03/25/21: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

H-M-S senior named to academic all-state team

Bennett Haack, a senior at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School, is one of 25 students from across Iowa who were named to the 2021 Iowa Basketball Coaches Association boys' academic all-state team. He is the son of Ryan and Erica Haack, of Sanborn.

The team was selected by an IBCA panel from more than 83 applicants. Members of the team carry the following averages: an ACT composite of 28.7; a scoring average of 14.9 and a grade point average of 4.0. In addition, eight are either No. 1 or 2 in their respective senior classes.

Area seniors included on the all-state team include Trey Engelmann and Cade Rohwer, of Alta-Aurelia; Lex Kassel, of Emmetsburg; and Cade Pepper, of MMCRU.

NCC students inducted into Phi Theta Kappa

Six students were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society of the two-year college. NCC's chapter is called Beta Lambda Pi.

Students were invited to be a part of Phi Theta Kappa based on eligibility requirements that center on having a 3.5 grade point average. New PTK members at NCC are: Breckin Bomgaars, Orange City; Kallie Chapa, Little Rock; Selina Chavez, Ocheyedan; Erika Clubs, Harris; Emma Cosgrove; Sibley; and Marnix Hofman, Sioux Center.

Returning PTK members are: Benjamin Chrisman and Brandi Fuerstenberg, Sheldon; Lindsey Cundiff, Pocahontas; Addison Lincoln, Fort Dodge; Mercedes Rahm, Algona; and Chad Salaets, Hartley.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is the largest honor society in higher education with 1,285 chapters on college campuses in the United States and several foreign countries.

Service learning projects that NCC's chapter has completed in previous years include book, food, toy, hat and mitten drives; collection of personal care items for the Family Crisis Center; and campus clean-up.

April 15 grant application is approaching

The deadline for submitting an application to the O'Brien County Community Foundation for this year's grant cycle is Thursday, April 15. Applications are available online at http://www.siouxlandcommunityfoundation.org under the affiliates tab.

Since the first grants were made in 2006, over $1.3 million has been awarded to nonprofit organizations to help support present and emerging needs in O'Brien County in the areas of arts and culture, community betterment/beautification, education, environment, health, and human services.

Those eligible to apply include nonprofit organizations and units of local government that serve O'Brien County and are tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Non 501(c)(3) groups such as service clubs and organizations may apply as long as the group has partnered with an eligible 501(c)(3) organization that has agreed to serve as a fiscal sponsor to receive the grant if awarded.

Questions about the grant program or online application process may be directed to Charlene Elyea, OBCCF Advisory Board chair, at (712) 363-8173, or Katie Roberts at (712) 293-3303.

Logan Rozeboom on dean's list

Logan Rozeboom, of Hartley, has been named to the fall 2020 trimester dean's list at the Palmer College of Chiropractic main campus in Davenport.

Palmer College of Chiropractic, the largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, San Jose, Calif. and Port Orange, Fla.

NWI fishing report

The walleye season is closed on Spirit, East Okoboji and West Okoboji lakes. Ice fishing is not recommended. Most of the area ice has deteriorated significantly with total ice-out expected in the next week or so. The extended forecast calls for continued warm temperatures with highs in the 40's and 50's.

Center Lake: Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.

East Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.

Ingham Lake: Ice conditions have deteriorated; unsafe ice conditions.

Lost Island Lake: Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.

Minnewashta Lake: Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.

Spirit Lake: The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions. Yellow perch, fair.

West Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions have deteriorated significantly; unsafe ice conditions.

Harsh winter conditions being felt on some Iowa lakes

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has received numerous reports of dead fish in lakes and ponds across Iowa as the ice cover disappears for another year.

Winter fish kills are common on Iowa shallow lakes during long winters with lots of snow cover. When lakes freeze early and receive a blanket of snow, it effectively shuts off the sunlight from reaching aquatic plants, which stops photosynthesis and the flow of oxygen into the water. The longer the ice and snow cover the lake, the less oxygen is in the water and available to the fish.

Signs of winter kills are visible shortly after ice-out when fish that died during the winter float and are blown to shore. In certain lakes, like Rathbun, Black Hawk, Storm and Coralville, these dead fish are often a source of food for channel catfish that will go on a feeding spree. Many anglers see this as an early season fishing opportunity for trophy-sized channel catfish.

"Winter kills are rarely complete kills. We get a lot of calls from farm pond owners who think they lost all of their fish in their pond to winter kill," said Joe Larscheid, chief of the fisheries bureau for the Iowa DNR, in a news release. "Our advice to them is to fish the pond in the spring, note the species, number and size of what you catch and talk to their local fisheries biologist about the health of the pond."

Natural lakes winterkill from time to time and are part of the natural cycle. Fisheries staff are watching lakes and ponds with low oxygen levels that are at risk of having a winter fish kill. Many Iowa lakes and ponds are still under ice, so additional smaller, shallow ponds and lakes might have winter kills after the ice disappears.

While Mother Nature may be responsible for many fish kills discovered after ice-out, the Iowa DNR would like to make sure some other factor is not to blame.

"If in doubt, give your local fisheries biologist a call so we can discuss your situation," Larscheid said.

Find contact information for your local fisheries biologist on the Iowa DNR website.

Invasive zebra mussels confirmed in aquarium product

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that a popular aquarium product sold at some aquarium supply stores and pet stores in Iowa may contain zebra mussels, a highly invasive species that can cause severe damage to the food chain and infrastructure if released in lakes and rivers.

The affected products are moss (Marimo) balls, which are commonly sold in pet stores to help absorb harmful nutrients in the water and limit the growth of undesirable algae in home aquariums. Moss balls recently distributed nationwide were contaminated with zebra mussels. A container of Marimo balls sold as "Betta Buddy" was first found to be contaminated with an adult zebra mussel at a Petco store in Washington state on March 3. Since then, contaminated Marimo balls have been found in pet and aquarium stores in several states. Pet stores across the nation, including Iowa, have removed the product from their shelves.

Aquarium owners are urged not to purchase this product from stores or online. If you have bought this item in the last month, dispose of it properly and sanitize your tank(s) to prevent the spread of zebra mussels from aquariums.

Nominate conservation leaders in your community

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon invite Iowans to nominate individuals or families in their communities for the 2021 Farm Environmental Leader Award. Nominations will be accepted until Monday, May 3, 2021, to be considered for the 2021 awards ceremony held at the Iowa State Fair.

Farmers and landowners who invest in conservation practices, like cover crops or wetlands, and incorporate best management practices into their operations to improve and protect the state’s natural resources are eligible for the award. They must also actively serve as leaders in the agriculture community.

An appointed committee representing both conservation and agricultural groups will review the nominations and select the winners. The recipients will be recognized on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the Iowa State Fair. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Secretary Mike Naig and DNR Director Kayla Lyon will present the winners with an Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award and a yard sign donated by Bayer.

Since the creation of the award in 2012, more than 650 farm families have been recognized. The nomination form and a list of previous awardees can be found at iowaagriculture.gov/farm-environmental-leader-awards.