Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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Clay Central/Everly Elementary on Nov. 16 hosted state Rep. Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids) for a Leader-in-Me ribbon cutting assembly. CC/E Director of Student Services Michelle Huntress kicked off the event with a story on how the Leader-in-Me curriculum came to the school. She followed that with an overview of what the program offers and why the district chose to dive into the new program, starting it at the beginning of this school year. The Leader-in-Me program works hard to connect students,...
Clay Central/Everly's 4-6 grade students recently learned what it takes to run for office, as they geared up to run for student council. Royal Mayor Josh Toft came to the school to discuss how important it is to support your community by listening, caring and doing your best to stand up for what is right. Students took to campaigning for office by making signs for their school hallways, and each candidate gave a heartfelt speech in front of their classmates prior to voting. Students in grades...
October boasts a myriad of events that gain our attention: Full moons, harvest, Halloween, Homecomings and autumn in all of its beauty. However, there is one week of the month that deserves pause for a significantly serious reason – National Fire Prevention Week. National Fire Prevention Week runs from Oct. 9-16 and is celebrated nationally throughout the United States and Canada. The first Fire Prevention Week was celebrated in 1922, making 2022 its 100th year of existence. The purpose of F...
A new school year is well under way at Clay Central/Everly Elementary school, which means it's about time we introduce you to new staff members in "Meet a Maverick." First up is our CC/E second grade teacher, Miss Sarah Rutt. She is a sixth-year teacher, with this being her very first year donning the Maverick Red and Gold. Rutt studied Secondary Education and Literacy Education at the University of Northern Iowa. Her favorite things include anything purple, dolphins, the season of winter, Twix...
Every year I write about the fair and how amazing it is. How cherished and beloved it remains. How you'll be hard-pressed to find something that captivates nearly every fair-goer and entices every demographic of person. Every year I tell you how I get emotional thinking about how the fair is part of many of our stories. How many of us were raised not only attending the fair, but also showing, living, breathing and working the fair. Volunteering at The Chop Shop, falling asleep on the side of...
Hello, friends! It's been a few weeks since I last wrote you, as I have been busy making the most of our final summer days before school started. Now we are full swing into the school year and before you know it we will have the Clay County Fair upon us – the true tell-tale sign that fall is approaching. Sorry summer lovers, but I say bring on the fall! This summer was a quick and beautiful one, jam-packed as usual with family, friends, activities, fun in the sun and excursions galore. It p...
Happy Thursday to all! Are you as stunned as I am that we are already into August? I feel like I am continuously shocked by things that shouldn’t shock me; namely the calendar month and the ever-changing Ioweather. *** Let’s start with some sense and logic from Bethlehem Lutheran Church’s Pastor Mark with his Coffee Shop Wisdom. First, he quotes, “The answers make us wise, but it’s the questions that make us human.” His next quote is one I love, “Faith is what makes life bearable.” Th...
Hello to all and how are you? I pray you are all well and living life to the fullest this fine Thursday afternoon! I'll kick this column off with Bethlehem Lutheran's Pastor Mark's Coffee Shop Wisdom. He states, "Every generation revolts against its parents and makes friends with its grandparents." Thank you, Pastor, for sharing! *** My family just got home from an amazing vacation in the beautiful Black Hills. I genuinely think that no matter how many times you've been there, the Black Hills...
Happy Thursday to all! I hope this article finds you well and enjoying the summer as it whizzes by, seemingly at the speed of light! Can you believe July is nearly over? How can this be?! I write you as I come off of an insanely busy and rewarding Royal Fun Days weekend. The amount of time, talent, effort, blood, sweat and tears that goes into the planning, preparation, and day-of operation is an honorable feat and makes me extremely proud to say that I live here. So much goes into Royal Fun Day...
I hope everyone found the long and beautiful holiday weekend to be a fantastic one! We are exhausted, but our cups overflow as we were blessed to spend time with most of our families, cherishing time with one another making memories. This weekend, and every holiday weekend for that matter, just seems to fly by so quickly. I am a firm believer that after every holiday weekend there should be a required vacation day or two to recoup from said holiday. A bit overkill maybe, but I deem it nearly nec...
Happy Thursday to all! I hope this Thursday finds you well and enjoying these warmer temps. Iowa is truly a champion at giving us multiple seasons in one week, luckily this week we have found ourselves enjoying some real summer weather. My children are eating it up. *** We will kick off this week's column with Bethlehem Lutheran's Pastor Mark Wilms giving us his weekly dose of "Coffee Shop Wisdom." We have a few for you today, starting with "When angry, count to 10 before you speak. If very...
Last week Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp's day camp crew headed to Royal's Bethlehem Lutheran Church for a week of Vacation Bible School fun with the congregation's children along with Hope Lutheran Church of Everly's youth. The week's theme was "Anchored in Hope" with a nautical thread tying the program together. Daily themes included "Anchored In the Creator," "Anchored in the Word" and "Anchored in the Light." Day camp days were filled with Bible study, story time, crafting, game play and...
From the very start you were taught, Just what was needed from you, To work with strong mind and body, And of proper morale too, You were taught that others will need you, And thus, you must be there, No matter the time or your skill level, No matter if you were not prepared, You were taught that to get a job done, The first step was to merely ‘show up’, Not late or on time, but early, And ‘being there’ wasn’t enough, In order to do a job right, You needed to give it your all, To think bef...
Last week the residents of Riverview Terrace Assisted Living were treated to a trip through Japan thanks to a presentation delivered by Clay Raider 4-H'er Kate Holtz. Holtz's presentation was all self-written and taught, as she is an avid hobby/researcher and enjoys learning and reading in her free time. She dressed in a traditional Kimono given to her by her piano teacher Lynn Wilms. Kate had a presentation board filled with fun facts and interesting information, too. The teacher eventually...
Hello to all! I hope you have been staying well and enjoying the sun this week! Between those crazy haboob windstorms and days that feel like rain yet it never rains, I think I'm ready for some heat and sun to come our way. I better start stocking up on sunscreen by the barrel now! *** We have quite a bit of Coffee Shop Wisdom material to catch up on with Pastor Mark of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. His first is, "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." Next is, "Blessed is the one wh...
CC/E students donate to Ukraine Clay Central/Everly Elementary students have been on a self-started mission to give. Ever since the war erupted in Ukraine, CC/E students have felt a stirring within to do more and help as much as they can. Together the student body helped to raise $360.67 through their penny drive. All raised monies will be given to UNICEF. Local Girl Scouts honored Girl Scout Troop #10528 met last week at the Royal Community Building for its annual awards ceremony. Children and...
Happy almost Friday to all! Can you believe we’re already to Memorial Day weekend? Where does the time go? It seems crazy to think that in a few days it will be June. Bring on the warmer temps and summer fun! My babies are ready! Speaking of babies, Clay Central/Everly is on its final week of school! The children are chomping on the bit to start “summer vacation,” and I think it’s safe to say the teachers are equally ready for some well-earned time off as well. I have been holding onto some ex...
Last week Lori Larson took her final class of Clay Central/Everly second graders to the Omaha Zoo. Larson is completing her final week of teaching at CC/E Elementary. Thus, this zoo trip was bittersweet and extra special. Larson and three other staff members toured the facility with her students, taking in all of the sights and sounds that she and so many of her former students have grown to love during the annual trip. Students await this trip with anticipation every year, and Larson hopes the...
Clay Central/Everly Elementary welcomes their newest staff member, Noah Becker, onboard for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. Becker works for Season's Center and will be CC/E's full time Youth Services Worker. "My goal is to support the students in developing personal and social skills, as well as help students create positive behaviors," he said. Becker will be offering his services throughout the summer and the school year next year. He hails from Fairmont, Minn., and is a fresh graduate of...
Clay Central/Everly students headed outside for an outdoor field day at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory in Milford last week. During their visit students enjoyed fun activities like canoeing, fishing, hiking and nature art while also donning water gear to search aquatic creatures. The children and staff enjoyed the beautiful weather to help wrap up the current school year and get ready for summer....
Last Thursday the Clay Central/Everly Elementary band and choir students put on a rockin' good time at their 50's and 60's themed Spring Fling concert. The concert theme was "Cruisin' Down Memory Lane – A Flashback to the 50's and 60's." Fifth and sixth grade band students started off the evening walking the audience through classics like "Claire De Lune" and "Mix and Match/Putting It Together." Following the band's performance came the kindergarten and first grade classes who "rocked" the c...
Hello, friends! I'm typing this on Monday and even though it's a touch on the windy side, it is gorgeous outside! (This opening sentence has me wondering if it is just Iowans that discuss weather within the first 5 minutes of every conversation or all of the Midwest? Ha!) This past Sunday we celebrated our Bethlehem Lutheran graduates, (which I hear they celebrated at Hope the Sunday prior). It is so wonderful to see the church family come together to bless, encourage and celebrate the seniors...
As the Hope Lutheran Church Daddy-Daughter Dance committee found it harder and harder to round up volunteers for the annual event, organizers realized that pooling together resources from both Everly and Royal would be key to the event's survival. Royal and Everly mothers came together in full force after realizing how important it was to have this beautiful event stay local. Since the last event was held at Hap Ketelsen Community Center in Everly, they decided to host the first dual-community...
Bethlehem Lutheran's King's Kampers united on Sunday for their annual spring program. The program entitled, "Heroes of the Faith," told of heroes found in the Bible and how each of these extraordinary people were ordinary men, women and children that leaned into their faith by listening to God's direction. When they did as God commanded, they found that anything was possible, even the impossible. The children were told how they, too, can make extraordinary things happen through their faith in...
The Everly Firefighter's Association held their spring breakfast last Sunday. A steady stream of patrons filtered in and tables filled with happy breakfast lovers. Gracious firefighter volunteers served up delicious sausage patties, little smokies, scrambled eggs, French toast and refreshments. Drive-up orders were prepared for those wanting to order and run. The fundraiser breakfast benefits Everly Fire and Rescue and goes towards the purchasing of needed gear and equipment....
