Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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Each year, the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn fifth graders complete a flag unit in language arts class. They learn about flag etiquette, the history of the United States flag, and the different branches of the U.S. military. The students, along with their teacher, Angie Mayer, even go through each part of the U.S. Flag Code. At the end of the unit, the students are left with a better understanding of what the flag represents and how to show it respect. They then write an essay of 300 words or less refl...
The Clay Central/Everly Elementary building in Royal will look quite different when students return to class in August. The school board on May 24 approved the purchase of new window decals to be attached in various spots across the building. The decals allow for people inside to see out, but not people outside to see in. Cost for the project, including installation, was pegged at $8,560 by Clarion-based SportsGraphics. "Do the whole project," CC/E Assistant Superintendent Jeff Scharn told the...
• Traffic Kyle Lee Gesink, Sheldon, Permitting Minor to Possess Alcohol. Valery Elisabeth Delao, Storm Lake, Speeding. Aaron Christopher Maytum, Milford, Speeding. Jonathan Ortiz, May City, Minor in Possession, Alcohol. Kylah Rae Cortez, Sioux City, Dark Windows; Speeding. Tori L. Webster, Hartley, Employee Selling Tobacco to a Minor. Courtney Patricia Sankey, Ruthven, Registration Violation. Brandon Lee Espeland, Sibley, Open Container. Edgar Alejandro Morales Duarte, Sioux City, Speeding; No Proof of Insurance. Gunner Gauge Stier, Mankato, M...
There's no shortage of stories, laughter and memories when Darla Meyer, Pam Sease, Missy Young and Rodney Ahrenstorff get together. After all, they've been each other's second family for decades now. "We're a tight-knit bunch," said Sease. "The people that I call when I need something are ambulance members." The quartet has served on the Hartley Emergency Ambulance Rescue Team (HEART) in varying tenures – Meyer for 43 years, Sease for 39, Young for 27 and Ahrenstorff for 25. They've all held l...
The quick turn of a tassel sent 46 young adults into the "real world" on Sunday. The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Class of 2023 received their diplomas, marking the official start to their post-high school careers. The ceremony capped more than a decade of memories made together and sent the graduates on separate paths to new lives. "Today is the final step in a long education journey for our seniors and a celebration of the formal education here at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community Schools," said...
Following a pattern the Royal City Council hopes to continue, purchases of a new skid loader and a payroll subscription update were approved on May 10. Council members have committed to replacing city equipment on a rotating basis. As the current skid loader is the next item on the list, the council accepted a bid of $53,900 from Sheldon Cat for a Caterpillar skid loader. Builders Service, of Cherokee, submitted a bid of $54,486 for a Bobcat. Having never operated a Cat skid loader, Maintenance Superintendent Sherman Nielsen wanted to test...
• Traffic Tracy Maurice McCallum, Hartley, Trespass. Lily Anne Nellis, Sanborn, No Valid Driver’s License. Reyna J. Martin Lopez, South Sioux City, Neb., No Valid Driver’s License; Speeding; No Proof of Insurance. Olivia Jordyn Buyert, Boyden, Registration Violation. Minde Jo Schuiteman, Sioux Center, Speeding. Luke Christian Dagel, Paullina, Seatbelt Violation. Jesse Adam Uittenbogaard, Sanborn, Failure to Yield Right of Way; Seatbelt Violation. Aidan Cody O’Connor, Sioux City, Registration Violation. Whitney Heather Einck, Primghar, Speedin...
This year's guest speaker at Hartley's Memorial Day services comes with an extensive background in both the military and American Legion. David Honse, of Rock Valley, grew up mostly in Rolla, Mo., where he completed high school. In 1983 at age 17, he enlisted in the Missouri National Guard as a 12C Ribbon Bridge Specialist and later entered into regular Army service in 1987 as a 12B Combat Engineer. Honse served with the 20th Engineer Battalion stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky., until the spring of...
Roxann Swanson won't be moving far for her new job. The longtime Hartley City Council member will shift a few seats to her right in the council chambers next month when she assumes the city administrator role. She resigned her elected seat effective Monday to accommodate the move, which was unanimously approved by the council on Tuesday. "I felt with my background in city government as a council member for the past seven-plus years, my education, my work experience and my desire to remain...
Royal council members have agreed to turn responsibility for operating and maintaining the city's water utility over to Iowa Lakes Regional Water. The possibility of ILRW taking over the water system has been discussed since January. During the process, council members have met with CEO Brad Veit and also held a public hearing to receive input from local residents. According to discussion on May 10, City Attorney Jill Davis advised that the council could approve the agreement, and then revise...
Citing safety and convenience-related reasons, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board members are recommending that a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) be installed at the existing pedestrian crossing on Highway 18. Monday's discussion was in response to a presentation in April by the Hartley Recreation Trail Committee. The committee has been awarded a grant to fund installation of an RRFB and wanted the board's input as to where it should be located. According to that discussion, the site...
The Everly City Council's third meeting about an employee health benefit package yielded a final decision on Monday. The council unanimously approved a plan that would have the city covering 70 percent of family health insurance premiums while full-time employees would be required to cover the remaining 30 percent. As approved last month, the city will also cover 100 percent of individual health insurance packages for full-time employees. "Today in order to be competitive in the job market, I...
Activity is buzzing at the old packing plant in Hartley as the facility pushes towards its ribbon cutting. Stephane Comtois, owner of Hartley Cold Services, said the business is planning to initiate Phase 1 of opening by late June. He hopes the plant will be fully operational by early fall. "Initially I thought we'd be open right now. We just got caught up with the labor shortage," Comtois said. "We've done quite a bit in the last few months." Comtois, who owns businesses in Canada, Chicago and...
The Hartley City Council on Monday moved forward with plans to demolish a dilapidated downtown building. The council approved a bid from Site Services for asbestos abatement at 170 S Central Ave. for $15,860. Also approved was a demolition bid from Schmillen Construction worth $51,425, which includes the garage east of the building in the alleyway. "The deteriorating condition of the building has been a serious concern to the council, especially given the proximity to operating businesses on...
Safety was on the minds of Hartley City Council members Monday during a meeting with CO2 pipeline representatives. Craig Schoenfeld, a consultant with the proposed Heartland Greenland pipeline, gave an overview of the project to city council members. The pipeline would total 1,300 miles – including around 800 miles in Iowa – and transport CO2 from Midwest ethanol plants to a sequestration site in Illinois. The pipeline would connect to the Valero Renewables plant in Hartley and cross itself sou...
• Traffic John T. Nasers, Sibley, Registration Violation. Nevaeh Hope Vos, Des Moines, Registration Violation. Jose Manuel Visoso Marino, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Jun Zhang, Fontana, Calif., Speeding. Chelsea M. Elery, Ashton, No Valid Driver’s License; Failure to Use Child Restraint Device. Kyle Lee Gesink, Sheldon, Minor in Possession, Alcohol. Kelvin Robert Lansink, Primghar, Dark Windows. Matthew Joseph Fenning, Duncanville, Texas, Seatbelt Violation. Cody Alan Martin, Alton, No Proof of Insurance; No Valid Driver’s License...
Drier and warmer conditions last week allowed many farmers an opportunity to make planting progress, which led to a jump in both corn and soybeans acres planted. According to the latest crop progress and condition report by the USDA, mostly dry weather and warmer temperatures meant Iowa farmers had 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 7. Topsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent very short, 27 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture...
State law that allows hazardous liquid pipeline companies access to private land for surveys is unconstitutional because it doesn't provide compensation for intangible damages suffered by landowners, a district court judge has ruled. "The damages resulting from a landowner's loss of his right to exclusive use of his property are subjective in the same way that pain and suffering damages are as it relates to a victim of a tortious injury," wrote Judge John Sandy, in his Wednesday ruling. Because...
Don't tell Dr. Steve Meyer that miracles are few and far between these days. "God has a plan for everybody's life," he said. "Miracles still happen every day, and I'm a walking, living example of that." The Hartley native returned home last Friday to address a gathering of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where he was baptized. Meyer gave a message of hope focused on his missionary work in Tanzania, which has cemented his Christian faith and emboldened him...
Strong winds have been the norm this spring, but blustery conditions aren't slowing farmers as planting season hits its stride. Regional agronomists reported steady progress with corn planting across the area over the past week. According to Leah Ten Napel, an agronomist with ISU Extension whose territory includes O'Brien and Osceola counties, farmers are making a big push to get their fields planted thanks to warmer weather. "Planting progress around my territory started slow in the middle of...
If any more turkeys show up in Hartley, school officials may have to consider changing H-M-S's nickname from the Hawks to the Gobblers. Many residents have been somewhat surprised in recent weeks to see a female wild turkey hanging out inside city limits. The hen has been spotted all over the place, even near downtown. O'Brien County Conservation naturalist Lindsey Craig explained Hartley's visitor isn't exactly unique. "Turkeys seem to have a mind of their own and have been spotted in other...
• Traffic Cruz Angel Tamayo Gonzalez, Hartley, No Valid Driver’s License; Speeding; Reckless Driving. Eric James DeZeeuw, Sioux Center, Speeding. Randolph Michael Whitley, Sioux Falls, S.D., Failure to Maintain Control. Chelsea Marie Hakeneis, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Donavan Sheriff, Sheldon, Seatbelt Violation. Connor Duane Streeter, McCook Lake, S.D., Seatbelt Violation. Matthew M. Schoneman, Ashton, Failure to Maintain Control. Francesca Marie Magnussen, Paullina, Unsafe Backing. Trenton Lee Schirmer, Sanborn, Dark Windo...
The crown has been passed in Clay County. Fair officials on Sunday named Kamdyn Van Gelder as the 2023 Clay County Fair Queen. She succeeds 2022 queen Autumn Erdman and will assume her royal duties immediately. For a fair-lover like Van Gelder, the crowning ceremony was a dream come true. "The fair has always been one of the most exciting times of the entire year for me," she wrote in her queen contestant application. "Some of my best memories have come from past Clay County Fairs." Van Gelder,...
It may not seem like much, but it's a start. City Administrator Erica Haack this month announced that Hartley has received a Derelict Building Grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for asbestos removal at the old Capitol Theatre building. The city in 2021 applied for funding through the program, but was rejected. Hartley will receive $25,000 to be used specifically for asbestos removal at the theater. The overall cost to abate the hazardous material has been estimated at $38,000....
The potential location of a specially marked crosswalk with flashing lights leading to Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn schools in Hartley was discussed at the April board meeting. The Hartley Recreational Trail Committee was awarded a $20,000 grant in 2022 for installation of a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at a Highway 18 pedestrian crossing. When committee members met with the H-M-S board last November, they favored locating the RRFB at the existing crosswalk south of the high school. That...
