Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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Local emergency personnel got to test their mettle last week during a special exercise aimed at improving their response to a hazardous material situation. The scenario involved a multi-vehicle accident and was staged in the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School parking lot. The pickup truck involved in the accident had unsecured tanks that were thrown from the vehicle and damaged, causing them to release a gas substance. According to O'Brien County Emergency Management Director Jared Johnson, the...
Administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has been suspended nationwide following news of a rare blood clotting disorder potentially associated with the shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), data is being reviewed involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was seen in combination with...
More than 700 people received sore arms in Clay County last Saturday during a mass vaccination clinic at Spencer High School Fieldhouse. According to Clay County Public Health Coordinator Colette Rossiter, 1,170 doses were available Saturday, meaning the clinic had the potential to vaccinate approximately 460 more people. Nothing went to waste, though, as organizers had a plan in place for the unused doses. "Since we knew Saturday's schedule wasn't completely full, the pharmacist kept a portion...
COVID-19 positivity rates remained low in O'Brien and Clay counties during the past week. O'Brien County's seven-day positivity rate decreased from 5 percent on April 6 to 4 percent on April 13. Clay County's dipped from 7 percent to 4 percent over that same time period. Statewide numbers decreased from 4.9 percent to 4.8 percent. Coronavirus-related deaths increased by one in O'Brien County to 60. Clay County's death toll was unchanged at 25, while statewide fatalities jumped from 5,835 last...
There will be no complete makeover this summer for one of Hartley's most well known structures. The city council on Monday voted to keep the water tower's design as-is. It will be repainted later this year, but its current look will remain the same. The council deemed a design overhaul too expensive. According to an estimate given last month, a revamped look would cost anywhere between $9,831 and $25,678 depending on how many logos were painted. "I don't think people pay attention to the water...
O'Brien County is a new participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Over the past few years, O'Brien County has been working through the steps to establish a new floodplain management program. The O'Brien County Board of Supervisors recently approved a floodplain management ordinance, which applies to all lands and development within the jurisdiction of unincorporated O'Brien County that have significant flood hazards. The Flood Insurance Rate Map for O'Brien County and...
• Traffic Ethan Anderson, Sheldon, Dark Windows. Eric John Schwager, Sheldon, Registration Violation; Snowmobile Stop Sign Violation. Roberto Barraza Campuzano, Cherokee, Speeding. Wyatt Joseph Kraft, Cherokee, No Proof of Insurance. Hunter Joseph Pearce, Iowa, La., Speeding. Nicholas Anzua, Jr., Hospers, Speeding. Brandon Michael Floyd Cmela, Orange City, Registration Violation. Kendra Sue Goeden, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Jordan B. Jalas, Sutherland, Speeding. Jack Joseph Bartz, Sheldon, Seatbelt Violation. Charlene Kay Mas...
There's a magic hole in our backyard that's been spewing riches beyond anyone's wildest dreams this spring. That is, if you're a 3-year-old boy obsessed with animals. We've got a magic toad hole. The opening in question is an old tile previously used to funnel basement water away from our 104-year-old Ocheyedan home before we took ownership. We use a different option now, and I forgot about the crevice until recently when it began producing warty amphibians. The opening to the tile now sits in o...
It has been a while since I've written anything. My writers' group, one stimulus for writing, has been on hold due to COVID-19 precautions and the busy holiday season. Fresh ideas for stories to tell seem to be on hold as well. I'm not sure why, but probably because of laziness. Staying home a lot used to stir the creative juices at least a little – out of boredom if nothing else. But my lifestyle has changed dramatically in the few years since I retired from the workforce. I find I just d...
It’s hard for those of us of a certain vintage to realize it has been 39 years since Robert Ray was Iowa’s governor. In spite of the passage of so much time, his name was on the minds of many people last week. What triggered the Bob Ray memories was Gov. Kim Reynolds’ interview with WHO Radio on Thursday. Reynolds was asked about the thousands of children, mostly from Central America, who are showing up this year at our border with Mexico without their parents. They arrive hoping to be allow...
Blood drive is April 21 LifeServe Blood Center will be conducting a blood drive in Hartley on Wednesday, April 21, from 12:30-5:30 p.m. at the Hartley Community Center, 820 2nd Street NE. New donors are especially needed. All donors are asked to bring a valid form of identification and masks will be required. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided. Appointments are required. To schedule your donation appointment, text LIFESERVE to 999-777, call (800) 287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org. You can also fill out your donor history...
Adopt a Pot in Hartley this spring The Adopt a Pot program will once again return this spring in Hartley. Participants can contribute to the beautification effort in a variety of ways, be it through the donation of time, money, both or one. Fifteen petunia-filled pots will be placed throughout the City With a Heart this spring. If interested, contact Sue Schulz (712) 261-2605 or Dyan Roth (712) 229-2503 by May 1. Hydrant flushing in Hartley The City of Hartley will be flushing hydrants starting...
Students in grades 4-6, along with Clay Central/Everly teachers and staff, were given the opportunity to participate in an NCAA bracket challenge during the month of March. Each participant completed an NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket and were given points based on their correct selections for every round. Each round of the tournament was worth more points, with the championship game offering the highest point total. "Staff and students enjoyed competing against one another, checking...
Community State Bank recently donated $263 to the Clay County 4-H Youth Development Program. The funds were raised by local staff members who were able to wear blue jeans if they donated to the cause. "Donations like this hold special meaning for us, because we know there are many deserving local organizations that they could have chosen to donate their 'Blue Jean Day' contributions to," said Isabel Dehrkoop, Clay County 4-H Youth Coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach. "It is wonderful to...
Members of the Clay County Countrymen 4-H Club on April 3 put together a Easter Egg Hunt in Everly. The members of the club filled eggs and set them out in the city park area. The weather was perfect, and 80 kids came out to participate in the hunt....
Beatrice "Bea" Ann (Wills) Currier, 80, of Spirit Lake, passed away on Friday, April 9, 2021 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. Beatrice Ann Currier was born to Harold and Irene (Magee) Wills in Hartley at the family farm on Dec. 15, 1940. She graduated from Hartley High School in 1959. Soon after graduation she attended Stewart's Beauty School in Sioux City. While working at Larsen's Beauty Shop in Spirit Lake, she met the love of her life on a blind date, Lee Currier. They wed in...
Services for Lavon A. Kephart were held Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer. Pastor Paul Kaldahl officiated. Pallbearers were her grandchildren. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery at Spencer. Warner Funeral Home in Spencer assisted with the arrangements. Lavon Arlee Kephart, the daughter of Oscar and Esther (Kruse) Walstrom, was born on Sept. 22, 1924, in the Royal area. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Royal and later confirmed at First English Lutheran Church. She received her early education...
Craig Martin Kolb, the son of Thomas and Joyce (Wiard) Kolb, was born Dec. 12, 1950, in Berkley, Calif. He was the second of eight boys. They lived in several states and found a family home in Woodland Hills, Calif., where Craig graduated from Taft High School in 1969. Craig met his best friend, Christine Riedemann, in 1971, and was married on June 16, 1973. They lived in Northridge, Calif. While traveling to begin a new job offer, they stopped at Chris’s hometown of Hartley, where they decided to stay and began a family of four children: K...
• April 11, 1946 The O’Brien County Co-op Wool Growers’ Association pooled their first load of wool for the 1946 season. Approximately 5,000 pounds of wool were shipped to the Iowa Sheep and Wool Growers’ Cooperative in Des Moines. O’Brien County was one of the leading counties in the number of pounds of wool marketed through the cooperative. County agent Kenneth Kramer announced that the O’Brien County 4-H fair would again be held in Hartley. Dates selected for the 1946 event were Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 19 and 20. A consignment of baby chick...
Hinton defeated Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, 204-221, to win a War Eagle Conference girls' golf meet on April 6 at Sanborn Golf and Country Club. Elise Haack finished fourth on the leader board with her round of 50. Emily Sindt fired a 53, Darby Mastbergen and Kinsey Schirmer each finished with a 59, Elle Mastbergen shot a 61 and Emma Schmillen finished with a 64. The Hawks' only JV player, Alexis Grover, shot a 61. Hailey Rosenbaum and Mia Fleckenstein each carded a 49 to lead Hinton. • Lose to U...
Two first-place finishes and a pair of runner-up efforts led the way for the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn boys' track and field team during the MOC-Floyd Valley Dutch Relays, on April 6 at Orange City. Connor Dodd won the 100 meter dash (:11.29) and the Hawks' 4x100 relay quartet placed first (Noah Adams, Kooper Ebel, Dawson Schiphoff, Dodd, :45.31). Adams finished second in the 100 (:11.76) and Dodd was runner-up in the 200 (:23.77). Ebel placed third in the 400 meter dash (:54.34); Bryce Dodge was f...
The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn girls' track and field team continued its early-season meets by competing at the MOC-Floyd Valley Dutch Relays on April 6 and the Tomahawk Relays on April 9. At the Dutch Relays, Madison Otto led the squad with a double-win in the 3,000-meter run (12:55.66) and the 1,500-meter run (5:54.15). "This was a great meet for Madison," Hawk coach Nicole Dorhout said. "It's fabulous to win one event, much less two. She's been working really hard." Also placing in the 3,000-mete...
The 2021 boys' golf season began on April 6 with Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn hosting Hinton at the Sanborn Golf and Country Club. The Blackhawks held off a late charge by H-M-S to earn the 196-199 win in War Eagle Conference play. "We got beat by three, but battled really well after a rough start," said Hawk coach Mark Japenga. Ben Haack's 45 was the low score for the meet. Other scores for H-M-S were Samuel Heyn 49, Wyatt Borden 52, Lucas Kroese 53, Keith DeBoer 59 and Jackson Albert 60. Brody...
