Purple Power

LWML Mapleton Zone Delegates and Visitors to the IDW Biannual Convention at Camp Okoboji, included Eugene and wife Vivian Ernst from the Tripple Parish churches in and surrounding Ricketts.

2008 Ricketts Kids' Reunion

Rent the Ricketts Shelter House

Here is a picture of the shelter house with the new doors.

You can rent the Rickett's Shelter house for your party or reunion for just $25.00. The kitchen has a stove, microwave and a refrigerator for the convenience of the renters.

To reserve the Ricketts Shelter house please call
712-679-2099 or 679-2746

Rain on your wedding day is good luck you know

Here is a picture of Ricketts Mayor, the Honorable Connie and her groom Allen "Bud" Gloede on their wedding day. at St. Luke's Lutheran n Ricketts. The wedding was June 7th and everyone had a great time in spite of the rain storm..

Thank You, Veterans

Ricketts Fire Chief and American Legion Post #66 Second-Vice Commander, B.H. Meyer plays "Taps" after the 21 gun salute as part of Memorial Day observances in Charter Oak on Monday, May 26, 2008.

State Representative Clarence Hoffman cited a famous quote of President Theodore Roosevelt at Charter Oak's Memorial Day services,

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Hoffman explained that we need to appreciate our veterans because they have shown how much they care.

“Thank you for how much you care,” he told the veterans in the audience.

Send me your news tips

Yeah, it's that time of year again- school's out and I need something to do besides painting parts of my house and reorganizing my basement.

If you have any story ideas, or events for me to cover for the Mapleton PRESS this summer, please let me know. Send me names, phone numbers, or email addresses of people I should contact.

I'm especially interested in covering Charter Oak and Ricketts, but will be glad to write about Soldier and Ute too. For that matter, if you have ideas for Schleswig, Castana, Mapleton and Danbury I will be glad to pass them along to the PRESS office.

I am also looking for great ideas for Charter Oak Achievement Days AND anyone from the Missouri Valley area who has any story ideas about RAGBRAI.

Just look for the "Contact Me" button on the right side and it should automatically open your email program. Thanks and see you at Achievement Days!

God Bless the Parents Who Drugged us!

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question,

"Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think.

They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place

~Author unknown

Oh for a good old fashioned threshing bee

Here lies Carl Schnoor's turn of the century thresher. It resides across the lane from Carl and Rosa Schwarz's old farmplace Southeast of Ricketts. The house is being razed this week, victom of one too many lightning strikes, but the threshing machine is still standing.

Happy Hour in Ricketts; April 1957

Irvin Bartles and Julius Christiansen (tipping hat) get their drinks from Albert Langholdt, tending bar at Whip's Tavern. Got pictures that prove somebody wasn't at home for supper? Send us your stories and memories of Ricketts and we'll post them too.

The Bottom Line

Customers lined up from miles around to enjoy the food in "the cafe'" (otherwise known as Whip's Tavern). Laura and Whip put on plenty of special deer-feeds and nut-frys through the years.

Santa Claus Day in Ricketts, 1953

Folks climb aboard Santa's wagon outside of Whip's Tavern on Main Street in Rickett, waiting for a ride. We recognize Ray Pruess in the glasses on the left, Paul Briggle in the fadora hat, and Frankie Dorfler holding the reins (in the double breasted coat) in the front of the wagon. Do you recognize anyone else? Are YOU in this picture?

Send us your stories and pictures of Ricketts memories and we'll be happy to share them.

Detour Ahead, expect delays

The bridge south of Ricketts, county paved route L51, will be closed beginning April 7.

Graves Construction of Spencer is replacing the existing bridge with a new one and expects the work to be completed around mid July.

Depending on weather and gravel and unpaved road conditions, residents have estimated detours of anywhere from 2 to several miles.

Confirmation Class of 2008

Kids from the Triple-Parish Lutheran Churches pose after their Confirmation this Spring, with Pastor Ernst.

Not the same Ricketts #20

Entertainment is a big part of the 2nd Annual Rhea County Ag Day festivities, and 2007 was no exception. Their performers this Angela Davis, Jim Ricketts, Pickin’ and Dumplin’ and the Bush River Band. Bring a lawn chair and sit in the shade while you sip lemonade from the 4-H concession stand and enjoy southern gospel music and old-fashioned bluegrass.

Of course, that's on the fairgrounds in Evensville, Tennessee and therefore has absolutely nothing to do with Ricketts, Iowa, (we're in Crawford County, Iowa, that is). But most of this website is all about Ricketts, Iowa!

If you're from Ricketts, you're invited to their annual reunion, next year it will be on the fourth Saturday in July.

Now, if like Jim the Gospel Bluegrass singer, you're last name happens to be Ricketts, and you think it would be fun to have your family reunion in or around Ricketts, IA- more power to ya! Stop on by the Ricketts Kids' Reunion and say howdy when you're here!

As for everybody else, if you have memories or pictures of Ricketts to share, email them to our webmaster: ted.mallory@gmail.com I'll even accept funny, kitsch, or corny "Not the same Ricketts" ideas. Help put Ricketts on the map!