Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 1379
Momentum for Hartley's new daycare reached a fever pitch on Tuesday thanks to a huge donation. The Heerde family, of Spirit Lake, officially contributed $500,000 to the Hartley Community Daycare Center's fundraising efforts. The donation was orchestrated by the United Way, which was one of 10 area non-profits to receive funds generated by the sale of the Heerde family's farmland. "It was phenomenal," said daycare Director Kaity Pedley. "We couldn't even think of building without these types of f...
O'Brien County on July 5 was approved for FEMA Individual Assistance, paving the way for those affected by flooding to seek federal financial help in their recovery efforts. O'Brien County Emergency Management Coordinator Jared Johnson said the approval was due to the large amount of damage data and information reported to FEMA by local residents. The county was not originally eligible for individual assistance following the June floods, which destroyed property across the region. "This...
June's torrential rainfall has area crops looking like a bad haircut. According to New Century FS agronomist Alic Mohni, a lot of fields are uneven this year because of heavy precipitation totals. Many area farmers have had to replant portions of their corn and soybeans multiple times thanks to double-digit rainfall totals that drowned out some fields "I feel like a lot of guys are trying to get something planted on these flooded areas to just get something on there," he said. "It needs to stay...
• Traffic Samuel Clay Brandt, Spencer, Speeding. Angela M. Van Beek, Sanborn, Registration Violation; Seatbelt Violation. Dennis Lee Sikma, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License; Seatbelt Violation. Lissette Cruz, Clymer, Pa., Seatbelt Violation. Thomas A. Cruz, Ann Arbor, Mich., Seatbelt Violation, 2 counts. Raymundo Antonio Islas, Garden City, Kan., Speeding. Maria M. Morales Chavez, Sioux Center, Failure to Use Child Restraint Device; No Valid Driver’s License. Wakeelah Yasmeen Wilkins, Algona, Dark Windows. Alisa L. Lewchuk, Sheldon, Seatb...
The City of Hartley is getting social. The council on Monday gave office staff members the go-ahead to create and maintain a city Facebook page. The move came after recent flooding, which put city officials in a bind when trying to share information about the sewer system and other emergency protocol. "There were legitimate reasons we didn't have one, but it's time to rethink it," said City Administrator Roxann Swanson. "We just need to be able to send a message." According to Swanson, the city...
You may receive a recorded call promising a government grant, flood insurance or help with applications for assistance. Do not respond or provide personal information or payment to these callers. They may be scams trying to get your credit card or checking account information. "Scammers often try to take advantage of you during a crisis: when you may be vulnerable and looking for help, particularly when you don't have phone or internet service to do research," said Carol Ehlers, human sciences...
An army of volunteers made light work of more than 34 tons of flood-damaged items in Everly on Friday. "It was amazing," said Mayor Ron Thompson. "Everyone worked their tails off." Working as a team, the group made its way around town removing furniture and other household items from curbs. The damage was done during a flood late last month which filled basements on the south side of town and elsewhere. Everly Fire Chief Brian Kahl, who also serves as the city's street superintendent, helped...
O'Brien County residents are being asked to self-report flood damage in an effort to get more federal assistance following last month's floods. O'Brien County Emergency Management Coordinator Jared Johnson is urging local residents to report damage to report-ia-state.orioncentral.com/ as soon as possible. On Tuesday, he said that around 100 additional submissions had been filed on the site from the county in the last few days. By reporting flood and storm-related damages, the Federal Emergency...
Royal residents could have something extra to celebrate when Fun Days are held this month, as Main Street is expected to have a new surface by the end of next week. Blacktop Service Co. was awarded the contract during a special city council meeting on June 25. Their proposal calls for milling four inches of existing surface from Main Street and repaving it with asphalt. Their bid was $215,816. Fuller & Sons Paving proposed milling the entire street width down four inches and repaving with two...
• Traffic Aniyah Marie Williams, Sheldon, Minor in Possession, Tobacco. Justin Richard Evans, Hawkins, Texas, Speeding. Hayden Steele Lee, Sanborn, Minor in Possession, Tobacco. Jason Lee Krob, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Kiesen Paul Vanderweide, LeMars, Speeding. Alexander John Olsen, Sioux Falls, S.D., Speeding. Gary Lynn Hassebroek, Sheldon, Seatbelt Violation. Ryan Mark Vollink, Archer, Seatbelt Violation. Zachary Floyd Hohbach, Paullina, Speeding. Lewis Abram Schaeffer, Sheldon, Violation of Instruction Permit. Troy Allen Jen...
June's storms opened a tidal wave of support to people affected by flooding in Spencer and Everly. Officials at Clay Central/Everly orchestrated several outreach efforts in the wake of the disaster, including opening up the locker rooms for displaced people who need a shower. The district's Maverick Missions program also collected clothing for flood victims, which garnered 10 garbage bags full of youth and adult items. "It still didn't feel like enough," said Iesha Toft, CC/E's Beyond the Bell...
To say Mother Nature had the upper hand last week would be an understatement. A relentless onslaught of rain dumped more water on the region than it could handle, leading to widespread flooding that affected people across northwest Iowa. Locally, homes flooded and some people were displaced due to basement collapses and emergency evacuations; however, immediate damage paled in comparison to the devastation seen in places like Spencer and Rock Valley. "The resources are just very, very stretched...
An Illinois man was killed on Saturday while trying to cross floodwaters near Spencer. According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office, William Schulze, of Elburn, Ill., was killed when his truck was swept away on 240th Avenue. Schulze's body was recovered Monday. The sheriff's office said in a news release that someone called 911 Saturday to report a red Ford F-150 was trying to cross "rapid flood waters" on 240th Avenue east of Spencer. The truck was swept away and floating in the Little Sioux...
Discussion regarding whether any changes should be made to district policy governing community use of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school facilities was held during the June 17 board meeting. Superintendent Patrick Carlin requested the discussion in response to increasing use of district facilities by various groups. "Our building usage has gone through the roof," he said. Carlin noted it was not the district's intent to discourage use of school facilities, but he has concerns about building...
• Traffic Brandon Lee Espeland, Sibley, No Proof of Insurance; Seatbelt Violation. Triven Phillip, Ashton, Minor in Possession, Tobacco. Natnael Fishaye Kahsay, Sioux City, Speeding. Alyssa Violet Marie Keffer, Sheldon, Minor in Possession, Tobacco. Mark Edward Joshua Crow, Columbia, Mo., Improper Passing on Right. Isaiah Joseph Anthony Ochoa, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Kenneth W. Embrey, Hartley, Speeding. Benjamin Noah Barritt, Cleghorn, Speeding. Nathaniel James Frazer, Hartley, Failure to Maintain Control. Olivia Florinda Lop...
The Iowa Utilities Board gave its approval Tuesday for the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline and for the company to use eminent domain to acquire landowners' property. The company hopes to begin construction next year with the goal of making the pipeline operational in 2026. The pipeline, which would be the largest of its kind anywhere in the world, would carry liquified carbon dioxide from ethanol plants in Iowa and surrounding states to a site in North Dakota, where the company...
Weather-related issues washed out two games early last week and a tournament on Saturday, leaving Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn with one chance to play softball. The Hawks took full advantage of the opportunity, breaking an early deadlock to hand MMCRU an 11-3 loss on June 21 at Remsen. "The girls played a great game," Hawk coach Stephanie Bronstad said. "They came out strong with the bats and played some good defense." H-M-S scored twice in the first inning on double by Gracie Knobloch and a single...
Doug Hoaglund's quarter century of service on the Hartley Fire Department was worthy of a parade – so local firemen held one. Fire engines from five departments made their way around Hartley last Friday to honor the late chief, who died June 3 at the age of 70. Hoaglund logged 25 years at the Hartley Fire Department and served 15 as its leader. According to current Hartley Fire Chief Brad Meendering, it was the first such honor for a former firefighter in the City With a Heart. "Doug was a g...
Families of students in the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School will see few changes in fees for the coming year. The only increase noted is for instrument rental. That fee will increase $5 to help cover costs to maintain school-owned instruments. "We're paying quite a bit for instrument repairs," Superintendent Patrick Carlin said. The other change is a 10-cent reduction in adult lunch prices. Bread and dairy products for the nutrition program will continue to be provided by the same...
Months of discussion regarding improving the street in downtown Royal may soon come to fruition, as the city council agreed on June 12 to finalize plans and financing for the project next month. Mayor Josh Toft and Maintenance Superintendent Sherman Nielsen met with two paving contractors to discuss options for upgrading Main Street. Each contractor had a different approach to addressing the scope of the project. Fuller & Sons Blacktop Paving recommended milling 8-10 feet from each side to the...
The O'Brien County Community Foundation (OBCCF), an affiliate of the Siouxland Community Foundation, awarded grants totaling over $119,000 to nonprofit organizations and units of local government in support of projects throughout O'Brien County. Grants were presented on June 13 in Primghar. Since 2006 the OBCCF has granted over $1.7 million back into the community for projects and programs that benefit O'Brien County residents. "Each year the O'Brien County Community Foundation grants enhance...
• Traffic Braden Hindt, Sheldon, Speeding. Lundah Rennae Long, Spencer, Speeding. Parker Wayne Salton, Hartley, Minor in Possession, Tobacco, 2nd offense. Karley M. Urban, Hartley, No Proof of Insurance. Todd Lynn Stykel, Cherokee, Registration Violation. Jose Luis Vasquez, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Nathaniel Douglas Culler, Paullina, Speeding. Moe Tye Haas, Paullina, Speeding. Dylan Mitchell Boyle, Sheldon, Seatbelt Violation. Juan Luis Hurtado Hernandez, South Sioux City, Neb., No Valid Driver’s License. Richard Ramon Casti...
Nearly $30 million would be required in Hartley to improve infrastructure and mitigate flooding problems during heavy rain events, according to an engineer's report. The city council on Monday reviewed the final signed engineering report detailing flood mitigation infrastructure needs in town. Compiled by Bolton & Menk, it was the first part of a $100,000 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Project Scoping grant that will cover engineering expenses related to the...
O'Brien County landed an unwanted first-place designation last week. The county on June 5 was the first in Iowa to have a confirmed bird flu outbreak in a dairy herd. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, a second detection was confirmed in a Sioux County herd on June 7. To date, there have been more than 80 confirmed bird flu cases on dairy farms spanning 10 states, including South Dakota. "Given the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within dairy...
The Hap Ketelsen Community Center will be a happening place Saturday night when the Everly Heritage Museum hosts its annual fundraiser. This year's event, "Cruisin' On Main," will transport guests back to yesteryear. "Since it's a summer show this time, we wanted to choose a theme that would suggest happy, summery rock and roll music," explained Connie Goeken, one of the event's organizers. "Also, a lot of the songs are from the 60's and 70's, a time when 'cruisin' was a common teenage pastime."...
