07/01/21: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

H-M-S students recognized for attendance

Eight students at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary were recognized for achieving perfect attendance during the 2020-21 school year. The students were Ean Elgersma, Evan Elgersma, Adalynn Fritz, Kaylee Neumann, Shelby Neumann, Storm Hendricks, Karley Voss and Myla Tifft.

Students only missing one-half day of school were Hayden Benz, Treyton Bock, Jax Butcher and Elise Mohni.

NWI fishing report

Fish are moving just off shore making trolling and fishing by boat your best bet for success. The panfish/perch bite has been very good lately. Water temperatures had increased significantly by last Thursday, with most in the 70s to 80s. This quick increase has been tough on fish that are already stressed due to spawning.

East Okoboji Lake: The water temperature was 79 degrees last Thursday. Leeches or worms with a slip bobber are a simple way to get some success out fishing. Fish are moving off shore; fishing by boat is best.

Black crappie, fair. Try fishing close to docks and hoists. Trolling weed lines has been successful for many anglers. Crappie are hard to target specifically, but can be caught mixed with other panfish. Bluegill, fair. Bluegill have started to move off their beds out of the shallows. Leeches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Pumpkinseed, good. Fun and easier to catch from most docks. Use a small hook, bobber and piece of worm.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Silver Lake is starting to green up due to an algae bloom. Walleye, fair.

Spirit Lake: The water temperature was 79 degrees last Thursday. The walleye bite has been hit or miss most nights. The day bite has been fair to poor unless you're right on top of them. Bluegill are starting to sit on beds. Bluegill are moving off their beds to deeper water.

Yellow perch, fair. Bites from morning till 11 a.m., and mid-afternoon have been seen. Depths vary depending on the time of day. Walleye, fair. Bite is hit-or-miss at dusk. Use slip bobbers along weed edges.

West Okoboji Lake: The water temperature was 77 degrees last Thursday. Fish are moving just off shore, making shore fishing harder. Anglers slowly trolling weedlines have been successful catching a variety of species.

Bluegill, fair. Bluegill are starting to be found in shallower water as they move off their beds. Leeches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Black crappie, fair. Hard to target specifically, but crappie can be caught while picking through other panfish.

Recent rainfall should improve drought conditions

Iowa precipitation totals remain 2 inches below normal with nearly the entire state in some form of dryness or drought, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

As a result of this lack of rainfall, streamflow is down across the state, and concern remains for shallow groundwater availability. Severe drought now covers almost 44 percent of the state, up from only eight percent at the start of June.

"Current and near term projected rainfall should help ease drought conditions, although the U.S. Drought Monitor for this week does not include rain that fell after June 22 morning," said Tim Hall, DNR's coordinator of hydrology resources, in a news release. "Conditions prior to this new rain show continuing deterioration, but we are anticipating improved conditions next week. The next Water Summary Update on July 10 should show a better situation in Iowa."

Hot and dry conditions blanketed the state for much of the first half of June as the jet stream remained farther north, allowing a stable dome of high pressure to block the normal storm track through the Midwest. As of June 23, the preliminary statewide average precipitation is 1.51 inches, tying 1956 as the eighth-driest start to June on record, with seven days remaining. A drier start was last reported in 1992.

This week, a more active storm track returned to the Midwest, bringing much needed rainfall across the state, along with several days of severe hail and high wind reports. Recent temperatures have been more seasonal compared to the first two weeks of June, when multiple days of upper 80s and 90s were reported. The preliminary statewide average temperature through June 23 is 79.6 degrees, 4.6 degrees above normal.

Since the last Water Summary Update, streamflow conditions across approximately a quarter of the state are now classified as "much below normal," including the Skunk, Des Moines, Raccoon and Little Sioux river basins. Most of the state's streamflows have now moved into "below normal" conditions.

Soil moisture levels across the state continued to decline in June. One year ago, more than 90 percent of the state had adequate or surplus soil moisture. As of June 21, only about one third of the state had adequate or surplus soil moisture.

The number of Iowa water utilities that have put in place voluntary or mandatory water use restrictions has expanded, but recent cooler and wetter weather has decreased demand. This should help reduce stress on most water systems, and to lower the short-term concern for water availability. A return to hot and dry weather could reverse this change, and Iowans should contact their local water utility with any concerns they may have for their area.

Ben Pullen is 4-H youth development senior field manager

Ben Pullen has accepted the position of senior field manager with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Iowa 4-H Youth Development. He began the position on June 23.

As senior field manager, Pullen will provide effective leadership for developing and implementing the vision for Iowa 4-H, identify innovative ways to reach underserved and under­represented audiences, and enhance internal and external partnerships.

"Ben brings a wealth of experience and passion to this role," said Debbie Nistler, state 4-H program leader, in a news release. "I am very excited to see our field staff grow and thrive under his leadership."

The past five years, Pullen has worked as a youth program specialist and field supervisor for Iowa 4-H. Prior to that he was a school counselor and special education teacher at Storm Lake Community School District.

Pullen received a bachelor's degree in elementary education and master's degree in professional school counseling from Buena Vista University.

"Iowa 4-H Youth Development has an amazing opportunity right now to help define what positive youth development looks like in a post-pandemic world. I am very excited to be able to play a part in guiding programs that will help empower the next generation of youth to reach their full potential," Pullen said.