Fremont county profile book

COMMUNITY PROFILE MAGAZINE

IOWIOW

A AFREMONT CO.FREMONT CO.Anderson • Bartlett • Farragut • Hamburg • Imogene • McPaul

Percival • Randolph • Riverton • Sidney • Tabor • Thurman

Sidney, IowaCounty Seat

Copyright 2012 The Valley News

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Fremont County Profile 3

TABLE OF

ContentsWelcome

PAGE 4

Two County Dusters HistoryPAGE 5-6

Our TownsPAGE 9-20

Area FactsPAGE 23

EducationPAGE 24

Law EnforcementPAGE 39

Discover Fremont County!PAGE 22

Government/Public ServicePAGE 29-31

HealthcarePAGE 36-37

WorshipPAGE 32

Advertiser’s IndexPAGE 38

Parks and RecreationPAGE 25-28

Sidney Rodeo HistoryPAGE 33-34

4-H HistoryPAGE 7-8

Loess HillsPAGE 35

4 Fremont County Profile

WelcomeNative Americans, explorers, trappers,

traders, hunters, homesteaders andtourists have come to Fremont Countyover the centuries, and, struck by thearea’s richness and beauty, stayed. That’swhy we say, once you pause in FremontCounty, you will suddenly feel likeyou’re home!

Nestled in the southwest corner ofIowa, Fremont County is home to 7,400people spread across more than 500square miles. In addition to dozens offarms and eight small cities, the countyalso incorporates the beginning of theLoess Hills, a geographic and environ-mental phenomenon known only to thispart of the United States and China.Composed of yellow loess soil overlyingolder debris left from the last Ice Age, thehills are the result of dust-filled windsfrom the west, being slowed by theMissouri River and deposited along thewestern Iowa border.

The cities of Fremont County rangefrom tiny Imogene with 66 residents tothe county seat, Sidney, which is home to1,300 people. Hamburg is similar in size,with 1,290 residents. Each city is specialin its own way and we invite you to dis-cover them all.

Manufacturing and non-farm employ-ment have grown dramatically in the lastdecade with hotels, truck stops and retailbusinesses from the intersection ofHighway 2 and Interstate 29 in Percival,for example, and companies rangingfrom Eaton Transmission; Pella CustomWindows; Green Plains RenewableEnergy; Triple K Manufacturing; andREM Manufacturing in eastern FremontCounty to ConAgra, Manildra Millingand Bartlett Grain in Hamburg.

Sidney is home to the annual SidneyRodeo now 89 years strong, drawingthousands to the area for this champi-onship event. The Rodeo has its ownmuseum with exhibits covering thedecades of bronco and bull riding andother popular events.

Scenic Fremont County offers a varietyof recreational opportunities includingthe Waubonsie State Park, more than adozen public wildlife management areasthat offer fishing and hunting plus walk-ing and hiking trails and a virtual birders’paradise.

Whatever your reason for visitingFremont County, we hope you’ll pauselike the thousands who have come beforeyou and make this your home!


Two County Dusters HistoryFormed in 1997 by Farragut horseman

Dan Whitehill, the Two County Dustershave been performing at the Sidney IowaRodeo and Iowa State Horse Fair fornumerous years.

The Two County Dusters are a group ofyouth that perform an exhilarating drillteam like routine, while riding a horse ata full gallop.

“It’s a way to keep our youth involvedwith horses and give them an avenue forpersonal growth,” said Ken Whitehill,Two County co-director. “It helps themlearn responsibility, keeps them involvedand provides them with ownership.”

Although Dan retired in 2007, Ken, aswell as Josh Sunderman and Dick

McClure make sure the Dusters are stillgoing strong.

“It’s not easy,” said Ken. “It takes a lotof hard work.”

Participants must be in the sixth gradeto seniors in high school, said Ken.Practices are held each Sunday beginningin March at the Sidney Rodeo Arena fortwo months. Tryouts to make the teamare then held the first two Sundays inJune.

“We look for the partnership betweenthe kid and the horse,” Ken explained.“They also have to be able to compre-hend some basic tasks and have controlover their animal.”

With 23 members, Ken said the group

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Two County Dusters Historyperformed March 30, 31, and April 1 atthe Iowa Horse Fair in Des Moines, asthey have the past nine years. They alsoperformed in June at the annual TaborFarmers and Merchants Picnic.

However, the group might best beknown for their annual performances atthe Sidney Iowa Championship Rodeo.

Despite having the name the Two

County Dusters, team members can actu-ally reside in any county that bordersPage or Fremont County.

“In the beginning it was only for Pageand Fremont County, but then we had afew kids involved in Page County 4-Hthat lived in Taylor County, and a few thatlived in Northwest Missouri, so when westopped our affiliation with 4-H, weopened it up.”

Sadly, Ken said when they first startedthere were more than 35 members, butwith less people owning horses, theirnumbers are decreasing each year.

“There just aren’t that many kids withhorses any more,” said Ken. “We’ll cer-tainly keep it going as long as we can.”

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4-H History4-H has long labored under the pre-

sumption that it’s just about raisinghearty livestock and growing gargantuanproduce and therefore only for kids wholived in the country. Even the person incharge of Fremont County 4-H, ISUExtension and Outreach County YouthCoordinator Susan Harris, said she hadthat notion when she was in school.

“I grew up in Keokuk thinking 4-H wasfor farm kids, that was my concept. And,really, it’s not, but back in the day I thinkit did get labeled for farm kids, but thereare lots of other activities,” she said.

Just finishing her first year on the job,Harris said she has learned that 4-H pres-ents kids with a vast array of subject mat-ter, from creative arts and personal devel-opment to agriculture and naturalresources, science and technology and,yes, raising livestock.

“Part of the 4-H adventure experience

is looking at project areas that 4-H has tooffer and then choosing a project from 45different areas,” Harris said. “4-H’ers areencouraged to think about somethingthey would like to explore, somethingnew, maybe it’s a hobby that they want tolearn more about. It could be a topic thatmaybe the family is involved in. Eitherway, we want it to be something fun.”

Kids who join 4-H are divided intothree groups – fourth through sixth gradeJuniors, seventh and eighth gradeIntermediates, and ninth through twelfthgrade Seniors. While the Juniors learnabout many of the same topics,Intermediates and Seniors are encour-aged to develop projects each year for theFremont County Fair. Some of the differ-ent clubs within Fremont County are theRiverside Rockets, the Silver Skylarks,W.M.P., Washington P.E.P., theWaubonsie Trail Blazers and the Fremont


4-H HistoryCounty Fletchings, a safety, educationand shooting club. If kids are interestedin an activity not offered by their ownclub or have parents living in differenthomes they can enroll in more than oneclub.

While participating in the fair is notrequired, Harris said, most members doand learn valuable life lessons fromchoosing a project, completing it andthen being able to explain the process toa panel of judges. Still, she said, it is ayouth organization and the emphasis ison enjoyment.

“You want them to learn how to maketheir own decisions, be organized, learnhow to keep records, work with others,work with your group and, again I haveto say it, fun is at the forefront. The inter-action and belonging, being a part of agroup, part of your club, is really impor-tant,” Harris said.

One big once-in-a-lifetime experienceopen to 4-H’ers is the CitizenWashington Focus trip, a weeklong jour-ney to the nation’s capital that comesevery three years. This just happens to beone of those years and Harris said 37Fremont County kids will be headed easton June 2 to see the sights, stay at the

National Youth 4-H Center in suburbanMaryland and meet with 4-H membersfrom across the country to talk aboutlocal and national issues.

There are two big annual fundraisersfor the trip – the food stand and a popularcherry pie baking contest and auction atthe fair – and kids have to provide adeposit, but Harris said the extension’sYouth Committee is the true indispensa-ble supporter and sponsor of the trip.

With this being her first year and firstopportunity to go on the Washington trip,Harris said she was bit nervous at theprospect and asked prior chaperonesextensive questions about how it hadgone in the past.

“I was intimidated at first but I’m real-ly looking forward to it and don’t look atit as a chore by any means or even a job,”she said. “For me, I feel like it’s going tobe quite the experience to be there andwatch our kids interact and be a part ofit.”

For more information about FremontCounty 4-H or the Fremont County Fair,visit www.extension.iastate.edu/fre-mont/kidsteens.htm or call the FremontCounty extension office at 374-2351.

FAIR... The Fremont County Fair is held annually in July at the Fremont County Fairgrounds inSidney.


Our TownsCity of FarragutMayor Tom Shull

Population 509

Situated near the East NishnabotnaRiver, the town of Farragut was namedafter Naval war hero, Admiral DavidGlasgow Farragut.

Originally called Lowland, when start-ed in 1870, the name was changed toFarragut in 1872.

In 1878, the town was incorporated onland owned by U.D. Coy. The first townhall, built in 1893, cost $1,600 in a sharedagreement with Odd Fellows Lodge,which held their meetings upstairs.

Farragut City Clerk Becki Sickman

said town hall was the only buildinglocated on the west side of main street tosurvive a fire that occurred a decade later.She added the building is still standingtoday and is now the Masonic Lodge.

“The current City Hall used to be amedical clinic,” added Sickman.

The Farragut Community School islocated in the middle of town, with thefootball field and baseball facility on thesouth edge. Sickman said in 1946, morethan 400 names of veterans from variouswars were engraved on an honor wall,located on the lawn of the school.

“The names were engraved on Carraraglass,” said Sickman.

The United Methodist Church,

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2815 Northridge DriveSidney, IA 51652

Phone: 712-374-6040

West Side of Square712-374-2728Sidney, Iowa

LOWLAND... Farragut was originally called Lowland, when started in 1870. It hosts an annualcommunity celebration each fall, which includes a parade down mainstreet.


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Located inside Morelands, on the square

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SIDNEY COWBOY CHURCHRev. Dr. Roger Kissel, Pastor

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Congregational United Church of Christ,First National Bank, gas station, twobeauty salons, tavern, senior center,diesel and auto repair shop, grain elevatorand fertilizer plant, Sickman said whatFarragut doesn’t offer, nearby towns do.

“It’s a short, scenic drive to get whatyou can’t get here,” said Sickman.

The town recently completed a dewa-tering project to help with flood issuesthat at times plague the southeast part oftown.

“That will be a real asset to the townonce it’s completed,” she said.

City of HamburgCathy Crain – Mayor

Population 1,240

Named after founders from Hamburg,Germany, in 1848, the city of Hamburg issituated in the far southwest corner ofFremont County.

Mayor Cathy Crain, in office sinceJanuary 2008, added many of the found-ing father’s families still reside inHamburg, helping keep the German her-itage alive.

As for what she likes best aboutHamburg, Crain replied the friendly peo-ple, the Carnegie Library and the GrapeCommunity Hospital.

However, she said people should comevisit Hamburg for the, “orchards, (Loess)

Our TownsRURAL... Hamburg, Iowa was named after Hamburg, Germany and might be best known for itsannual Popcorn Day celebration.


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hills and hometown cooking.” Best known for popcorn and their

annual Popcorn Day celebration, Crainsaid the great people and great business-es in Hamburg make her the most proud.

“There’s no line at the grocery storeand in times of trouble or crisis, the townalways pulls together and supports eachother,” said Crain.

Despite having more businesses andjobs than any other town in FremontCounty, Crain said she, like other ruralmayors, worry about population decline.

However, she added the city is doingits best to keep moving forward.

Recent accomplishments within thecity include a new main street and newbusinesses.

So whether visiting for a day, or think-ing of relocation, Crain said Hamburg’sgot it all.

“Supportive people, good schools,organized sports, a family movie theatre,

good churches, Kiwanis, library, InterChurch council and a hospital,” she said.“What more do you need?”

City of ImogeneMayor Lori Crump

Population 66

Built upon rich Irish heritage, the townof Imogene once thrived. In fact, in 1891,400 people called Imogene home.However, today, it merely has a popula-tion of 66.

Platted for a town on Nov. 5, 1879,Captain Anderson went to the countyseat, Sidney, on Nov. 6 and obtained thenecessary paperwork, to create the com-munity and name it after his daughter,Imogene.

In 1879, H.W. Crosswaite bought thefirst lot in Imogene and opened a mercan-tile store. The next business to openwould be the Cahill Bank.

Our Towns


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That same year, J.A. Rose built the firsthouse.

The following year, St. Patrick’sCatholic Church was established, as wellas a Methodist Church.

In 1880, the census of Imogene saidthere were 27 households, 161 residents,two blacksmiths, 10 merchants, five car-penters, one butcher, three teamsters,eight laborers, two restaurateurs, onehotel keeper, one doctor, one stationagent, one livery man, three painters, twograin dealers, one furniture dealer, onesaloon keeper, one telegraph operator,one druggist, and one photographer.

By 1887, Imogene was the bankingcenter for the towns of Farmer’s City,Climax, and Solomon.

However, disaster struck on May 18,1892 when almost the entire businesssection of the town was destroyed by fire.Another fire would occur in 1895, whichalso destroyed many businesses in town.

Imogene had five churches, a Catholic,Methodist, Free Methodist, GermanLutheran and German Reformed by1899, and in 1900, a 25 mile-long ruralmail service began operating out ofImogene.

Fire destroyed several businesses, thistime on the west side of main street in1905, and again in 1911, 1913, and 1914.

Two additional banks were built in1914, and electricity came to town in1916.

In 1926, yet another fire destroyed theImogene Public School and HibernationHall, former Free Methodist Church,burnt down in 1934.

The Today Show came to Imogene in1988 to interview the all female govern-ment, and returned again a year later todo a report on furniture maker AugustWerner and his flying machine.

In April 2009, there was discussion todisincorporate the town of Imogene due

Our Towns


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to finances, but the remaining townspeo-ple, and former residents, banned togeth-er to stop the proceedings.

In November 2009, the town ofImogene celebrated its 130th birthday.

City of RandolphMayor Vance Trively

Population 180

Birthplace of Milo Max Marshall, anoutfielder for the Cincinnati Reds from1942-44, and Virginia Smith, RepublicanU.S. Representative from Nebraska from1975-91, the town of Randolph was plat-ted in 1877.

Samuel Buckner made the first mer-cantile venture by opening a store, fol-lowed by the Spencer Brothers as propri-etors.

As of 1910, there were three dry goodsstores operated by A.Freeman, AddyBrothers, and R. Armstrong.

Additionally, there was a Sells &Martin hardware house, which sold farmimplements; D.W. Thomas’ drug store,which also sold books and toys; S.T.Rhoades’ elevator; J.T. Stout’s hotel, Drs.H.J. Piper and William Kerr; RandolphHigh School; and the First NationalBank.

Mayor Vance Trively, who was bornand raised in Randolph, explained thetown originally wasn’t where it is today.

“It was out here a mile-and-a-halfnorth of Randolph called Deer Creek set-tlement. When the railroad came in, theybuilt the depot right down here so it’d beon the railroad line and the town movedin,” said Trively. “That’s how Randolphgot started where it is now.”

Although still a fantastic town, it’schanged quite a bit over the past 100years.

“It’s not like it was,” said Trively. “Atone time it was bustling, but it’s still a

Our Towns


great place to live.”As for the future, Trively said he’d like

to have a convenience store come to townso residents won’t have to drive so far toget gas, a gallon of milk or loaf of bread.

“We’ve put up a veterans memorial,and moved the old train depot back intotown, and this spring we’d like to remod-el the community building.”

Trively said Randolph provides a quiteplace to live within a tight-knit communi-ty.

“A lot of their (residents) problemsbecome personal,” he said. “We all havea common bond in a way.”

The only businesses that remain inRandolph is the Tri-Valley Bank, a postoffice, city hall, community center, firestation, elevator and the library.

“Our biggest challenge is keeping peo-ple here. We have about 13 empty housesaround town and when I was a kid, it washard to find a house.”

City of RivertonMayor Joseph Connell

Population 304

With one of only three originalChautauqua pavilions in the entire United

States, Riverton was platted in 1876 byA.B. Smith.

A.B. Smith purchased the land thatwould soon be Riverton, from early set-tler brothers Coleman and Isaac Smith.

One of the first buildings constructedin Riverton was the Chautauqua pavilionin 1896. Riverton City Clerk CarolJennings said the pavilion was rushed tocompletion so that William JenningsBryan, a presidential candidate, couldspeak there.

Chautauqua programs, which includedmusicians, speakers, teachers, entertain-ers, and preachers, were very popular inthe 1800s and early 1900s, with theRiverton Chautauqua being the only per-manent building in Fremont County usedfor such events.

During the days of Chautauquas,Riverton was quite the city. Locatedalong the railroad line between Red Oakand Nebraska City, it had a train depot,two hotels, a physician, bank, grocerystore, funeral parlor, school and ShullHardware Store, which is still in opera-tion today.

“The Riverton gymnasium, which iscurrently used for gatherings, was built in1933 and was the first of its kind built by

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Our Townsthe Civilian Conservation Corps in1933,” said Jennings.

“The most recent accomplishments area new firestation, community center, andcity office building.”

Additionally, Jennings said Riverton isknown for great hunting, especiallywaterfowl, like geese and ducks. In fact,the restaurant in Riverton is called theWaterfowl Café.

“Hundreds of hunters come to the areafor the different hunting seasons,” saidJennings.

The town also holds an annualIndependence Day celebration.

The Chautauqua is located within thecity park, and was listed on the NationalHistoric Registry. Recently is wasreroofed with wooden shingles in orderto keep the building original.

“One of the best things about a littletown is that everyone knows you and if

you need anything, they are here foryou,” said Jennings. “It is for the mostpart like one big family.”

City of SidneyMayor Doug Hobbie

Population 1,300

Home of the Sidney IowaChampionship Rodeo for more than 80years, the town of Sidney also serves asthe county seat for Fremont County.

Sidney City Clerk Suzie Moores saidSidney is a great community with a lot tooffer to visitors and residents.

“We have a good school, new library,Fremont County Historical Museum, arodeo museum under construction, aswimming pool, city park, rodeo andcounty fair,” said Moores. “We’ve alsogot good churches and businesses, aswell as a golf course and state park near-


Our Townsby.”

Originally called Dayton, the namewas changed to Sidney after Sidney,Ohio.

“The surveyors who laid out the townboarded with the family of MiltonRichards, the first Clerk of District Courtand, at the suggestion of his wife, JaneJackson, a native of Sidney, Ohio, theyrecommended the name of Sidney for thetown,” explained Moores.

The town was founded shortly after thediscovery of gold in California, and thewestward movement spurred the town’sgrowth.

“Travelers on their way west stoppedfor lodging, food, and supplies,” saidMoores.

In 1851, the town was named countyseat she added.

Six dry goods stores, three drug stores,bank, three blacksmith shops, wagon andcarriage factory, six grocery stores, 10brick masons, four physicians, two liverystables, two brick yards, two furniturestores, photography gallery, printingoffice, flour mill, chair factory, two

saloons, bakery, three restaurants, twoland agencies, two boot shops, barber-shop, dairy, hardware store, implementstore, chair factory, and two men’s outfit-ters were all businesses in Sidney in theearly 1900s.

Moores said two descendants of earlybusiness families remain in businesstoday – William and Jeffrey Penn of PennDrug Store, in business since 1863 andEugene Eaton, owner of Eaton Law Firm.

“Penn Drug still has their old fashionedsoda fountain,” said Moores. “We alsohave a number of Century Farms in thearea.”

Notable residents of Sidney includeradio homemaker Evelyn Birkby andRear Admiral John Scott Reed.

Moores said Sidney is constantlyworking on improving the town, likerevitalizing their downtown area in orderto make the town more appealing.However, like other rural towns, they aredealing with population decline.

“Young adults are having to moveaway to find jobs,” she said. “We need toencourage more industry to the area to

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Our Townskeep them here.”

City of TaborMayor Denise Hammers

Population 993

Famous for the Underground Railroad,Reverend John Todd and well-knownabolitionist John Brown, Tabor has aunique and colorful history.

Missionary George B. Gaston, whofounded the town, was born in 1814 inNew Hampshire. In 1834, he moved withhis parents to Oberlin, Ohio.

A graduate of Oberlin College, Gastonserved as a missionary in Nebraska in1840, but returned to Oberlin after fiveyears.

Soon he convinced three others,Reverend John Todd of Clarksfield,Ohio, and Deacon Samuel H. Adams, andAdams’ brother-in-law, Darius P.Matthews, and their families to make the

trek west to establish a college in thewest.

Gaston, and his party of 10, cameacross what soon would be Tabor in1847. The rugged area to them seemedlike the perfect place to build a Christiancommunity, modeled after Oberlin, Ohioand Oberlin College. The group decidedto name the place Tabor, after Mt. Taborin the Bible’s Old Testament.

George and Adams built the first twohomes in the town of Tabor.

What is now Todd House in Tabor wasbuilt in 1853, a schoolhouse was built in1854 and a chapel was built in 1861.

In later years, Todd’s house wouldserve as a station in the UndergroundRailroad and also as the town’s arsenalduring the 1850s when the Kansas FreeState Movement was occurring.

“The Todd House Museum is locatedin Tabor. The home contains furnitureand antiques from the Todd and Gaston


Our Townshomes and memorabilia from the TaborCollege and pre-Civil War days,” said PatWeldon, City Clerk. “It has been placedon the National Registry of Historic sitesand the Iowa Historical Register. TheTabor Park, which served as a trainingarea for John Brown’s trained troops, inhis quest to free slaves, is also listed onthe Iowa Historic roster.”

Several of Tabor’s founding fathers,like Gaston and Todd, were educated atOberlin College, which was the first col-lege in the United States to admit bothwhites and African Americans.

Additionally, Oberlin College was thecollege where the first three women inthe U.S. received their Bachelor’sDegrees.

Wanting to provide an education toothers, similar to the ones Gaston andTodd received at Oberlin, a meeting washeld in October 1853, where officials forthe college were appointed and ruleswere established.

A schoolhouse was built that same yearand “The Tabor Institute of Learning”was opened Nov. 3, 1857, with 17 stu-dents enrolled.

At that time, classes offered wereEnglish, algebra, geometry, physiology,

Latin and Greek. Singing was taught inevening classes. William Brooks came toserve as superintendent, later as presi-dent.

The school was incorporated as TaborCollege in 1866 and Woods Hall, GastonHall and Adams were built in 1869, 1887and 1898.

Adams Hall is still in it’s former loca-tion and has been refurbished into apart-ments added Weldon.

At one time, students numbered in thehundreds. At one point, a faculty of onlyfour or five teachers taught approximate-ly 187 students.

Eventually there was a well-writtencollege newspaper, The Tabor CollegeTimes, an extensive music education pro-gram, chorus, band and football, basket-ball and baseball teams.

Sadly, Tabor College is no longer inexistence, but the town does have a phar-macy, physician’s clinic, conveniencestore, grocery store, beauty salon, school,barber shop, exercise facility, restaurant,florist and has one the most advancedInternet access networks in the area.

“We’re the small town you’ve beenlooking for,” said Weldon. “We hope ourtown grows as people from the city move

IMPRESSIVE... Eric Johnson of Thurman owns and operates Plum Creek Sawmill.


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Our Townshere and enjoy our community.”

In addition to being famous for theUnderground Railroad, Gene Autry’ssidekick, Smiley Burnett and actressMarilyn Maxwell are natives of Tabor.

A novel published in 2004, “Gilead”written by Marilynne Robinson, won thePulitzer Prize for fiction in 2005.

It is a fictional autobiography of theReverend John Ames, who according toRobinson, loosely represents ReverendJohn Todd and takes place in the town ofGilead, which is based on the town ofTabor.

City of ThurmanMayor Rod Umphries

Population 236

Nestled along the Loess Hills and onlythree miles from Interstate 29, the smalltown of Thurman is a well-hidden secretoff the beaten path.

Marilyn Chambers, Thurman CityClerk since 1973, said the town used tobe bustling, but not anymore.

“At one time there was a bank, grocerystores, and several other businesses,” saidChambers. “Today, there’s a gas station,post office, city hall, and a church. Wealso have a fire department and ambu-lance squad for emergencies.”

Platted in 1857, Thurman celebrated its150th birthday two years ago with a cel-ebration said Chambers.

“At first it was called Plum Hollow,then the name was changed to FremontCity, and finally Thurman in 1889 afterAllen G. Thurman.”

Allen G. Thurman, born in 1813, was aDemocratic Representative and Senatorfrom Ohio. He was also the nominee ofthe Democratic Party for Vice Presidentof the United States in 1888.

“The mormons came through here ontheir way to Nauvoo, Illinois,” added


Our TownsChambers.

Chambers said there was once a schoolin Thurman, with a large addition built onto it in 1948. The kitchen and gymnasiumof the school is still rented out by variousfamilies and organizations. Additionally,she said Thurman has a very nice citypark, with a shelter and old school house.

“We try to do as much as we can,” she

said. “It’s difficult when we don’t have alot of businesses to bring people totown.”

Improved streets and water lines aretwo improvements recently made to thetown she added.

“It’s a friendly little town and every-body helps out when in need,” she said.“I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

PRIDE... For 89 years Sidney has been known as “Rodeo Town USA”. However, there is muchmore to Sidney than cowboys and bull riding. Sidney is a thriving and diverse community of citi-zens and commerce.

ART... The City of Tabor has a group of murals depicting the town’s rich ancestral heritage.


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Discover Fremont County Fremont County Historical Museum

Fremont County’s history is unique. The county has been part of three dif-ferent states. Not only did Lewis and Clark travel through Fremont County,but so did the heart-stopping reaches of the Civil War. On top of that, theorphan trains from the east stopped in Fremont County, as did JesseJames and his band of outlaws. A vast and varied collection of FremontCounty artifacts and precious mementoes of years gone by are on displayat the Fremont County Historical Museum.

The Gathering PlaceOnce the First Baptist Church of Sidney, The Gathering Place has beenremodeled into a first class facility for reunions, receptions, banquets,showers and other types of gatherings. Located at the corner of Cass andOhio Streets in Sidney, the facility will accommodate 80 people in a sitdown catered meal arrangement and 110 in a theater style seatingarrangement. The Gathering Place often also hosts quality performingarts programs and historical programs.

Ferrel HouseThe Ferrel House, located in Tabor, is an 1871 Italianate house that hasbeen restored and features period rooms from its construction until the1940s. Thelma Ferrel, the last owner, gave the house and it's contents tothe Fremont County Historical Society. Newly restored by the society, toursare available at several yearly open house events and by appointment.(712-625-4411). No admission is charged but donations are welcome. It isalso available for luncheons, teas, and bus tours.

Waubonsie State ParkNamed for Chief Waubonsie of the Native American Pottawattamie tribe,not much has changed in the park from when it was purchased in 1926.With more than 1,900 acres, one can hike, bike, camp, fish and just relaxand enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. The park is located six milessouth of Sidney, or nine miles north of Hamburg, on Highway 2.

The Loess HillsThe Loess Hills, only found in western Iowa and China, are composed ofyellow loess soil overlying older debris left from the last Ice Age. The sever-al hundred feet high hills are the result of dust-filled winds from the west,being slowed by the Missouri River and deposited along the western Iowaborder. Through the millennia, natural erosion has created steep bluffscovered with native grasses to the west and timbers of oak, walnut, andcedar facing the east - a breathtaking site one needs to see. .


Area FactsFremont County was formed in

1847. It was named for the militaryofficer John C. Fremont.

Fremont County is known for itsLoess Hills, and rich agricultural topsoil.

8 colleges or universities are locat-ed within 70 miles of Fremont County.

Distances from County Seat (Sidney)Omaha 50 milesSt. Joseph, MO 89 milesDes Moines 166 milesKansas City 141 milesMinneapolis 413 milesChicago 515 miles

PopulationIowa 3,062,309Fremont County 7,441Anderson (unincorporated)Bartlett 50Farragut 452Hamburg 1,140Imogene 56McPaul (unincorporated)

Percival (unincorporated)Randolph 166Riverton 274Sidney 1,109Tabor 993Thurman 208

ClimateWeather in southwest Iowa allows its

residents to enjoy a true four-seasonexperience. Summer temps reach anaverage high of 87 degrees in Julywith winter temperatures dipping tobelow freezing in December andJanuary.

The average warmest month isJuly.

The average winter temperatureis 24°F.

The average summer tempera-ture is 74°F.

The annual average rainfall is 33inches.

The annual average snowfall is 28inches.

EDUCATION... Farragut Elementary School and Nishnabotna High School are located inFarragut.


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801 S. Fremont,Shenandoah, Iowa

612 Hartford,Farragut, Iowa

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EducationFarragut Elementary School Farragut, IowaSuperintendent Jay Lutt(712) 385-8131www.nishbd.org

Hamburg Elementary SchoolHamburg, IowaSuperintendent Jay Lutt(712) 382-2017www.nishbd.org

Nishnabotna High SchoolFarragut, Iowa Superintendent Jay Lutt(712) 385-8131www.nishbd.orgEnrollment K-12 - 474

Nishnabotna Middle SchoolHamburg, IowaSuperintendent Jay Lutt(712) 382-2703www.nishbd.org

Fremont –Mills Community SchoolDistrictTabor, IowaAdministrative Offices (712) 629-2325Superintendent Chris Herrickwww.fmtabor.orgEnrollment K-12 - 425

Sidney Community School District Sidney, Iowa Administrative Offices (712) 374-2141 Superintendent Gregg Cruickshankwww.sidneyschools.orgEnrollment K-12 - 360

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The natural beauty of Waubonsie StatePark, with its trail system that windsalong stunning Loess Hill ridges andthrough verdant, wildlife-rich hollows, isa majestic constant in southwest Iowa,drawing thousands of visitors from nearand far to the area on a regular basis. Butstarting with the acquisition of the formerWa-Shawtee Girl Scout camp in 2005,the park has undergone a transformationin the level of comfort it can offer visitorscoming for more than just a day hike.

A few years after adding the adjacentproperty, the park began refurbishing thecamp’s cabins and buildings and grew itsroster of dedicated fans to new heights.

“The cabins have definitely raised theinterest here. Now they can come andactually stay for a number of nights,” saidPark Manager Kevin Thorne. “Typically,for us, it’s been springtime and the fallwhere we’re full every weekend in thecampground as long as those leaves areon. Now, with the cabins, our summerattendance has picked up so it’s kind ofrounding it out for us.”

With eight cabins currently available,from the rustic camping cabins to the

modern family cabins, Waubonsie hasaffordable and comfortable options foranywhere from two to 12 guests and is inthe process of renovating even more.Thorne said they are in a kind of “Phasetwo” of the effort right now, with thecamp’s old nature center undergoing a$500,000 renovation to be converted intoa lodge.

Additionally, Thorne said, the park isworking on an improved ramp at the lakealso located on the former Girl Scoutproperty, which will allow visitors easieraccess for canoeing and row boating dur-ing their stay.

Nightly rates for the cabins range from$28 for the small camping cabins withbunk beds to $95 for the largest, fullyequipped family cabin, which has threequeen size beds in different rooms, twobathrooms and a full kitchen. Many ofthe most popular times of the year, espe-cially during the fall when the changingleaves are at their peak, fill up quickly,Thorne said, but reservations can bemade easily online.

Maintaining a balance between theunspoiled splendor of Waubonsie’s natu-

Parks and RecreationPARK... Waubonsie State Park was named after Indian Chief Waubonsie of the Potawatomi tribe.


ral setting and improving the amenitiesavailable to guests is key to preserving itas one of the most popular jewels ofsouthwest Iowa, Thorne said. And some-thing that serves not only its distant visi-

tors but also its proud neighbors.“The more things we can add down

here, the better it’s going to be for us andfor the community, too,” he said.

Parks and Recreation

FAMILY FUN... Camping, fishing, biking and hiking are just a few of the fun family activities thatcan be done at Waubonsie Park.


Parks and RecreationIf the past, as they say, is not even truly

past, then the future of southwest Iowarecreation could follow a trail first navi-gated more than 200 years ago.

For almost three years, the IowaDepartment of Transportation has beenworking with consultants to develop aplan for the Lewis and Clark Multi-UseTrail, an ambitious pathway that wouldstretch from the Missouri state line toSouth Dakota, connecting communitiesalong the original route of the Corps ofDiscovery on their historic 1804-06transcontinental journey.

Milly Ortiz-Pagan, IDOT project man-ager for the Lewis andClark Trail, said the proj-ect reached an importantearly milestone on March13 when the recentlycompleted implementa-tion report was deliveredto the IowaT r a n s p o r t a t i o nCommission, who willhear a presentation on thereport at their April meet-ing. Ortiz said the reportwas also being sent to allthe communities, coun-ties and conservation boards along theroute and would be posted on the IDOTwebsite in the next couple of weeks.After that, she said, they will begin meet-ing with steering committees represent-ing the towns and communities to discussplans for implementation and the types ofroutes described in the report.

“There is one that is called a “TodayRoute,” which is something that, at aminimum cost, the communities will beable to go ahead and “sign” because it’smostly on-road. Then there is the“Explorers Route,” which is a combina-tion of the Today Route plus other areaswhere bicyclists can go and explore thearea like Lewis and Clark did,” she said.“The third is called “Loops,” which arenot basically part of the alignment, but

more like a regional plan where commu-nities that are a little bit farther awayfrom the main route can connect to theroute.”

Ortiz-Pagan said the report wasdesigned to be a working document,allowing communities to see not onlypolicies and projections, but also how theproject will look and what will be expect-ed on the local level. She said typically inthese projects, the towns and communi-ties are expected to begin developmenton the local routes and that grants areusually available.

Traveling through Fremont County, theproposed route wouldmainly lay on countyroads but would includethe towns of Bartlett,Thurman and Hamburgand would present anopportunity for Sidney tobe connected through oneof the “loop” routes,Ortiz-Pagan said. Thoughthere is a good amount ofwork involved on thelocal level, she said proj-ects like this have been aboon not only to recre-

ational enthusiasts, but also to the com-munities that embrace them.

“We have seen that trails bring a lot ofeconomic development, especially tosmaller towns. I know everybody wantsthe RAGBRAI route to go through theirtowns. So this will be something that willbring people to the smaller towns andcommunities,” Ortiz-Pagan said. “Wealways talk about all the trails in centralIowa and in other places of the state, so itis rewarding to see the cities in westernIowa are interested in something of thismagnitude.”

To find more information and see theLewis and Clark Trail report in the nextcouple of weeks, go towww.iowadot.gov/lewisclarktrail.

The Wabash Trace Nature Trail runs 63 miles from Council Bluffs, Iowa, inPottawattamie County, through Mills County, into Fremont County and Page Countyand ends near the Missouri border. It was once part of the Wabash Railroad's Omahato St. Louis route. For the past 20 years, the Wabash Trace has been the premier naturetrail in the region, a national showpiece for the Rails to Trails program, and a tremen-dous way to introduce hikers and bikers to the pastoral beauty and welcoming com-munities of southwest Iowa. The Trace passes through the towns of Mineola, SilverCity, Malvern, Imogene, Shenandoah, Coin and Blanchard. It follows streams such asSilver Creek, Four Mile Creek, Tarkio Creek, and the Tarkio River.


Parks and Recreation

Fremont County Extension & Outreach

www.extension.iastate.edu/fremont/

610 Clay Street, Sidney, Iowa 51652

Susan HarrisYouth Coordinator

Heidi Lowthorp Parent Educator

Anne Chambers Office Assistant

Mandy MaherProgram Coordinator

Our friendly staff is here tohelp you reach your goals!

(712) [email protected]


MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY IS PROUD TO SERVE FREMONT COUNTY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US AT 888-427-5632 OR VISIT US ONLINE

THE

OF PARTNERSHIPSMIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY ISPROUD TO SERVE FREMONT COUNTY.

Government & Public ServicesAndersonNone

BartlettNone

FarragutMayor Tom ShullCouncil members: Harold Dinsmore,Dan Whitehill, Dave Laumann, LonnieKoch, and Jeremy McAllister. Council meets at 7:30 p.m. on the secondThursday of each month at Farragut CityHall.

HamburgMayor Kathy CrainCouncil members: Kent Benefiel, WilleThorp, Earl “Speck” Hendrickson,Jimmie Randolph, and Mary Lou Perry. Council meets at 6 p.m. on the secondMonday of each month at City Hall.

Imogene Mayor Lori CrumpCouncil members are Dorothy Colwell,Jennifer Stogdill, and Jerry Crump. Council meets at 6 p.m. the secondMonday of each month at City Hall.

RandolphMayor Vance TrivelyCouncil members are Claude Perkins,Don Wolfe, Manford Foster, Janice Bliss,and Michelle Wilson. Council meets at 7:30 p.m. the secondThursday of each month at RandolphCity Hall.

RivertonMayor Joseph ConnellCouncil members: Willie Mozingo, DougPhillips, Judy Rydberg, Kenny Eggers,and Gerald Pete Casey.

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Government & Public ServicesCouncil meets at 7 p.m. the secondMonday of each month at City Hall.

SidneyMayor Doug HobbieCouncil members: Ryan Kersten, JillTravis, Todd Chapman, Joe Travis, andJim Henderson. Council meets at 6 p.m. on the secondMonday of each month at City Hall.

TaborMayor Denise HammerCouncil members: Randy Wirth, MiltonTrabal, Ross Silcock, Delores Moles, andGean Clapper. Council meets at 7 p.m. on the secondWednesday of each month at City Hall.

ThurmanMayor Rod UmphreysCouncil members: Glen Travis, MaryKesterson, Myron House, Eric Johnson,and Teresa Achenbach. Council meets at 7 p.m. on the firstMonday of each month at City Hall.

Fremont County SupervisorsChairman Randy HickeyVice Chairman Bart BartholomewCara Marker Morgan

Fremont County AuditorJoan Kirk, Auditor506 Filmore St., PO Box 610Sidney, Iowa 51652-0610PBX: 712-374-2031FAX: 712-374-4523Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. M-F

Fremont County AttorneyMargaret E. Johnson506 Filmore St., PO Box 476Sidney, Iowa 51652-0476 PBX: 712-374-2751FAX: 712-374-2735Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. M-F

Fremont County AssessorKaren Berry, Assessor506 Filmore St., PO Box 760 Sidney, Iowa 51652-0760PBX: 712-374-2631FAX: 712-374-3202Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. M-F

Fremont County TreasurerJudith M. Crain, Treasurer506 Filmore St., PO Box 299Sidney, Iowa 51652PBX: 712-374-2122FAX: 712-374-6202 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. M-F

Fremont CountyEmergency ManagementMike Crecelius2014 290th AvenueSidney, Iowa 51652PBX: 712-374-3355 or 712-313-0182 FAX: [email protected]

Fremont County EnvironmentalHealth SpecialistJohn Travis2014 290th AvenueSidney, Iowa 51652PBX: 712-313-0200FAX: [email protected]

Fremont County RecorderJenny McAllister, Recorder506 Filmore St., PO Box 295 Sidney, Iowa 51652-0295PBX: 712-374-2315FAX: 712-374-2826Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. M-F

Fremont County Veterans AffairsDennis Henneman, Director414 Clay Street P.O. Box 563 Sidney, IA 51652 Phone (712) 374-2275


Government & Public ServicesU.S. Senator Charles Grassley135 Hart Senate Office Bldg.Washington, D.C. 20510-1501(202) 224-3744, fax (202) [email protected]

U.S. Senator Tom Harkin731 Hart Senate Office Bldg.Washington, D.C. 20510-1502(202) 224-3254, fax (202) [email protected]

Congressman Steve King1432 Longworth House Office Bldg.Washington D.C. 20515-1505(202) 225-4426, fax (202) [email protected]

Governor Terry BranstadState CapitolDes Moines, IA 50319(515) 281-5211, fax (515) 281-6611www.governor.state.ia.us

State Senator District 49 Hubert HouserState Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319(515) 281-3371, fax (515) [email protected]

State Rep. Richard AndersonState Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319(515) 281-3221, fax (515) [email protected]

Editor’s Note: Following the 2012November election, some of the names ofthese representatives might change.

COUNTY SEAT... The town of Sidney was laid out in 1851 on land owned by Judge ThomasGreenwood.


WorshipFARRAGUTCONGREGATIONALUNITED CHURCH OF CHRISTClaude Westerfield, PastorWorship Services 9:00amSunday School 10:15am1000 Tecumseh

UNITED METHODISTMary Howell, PastorFarragut:Sunday Worship 9:00amSunday School 10:15amSummit:Sunday School 9:30amSunday Worship 10:30am518 Essex Ave., Farragut 385-8352

HAMBURGFIRST BAPTIST CHURCHBill Shirley, PastorWorship Service 11amSunday School 9:45am1501 Main street 382-2591ASSEMBLY OF GODRev. Paul PartonWorship Service 10:30am311 ‘H’ Street, 382-1836

HAMBURG CHURCHOF CHRISTSteve Sheldon, Lay PastorMorning Worship 10:45am1305 Main Street 382-2791

UNITED METHODISTCHURCHAmy Johnson, PastorAdult Bible Study 9:30amWorship Service 10:30am1200 Park St. 382-1468

PARK STREETFREE METHODISTGail and Donna Woods, PastorsChristian Education 9:45amWorship Service 11amEvening Worship 6pm1909 Park Street 382-2036

ST. MARY’S CATHOLICCHURCHFr. Vernon SmithMass 8:30am1306 Washington 382-2871

UNITED TRINITY CHURCHMelvin Hurst, PastorSunday School for Adult Class 9amChildren’s Sunday School 9:15amWorship Services 10:30am1106 Jefferson 382-2856

IMOGENEST. PATRICK’S CATHOLICFather Ken GrossSaturday Mass: 5:00pm 2nd & 4thSaturday each monthSunday Mass: 8:30amReconciliation Sat 4:15-4:45pm308 3rd St. 386-2277

LOCUST GROVEUNITED METHODISTCHURCHJames Buckhahn, PastorChurch School 9amSunday Worship 10:15am

PERCIVALCOMMUNITY CHURCHFaye Fedlam, PastorSunday School 8:30amMorning Worship 9:30am

RANDOLPHUNITED METHODISTCHURCHJan Phillips, PastorWorship Service 9amSunday School 10am202 W. Randolph 625-3811

SIDNEYSIDNEY COWBOY CHURCHRoger Kissel, Pastor505 Rupp Rd.P.O. Box 598, Sidney, IA 51652(712) 374-2520 Fax:(712) 374-2520

CHURCH OF CHRISTTroy Notz, PastorWorship services 10:30am1010 West

UNITED FAITH CHURCHJaye Johnson, PastorThurman: Sunday Worship 9:30amRiverton: Sunday Worship 8amSidney: Sunday Worship 11amSunday School 11am909 Illinois St, Sidney 374-2521

VICTORY LIFECHRISTIAN CENTERCraig Eberly, PastorWorship 10:00amChildren’s Church 10amThursday Evening Bible Study 7pm1000 Illinois 374-3032

TABORUNITED METHODISTCHURCHJack Hofmockle, PastorSunday School 9:15amWorship 10:30amSabbath School 10:30am202 W Randolph St.


For 89 years the Sidney Iowa Rodeohas been providing thrills and chills tothousands of people, and if Sidney RodeoBoard President David Magel has hisway, it’ll continue for many years tocome.

“I hope we can do it for another 89years,” said Magel. “We’ll work ourhardest to see this thing keeps going –that’s everybody’s goal.”

It was brothers Henry and Earl Tackettthat started the rodeo tradition in Sidneyin 1923 during the annual Old ThreshersReunion.

The duo decided to entertain those inattendance with a rodeo after construct-ing a temporary arena by using Model Tcars and buggies. The wild horses in thearea were rounded up and ridden by theTacketts, who were paid $50 for theirperformance.

Veterans returning from World War I in1924 organized the Williams-Jobe-Gibson American Legion Post #128 anddecided to become the producers of theSidney Iowa Championship Rodeo.

“This is the only rodeo I’m aware ofrun by an American Legion Post,” saidMagel. “The Rodeo Board is comprisedof five American Legion members andtwo Sons of the American Legion.”

The Post built a small grandstand andpurchased bulls from Texas and horsesfrom South Dakota. They also bought afew quarter horses that were kept year-

round on the Post’s small farm.By the late 1920s, attendance was

growing rapidly. The grandstand wasexpanded, as well as the arena, and asmall admission charged.

Regular performers at the rodeoincluded professional cowboys, trick rid-ers and Native American tribesman, usu-ally from the South Dakota locatedRosebud Reservation.

In 1931, electricity was added, whichmade night performances possible and in1934, additional grandstands were con-structed.

Sixty-six acres of land just west of theSidney City Park was purchased by thePost for cattle and horses and in 1940, 30acres south of the park and 52 acres westof where the parking lot is located todaywere also purchased.

Due to World War II, the rodeo wascancelled from 1943-46, but followingthe war, the membership of the Post dou-bled, leading to more Legion membersbeing able to help produce the event.

In 1954, the Legion members decidedto no longer supply their own livestockfor the event and began having livestockcontractors take over.

The grandstands, chutes and pens werecompletely rebuilt beginning in 1965 andcompleted in 1972.

Additional renovations and improve-ments continue to be made.

“A few years ago we built VIP seating

Sidney Rodeo History


above the bucking shoots, where oursponsors are seated at selected perform-ances,” said Magel. “There’s alwayssomething that needs to be done.”

During the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s tel-evision stars and singers, such as JimNabors, Jimmy Dean, Jerry Reed, MartyRobbins and Michael Landon, all madean appearance during rodeo performanc-es.

The current covered grandstand seats8,000, and also protects spectators fromthe elements of an Iowa summer.

“The outdoor facility we have is prettyunique,” said Magel.

There is also plenty of free parking, atram service, hospital facilities andcamping facilities on the grounds.

The Sidney Rodeo is sanctioned as aProfessional Rodeo Cowboy Association(PRCA) rodeo and is rated in the top 12percent of the more than 700 rodeosapproved by the PRCA.

In 1996, the rodeo was declared anofficial Iowa Sesquicentennial in celebra-tion of 150 years of statehood. A yearlater it was named the PRCA NationalFinals, Small Outdoor Rodeo of the Year.

In 2008 it became a Heartland SeriesPRCA sanctioned rodeo.

“We knew joining the Heartland Serieswas going to be a benefit,” said Magel.

Last year, massive flooding along theMissouri River kept fans and participantsalike for enjoying the event. However,Magel said they thought long and hardabout the situation, but felt it was impor-tant that the event be held regardless ofthe plight many friends and neighborswere going through at the time.

“It was to the point where we had onefoot in a hole and the other on a bananapeel, and we just couldn’t cancel,” Magelsaid. “We just have to go ahead no matterwhat and hope for the best.”

Magel said more than 300 cowboysand cowgirls make the trek to Sidney inorder to compete, making it one of the

more notable rodeos sanctioned by thePRCA.

Well-known cowboys that have com-peted in Sidney include Bill Linderman,Bill Huber, Jim Shoulders, Larry Mahan,Donny Gay, Fred Whitfield, GarretNokes, and Blair Burk.

Performances are held nightly at 8 p.m.and include the Two-County Dusters,bareback riding, steer wrestling, bull rid-ing, barrel racing, mutton busting, calfroping, saddlebronc riding and theWrangler bull fights.

Also, Magel said don’t forget thatFriday night’s annual performance ispink and purple night, where spectatorsand contestants are to wear pink or purplein support of the American CancerSociety’s Relay For Life. Additionally,buckets are passed throughout the standsto collect money that goes toward RelayFor Life.

In fact, over the past five years therodeo has been working with the WestPage/Fremont County Relay For Lifepassing the buckets through the standshas raised more than $4,500.

“It’s a good organization and we arehappy to help,” said Magel of workingwith RFL. “It’s hard to find anybody notaffected by cancer in one way or anoth-er.”

New in 2012 was the addition ofRockin’ Robbie Hodges. Magel saidHodges is one of the most entertainingand talented barrelmen/bullfighters in theUnited States. He will be joining CoryWall and Andy Burelle, who has beenbullfighting at the rodeo for several years.

Iowa’s oldest continuous outdoorrodeo will surely please people of allages.

“You won’t leave Sidney Iowa beingashamed you took your kids to thisevent,” said Magel. “It’s something youcan bring your whole family to.”

Sidney Rodeo History


The Loess Hills run down the westernborder of this part of Iowa, a geologicalphenomenon found only here and inChina. The Loess Hill were thrown upfrom dust and sand created by centuriesof glaciation that pushed across Iowaduring the Ice Age. Then, huge megafau-na like Wooly Mammoths, Giant Slothsand Woodland Bison roamed. Later,humans arrived to seek food and buildshelters, and found, ultimately, settledcommunities.

On July 19, 1804, two to three milesupstream and opposite Nebraska CityNE. William Clark wrote in his journal:

“breakfast which was on a rosted Ribsof a Deer a little Coffee I walked onShore intending only to Keep up with theBoat, Soon after I got on shore, Sawsome fresh elk Sign, which I was inducedto prosue those animals by their track tothe hills. after assending and passing throa narrow strip of wood Land, CameSuddenly in to open and bound lessPrairie, I Say bound less because I couldnot see the extent of the plain in anyDerection, the timber appeared to be con-fined to the River Creeks & Smallbranches, this Prairie was Covered withgrass about 18 Inches or 2 feat high andcontained little of anything else, exceptas before on the River Creeks & branch-es. This prospect was So Sudden & enter-taining that I forgot the object of my pro-sute and turned my attention to theVariety which presented themselves tomy view Renewed our voyage and passeda number of sand bars, Halted for dinnerwhere we found a great quantity of cher-ries, called by some choak-cherries.”

And so, what would become FremontCounty only 45 years later was first laidopen before an American explorer. Hometo Iowa, Pawnee, Oto, and Omaha, at var-

ious times. It was not long before Frenchtrappers, white and Indian settlers andgovernment surveyors would cross, re-cross and take up residence on this land.The Pottawatomie settled here, movedfrom the western shores of Lake Huron;their hereditary chief Waubonsie spentthe last of his life here. By 1900,Fremont’s population was over 16,000and a rich history had shaped its citizens;a border dispute over a survey error,called the Honey War, had ultimatelywrestled control of a good bit of its terri-tory from Missouri, and tensions overAbolition had made Fremont a logisticalcenter for John Brown’s crusade inKansas and Missouri. In the parlance oftoday, Fremont had served as a guerrillastronghold in the story of “BloodyKansas”. Mormon settlers passedthrough in 1846, contributing to the localculture and history, though most of themmoved on to their “shining city” of SaltLake. When Civil War came, TheSouthern Border Brigade patrolled theborder with Missouri to guard againstconfederate attack. Yet, were thereSouthern sympathizers in Fremont?

An attempt was made during the war toblow up the Courthouse in Sidney, andwhile he never came out and said it, IowaGovernor Kirkwood believed the countyto have elements of Southern sympathies.So it continued; outlaws and brigandsoccasionally appearing from hinterlandsto the south and west, progress in tech-nology and transport arriving from theeast, settled villages becoming comfort-able little farming towns, and always, thepeople.

Excerpt from: A Master Plan and Exhibit Design For

The Fremont County Historical SocietyMuseum, Armadillo Arts

The Loess Hills


Hospital / Out-Patient Services / ER/Skilled Care / Home-based Nursing /

Public Health

George C. Grape Community Hospital isa 25-bed Critical Access Hospital.Physicians and nurse practitioners are onduty with a well-equipped 24-hourEmergency Room and a SaturdayMorning Walk-in Clinic.

Specialty Clinics & Out-Patient Services:More than 15 consulting specialists pro-vide outpatient care in a variety of areasincluding cardiology, oncology, orthope-dics, radiology, gynecology and more.

Diagnostic Services Include DiagnosticImaging (x-ray, CT Scan, ultrasound,mammography, bone density scans,nuclear imaging and MRI), Pharmacy,and Laboratory are available.

Skilled Care, Post-operative Recoveryand Home-based nursing: Many resi-dents, who require surgery or proceduresin a major hospital, will plan for rehabback here in Hamburg. George C. Grape

offers Rehabilitative Services,Respiratory Therapy, Physical andOccupational Therapy, and CardiacRehabilitation, Southwest Iowa HomeHealth Services officed in Sidney canarrange home-based nursing services.

Community Wellness and Fitness Center:A monthly membership to the wellnesscenter provides residents a clean and cli-mate controlled area to work out. A vari-ety of free weights, weight liftingmachines, and exercise equipment keepparticipants working out at their ownpace.

New Medical technology includes:If a patient travels to see a provider orspecialist in a larger city and that physi-cian orders outpatient IV infusions or IMinjections, the patient may be able toreceive the treatment right here in ourPost Anesthesia Care Unit. This servicecould possible save much time spent trav-eling.

Our new state of the art arthroscopicequipment has generated an alternative

Health CareGREAT GRAPE... George C. Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg provides excellent care.


source for patient’s that live locally andwho prefer not to travel for a minor kneearthroscopy. A new Laparoscopic towerincludes a television monitor and carbondioxide insufflations which can reducepost procedural pain. Both theLaproscopic and Arthroscopic machineallows less anesthetic, less cutting, andless recovery time.

Dentist David Dettmen D.D.S.804 Illinois St., Sidney, IA 51652(712) 374-2029

Fremont County Public Health301 Main StreetSidney374-2685

Fremont County Medical Center802 Illinois Street, Sidney, IA 51652(712) 374-6005 Fax:(712) 374-3100

Medical Center PC313 Main St., Sidney, IA 51652(712) 374-2649

Medical Clinic, P. C.1219 Main St., Hamburg, Ia 51640712-382-2626

Southwest Iowa Home Health310 Main St., Sidney, IA 51652(712) 374-2685

Mental Health FacilityKevington Lane2876 230th St., Sidney, IA 51652(712) 374-2296 Fax:(712) 374-2292

HospitalGrape Hospital2959 U.S. 275 Hamburg, IA 51640(712) 382-1515

Nursing Homes Ambassador Sidney, The115 Main St., Sidney, IA 51652(712) 374-2693 Fax:(712) 370-3064

Tabor Manor Care Center209 MainP.O. Box 180, Tabor, IA 51653(712) 629-2645 Fax:(712) 629-6665

Health Care

INDUSTRY... Pella Windows and Eaton Corporation both have plants in Fremont County.


(800) 369-3097 | Visit us online: www.SWIweeklytimes.com

Kate Thompson, Publisher Tess Gruber-Nelson, Managing Editor

Heidi Woods, Graphics Dept./Production Mgr.Sharon Cahill, Graphic Designer

Sales: Mark Anderson, Erica Matya, Rita Sliger

Advertiser’s IndexA&M Green Power ................Pg11

Arbor Bank ..............................Pg11

Bank Iowa ..............................Pg19

Birkby’s Corner Fitness............Pg07

Ferrel House ............................Pg13

First Express Insurance............Pg11

First Heritage Bank..................Pg24

First State Bank........................Pg05

Fremont County Extension ....Pg28

Fremont CountyFarm Bureau ..........................Pg13

Gee Building Systems ............Pg19

George C. GrapeCommunity Hospital ..............Pg15

Grasshopper Sales ................Pg29

Henneman Auto Parts ..........Pg17

Janet’s Admiral Inn Cafe ......Pg17

Johnson Law ..........................Pg06

Maher & Crawford ................Pg13

Manildra Milling ......................Pg13

Medical Clinic, P.C.................Pg15

MidAmerican Energy ............Pg29

Midwest Sports Power............Pg24

Orscheln Farm & Home ........Pg05

Penn Drug Co.........................Pg12

Sapp Bros Travel Center ........Pg40

Sidney Cowboy Church........Pg10

Sidney Sweeper & Vacuum ..Pg10

Stoner Drug ............................Pg06

Sugar Clay Winery..................Pg02

Struyk Turf, Ltd. ........................Pg02

Tabor Manor Care Center ....Pg12

Tabor Market & Deli ..............Pg02

The Boat Shop ........................Pg09

Tri-Valley Bank ........................Pg07

Vogel Agri-Service..................Pg11

Whip’s Steakhouse ................Pg09


PROTECT AND SERVE... Deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department are, from left,back, Andrew Wake, Timothy Bothwell, Eric Blevins, Jerome Richter, and Chief Deputy SteveOwen. From left, front, Randall Chapman, Sheriff Kevin Aistrope, and Randy Jones

POLICE... Protecting the citizens of Tabor is Tabor Police Chief, Michael Wake, while AustinRichardson, right, is the police chief in Sidney.

LAW... The Fremont County Sheriff is KevinAistrope, left. Chief Deputy is Steve Owen.

Fremont CountyLaw Enforcement

Sapp Bros Travel CenterPercival , Iowa

SAPP BROS. TRAVEL CENTERJunction of I-29 and Highway 2

Come Visit Our Expanded Travel Center

24 Hour Restaurantwith Private MeetingRoom, Large RetailSpace & Complete

Service Center

• Cleanest Restrooms on I-29 with 9 Ladies Rooms w/heated Seats

• Large Selection of Collectibles, Clothing, General Merchandise & Favorite Grab-n-go Food

• Worship Chapel with Bible Study

• Large Menu Selection With all Your Favorites

• Area’s Favorite Soup & Salad Bar

• Meeting/Party Room with 9 Foot Projection T.V.Seats 60 People

Fremont county profile book

Documents

Transcript of Fremont county profile book