Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Blood drive is April 21
LifeServe Blood Center will be conducting a blood drive in Hartley on Wednesday, April 21, from 12:30-5:30 p.m. at the Hartley Community Center, 820 2nd Street NE. New donors are especially needed.
All donors are asked to bring a valid form of identification and masks will be required. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided.
Appointments are required. To schedule your donation appointment, text LIFESERVE to 999-777, call (800) 287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org. You can also fill out your donor history questionnaire the day of your appointment by going to lifeservebloodcenter.org/quickpass.
2 pancake feeds
If you’re hankering for some pancakes this weekend, you’re in luck.
Two separate pancake breakfasts are planned in May City and Everly this Sunday, April 18. See the ads inside for complete details.
H-M-S play is this Friday and Saturday
The public is invited to attend H-M-S drama department’s performances of The Internet Is Distract–Oh Look a Kitten! on Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17. Both performaces will start at 7 p.m., inside the H-M-S Middle School gym in Hartley (old elementary building).
Tickets are $5 per person, and masks are optional.
Grace Fellowship youth sandwich sale
The Grace Fellowship youth group is once again selling sandwiches this year. Orders are due by April 21.
See the ad on Page 5 for more details.
CC/E menus
Monday, April 19: Breakfast – Cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice; Lunch – Vegetable beef soup, baby carrots, dinner roll, strawberry cup.
Tuesday, April 20: Breakfast – Egg biscuit, cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice; Lunch – Mr. Rib on bun, French fries, baked beans, peaches.
Wednesday, April 21: Breakfast – Pancake, cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice; Lunch – Chicken patty, waffle, carrots, pineapple.
Thursday, April 22: Breakfast – French toast sticks, cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice; Lunch – Tater tot casserole, green beans, dinner roll, banana.
Friday, April 23: Breakfast – Breakfast stick, cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice; Lunch – Pizza crunchers, broccoli, tossed salad, applesauce.
Milk is served with each meal.
Drive-thru events to honor victims of crime
Seasons Center for Behavioral Health in Spencer is hosting two drive-thru story events called “Driven by Hope” to educate area communities and honor victims of crime during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
At each event, participants will drive through the event to experience stories and statistics from many different types of crime, light a candle in honor of victims to show support and receive a resource bag. Events have proper COVID restrictions and measures in place.
Every April, the Office for Victims of Crime leads communities throughout the country in annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. The 40th anniversary of the special week will be observed April 18-24.
“At this event, we will showcase the resiliency of victims through impactful victim stories and honor their strength through a candle lighting and messages of hope at the end. We hope individuals and families of all ages will come to take part and receive resources,” said Christina Eggink-Postma, Vice President of Program Coordination and Compliance, in a news release.
On Thursday, April 22, a Driven by Hope event will take place at Hope Church, 919 Grand Avenue in Spencer, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
On Friday, April 23, the Driven by Hope event will take place at the Sioux Center Library, 102 S. Main Avenue in Sioux Center, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
No registration is required and this event is free and open to the public. To learn more, please contact Taylor Prather at [email protected].
Free Money Smart series begins May 5
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host “Money Smart: Prioritizing Bills, Managing Debt and Improving Credit” virtually on Wednesdays, May 5, 12 and 19, from noon-1 p.m. Participation in any of the three sessions is free and open to the public.
The “Money Smart” workshop series helps individuals grow their financial knowledge with research-based information and enables them to explore strategies for making wise choices when money is short, income has dropped, or unexpected expenses happen.
According to Carol Ehlers, Extension human sciences specialist in family finance, the “Money Smart: Prioritizing Bills, Managing Debt and Improving Credit” series provides tools to help manage money effectively, make better financial decisions and live according to your priorities. Participants will improve their financial wellbeing by developing an emergency spending plan, creating a prioritized bill paying strategy based on future consequences, learning strategies to manage debt, and developing skills to improve their own credit score.
The topics will be presented in one-hour online Zoom sessions. Ehlers said the “Money Smart” tools and ideas will help participants take control of their financial situation.
Sessions are free to participate in, but pre-registration is required online at http://bit.ly/smart17694. Once an individual has registered, they will receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link and class information.
Questions can be directed to Mary Weinand at [email protected], Ehlers at [email protected], or Jeannette Mukayisire at [email protected].
Blood drive April 23 at Southpark Mall in Spencer
LifeServe Blood Center is conducting a blood drive at Southpark Mall, 901 11th Street SW in Spencer, on Friday, April 23, from 12:30 p.m.-6 p.m.
Appointments are required. Donors who do not have an appointment will not be able to give blood. Donors should pre-screen themselves for fever prior to appointments and must wear a mask for the duration of their appointment. Those who do not have masks will be provided with one.
Schedule a donation appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903.
Expanded hours at Royal library
The Royal Public Library has expanded its hours. New hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 3-5 p.m .; and Tuesday and Saturday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Due to COVID-19, the library will remain locked. Please call (712) 933-5500 or knock at the door during open hours. Social distancing practices remain and masks are required.
Food pantry hours at Hope Lutheran
Current hours for the food pantry at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly are Mondays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and Wednesdays, 1-5 p.m. Please knock on the church door and food will be brought out to you.
Al Anon meetings in Royal, Spencer, Sheldon
Al Anon meetings are held at the following locations each week:
Wednesday, 8 p.m., 511 Southmoor, Spencer; Thursday, 8 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Royal; Sunday, 7 p.m., Sanford Medical Center, 118 N 7th Ave., Sheldon.
All are welcome to attend.
H-M-S menus
Monday, April 19: Breakfast – Cereal, pop tarts (9-12), fruit, juice; Lunch – Popcorn chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, peaches, roll (9-12).
Tuesday, April 20: Breakfast – Apple frudel, fruit, juice; Lunch – Maid-rites/bun, fries, green beans, pears.
Wednesday, April 21: Breakfast – Breakfast pizza, fruit, juice; Lunch – Nachos, lettuce, diced tomatoes, grapes, bread (9-12).
Thursday, April 22: Breakfast – Pancake/sausage bites, fruit, juice; Lunch – Chicken alfredo, garlic toast, broccoli/cauliflower, red peppers (9-12), mixed fruit.
Friday, April 23: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice; Lunch – Barbecue pork/bun, chips, baked beans, baby carrots, oranges.
Milk served with each meal. Fruit/veggie bar served with lunch.
Food distribution April 21 at Trinity UCC
The Food Bank of Iowa’s mobile pantry program will be conducted on Wednesday, April 21, from 4-6 p.m. at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. The program is available free of charge and geared toward individuals 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.
Nature Nut Series to focus on pollinators
April’s Nature Nut topic is “Bee Kind to the Earth,” in celebration of Earth Day. This program will be hosted at Mill Creek Lodge at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22.
Participants will enjoy fun Earth Day activities and learn about pollinators. COVID-19 precautions are in place for all in-person programs. This program is available at no cost and is open to people of all ages. Registration is required. To register visit http://www.prairieheritagecenter.org.
The Nature Nut series is a program that is hosted once a month on a different topic. Programs are hosted at an O’Brien County Conservation park or the Prairie Heritage Center. Or participants can do them at their own pace and download materials from http://www.prairieheritagecenter.org.
Programs will consist of a presentation on the topic and a hands-on activity. In-person programs will be 45-60 minutes in length. Participants can do a mix of in-person or virtual programs to participate. Participants who choose to join virtually will find all materials posted at http://www.prairieheritagecenter.org after the in-person presentation.
When you have completed the topic for the month get a stamp in your passport and you are on your way to becoming an official “Nature Nut.” Do one or do them all.
For more information about the series and the monthly topics, visit http://www.prairieheritagecenter.org or contact O’Brien County Conservation Board naturalist Abbie Parker at (712) 295-7200.
Happenings at Hartley library
Teen craft day will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, at the Hartley Public Library. All teens are welcome.
Between the Covers book club will meet at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, in the front room of the library to discuss J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.” Those attending are asked to wear masks.
