10/07/21: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Windy Dagel graduates from Buena Vista

Windy Dagel, of Sanborn, graduated in the summer of 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Business from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake.

Dagel was among more than 100 students who received degrees.

NCC Radiologic Tech students pass boards

Radiologic Technology graduates from the Summer 2021 class at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon have earned a 100 percent pass rate on their first attempt at passing the American Registry of Radiologic Technology boards.

Passing the exams allows the graduates to practice as a licensed Radiologic Technologist in general radiology. The eight graduates are 100 percent employed in the radiology career field or have chosen to continue their education in Radiology for higher levels of education/certifications.

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists requires that students who have completed an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology must take a national exam of 220 questions. The questions are developed by radiologic technologists nationwide. Students also need to pass a specialized ethics review.

NCC’s Summer 2021 Radiologic Technology program graduates include Jenny Hollesen, a 2019 graduate of Clay Central/Everly. She is now employed as a Radiologic Technologist at Sheldon and Cherokee.

NWI fishing report

Offshore fishing for bass has been very good lately. The panfish/perch bite has been excellent. Area lake levels are low, making launching and loading boats more difficult. Lake temperatures have been slowly cooling down and are in the 60s degrees.

East Okoboji Lake: The water temperature was 66 degrees last Thursday. 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: Anglers report they have started to catch yellow bass in shallow water amongst the vegetation. Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair. Walleye, fair. Yellow bass, 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 64 degrees last Thursday. The water has cleared recently; using lighter line works best. Fish are moving to shallower water. Use lead core and tadpole baits.

Black crappie, fair. Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Bluegill, fair. Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Walleye, good. 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, good. Perch are moving to shallower water allowing for great catch with some sorting. Try mini jigs and minnows; bring plenty of minnows as smaller fish will strip you of your bait.

West Okoboji Lake: The water temperature was 66 degrees last Thursday. Many anglers have been most successful with trolling, but jigging and casting have also been very good. Use lead core and tadpole baits. Offshore fishing for bass has been great.

Black crappie, good. Crappie 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. Try a shucks jigger and bobber fished in 10-15 feet of water. Jigging, casting, and slip bobbers work well. Try trolling with twister tails and ripple shads or shucks jiggers with a bobber. Walleye, fair. Walleye have been hard to target, but many anglers have been catching them while fishing for other species.

IPA announces release of its 76th annual anthology

The past year brought countless changes; however, many Iowans found solace in writing, according to Lyrical Iowa Editor Marilyn Baszczynski.

“Some poets shared painful experiences, others avoided any mention of crisis-but they all wrote from their heart-through humor or hurt, hope or despair,” she said in a news release. “This year’s edition of Lyrical Iowa is a testament to the enduring importance of poetry as a vehicle for addressing emotional turmoil, as a way for people to find themselves, as a way to try to make sense of what has been unfathomable.”

Entries came from 146 towns in 73 of Iowa’s 99 counties, sent by persons ranging in age from kindergartners to near-centenarians. Contestants needed only reside in Iowa

Individuals from O’Brien County featured in the anthology included: Glenda Kreykes, of Sheldon; Nancy J. Peters, of Sheldon; and Carolyn Rohrbaugh, of Sutherland.

Individuals from Clay County featured in the anthology included: Carol B. McMullen, of Webb; Deb Mechler, of Spencer; Janis Myers, of Spencer; Cara Rutter, of Fostoria.

Besides those awarded cash prizes or honorable mentions in the seven adult categories and four student divisions, many other top-ranking poems are showcased in the 172-page book with full-color cover. A total of 340 poems were selected from close to 2,000 entries submitted to IPA’s 2021 contests, including five Pushcart Prize nominations selected from those published in the anthology.

While the supply lasts, books may be ordered from IPA. Cost is $10 per copy (plus shipping) to anywhere in the United States. Books from some previous years are also available. Check for details at iowapoetry.com or contact the editor at [email protected].

The 2022 Lyrical Iowa Competition is expanding the regular adult contests to include Traditional Forms (ghazal, pantoum, sonnet, villanelle) and an Ekphrastic Challenge for IPA members only. Contest entries may be sent Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2022. Complete contest rules for adult, college, high school and grade school entries are available at iowapoetry.com. There is no entry fee.

SoS launches voter registration drives in Iowa high schools

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate kicked off his annual drive to register Iowa high school students to vote last week through the Carrie Chapman Catt Award initiative. Every school in Iowa that registers at least 90 percent of their eligible students to vote will receive the award, named after the Iowan who was a national leader in the women’s suffrage movement. Last year, 22 schools won the award.

The launch for this year’s initiative coincides with National Voter Registration Day, held annually on the fourth Tuesday in September.

“Registering to vote and participating in elections is the best way to make your voice heard,” Pate said in a news release. “We’ve registered more than 6,300 high school students through the Catt Award initiative in the last two years and that has also translated to more young people casting ballots.”

Schools that register at least 50 percent and 70 percent of eligible students also receive statewide recognition. Altogether, 34 Iowa schools reached the 50 percent threshold last year.

State law allows 17-year-olds to register to vote in Iowa. They can also participate in June primary elections if they will be 18 in time for the November general election. Partnering with Inspire2Vote, Secretary Pate will help schools across the state organize and conduct voter registration drives.