Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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A rural Hartley woman is using her four-legged friends to help local children gain trust, confidence and friendship. Darcy Morphew founded T Time Equine Assisted Coaching this fall and has been working through the certification process. Once she gets the stamp of approval, local youth will be able to visit her farm and enjoy a variety of horse-related activities with multiple social benefits. "Horses are special in the way they are calming and nonjudgmental," Morphew explained. "My focus is...
The demolition of one downtown Hartley building has revealed significant issues with another. Real Reflections owner Tricia Elgersma last month was forced to move operations of her business across the street to Salon West. The abrupt change of space came following the demolition of the former Create-A-Craft building in November, which sat directly north of Real Reflections. According to Elgersma, previously unseen water issues were revealed when the neighboring building was torn down. Moisture...
A local telecommunications company is about to change hands. Royal Telephone Company (RTC) was sold to Premier Communications, of Sioux Center, in late October. According to RTC officials, the business will officially change hands in early January of 2024. RTC General Manager John Noah said the company was approached by Premier with a purchase offer earlier this year. "Premier is uniquely positioned to continue Royal's legacy of providing exceptional service to customers in and around Royal,"...
Jerry Olson will now have a little more free time on the second Monday night of each month. The longtime Hartley City Council member logged his final meeting Monday. Olson served 16 cumulative years on the council and did not seek re-election this year. "It's been fun and enjoyable," Olson said during prepared remarks at the conclusion of the meeting. "Is it emotional? Yes it is." Olson was first elected to the council in 2005 and served two terms. He was elected again after a two-year break in...
Ongoing discussion about combining certain grade levels into one classroom topped discussion Nov. 30 at the Clay Central/Everly school board meeting. School officials have been studying operations at Stratford Elementary, which faces small enrollment numbers like CC/E. According to discussion, Stratford routinely combines certain grade levels into one classroom to give students more opportunities to collaborate and build relationships. CC/E, which currently has 51 students in grades K-6, has...
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Dance Attack last week added to its growing trophy chest. The team won fourth place finishes in Class 1 Hoopla and Class 1 Novelty, and also third place in the Lights category at the 48th annual Iowa High School and College State Dance Team Championships in Des Moines. Coach Brittany Dolphin was ecstatic about the Hawks' performances. "They did some of the best routines they've ever done," she said. "I'm a very proud coach. They worked extremely hard." More than 650 routin...
With the harvest season now a memory, area farmers are wrapping up groundwork and eyeing the 2024 growing season. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture, the corn harvest concluded statewide late last month, with only a few stragglers in the southern part of the state still running combines around Thanksgiving. Things concluded much earlier in northwest Iowa, though, and New Century FS agronomist Alic Mohni said farmers were happy this year. "In our area things finished out pretty...
‘Tis the season to be busy. It feels like I’m constantly doing something, yet accomplishing nothing – more so than usual. I still haven’t put Christmas lights up outside. I’m in a bit of a cold war about it with my wife, who has asked me to scale a ladder and get them hung several times. I’ve said no at each instance, which has forced her to threaten to do it herself. I tell her no way, and then we grumble back and forth before returning to whatever we were doing before the squabble. I’m hoping she’ll just give up since Christmas is a...
Recent snow accumulation may have melted already, but local residents won't need the white stuff to get in the Christmas spirit this weekend in Hartley and Everly. Several holiday events are planned in both communities starting Friday and wrapping up on Sunday night. Folks in the Royal area need not wait long – the city's holiday events are slated to take place next weekend. HARTLEY The City With a Heart's big day is Sunday. Things kick off with the Hartley Chamber of Commerce's annual h...
There may be a new face at the helm, but the mission remains the same for the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Giving Tree. Debra Henderson, of rural Hartley, took over organizing efforts this month from founder Jenna Hemiller. The Giving Tree provides gifts to H-M-S students in need during the holidays, which Henderson believed was an important tradition to keep alive following Hemiller's recent move from the area. "It's been very gratifying so far," Henderson said. "I'm just amazed at the community's...
The subject matter may be tall, but visitors to a new exhibit at the Everly Heritage Museum won't need to strain their necks to get a good look. "Silos: Our Rural Skyscrapers" will debut Dec. 1-2 during two open houses at the museum. The exhibit features a photo display of grain silos in the Everly area as well as background information on the structures, which are slowly disappearing from Iowa's landscape. The exhibit was the brainchild of local farmer Mark Scharnberg, who believed it was impor...
We added a new member to the family on Tuesday night. Puppy Tucker, a Border Collie mix, was picked up from People for Pets in Spencer. He was found abandoned near Primghar recently and was brought to the shelter for adoption. He’s a friendly pup. German Shepherd, Bo, gave him a warm welcome upon his arrival home. Our hope is that the ol’ girl will be able to share some of her “good dog demeanor” with Tucker. Time will tell – Kaity claims she’s always wanted to be a mom. Cat Phyllis wasn’t impressed, however. Tucker had a feline friend at the...
A handful of Everly residents will be able to share their views on the town's quality of life with officials from Iowa State University as part of a special study. Representatives from the Rural Shrink Smart Project met with members of the Everly City Council on Monday to give a progress update. Led by ISU faculty, the study's stated goal is to develop tools to help all small and shrinking communities actively plan for shrinkage before population loss affects their quality of life. Everly was...
Members of H-M-S Dance Attack are hunting down some hardware. The team will perform at the 48th annual Iowa High School and College State Dance Team Championships in Des Moines Nov. 30-Dec. 1. More than 650 routines will be performed at the event, which is held in Wells Fargo Arena, Hy-Vee Hall and the Community Choice Convention Center. H-M-S Dance Attack will perform in three categories: Novelty Class I, Lights, and Hoopla Class I. "Every single performance at school is fun, but it's nothing...
I’ve felt a bit stupid this week speaking with advertisers about the upcoming winter sports tab. After wrapping up the conversation with more than a few of them, I’ve ended with, “Have a Merry Thankgiving!” It seems rather apt that my brain is already on Christmas despite it being Thanksgiving. Like the rest of the year, this fall has simply flown right by. I think the recent stretch of great weather helped trick my brain, but nonetheless, we’re a month away from Christmas. I’m already putting off buying gifts. **** Last weekend I headed down...
Patriotism and gratitude were bursting from the gym at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School last Friday. Students, staff and community members gathered to pay homage to America's bravest during the school's annual Veterans Day program. Featured were musical tributes from both high school and elementary students, as well as remarks from keynote speaker Rev. Jordan Helming. For Hartley American Legion Cmdr. Roy Wohlert, the celebration of service was one of his favorite days of the year. "I'm like...
A longtime Hartley business has changed hands, but you won't see any new faces under the hood. Robert Young purchased Snider Auto Care Center from founder and owner Kevin Snider this month. The move was in the works for a while, but took a little extra wrenching to reach the finish line. Young, who has worked at the shop under Snider for the past 17 years, was relieved to have the paperwork behind him and move forward as the shop's new owner. "I've always wanted to own my own business," he...
Frustration over a proposed crosswalk on Highway 18 resulted in a contentious Hartley City Council meeting on Monday. Members of the Hartley Recreation Trail Committee engaged in a heated debate with the council and local property owners about the location of the crossing. Once the dust settled, the council agreed to continue discussions with Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn officials about improving pedestrian crossing conditions on the highway near the elementary and high school. "I don't believe...
My good friend, Brenden, is an avid cyclist. He races bikes professionally all over the country and has done so for the better part of the last decade. He’s good at pushing pedals. All that success comes from extensive training, both indoors and outdoors. When the ground isn’t covered in snow, he spends countless hours each year traversing highways and byways here in the Hawkeye State to build his strength and stamina. I’ve always said his affection for cycling will kill him. Not from over exhaustion or a bad crash, but from some stupid drive...
There will be a couple of new faces when city councils in Everly and Hartley meet for the first time in 2024. In Hartley, Matt Dolphin received 162 votes while Greg Cotter tallied 151 to lock up the two open city council seats. Dolphin is a newcomer while Cotter has served on the council since July when he was appointed to fill a vacancy. Kenny Embrey was on the outside looking in with 52 votes. In Everly, incumbent Mayor Ron Thompson edged challenger and current Council Member Tracey...
Three Hartley-area programs were recent benefactors of generous contributions from Valero Renewables. The Hartley plant donated to the H-M-S Kids Backpack Program, Grace Fellowship Community Preschool and H-M-S STEM Education. Funds were raised through the Valero Texas Open (VTO) and Valero Benefit for Children (BFC). "Across the U.S., hundreds of BFC-recipient charities are positively impacting thousands of lives, and all for one purpose – to make a difference for children," said plant m...
State officials last week confirmed the presence of bird flu in Clay County. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on Nov. 3 confirmed three positive cases of the virus at three farms in Clay County. The affected sites were game bird duck farms, with one of the farms also containing a small backyard mixed species flock. Flocks with confirmed bird flu infections are euthanized. Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed a...
It may have taken more than a year longer than expected, but Hartley is going to have an open pool next spring. City Administrator Roxann Swanson reported that the new facility passed its recent safety inspection by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). That's a huge step in the right direction, as a previous failed inspection forced its indefinite closure. Swanson said the IDPH identified a few areas for the city to address prior to the grand opening. "There is nothing within those that...
The front still remains, but most of a problematic downtown Hartley building was removed last week. A crew from Schmillen Construction, Inc., of Marcus, removed the building on Nov. 2. It formerly housed Create-A-Craft and was acquired by the city from owner Mary Rons after being deemed hazardous because of its dilapidated condition. Cost to remove asbestos at the building was $28,855 and demolition was estimated at $51,425. Asbestos and other hazardous material were removed in the summer. The...
Voters in two local cities will have some choices to make when they enter the voting booth next Tuesday. Everly has the most competitive ballot on the Nov. 7 slate. Five candidates – incumbents Tara Patrick and Denise Cook, along with challengers Roger "Lefty" Ginger, Tatum Geerdes and Josh Seaman – are vying for three spots on the city council. Incumbent Mayor Ron Thompson is also being challenged by current Council Member Tracey Grigg-Schuver. Hartley also features a contested ballot. Gre...
