Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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Family, friends and community members bid farewell to 54 seniors at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School on Sunday afternoon. The group was sent off with their tassels turned and diplomas in hand following the annual commencement ceremony inside the H-M-S Event Center. Principal Blake Wendt said he was proud of the Class of 2024 and encouraged them to blaze a path of success in whatever they do after high school. "While many see today as an ending to these students' educational journeys, it is in...
The wait is almost over in Hartley. Following a two-year delay, the city's pool is slated to open on Saturday, May 25. Officials are planning a ribbon cutting and hotdog meal to mark the occasion at Neebel Park. The public is invited to attend and take their inaugural dips that afternoon. "We want everybody to come out, check things out and celebrate with us," said City Administrator Roxann Swanson. "We're just all really excited about the pool opening." The process to get here was an arduous...
Residents in Royal received a barrage from the sky on Monday night that left significant damage in its wake. A thunderstorm rolled through the area that dropped hail ranging in size from a quarter to larger than a golf ball. Damage reports were significant, as windows on homes and vehicles were shattered throughout the community. Dented siding, roofs and broken tree limbs were also seen throughout the community. The onslaught lasted between 20-30 minutes. Residents in Webb also received...
A decorated military veteran with a service career spanning three decades will address the Memorial Day crowd at Pleasant View Cemetery on May 27. Master Sgt. Lorenzia (Lo) Henderson, of rural Hartley, served a variety of roles in the Marines and Army prior to his retirement in 2017 after 32 years of military service – 22 years active and 10 years reserve. After enlisting in the Marines in 1978, he traveled the globe on various active-duty assignments and transitioned to leadership positions l...
The last World War II veteran in Hartley died on May 9 at the age of 101. Harlan Goetsch served in the U.S. Merchant Marines from 1944-1946. According to an interview with the Sentinel-News last year on his 100th birthday, Goetsch's travels during World War II took him all over the globe; however, Alaska remained his favorite place. "I'm just an ordinary man who has tried to live an ordinary life," he said. "I'm nothing special." Local residents may beg to differ. Goetsch was a well-known...
Eyes were glued to the night sky last weekend as area residents were treated to a rare sight. The aurora borealis, commonly referred to as the northern lights, were visible in the upper-Midwest last week thanks to a large geomagnetic storm. Northwest Iowa got in on the show Friday and Saturday. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the northern lights are created when energized particles from the sun slam into Earth's upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45...
The home debut of the Northwest Iowa Lightning ended in victory Saturday afternoon in Everly. Playing at the former Clay Central/Everly High School, the Lightning defeated the Midwest Rampage 16-14. The win moved the amateur nine-man football team to 2-0 on the season. The Northwest Iowa Lightning was created last fall. After an exhaustive effort to find a home field, team leaders landed on Everly. Games are held on the south side of the former high school property. The Lightning play at home...
Hartley City Council members on Monday were pleased to learn the local parks department has a pulse. Hartley Parks & Recreation Board members Laura Mohni, Kaity Pedley and Drew Sweeney provided an update to the council about the group's plans. According to the trio, a variety of projects and programming are in the works with board members eager to provide more things to the community. "It's nice to have an actual park board now," said Council Member Ron Hengeveld. "We probably have never had a...
Travelers on Highway 18 in northwest Iowa were treated to a unique sight last week. Perched atop his mule with a donkey as his wingman, Mike Siddall plodded his way across the plains. His main objective wasn't a destination, but rather to spread awareness about an issue most folks don't think about. Siddall's wife, Anita, started the nonprofit organization Toothbrushers and Balaam's Donkey in 2018. The group provides oral cleanings and screenings to people with self-care deficits, like...
Spring's ongoing deluge has local officials feeling lucky compared to past wet years. Hartley City Administrator Roxann Swanson on Tuesday reported few water-related issues in the City With a Heart. That's a plus for Hartley residents, who've experienced their fair share of headaches during other years when Mother Nature forgot to turn off the spigot. "There haven't been any reports to us about sewer back ups," Swanson said. "People have had a bit of water in their basements – some a bit more t...
An old issue reared its head last month inside Hartley City Council Chambers. Members on April 15 mulled ways to improve enforcement of nuisance ordinances. The city currently utilizes the services of Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission (NIPDC), which was hired several years ago to assess problematic residences, send abatement notices and attempt to mitigate the violations. According to discussion, city officials have been disappointed in NIPDC's efforts, noting an alleged lack...
The Clay Central/Everly school board on April 24 received a bit of sticker shock. Members reviewed an estimate for playground upgrades at the Nature Learning Center, which is used by preschool students at recess. Boland Recreation, of Marshalltown, returned a quote for $390,815 to revamp amenities in the area. "Are we building with diamonds or what?" asked Board Member Allison Goyette. "I think $390,000 is slightly atrocious." While the price tag made eyes pop, CC/E Director of Student Services...
Clay County has its new fair queen. Linnea Bloom won the crown on Sunday during the 20th anniversary of the revitalized contest. The 17-year-old from Marathon beat out three other contestants, and will now reign over festivities at the 2024 Clay County Fair. Bloom, the daughter of Stephen and Melanie Bloom, is involved in several activities, including track and cross country, National Honor Society, FFA, FCA, student council, speech and her church. In addition to her many extracurricular...
Clay Central/Everly officials on Monday had a reason to celebrate. The Iowa Department of Education announced the district was one of 67 schools to earn a Learning Beyond the Bell grant. CC/E's total haul was worth $116,215. "It is a rather comprehensive grant," said CC/E Director of Student Services Michelle Huntress. "We are very excited!" According to the department of education, the grant's goal is to expand and sustain high-quality before-and-after school programs that support families and...
I’m always a day late and dollar short. That counts in life, and it also counts in the yard. We should have planted grass last week. There are plenty of barren patches in our yard – partially thanks to my heavy herbicide use last year, and partially thanks to other factors, like the two dogs’ “business.” Regardless, we did not get anything planted, and April’s showers are making me kick myself that I won’t have May grass. Still, there will be May flowers...if you count dandelions. That’s not to say I haven’t been busy. Thanks to the help of a...
The old gridiron in Everly will soon become a field of dreams for one upstart football team. Believe it or not, competitive sports are returning to the small Clay County community thanks to the Northwest Iowa Lightning. The new amateur 9-man football team will call the old field at the former Clay Central/Everly High School home this season, with the inaugural kickoff slated for Saturday, May 11. For team co-owner Dylan Brands, it's been a dream come true. "I don't think a lot of people realize...
A dilapidated building in downtown Hartley will remain standing for at least another year. Officials at City Hall this week learned that Hartley's application for a Derelict Building Grant to tear down the old Capitol Theatre was denied by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The DNR last year approved a $25,000 grant to remove asbestos and other hazardous material from the building, which had council members optimistic more funds would be allocated for its complete removal. City...
Young academics at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School excelled during a state competition in Ames earlier this month. The students traveled to the campus of Iowa State University for the 2024 State Science Technology Fair of Iowa, where they joined over 600 students from 70 schools across the state. They showcased their exhibits on a variety of topics ranging from chewing gum and bad breath to stain removers and pet urine. Eighteen students in grades 6-8 participated from H-M-S. Big winners...
Youngsters at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary are learning that you don't need to be outside to enjoy biking. For the past two years, PE teacher Janet Prins has been engaging TK-K students with a unit on bike basics. Children learn how to balance and steer on pedal-free Strider Bikes before the pedals are added towards the end of the unit. "The kids absolutely love these bikes," Prins said. "It doesn't matter if they know how to ride or not, they like being able to use the bikes in the gym."...
One of Mother Nature's most dazzling feats was dulled Monday by one of her more mundane. Thanks to an overcast sky, the widely-hyped solar eclipse was rendered somewhat invisible depending on your location in northwest Iowa. Those with a completely overcast view noticed a darker sky, but some still caught a glimpse of the phenomenon peaking through the clouds. Elementary students at Clay Central/Everly crowded the school grounds with special glasses to watch the show – or attempted to, at l...
Pale is a good thing when it comes to the U.S. Drought Monitor's maps, and last week's was delightfully bland for O'Brien County. The map released on April 4 showed O'Brien County as completely drought-free along with Osceola and Plymouth counties. Portions of other northwest Iowa counties were also listed as drought-free, while the remaining land mass was "abnormally dry." The region was the best off in the state as far as precipitation levels go. According to the map, around 20 counties in...
Guests at the Hartley Community Center's annual VIP Supper are in for tricks, treats and plenty of laughs on Saturday night. This year's entertainment will feature Alan Sands, who will bring his comedic magic act to the City With a Heart. Sands, who is also a renowned hypnotist, will put on a show following supper at 7:30 p.m. "I saw a comedy magical show one time and thought it would be a really fun thing to bring here," said community center Director Jessika Storm. "We try to avoid repeating...
Ground won't be broken any time soon, but Hartley leaders are eyeing a new building at Neebel Park. The city council last month discussed the need to replace the current shelter house on the west side of the park. According to Council Member Ron Hengeveld, it's in rough shape and getting worse. "It's embarrassing," he said. "It needs to go away, and it's not fixable." Hengeveld and Superintendent of Public Works Tony Weatherman recently inspected the structure, which was built in 1970,...
Local children converged on the grounds at Community Memorial Health Center last Saturday for the I.E.F. Club's annual Easter egg hunt. This year there were 105 hunters split into three age groups. I.E.F. Club members scattered hundreds of eggs across the CMHC property, and goodie bags were provided to each participant at the conclusion of the hunt. In addition to taste treats, a drawing was held for pool passes and scooters....
The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn community is mourning the death of one of its students following a single-vehicle accident Wednesday, March 20. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Joshua Cruz, 16, of Hartley, was driving a 2000 Honda Accord eastbound on 300th Street when it left the roadway and struck an embankment on Waterman Creek. The accident report noted Cruz was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered a fatal injury during the crash. The accident occurred approximately three miles northwest of...
