Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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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...
WHAT DID WE ASK? The Sentinel-News sent questionnaires to each candidate in the Nov. 7 election. Questions included: 1. Please provide background information about yourself (i.e. family, career, etc.). 2. Please detail any past experience in local government or other community organizations. 3. Why are you running? 4. Do you have any concerns about your city/school district or issues affecting it? 5. What goals do you have for your city, and how would you go about achieving them? 6. Is there any...
What did we ask? The Sentinel-News sent questionnaires to each candidate in the Nov. 7 election. Questions included: 1. Please provide background information about yourself (i.e. family, career, etc.). 2. Please detail any past experience in local government or other community organizations. 3. Why are you running? 4. Do you have any concerns about your city or issues affecting it? 5. What goals do you have for your city, and how would you go about achieving them? 6. Is there anything you'd...
What did we ask? The Sentinel-News sent questionnaires to each candidate in the Nov. 7 election. Questions included: 1. Please provide background information about yourself (i.e. family, career, etc.). 2. Please detail any past experience in local government or other community organizations. 3. Why are you running? 4. Do you have any concerns about your city/school district or issues affecting it? 5. What goals do you have for your city, and how would you go about achieving them? 6. Is there any...
WHAT DID WE ASK? The Sentinel-News sent questionnaires to each candidate in the Nov. 7 election. Questions included: 1. Please provide background information about yourself (i.e. family, career, etc.). 2. Please detail any past experience in local government or other community organizations. 3. Why are you running? 4. Do you have any concerns about your school district or issues affecting it? 5. What goals do you have for your city/school district, and how would you go about achieving them? 6....
Christmas came early for five Hartley non-profit organizations. The Hartley Community Foundation (HCF) raised a total of $34,535 during its Oct. 1 fundraiser. Attendees could give general donations to be allocated evenly, or specifically designate funds to the Hartley Community Center, Cemetery Chapel Committee, Hartley Community Daycare Center, Hartley Recreation Trail Committee or Friends of the Library. The event also served as a celebration of service for longtime HCF board members and...
If there's such a thing as an emotional haircut, it took place last Friday at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. In front of a packed gymnasium, fourth grader Madilyn Steuben chopped off her hair for Locks of Love. Steuben's selfless act was part of the elementary school's annual cancer awareness event that raised $1,870.21 thanks to contributions from students and staff. "This is the coolest thing you could do for somebody, Madi," said P.E. teacher Janet Prins, who organized the event. "You don't even...
It's not a mirage – Hartley's pool has water in it. The never-opened new pool was filled after a replacement concrete deck was poured last week. The filling will allow local officials to inspect equipment and address any issues. Hartley Water Superintendent Terry Hilbert was on site at the pool Tuesday afternoon. He said it was "too early to tell" if equipment was functioning at 100 percent, but he was pleased to see it filled with water. "It's coming along," he said. As visible above, f...
The Everly City Council on Monday punted a decision that would determine the fate of a local dog that supposedly bit a delivery driver in August. According to the incident report, Lori Adrian’s dog allegedly bit off-duty Clay County Deputy Tyler Heck on Aug. 11 when he was delivering a package at her residence while working as a driver for Amazon. Adrian was charged with owning a vicious animal and ordered to remove it from city limits, which she appealed. “I do not believe he has bit anybody. He has no history of biting anybody,” Adrian said....
