Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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Farmland values in O'Brien and Clay counties exploded over the past year due to positive factors affecting the U.S. ag economy and inflation. The annual Iowa State Land Value Survey released last month reported a 28.7 percent increase in O'Brien County farmland prices in 2021 and a 30.6 percent increase in Clay County. The report noted surging ethanol demand and higher commodity prices as reasons for the 29 percent statewide increase in farmland values last year, as well as better-than-expected...
Members of Arthur W. Kirchhoff American Legion Post #288 were recently brought closer to a man none of them knew – Kirchhoff himself. Past Post Cmdr. Cliff Ripke in November received photos of Kirchhoff's grave from friends Terry and Karolyn Collins, of La Crosse, Wis. Buried at Oise-Aisne Cemetery in Fere-en-Tardenois, France, the Hartley teen was killed in 1918 near Sergy while serving during World War I. As far as Ripke is aware, nobody from Hartley has ever been to Kirchhoff's grave or s...
If a healthy dose of fiber is great for your diet, it's even better for internet speeds. Local internet service providers Evertek and Royal Telephone Company know this firsthand. Now thanks to a grant from the governor's office, they will be able to expand their fiber network to rural customers in northwest Iowa. "It was nice to see that money come back to us, a company that has been in the area for several years," said Evertek CEO Roxanne White. "We are excited for the opportunity we've been...
Five Hartley firefighters are looking fresh thanks to a grant from the O’Brien County Community Foundation (OCCF). The local department was able to purchase new bunker gear for a portion of the squad at a cost of $9,000. The grant covered $5,000 of the total, while the rest was paid for with funds from the annual pancake feed and other contributions. “We’re very appreciative to the community foundation and everyone who supports our pancake fundraiser every year,” said Fire Chief Brad Meender...
• Traffic Dalton Mitchell Garrett, Spencer, Speeding. Darious M. Bolden, Milwaukee, Wis., Speeding. Dakota Drake Choung Phi, Kansas City, Mo., Speeding. Benjamin J. Kamphoff, Spokane Valley, Wash., Seatbelt Violation. Angela Ashley Betancourt, Royal, Failure to Obey Stop Sign. Donavan Sheriff, Sheldon, Speeding. Tanner John Young, Sheldon, No Proof of Insurance. Robert Allen Stowe, Jr., Westfield, Dark Windows. Richard Michael Treague, Malvern, Speeding. Dena Rae Montera, Brea, Calif., Speeding. Elizabeth Carey, Sheldon, Dark Windows. E...
An errant glove has caused headaches at Hartley's sewage treatment facility. Superintendent of Public Works Jaron Benz reported at Monday's council meeting that a pump motor at the lift station near the sewage plant burned out this fall and needs to be replaced. The culprit was a leather glove, which got caught in the equipment and rendered it useless. Benz said the motor cannot be rebuilt. He proposed replacing the equipment immediately while water flow is low during the winter, as the lift...
Hartley all-school reunion to be held The Hartley all-school reunion committee decided last year that the reunion would be moved from being held five years to every three years. The biggest reason for the change is the age of some of the older graduates. Following some research, the committee determined that other schools have done the same thing for the same reason. Many Hartley graduates have died, and the committee felt it was good to make this change. The years that will be included are up to 1981, as the school changed to Hartley-Melvin st...
Freshman college and careers discussion at H-M-S Kiana Johnson, executive director of O'Brien County Economic Development Corporation, moderated a freshman college and careers discussion last month at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School. It was designed to initiate a conversation between H-M-S freshmen and three young professionals who have chosen to live and work in O'Brien County. Kellie Einck, a South O'Brien graduate with a two-year community college degree, is now a diesel mechanic and...
Memorial services for Larry H. Steele were held Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. Pastor Lynn Dau officiated. Private interment was held at Trimello Cemetery in rural Royal. Warner Funeral Home in Spencer assisted with the arrangements. Larry Harold Steele, the son of Robert and Maxine (Gieser) Steele, was born June 17, 1943 in Cherokee. His childhood years were spent on a farm near Sutherland where he received his early education in country schools and later graduated from Sutherland High School. Larry...
A funeral service for Neil N. Lux was held Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. Pastor Lynn Dau officiated. Pallbearers were CJ Henrich, Jed Henrich, Kurtis Kroeger, Kory Kroeger, Lucas Sindt, Eric Salazar, Emily Sindt and Owen Lux. Interment was in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery at Craig. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements. Neil Norman Lux, son of Norman and Myrna Lux, was born July 2, 1970 in Sioux City. Neil attended Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Schools and graduated in 1989. He was currently d...
A funeral service for Wayne L. Westphalen, Sr. was held Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, at the Hartley Funeral Home Chapel in Hartley. Pastor Lynn Dau officiated. Pallbearers were Jacob Westphalen, Joshua Westphalen, Michael S. Westphalen, Matthew Westphalen, Lynnae Johannes, Carrie Templeton, Jesse Ahrendsen, Chanel Mansfield, Joseph Overton, Claire Overton and William Overton. Military graveside rites were conducted on Jan. 12 at the Omaha National Veteran Cemetery at Omaha, Neb. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements. Wayne Leroy...
• Jan. 16, 1947 A cow belonging to Fred Fairchild, of Moneta, was instantly killed when struck by a car driven by Dwight Lorenzen, also of Moneta. Fairchild was driving several cows along the county road when the Lorenzen car struck the animal. Writing under the penname of Jon Winston, J.W. Harold, superintendent of the Hartley Public Schools, wrote a book entitled “Ripples from These Trouble Waters.” The first printing sold out in three months. It dealt with the trials and troubles of a public school teacher. Mrs. Emma Ridinger, a forme...
Okoboji/HMS wrestlers opened the post-holiday schedule with a pair of quadrangular meets hosted by South Central Calhoun on Jan. 4 and Pocahontas Area on Jan. 6. At Rockwell City, the Pioneers were 1-2 in duals, defeating Alta-Aurelia (60-23) and losing to South Central Calhoun (50-30) and Woodbury Central (42-39). Nick Bronstad was a three-time winner, and James Gellerman and Ethan Wiersma picked up two wins. Okoboji/HMS was 2-1 in dual action at Pocahontas. They defeated East Sac County (69-12) and Manson Northwest Webster (57-20)....
Taking advantage of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn's defensive lapses, Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire jumped out to an early lead and extended it with a big third quarter to earn a 72-62 win on Jan. 4 at Graettinger. The Titans' 23-14 lead at the end of the first quarter set the tone for the game. "We really struggled on the defensive end to contain dribble penetration and get out on shooters," Hawk coach Naet Hoaglund said. "GT/RA did a nice job of pushing the ball in transition and punishing our...
Statistics weren't impressive and neither was the point total, but the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn girls' basketball team did enough to defeat Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire, 38-37, on Jan. 4 at Graettinger. The game was dominated by turnovers and fouls. H-M-S turned the ball over 28 times and committed 22 fouls. GT/RA's numbers were similar – 27 turnovers and 19 fouls. The Hawks especially struggled to make foul shots, converting on just 4-of-18 attempts; the Titans were slightly better, m...
Okoboji/HMS finished fourth as a team at the Clear Lake Invitational on Jan. 8. Three squad members from H-M-S competed. Nick Bronstad was runner-up at 285 pounds, winning by fall over Caleb Cooper of Forest City (1:47) and Gage Jorgenson of Emmetsburg (1:43) before being pinned in the title match by Chet Buss of North Butler-Clarksville (3:40). At 182 pounds, James Gellerman won his first-round match by fall over Ki Janssen of West Fork (0:53) but was defeated in the semifinals by Logan Ott of North Butler-Clarksville (5-2). In consolation...
