Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Sorted by date Results 1226 - 1250 of 1379
The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District plans to take a "business as usual" approach toward making up classroom time lost due to inclement weather. The possibility of using virtual instruction to minimize lost "snow days" was discussed at the Oct. 19 school board meeting. Superintendent Patrick Carlin said H-M-S could make up lost time on the dates already scheduled, or online learning could be utilized as an alternative, especially later in the year. Carlin said there would be...
• Charges filed following crash in Rock Valley Charges have been filed against Brea Tschopp, 36, of Hartley, in connection with a traffic accident that occurred in Rock Valley earlier this year. The report stated that Tschopp was involved in a rear-end collision at the intersection of Highway 18 and 21st Avenue on Aug. 12. The Rock Valley Ambulance was paged for three dependent children ages 5, 4 and 1-1/2 in her vehicle. A portable breathalyzer test showed no alcohol in Tschopp’s system, but officers suspected she was under the influence of...
The State of Iowa recently made rapid antigen testing for the SARS-CoV2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19, available for PK-12 grade students attending public or private schools in Clay County. Local schools, Clay County Public Health, Spencer Hospital, and Avera Medical Group Spencer have worked together to develop a process to make this testing easily accessible and free for students. This test is available only for students who show signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and are...
Barb Rohwer has never seen anything like this before. The office of O'Brien County's longtime auditor has been exceptionally busy this month handling absentee ballot requests and in-person voters. The anomaly was expected, as the COVID-19 pandemic had election officials pushing voters to cast ballots from afar for the Nov. 3 general election. "We've had quite a few folks coming in and voting absentee," Rohwer said. "We've probably been averaging 15 a day, when in a normal year we'd see two or...
The change in ownership of one of Everly's most unique properties sparked brief discussion Monday during a quick city council meeting. Mayor Brad Behrens gave an update on Clay Central/Everly's former 7-12 grade building, which was sold last week by the school board to Guardian Education & Athletic Services (GEA) for $5,000. The sale involves the entire property, including outbuildings. "Hopefully it works out for them," said Behrens, who expressed his concerns about the sale during a public...
Plans are being developed to rebuild a destroyed grain elevator in Royal. Ag Partners submitted a building permit to the Royal City Council on Oct. 14 calling for the demolition of the affected bin and its replacement. Few other details were provided in the application, but council members gave it the go-ahead after hearing a brief update from Ag Partners' Royal location manager Lucas Kline. Brent Low, vice president of agronomy and corporate marketing at Ag Partners, said after the meeting...
A high COVID-19 positivity rate in O'Brien County is forcing a local nursing home to fork over cash to meet testing requirements. O'Brien County's 14-day COVID-19 positivity rate has been stuck at well over 10 percent for the past several weeks. Per federal guidelines, that means nursing homes like Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley must rapid-test staff members twice a week, which is resulting in a $6,000 bill every seven days for the local facility. "We're hoping our financial strife...
Over $250,000 in transportation and technology upgrades that the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board tentatively approved last month were finalized on Monday. The district is purchasing two off-lease 84-passenger buses for a total of $170,000. According to information presented in September by Superintendent Patrick Carlin, the 2018 Blue Bird models have approximately 36,000 and 41,000 miles. They will update the district's transportation fleet which has six buses with over 150,000 miles. Carlin...
• Traffic Nicholas Michael Koster, Newell, Seatbelt Violation. Montana Lynn Folven, Primghar, Registration Violation. Donald Ray Duin, Sheldon, Failure to Obey Stop Sign. James Martin Tallman, Sheldon, Registration Violation. Terry Jo Douglass, Primghar, Seatbelt Violation. Shayne Schreiner, Sergeant Bluff, No Valid Driver’s License; No Proof of Insurance. Payton Tyler Luinstra, Ashton, Speeding. Matthew Ryan Keithley, Hull, Speeding. Johnathan Douglas Oldenkamp, Primghar, Violation of Restricted License. Brendon Scott Harrison, Sheldon, Min...
Voters will have the opportunity to elect four members of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach O’Brien County council at the Nov. 3 general election. Extension council members are elected at large, and all voters in the county are eligible to vote for four candidates. Extension council members whose terms expire this year are Christine Feltman, of Paullina; Ryan Freese, of Sheldon; Kiana Johnson, of Primghar; and Michael Wagner, of Primghar. Candidates on this year’s ballot include: • Eric Brown, Paullina Eric Brown is the owner...
COVID-19 death toll rises in O’Brien Co. The number of people who’ve died from COVID-19 in O’Brien County increased from nine to 11 over the past week. The death toll in Clay County remained unchanged at four. O’Brien County’s COVID-19 14-day positivity rate decreased from 16.5 to 16 percent over the past week, while Clay County’s dipped from 13.1 to 9.6 percent. Those figures ranked Nos. 12 and 52, respectively, among all 99 counties in Iowa. Overall, O’Brien County has had 580 total confirmed coronavirus cases since March and 326 recoverie...
One of the biggest properties in Everly has a new owner. The Clay Central/Everly school board on Oct. 7 officially agreed to sell the district's former 7-12 grade building to Guardian Educational & Athletic Services (GEA) for $5,000. The sale includes all outbuildings on the 10.8-acre lot, which hasn't housed students since 2019. GEA, a non-profit firm, approached the district in late-July with plans to transform the facility into an "intermediate college program" geared towards post-secondary...
A rowdy week filled with school spirit culminated in a big way at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn last Friday. Students, staff, local residents and alumni packed the bleachers at the football field for Homecoming. H-M-S cheerleaders led the pep rally, which featured raucous chants, fun games and dance routines. After that, Hawk fans enjoyed a brief parade around the track. Homecoming Queen Cher Hibbing and King Gabe Bronstad reigned over festivities this year. The pair assumed their thrones during...
The new owners of Clay Central/Everly's former 7-12 grade school building plan to give the facility a new purpose in a variety of ways. Guardian Education and Athletic Services (GEA) outlined their intentions in a business plan submitted to the school board and Everly City Council in July. According to the seven-page document, the firm plans to create a "post-secondary program aimed at athletes who wish to continue their athletic careers while continuing their education." "What separates GEA...
Any fears about skipping Halloween in Hartley were soothed by the city council on Monday. Members voted to hold trick-or-treating hours on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m. Mayor Rodney Ahrenstorff last month expressed concerns about Halloween festivities due to COVID-19 and the potential threat of spreading the virus with children going door to door, but was ultimately swayed the other way. "Other towns are going to let them go, so I'm not going to restrict it," he said. "Just go to houses you...
• Traffic Lukas Peter Bakker, Granville, Speeding. Herson Renal Orozco Hernandez, South Sioux City, Neb., Speeding. Zachariah N. Nelson, Hull, Seatbelt Violation. Troy Schueder, Paullina, Speeding. Brayden Lee Utesch Nemmers, LeMars, Use of Electronic Device. Terry Ann McGarry, Cherokee, Registration Violation. Gisma S. Ukalo, Lincoln, Neb., Speeding. Garhett Lee Armsbury, Omaha, Neb., Speeding. Obediah Jay Stafford, Worthington, Minn., No Valid Driver’s License; Seatbelt Violation. Richard Lee Herman, Longmont, Colo., Axle Weight Vio...
The plumes of dust rising from local fields haven't settled in recent weeks thanks to dry conditions that have allowed farmers to harvest at breakneck pace. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, one-quarter of the corn for grain in the state had been harvested Oct. 4, more than three weeks ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of average. This marked only the second time since 2000 that at least one-quarter of the corn for grain crop was harvested by that date....
It may have been a week later than expected, but new royalty got their due Monday night at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School. Cher Hibbing and Gabe Bronstad were named Homecoming queen and king during the coronation ceremony, which was held outside at the football field. All Homecoming activities were postponed a week because of the high number of students quarantined due to COVID-19 public heath guidelines. Hibbing, of Hartley, is the daughter of Bill and Josie Hibbing. She's involved in Dance...
The Hartley Community Daycare Center was temporarily closed this week due to a confirmed case of COVID-19. Facility administrators were made aware of the situation Sunday after a test confirmed the COVID-19 infection. The child had been at the building Friday, but was experiencing no symptoms and passed COVID-19 protocol when they arrived. Following recommendations from public health officials, the facility was closed Monday through Wednesday. It was scheduled to reopen today after extensive...
Members of Hartley's pool taskforce committee hope several years of planning are about to pay off. Literally. Fundraising efforts for Hartley's new pool get underway this Sunday with a sack lunch event at the community center from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Pulled pork sandwiches, chips, cookies and a drink will be available for a free will donation, with drive-thru and pick-up options available. Jackie Stoltz, one of the original members of the pool taskforce committee, said it felt good to finally be...
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a moving target, but local residents on Friday offered praise to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her handling of the unprecedented situation. Around a dozen people showed up to 1015 Steak Company in Sibley to quiz the governor about the pandemic's status in Iowa. Reynolds told guests she was proud of how Iowans handled the situation and felt the Hawkeye State was on solid footing moving forward. "It's taken all of us together," she said. "We're in a lot better...
Gov. Kim Reynolds on Sept. 29 released new guidance to Iowans regarding COVID-19 exposure and quarantine timelines. O'Brien County Public Health will follow the new guidelines and urges local residents to wear a mask when social distancing is not possible. As of Wednesday morning, the rate of positive COVID-19 tests over the last two weeks was 18.4 percent. • If you wear a mask in public settings, businesses, communities, and in schools, and the person that tested positive also had a mask on, t...
• Traffic Tonny Champin Wleh, Spencer, No Valid Driver’s License. Todd Allen Meyeraan, II, Sheldon, Violation Restricted Driver’s License. Timothy Joseph Elbert, Sheldon, Illegal Passing. Colby Gene Simm, Paullina, Unsafe Backing. Brenda Lynn Lamb, Sheldon, Speeding. Sade Shilis Grant, Coon Rapids, Minn., Speeding. Christina Marie Plautz, Sioux City, Speeding. River Jason Fox, LeMars, Minor In Possession. Daniel Patrick Wheeler Morris, Paullina, Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device. Amy Sue Shelling, Hospers, Speeding. Andrew Theodore Johns...
Everly's "new" fire truck is definitely an eye-catcher. The bright yellow exterior of the 2000 Luverne Spartan stands out among traditional red fire trucks in the area. Though it might be a rather unique sight on fire calls, it's no bother to Everly firefighters – a paint job has never put out an inferno. "We really like it so far," said Everly Fire Chief Brian Kahl. "For a small town, this is a lot of truck, but we'll put it to good use." The local department purchased the truck from the S...
O’Brien County’s COVID-19 positivity rate increased this week to one of the Top 10-highest in the state. According to Iowa’s coronavirus update page Wednesday morning, the number of positive tests returned in O’Brien County over the last 14 days was 18.4 percent, ranking No. 7 in Iowa. Clay County was No. 23 with a 12.4 positivity rate. The total number of deaths associated with COVID-19 remained the same over the past week in O’Brien County (9) and Clay County (4). Overall, O’Brien County has had 472 total confirmed coronavirus cases since...
