Voters pass school bond
(5/17/12)
A record number of voters participated in the Iowa Park City Council and School Trustee Election this year .... CLICK FOR STORY

Relay for Life at Hawk Stadium Friday
(5/17/12)
Iowa Park Relay for Life will kick-off Friday at Iowa Park High School Hawk Stadium.
Activities start at 6 p.m. with a Zumba warm up followed by the opening ceremonies and various activities until 7 a.m. Saturday .... CLICK FOR STORY

Annual FishFest this Saturday at Gordon Lake
(5/17/12)
The Texas Junior Anglers (TJA) program and the City of Iowa Park will be hosting a youth fishing event Saturday at Gordon Lake in Iowa Park .... CLICK FOR STORY

Council chooses new Public Works Director
(5/10/12)
Following a lengthy round of interviews and discussions, the Iowa Park City Council voted Monday night to hire Scott Rosser Perry of Glen Rose to fill the position of Public Works Director .... CLICK FOR STORY

Cat named 'Hero' is indeed one
after screams awaken family to fire
(5/10/12)
The scream of a family cat, now called Hero, is being attributed to saving a family’s life .... CLICK FOR STORY

Big early numbers in city/school early voting
(5/03/12)
Early voting that started Monday in the city and school election has already drawn a large turnout .... CLICK FOR STORY

How will we pay for school bond proposal?
If you are over 65, it's quite likely you won't
(4/26/12)
If the Iowa Park School Bond Proposal in the amount of $14.7 million is passed May 12, how will the bond be paid for?

That is a good question, and the answer has a few elements to be addressed.
First the tax rate. The estimated tax increase of this bond is .21 cents for a total tax rate of $1.34 (the current tax rate is $1.13). For a home valued at $100,000, this represents an increase of approximately $17 per month.

However, if you are over the age of 65 or disabled, and successfully filed the appropriate application, school taxes are frozen on your home and will not increase as long as you own and occupy the home .... CLICK FOR STORY

All four school campuses schedule open houses
(4/26/12)
Open Houses are slated for all four IPCISD campuses in the next two weeks, and each will serve as a polling location for early voting in the city and school elections .... CLICK FOR STORY

Back to paper ballots for city/school election
(4/19/12)
The Iowa Park CISD Board of Trustees moved quickly through a host of agenda items during their regular scheduled meeting Monday at the IPCISD Administration Building, including approval of a resolution for the use of paper ballots in the May 12 and future elections, and approval of a resolution joining over 300 school districts in the state with concerns for high stakes, standardized testing of Texas public school students .... CLICK FOR STORY

City council to meet Monday
(4/19/12)
The Iowa Park City Council will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Monday in the council chambers located at 103 E. Cash Street .... CLICK FOR STORY

No public works director just yet
(4/12/12)
After meeting in closed session for two hours and 40 minutes to interview the finalists, the city council took no action to fill the position of Director of Public Works .... CLICK FOR STORY

EDC agrees to incentives for new business
(4/12/12)
During a brief meeting Tuesday evening the Economic Development board voted to enter into an economic development agreement with Champion Components, Incorporated .... CLICK FOR STORY

DUTTON FUNERAL HOME
Son takes the reins as father retires
(3/29/12)
Larry Dutton recently retired after 45 years of service to families during what is likely the toughest time most families can go through .... CLICK FOR STORY

BOND ELECTION
Bradford, Kidwell Elementary schools
(3/22/12)
During the planning process to decide which projects to include in a bond package, school trustees were told by principals of the two elementary schools that, with a few upgrades, their campuses would be in good shape. Following the last bond election, new wings were added at each of the elementary schools .... CLICK FOR STORY

BOND ELECTION
Baseball, softball, tennis, parking
(3/15/12)
Voters in the Iowa Park CISD school district will decide on May 12 whether to approve a $14.7-million bond proposal for major renovations.
The last two weeks the Leader has featured a summary of work proposed for the high school campus and part of the athletic complex. This week the focus will be on the remainder of proposals for the athletic complex including baseball fields, softball fields, tennis courts and additional visitor parking .... CLICK FOR STORY

One more candidate in school election
Before the deadline Monday for filing in the school and city elections, a race developed for Place 7 on the school board when Sharon Thompson filed to run against Jeff Rhoades for the two-year unexpired term. Both candidates are newcomers .... CLICK FOR STORY

Hawk Band does it again
There they have gone and done it, yet again.
The 2011-12 IPHS Hawk Band earned a 29th consecutive Sweepstakes this past weekend, earning a superior or first division rating in both concert in the two portions of the UIL Regional Concert and Sightreading Contest at Wilbarger Auditorium in Vernon .... CLICK FOR STORY

BOND ELECTION
Hawk Stadium and field house
Hawk Stadium, built 42 years ago primarily with donated labor and money, has been a great source of pride for Iowa Park and the surrounding community. But time and the elements have taken their toll, and the facility is in need of serious repairs .... CLICK FOR STORY

Bob Dawson
Town mourns loss of legendary educator
Legendary Iowa Park educator Bob Dawson died Tuesday morning at his residence in Frisco. A teacher, coach, and administrator in the Iowa Park school system from 1957 to 1986 – and principal at IPHS from 1959 to 1985 – Dawson left an indelible mark on the students he taught, the teachers he mentored, and a town he helped to grow. He was 85... CLICK FOR STORY

BOND ELECTION
The IPHS renovations
The exterior of the high school will receive a facelift with new entrance forms, exterior facade, new canopies, copings, gutters, downspouts and solar shade devices. Also concrete walks, landscaping/irrigation and storm water control measures .... CLICK FOR STORY

Trustees call for May bond election
After almost four years of study, Iowa Park CISD school trustees unanimously approved calling a $13.7-million bond election at their meeting on Thursday .... CLICK FOR STORY

EDITORIAL
The time is right
As of Thursday evening, the cards are on the table with IPCISD trustees calling for a $13.7-million bond election May 12 for the first phase of retrofits and new construction to the school’s four campuses and high school athletic complex .... CLICK FOR STORY

Outstanding citizens, business honored
The annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at First Family Center with Bill Lockwood, preacher of Iowa Park Church of Christ as guest speaker .... CLICK FOR STORY

4B agrees to help fund Christmas train
Members of the Community Development Corporation voted to contribute $25,000 toward the purchase of a Snowflake Express Christmas train to be displayed at the Tom Burnet Memorial Library, during their regular meeting Tuesday evening .... CLICK FOR STORY

Dr. Soell honored by Medical Society
Erwin F. Soell, MD of Iowa Park and Donald L. Bomer, MD were honored as the 2012 Wichita County Medical Society Distinguished Service Award winners at their annual banquet Saturday at the Wichita Falls Country Club .... CLICK FOR STORY

Iowa Park Junior Livestock Show results
A good crowd was on hand Saturday for the annual Iowa Park Junior Livestock Show at the Iowa Park Project Center .... CLICK FOR STORY

Hanford, Traylor selected to All-State Band
Junior Blake Hanford (tuba) and sophomore Christopher Traylor (flute) earned a spot on the All-State Concert Band following auditions Saturday at Argyle High School.... CLICK FOR STORY

Local photographer's works on exhibit
Ben Jacobi has an eye for interesting things — whether they be beautiful, defining, or sometimes even spectacular and frightening.
The 2007 IPHS graduate has had a long-running passion for photography. Currently, an exhibit of his work is being shown in the “What’s Up Downstairs?” gallery at the Kemp Center for the Arts in Wichita Falls through Jan. 28 .... CLICK FOR STORY

New apartment complex possible for city
If things go as planned, Iowa Park could have a new 80-unit apartment complex built here in 2013 .... CLICK FOR STORY

FOR S-5! MANUFACTURING
City approves tax abatement, incentives
The new business, S-5! Manufacturing, that will soon be coming to Iowa Park was again the focus when the city council met Monday night .... CLICK FOR STORY

School board members receive valuable input
from former trustees on bond issue
Iowa Park CISD Board of Trustees held a special called meeting Monday night at the W.F. George Middle School library to discuss school facility improvements .... CLICK FOR STORY

EDC continues negotiations
to fill vacant spec building
During a special called meeting Tuesday evening, the Economic Development Corporation board another proposal was put on the table in an effort to bring Charles Bennett and Advanced Technologies and 20 new jobs to Iowa Park .... CLICK FOR STORY

City agrees to lease large portion of
old Wal-Mart building to new business
In a move that should provide a major boost for the economy of Iowa Park, the Iowa Park City Council, at its regular meeting Monday night, approved leasing a large portion of the city-owned building at 500 W. Highway to S-5! Manufacturing L.L.C. .... CLICK FOR STORY

New firm to bring 17 jobs to Iowa Park
S-5!Manufacturing, L.L.C. will soon be calling Iowa Park home, bringing 17 new jobs to town with a payroll of over $600,000, with plans to expand their workforce within the next two years .... CLICK FOR STORY

Hawk Band continues marching excellence
The Iowa Park High School Hawk Band continued its tradition of excellence this past weekend, earning a Division I rating at the UIL Region II Marching Contest at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls .... CLICK FOR STORY

Hero Unsung
The story behind the Fighting Hawk
When the 2011 Iowa Park Hawk football team hits the field each Friday, if you look closely, you will notice a Fighting Hawk decal emblazoned on each of their helmets, against the backdrop of the outlined silhouette of Texas .... CLICK FOR STORY

IPCISD School Board approves
budget, sets tax rate
No citizens attended the public hearings Tuesday night for the school budget for 2011-12 and and proposed tax rate for 2011 .... CLICK FOR STORY

Commissioners approve redistricting plan
Wichita County Commissioners unanimously approved a plan for redistricting of commissioners court precincts during the second and final hearing Monday night .... CLICK FOR STORY

Officers recognized for good samaritan deeds
Several Iowa Park police officers were recognized at Monday’s city council meeting for aide rendered to stranded motorists during the past week and for work involving burglary of a home and recovery of most of the stolen items .... CLICK FOR STORY

Harder to peddle
In the future, those who want to conduct door-to-door sales in Iowa Park will be operating under tougher regulations, following action taken at Monday’s meeting of the city council... CLICK FOR STORY

Wildfire burns over 11,700 acres,
several structures Friday
It was a perfect storm waiting to happen Friday. With much of the northern and western part of Texas in serious drought conditions with tinder-dry grass and brush from months of no precipitation and low humidity, combined with winds that gusted to 65 mph, all that was needed was a spark to create a nightmare ... CLICK FOR STORY

Letters of thanks
Letters received by the Leader for the April 21 issue ... CLICK HERE TO READ

Trustees approve ad campaign
to promote IPCISD
At a meeting Tuesday night the Iowa Park CISD School Board approved financing for a campaign promoting the school district and community ... CLICK FOR STORY

County enacts burn ban
Wichita County Commissioners passed a declaration of disaster for Wichita County, during their regular meeting Monday, because the county is under imminent threat of severe damage, injury or loss of life or property resulting from the threat of wildfires due to drought and other weather related conditions ... CLICK FOR STORY

More candidates file for city/school election
Two new candidates filed to run for office during during the past week, one for the Iowa Park CISD School Board and one for a place on the Iowa Park City Council. Monday was the filing deadline ... CLICK FOR STORY

IPHS Hawk Band earns
28th consecutive Sweepstakes
The IPHS Hawk Band last Tuesday performed in the UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest in Vernon, picking up division I ratings in both efforts. Combined with the division I rating the Hawk Band received this past fall in the UIL Marching Contest, Iowa Park earned Sweepstakes, the band’s 28th consecutive year of such an accomplishment ... CLICK FOR STORY

IPCISD keeps anxious eye
on state budget proposals
With Texas facing a multibillion-dollar revenue shortfall (ranging from $15 billion to $27 billion) in balancing the biennium budget, public education is on the chopping block based on proposals from both houses and the governor’s office, with education spending accounting for more than a third of the state’s general revenue spendin ... CLICK FOR STORY

Locals take top prizes at stock show
Students from the Iowa Park Future Farmers of America (FFA), junior FFA and Valley View 4-H fared well at Saturday’s premium sale for this year’s Wichita County Junior Livestock Show ... CLICK FOR STORY

Off-road, all-terrain vehicle park for city?
The possibility of constructing an off-road, all-terrain vehicle park on the east side of Lake Buffalo was discussed at Monday night’s meeting of the city council ... CLICK FOR STORY

School board calls election
In their Thursday night meeting, the Iowa Park CISD School Board called a Trustee Election for May 14, designated polling places, and appointed election judges ... CLICK FOR STORY

Chamber names outstanding citizens
History was made during the annual Iowa Park Chamber of Commerce awards banquet held Saturday at Camp Chaparral, when a father and daughter were both award recipients and the Citizen of the Year went to the youngest person ever ... CLICK FOR STORY

Hamilton inducted into
Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame
The Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame inducted four new members Friday night during Texas Press Association midwinter convention in San Marcos, including Iowa Park Leader co-owner and co-publisher Bob Hamilton ... CLICK FOR STORY

City approves audit, rejects bids
Council rejects bids for heating/AC replacements; looking at additional energy savings grant ... CLICK FOR STORY

On Second Thought ...
Housewives of Beverly Hillbillies
Leader columnist Kari Collins shares her thoughts on a popular reality TV show ... CLICK FOR STORY

2010 in Review
The year is broken down in the Leader's annual review of local happenings... CLICK FOR STORY

Facilities survey favors improvements
Results of the Iowa Park CISD facilities survey are in, and indicate that the majority of those responding are in favor of major improvements in the school district ... CLICK FOR STORY

City votes to annex strip of land
on West Highway
A 1.42-acre tract of land on West Highway was formally annexed into the Iowa Park city limits during a meeting of the city council Monday night ... CLICK FOR STORY

City considers leasing old Wal-Mart building
The City of Iowa Park is considering leasing a portion of the city-owned building at 500 W. Highway to Sealed Air, Cryovac Division for use as a warehouse ... CLICK FOR STORY

Bone diggers
The dig was in a very remote part of Archer County, somewhere south of Lake Kickapoo. Driving from Iowa Park, there were so many right turns and left turns made, you didn’t need to be blindfolded to eventually feel disoriented ... CLICK FOR STORY

City accepts bids on surplus property
Bids from the city’s surplus property auction were approved by the city council Monday night, bringing in a total of $14,100 ... CLICK FOR STORY

Deatherage appointed to fill trustee vacancy
A former member of the Iowa Park School Board, Greg Deatherage, has been appointed to fill the board seat left vacant with the resignation of Guy Traylor in May ... CLICK FOR STORY

Tommy Watkins inducted into
High School Hall of Fame
Former Head Hawk Tommy Watkins, who coached Iowa Park to state championships in 1969 and 1970, was inducted yesterday into the 2010 Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor during at luncheon at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio ... CLICK FOR STORY

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