richton & The High Bank Boys back along with Not Quite Brothers, one of Central Iowa's fastest growing cover bands, will perform Saturday night at the southside ball field.
     Not Quite Brothers was formed in 2018, the band quickly became known for their huge sound, eclectic setlist and ability to enhance any party.
        Fans of all ages agree... "it feels like I am watching the band they are covering in their heyday" and "It's so cool to see a younger generation playing my favorite songs on stage!"
Sam Johnson (vocals) and Isaac Johnson (guitar) are twins and although Cooper Corcoran (guitar), Ben Schmelzer (drums) and Nathan Klein (bass) are of no relation to each other, these five fellas are as tight as brothers… but not quite.
​        Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the concert kicking off at 6 p.m.

​        Stanley Walford, a World War II Veteran from Brooklyn, shares stories of his time in the war after being recognized with a 75-year membership certificate to the Francis Gallagher American Legion Post 294 during a veterans meal in November 2021. Francis Gallagher Post 294 Commander Ron Brown is at left. Walford, who is 100-years-old, is one of two parade marshals at the 2026 Brooklyn Flag Festival Parade on Saturday, June 13. Following the parade, Walford will be recognized with his 80-year membership certificate to the legion at the Harold “Pie” Keller Memorial. File photo by J.O. Parker

J.O. Parker
 
       The annual Brooklyn Flag Festival Parade, car show and fun and games for all are just around the corner and leading the way this year will be two grand parade marshals.
        Stanley Walford, a life-long Brooklyn resident and World War II veteran, will head up the parade. He will be joined by Steve Plants, a 50-year volunteer with the East Poweshiek County Ambulance.
        Following is a look at both men.
Stanley Walford
      Stanley Walford, Brooklyn’s oldest living World War II veteran at age 100, is known for loving his country, community and family.
       He was born on Dec. 19, 1925 and raised in Brooklyn during the Depression and is a 1944 graduate of Brooklyn High School.
       He was drafted into the Army and attended basic training in Fort Hood, Texas during World War II.
       According to article on Walford’s service by Brandon Hanssen in his World War II oral veteran project, he was saved from the D Day invasion by an infection he got before leaving.
      “He recalled the buildup to the war, the Japanese expansion into China and Europe building toward conflict,” noted Hanssen, in veteran project.
       He left for Europe on the Queen Mary, which had been converted to a troop ship. He ended up pushing through the European theater and saw lots of German prisoners and casualties, noted Hanssen’s article on Walford’s service.
      Hanssen said Walford recalled one German officer surrendering who didn’t want any more of his men to die and wanted to surrender to the Americans so they didn’t have to fight the Russians.
        Once the war was over, Walford returned to Brooklyn and married Kathleen Phyllis Roth on July 29, 1946 at St. Patrick’s Rectory in Brooklyn. The couple raised five children – David, Mark, Jeanne, Mary and Jennifer. The couple has eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
        Kathleen passed away on May 23, 2023 at age 95. The couple had been married 76 years at the time of her death.
        Since his wife’s passing, Walford moved to Grinnell in the fall of 2024 to be near his son, David.
        Walford spent his career as a lineman for the Brooklyn REC.
      “He is a man who has spent his time trying to raise a family and live in the Brooklyn Community,” said David of his father.
      Walford has been recognized on WHO 13 and in various news articles and has also shared stories with others of his time in the military.
        Following the parade, Walford will be presented his 80-year membership certificate by the Francis Gallagher American Legion Post 294 in Brooklyn. The presentation will take place at the Harold “Pie” Keller Memorial.
Steve Plants
       Steve Plants, a life-long Brooklyn resident, BGM graduate and volunteer is being honored for his 50-years of service to the East Poweshiek Ambulance Service (EPAS).
       Plants, 69, joined the EPAS on July 4, 1976, a year after graduating high school. 
      “My dad, Jim Plants, helped out with the ambulance service when I was in high school,” recalled Plants in an earlier interview. “I must have gotten the bug from him.”
       At the time, the EPAS was operated out of the local funeral home in Brooklyn. The service went solo on Jan. 1, 1976.
    When asked what keeps him going, Plants said he likes helping people out because everyone needs a helping hand once in a while.
       “I just enjoy doing the work,” he said. “We are all in the same boat.”
       When asked how many calls he’s been on in 50-years, Plants said he had no idea.
      “I could not imagine how many calls I’ve been on,” said Plants. “I know one year I went on a 100 calls. I haven’t kept track.”
      Plants is currently in charge of training staff and going on ambulance calls. He is a trained EMT.
       Plants said he has no plans to retire at this time.
      “I’m going to keep going for now,” he said in an earlier interview. “For how long, I don’t know.”
    When not on an ambulance call, Plants works for the family-owned J&M Roofing commercial roofing business in Brooklyn. He started working for the family while in high school.
        “We (Plants and his brothers) helped dad in the summer time,” recalled Plants. 
        He also helps his brother farm and raise cattle.
       Plants and his wife, Pauline, have three children, Natalie, Nikki and Bryan and a host of grandchildren. The couple will celebrate 45-years of marriage in October.
   “I’m just thankful for all the support the community has given to the ambulance department,” said Plants. “Without their support,  things would be a lot different.”
        The parade gets underway at 10 a.m. and rolls south along Jackson Street.