Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 32
The only contested race on local ballots had a photo finish Tuesday. Incumbent Hartley City Council members Mary Westphalen and Ron Hengeveld, along with newcomer Nick Galm, won the three open seats on the ballot. They edged Greg Cotter and incumbent Council Member Brian Myers to secure four-year terms. Incumbent Mayor Rodney Ahrenstorff was unopposed on Tuesday's ballot and won re-election. Unofficial vote totals for the five council candidates were: Westphalen, 194 (26.3 percent); Hengeveld,...
A passion that started in motherhood has grown into a profession for Rachel McDaniel. The Hartley woman recently opened Central Homeopathy, LLC, in the former HartleYoga building next to Jackie's Floral Center. Though she's starting small, McDaniel is looking forward to growing her clientele base in the months and years to come. "This has really just seemed to fit for me," she said. "From top to bottom, really. Homeopathy is really beautiful for mental and physical issues that are hard to deal w...
Clay County is currently without representation in the Iowa Senate. District 1 Sen. Zach Whiting, R-Spirit Lake, resigned from his seat effective Oct. 30. Whiting, 33, made the announcement Oct. 28 after the Senate approved the new redistricting maps during a special session. "I want to say a sincere thanks to all my constituents, my colleagues and all the staff," Whiting said on the Senate floor. "Being here in my 30s is awesome; being here anytime is awesome." Whiting will be moving to the Lon...
Big changes to Iowa's legislative districts were approved last week by state lawmakers. Redistricting by the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency is required every 10 years to reflect the results of the U.S. Census. The Iowa Legislature rejected the first set of maps in early October; however, the second set was given the green light last Thursday by the Senate (48-1) and House (93-2). Gov. Kim Reynolds signaled her endorsement of the new boundaries upon their approval. "[The] decision by...
Clay Central/Everly's certified enrollment declined six students from 2020-21, but Superintendent Kevin Wood is hoping the district's preschool program will help bolster numbers in the future. Wood reported to the school board on Oct. 27 that CC/E's certified enrollment was down from 67 last year to 61 this year. However, that figure doesn't include the preschool class, which brings the total number of students in Royal to 72. CC/E was able to offer full-time preschool this year thanks to pandem...
• Traffic Thomas Richard Oldfield, Larrabee, No Proof of Insurance. Aini Namelo, Tulsa, Okla., No Proof of Insurance. Shad Ray Morrical, Sioux City, Defective Muffler System. Nicholas Allen Stettnichs, Des Moines, Registration Violation; Dark Windows. Joshua David Sybesma, Archer, Seatbelt Violation. Cathy Jo Miller, Sioux City, Speeding. Geoffrey Nicholas Bowder, Hartley, Speeding. Benito Garcia, Weslaco, Texas, Registration, Violation. Randolph Martin Nielsen, McKinleyville, Calif., Hours of Service. Harley Daniel Ray, Yukon, Okla., Dark W...
Dates and locations have been approved by the Iowa Utilities Board for a series of public informational meetings to inform landowners in 36 Iowa counties about a proposed large-scale carbon capture pipeline by Midwest-based Navigator Heartland Greenway LLC. Navigator filed its original request for the meeting dates with the IUB on Oct. 19, and on Oct. 26 filed updated meeting locations in Docket No. HLP-2021-0003. The pipeline is proposed to span approximately 1,300 miles across five states...
Ghouls, goblins, princesses, super heroes and other creatures invaded downtown Hartley last Friday afternoon as part of the Chamber of Commerce's annual trick-or-treating event. Local kids collected candy from businesses before packing it up and getting after it again on Sunday for Halloween. St. Paul's Lutheran Church also held a Trunk-or-Treat at the same time where kids headed for more candy and hotdogs courtesy of Fiesta Foods....
Veterans Day program in Hartley Elaine Leusink, of Sioux Center, will deliver the keynote address during the Veterans Day program on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m., inside the H-M-S Event Center in Hartley. Leusink is a Gold Star mother who lost her son, Lance Cpl. William Leusink, in Iraq in 2006. She will discuss the experience of a Gold Star family and what it means to be a military family. Another program with H-M-S Elementary students is planned the same day at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend both events. Gem & Junque Sale is...
CCFA celebrates successful year Nearly 300 members of the Clay County Fair Association heard positive reports about the post-COVID return of "The World's Greatest County Fair" at its annual meeting on Oct. 26. "My report can really be summed up in four powerful words: We had a fair," said Fair & Events Center CEO Jeremy Parsons."And let me add five more words: It was a great one." Forty-seven employees and volunteers, representing a combined 920 years of service to the fair, received "Fairs of S...
The first trees of the Memory Tree Project sponsored by the Chapel Committee and the City of Hartley were planted this summer at Pleasant View Cemetery. The 2021 selections were picked from an approved list. Up to five trees will be planted each year and cared for by city employees. The five trees planted this year were in memory of the following: Betty Taylor by the Chapel Committee, Betty Taylor by Orville Taylor and Steve and Judy Peters, Lloyd Newkirk by Ruth Newkirk and family, and Dale Nag...
Anyone wishing to be on the ballot for next month’s special election in O’Brien County has just over a week to file papers. The special Dec. 7 election will fill the vacancy left by former O’Brien County District 1 Supervisor Sherri Bootsma, who resigned last month due to an impeding move. Anyone wishing to be on the ballot as nominated by petition must circulate papers and gather at least 98 signatures from eligible county electors to be listed. Paperwork is due at the auditor’s office by Friday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. The O’Brien County Republica...
To the editor: Many Iowans are unaware of a plan by Summit Carbon Solutions to run a buried CO2 pipeline through 31 counties. The fact that the proposed route passes near populated areas raises concerns about public safety. The company claims, “Safety is and always will be our top priority,” but downplays the dangers of liquid CO2. This CO2 is not a harmless gas. In order to flow through a pipeline, it must be compressed under supercritical pressure into a liquid form. Liquid CO2 is an asphyxiant and caustic agent, rated toxic and haz...
The requirements for becoming a teacher were always straightforward: Earn a college degree in education, take enough classes in your area of specialty, practice your teaching skills for a semester as a student teacher. Politicians have added a new skill this year in some states: Be a mind reader. That’s what teachers in a Texas school district concluded recently after receiving guidance for how to comply with a law passed this summer by the Texas Legislature and signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The law, known as H.B. 3979, restricts how t...
When we first got Heidi, our chocolate Labrador, she learned quickly not to get too close to either our horses or our barn cats. After a few close misses with our most aggressive horse, she learned not to go into their pasture when they were outside. It was fine to go along with us when we were riding, but don’t invade their territory. Likewise, after a few encounters with out barn cats, she learned not to go in the barn unless we were with her. If we were in the barn, the aggressive cats would...
The repertoire for the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn concert choir's fall performance featured selections from around the world and even one that had no words. The concert was presented on Oct. 19 in the high school gym. Two seniors were spotlighted to begin the concert. Marie Hicks sang "Temporary Home" and Jasmine Lux performed "Rainbow." The choir's first selection was "Bonse Aba," a traditional Zambian song. Bryanca Holtz was the soloist and Aiden Bush accompanied on the congas. Following "How Can...
Clay Central/Everly Elementary used a creative tactic to instill ever-important lessons during Red Ribbon Week last week. The district paired their Spirit Week with Red Ribbon Week, having students and staff participate in daily dress-up themes to instill a positive, no-drug attitude. Monday's kickoff was Spirit Day, where participants dressed in their Red and Gold Maverick attire. Tuesday's theme of "Follow Your Dreams and Don't Do Drugs" was a crowd-favorite, allowing children and staff to...
The annual Royal Halloween Parade was another fun community event last Saturday. Costumed participants started the procession at the Royal Public Library, where they set off for a loop around Main Street businesses getting candy at each stop along the way. They ended the parade back at the Royal Community Building, where Royal Library board members read the crowd a fall-themed story and helped the children create jack-o-lantern crafts....
Last Sunday the Clay Raiders 4-H Club held its annual fundraiser luncheon at the Royal Community Building. Those in attendance enjoyed club members serving them delicious pork burgers, cowboy-style baked beans, chips and desserts. Children enjoyed games including bobbing for apples, pin the feather on the turkey and making their fellow 4-H'ers into toilet paper mummies. The Clay Raiders would like to thank all of those in attendance at their annual event. The club hopes to spend funds raised on...
The public profession of faith in Confirmation took place last Sunday at Hope Lutheran Church of Everly. Four confirmation students were confirmed, affirming their baptism and desire to serve God and others. Hope Lutheran's new confirmands, pictured from left to right: Kale Schueller, Davin Lux, Pastor Dan Taylor, Jack Steuben and Jack Berends.... Full story
If a month has a 5th Sunday, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal takes advantage of that date by holding a 5th Gospel Sunday Service. Services have ranged from renewing of vows of congregational members to celebrating baptisms and more. This Sunday, Reformation Sunday, the 5th Gospel service utilized the Halloween weekend and brought forward costumed children of the congregation to perform in numerous ways. First up were the Sunday School students as they sang worship music together before the...
Roger L. Gathman, 78, passed away Nov. 7, 2020. A graveside service will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Pleasant View Cemetery near Hartley. Following the service, a gathering of family and friends will take place at the American Legion Building, 60 1st Street SE in Hartley, for lunch and fellowship....
The family of Terri L. Mueller will have a celebration of her life at a later date. Warner Funeral Home in Spencer is assisting with the arrangements. Terri Lou Mueller, the daughter of George and Donna (Fiedler) Harrison, was born on April 14, 1955 in Spencer. She was raised and attended school at Peterson. She married Michael Mueller on July 1, 1971, in her home in Peterson and to this union they were blessed with four children. The couple moved to Newark, Del. and she attended nursing school while working as a medical assistant in an...
A funeral service for Janice E. Vander Schaaf was held Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, at First Reformed Church in Sanborn. Pastor Mark Ellens officiated. Pallbearers were Brent Vander Schaaf, Kurt Vander Schaaf, John Glenn, Craig Vander Linden, Leroy Kreykes and Don Thies. Honorary pallbearers were Mike Merley and Kevin Vander Linden. Interment was in East Lawn Cemetery at Sheldon. Sanborn Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements. Janice Elaine Vander Schaaf (Vander Linden), daughter of William and Elizabeth (Van Ravenswaay) Vander Linden, was...
