Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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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...
The purchase of a skid loader by the City of Royal was delayed so another unit can be investigated. During the council meeting on April 12, Maintenance Superintendent Sherman Nielsen said he received a bid from Ziegler Equipment in Sheldon for a Caterpillar skid loader. He had already obtained a bid for a new Bobcat, the same brand as the city’s current unit. Although he is not familiar with Caterpillar, Nielsen said it should be comparable. According to discussion, advantages of Caterpillar’s bid are a lower price and a better warranty. “It...
A familiar face has been hired as Hartley's new gas superintendent. The city council on Monday unanimously voted to hire Dave Patton, who will start duties on May 15. He currently owns and operates Patton's Powder Coating in Hartley and has a background in maintenance work. Patton said he is looking forward to the new opportunity. "I think number one, I'm excited to be part of a team and I'm kind of looking forward to that aspect," he said. "Not only that, but looking at a permanent job and a...
The purchase of a skid loader by the City of Royal was delayed so another unit can be investigated. During the council meeting on April 12, Maintenance Superintendent Sherman Nielsen said he received a bid from Ziegler Equipment in Sheldon for a Caterpillar skid loader. He had already obtained a bid for a new Bobcat, the same brand as the city’s current unit. Although he is not familiar with Caterpillar, Nielsen said it should be comparable. According to discussion, advantages of Caterpillar’s bid are a lower price and a better warranty. “It...
The search for Clay County's next fair queen has been set as a four-way race. Four young ladies will compete for the title of Clay County Fair Queen on Sunday, April 30 at the Clay County Regional Events Center. Contestants include Linnea Bloom, of Marathon, the daughter of Stephen and Melanie Bloom; Aubrie Stell, of Spencer, daughter of Jason and Melissa Stell; Kamdyn Van Gelder, of Spencer, the daughter of Jay and Shantel Van Gelder; and Addison Wyman, of Spencer, daughter of Leah Wyman. The...
• Traffic Dmytro Pshebishevskyi, Philadelphia, Pa., Load Capacity Violation. Jose Morales Lopez, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Sabrina Monen, Sheldon, Speeding. Daniel Tai Yan Molenaar, Hull, No Valid Driver’s License. Karlee Elizabeth Warnke, Primghar, Failure to Maintain Control. Christopher Michael Peters, Primghar, No Proof of Insurance. Eric Lee Mueller, Princeton, Minn., Speeding. Christopher A. Hunt, Granville, Speeding. Aja Rae Bell, Hudson, Wis., Speeding. Christian Donald Jongerius, Sheldon, Minor in Possession, Alcohol. Dusti...
Hartley officials are now searching for a key cog in City Hall's wheel. City Administrator Erica Haack on Monday submitted her letter of resignation effective May 17. She has held the position since February of 2019 and is leaving the post to become a finance and contract analyst with Interstates in Sioux Center. "I have enjoyed working with the mayor and council, my co-workers, and all of the community members who selflessly volunteer their time on various boards and committees that help make...
Big changes are gradually taking place at the Hartley Public Library. Staff members have been transforming the west side of the facility with updated fixtures, furniture and other additions over the past month. Once finished, the children's section will change places with the teen section, moving from the front to the back. It's all thanks to a mini grant worth $4,285 from Lakes Area Community Partnership for Protecting Children (LACPPC), which emphasizes programming for children and families....
Director district boundaries in the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School will be slightly different as a result of minor population shifts within its territory. A new director district map approved on Monday was developed to bring H-M-S into compliance with allowable variations in population. The changes will not alter the composition of the school board and only required modest adjustments. "Nobody is living in the wrong [director] district, but there were some minor tweaks," said...
• Traffic Eric James DeZeeuw, Sioux Center, Speeding. Devon Russell Hohbach, Sheldon, Minor in Possession, Alcohol. Juan Carlos Ochoa Paulino, St. Peter, Minn., Speeding. Kyle James Fearon, Brownton, Minn., Speeding. Jeremy Joseph Kenkel, Royal, Seatbelt Violation; Driving While Suspended. Maria Niz Chilel, Sibley, No Valid Driver’s License. Christian Spencer Taylor, Lake Wales, Fla., Speeding. Iris Michel Herrera Mendoza, Sheldon, No Valid Driver’s License. Eduardo Millan Herrera, Primghar, Permitting Minor to Possess. Madawo Musu Kamar...
An ongoing infrastructure improvement project is going according to plan in east Hartley. According to Bolton & Menk engineer Josh Pope, the cure-in-place-pipe (CIPP) lining project has experienced few issues over the past month. The improvements were made possible thanks to a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant. "It's moving along nicely," Pope said during the April 10 city council meeting. "We have had a couple of pipe condition issues that have required replacement, but we expect...
The Everly City Council on April 13 approved one part of an employee health care plan while tabling the other half. The council unanimously agreed to cover 100 percent of single premiums for full-time employees. An agreement on family coverage was ultimately tabled after extensive discussion. "There's still a lot of grey area in there with this insurance," said Mayor Ron Thompson. "We have to do what's right for Everly and its citizens." The move is hoped to retain current employees and make...
Royal residents had an opportunity to express their views about a proposal to turn operation of the city's water utility to Iowa Lakes Regional Water. Approximately a dozen people attended the public meeting on April 12 regarding the plan, which grew out of an earlier discussion regarding piping under Royal's water tower. "Things rolled into what's the future plan for the Royal water system; how would it look if we operated it," said ILRW CEO Brad Veit. Under the proposed 28E agreement, ILRW...
A large contribution has sparked big plans for the Hartley Community Daycare Center. Director Kaity Pedley on Monday addressed the city council during her annual update. She revealed the facility recently landed a $500,000 contribution from a private donor, which sparked discussion about constructing a new facility. "Five hundred grand doesn't get us a lot, but it's a start and it was awesome and amazing," she said. The current daycare center building was constructed in 1920 with an addition...
Hartley's recreation trail committee has made marked progress in the past year, but members are hoping the city's help could allow the group to make bigger strides in the future. Committee members on Monday gave an annual update on efforts to build a recreation trail around town. If constructed, the path would encompass Hartley starting at Neebel Park for a total distance of approximately four miles at an estimated cost of $400,000 per mile. Committee member Dave Vander Broek said the group...
O'Brien County's emergency management director is hoping a special countywide property tax levy could bolster ambulance services in local communities. Jared Johnson last month floated the proposal in front of the board of supervisors, who took no action on the matter. If adopted in the future, an EMS levy would not exceed 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation on all taxable property in O'Brien County while creating a trust fund to help pay for emergency medical services. Johnson explained...
• Traffic Nicole Jean Miller, St Paul, Minn., Speeding. Ramiro Millan Gutierrez, Primghar, Failure to Obey Stop Sign; No Proof of Insurance; No Valid Driver’s License. Kassidy Cie Saffeels, Sutherland, No Proof of Insurance. Miguel Angel Jaraz, Worthington, Minn., No Valid Driver’s License; Failure to Maintain Control. Gerardo Giovanny Martinez, Worthington, Minn., Permitting Unauthorized Driver. Lilly Page Sleigh, Fostoria, Speeding. Victor Manuel Perez, Jr., Sheldon, Registration Violation; No Valid Driver’s License. Eduardo Perez, Sheldon, R...
A rural water utility in northwest Iowa wants to relax its state-mandated reporting requirements despite regulators' finding that it contributed to a river running dry last year. "We're done being bullied," said Doug Westerman, general manager of the Osceola Rural Water System. "We're done being pushed around." A two-mile segment of the Ocheyedan River had no water near May City starting in September. Melting snow has since recharged it. The fall dryout killed a large number of fish and other...
Fifty years of service to the fire department have not only left an impression on Roger "Lefty" Ginger, but also on those who know him. That sentiment was clear Sunday afternoon during a special ceremony commemorating Ginger's half-century of service to Everly Fire & Rescue. The longtime volunteer officially hung up his helmet at the conclusion of the service, which was attended by a full house of well-wishers at the Hap Ketelsen Community Center. Ginger addressed the crowd and said he was grate...
A big project not many people will notice is slated to take place at Clay Central/Everly Elementary later this year. The school board on March 30 approved bids for pipe repair, asbestos abatement and air monitoring for plumbing located in tunnels under classrooms on the north side of the Royal building. The project is estimated at around $80,000. “We started to notice the condition of our pipes in the tunnel after a water leak,” Assistant Superintendent Jeff Scharn explained after the mee...
Sharp eyes, a thirsty palate and empty stomach will be required for participants in the Everly Public Library's upcoming fundraiser. Puzzles for Publications will be held on Saturday, April 15 at the Hap Ketelsen Community Center. The event will pit teams of four against each other competing to finish a 550-piece puzzle, drink 18 beers and eat an entire large pizza. According to library Director Christie Seivert, Puzzles for Publications came about after a board member reached out to her with a...
Correction: In the March 30 issue, it was reported that Rachel Mallory was charged with OWI. That is incorrect. Mallory was the payer for Andrew Randall Smith who received the OWI. We apologize for the error. • Traffic Lindsay Rose Schwebach, Sheldon, No Proof of Insurance. Bobbi L. Galm, Hartley, Speeding; No Proof of Insurance; No Valid Driver’s License; Failure to Use Child Restraint Device. Rusty Allen Montagne, North Sioux City, S.D., Speeding. Timothy Allen Morris, Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D., Safety Regulations Violation; Speeding. Amber Bel...
The Hartley Recreation Trail Committee didn't see this one coming. Members last week accepted a $100,000 grant from United Way in Spencer to help pay for construction of the trail. The money was made possible by a charitable trust established by the Heerde family of Milford, who charged United Way with selecting local causes worth contributing to. "There's no stipulations as far as we know, just a check for $100,000," said Laura Mohni, trail committee member. "We were extremely surprised and ext...
Retirement will bring with it some peace and quiet for Roger "Lefty" Ginger. "I think the biggest thing I'll notice is that I won't have a pager going off now," he said. Ginger, 76, will close the book on 50 years of service with Everly Fire & Rescue this Sunday during a special sendoff. The longtime volunteer admitted his retirement is a bit strange, but he's ready. "I'm a bit too old to cut the mustard, as they say," he said. "It's time for the younger generation to take over." A native of Pri...
Angie Heikens loves turning pages, whether in a good book or in life. The rural May City woman took over as director of the Hartley Public Library last week. Her rise to the top was quick – she started as the facility's youth program director in January and was recently approached by the board when the head position opened up. "I originally said no, but I thought about it some more and realized I hadn't really been challenged for a while," Heikens said. "I came around to the idea and said l...
