01/28/21: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Competes for spot on youth pork leadership team

Eleven young women and men competed for three positions on the 2021 Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) Youth Leadership Team. The competition was held Jan. 25 and 26 in Des Moines.

Among the candidates was Paige Dagel, a 2020 graduate of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School. She is the daughter of Paul and Stacey Dagel, of Sanborn.

The Youth Leadership Team is designed for those who are passionate about the pork industry. Contestants were seniors in high school or college students. Candidates were judged on their knowledge about pork and pig production as shown in a speech presentation, personal interview, media interview, experience and a written test about the topics.

The female contestant with the highest score was automatically crowned Iowa Pork Queen, and received a $4,000 scholarship, plaque, crown and sash. Two other applicants were named Premier Pork Youth Ambassadors. They each received a $4,000 scholarship and plaque. All three will assist with state pork promotional and educational activities throughout 2021.

Named to fall 2020 Dean's List at BVU

Buena Vista University in Storm Lake announced that more than 500 students were named to the fall 2020 Dean's List. The list recognizes full-time students who achieved a 3.5 grade point average or higher for the semester.

Area students named to the list were Megan Babb and Windy Dagel, both of Sanborn.

ISU announces fall 2020 Dean's List

More than 11,000 Iowa State University students were recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the fall semester 2020 Dean's List. Students named to the Dean's List must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work.

Students from this area listed below.

Everly: Emily Marie Joenks, 2, Animal Science

Hartley: Joseph David Ahlers, 1, Civil Engineering; Bryce Randall Batien, 3, Animal Ecology; Cassandra Frick, 4, Animal Science; and Seth David Morphew, 2, History

Royal: Claire E. Christensen, 4, Animal Science; Kally Fahnlander, 1, Open Option (LAS); and Ryan James Van Westen, 4, Biology.

Hartley native featured at baseball roundtable

Total Baseball Development is hosting its first-ever winter events at the Iowa Great Lakes this Friday and Saturday.

Hartley native Meghan Flynn will be a featured speaker during the Hot Stove Baseball Round Table on Saturday at the Pearson Lakes Art Center – Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre in Okoboji. The session will feature a conversation with national and international baseball personalities.

Flynn, who holds a 2011 degree in Fine Arts from Iowa State University and a 2013 Master's Degree in Fine Arts from Washington State University, has an extensive collection of personally created pieces highlighted by "My Life and Baseball." As a lifelong collector of baseball cards, this portfolio was created in 2013 and is a hand painted collection of actual baseball card-sized pieces that includes a 1963 Sandy Koufax, a 1964 Roger Maris, and a 1965 Harmon Killebrew.

The event is free, but will be limited to the first 60 visitors who arrive. It will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Masks are encouraged.

Thunder Cupboard feeds student success at NCC

Food insecurity is becoming a very real problem for college students throughout the United States. The College & University Food Bank Alliance estimates that 30 percent of college students are food insecure and one in five are considered "hungry."

Food is as essential to learning as pencils or textbooks. Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon is making strides to ensure that students who are food insecure have resources to help them while pursuing their education.

The Thunder Cupboard is an initiative brought forth by a group of NCC employees who could see the importance of providing assistance to food insecure students. The concept is simple. Students in need can receive a bag of groceries consisting of six items: a box of cereal, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, a jar of pasta sauce, a box of noodles, and a tube of toothpaste or a bar of soap. Also in the bag is a flyer that lists many community resources, such as nearby food pantries or housing assistance programs. A $10 grocery gift card to get a loaf of bread, a pound of meat or a gallon of milk is also potentially added in the bag in extreme circumstances.

Other food has been generously donated by employees of the college to supplement the bags as available. The hope is the bag of groceries will help the student get through a few days, until he or she is able to access other community resources for assistance.

To assure confidentiality, the Thunder Cupboard is open by appointment only. Once a student requests assistance, someone from the team will discreetly connect with the student to find a time to provide the bag of groceries to the student.

NCC students may request assistance by emailing [email protected] or go to nwicc.edu/food-financial-assistance.

ILCC fall 2020 honors list

Iowa Lakes Community College has released the fall 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.

Fall 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.

Everly: Angela Campbell, Dean's List; Jorgan Rustad, President's List.

Royal: Brea Bendlin, President's List.

Tax credits available to Clay County residents

Clay County Treasurer LeAnn Black announced that the Iowa Property Credit Claim is now available to property owners.

Owners are eligible to file a claim for the property tax credit if total 2020 household income is less than $24,206 and one of the following applies: 65 years of age or older as of Dec. 31, 2020; or totally disabled and 18 years of age or older by Dec. 31, 2020.

Deadline to file the application for Reduced Iowa Property Tax Credit with the county treasurer's office is on or before June 1.

Mobile, manufactured or modular home owners may be eligible to claim a reduced tax rate on mobile home tax if their 2020 household income was less than $24,206 and the following applies: 23 years of age or older as of Dec. 31, 2020.

Applications for the Reduced Mobile Home Tax Rate must be filed with the county treasurer's office on or before June 1 in order to receive the reduced rate for both semi-annual tax payments.

NWI fishing report

Iowa Great Lakes are fully iced up with conditions ranging from 10-12 inches. Due to inconsistent freezing temperatures this month, many lakes may have irregular ice conditions as well as open holes. The use of full-sized vehicles is not recommended. DNR officials expected consistently cold temperatures over the past week to create safer ice conditions throughout the great lakes area.

Remember to bring a form of ice picks, a form of flotation, a friend, and be smart out on the ice.

Center Lake: Caution – winter aeration system is currently in use. Ice thickness is around 12.5 inches.

Dog Creek (Lake): Fishing has been fair to good.

East Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. Ice conditions vary across the lake with average of around 11 inches. Bluegill, good. Easily catch lots of bluegill; a lot of sorting may be needed with many 7.5- to 9-inch fish. Yellow perch, fair. Black crappie, fair.

Ingham Lake: Caution – winter aeration system is currently in use. Ice thickness is around 8 inches with two major open holes caused by geese and the lake aeration unit. Yellow perch, fair. Anglers are catching larger yellow perch, but with low frequency.

Lake Pahoja: Bluegill, fair. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms. Black crappie, fair. Try small jigs tipped with waxworms.

Lost Island Lake: Caution – winter aeration system is currently running on the northeast side near the nature center. Ice thickness is 10-13 inches. A good amount of fishing pressure has been seen recently. Yellow perch, good. Walleye, fair.

Minnewashta Lake: Bluegill, good. Lots of 4- to 6-inch fish are being caught. Black crappie, good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Caution – winter aeration system is currently in use. Ice conditions are around 10 inches, but can be variable. Use caution; a side-by-side went through the ice the last week of December. Walleye, fair.

Spirit Lake: The walleye season is open. Ice conditions vary across the lake with 10-13 inches. Yellow perch, fair. Perch fishing has been tough, but once you find them, many quality 9- to 10.5-inchers have been caught. Walleye, fair. Walleye bite has been tough, but anglers have been able to limit out.

Trumbull Lake: Ice thickness is around 11 inches with an open hole on the north end caused by geese.

West Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. Ice thickness varies from 9-11.5 inches. Caution – a handful of small holes have been opening up lately across the lake. Panfishing has been spotty in many of the bays where many anglers have been able to sight fish in around 10 feet of water along weed lines. Yellow perch, fair. Bluegill, good.