Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Sorted by date Results 876 - 900 of 1379
Clay County is currently without representation in the Iowa Senate. District 1 Sen. Zach Whiting, R-Spirit Lake, resigned from his seat effective Oct. 30. Whiting, 33, made the announcement Oct. 28 after the Senate approved the new redistricting maps during a special session. "I want to say a sincere thanks to all my constituents, my colleagues and all the staff," Whiting said on the Senate floor. "Being here in my 30s is awesome; being here anytime is awesome." Whiting will be moving to the Lon...
Big changes to Iowa's legislative districts were approved last week by state lawmakers. Redistricting by the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency is required every 10 years to reflect the results of the U.S. Census. The Iowa Legislature rejected the first set of maps in early October; however, the second set was given the green light last Thursday by the Senate (48-1) and House (93-2). Gov. Kim Reynolds signaled her endorsement of the new boundaries upon their approval. "[The] decision by...
Clay Central/Everly's certified enrollment declined six students from 2020-21, but Superintendent Kevin Wood is hoping the district's preschool program will help bolster numbers in the future. Wood reported to the school board on Oct. 27 that CC/E's certified enrollment was down from 67 last year to 61 this year. However, that figure doesn't include the preschool class, which brings the total number of students in Royal to 72. CC/E was able to offer full-time preschool this year thanks to pandem...
• Traffic Thomas Richard Oldfield, Larrabee, No Proof of Insurance. Aini Namelo, Tulsa, Okla., No Proof of Insurance. Shad Ray Morrical, Sioux City, Defective Muffler System. Nicholas Allen Stettnichs, Des Moines, Registration Violation; Dark Windows. Joshua David Sybesma, Archer, Seatbelt Violation. Cathy Jo Miller, Sioux City, Speeding. Geoffrey Nicholas Bowder, Hartley, Speeding. Benito Garcia, Weslaco, Texas, Registration, Violation. Randolph Martin Nielsen, McKinleyville, Calif., Hours of Service. Harley Daniel Ray, Yukon, Okla., Dark W...
Dates and locations have been approved by the Iowa Utilities Board for a series of public informational meetings to inform landowners in 36 Iowa counties about a proposed large-scale carbon capture pipeline by Midwest-based Navigator Heartland Greenway LLC. Navigator filed its original request for the meeting dates with the IUB on Oct. 19, and on Oct. 26 filed updated meeting locations in Docket No. HLP-2021-0003. The pipeline is proposed to span approximately 1,300 miles across five states...
Anyone wishing to be on the ballot for next month’s special election in O’Brien County has just over a week to file papers. The special Dec. 7 election will fill the vacancy left by former O’Brien County District 1 Supervisor Sherri Bootsma, who resigned last month due to an impeding move. Anyone wishing to be on the ballot as nominated by petition must circulate papers and gather at least 98 signatures from eligible county electors to be listed. Paperwork is due at the auditor’s office by Friday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. The O’Brien County Republica...
Though competition is fleeting elsewhere, voters in Hartley will have some choices to make when they enter the voting booth next Tuesday. The City With the Heart has the most interesting ballot. Five candidates – incumbents Ron Hengeveld, Brian Myers and Mary Westphalen, along with challengers Greg Cotter and Nick Galm – are vying for three spots on the city council. Incumbent Mayor Rodney Ahrenstorff is running uncontested. Ballots in Everly and Royal are less exciting, with no contested rac...
Rodney Ahrenstorff, mayor 1. I am single and have lived here in Hartley all my life. I worked for USPS for 31 years and retired. I am a custodian at H-M-S schools, ambulance director and president of the Meadowbrook Golf Course board. 2. I am director of the Hartley Emergency Ambulance Response Team and was associated with the Hartley Community Center for 20 years and with Pete's Restaurant. I have been mayor for the last three years and four years previously. 3. I'm very community oriented. I...
Ron Thompson, mayor 1. I work for Bomgaars in Storm Lake. My wife of 39 years is Janice. I have three grown kids Nate, Kim and Ben Thompson. We have lived in Everly since 1989. 2. I spent 18 years on the Everly City Council from 2000 to 2017. I'm currently on the Zoning Board of Adjustments. 3. There was a need because nobody else was running for mayor. I felt like I was qualified due to past experience on the council and boards. 4. I think the city has been in really good hands with Brad...
Josh Toft, mayor 1. I was born and raised in Royal, am married to my wife Iesha Toft, have four children – Livon, Liam, Dorothy and Vera – and am owner/operator of our family-owned business, Toft Electric, alongside my brother and parents. 2. Prior to becoming mayor I was a Royal City Council member, served on the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Council as a stewardship chair and president, am the president of the Royal Visioning Board and am a REAP Congress representative. 3. I am running bec...
Chad Lyman, Director District 3 1. My wife, Rhonda, and I have two daughters, Morgan and Jayden. I'm a trailer mechanic at Van Hof Trucking in Sanborn. I enjoy golfing, bowling, going racing and Morningside football. 2. I've been a Firefighter for 24 years and served as Deacon at Sanborn First Reformed Church. 3. Keep improving education experience and keep buildings going in the right direction by not falling behind on maintenance. 4. We need to keep reinforcing education updates and updates...
Denny Dalen, Director District 2 1. My wife, Heather, and I have been married since 1997 and have lived in Everly since 2001. Our daughter, Grace, is a senior at H-M-S. I've been employed at AMPI since 2006. 2. I served with Everly Fire and Rescue for 10 years from 2001-2011. I'm currently finishing my first term on CC/E's school board. 3. My original goal when asked to run four years ago was to serve two terms if elected. 4. My main concerns are COVID-related challenges, and low enrollment...
Ellie Mayer knows how to get a crowd going. With a buzzing gymnasium packed full of excited classmates, the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn second grader received the most-viewed haircut of her young life last Friday. Her mother, Angie Mayer, meticulously chopped off six ponytails that will be donated to Wigs For Kids, which provides hairpieces for pediatric cancer patients undergoing treatment. Despite the big audience, Ellie wasn't nervous. "I kinda wanted a short haircut when I saw my mommy's short...
• Traffic Inestere Vilse, Riviera Beach, Fla., Speeding. Aden A. Ibrahim, Minneapolis, Minn., Speeding. Christina Ann Sergott, Harrisburg, S.D., Speeding. Cody James Wilson, Fonda, Speeding. Tammy Lynn Roche, Sheldon, Speeding. Joshua David Sybesma, Archer, Seatbelt Violation. Ethan Charles Huberg, Royal, Seatbelt Violation; No Valid Driver’s License. Peter A. Peterson, Omaha, Neb., Speeding. Eliseo Hernandez Pacheco, Ontario, Ore., Seatbelt Violation. Jeremy Ronald Sheriff, Sheldon, Speeding. Cassidy Laree Vlieger, Des Moines, Speeding. Cri...
An iconic building in Hartley might soon hit the dirt. The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board on Monday agreed to investigate the demolition of the former elementary building. The decision came following a recommendation by Superintendent Patrick Carlin, which was unanimously supported by the board. "At the current time, we have no interest from anyone regarding the old elementary building," Carlin said. "In the past year we've had two different people contact us for potential development, but...
Editor's note: The version of this story that ran in the printed edition of the Sentinel-News stated that Glen Hammerstrom, of Hartley, was also running a write-in campaign for the H-M-S Director District 2 seat. However, after the paper was printed, Hammerstrom informed the newspaper he had decided not to run. The online version of this article has been changed to reflect the development. A write-in candidate has announced her intention to seek the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Director District 2...
Nov. 2 won't be the only time O'Brien County voters hit the polls this fall. A special election has been called to fill a vacancy left by ex-District 1 Supervisor Sherri Bootsma, who resigned Oct. 13 due to an impending move. Local residents will hit the polls on Dec. 7 to determine her replacement. As per Iowa Code, the election was called last Friday by a special county committee comprised of Auditor Barb Rowher, Recorder Susan Smith and Treasurer Missy Hatterman. The group had the option to...
The City of Royal’s code of ordinances is nearing approval after the council accepted the final draft during its meeting on Oct. 13. The draft was finalized by Darren Bumgarner, a planner with Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission, based on input provided by council members and staff during a series of meetings. The code language was reviewed by the council prior to its session on Wednesday. The only items noted during discussion were a correction of a spelling error and a question as to whether weight limits on city streets s...
Developers of a proposed carbon pipeline that would traverse Iowa are eyeing the next step in the process. The final informational meeting for Summit Carbon Solutions' Midwest Carbon Express pipeline is set for Friday in Page County at the Shenandoah Public Library. Once it wraps, the company must wait at least 30 days before petitioning the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) for a permit to construct the pipeline. After a petition is filed, public evidentiary hearings will be held in each affected...
• Traffic Tanner J. Young, Hartley, No Proof of Insurance; Seatbelt Violation. Nikolas Michael Lee, Greenfield, Minn., Speeding. Randy Demont Cates, Cherokee, Speeding. Heath William Koerselman, Ashton, Seatbelt Violation. Travis G. Cadman, Burlington, Wis., Registration Violation. Nyden Thompson, Sutherland, Speeding. Tyler J. Spencer, Omaha, Neb., Speeding. Ian Jacob Fullinfaw, Omaha, Neb., Speeding. Heath D. Mews, Sutherland, Open Container. Juan Carlos De La Roca Sis, Sioux City, No Valid Driver’s License; Speeding. Riley Michael Dav...
Hartley businesses and residents will have to wait for a revamped highway lane layout through town. The Iowa Department of Transportation recently informed City Hall that a resurfacing project planned for Highway 18 this summer has been pushed to 2022. Once work starts, crews will mill the existing surface and overlay a thin layer back on top. The number of lanes will be reduced from four to three as well, resembling Highway 18's setup through Sanborn. "I don't know if [the DOT] got too busy...
Homecoming at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn was twice as nice last week. Not only did the volleyball team win its first match of the season with a 3-2 victory over Harris-Lake Park on Oct. 4, the football team clinched the Class A District 1 title with a 61-13 drubbing of Hinton on Friday night. It marked the first time since 1997 H-M-S hoisted an outright district crown. Big wins may be the main headlines from Homecoming week, but they weren't the only stories. A pep rally on Friday drew a big crowd...
Eastern O'Brien County is without a supervisor. District 1 Supervisor Sherri Bootsma on Tuesday resigned her position effective Oct. 13. She had served on the board for five years, but an impending move outside of the county forced her resignation. "Living in and serving O'Brien County has been something that I love. Working with our staff and residents has given me invaluable knowledge and I am grateful for the years I was entrusted with serving," she wrote in her letter of resignation. "While...
The ongoing push to get people vaccinated against COVID-19 has entered its third stage. Public health officials, pharmacies and doctors' offices have started administering third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. However, they come with stipulations, and not everyone is eligible. Clay County Public Health Director Colette Rossiter admitted the rules can be somewhat confusing regarding the third shot of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine such as Moderna or Pfizer. "It is recommended for some people...
A recent trip to Des Moines left Hartley officials feeling good about the city's chances at landing a big grant. A contingent comprised of Mayor Rodney Ahrenstorff, Council Member Mary Westphalen, pool committee member Jackie Stoltz, Grounded owner Deidre Welch, Superintendent of Public Works Jaron Benz and City Administrator Erica Haack headed south last week to present information to the Enhance Iowa Board/Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grant Committee about the city's pool project....
