08/26/21: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Community Calendar dates due Sept. 8

The Community Calendar for the communities of Hartley, Melvin and May City will be distributed again this year. Clubs and organizations wishing to list their meeting dates are asked to bring or send them to The Sentinel- News office.

H-M-S school activities will also be listed. There is no charge to have meeting dates listed on the calendar. Dates should be submitted no later than Wednesday, Sept. 8.

When the calendars are printed, they will be available as a courtesy of the sponsors.

Volunteers needed to deliver meals

Community Memorial Health Center is looking for volunteers to help deliver Meals on Wheels to local residents. If interested, call Linda at (712) 728-2428.

2021 summer graduates at NCC

Eighty-eight students graduated from Northwest Iowa Community College on Friday, July 23, during commencement ceremonies held in the Northwest Iowa Lifelong Learning and Recreation Center in Sheldon.

Area students received diplomas and degrees.

Everly: Lucas W. Berkenpas, Design Technology Degree; Jenny L. Hollesen; Radiologic Technology Degree; Lucas A. Sindt, Automotive & Light Duty Diesel Technology Degree.

Hartley: Miguel A. Garcia, Production Welding Diploma; Bryce G. Vos, High School Equivalency Diploma.

NWI fishing report

Offshore fishing for bass has been very good lately. The panfish/perch bite has been excellent lately. Area lake levels are lower, making launching and loading boats more difficult. Be careful when backing trailers down ramps as many boaters have been backing off the end of ramps with longer trailers. If at all possible, attempt to load your boat without power loading it onto the trailer.

East Okoboji Lake: The water temperature was 78 degrees last week. Many anglers have had success with slip bobbers/spoons and vertical jigging and drop shot fishing. A great bluegill/crappie/yellow bass bite can be found trolling weed lines. Many anglers have observed high catch rates with a lot of sorting.

Black crappie, fair. Crappie are hard to target specifically, but can be caught mixed with other panfish. The bite has improved in and around docks and hoists. Bluegill, good. Bluegill are biting like crazy. 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.

Lost Island Lake: Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair. Walleye, fair. Yellow perch, fair.

Minnewashta Lake: Panfishing has been good for anglers trolling weed lines. Vertical jigging is improving. Black crappie, fair. A nice crappie bite can be found with a little movement around the lake. Bluegill, fair. Pumpkinseed, good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye, fair. Try using slip bobbers and finding weed lines.

Spirit Lake: The water temperature was 77 degrees last week. The yellow perch bite has improved with the walleye bite starting to slow down.

Walleye, fair. Bite is hit or miss at dusk, but the day bite is improving. Many anglers have started to fish in shallower water with slip bobbers along weed edges. Yellow perch, fair. Best bite is morning until 11 a.m. and mid-afternoon. Depths vary depending on the time of day.

West Okoboji Lake: The water temperature was 76 degrees last Thursday. Many anglers have been most successful with trolling, but jigging and casting have also been very good. Offshore fishing for bass has been great.

Black crappie, good. Have been very picky lately, but can be easily caught if you aren’t afraid to switch things up. Can also be caught frequently while picking through other panfish or have been found around weed edges. Bluegill, good. Bluegill are biting like crazy with fish up to 10 inches seen. Jigging, casting, and slip bobbers are working well. Leeches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Walleye, fair. Walleye have been hard to target, but many anglers have been catching them while fishing for other species.

Manufacturing expo for youth at Clay County Fair

Clay County Fairgoers have a new event to check out this year. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Northwest Iowa Manufacturing Sector have teamed up to host a manufacturing expo at the Clay County Fair for students in grades 5-12.

The free event will be held Friday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the 4-H Auditorium on the fairgrounds. The come-and-go manufacturing expo will feature hands-on simulators and technology for youth to try out, and Career Connect will be onsite to help connect students with ways to further explore the variety of careers in manufacturing.

According to Jo Engel, 4-H human sciences county youth coordinator, youth can expect hands-on fun including a welding simulator, industrial paint simulator, Cobot (collaborative robot), microelectronic maze board, advanced plastics and composite materials. Several local manufacturers have committed to attend and Career Connect will also be connecting interested youth with job shadowing, tour and internship opportunities.

Local families are invited to stop at the 4-H Auditorium any time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to participate in the expo activities. Schools are also welcome to schedule a set time to bring classes as a field trip. To preschedule a school field trip, visit https://bit.ly/3yLNdGs.

For more information, contact Engel at (712) 262-2264 or [email protected]; or Northwest Iowa Manufacturing Sector Facilitator and Career Coach Kristi Heisinger at (712) 324-5061 or [email protected].

Livestock producers reminded to report forage losses

O’Brien County livestock producers who suffered grazing losses that occurred throughout 2021 due to drought should report their losses timely and enroll in the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) by Jan. 30, 2022.

According to Farm Service Agency Executive Director Samantha Erie, LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately-owned or cash-leased land or fire on federally-managed land. Producers are eligible to apply for 2021 LFP benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass or forage sorghum. Livestock producers are encouraged to contact the O’Brien County FSA Office with any questions regarding specific forage crops that are eligible.

Livestock producers must complete the LFP application and required supporting documentation no later than Jan. 30 for losses that occurred throughout 2021. Producers who already have appointments scheduled require no additional action to meet the deadline.

Eligible livestock includes alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep or swine that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland.

Visit http://www.usda.gov/disaster to learn more about FSA disaster assistance programs or contact the O’Brien County FSA Office at (712) 757-3835.