Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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A new food pantry at Clay Central/Everly has seen steady use in its first year of operation. Elementary secretary Val Johnson started the service after realizing a need in the community. While a food pantry at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly serves the north half of the district, there was nothing in Royal. "Somebody brought it to my attention and I thought, why not do it here?" Johnson said. "I thought it was something we could open up to families with kids at school." Johnson and CC/E...
Though a groundbreaking date is yet to be determined, the Hartley Community Daycare Center is still chomping at the bit for a new building. Director Kaity Pedley, board members and community leaders have been trying to secure a location for a new building for the better part of a year. With adequate space at a premium around Hartley, the search to find a suitable spot has been difficult. Still, progress has forged ahead slowly. "We have explored several options and have hopefully come to a spot...
• Traffic Emily Kate Wolfe, Pella, Dark Windows. Gabriel Garcia Roman, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Bobby Goslett, Rake, Axle Weight Violation. Ross Lee Johannsen, Paullina, Seatbelt Violation. Javier Perez Escobar, Worthington, Minn., No Valid Driver’s License; Speeding. Ryan Gary Hawkins, Jackson, Minn., Speeding. Cesar Becerra Martinez, North Sioux City, S.D., Speeding. Christina Garcia, Primghar, Trespass. Benjamin Ross Wiest, Hartley, Speeding. Joni Elise Vander Beek, Little Rock, Dark Windows. Roberto Everardo Gutierrez Hinoj...
Mike Schnoes, a native of Paullina and now a rural Sutherland resident, has tossed his hat for Iowa House District 5 into the proverbial ring. Schnoes has followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, taking up education as his occupation. He is a teacher at Alta-Aurelia School District and has served in that capacity for five years. He is the sixth generation in O'Brien County. His settler grandparents were both veterinarians, the first in O'Brien County and shocking for a female...
Rep. Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids) last week announced her campaign for re-election. "It is an honor to serve the people of Clay and Buena Vista Counties at the Capitol," she said in news release. "Together, we have made so much progress. Let's keep that momentum going." Jones currently leads the House in the Administrative Rules Review Committee. She has previously served as chair of the Environmental Protection Committee and as an Assistant Majority Leader. She also currently serves on the...
The Iowa Department of Education last month announced 2023 fall certified enrollment numbers for public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools and certified participation in the Students First Education Savings Account program for the 2023-24 school year. Public school district certified enrollment was 483,699, down only approximately one-half percent (0.57 percent) from last year, as projected from population patterns. Certified enrollment at Iowa accredited nonpublic schools was 36,195, up from 33,692 last year, an increase of 7.4...
BY NICK PEDLEY Just like last year, education reform proved to be the main dish during the first Eggs & Issues legislative forum held last Saturday in Spencer. Reps. Megan Jones and John Wills, along with Sens. Lynn Evans and Dave Rowley, answered a smorgasbord of questions regarding the governor's plan to reform the state's nine Area Education Agencies (AEAs). The proposal has been the headlining piece of legislation thus far in the 2024 session. Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, served more th...
The Clay Central/Everly school board on Jan. 24 approved the resignations of three elementary teachers effective at the end of the current year. Tierny Rutt, Joan Kimball and Melissa Loving submitted their resignations to the board. Rutt teaches first grade, Kimball teaches fifth grade and Loving teaches fourth grade. Rutt applied for early retirement, which was approved by the board. She was the only CC/E teacher who applied for the board's package this year. Kimball and Loving are also retirin...
Iowa House District 5's freshman representative announced his bid for another term earlier this month. Rep. Zach Dieken will run for another two-year term representing the district, which includes all of O'Brien and Osceola counties as well as parts of Cherokee and Buena Vista counties. The Republican from Granville was first elected in 2022 after defeating Dennis Bush and Tom Kuiper in the GOP primary election. "I am thankful for the honor and opportunity to represent [District 5] in Des...
• Traffic Majdi S. Daifa, Columbus, Ohio, Hours of Service Violation. Travis Linn Souder, Russellville, Ohio, Speeding; Following Too Close. Wade Aaron Ulmer, Fremont, Neb., Speeding. Marcus David Ballou, Spirit Lake, Failure to Obey Stop Sign. Shelby Marie Case, Primghar, Speeding. Maria Petronilia Morales Lopez, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License; No Proof of Insurance. Robert Scott Wilson Carson, Sutherland, Failure to Maintain Control. Reid McClaren, Primghar, Seatbelt Violation. Arthur Lewis Grives, Hartley, Registration Violation. Cry...
Summit Carbon Solutions has reached an agreement to nearly double the number of ethanol facilities that will connect to its proposed carbon dioxide pipeline system in Iowa, the company announced Monday. The agreement with POET – which says it is the world's largest biofuel producer – would add 17 ethanol plants to the proposed system in Iowa and South Dakota, including Ashton in Osceola County. A dozen of those are in Iowa, which gives Summit a total of 25 in the state. Those sites would ext... 
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With warm temperatures forecast for the next week, Iowa DNR officials are reminding people to be aware of deteriorating ice conditions. Last week several events at Winter Games at the Iowa Great Lakes had to be moved off the ice out of an abundance of caution. Ice conditions rebounded last month during a cold snap, however, recent warm temperature are expected to make thickness fluctuate. The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of quality ice for fishing and at least five inches for...
The state of the former elementary school in Hartley remains unchanged more than two years after it switched ownership. Michael Reese, whose firm Hestia Investments in 2021 purchased the school from the H-M-S Community School District, this week offered few details about progress and current state of the facility. Reese in December 2022 unveiled elaborate plans for the building, which closed in May of 2021 following the construction of the new elementary school and junior high. Reese issued a...
A Sanborn man is behind bars after allegedly robbing Sanborn Savings Bank on Monday. According to the O'Brien County Sheriff's Office, a 911 call was received at 1:02 p.m. reporting a robbery at the bank. Bank officials reported a black male entered the building and handed a teller a note. The note said that this was a robbery and demanded cash. No weapons were displayed or referenced during the robbery. An undetermined amount of cash was taken from the bank at that time and the subject left...
A Hartley family is picking up the pieces after a fire significantly damaged their home early Sunday morning. Hartley Fire Chief Brad Meedering said the department was called to Mike and Christina Larson’s residence on Highway 18 at around 2:20 a.m. Upon arrival, responders could see flames around the chimney and east area of the residence. Firefighters engaged in an exterior attack and then moved inside. Several walls were damaged in the fight, and the home sustained significant water and smoke damage. Meendering suspected the fire started in...
Just a week after the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn School Board's decision to have the district continue to cover the costs of student lunches came word that it will not be doing so. In a communication sent on Monday, Superintendent Patrick Carlin informed H-M-S families that student lunch costs cannot be covered by the district. "It is with much disappointment that I must announce that the H-M-S Community School District will not be able to extend the covering of lunch cost as previously announced...
• Traffic Noah Charles Parmelee, Sioux City, Minor in Possession, Tobacco. Yardao Junco Diaz, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Randall Alan Chamberlain, Sioux City, Dark Windows. Dominick Petitt, Paullina, Speeding; No Proof of Insurance. Terry Randall Hilton, Jr., Colquitt, Ga., Seatbelt Violation. Landyn Richard Vossberg, Akron, Use of Electronic Device. Cheyenne Joyce Niemeyer, Doon, No Proof of Insurance. Nathanial James Frazer, Hartley, No Proof of Insurance. Jesus Lopez Lopez, Worthington, Minn., Use of Electronic Device. Ethaniel Davi...
Any debate about whom Iowa Republicans want in the White House next year was put to rest Monday night. Former president Donald Trump breezed to victory during the Iowa GOP Caucus with 51 percent of the vote statewide. Participants braved frigid temperatures to cast their ballots during the event, which officially kicked off the 2024 presidential nominating process. "It's been a long road getting here, but we're finally here," O'Brien County GOP Central Committee Chair Denny Werkmeister told the...
The cost of lunches for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn students will continue to be covered by the district through the end of the current school year. H-M-S began covering the cost of student lunches in December on a two-month trial basis. That was done, in large part, due to the balance in the district's Nutrition Fund. With that balance still in excess of $600,000 as of Dec. 31, board members decided on Monday to continue covering student lunch costs. "We certainly have the capacity to continue it...
A new director is leading services at the Hartley Public Library. Casey Mason, of Hartley, took the reigns at the local facility in late November. She started at the library as an assistant in September before taking over following the resignation of her predecessor, Angie Heikens. "I've liked that it's in town, and I've enjoyed getting to know and serve the kids and other patrons," Mason said. In addition to her duties as director, Mason also serves as the children's programming director. She...
The City of Everly's real estate portfolio shrunk once again Monday night. The council accepted two bids of $1,000 apiece from Stephanie and Derrick Nestvold for a pair of lots located by the railroad tracks. Barring any hiccups, the Nestvolds will take ownership in March once the required notice is published and a public hearing is held. The lots sit at the intersection of East Fourth Street and Rumsey Street. The Nestvolds were the only bidders on the properties. The minimum bid for each lot s...
The process of getting Royal’s Main Street repaved has hit another bump in the road. During discussion in December, council members indicated interest in having the city take on the project. It was hoped that excessive costs for engineering and upgrades to intersections, sidewalk approaches and street lighting could be avoided. Mayor Josh Toft reported at the Jan. 10 council meeting that he was told by an engineer that any municipal project costing over $100,000 must be engineered and open to public bid. “I guess maybe we’re back to squar...
• Arrested on drug charges An O’Brien County man faces felony drug charges after officers carried out a search warrant in Sutherland. According to the Sutherland Police Department, eight sealed bags of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a digital scale were found on Jan. 11. Dean Swanson, 58, of Sutherland, was charged with Drug Stamp Violation and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver or Manufacture, both class D felonies; and Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, misdemeanors. Also arrested was...
The national spotlight will blind the Hawkeye State Jan. 15 when Republicans select their top choice for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination during the Iowa Caucuses. The highly-anticipated event will cap more than a year of campaigning. O'Brien County GOP Central Committee Chair Denny Werkmeister is looking forward to the big event and anticipated great attendance. "I'm predicting a big crowd," he said. "If things turn out the way they usually do every four years, there should be a lot of...
The moment northwest Iowa residents have been dreading finally arrived Monday. A winter storm delivered the area's first significant snow accumulation of the season. The weather cancelled classes and other events Monday and Tuesday, which marked the first snow-related shutterings of the current school year. Pictured above and below, Hartley residents dig out Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls reported totals ranging between 4-8" in O'Brien and Clay c...
