Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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Big things are happening for preschoolers at Clay Central/Everly Elementary. The school board last month approved the purchase of new playground equipment to be installed in the Nature Learning Center, which is where preschool students play at recess. The new equipment will be delivered and installed by Boland Recreation, of Marshalltown, at a price tag of $58,950. According to Director of Student Services Michelle Huntress, the unit will be installed in September. "We look forward to having...
The Hartley City Council on Monday again debated better practices to deal with nuisance properties around town. The council first broached the topic in April. The city currently utilizes the services of Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission (NIPDC), which was hired several years ago to assess problematic residences, send abatement notices and attempt to mitigate violations. According to discussion, city officials have been disappointed in NIPDC's efforts, noting an alleged lack of...
• Traffic Yoselin R. Garcia Avelar, Storm Lake, Speeding; No Valid Driver’s License. Lyka Phillip, Ashton, Minor in Possession, Tobacco. Brenda Kathrine Nettleton, Sloan, Speeding. Jason Albert Butch Engelkes, Melvin, No Proof of Insurance; Registration Violation. Juan Ignacio Mackrey, Sheldon, Speeding. Matthew Melvin Simons, Marcus, Seatbelt Violation. Justin James Paulsen, Cleghorn, Seatbelt Violation. Colin Knowlton Smith, Sheldon, No Valid Commercial Driver’s License. Getachew Firisa Kitila, Sioux City, Speeding. Charles Cornelius Breed...
Two weeks ago, Congressman Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, touted polling that showed him with a commanding 54 percentage point lead against his relatively unknown challenger in this week's primary, Kevin Virgil. "Our 54 percent lead is proof that Iowans want a Congressman who delivers," Feenstra said in a May 23 press release. There was reason to have confidence in that figure: Virgil joined the race about five months ago in January, lacked name recognition and ran a low-dollar campaign. Feenstra is a... 
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There will be a shakeup at the O'Brien County Courthouse in January. Only one of three county supervisor incumbents – District 3's Nancy McDowell – won their respective GOP primary race on Tuesday. District 1 incumbent Supervisor Tim Overmire fell to Jim Thomas, while District 2 incumbent John Steensma was defeated by current county Auditor Barb Rohwer. Unofficial results are included below. • District 1: Thomas, of Hartley, defeated Overmire, also of Hartley, with 59.2 percent of the vote,...
People in southeast Sheldon were hit with a big surprise Friday afternoon. A small tornado tore through the area near Crossroads Pavilion Event Center, leaving damaged buildings and vehicles in its wake. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls estimated the twister as an EF0 with wind speeds peaking at 85 mph. "Thankfully no one was injured from this storm system," said Jared Johnson, O'Brien County Emergency Management director. "There were multiple agencies and contractors working on site...
Connie Olhausen recalls the moment she decided to adopt a new way to quilt. "I had just finished a queen-sized one with 1,020 pieces that took 125 hours," she said. "That's when I decided this is kind of stupid. If we're going to do this, we're not going to make these kinds of quilts." An online search yielded more speedy methods of construction, and Olhausen never looked back. She made 75 quilts this year alone as part of a local charitable group at St. Paul's Lutheran Church that sends them...
You don't need to be a meteorologist to guess the main theme of this year's planting season in northwest Iowa. Area fields have been inundated with water this spring – so much so that many locations are already approaching precipitation totals from all of 2023. The deluge has slowed the 2024 planting season significantly, with some farmers still waiting to get soybeans in the ground. "Most of the corn is wrapped up, but the farther east you go, there are quite a bit of beans that have to go i...
• Traffic Cherrine Nicole Anderson, St. Louis, Mo., Seatbelt Violation. Pedro Ruiz Morales, Spencer, Dark Windows. Elijah Roy Ernst, Cambridge, Minn., Speeding. Mia Faith Janke, Kingsley, Registration Violation. David Ramirez Lopez, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Randy D. Fahlenkamp, Hartley, Registration Violation. Nestor Gomez Lopez, Paullina, No Valid Driver’s License; Speeding. Haley R. Bottjen, Primghar, No Valid Driver’s License. Shana Kristine Martens, Algona, Registration Violation; No Valid Driver’s License; No Proof of Insurance...
The weather was chilly, but the mood was warm last Saturday during the grand opening of Hartley's new pool. Local officials cut the ribbon at the new facility, which welcomed swimmers for the first time after two years of delays. Current Council Member and former Hartley Pool Taskforce Committee Member Mary Westphalen was happy the community could finally celebrate. "I love seeing all the smiles," she said. "Having this come together for the community, it's all been worth it." The pool was...
Retired Master Sgt. Lorenzia (Lo) Henderson reminded visitors at Pleasant View Cemetery on Monday that Memorial Day was more than a long weekend reserved for barbeques, beers and backyard gatherings. "It's a day that all Americans are encouraged to pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and our way of life," he said. "To truly honor their lives, we must share their stories with others and ensure their memories live on." Henderson, of rural Hartley, served more than...
• Traffic Taylor Rae Ostrihonsky, Sioux City, Seatbelt Violation. Chance Michael Allan Angerman, Sioux City, Speeding. Victor Purcarean, Des Plaines, Ill., Speeding. Jorge Antonio Rangel Gonzalez, South Sioux City, Neb., Failure to Use Child Restraint Device; No Valid Driver’s License; Speeding. Sara Kay Dolphin, Sanborn, Registration Violation. Ryan P. McGowan, Bennington, Neb., Registration Violation. Rex Michael Ross, Sheldon, Seatbelt Violation. Blaine DeJong, Alton, Seatbelt Violation. Yolanda Casas, Edgerton, Minn., No Valid Dri...
Republicans voting in the June 4 GOP primary election will have to sift through contested county supervisors' races in both Clay and O'Brien counties. In O'Brien County, incumbent District 1 Supervisor Tim Overmire, of Hartley, is being contested by Jim Thomas, also of Hartley. In District 2, incumbent John Steensma, of Sanborn, will face Barb Rohwer, of Primghar. In District 3, incumbent Nancy McDowell, of Sheldon, faces Shanelle Matus, also of Sheldon. Also on the Republican Party ballot in O'...
Following the severe weather events on May 21, the Clay County Community Foundation (CCCF) has activated the Disaster Recovery Fund (DRF) on behalf of Clay County. Established in 2020 to support vulnerable populations, the DRF provides an opportunity for the public to give charitably, with the reassurance that donations will be quickly moved to resources where they are needed most to adapt to evolving priorities in Clay County. The flexible nature of the fund ensures that the county can quickly...
Family, friends and community members bid farewell to 54 seniors at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School on Sunday afternoon. The group was sent off with their tassels turned and diplomas in hand following the annual commencement ceremony inside the H-M-S Event Center. Principal Blake Wendt said he was proud of the Class of 2024 and encouraged them to blaze a path of success in whatever they do after high school. "While many see today as an ending to these students' educational journeys, it is in...
The wait is almost over in Hartley. Following a two-year delay, the city's pool is slated to open on Saturday, May 25. Officials are planning a ribbon cutting and hotdog meal to mark the occasion at Neebel Park. The public is invited to attend and take their inaugural dips that afternoon. "We want everybody to come out, check things out and celebrate with us," said City Administrator Roxann Swanson. "We're just all really excited about the pool opening." The process to get here was an arduous...
Residents in Royal received a barrage from the sky on Monday night that left significant damage in its wake. A thunderstorm rolled through the area that dropped hail ranging in size from a quarter to larger than a golf ball. Damage reports were significant, as windows on homes and vehicles were shattered throughout the community. Dented siding, roofs and broken tree limbs were also seen throughout the community. The onslaught lasted between 20-30 minutes. Residents in Webb also received...
• Traffic Kari Irene Buckley, Ashton, Trespass. Kairat Bakytbekovich Bakytbekov, Philadelphia, Pa., No Valid Driver’s License. Jessica Gurtler, Sheldon, Use of Electronic Device. Tara L. Chereck, Omaha, Neb., Speeding. Grissel Dariana Olivas Aguilar, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Noe Gutierrez Araiza, Hartley, Failure to Use Child Restraint Device. Brittany K. Schuknecht, Sutherland, No Proof of Insurance. Jaxon Otto Weier, Primghar, Failure to Yield. Daulton Robert Mouw, Archer, Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device. Amarjeet Singh...
A decorated military veteran with a service career spanning three decades will address the Memorial Day crowd at Pleasant View Cemetery on May 27. Master Sgt. Lorenzia (Lo) Henderson, of rural Hartley, served a variety of roles in the Marines and Army prior to his retirement in 2017 after 32 years of military service – 22 years active and 10 years reserve. After enlisting in the Marines in 1978, he traveled the globe on various active-duty assignments and transitioned to leadership positions l...
The last World War II veteran in Hartley died on May 9 at the age of 101. Harlan Goetsch served in the U.S. Merchant Marines from 1944-1946. According to an interview with the Sentinel-News last year on his 100th birthday, Goetsch's travels during World War II took him all over the globe; however, Alaska remained his favorite place. "I'm just an ordinary man who has tried to live an ordinary life," he said. "I'm nothing special." Local residents may beg to differ. Goetsch was a well-known...
Eyes were glued to the night sky last weekend as area residents were treated to a rare sight. The aurora borealis, commonly referred to as the northern lights, were visible in the upper-Midwest last week thanks to a large geomagnetic storm. Northwest Iowa got in on the show Friday and Saturday. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the northern lights are created when energized particles from the sun slam into Earth's upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45...
Hartley City Council members on Monday were pleased to learn the local parks department has a pulse. Hartley Parks & Recreation Board members Laura Mohni, Kaity Pedley and Drew Sweeney provided an update to the council about the group's plans. According to the trio, a variety of projects and programming are in the works with board members eager to provide more things to the community. "It's nice to have an actual park board now," said Council Member Ron Hengeveld. "We probably have never had a...
The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School's intention to continue participation in the Instructional Support Program was met with silence at a public hearing on Monday. No patrons were present and no comments had been submitted prior to the meeting. The district had given notice of its intention to participate in the Instructional Support Program for another five years, beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Funding for the ISP each year will not exceed 10 percent of the total...
With a year-end deadline approaching, the Royal City Council on May 8 discussed options for spending the remaining federal funds it received through the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA). The compliance report completed by City Clerk Barb Fletcher showed the city spent $44,000 of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for water tower painting. The remaining $17,054 must be spent or designated in writing with a contractor by the end of this year. Mayor Josh Toft suggested the ARPA funds could be used to sealcoat Main Street or...
