On September 9, 2007, the Maple Valley FFA and the Danbury Fire Department combined to host the 2007 tractor pull. The tractor pull was a success with 92 hookups, 25 classes, and many pullers from local and nearby communities. First place finishers included Firefighter Mark Clausen.
    That tractor pull appeared to be the last one in Danbury as the city sold the tractor pull land for a cell tower in November of 2007.
    But wait…
    Fast forward to September 6, 2025, nearly 18 years since the last tractor pull. Clausen along with his other Danbury Fire members will be returning near the place of the former tractor pulls in an effort to bring the event back to Danbury.
    "The pulls were very popular," Firefighter Chris Lee said. "People still talk about it, and they want it back."
    Lee said that part of the draw for the pull from days gone by were the prizes. The winners were awarded a plaque with the winning tractor etched on it. The tractor pull revival will award banners for the top pullers.
    The pull will feature 6 categories, Out of the Field, Altered Farm, 3,000 RPM, Super Field, Gas Pickups, and Diesel Pickups. The Western Iowa Pullers Association will lead the pull which is anticipated to include competitors from at least three states.
    While participants are not required to to pre-register, the department would appreciate a heads up. Call Chris at 712-210-3765 to pre-register. Registration on the 6th will close at 11:00.
    Where will the pull be conducted since the previous track has been filled with a cell phone tower? It will be found just west of the second ball field in the Swede Wessling Memorial Ballpark. Lee said that he began building the track over the weekend. He said that it will take many more days before it will be ready for the competition.
    "It takes a lot of work to put this on," he added. It will take many volunteers and donations."
    The contests begin at noon on September 6th. Participants are asked to use the 2nd Street entrance to the park. Spectators are asked to use the 4th Street entrance by the shelter house. Admission is a free will donation with all proceeds going to the fire department. No coolers, please. A beer garden and concessions will be available. Lee also encourages all to bring lawn chairs as there will be limited bleacher seating.
    Come for the tractor pull, and stay for the DJ and live music afterwards.

    With the start of school comes the start of the Danbury Community Club meetings. The first one of the season is Wednesday, September 3rd at Dana Hall. Happy Hour begins at 7:00 p.m., the meal will be served at 7:30, and the meeting will commence at 8:00.
    Please join them and consider becoming a member of the community club.

    When the school year ended in May last year, the MVAO and MVAOCOU careers of some staff members neared the end, too. Included on staff members who were moving on was MVAOCOU High School Principal Andy Armstead. One of the questions asked by people over the summer was the status of the open position. In a letter by Superintendent Jeff Thelander, sent to the parents last week, the Great Principal Shift was explained.
    The high school position was filled by Mrs. Jennifer Kinsey, former principal at MVAO Elementary in Mapleton. High school opening - filled! But wait…now the elementary in Mapleton needs a principal. Hmmmm.
    The shifting continued with Ms. Mistaya Hoefling moving from the MVAO Anthon Center to the elementary school in Mapleton. Elementary opening - filled! But wait…now the building in Anthon is without a principal. Hmmmm.
    The final open administration position is being filled by now-multitasking administrator, Jeff Thelander who will also continue with the superintendent duties.
    In his letter to parents, Thelander wrote of the principal position, "I will balance this role with my duties as superintendent of our school district, and I am committed to providing presence and encouragement every day for our middle school students and staff and for our Anthon elementary students and staff as Ms. Hoefling focuses attention on her leadership in the Mapleton Elementary building. As the year progresses, there will be days when Ms. Hoefling and I will exchange our presence between the Anthon and Mapleton campuses (likely once per week), and we will evaluate the best way to do that and we will communicate that after September."
    While it seems awkward for the superintendent and principal to be the same person, this situation used to be very commonplace in schools; this is not something new. Hopefully the shift works well in all buildings. As Thelander noted, they will be evaluating the situation to achieve what is best for the teachers and students.

    Each year the Danbury Catholic Auction features hundreds of items for sale including a number of children's ride-on items. Battery operated vehicles and pedal tractors annually give the young ones an early opportunity to practice their driving skills. They also let the parents and grandparents see how cute they are behind the wheels of small vehicles.
    This year a small forklift which actually picked up small items was included on the auction block. The forklift had a steady stream of kids trying it out, including Hazel Dougherty, daughter of Samantha and Ryan Dougherty. The young lady, who, like many cute little kids, had Papa Steve Halbur's attention while she showed him how cute she looked in the small, mighty machine. It didn't work; the top bid went to Peter Goldsmith.
    While the small machines and the hundreds of auction items required much bigger kids to bid on them, a bunch of smaller kids were thrilled to win a full-size side-by-side by the draw of a hand. Allyson and Matt Dirksen's daughter, Kate was the lucky winner of the raffle, putting the possession of the vehicle into the hands of her parents.
    The auction, held on Sunday, had a great turnout with generous bidders over-spending, all for the sake of Danbury Catholic School.