Township Events
This page will contain special news items as they relate to our community, or events which will bring us together as neighbors. We will also use this page to promote events in our neighboring communities of New Virginia and Indianola.
For Township Trustee meetings go to Agendas or Calendar of Events.
FUTURE AND CURRENT EVENTS
There are so many events in Indianola, New Virginia and surrounding communities throughout the year that it is hard to keep up with all the updates. There are craft sales, garage sales, kite flying, holiday parades, special holiday shopping events and of course the different holidays themselves. Please follow the Facebook pages below for more information and enjoy whatever holiday you celebrate!
New Virginia GAMP Truck Pull.PAST EVENTS and NEWS
Unknown Marker Setting Day At All Three Cemeteries.
April 22, 2025
Almost a full two years after our GPR was done, the QA of the information sent back was completed and we were able to move forward. In the GPR story below, you'll notice that we had a total of 72 burials that were originally marked. A small amount of research as well as funeral home markers, assisted us with being able to have McCall Monument set eight of those 72 on December 21st, 2023 leaving us with 64 to do further research before setting permanent stones.
It wasn't looking good weather wise Tuesday, but Mother Nature played nice and permitted two trustees to join four gentlemen from McCall Monument to set 57 Unknown markers. After over a year of off and on research, we were also able to set three known markers. Unfortunately, records did not allow for any more to be named. We were unable to set three remaining unknowns, due to "technical difficulties". Those will be laid at a different date, along with our Native American memorial stone.
We started the morning at Smith Cemetery. Here we were able to locate 22 of the 24 Unknown markers. From there, we went to Mt. Tabor to set 3 named markers and 12 of the 13 Unknowns. The end of the afternoon was spent at Indian Valley where we were able to set all 23 Unknowns successfully.
Smith Cemetery
Too early for this trustee to have to figure out the map and where lost
flags are supposed to be.
So many flags were missing, so we grabbed a handful of new ones and searched.
Test probing to determine if there really should be a stone for this spot. There should be, but we were confused by a flag that was placed and not GPS'd. We set the one that had a flag. We will set the other another day.
Mt Tabor Cemetery
Hilda and Infant son Floyd of Lyda Floyd now have markers.
Hilda, was placed on the north side of mom. Infant son was placed on the south side of mom.
Our measuring for a missing flag was spot on. We found an old headstone base. Unfortunately, we had to continue laying an Unknown marker because we could not find the headstone. We had the guys remove the old base and pour a new one for setting an Unknown stone. It was a substantial sized base! Wish we could have found the name.
Son of A.L. and A.C. Sanders.
Pouring concrete and setting stones. Making sure they line up just right.
Indian Valley Cemetery
The end of the day and the wonderful crew from McCall Monument agreed to a picture.
Left to right: Blake, Andrew, Shaun, Colton. We can't thank you enough!
Ground Penetrating Radar Day At All Three Cemeteries.
May 24, 2023
After many years of not knowing if our maps of Indian Valley and Mt. Tabor were correct or not, and not having a map for Smith Cemetery, we decided to contact someone to assist us. Sentry Mapping out of Missippi came to Iowa to help us do just that. It was an interesting day and we discovered our maps are not correct, but that a legend is. We learned that some who have purchased plots recently at one cemetery will need to decide on a new place, while another family wanting to be in another cemetery has a whole row they can purchase! Overall we ended up with 71 flags marking plots we weren't sure about. Some of which we have names so we can provide appropriate markings, others we do not. If anyone has information about our cemeteries, please send an email to: Squaw Creek Township. We also learned an interesting tidbit that the cedar/spruce trees in the cemeteries started as seeds within the coffins. Some seeds germinated, some did not. Not sure I'll ever look at those trees the same now!
Indian Valley Cemetery
Recalibrating after backing up.
Searching for unmarked graves.
Even Benton Smith was confused An infant sized burial Did it belong to the Carman's?
not square with the world
The flag in the forefront is not exactly in the right place as the flag is
placed at the center of the burial, meaning this burial is centered with
the other headstones of the row.
Smith Cemetery
Look at all those flags. Native American Legend Confirmed.
Mt Tabor Cemetery
This one may cause an issue. This one will cause an issue as well as another not pictured.
Dedication Ceremony at Mt Tabor Cemetery
Honoring Mr. William "Bill" Willis, II
April 29, 2023
In 1999, Bill and his wife, Mary, relocated from Atlantic, Iowa to a farm outside of New Virginia, Iowa, actually just up the road from Mt. Tabor Cemetery.
For more than two decades, Bill through his dirt working business which he started in 1997, literally helped shape the land in the communities surrounding the New Virginia area. Bill also helped Mary with the bounty from her flower and vegetable gardens and the fruit trees and spent many hours at farmer’s markets with their jams, jellys, salsas, fresh vegetables, and delivering flowers to Boesen’s Florists for purchase, etc.
Bill was a great leader of the communities he lived in, being actively engaged in service one way and/or another. Not only was he President of the Atlantic Lions Club and three term Mayor of the town of Wiota, Iowa, but as a resident of Squaw Creek Township he became a member of the Board of Directors of Clarke Electric Cooperative in 2008 as the representative for District 1 which includes: Jefferson, White Oak and of course Squaw Creek Township. He served in that position until his death.
Most importantly, and the reason we gathered on a chilly day in April of 2023, Bill became a trustee for Squaw Creek Township in 2003. In this capacity he served the residents of the township continuously for nineteen years until his death. Bill was instrumental in the beautification of the township's three pioneer cemeteries, helping to oversee improvement of the grounds, fence, and flagpoles. His dream was to see the acquisition of property to complete the road that was built in 1933 but fell short to connecting to Smith cemetery and provide parking for the cemetery. Unfortunately, passing April 18, 2022, he did not get to see that dream come true. However, we are proud to announce that the acquisition should be complete in early June and we hope to make him proud as we move forward.
Bill is buried at the Oxford Cemetery in Oxford, Iowa, however in honor of the time Bill served our community as a trustee, we felt we needed to have something to recognize his service in a location in our Township, therefore we have placed a memorial plaque at the base of the flag pole at Mt. Tabor, the cemetery closest to his home.
Bill was a kind, funny, caring man with many stories, and is missed by the current Board of Trustees and so many of his fellow community members.
Dedication Ceremony unveiling the memorial stone.
Mary Willis, with Trustees Steven Lawyer, Sheri Jandik, Kimberly Smith (far right) and Clerk Misti Kosman.
Mary Willis. In Memory of William "Bill" Willis, II.
May 27, 2022...Lowering and folding of the old flags. Raising of the new.
A huge shout out to Eagle Scout Sam Lawyer, his assistant Star Scout Hunter Palmer and Steven Lawyer for being available to do a proper lowering and folding of old flags and raising of new flags at each of our cemeteries May 27, 2022. Here are just a few photos from the day courtesy of Trustee Kimberly Smith.
Mt Tabor Cemetery:
Lowering the old flag. Raising the new flag. Saluting the new flag.
Indian Valley Cemetery:
The old flag. Raising the new flag. Old Glory flying high.
Smith Cemetery:
Old flag. Folding of the old flag. Raising of the new flag.
Saluting the old flag. Old Glory flying proudly.