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Wednesday April 22, 2026 | Volume 151, Issue 16 www.polkio.com
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Monmouth okays land swap despite public opposition discussion. “The city went out of their way for three years to talk with absentee California landowners and wealthy developers specifically about their designs on the Mistletoe Road farmland,” Rye told the Itemizer-Observer. She felt the city purposefully hid their intentions from the public living along the proposed land-swap area. “They shouldn’t be allowed to run over their neighbors and their voters like that,” Rye added. More than 150 citizens
By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor
A lack of communication was at the heart of community opposition to the city of Monmouth’s discussion April 7 to swap 90 acres of land in its urban growth boundary with a 75-acre parcel for development to address a growing population. Grace Rye has lived adjacent to the rural property boundary since 1971 and only found out in February the city’s plan for the land swap which she feels left the community out of the
PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES
Arbor Day altruists A handful of volunteers took up shears and shovels to fight back the ivy strangling tree trees along the Barberry Trail on Saturday as part of the city of Dallas’ Arbor Day activities. Laura Peasley (above) moves a handful of ivy she pulled to a disposal pile. She’s lived on the trail for three years. “Whenever I walk by, I like to spend a while pulling this stuff up,” she said. Jeff Wiegel, a 9-year resident of Dallas, saws at a particularly thick root of ivy. Sarah Servide (not pictured) added “there is something satisfactory with pulling up ivy.”
See SWAP, page A7
Indy approves sanitary service rate hike By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor
The Independence City Council unanimously approved last week a 3.5 percent increase in service rates for Brandt’s Sanitary Service. Consultant Estelle Harlan explained there were two key drivers to asking for the increase in rates effective May 1 – the cost of living and disposal costs increase. Harlan said it’s particularly the disposal increase that’s nudging this request.
Brandt’s has an exclusive franchise with the city to provide solid waste collection and recycling services within the city limits of Independence. Harlan explained that from 2016 through May of 2023, Brandt’s did not request a rate adjustment except for a $1.90 recycling surcharge that was added for the sole purpose of covering the additional costs of recycling “Because of Brandt’s filling cycles, and See RATE, page A8
Preschool owner makes a run for America’s Favorite Teacher By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor
Jessica Vidal wears many hats during a typical day. She’s co-owner, with her husband Hector, of Laugh N Learn Academy Preschool and Childcare in Monmouth. A few steps from the learning center inside her adjacent home, Vidal is also head teacher for her four homeschooled children, ages 12, 11, 9 and 5. When the Panther Kids Wrestling won the Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce non-profit of the year in February, she was on hand to accept the award as president of the organization. Oh, and she and her
husband run a five-acre farm with six goats, four sheep and over 100 chickens as part of the Polk County 4-H program. “So we also have turkeys because my kids show turkeys and they sell turkeys at the fair,” Vidal said. “And so they learn entrepreneurship of running a farm and keeping care of animals and then taking them to show and showing them and then taking them to market and selling them. And they learn a lot.” Most recently, Vidal had to hone her skills in self promotion after a parent of one of her students nominated her for America’s Favorite Teacher. “So, I mean, it took me
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by surprise,” Vidal said She never knew how many other teachers she was up against in the national contest, only that her stock kept rising as more of her families and community members voted for her. The America’s Favorite Teacher contest recognizes educators who go above and beyond in their roles with finalists selected through community nominations and public voting. Vidal credits her placement in the Top 10 to the overwhelming support from local families, friends, and the broader community. The campaign serves as a fundraiser for The See TEACHER, page A8
PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES
Jessica Vidal, co-owner of Laugh N Learn Academy Preschool and Childcare in Monmouth, made the top 10 in the America’s Favorite Teacher competition.
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