11/12/20: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Correction

The letter to the editor included in last week's paper submitted by Kathy Wacker erroneously stated Arthur Kirchhoff American Legion Post 288, the American Legion of Hartley sponsors the annual Veterans Day breakfasts in Hartley. The actual sponsor is Arthur Kirchhoff Unit No. 288, the American Legion Auxiliary of Hartley.

The error was the newspaper's fault and not the author's. The Sentinel-News regrets the error.

Subsoil moisture levels raise concerns for 2021 crop production

Iowa State University has completed their fall survey of subsoil moisture in northwest Iowa. The amount of subsoil moisture is sampled each fall in six northwest Iowa counties.

According to Paul Kassel, Extension and Outreach field agronomist, the amount of subsoil moisture at sites in Emmet, Dickinson, Clay, Buena Vista, Pocahontas and Sac counties is well below average, ranging from 1.8 inches to 3.4 inches of plant available moisture.

Rainfall from mid-August to early November was from 3 to 5 inches across the area, which was about 4 inches below normal. The water used by corn and soybean crops grown in 2020 and dry fall conditions explain the lack of subsoil moisture.

"The concern now will be to recharge the subsoil moisture for 2021 crop production," Kassel said. "However, these low levels of fall subsoil moisture and a dry spring and early summer would compromise crop yield potential for 2021."

Rainfall during November, March and April will also contribute to subsoil moisture. Typical rainfall for those months is 4.9 to 5.7 inches, and about 80 percent of that rainfall would contribute to subsoil moisture reserves.

Practical Nursing programs at NCC ranked No. 11 in Midwest

The Practical Nursing programs at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon were recently ranked the No. 11 Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) programs in the Midwest, according to NursingProcess.org.

According to their website, NursingProcess.org looked into 660 nursing schools in the region and ranked them based on four important factors: NCLEX-PN pass rates (60 percent), academic quality (20 percent), the nursing school's reputation (10 percent) and affordability (10 percent).

According to Kim Karhoff, Director of Nursing Programs at NCC, the Practical Nursing program prepares students to provide comprehensive care for clients' physical and psychosocial needs. Nursing courses provide basic knowledge and skills in the medical-surgical, geriatric, maternity, pediatric and mental health nursing areas. Courses also focus on care giving, communication, teaching, professional and managerial roles. Local health facilities provide the opportunity to participate in supervised clinical/preceptor experience.

The Practical Nursing program has two delivery options. Practical Nursing is a two semester program with a fall semester entry. The Practical Nursing-Extended program is three semesters with no summer term and is a spring semester entry.

Many students continue their education to earn their Registered Nurse degree at NCC through the Associate Degree Nursing program. After earning an RN degree, NCC has many articulation agreements with four-year regents and private colleges and universities to transfer their credits in order to complete the RN to Bachelor of Science Nursing degree.

Iowa's trapping season underway

Iowa trappers can expect to find good numbers of furbearers available statewide now that the season is underway.

"Our coyote numbers remain strong with a stable to slightly decreasing population," said Vince Evelsizer, furbearer biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, in a news release.

Iowa's red fox numbers didn't show much movement in the annual survey, but Evelsizer's been getting a number of reports of increased local populations.

"Our raccoon population is high and I would encourage our furharvesters to take them even though their fur price is forecasted to be low," he said.

The river otter population has trended upward in Iowa and that has translated to the quota for river otters increasing to three per licensed furharvester this year.

Iowa's bobcat population continues to increase and expand, opening Boone and Webster counties this year to bobcat harvest. The harvest is divided into three zones – a three-bobcat bag limit zone (southern Iowa), a one-bobcat bag limit zone that Boone County and Webster County are now in, and a zone closed to bobcat harvest. Only one bobcat may come from the one-bobcat zone regardless of the county in that zone it was taken from, the remaining cats must come from the three cat zone. No more than three bobcats total can be legally harvested by a furharvester this season.

Furharvesters are reminded of the requirement to contact a conservation officer within 24 hours of taking an otter or bobcat to receive a CITES tag. This is a change from the previous seven-day requirement. The CITES tag must remain with the animal until it is processed or sold. The DNR will not be collecting bobcat and otter skulls and lower jaws this year for tooth aging purposes.

He said while Iowa's muskrat population varies by region, their overall numbers are down this year following a trend that started in the early 1990s.

Overall, the wild fur market is weak again this year, which is similar to the last few years, but regardless of fur prices, Evelsizer encouraged trappers to take a beginner along to share the experience.

6 local organizations land grants

The Clay County Convention and Visitor's Bureau (CCCVB) Committee recently awarded six grants to area organizations for their Fall 2020 Tourism grant. The grantees are as follows:

• Clay County Fair and Events Center received $5,000 for their "Un-Fair" Events program.

• Arts on Grand and Clay County Heritage received $5,000 for Festival of Trees advertising.

• The Clay County Pheasants Forever received $750 for their November Ladies Hunt.

• The Black Knights Car Club was awarded $2,000 for their 12th Annual Airport Drags.

• The Northwest IA Soccer Club was awarded $1,500 for the Galaxy Cup.

• The Denver in September event received $1,000.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an award ceremony was not held for this grant cycle, but grantees met with CCCVB members for a photo opportunity.

The grant cycle for the CCCVB Tourism grants changes in 2021, and the next round of applications are due on April 1, 2021. The Special Project Grant will also be due on April 1, 2021. For more information on the Tourism and Special Project Grant, please visit the CCCVB website at http://www.exploreclaycounty.org and click the "Grants" tab.

Enrollment open for popular Iowa Habitat and Access Program

The popular Iowa Habitat and Access Program (IHAP) is accepting applications from landowners interested in receiving technical assistance and financial incentives in exchange for allowing hunters to access the improved area.

Interested landowners should contact their local private lands staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, who will come to the property to walk the site with the landowner and help write a habitat plan. A map of private lands staff is available online at https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/DNR-Staff-Offices then scroll down to the Private Lands Staff PDF.

Land enrolled in IHAP allows public hunting access but remains under private ownership. Hunters may access the improved area from Sept. 1-May 31. The Iowa DNR's conservation officers provide assistance and enforcement if needed. Trapping is not allowed on IHAP areas.

"The program benefits landowners, wildlife and provides additional hunting opportunities, which are all priorities of the DNR and important to our landowners and our hunters," said Brian Hickman, coordinator for the Iowa DNR's private lands program, in a news release.

IHAP began a decade ago as a way to provide hunter access to private land while creating quality habitat. Feedback provided by landowners in the program found more than 95 percent are satisfied with the program and 92 percent would recommend it to others.

"Landowners have seen a great benefit to having a biologist at their disposal providing them technical assistance as they establish habitat as well as navigating Federal and State conservation program rules and requirements," Hickman said.

Hunters are also happy with 99 percent stating they would hunt IHAP again and demonstrate that support by traveling to specifically hunt these areas. And each time they travel to hunt, they spend an average of $71 on the trip, often in nearby communities.

The program is partially funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program.

Water Summary Update: Water Year 2020 ends on a dry note

Iowa's statewide precipitation was 3.76 inches below normal for the 2020 Water Year, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

The 2020 Water Year, running from Oct. 1, 2019- Sept. 30, 2020, ended with a total of 31.51 inches of precipitation in Iowa. This period of time is used by hydrologists since Oct. 1 marks the end of the growing season, and precipitation after that date becomes a source of runoff into streams for the next calendar year. Temperatures in this time averaged 48.6 degrees, which is 0.5 degrees above normal for Iowa.

A majority of Iowa received below normal precipitation over the 2020 Water Year, with only northeastern Iowa receiving above-average totals of 3-9 inches. For the remaining portions of the state, precipitation deficits dominated, especially in western Iowa, where totals were between 10 to 18 inches below normal.

"Conditions continue to become drier as we move into the fall months," said Tim Hall, DNR's coordinator of hydrology resources, in a news release. "This causes some concern as we see decreases in average rainfall from October into November. Replenishing soil moisture and groundwater becomes more challenging as we move toward the winter months."

The current drought monitor map, which reflects conditions as of Oct. 6, shows a return of extreme drought conditions. About 5 percent of the state is rated in extreme drought, while conditions have been moved from moderate drought into severe drought in other parts of northwest and western Iowa. Overall, the area of Iowa covered by some form of dryness or drought has not changed in the last month.

Temperatures were generally cooler across Iowa during September, with a statewide average temperature of 61.9 degrees, 1.3 degrees below normal. Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) reported the month's high temperature of 96 degrees on Sept. 6, 18 degrees above normal. Mason City Municipal Airport (Cerro Gordo County) reported the month's low temperature of 35 degrees on Sept. 18, 12 degrees below normal.

After the third-driest August on record, widespread rainfall returned to Iowa during September. The statewide average precipitation totaled 4.06 inches, or 0.68 inches more than the 30-year average. Much of the eastern two-thirds of Iowa reported above average precipitation totals with the highest amounts occurring in eastern Iowa; 4 to 6 inches of above average rainfall were recorded across more than 10 counties. On the other side of the state, precipitation deficits from 1 to 2 inches were found. Northwest Iowa observed the driest conditions of two or more inches below normal.

NWI fishing report

Iowa Great Lake water temperatures were around 43 degrees or lower last week with a few areas icing over at night. Many of the area hosts and docks have been pulled from the lakes to prepare for ice-up. The area walleye bite has started to pick up in many areas where you can wade in off shore. The yellow perch bite has began to pick up in many area lakes.

East Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature was 43 degrees last week. Many of the hoists and docks are pulled out for the season. Bluegill, good. Find schools in deeper water. Black crappie, fair. Yellow perch, good. Yellow bass, good.

Lake Pahoja: Bluegill, good. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms. Black crappie, good. Try small jigs tipped with waxworms. Largemouth bass, good. Use rubber worms or other slow-moving jigs.

Lost Island Lake: Yellow perch, good. Anglers are catching 9- to 10-inch perch in 10 feet of water. Walleye, fair.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye, fair.

Spirit Lake: The walleye season is open; the bite should pick up as water temperatures continue to fall. The water temperature was 37 degrees last week. Many of the hoists and docks are pulled out for the season.

Bluegill, good. Schools are starting to move deeper off shore. Walleye, fair. A fairly good bite lately can also be seen from shore. Try bottom bouncers or crankbaits to cover more water. Black bullhead, fair. Anglers have been successful at the north grade. Yellow perch, good. The bite has really picked up; fish are starting to be found closer to shore from accessible areas such as docks. Other areas to try are small humps in the main basin or weed edges.

West Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature was 43 degrees last week. Many of the hoists and docks are pulled out for the season.

Bluegill, good. Schools are deeper off shore. Try fishing in 20-30 feet of water off most points. Anglers have had success using pilkies. Smallmouth bass, fair. Find smallmouth bass on rock piles or on the points. Largemouth bass, fair. Find largemouth bass on the weed lines. Yellow perch, fair. Schools have started to move deeper off shore. Yellow bass, good. Easily find yellow bass while fishing for bluegill.

Help available for small businesses and non-profits

Gov. Kim Reynolds has allocated federal CARES Act funds to assist small businesses and nonprofits economically impacted by COVID-19.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority's Small Business Utility Disruption Prevention Program will provide short-term funds to eligible small businesses and nonprofits that face significant hardship in the payment of utility bills for service provided during the months of disruption to their business. Visit iowaeda.com/covid-funding-programs/utility/ for more information and an application.