The Lake Mills Family Aquatic Center will wrap up its 2026 season next week, with the final day of swimming scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 19. The lifeguard crew this summer includes, front from left: Josephine Islas, Shelby Mattern, Avery Eastvold, Piper Kjeldahl, and Kendall Dahle. Above in the second row are: Lillian Young, Jaselyn Islas, Ava Menke (in back), and Jasmine Schwartz.

Gruis Recreation Area will celebrate all weekend long, August 14-16, as the golf course south of Buffalo Center marks its 50th anniversary.

Blacktop Service Company got to work on Buffalo Center’s 2026 street improvement project last week. The project includes paving two gravel blocks of 3rd St. NW, between Highway 9 and 3rd Ave. NW, as well as repaving three blocks of 3rd Ave. NW between Mill Road and 2nd St. NW.

Two-year-old Aaliyah Phillips brought her own police car and arrived in uniform for National Night Out in Forest City last Tuesday, Aug. 4. Aaliyah is the daughter of Tre and Kailee Phillips, and she enjoyed the evening’s activities along with her three-year-old brother, Malakai. (Submitted photo)

The Forest City Swimming pool will hold a special event to close out the summer on Sunday, Aug. 16, with a duck derby during the pool’s final day of the season. Signup begins at 2 p.m. that day, with the duck derby getting underway at 3 p.m.

Summer is winding down at the Buffalo Center Swimming Pool, with a little more than one week of swimming left before the close of the 2026 season. The last day at the pool is set for Monday, Aug. 17.

The first-ever Executive Director of Forest City Economic Development is hanging up her hat, as Beth Bilyeu retires after 24 years of helping Forest City grow.

Numerous local 4-H exhibitors will take projects to the Iowa State Fair beginning next week, after being selected for the honor during the 2026 Winnebago County Fair. Youth moving on to the Iowa State Fair this August 13-23, include, front from left: MacKenzie Willmert, Kayla Heyer, Kenlie Greenfield, Tilynn Brass, Brooklyn Sorenson, and Emily Charlson.

For decades, children and adults alike have enjoyed a night of spirited competition each summer in Buffalo Center at the Junior Olympics. This year, the games got a new name but continue the same fun tradition, as the Brian Hobbs Memorial Games.

Brian Hobbs and his family ran the games from 2014 through 2024, and he left a lasting mark with his enthusiasm and dedication.

Barb and Doug Murra of Buffalo Center had the honor of serving as Grand Marshals for the 2026 Bison Days Parade last Friday evening in Buffalo Center. The Murras spent 15 years running prominent businesses in downtown Buffalo Center, including Murra Hardware from 2009-2023 and Main Street Market from 2017-2024.

The State of Iowa will allow eighth graders to participate in all high school sports beginning this fall, pending approval from their schools. The North Iowa School Board established eligibility guidelines for North Iowa eighth graders during its July 20 meeting.

The Winnebago County Community Foundation (WCCF) held its 2026 grant awards celebration on Wednesday, July 23, at the Forest City Community Center, announcing the distribution of $144,194.34 to 16 local nonprofit organizations through its 2026 grant cycle. Grants were awarded to projects improving quality of life and creating long-term impact in Winnebago County communities.

Buffalo Center hosted a patriotic parade last Friday evening, July 24, to help kick off the annual Bison Days celebration and to commemorate America’s 250th birthday in 2026. The parade was well attended and featured dozens of entries that took almost an hour to complete the route from Bison Field to Lion’s Park. (Photo by Andrew Shaw)

The last big celebration of the summer in Winnebago County is this weekend in Buffalo Center, with the annual Bison Days hosted by North Iowa Betterment.

The celebration kicked off early on Thursday, with Old Fire Liquor hosting a food truck and bags tournament in the evening to support the Dalton Cooper Memorial.

Wesden Wooge of the Forest City FFA won the trophies for Grand Champion Market Steer as well as Grand Champion Rate of Gain at the Winnebago County Fair Beef Show on Friday, July 17. Look for more photos and full 4-H and FFA results from the 2026 Winnebago County Fair in an upcoming edition of the Tribune. (Photo by Andrew Shaw)