Friday evening last week officially opened a weekend of festivities in Oto for their Oto Days. Part of the opening ceremony was the crowning of the new Oto Days royalty. Willie and Jerry Weber took the honors and reigned over the weekend.
    Friday ended with a pie auction, an outdoor movie on a perfect night for a movie, and entertainment and music.
    Saturday started bright and early with a breakfast to honor first responders from Oto and the surrounding area for their service to their communities. The parade had people lining the streets hoping to get a little candy. The corn hole tournament was held. The mechanical bull and other inflatables gave the kids (and older kids, too) fun and laughter. Vendors were open for business. Bingo was enjoyed by all. A petting zoo attracted the attention of the kids wanting to check out animals. The evening rounded out with music and dancing.
    Sunday, the final day of the annual celebration, was much more laid back with a golf tournament at Anthon Golf Course.
    Photos from the weekend are included in this issue on page 8.
    Photo by Leona Weber. Thanks, Leona!

    After taking a break last year, the Ram Write-Up returns to the newspapers. A brainstorming session with various instructors at MVAOCOU High School and Danbury Review and Mapleton Press personnel resulted in the inclusion of the Ram Write-Up in the newspapers like had been done many years ago.
    The Ram Write-Up will feature stories on each senior at MVAOCOU and other stories written by Language Arts students. Some stories may feature lower grades. There may also be artwork or games by the students; the Ram Write-Up is their place to express themselves. It will be printed approximately every other week. The first edition is in this week's Review.
    We are excited to be able to bring the Write-Up again and look forward to the submissions by the students.

    The polls are now open to vote for the Gem City royalty!
    Anyone with a Danbury address and/or phone number or who works in Danbury and is at least 18 years old may vote at either the C-Store or Colbert's Market precincts during their business hours. Voting will end at noon on Friday, September 24th. Ballots will be at both precincts by the time you read this (unless the ballot lady is distracted). The ballot in this Review may also be used.
    If you would like to vote but cannot get to the precincts or wish to remain a little more anonymous, you may call Lynn Buth at 893-2160 or text her at 712-840-0327 or email corndays@danbury-ia.com. You still must vote by noon on the 24th.
    The results will be announced that evening at approximately 6:00 at the pancake feed at the fire station.

    One of the earliest messages thousands of parents relay to their kids is to be kind to others. While it's easy to be kind most of the time, nearly everyone has challenges which makes kindness a little tougher to share from time to time. The staff at Danbury Catholic Elementary School has a mission this year - to engrain in each child's head that kindness rocks.
    "After the challenging 20-21 school year that educators, students, and their families made it through, I knew we had to go back to the basics for this upcoming school year—meaning focusing on being kind to one another," explained Lead Teacher Stacey Brown. "Many in the world might seem a little on edge or a little low on patience with each other for a million different reasons these days, so we wanted our DC team to help bring a smile to people's faces with one simple, kind act—how it all begins."
    The simple act? Painting rocks. Many rocks. Rocking kindness with rocks.
    One of the first activities involved all students, from the preschoolers to the sixth graders. The kids were tasked with turning boring rocks into kind works of art. The school was adorned with the rocks, but there were many, many left. The adults stepped in to share the kindness with others in the towns in which students live: Danbury, Mapleton, Battle Creek, and Ida Grove.
    "The students painted the kindness rocks, and we already had them throughout our school, so our DC faculty and staff put them out in our communities in hopes of sharing that kindness they have for our school in their hearts with others," said Brown. "We hope others who find them will bring a smile to someone else and share them too—just how kindness spreads, one kind act at a time.
    "Our theme for the 2021-2022 School Year is Kindness Matters. We will be doing different community service activities and events throughout the school year surrounding the Bible verse John 15:12: This is my commandment. That you love one another as I have loved you," concluded Brown.
    If you see a brightly colored rock, think of the kind smile from the child who painted that rock and share a smile with yourself and with others. One simple act is how it all begins.

    The Mapleton Zone LWML Fall Rally will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Immanuel/St. Paul (Hanover), Charter Oak. There is a chair lift available at the back of the church.
    Brunch precedes the meeting and will begin at 9:00. The guests speakers are Judy Eggli and Gina Schultz, Missionaries in Haiti.
    Come join us for brunch and fellowship.

    The seats for mayor currently held by Michael Buth and councilpersons currently held by Kathy Scholl and Jason Weber will be on the November ballot.
    Nomination papers are currently available at Danbury City Hall. Clerk Stacy Rockdaschel is obligated by law to accept forms until 5:00 on September 16th.
    City hall will be open until 5:00 on Thursday.