Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Sorted by date Results 1151 - 1175 of 1412
COVID-19 positivity rates continued a downward trend both locally and statewide over the past week. As of Wednesday morning, O'Brien County's seven-day positivity rate was 3 percent while Clay County's was 2 percent. Local 14-day positivity rates weren't available on the state's COVID-19 data website. Last week, O'Brien County's 14-day positivity rate was 5.9 percent while Clay County's was 6.9 percent. Statewide, the 14-day positivity rate was down from 7.5 percent to 4.1 percent....
The final sale of general obligation bonds to finance facilities construction and improvements is scheduled to be completed during the March 15 meeting of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board. A resolution approving the process of selling $460,000 in bonds was approved on Feb. 17. The sale would complete the issuance of $18.9 million in bonds authorized by voters in 2018 to finance construction of new elementary and middle schools and renovations of the high school. The district is hoping int...
• Traffic Abigail R. Boone, Sheldon, Failure to Yield Right of Way to Pedestrians. Adam Larry Timmerman, Cherokee, Speeding. Jacob J. Schnider, Sheldon, Registration Violation. Alexander Todd Davis, Sheldon, Dark Windows. Evan Paul Schmidt, Marion, S.D., Registration Violation. Shelly L. Ohrt, Hartley, Seatbelt Violation. Matthew Lee Wallinga, Paullina, Registration Violation; No Proof of Insurance. Anthony Lane Fellers, Milford, Windshield Requirements Violation; Speeding. Tyler John DeBruin, Doon, No Valid Driver’s License. Drew Michael Mer...
Keith and Jackie Stoltz might count cans and bottles instead of sheep when they lie down at night. It wouldn't be surprising, because the Hartley couple counts plenty of them during the day. So far the Stoltzes have helped collect $20,356.65 in five-cent deposit refunds thanks to the can and bottle drop-off in downtown Hartley. All money raised from the recyclables is given to the city's new pool fund, which itself had a balance of $85,278.55 as of Tuesday afternoon. "People are still supporting...
The Everly City Council on Monday agreed to move forward with a review and update of the town’s ordinances. The last time ordinances received a lookover and refresh was in 2010. The city will work with Northwest Iowa Planning and Development to update rules and make changes where necessary over the coming year. The council, along with Mayor Brad Behrens, expressed interest in simplifying some ordinances if state law allows it. Some rules have no flexibility, as they are codified in Iowa law. “I hate doing this,” Behrens said of the updat...
Some folks might blame it on the groundhog, but the recent cold snap freezing northwest Iowa and the greater United States has only one culprit. The polar vortex paid the lower 48 a visit over the past week, plunging temps well below zero throughout the Midwest. Northwest Iowa wasn't spared and daily highs didn't surpass a goose egg during the coldest days. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Sioux Falls, overnight wind chills on Feb. 15 dipped to -40 in Lake Park, -38 in Spencer...
COVID-19 positivity rates declined in both O'Brien and Clay counties last week, mirroring a downward trend statewide. As of Tuesday evening, O'Brien County's 14-day positivity rate was down from 6 percent the week before to 5.9 percent, while Clay County's was down to 6.9 percent from 8 percent over the same time period. The statewide positivity rate was down from 8.6 percent to 7.5 percent. Coronavirus-related deaths were up one in Clay County to 25 and up four in O'Brien County to 58. There...
If slow and steady wins the race, Clay County Public Health officials are more than ready to run a marathon. Rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has entered its second full month. While the pace has been slow, there hasn't been a shortage of arms for the shots that have been allocated to Clay County. Colette Rossiter, Clay County Public Health coordinator, is looking forward to getting many more people inoculated in the coming months. While some residents might be growing anxious about when their...
• Pursuit reaches 90 mph in O’Brien, Clay counties At approximately 9:41 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, an O’Brien County deputy sheriff attempted to make a traffic stop on a 2011 Honda CRV near the intersection of 360th Street and White Avenue. The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued which traveled through O’Brien and Clay counties and reached speeds as high as 91 mph in a 55 mph zone. The pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle crashed in the 3700 mile of 110th Street. Madison Selzer, 33, and Joseph Peterson, 29, both of Spencer, were ar...
The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News picked up 15 awards last Thursday during the Iowa Newspaper Association's Better Newspaper Contests. News editor Nick Pedley won first place honors for Best Breaking News Photo, Best COVID-19 Coverage and Excellence in Editorial Writing. The Sentinel-News also won third place for General Excellence, which is given to the Top 3 newspapers in their respective classes that accrue the most award points. The newspaper won awards in the following categories:...
Local residents can listen to state lawmakers discuss issues affecting northwest Iowa during the second Eggs & Issues forum on Saturday, Feb. 27. Unlike the first session held on Jan. 23, next Saturday's event will have a limited audience of 15 area residents. Clay County's mask mandate will be enforced, as will other COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. Anyone wishing to attend Feb. 27 needs to register with the Spencer Chamber of Commerce on or before Friday, Feb. 26 at noon. Seats will be...
After several months of discussion, the process of updating the City of Royal’s code of ordinances will soon get underway. During a Zoom meeting with Darren Bumgarner, of Northwest Iowa Planning and Development, council members agreed on Feb. 10 to move forward with the first comprehensive update of Royal’s ordinances since 2002. Discussion centered on what services will be provided for the $4,500 fee that NWIPDC will charge the city. Bumgarner said Royal’s code book will be “substantially updated.” All pertinent sections of the Code of Iowa a...
Hartley residents wishing to learn more about the upcoming pool bond issue should circle Thursday, Feb. 25 on their calendars. A public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Hartley Community Center to present information about the bond measure, which would help finance construction of a new pool in town. All Hartley residents are invited to attend and a Zoom link will also be provided for people wishing to watch online. "Citizens can learn more in general about the pool, its features and the...
Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday issued a new proclamation that eased certain public health regulations aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa. Effective Sunday, Iowans no longer needed to wear masks when indoors in a public space and within six feet of individuals who are not from their household. The new proclamation "strongly encourages" social distancing and mask wearing, but does not carry any mandates regarding personal preventative measures. Additionally, Iowans no longer need to...
A pair of familiar faces at Clay Central/Everly will head off into the sunset once the school year comes to a close. The school board on Jan. 27 approved the early retirement applications of Mary Ann Jobst and Kim Harken. Jobst, the Title 1 Reading/Math/ESL instructor, has served the district for 33 years, while Harken, a special education teacher, has served for 21 years. According to CC/E human resource manager Diane White, Jobst and Harken were the only two teachers to apply for early...
The Hartley City Council on Monday extended a helping hand to a local event center that's been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to restrictions on social gatherings, the Hartley Community Center has hosted very few events during the past year. The lack of gigs has pinched the venue's bank account and strained finances significantly, which led the board of directors to seek help from the council. According to board President Alic Mohni, the community center has approximately $2,20...
• Traffic Colton John DeRocher, Sergeant Bluff, Speeding. Brandon Russell Sherman, Boca Raton, La., Speeding. Johnnie Junior Johnson, Fridley, Minn., Speeding. Bianca Elizabeth Pantoja, Sioux City, Registration Violation. Neil J. Niswander, Sanborn, Speeding. Gabriel Junior Nelson Morales, Spencer, Speeding. Martin Tennessen Slater, Rushmore, S.D., Speeding. Corey Allen Shanley, Sioux City, Speeding. Brittany Ann Rook, Little Rock, Registration Violation. Andrew F. Bradstreet, Hartley, Failure to Reduce Speed. Lonah Moraa Nyamwange, Sanborn, Vi...
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Monday confirmed three cases of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7., in Iowa. The virus variant is often referred to as the U.K. variant because it was first detected in the United Kingdom. Based on epidemiologic and modeling data, researchers believe that the B.1.1.7 strain can be spread more easily than the original COVID-19 strain. Current vaccines are considered to be effective against the variant strain. "Viruses constantly change through...
Fresh off his appointment to the House Agriculture Committee, Fourth District Rep. Randy Feenstra has pledged to make Iowa farmers a priority during his first term in Congress. The Hull Republican made several stops throughout northwest Iowa last week, including a visit to Upper Des Moines Opportunity in Sibley. He said that strengthening the ag economy through expanded trade deals was vital and vowed to use his seat on the Agriculture Committee to improve Iowa famers' financial interests....
There's nothing prettier to Paige Dagel than a nice pig. The 2020 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School alumnus admits that she's been "infatuated with pigs" since she was a little girl. That passion only grew during her teenage years, which recently helped earn her a spot on the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) Youth Leadership Team. "I am looking forward to finding a career path throughout the year," she said. "I hope to touch areas I am not familiar with and get a well-rounded experience....
Big changes are underway at the Everly Public Library. Jeannett Palmer and Christie Seivert have taken the reigns at the local institution following the resignation of former librarian Amy Byro. The duo have been adjusting to a learning curve, as neither of them have backgrounds in the library field. "It's been interesting and challenging at the same time," said Palmer. "We've made a lot of changes." Palmer handles daytime duties from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., while Seivert takes over the night shift on...
COVID-19 positivity rates decreased in O'Brien and Clay counties over the past week. As of Wednesday morning, O'Brien County's 14-day positivity rate was 6 percent, down from 8.6 percent a week ago. Clay County's was down to 9.4 percent from 12.2 percent over the same time period. The statewide positivity rate was down from 10.4 percent to 9.4 percent. Coronavirus-related deaths were up three apiece in O'Brien and Clay counties to 58 and 24, respectively. There have been 4,919 COVID-19 deaths...
• Traffic Kristy Sue Russell, Spencer, Contempt. Dawson Kory Blum, Schaller, Speeding. Jean Ann Allen, Sioux City, Failure to Maintain Control. James Arthur Ahlquist, Montrose, S.D., Seatbelt Violation; Use of Electronic Device. Marissa May Tavarez Ebel, Paullina, Failure to Obey Stop Sign; Violation of Instruction Permit. James Daniel Casey, Ashton, Seatbelt Violation; No Proof of Insurance. Ana Gabriela De Luna, Sioux City, Registration Violation; Speeding. Brennen Lee Shilling, Primghar, Violation of Restricted License. Mark Jay Steiner, J...
Visitors to Everly's first-ever community museum will be treated to a blast from the past once doors open this summer. The archive is filled to the brim with Everly-centric relics dating back to the town's start. Though Cattlefeeder keepsakes comprise the most notable displays, other items from businesses both past and present, as well as military memorabilia, line the walls. "It's been really fun when people bring things in to donate," said Connie Goeken, one of the museum's steering committee...
The application of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn's gift policy was put to the test during the school board meeting on Jan. 18. Former H-M-S superintendent Stephen Litts indicated his desire to donate funds to the district. A suggested use of them was the purchase of benches that could be placed either on the north side of the elementary school or in front of it. Discussion was held in the context of board policy 704.4, which is a part of the larger 700 series that was approved during the meeting. The...
