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Surprise Lilies Are in Full Bloom across Iowa
This reliable bloomer surprises gardeners every summer As we enter the last days of summer and gardens begin their transition to autumn, one common garden bulb surprises us with its beautiful and unexpected blooms: the surprise lily.This late-season bulb is known by many names, including surprise lily, Lycoris squamigera, magic lily, resurrection lily or even naked lady. The Catt Award is Back
We’re excited to announce the return of the Carrie Chapman Catt Award for the 2025–2026 school year! This program empowers Iowa high schools to register eligible students to vote, and celebrates those that reach key milestones along the way. Schools that sign up will receive everything they need to launch a successful voter registration effort, including materials, instructions, and support from our office.
Secretary Pate’s 2025 Iowa State Fair Straw Poll Shows Iowans’ Preferences
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate today announced the results of the unscientific Iowa State Fair Straw Poll. The poll, which closed Sunday at 8pm, allowed fairgoers to cast their preference for candidates for the 2026 gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional races. More than 2,000 fairgoers participated in the 2025 state fair straw poll, using tablets at the Iowa Secretary of State's booth in the Varied Industries Building to select their preferred candidates.
Notary Public Learning Conference
Friday, September 12, 20258:00 AM – 2:00 PMState Historical Building, Des Moines600 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50319 Learn the basics, explore real-life notary scenarios, and hear from experts, including a guest from the National Notary Association. Free to attend, with coffee and lunch provided. Limited spots available, registration will close once all spots are filled. Mark Your Calendar for August 26
Begin requesting absentee ballots on August 26. The Regular City-School Election is on Tuesday, November 4, and now is a great time to start planning your vote. Beginning August 26, Iowa voters can request an absentee request form. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5pm on October 20. October 15 is the 1st day absentee ballots are available for the regular City-School Election.
Back in time…Evergreen Cemetery
It’s always fun to take a step back into our history and remember the things that happened in the community some 100+ years ago. Here's an article about our cemetery. ---The Vinton Eagle; January 7, 1921Local Cemetery Beautiful PlacePersons who had occasion to visit Evergreen cemetery during the late summer and fall were impressed with the steps that have been taken by the trustees of the Evergreen Cemetery Association to improve this beautiful resting place of the dead.
Kids Share Thoughts about Careers, Education and Fair Favorites with Treas.Smith
Children attending this year’s Iowa State Fair have been sharing their thoughts about future careers, education and their favorite fair activities with State Treasurer Roby Smith in the ISave 529 booth, in the Varied Industries Building. The up-to-date results of the nonscientific survey are below along with a statement from Treasurer Roby Smith:“Whether their dream is to become a doctor, farmer, veterinarian or police officer, 80 percent of our youngest fairgoers say they’ll need education beyond high school to reach their goals.
What We're Reading: Neon Gods
If you like your books with a little heat (okay... a LOT of heat), this one’s for you.Add a dash of fantasy, a pinch of mythology, and you’ve got a seriously spicy retelling you won’t want to put down.Persephone just found out she’s being forced to marry Zeus — yeah, that Zeus — but she’s not about to spend forever in Olympus playing house.
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What we're reading: Last Resort
'Our Last Resort' by Clémence Michallon is the second suspenseful thriller I’ve read by this talented French author—and I’m hooked on her writing style!Frida and Gabriel, now adults, escaped the cult they were raised in. Though they aren’t related by blood, they consider each other siblings, bound by shared trauma and uncertainty over their true origins. What we're reading: Dear Martin
Review of "Dear Manny" by Nic Stone:Some time ago, I read a book titled 'Dear Martin,' by Nic Stone. I really liked it, although it wasn’t a pretty story with sunshine and rainbows. The storyline involves an African American teen who is unjustly arrested. Throughout the book, Justyce writes letters to his hero, Martin Luthor King, Jr., sharing thoughts and questions.
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