The Grinnell-Newburg Community School District Board of Directors has named Ken Kasper as the district’s next superintendent, pending official Board approval at their next meeting.
        Kasper is the current superintendent of Garner-Hayfield-Ventura CSD and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock CSD in Iowa, both high-performing districts. In this joint role, he expanded advanced academic and career opportunities for students, including 214 dual-credit and career academy enrollments through North Iowa Area Community College.
        As a result of these initiatives, over 65 percent of graduating seniors are participating in college-level coursework or career programs.
          “We are excited to welcome Ken Kasper to the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District. Ken brings a strong mix of finance, construction, and leadership experience, which comes at the perfect time as we build our new elementary school and continue planning for the future of our district’s facilities and infrastructure,” said Grinnell-Newburg Board President Chris Starrett. “What really stood out to the board is Ken’s passion for instructional leadership, student success, and bringing people together. He understands that while buildings matter, what happens inside our classrooms matters most. We had the opportunity to meet with several outstanding candidates, and choosing just one was no easy task. 
       “We would like to thank everyone who served on the mixed interview teams and tour guides for providing us with invaluable input on each of the finalist candidates,” Starrett said. “In the end, Ken was the clear fit for where Grinnell-Newburg is headed. We’re thrilled he’s joining our team and invite our entire community to help us welcome Ken and his family to Grinnell-Newburg!”
        Previously, Kasper served as superintendent of East Union CSD and Murray CSD. He also has experience as a secondary principal, athletic director, science teacher, and alternative school teacher over the course of his 37-year career.
        "I am honored and truly excited to join the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District. What drew me to Grinnell-Newburg is the community’s deep commitment to students, high expectations for learning, and strong sense of shared responsibility for the future,” said Kasper. “I believe great school districts are built through trust, transparency, and meaningful partnerships, and I look forward to listening, learning, and working alongside students, staff, families, and the broader community to make sure every student is supported and ready for their next steps,” Kasper said.
         Board members worked with staff at Grundmeyer Leader Services to conduct the superintendent search to allow ample time for a transition before the next school year. Kasper will officially begin leading the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District effective July 1; however, between now and then he will be communicating and spending time with Interim Superintendent Lisa Beames.

​       Loralei’s Giftshoppe at 816 Commercial St. in Grinnell offers a variety of home décor items and unique gift items that are fun, funky and unique.

J.O. Parker
 
       If you are looking for a unique gift for a wedding, anniversary, birthday, or celebration of a unique person, check out the many offerings at Loralei’s Giftshoppe in Grinnell.
          Located at 816 Commercial St., the business is owned by Verlan and Lori Vos of rural Searsboro.
          Lori calls the business fun, funky and unique.
          The Vos’ have owned the business since purchasing the building in 2002. The couple liked the feel of the building when deciding to purchase it. They have done many improvements from new windows to hanging drywall and painting throughout.
        The store has a variety of items from unique home décor and gift items to J. Devlin glass products (picture frames and jewelry boxes). There is a nice line of Iowa-made Milkhouse candles created in Osage. There is also a line of Studio M art poles (outside decorative items for flower gardens) and a wide variety of Geometry towels.
           The building originally housed a harness shop for horses in the late 1800s.
           After finishing the remodeling in 2003, the couple opened the giftshoppe in 2004.
          “We offer a handpicked selection of unique gifts, home accents and so much more,” said Lori. “Stop and test the scented candles or purchase another unique gift. Each season offers a new slate of products.
Village Decorating Studio
          In addition to Loraei’s Giftshoppe, the couple also owns Village Decorating Studio across the street at 817 Commercial St., a business that specializes in floor, window, wall coverings and other interior design products.
            The couple purchased that business in 1999.
            In fact, the studio is where Lori got her start in the decorating business.
         After graduating from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1977, Lori earned an interior design degree from Kirkwood in 1979.
       She was then hired on at Village Decorating Studio, working under three former owners before purchasing the business with her husband outright 20-years later in 1999.
            When asked what keeps her going, Lori said her love of helping people with their decorating needs and helping them find the perfect product or gift that fits.
            When asked what she enjoys the most about her businesses, Lori said meeting a variety of people.
            “It is interesting how Grinnell is a meeting point from other parts of the state,” she said.
            Lori often asks her customers what brings them to Grinnell.
           “We use Grinnell as a meeting place,” one customer said. “We enjoyed lunch and wanted to check out the stores.”
            A challenge is trying to find items that are unique for the variety of customers who stop at the store.
            There are five part-time employees who help run the business. 
        “I couldn’t do it without a great staff,” she said. “I’m thankful for three things – a very supportive husband, a supportive family and three former business owners who mentored me.”
           Lori’s goal in operating the business is to make her customers feel welcome and browse at their leisure.
          “At Village Decorating Studio our goal is to help you make your home beautiful one room at a time,” said Lori. “We hope to inspire you with unique, one of kind items that can bring happiness to your own home or to that person receiving a gift.”
           Hours for Loralei’s is 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday.
          Village Decorating Studio hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday. Both stores are closed on Sunday.
           Loraei’s Giftshoppe can be reached at 641-236-9605.
           Village Home Decorating can be reached at 641-236-7890.
    Checkout the businesses offerings on the internet at loraileisgrinnell.com or at villagedecoratingstudio.com.

      Dale Graff family members are presented the Jim Urfer Spirit of Farming Award by the Grinnell Lions Club during Ag Day activities on Aug. 28, 2025.  ​

J.O. Parker
 
          A rural Grinnell family who has impacted many lives from young to old are the recipients of the 2025 Jim Urfer Spirit of Farming (Farm Family) Award.
        Janelle Graff and her late husband, Dale, and the couple’s three children, Michelle, Curt and Kyle, were recognized for their contributions to the farming community. This family lived and breathed the country life from the moment they started to walk.
      Janelle, her three children, and a host of grandchildren and family members were present at the annual Grinnell Ag Day on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 to receive the award. 
         “I was surprised to be honored,” said Janelle.
        “Receiving this honor is pretty special,” added Curt.
      The family does not know who nominated them for the farming award, but said they appreciate the recognition. It’s a sure bet that Dale would feel the same way.
       Janelle recalled the many Sundays that she, Dale and their three children spent the day cleaning out the barn and grinding hay. They would finish the day together sitting around eating popcorn and apple slices.
       “That sweet and salty combination is a good representation of their lifelong love of farming: hard work and long days but so many proud memories,” noted the Grinnell Lions during the presentation.
       At a young age, Dale milked cows. As his older siblings (one brother and one sister) left home, Dale took over caring for the beef cattle, pigs, and some chickens on the family farm north of Grinnell. While also in high school, Dale worked the night shift at Holland Plastics in Gilman. It just happened that Janelle was babysitting for a co-worker and that is how the couple met.
         The couple was married just two weeks shy of 53 years when Dale passed away on Nov. 3, 2024.
After high school, Dale went to work at a local coop and then GTE for 48 years until his retirement in 2018.
While working in town, the Graff’s raised their kids, cattle, and crops on the family farm. When Dale retired, he traded his town job to do what he truly loved: farming full-time.
        Janelle said time spent with the kids and later the grandkids on the four-generation farm are the sweet memories she has stored away in her heart.
        Dale’s grandfather, Henry Graff, purchased the family farm in 1938. It is located in Sheridan Township.
Kyle and his family now live in the family farm home and handle the farming operation. The family raises corn and soybeans and has 20 head of cattle.
        The couple has 12 grandchildren.
        “I always say they are cheaper by the dozen,” said Janelle with a chuckle.
      In the early years, the Graff family started taking a few cows to the county fair, something the grandkids do to this day. The younger Michelle, Curt, and Kyle fought over who didn’t have to sit by the door to avoid having to open gates. They eventually got into raising sheep with lambing in the cold of winter and baling hay all summer. 
        On April 12, 1960, Dale’s dad bought a new Farmall 460 and passed it along through the generations. Kyle and Dale restored the tractor in 2008 to exhibit in parades. This tractor has made appearances at several Ag Days and on many tractor rides.
        The family still uses the Farmall 460 in the fields on occasion.
      “We were able to showcase the pride a farmer has and pull our family through several 4th of July parades on the Farmall 460,” recalled Janelle.
       The family heirloom was one of four tractors the Graff family had on display at this past Ag Day event. The family also brought a Super M, a 4020 and a 4440.
       Members of the Graff family drove the tractors in the Ag Day Tractor Parade.

​      Will Slagle, a 4-star offensive lineman recruit from Grinnell, second from left, is shown with his father, Don, Uncle Dean and Joe Montana during a recent visit to Notre Dame. Montana, the great San Francisco 49ers quarterback, played at Notre Dame. Slagle originally committed to play football for the ISU Cyclones, but decommitted after head coach Matt Campbell and Offensive Coach Ryan Clanton and staff left for Penn State. Slagle is keeping his options open and plans to announce where he plans to play in the spring. He has verbal offers from 14 DI schools and several other schools have expressed an interest in the 2027 Grinnell High School graduate.

J.O. Parker
 
      Grinnell’s Will Slagle is excited about new D1 college football opportunities after the junior committed to the Iowa State University Cyclones on Nov. 22 and then decommitted two weeks later on Dec. 9.
     When asked about his decision to decommit, Slagle said it came on the heels of then Cyclone Head Coach Matt Campbell and Offensive Coach Ryan Clanton and staff departing to Penn State.
     “After a lot of prayer and heartfelt conversations with my parents, coaches, and closest friends, I’ve made the tough decision to decommit from Iowa State,” Slagle said in a Facebook post. “I want to give a special thank you to Coach Matt Campbell and Coach Ryan Clanton for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a Cyclone. I truly believe God is opening new doors for me, and I’m trusting His plan for my future. I also want to thank my family and friends for always supporting me through this journey. Iowa State is still a school I’m considering, and I look forward to taking some time to get to know Coach Jimmy Rogers and the new coaching staff before making my final decision. With that being said, I will be fully reopening my recruitment. Thank you again Cyclone Nation.”
       The 6’4” and 300-pound Slagle, a 4-star offensive lineman recruit, has been on the radar of D1 colleges since his sophomore year at Grinnell. 
      Thanks in part goes to J.C. Moreau of Iowa City. Slagle works out with Moreau during the spring months and he helped get his name on the radar.
       “He sent out some of my tapes and got me noticed,” Slagle said in an earlier interview.
Moreau is the founder and sports performance coach and consultant at Strength U, a company that provides sports performance training for youth and high school students. He is the former director of strength and conditioning at the University of Iowa and two other universities.
      In addition to sending out tapes, Slagle has a Twitter account were coaches can watch tape of him playing online.
        On 3, one of several recruiting website companies for high school students, has rated Slagle as a Top 3 recruit in the state of Iowa and number 1 for offensive line. Other recruiting websites that have ranked Slagle include 247 Sports, Rivals and Prep Redzone.
       That ranking has stayed strong in spite of Slagle snapping a bone in his right foot during practice in August, an injury that sidelined him for eight weeks.
        He wore a boot while injured and served as an assistant o-line coach for the Tigers while he healed. He was able to play in  the last three games of his junior campaign at Marion, Newton and Pella.
      Prior to his junior season, Slagle had received verbal commits to play football from Iowa State, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Stanford, Arkansas and Auburn.
       Arizona State, Ohio State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt also expressed an interest in Slagle, but have not given him a verbal offer.
        Slagle has since checked off Auburn as they, like ISU, have a new coach.
       Since his decision to decommit from ISU, Slagle has received verbal offers from Duke and Penn State after reconnecting with his former coach and has also had interest from Michigan State. He also recently visited Notre Dame and had visited Old Miss University in the fall.
      And it is possible that Slagle could recommit to ISU. A lot depends on how he connects with the new head coach Jimmy Rogers and staff.
       “As for my future,” Slagle said. “I plan to go on a few more college visits in the next couple months with plans to make my decision later in the spring.”

       Barb Baker, who recently retired from her position as the director of advertising and community relations at Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, delivers a speech at a recent conference in Coralville. Baker spent 37 years at GMRC and was involved in helping build communities and schools across the 13 states that GMRC serves. Her last day at the company was Dec. 12.

J.O. Parker
 
      Barb Baker, a long-time Grinnell resident and 37-year employee of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company (GMRC), has retired.
          Baker’s last day was Dec. 12.
         Baker, who held three different positions at the company during her tenure, is probably most noted for her role as director of advertising and community relations, a job she held for 22 years.
       “I was in charge of all of our company advertising (and giving) in 13 states,” she said. “It was my opportunity to introduce GMRC to all of the communities we serve and offer community support.”
       This included funding community and school activities and events, supporting the fine arts and providing aide to teachers.
           “Not only financially, but with in-kind donations,” said Baker.
        For example, Baker and GMRC worked with the City of Grinnell as the lead contributor for the Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center, as well as provided several major gifts and grants to the Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell Fire Department and Central Park’s renovation and adaptive playground equipment projects.
         “During Covid, we worked with several other community funders and supporters to establish a small business emergency fund,” noted Baker. “We also helped establish a community fund to assist nonprofits with DEI education and training.”
        Baker said the partnership between Grinnell Mutual and the Grinnell Middle School is the longest standing partners-in-education program in our district.
           Baker called her job, a “Department of One.”
         And when asked what she enjoyed the most about her job, Baker said she most enjoyed working with a variety of supporters in both Grinnell and many other communities to help resolve or reduce social and economic barriers for our resident and organizations.
          “Having the opportunity to meet so many compassionate and hard-working peers, who have become my friends, is the ultimate reward.”
Background
        Baker and her husband, Mike, a now retired long-time math teacher and current assistant football coach at Grinnell High School, met at the University of Iowa.
      Growing up, Baker wanted to be a veterinarian, but after spending two years as her high school newspaper editor, she switched gears to become a journalist. 
          She went on to earn a degree in journalism in 1983.
       Mike, who grew up in Cedar Rapids and attended high school in Minnesota, earned a degree in finance from Iowa.
         At the time, the couple was living in Iowa City.
       After graduation from Iowa, Baker, who grew up in the northeast town of West Union, landed a job at KWWL television station in Waterloo. Her goal was to become a sport’s editor, but that didn’t work out.
        “I wanted to be a sports reporter but that job went to a college athlete,” recalled Baker, who worked at the station for about a year. “I ended up being a news reporter.”
        At the station, Baker covered stories in both Waterloo and the Cedar Rapids bureau.
       “I covered the airport commission’s vote to expand the airport in Cedar Rapids. Which was pretty big at the time,” she said.
       She also covered a little boy from the deep south whose Make-a-Wish wish was to tour the John Deere plant in Waterloo.
        “I served as the first television photographer at a murder trial in Blackhawk County,” said Baker. “This was one of the first, if not the first, opportunity for TV cameras in the courtroom. All the reporters covering the story for the three Eastern Iowa TV stations had to sit in another room and watch the videotape of the trial.”
         “I also helped the KWWL team cover a prisoner escape and hostage situation in Northeast Iowa,” she said.
       While Baker was at KWWL, Mike got the teaching bug and returned to Iowa to earn his teaching degree in math. He completed his student teaching at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School, where he also coached a sophomore girls’ basketball team and worked as an assistant football coach.
        He graduated from Iowa with his second degree in December 1987.
        In 1988, Mike applied for and accepted a position at Grinnell High School as a math teacher and girls’ basketball coach.
         Mike said when he and Barb moved to Grinnell, it was the smallest town they had lived in together.
        “I thought we would be here for a couple years and move on,” he said in an earlier interview. “You get here and have a couple kids and five years becomes 10 years and so on.”
       And to Baker’s surprise when she and Mike arrived in town, the Grinnell Superintendent at the time was Clem Bodensteiner, who just happened to be her long-time neighbor while growing up in West Union.
“That was such a coincidence,” said Baker.
        Mike began his teaching and coaching career at Grinnell and Baker was hired at GMRC. She said at the time, there wasn’t a lot of options for a journalist in Grinnell, so she found the claims position at Grinnell Mutual a little by luck and a little by chance.
       Her first job was working as a liability claims adjuster, a position she held for seven years. She then switched gears to become a corporate claims trainer before landing her dream position in 2003.
       In retirement, Baker and Mike plan to spend time with their family, teaching at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, and continuing to serve on several state and local Board of Directors, including the St. Francis Manor Foundation, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation, and chairing the Iowa Women’s Foundation.
       And on Friday nights in the fall, Mike will walk the sidelines, continuing to make a difference in the lives of young man using his coaching skills while Baker cheers them on from the stands.

​      Members of the Grinnell Tiger Paws Dance Team competed at the 50th Annual Iowa State Dance/Drill Team Association’s (ISDTA) Championships, bringing home a state championship honors. Pictured are, from left, front row: Brenna Sherman and Isabelle Holden. Back row: Coach Sydney Bradford, Makenna Stahl, Farrah Pefferman Orstad, Laney LaCaeyse, MaCaeyla Snodgrass, Brooke Maschmeier, Chloe Stevenson and Emma Shawler.

By J.O. Parker
 
        The Grinnell Tiger Paws Dance Team recently participated at the 50th Annual State Dance/Drill Team Association’s (ISDTA) Championships, bringing home numerous honors including a State Championship in Class IX Pom.
          This is the third state title in Tiger Paw history and the first title in six years at the school.
          In addition, the Tiger Paws earned the following honors:
          6th Place Class V Jazz
          4th Place Class VI Hip Hop
          4th Place Class III Mix
          The team also received the academic achievement award for a cumulative GPA of 3.5-4.0.
         Dance team members include: Makenna Stahl, Farrah Pefferman Orstad, Laney LaCaeyse, MaCaeyla Snodgrass, Brooke Maschmeier, Chloe Stevenson, Emma Shawler, Brenna Sherman and Isabelle Holden. The Dance Team Coach is Sydney Bradford.
        "I am incredibly proud of this group of dancers and their hard work and dedication to the team and these routines,” noted Coach Sydney Bradford, who is in her fourth year coaching the dance team.  “To watch them at State execute each routine the best they ever had was so fun to watch as a coach and seeing their hard work pay off by becoming State Champions is just icing on the cake! They are the hardest working athletes with the longest season of any sport at the high school and yet they show up every day with positivity, determination and such a passion for dance and their teammates! I am proud to be their coach! Now we shift gears to get ready for Nationals in February."
        More than 250 high school and college teams with 5,000 plus dancers perform more than 600 routines in the three days of competition, Dec. 3 - 5, at Casey’s Center in Des Moines, making this the largest state dance competition in the United States.
        Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment. They are evaluated and judged by industry professionals from all corners of the United States. Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment.      
            The Tiger Paws Dance Team did not qualify for nationals, but will be attending the event, Feb. 4 – 10.

​       The BGM Bears Dance Team participated in the 50th Annual Iowa State Dance/Drill Team Association’s (ISDTA) Championships, Dec. 3 – 5. Pictured are, from left, front row: Madelynn Doty, Taelyn Garringer, Connie Schott. Back row: Amelia Davis, Mira Beaderstadt, Kaida Kilmer and Dance Coach Mickella Lamb.

By ​J.O. Parker
 
     The BGM Bears Dance Team recently participated in the 50th Annual Iowa State Dance/Drill Team Association’s (ISDTA) Championships, bringing home three top honors. In addition, BGM had five solo performers who all earned Division I and II honors.
           The BGM Bears Dance Team also earned:
           Class II Jazz Division I, 11th place
           Class 1 Novelty Division I, 7th place
           Class I Lyrical Division I, 5th place. 
        In the solo competition, Madelynn Doty and Taelyn Garringer earned Division I ratings and Connie Schott, Mira Beaderstadt, and Kaida Kilmer earned Division II ratings.
          The dance team also brought home an Academic Award of Excellence for the team cumulative GPA with an average being 3.0 - 3.49. 
          Dancers included: Madelynn Doty, Taelyn Garringer, Connie Schott, Amelia Davis, Mira Beaderstadt and Kaida Kilmer.
          More than 250 high school and college teams with 5,000 plus dancers perform more than 600 routines in the three days of competition, Dec. 3 - 5, at Casey’s Center in Des Moines, making this the largest state dance competition in the United States.
         Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment. They are evaluated and judged by industry professionals from all corners of the United States. Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment.
            The BGM Dance Coach is Mickella Lamb.

​       The Wall that Heals is a 3/4 size replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington. The monument will travel to 31 sites this year including Brooklyn. This memorial program is to honor those who served in Vietnam, returned home and since passed. Their name, picture, and short history will be displayed on a educational display that is with the wall. Use the QR code or: Google sites/thewallthathealsbrooklyn2026?