Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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Some Iowans have a clearer picture of when they might receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Gov. Kim Reynolds on Jan. 21 announced the second phase of Iowa's vaccine rollout plan. Under the criteria, Iowans who are 65 and older as well as some essential workers will be able to get the vaccine starting in early February once Phase 1b begins. There are five tiers under the second phase. Tier 1 includes first responders, law enforcement officers, school staff and child care workers, which consists of an esti...
Iowa Fourth District Rep. Randy Feenstra was selected this week to serve on three committees in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Hull Republican was named to the Agriculture, Budget, and Science, Space and Technology committees. Feenstra was especially pleased with his Agriculture Committee spot, as it marked the first time since 2019 that Iowa's Fourth District had a seat at the table. Former Rep. Steve King was removed from the committee two years ago by Republican leadership following...
COVID-19 positivity rates decreased in O'Brien and Clay counties over the past week. As of Tuesday evening, O'Brien County's 14-day positivity rate was 8.6 percent, down from 10.9 percent a week ago. Clay County's was up to 12.2 percent from 11.2 percent over the same time period. The statewide positivity rate was down from 12 percent to 10.4 percent. Coronavirus-related deaths were up one apiece in O'Brien and Clay counties to 55 and 21, respectively. There have been 4,492 COVID-19 deaths state...
Fifth graders at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School recently completed a unit about the American flag and wrote essays for the American Legion Flag Essay Contest as a culminating activity. Winners included: Addily Benz, first place; Ellie Pals, second place; and Lexi Schmillen, third place. Addily Benz, 1st place The flag means freedom to me. My great grandpa (Robert Benz) served in the Navy at the end of WWII. My papa (grandpa Tracy Fortune) also served in the Navy. I called him and asked...
• Traffic Shawn Rooney, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License; Registration Violation. Christopher L. Cavin, Sheldon, No Proof of Insurance. Mark Eldon Dykstra, Hospers, No Valid Commercial Driver’s License; Safety Regulations Violation. Matthew Mark Dykstra, Hospers, Safety Regulations Violation, 2 counts. Artemio Adrian Lopez Lopez, Worthington, Minn., No Valid Driver’s License. Lacey Rose Nachtigal, Melvin, Speeding. Jay Matthew Timm, Cleveland, Registration Violation. Mark W. Fuhrman, Paullina, Failure to Obey Stop Sign. Travis A. Brown, Primg...
Hartley firefighters are taking a breath of fresh air thanks to a recent purchase. The local squad bought 10 new air packs to replace 13 outdated ones. The equipment comes with upgraded features and increased air capacity, which made Fire Chief Brad Meendering happy. "It was time," he said. "Our old ones were outdated and they needed to be serviced. Instead of wasting money doing that, we decided to go ahead and order these." The new air packs, which firefighters use to breathe during...
Everly's water tower will be looking a little fresher later this year. The city council on Monday approved a five-year maintenance agreement with Maguire Iron, Inc., of Sioux Falls, S.D., worth $129,750. The water tower's exterior and interior will receive new coats of paint this year, with future checkups and maintenance scheduled through 2026. According to Maguire Iron rep Jake Dugger, the water tower's paint is starting to chip and a new coat is needed before things deteriorate further....
Initial planning for additional upgrades to the high school building was approved by the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board on Monday. CMBA Architects, of Spencer, and Engineering Design Associates (EDA), of Sioux Center, submitted a proposal for architectural and engineering services to define the scope and timeline for updates and renovations to the high school. They will work with Boyd Jones Construction, the project manager for the elementary and middle school facilities projects and recent...
• More charges filed against Sutherland man A Sutherland man faces additional charges following an investigation into several vehicle thefts and burglaries that occurred in October of 2020. According to the Sutherland Police Department, Bradley Tyler Kots, 24, was arrested on Jan. 13 and charged with four counts of Burglary-3rd Degree, a class D felony; two counts of Theft-2nd Degree, also a class D felony; Operating a Motor Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent, an aggravated misdemeanor; Trespassing, a serious misdemeanor; and Theft-5th Deg...
A local event center has asked the Hartley City Council to help with pandemic-related revenue shortages. According to discussion at the council’s meeting Jan. 11, the Hartley Community Center Board of Directors recently approached the city with a request for assistance. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it nearly impossible to host large events, which is the bread and butter of the facility’s revenue stream. The council expressed a willingness to pay for the community center’s insurance costs on a short-term basis. Members also believed the facil...
It may be a short read, but Vicky Treimer is hoping her new book can be a big help. The Hartley native recently published My Ultimate Hope. A victim of bullying growing up, she hopes the 42-page read will have an impact on children going through a similar situation. "I just want them to know they don't they have to live with the unforgiveness that I did," she said. "I carried that for 38 years. That's most of my life." The daughter of Eldon and Viola Treimer, Treimer grew up on farm south of...
Local residents can listen to state lawmakers discuss issues affecting northwest Iowa during the first Eggs & Issues forum on Saturday, Jan. 23. Unlike the traditional in-person format held in council chambers at Spencer City Hall, Saturday's event will have no audience due to COVID-19 protocols. Participants are being asked to email questions to programs@spenceriowachamber or drop them by the Chamber Office on or before Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Each question will be asked to the legislators and...
COVID-19 positivity rates decreased in O'Brien and Clay counties over the past week. As of Tuesday evening, O'Brien County's 14-day positivity rate was 10.9 percent, down from 12.7 percent a week ago. Clay County's was down to 11.2 percent from 12.3 percent over the same time period. The statewide positivity rate was down from 14 percent to 12 percent. Coronavirus-related deaths were unchanged in O'Brien County at 54 and up one to 20 in Clay County. Statewide, there have been 4,332 COVID-19...
A lengthy review of the City of Royal’s 2021-22 budget was the major item of business during the Jan. 13 council meeting. Council members and City Clerk Barb Fletcher looked at projected revenues and each expenditure line item of the budget that goes into effect on July 1. Revenues are expected to increase due to higher property valuations and will total approximately $470,500. The majority of expenditure increases reflect higher wage and insurance costs. Council members also decided to budget additional expenditures from the local option s...
Okoboji/H-M-S crowned two individual champions and finished second as a team at the Nighthawk Invitational at Rock Valley on Saturday, Jan. 16. Dylan Jones placed first at 120 pounds and Caden Larue won the 145-pound title. Earning runner-up finishes were Bryce Sehman (113), Ryan Pyle (132) and Noah Strantz (152). A pair of wrestlers from H-M-S finished third while another placed fifth. Bryce Dodge won his initial match in the 160-pound bracket by fall over Isaac Van Beek, BH/RV, 3:23; lost by fall to Rylan DeGroot, Western Christian, 3:41;...
It may not look like it from the outside, but Clay Central/Everly's former 7-12 grade building is undergoing some big changes. The facility is getting new life thanks to Guardian Education and Athletic Services (GEA), a non-profit firm planning to open a post-secondary program for athletes who wish to continue both their athletic and education careers. The school district officially signed over the deed in October and renovation work got underway immediately. GEA co-founder Brent Koppie said...
The Hartley City Council on Monday officially moved forward with a $1.7 million bond issue to finance the construction of a new pool. Members unanimously approved calling for the referendum after a brief discussion. If passed, the bond would finance the bulk of construction costs for the new pool, which has an estimated price tag of $3 million. "It keeps going up the longer we wait," Council Member Mary Westphalen said of construction expenses. Assuming a 3 percent interest rate, the bond would...
A vestige of the not-so-distant past returned last Friday night. Gov. Kim Reynolds lifted spectator limits for sporting and recreational gatherings, including restrictions for high school-sponsored events. Reynolds in November issued an order that limited spectator attendance to two per athlete in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Her revised order last week still requires each group of spectators to maintain six feet of social distance, and everyone in attendance over the age of 2...
As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues in Iowa, healthcare officials are still waiting for a clearer picture to pinpoint when different groups of people can receive their first doses. Currently in Iowa, healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities are eligible to schedule and receive a vaccine. Those in the next priority groups are identified; however, a time frame has not been announced by the state for the next round of vaccination opportunities. The Iowa Department of...
• Traffic Devin Jae Heronimus, Sheldon, Violation of Restricted License. Cole Thomas Stofferan, Sheldon, Registration Violation. Luka Michael Norgaard, Sheldon, Violation of Graduated License. Glenn Thomas Perry, Colorado Springs, Colo., Failure to Obey Stop Sign. Randy Lewis Hanson, Rice, Minn., Use of Electronic Device. Kevin Thomas Ebert, Kingsley, Use of Electronic Device. Lowell Duane Vonholdt, Jr., Estherville, Speeding. Summer Mae Tilley, Paullina, Speeding. Jamie Lynn Shriver, Paullina, Speeding. Jesse Taylor Eldridge, Sanborn, S...
Residents and staff at a local nursing home reported few ill effects following the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations last month. Community Memorial Health Center and Assisted Living (CMHC) administered the first round of Moderna's two-dose coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 21 and Dec. 30. According to Administrator Dr. Janette Simon, all but four residents and tenants received a shot, as did 85 percent of staff members. She said rumors that some staff members were hospitalized following the...
Northwest Iowa will be represented by two fresh faces Jan. 11 when the Legislature convenes in Des Moines. For the first time in more than a decade, new faces will represent O'Brien County in the Iowa House of Representatives and Senate. District 3 Representative-elect Dennis Bush and District 2 Senator-elect Jeff Taylor will assume office next week, replacing predecessors Dan Huseman and Randy Feenstra. Huseman retired after the gavel sounded on last year's session and Feenstra is now...
With the calendar officially flipped to 2021, fundraising efforts for Hartley's new pool are ramping up in earnest. Local residents were recently mailed brochures to help drum up financial support for the planned swimming hole. Organizers are hoping to raise $500,000 this year, which will help offset the estimated $3 million price tag. Various naming opportunities are offered based on donation levels. For instance, a $250 contribution will get the donor an engraved brick at the pool and a...
Farmland values in O'Brien and Clay counties increased slightly over the past year due to more positive factors affecting the U.S. ag economy. The annual Iowa State Land Value Survey released last month reported a 2.4 percent increase in O'Brien County farmland prices in 2020 and a 2.2 percent increase in Clay County. The report noted that lower interest rates, limited land supply and higher commodity prices as reasons for the 1.7 percent statewide increase in farmland values last year. The stat...
Rep. Randy Feenstra, R–Hull, was sworn-in Sunday to serve as the next representative for Iowa's Fourth Congressional District. "I am truly humbled that Iowans in the Fourth District elected me to represent them in the halls of Congress, and starting today, I will work tirelessly to make sure they have a seat at the table when making decisions that affect our farmers and main streets," Feenstra said in a release. "I look forward to working with my colleagues in Iowa and throughout the country o...
