Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

08/20/20: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Community Calendar dates due Sept. 1

The Community Calendar for the communities of Hartley, Melvin and May City will be distributed again this year. Clubs and organizations wishing to list their meeting dates are asked to bring or send them to The Sentinel- News office.

H-M-S school activities will also be listed. There is no charge to have meeting dates listed on the calendar. Dates should be submitted no later than Tuesday, Sept. 1.

When the calendars are printed, they will be available as a courtesy of the sponsors.

1 more COVID-19 death in O’Brien County

The total number of deaths associated with COVID-19 in O’Brien County increased from five to six on Tuesday.

Clay County remained unchanged with one death. Overall, O’Brien County has had 150 total confirmed coronavirus cases since March and 120 recoveries, while Clay County has had 218 cases and 161 recoveries.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Prairie View Campus in Sanborn continues. According to the state’s coronavirus update page, the facility has had 20 confirmed cases and 12 recoveries.

Named to summer honor list at NCC

Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon has announced the Honor List for the summer semester. Students included on the list are full-time and have achieved an average grade point of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Several area students were named to the list.

• Everly: Jenny Hollesen, Radiologic Technology; Lucas Sindt, Automotive & Light Duty Diesel Technology.

• Hartley: Brittany Brink, Radiologic Technology; Kourtney Schnurr, Associate Degree Nursing.

• Melvin: Ashilyn Hulstein, Associate of Arts.

• Sanborn: Paige Dagel, Associate of Arts; Jayden Lyman, Associate of Arts; Nancy Masita, Practical Nursing.

NCC students awarded scholarships

Area students attending Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon were awarded scholarships by the college’s foundation.

• Vogel Paint Scholarship: Ivan Abonce, Sanborn; and Jackson Swanson, Hartley. Both are Industrial & Commercial Wiring students. The $500 scholarship is awarded based on recipients’ academic achievement and potential for success.

• Den Hartog Industries Scholarship: Jackson Swanson, Hartley, Industrial & Commercial Wiring. The $500 scholarship is awarded to help company employees and/or dependents with their educational pursuits.

• Dave Imhoff Automotive Scholarship: Lucas Sindt, Everly, Automotive & Light Duty Diesel. Sindt was selected due to his academic achievement, demonstration of good work habits and leadership qualities, and his potential for success.

• Marcia Tracy Memorial Nursing Scholarship: Nelson Momanyi, Sanborn, Associate Degree Nursing. The $500 scholarship recognizes individuals who have a sincere passion for the nursing profession and have the potential to become an exceptional nurse.

• Alpha Evenson Memorial Nursing Scholarship: Obaga James, Hartley; and Nelson Momanyi, Sanborn. The $2,500 scholarship is awarded to students pursing an Associate Degree in Nursing and who have first successfully completed the Practical Nursing program, and display future potential in the nursing profession.

Schoelermans exhibit top breeding sheep

Two Everly exhibitors earned champion honors during the FFA Breeding Sheep Show at the 2020 Fair Special Edition: Iowa 4-H and FFA Livestock Show, on Friday, Aug. 7.

Ty Schoelerman, a member of the Spencer FFA Chapter, exhibited the Champion and Reserve Champion Suffolk Ram; the Reserve Champion Suffolk Ewe; and the Reserve Champion Supreme Suffolk Individual.

Adalyn Schoelerman, also representing Spencer FFA, exhibited the Champion and Reserve Champion Other Wool Breeds Ram, and the Champion and Reserve Champion Other Wool Breeds Ewe.

In the FFA market sheep show on Saturday, Aug. 8, Ty Schoelerman exhibited the Reserve Champion White Face Market Wether.

Water Summary Update: Extreme drought appears in Iowa

For the first time in almost two years, an area of extreme drought exists in Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Current conditions show nearly 80 percent of Iowa with some level of drought. The area of extreme drought covers about 6 percent of the state, centered over Audubon, Carroll, Greene and Guthrie counties.

“Conditions continue to deteriorate over west central Iowa, with July being another dry month. Anytime extreme drought shows up in the state, it gets our attention,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources, in a news release. “So far, average streamflow conditions statewide remain near normal, but some areas are beginning to show low stream flows and stressed groundwater supplies.”

Statewide precipitation averaged 2.87 inches in July, or 1.63 inches less than the 30-year climatological average. This puts July 2020 as the 41st driest July in 148 years of statewide records.

Iowa experienced warmer than normal conditions statewide during July with an average temperature of 75.3 degrees, 1.7 degrees above normal. This ties July 2020 with 1911 and 2001 as the 47th warmest July on record. Little Sioux in Harrison County reported the month’s high temperature of 98 degrees on July 18, 12 degrees above normal. Mason City Municipal Airport reported the month’s low temperature of 44 degrees on July 16, 17 degrees below normal.

Streamflow is average on a statewide basis, but there are several areas that are showing below normal flow. Shallow groundwater conditions are deteriorating in several areas of Iowa as well.