Students from four area public school districts including GMG queue in the Tama County Administration Building’s conference room in Toledo on April 9 as part of the 68th annual Tama County Government Day sponsored by local American Legion posts and Auxiliary units. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TOLEDO – On Wednesday, April 9, Tama County’s American Legion posts and Auxiliary units hosted the 68th Tama County Government Day, welcoming high school seniors from area school districts to Toledo as part of an annual effort to teach students the importance of county government.

As in years past, the field experience continues to be unique to Tama County – no other Legions in the state of Iowa offer such an opportunity.

According to Clutier Legion Auxiliary member Diane Caloud, just shy of 100 students from four different school districts were in attendance on Wednesday including those from Green Mountain-Garwin, North Tama County, South Tama County, and Union.

The day began at Toledo’s Reinig Center where students registered, voted on a variety of issues, and were welcomed to the event by both Legion and Auxiliary members.

Students then made their way to downtown Toledo where small groups toured the Tama County Courthouse, Administration Building, and Jail.

Tama County Engineer Ben Daleske, center, describes the duties and responsibilities of his department to area high school students on Wednesday, April 9, as part of the 68th annual Tama County Government Day. Daleske was speaking alongside the county’s supervisors – including Supervisor Curt Hilmer, far right – inside the Administration Building’s conference room. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

At the Administration Building, four of the county’s five supervisors (Chairman Mark Doland was absent) were on hand to greet and speak to students including vice chair Heather Knebel (R-Traer), Curt Hilmer (R-Dysart), Curt Kupka (R-Chelsea), and David Turner (R-Tama). Tama County Engineer Ben Daleske also provided brief remarks alongside the supervisors.

“A county supervisor’s duty is to protect and preserve the rights, privileges, and property of the County or of its residents, and to preserve and improve the peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort, and convenience of its residents,” Knebel told the first group of students while she and her fellow supervisors sat in their seats at the head of the conference room. Knebel, a North Tama Class of 2005 alumna, was the first woman elected to the board in Tama County history last November.

“When I was younger, I didn’t know, really, what a supervisor does or (much) about county government,” she admitted at one point before talking about the many different responsibilities of her board.

“My biggest plug is just to pay attention,” she also said. “To buy the local newspaper or read it on Facebook … get involved. Look at the issues going on in the county. Definitely speak up. Instead of just commenting on Facebook, get involved … it may not affect you now, but someday you’ll run into something that does affect you. Our meetings are also on YouTube.”

Following lunch which was served back at the Reinig Center, Legion members including Duane Hosek and Bob Knaack performed a flag folding demonstration with assistance from American Legion Department of Iowa Commander Brian D Ring, Sr., while American Legion Auxiliary Department of Iowa President VerlIndia Prior observed.

Students listen as Tama County Supervisor Heather Knebel (R-Traer), center right, speaks last Wednesday morning in Toledo during the annual Tama County Government Day. Also pictured, Supervisor Curt Hilmer (R-Dysart). Both Knebel and Hilmer – North Tama County and Dysart-Geneseo alumni, respectively – recalled once upon a time visiting Toledo as high schoolers themselves for the annual event. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Following a panel discussion which was composed of several county elected officials, Mark Vrba of Mason City presented a special program titled “End Distracted Driving: Students Saving Lives by Changing the Way We Think About Distracted Driving.” Vrba, head athletic trainer at North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC), lost his wife Jenny, 42, last July when a teen driver (age 17) hit her as she was walking alongside the road after her bicycle experienced a flat tire.

Vrba’s powerful presentation was sponsored by Tama County Supporting Kids In Prevention (SKIP) through Tama County Public Health & Home Care.

The 2025 ballot

The results of this year’s Government Day student ballot are included below. The annual ballot provides insight into the viewpoints of the next generation of Tama County voters by inviting students to weigh in on a variety of issues.

TAMA COUNTY GOVERNMENT DAY 2025 BALLOT

American Legion Department of Iowa Commander Brian D Ring, Sr., center, reads while Tama County Legion members Duane Hosek and Bob Knaack perform a flag folding demonstration for area high schoolers on Wednesday, April 9, at the Reinig Center in Toledo as part of the 68th annual Tama County Government Day. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

1. Should members of Congress have terms? YES 84 NO 10

2. Do you favor open borders? YES 30 NO 64

3. Should voting rights be restored to released felons? YES 53 NO 41

4. Is it important for the U.S. to retain a strategically strong military? YES 92 NO 2

5. Is there a bullying problem in your school? YES 31 NO 61

6. Is there misuse of prescription drugs in your school? YES 13 NO 80

7. Should government public school funds include vouchers to cover private school costs? YES 21 NO 73

8. Do you believe today’s TV programming, movies and video games have an influence in violence? YES 50 NO 45

9. Would it help to have stricter gun laws to prevent deadly shootings? YES 60 NO 34

10. Should we decriminalize marijuana use? YES 54 NO 38

American Legion posts and Auxiliary units sponsoring the 2025 Tama County Government Day include Chelsea, Clutier, Dysart, Elberon, Garwin, Gladbrook, Meskwaki Nation, Montour, Reinbeck, Tama, Toledo, and Traer.