Area tractor enthusiasts are getting ready for the 11th annual the Northeast Iowa Power Show Aug. 8-9 at the Fredericksburg Industrial Park. This year’s feature tractor is Case and the tractor featured on the collector’s button is a 1916 Case steam tractor. There were only 50 of these made, so it is a rare item. The owner is Randy Schwerin of Sumner.

    Promoters of the Region V Truck & Tractor Pull are gearing up for their first National Tractor Pullers Association Grand National (NTPA) event.
    This year’s annual event will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at New Hampton Kenwood Avenue Park.
    The event classes will feature two-wheel and four-wheel drive trucks, super farm tractors, mini modifieds and super semis.
    “Mini rods are a new class this year, and the super semis are going to be a big draw,” said promoter Chuck Knapp. “We are expecting about 80 competitors each day.”

All the following events for July 12-16 will be at the Big Four Fairgrounds in Nashua

New Hampton's Heartland Days begins Friday, June 12, and runs through the Chickasaw County Rescue Squad annual breakfast 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, June 14, at the bandshell in Mikkelson Park.

The Federicksburg Dairy Days begins Tuesday and runs through Wednesday. The two parades are at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, on Main Street.

    Readers of all ages are encouraged to join the New Hampton Public Library Summer Reading Program which will begin on Friday, June 19.
    This year’s theme, “Be Creative at the Library” offers many opportunities for crafts, games, and activities related to many great book titles. Be Creative story hours for ages 3 through second grade will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. on Fridays.

    The 2009 Relay for Life of Chickasaw County overnight event will be Friday and Saturday, June 5-6, at Mikkelson Park in New Hampton. The following event timeline has been set.
4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Community Dinner, free will donation dinner open to anyone. Dinner is “In Memory of Dana Reicks.”
6 p.m.: Opening Ceremony Welcome Kickoff Relay 2009.
6:30 p.m.: Remember Ceremony dedicated Survivor/Caregiver/Team laps.
7 p.m.: Teams begin to walk.
10 p.m.: Celebrate Ceremony with Luminary Ceremony.
1 a.m.: Fight Back Ceremony with recognition of teams and advocacy speech.
4 a.m.: Live auction.
5:45 a.m.: Closing Ceremony
6 a.m.: End of 2009 Relay for Life
    Teams can get pictures taken from 4-5:45 p.m. or 7-9 p.m. inside the tennis court area. Teams do not need to sign up for a time.
    Tent/camper set-up – Teams may set up tents/campers anytime before 5:45 p.m. on Friday. Committee members will be at the park helping to answer  set-up questions.

    Area farmers will have the opportunity to hear the latest information on corn and soybean issues plus a water quality discussion from Extension specialists on Thursday, June 18, during the 2009 Northeast Iowa Agricultural Education Association Spring Field Day at the research farm just west of Nashua.
    Displays and a ‘Dutch-treat” will be available from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the programs will proceed from 1:30-4:30 p.m. All Northeast Iowa producers are invited to participate.
    This year’s featured speakers include:

New Hampton

Parade begins at 10 a.m.
Program 10:20 a.m. at the New Hampton Cemetery

Veterans and parade participants are to assemble for lineup at 9:30 a.m. in the New Hampton Electric parking lot. The Firing Squad and Color Guard Squad will wear blue trousers, white short-sleeve shirts, caps and ties. All veterans are encouraged to participate in the parade. Parade transportation will be available.
Parade Route: Starts at New Hampton Electric, goes west on Spring Street to Walnut, turn south one block to Hamilton, west to Maple, south on Maple to cemetery.

     The 2009 BIG LOSER of Chickasaw County will be announced during Heartland Days at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Mikkelson Park during the awards ceremony.  The public is invited to attend and cheer on who they think will be this year’s BIG LOSER!

      The Chickasaw County Cemetery Commission is having a rededication of the Northeast Iowa Garden of Memories Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. on Memorial Day, May 25. The first burial was in 1862 near the Jones farm, the last was in 1960. There will be a program and refreshments. The public is welcome and asked to bring a chair.
    The Cemetery is located on Newell Avenue, four miles west of Fredericksburg on Hwy. 18 and a half mile north.  From highway 63, go two miles east on Hwy. 18, then north a half mile.

    The second annual amateur photography contest is scheduled for Dairy Days on June 10. The theme for this year's contest is "The Wonders of Iowa." Share your talent as you capture the beauty and unique treasures of Iowa.
    Submit 8-by-10-inch color photographs, on or before June 2, with name, age, address and phone number along with the location of where the photo was taken. Entries may be dropped off at the Hardware Hub, 107 W. Main, Fredericksburg, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Or, mail entries to Fredericksburg Dairy Days, P.O. Box 373, Fredericksburg, IA 50630.

      During the May 18-31 National Click It or Ticket campaign, Iowa law enforcement officers will take the fight to the night in an attempt to save lives. Officers will be ticketing unbelted vehicle occupants around the clock - day and night. To learn more about the Click It or Ticket campaign and the benefits of wearing your seat belt, visit www.iowagtsb.org or www.nhtsa.gov.

    If you have concerns about aging within your community, want to identify additional services needed, or just want to find out more about what is currently available, make plans to attend an informational meeting from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, at the Chickasaw Senior Centre, 301 N. Water Ave., New Hampton. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting, give input on what services are needed, enjoy refreshments and have the opportunity to win a door prize.

    The Iowa Workforce Development Center in New Hampton, will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Due to the holiday closing, we will be open on Tuesday, May 26, from 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 4 p.m. Regular business hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. – noon and 1 - 4 p.m. You may also search online services at:  www.iowaworkforce.org.