Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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The culmination of Sunday's O'Brien County Fair royalty contest was a dream come true for Paige Dagel. The rural Sanborn teen was picked as the 2020 fair queen from a field of eight other competitors. Dagel is the first O'Brien County Fair Queen from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School since 2012, when Alexa Albert, of Hartley, won the crown. "It was a shocker," said Dagel. "I've dreamed about this since I was a little kid." Dagel has deep roots at the O'Brien County Fair. She's heavily involved...
The construction, renovation and removal phases of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District's facilities project are reaching important milestones as the 2020-21 school year approaches. According to project manager Mark Pfister, of Boyd Jones, the interior punch list for the elementary school phase of the project is ready to be reviewed. The list documents items that must be completed by the contractors in order to meet project specifications. The fire marshal will also inspect the...
There's a glimmer of hope for new life at the former Clay Central/Everly 7-12 grade building. The Everly City Council on Monday reviewed a proposal from Guardian Education and Athletic Services (GEA) regarding the firm's interest in the property. Two other potential locations are in the mix, but CC/E Board Member Brian Schmidt said GEA's board of directors is slated to make a final decision this month. "They like the [Everly] facility and think it would work well," Schmidt told council members....
• Traffic Juan Manuel Alamillo Guzman, Dakota City, Neb., Safety Regulations Violation. Cassidy Marie Vant Hul, Hull, Use of Electronic Device. Jennifer L. Peterson, Sibley, Use of Electronic Device. Fernando Angel Campuzano, Cherokee, Speeding. Jordan Richard Walbaum, Spencer, Registration Violation. Jonathan W. Jennings, Sanborn, Open Container. Christine Marie Freese, Oshkosh, Wis., No Proof of Insurance. Brendon Scott Harrison, Sheldon, Violation of Graduated License. Stanlee Parker Harms, Milford, Speeding. Theodore Francisco Castillo, J...
Hartley's water tower will look slightly different sometime next year. The council on Monday agreed to proceed with plans to tweak its design. Council Member Jerry Olson proposed changes last month, noting the current cursive lettering is too thin and hard to read from afar. "Right now you can't tell what town it is when you're driving through," he said. The water tower's current design was painted in 2010. It was due for cleaning and touchups this year, but that work will be postponed to 2021...
What was once a sturdy school is now a mere pile of bricks, cement and metal. Demolition of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School was completed last week. The process of removing the rubble started immediately and was expected to take approximately three weeks, according to Boyd Jones project manager Mark Pfister. "They'll recycle what they can. They're charged by tonnage and want to take as little to the landfill as possible," he explained. "It's a lot to clean up. It's basically the worst...
To the editor: When you live in a small town, it is always easy to find things to complain about. We often recognize what is wrong rather than what is being done right. I would like to acknowledge two men in Everly who are making a positive difference in our community. Our city worker, Nate Fitzgerald, has brought a new level of pride to the work he does, whether it is plowing in the winter or maintaining our parks and trees and keeping the mosquito population minimized in the spring and summer. Nate has brought an excellence in all he does,...
In addition to a COVID-19 vaccine, reopening schools is a lynchpin in getting the economy back on track. Parents need to work, and that's difficult to do when kids are stuck at home forced to learn from a laptop. There is no silver bullet right now. In Iowa, most rural schools like ours are forging ahead with plans to reopen while other districts in larger metro areas are staying closed until the fall. This is a double-whammy of hurt. Parents will once again be forced to work from home while...
COVID-19 has struck a blow to many rural events and Royal Fun Days was no exception. This past weekend was supposed to mark the town's 7th annual celebration. Typically, the Fun Days Committee along with the support of local businesses, organizations, raffles and other fundraising efforts combine to put on a three-day weekend of family fun. From softball tournaments, BINGO, kid's inflatables and costume parades to community meals, horseshoe tournaments, a street dance with live music and more, R...
How is everyone holding up out there? I'm remaining rather joyful amidst summer's ever-present chaos. We are finding normalcy in boating outings, pool dips and visits with family between running from here to there for daily obligations. Liam is one test and a few driving sessions away from completing his driver's ed course. I remember driving around Everly and Royal – what felt like 506 times – with Mr. Harmon politely coaching us from the passenger seat. "Relax. Focus. Be aware," and som...
Children’s reading program at Royal library Children of all ages are welcome to participate in Royal Public Library’s reading program which will be held from July 14-Aug. 15. Books may be checked out when the library is open or children can read books they have at home. Make a list of books read, put your name and address on the list and put it in the drop box at the library by Aug. 15. Prizes will be awarded. Food pantry at Hope Lutheran is open The food pantry at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly is open. Hours are Mondays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and W...
Final writing prompt for HPL summer program The writing prompt for the sixth and final week of the Hartley Public Library’s summer library program is “Imagine your story in the next five years. Write about one goal you would like to achieve.” Submit 1-2 pages to the library by Thursday, July 30 with your name and a phone number or email address, and whether you give permission for others to see your work with or without your name on Facebook, the library’s website or displayed in the library. DNR investigates fish kill in Buena Vista County...
RISE Ministries in Sheldon has announced that RiseFest 2020 is postponed until 2021. RiseFest is a two-day Christian music festival that features thought-provoking speakers, seminars, Kids Zone, tween area, youth area, merch tents, camping and the nation's top-rated Christian artists. Last year it brought in over 16,000 people from over 28 different states. "After hours of brainstorming and discussion with staff, our board and local health departments we have decided that we cannot, in good...
• July 26, 1945 There had not been as much comment about anything on Hartley’s main street as there was in the case of the “missing bench.” Before it was put on the missing list, the bench was situated just north of the entrance to the new post office, but one bright day it disappeared. Comment was both for and against its absence and amateur sleuthing was rampant, but no matter of investigation divulged its whereabouts. It was just plain gone. Workmen were busy getting things arranged so that the school building would be ready for occupan...
The positive impact Iowa's mild winter and reasonably dry spring have had on pheasant nesting success will likely be seen when the Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducts its annual roadside pheasant counts between Aug. 1-15. The statewide survey is conducted by Iowa DNR staff who drive 218, 30-mile routes on gravel roads at dawn on mornings with heavy dew. Hen pheasants will move their broods to the edge of the gravel road to dry off before they begin feeding, which makes them easier to...
Although crop progress in Iowa remains ahead of last year, corn and beans could use a drink. According to the latest crop progress and condition report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture, rain in the southern part of the state was reported and helped last week but dryness persisted over the rest of Iowa. Accumulation is running nearly an inch below average with west central Iowa experiencing the driest conditions and precipitation deficits continuing to accumulate. Topsoil moisture levels...
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn concluded the 2020 softball season with a 5-4 loss to River Valley in the quarterfinal round of the regional tournament. The Hawks' final record was 3-10 in a season shortened due to COVID-19 concerns. Statistical leaders for the season were as follows. • Batting Hits: Hannah Jochims 16, Brynn Webber 13, Bailey VerHelst 10, Elle Mastbergen, Jessica Riedemann 7, Taya Mason 6, Cadence Klein 5, Elly Klein 4, Trey Haag, Darby Mastbergen 3, Jasmine Lux 2. Doubles: Jochims 4, W...
The abbreviated 2020 high school baseball season ended for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn on July 11 with a 12-0 loss to Remsen St. Mary's in the first round of the Class 1A district tournament. H-M-S finished with records of 2-11 overall and 0-9 in War Eagle Conference play. Individual and team statistics were compiled for the season. • Batting Hits: Keaton Graves 11, Sam Heyn 10, Samuel Haack 7, Jordan Ortega 6, Dawson Schiphoff 5, Kooper Ebel 4, Ben Haack 2, Nick Bronstad, Jacob Cates, Keith D...
"You deserve to win this game. Let's go!" When Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn coach Carissa Post said that the Hawks were playing their best softball when it counted most – in postseason play against a state-ranked opponent. The Hawks responded by taking a one-run lead in the top of the seventh inning, putting them on the brink of upsetting River Valley (1A No. 15). But the favored Wolverines answered the challenge and when the winning run crossed the plate to end the regional quarterfinal game, the H...
After overcoming early struggles, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn fashioned a strong finish to defeat West Bend-Mallard, 11-8, in first-round regional softball action July 13 in Hartley. The win was H-M-S's first in the postseason in four years. "What a way to begin regionals," said Hawk coach Carissa Post. "Watching the Hawks play with enthusiasm, energy and zeal to succeed makes coaching so worth it." The early innings didn't go smoothly for the Hawks. Combining walks, errors, a single and a hit...
