Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Food pantry at Hope Lutheran

The food pantry at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly is still open. Temporary hours are Mondays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and Wednesdays, 1-5 p.m. Please knock on the church door and food will be brought out to you.

McCarty shower is June 13

A drive-by bridal shower for Katrina McCarty will be held Saturday, June 13 from 9-10:30 a.m., at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal.

Curbside treats will be available. McCarty and her fiance, Austin Bostwick, are registered at Target, Menards and Amazon.

Kelsey Holtz graduates from BVU

Kelsey Holtz, of Everly, graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake during the spring of 2020.

BVU’s 129th commencement celebration, originally scheduled for May 23, has been rescheduled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Graduates will be honored at BVU’s virtual commencement ceremony on June 20, as well as in-person on Oct. 11, the Sunday of the 2020 Homecoming celebration.

Undergraduate students who graduated with honors completed a minimum of 60 credit hours from BVU and maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 for Cum Laude, 3.7 for Magna Cum Laude, and 3.9 for Summa Cum Laude.

ILCC spring 2020 honors list released

Iowa Lakes Community College recently released the spring honors list of full-time students (12 credits or more) who have demonstrated academic excellence by earning a grade point average of 3.25 (based on a 4.00) or higher.

Spring semester students who have achieved a 3.25 grade point average or better are recognized by inclusion on the dean’s list. Those with a 4.00 (A) average are on the President’s List and indicated with an asterisk.

Everly: Emily Joenks*, Dustin Miller, Kristine Reid*, Zachary Schoelerman* and Clarissa Seversen.

Royal: Brea Bendlin*.

Hartley blood drive June 24

LifeServe Blood Center will conduct a blood drive in Hartley on Wednesday, June 24. Donors can give blood from 12:30-5:30 p.m. at the Hartley Community Center.

No walk-ins are allowed due to COVID-19. Schedule an appointment by texting LifeServe to 999-777, calling (800) 287-4903 or visiting lifeservebloodcenter.org.

Madison Rouse named to USF dean’s list

Madison Rouse, of Sanborn, was named to the University of Sioux Falls’ spring 2020 dean’s list. Rouse is majoring in Radiologic Technology (AA).

A 2019 graduate of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School, Rouse was among more than 600 students named to the spring dean’s list. To qualify, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale.

Named to BVU’s spring dean’s list

Over 500 students at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake were named to the spring 2020 dean’s list. Area students who made the list are Maggie Albert and Erin Streit, of Hartley; and Jayde Bastman of Greenville.

The dean’s list recognizes full-time students achieving a 3.5 grade point average or higher for the semester.

Gospel music festival June 19-20

The 25th Annual Hope Haven Gospel Music Festival will be held on June 19 and 20, at the Central Park along Highway 75 in Sioux Center. The festival will start at 1 p.m. on Friday and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. There will be continuous gospel music each day until 9:30 p.m.

Approximately 20 gospel groups from five states are scheduled to sing. Freewill offerings for Hope Haven will be taken both days. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy two days of great gospel music. Please practice social distancing and maintain six feet of distance from others.

In case of rain, the festival will be held at the Recreation Center on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center.

Food distribution June 17 at Trinity UCC

The Food Bank of Iowa’s mobile pantry program will be conducted on Wednesday, June 17 from 4-6 p.m., at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. The program is available free of charge and geared toward individuals who are in need of food assistance.

Participants are asked to stay in their vehicles and line up on the east side of the parking lot. The food will be brought to you as you drive under the canopy.

Morningside announces 2019-20 Roadman Scholars

Morningside College has named 233 students as Roadman Scholars in recognition of high academic distinction for the 2019-20 academic year.

Roadman Scholars must be full-time students who have completed at least 45 credits of college work with a cumulative grade point average of 3.76 or above. The award is named in honor of Earl Roadman, who was president of Morningside College from 1936 to 1956.

Local students named Roadman Scholars include Thomas R. Heetland and Kenna N. Rieck, both of Hartley.

Morningside announces 2019-20 Dimmitt Scholars

Morningside College has named 164 students as Dimmitt Scholars in recognition of high academic distinction for the 2019-20 academic year.

Dimmitt Scholars must be full-time students who have completed at least 45 credits of college work with a cumulative grade point average between 3.50 and 3.75. The award is named in honor of the late Lillian Dimmitt, who served as a teacher and administrator at Morningside College for more than 60 years.

Local students named Dimmitt Scholars included Trever Dodd, of Hartley

Outdoor program will focus on size of solar system

The next event in the weekly series of guided/self-guided experiences hosted by the O’Brien County Conservation Board will be held at the Prairie Heritage Center on Thursday, June 18, from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

“How Big? How Far?” will focus on the size and distance of the planets in the solar system. Be prepared for a bit of a walk as your group will travel from the sun to Pluto and back again.

Meet the naturalist in the Prairie Heritage Center parking lot at any point between these hours. The naturalist will welcome you and your group to give you an introduction and instructions. Your group must not include more than 10 participants. Take-home materials will be provided, and stations will be marked along a path for your enjoyment. If at any point your group encounters another, please announce your presence and allow a safe passing distance.

The naturalist looks forward to helping you enjoy and explore the outdoors. Families are encouraged to attend together. Look forward to more of these types of programs this summer. Call the Prairie Heritage Center at (712) 295-7200 for more information.

Hot weather, good fishing

The water temperatures at the Iowa Great Lakes are warming up quickly and are currently around 70 degrees. The bite has been picking up with warmer water temperatures. This week’s extended forecast is temperatures ranging from the upper 70’s to mid-90’s. The panfish bite has taken off throughout the chain of lakes; they are bedding in the shallows along the shoreline.

East Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature is 70 degrees. There is a great panfish bite along the shorelines in the shallows; many fish are bedding, allowing for easy shore and dock fishing. Bluegill, excellent. Large schools are moving into the shallows to bed and can easily be caught around hoists and docks. Black crappie, fair. Yellow perch, fair.

Lost Island Lake: The Palo Alto County Conservation Board is hosting a Virtual Kid’s Fishing Derby for ages 15 and under, June 5-15. Go to their Facebook page for details. Yellow perch, fair. Walleye, fair.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye, good.

Spirit Lake: The water temperature is 70 degrees. Walleye and panfish bite has been great. Bluegill, good. Large schools have been found gathering around hoists and docks. Walleye, good: Evenings have had fairly good bites; daytime bite is picking up. Black bullhead, fair. Anglers have been successful at the north grade.

West Okoboji Lake: The water temperature is 70 degrees. A good spring bass bite has been observed in canal areas, as well a good panfish bite in various harbors and around docks and hoists.