Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Hartley pool project receives big donation from Valero: Valero Renewables - Hartley recently donated $15,000 to the new pool project and is sponsoring a shade structure and two tables. Pictured front row, from left to right: Jill Vander Veen, Hartley Valero plant manager Kraig Kruger, pool committee member Jackie Stoltz and Pam Mohni. Back row: Kyle Wilkie, Jaron Benz and Rachel Wilson.
Win decorating contest in Everly: Leo and Kathy Behrens, of Custom Welding & Repair, won the fall planter decorating contest in Everly last month. The competition had eight participants and served as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Everly Public Library organization. Several local businesses will be participating in the winter contest this month.
Dictionaries presented to H-M-S third graders: The Y'adnom Club presented 43 gazetteer dictionaries to the H-M-S third grade classrooms of Mrs. Lauren Waltz and Mrs. Kathy Habben on Wednesday, Oct. 20. The dictionaries are purchased at cost from the National Dictionary Project program each year. The Y'adnom Club raises money from the support of the community at the biannual cemetery walk and the sale of special cleaning cloths to fund this annual project.
CCFA celebrates successful year
Nearly 300 members of the Clay County Fair Association heard positive reports about the post-COVID return of "The World's Greatest County Fair" at its annual meeting on Oct. 26.
"My report can really be summed up in four powerful words: We had a fair," said Fair & Events Center CEO Jeremy Parsons."And let me add five more words: It was a great one."
Forty-seven employees and volunteers, representing a combined 920 years of service to the fair, received "Fairs of Service" awards. Thirteen individuals – Patrick Barrett, Allen Breidinger, Mary Dannatt, Deb Feldman, Steven Mingus, Harold Piercy, Dave Potratz, Roger Putnam, Bill Raska, Morris Rusch, Steve Schomaker, Joan Waller and Steve Waller – were honored for 40 years of service.
Two retiring members of the board of directors were also recognized for their service, Tim Elser and Dave Potratz. Potratz was first elected to the board in 1988 and the executive committee in 1996.
Nine members were elected to the 27-member board of directors for a three-year term: Doug Biedenfeld, David Brugman, Tom Olin, Kate Rinehart, Teresa Schoelerman, Gayle Simons, Tracy Small, Steve Waller, and John Zinn. Bonnie Pullen-Lehman was elected to a two-year term, filling a position left open by a resignation.
In the Board organizational session held following the annual meeting, Steve Waller was re-elected as chairman, Dana Metcalf was re-elected as vice chairman and Dennis Larson was elected as treasurer. John Zinn was also elected to serve on the executive committee.
Seasons Center receives $3 million CMHC grant
Seasons Center for Behavioral Health in Spencer has been awarded $1.5 million per year for the next two years by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as part of the Community Mental Health Centers grant program. Funds will be used to support and restore the delivery of clinical services that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of this grant is to ensure individuals are able to easily access trauma-informed behavioral health services, resources and supports. Seasons Center will collaborate with referral sources such as hospitals, schools, law enforcement, child welfare and juvenile justice to help raise awareness of the CMHC services Seasons Center will offer. The grant will also allow Seasons Center to equip their mental health professionals with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to provide high quality, evidence-based, trauma-informed and culturally responsive services.
"We are thrilled to be the recipient of this grant," said Christina Eggink-Postma, Vice President of Program Coordination and Compliance at Seasons Center. "The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create ongoing challenges in our communities. The virus has and will continue to impact each of us – financially, emotionally and otherwise. This grant will help Seasons Center effectively address the mental health needs of individuals who have been impacted by the pandemic."
Applications for energy assistance being taken
Limited financial heating assistance is available to income-eligible utility customers through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The annual application period runs from Nov. 1, 2021-April 30, 2022. The application period for homes with elderly or disabled residents began Oct. 1. The LIHEAP program is designed to help low-income homeowners and renters pay a portion of their primary home heating costs through a one-time payment made directly to the utility or heating fuel vendor.
According to the Iowa Utilities Board, Iowa law protects qualified applicants under LIHEAP or the weather assistance program who are the head of a household from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service from Nov. 1-April 1. Although qualified applicants cannot be disconnected during the winter moratorium, the IUB urges all LIHEAP-certified customers to continue paying toward their energy bills through the winter to avoid accumulating high debt and facing potential utility service disconnection in the spring.
Eligibility for the federally funded LIHEAP program is based on household size and income, type of fuel and type of housing. Interested applicants should review the federal income guidelines and then apply at the community action agency serving their area. Heating assistance dollars for LIHEAP and the weatherization assistance program are limited.
For assistance, utility customers may contact their local utility company or contact the IUB Customer Service staff at (877) 565-4450 or [email protected].
NWI fishing report
The panfish/perch bite has been consistent lately. Most boat ramp docks are still in. The evening walleye bite from shore has been good. Lake temperatures are dropping fast with most lake temperatures in the upper 40s and 50s.
East Okoboji Lake: The water temperature was 52 degrees last Thursday. Many anglers have had success with slip bobbers/spoons and vertical jigging and drop shot fishing. Some are observing higher catch rates with sorting needed to limit out on various fish. Black crappie, good. Catch is picking up; crappie are moving in shallower and hanging out around pockets of vegetation. Bluegill, good. Bluegill are biting like crazy. Leeches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Pumpkinseed, good. These fish are fun and easier to catch from most docks. Use a small hook, bobber and piece of worm.
Lost Island Lake: Bite has started to pick up with many anglers fishing off the southern stony point and eastern shore. Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair. Walleye, fair. Yellow bass, fair. Yellow perch, good. Good catch rate with some sorting needed.
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 49 degrees last Thursday. Fish are moving in shallower. Use lead core and tadpole baits. The walleye bite has been very good in the evening; try fishing from shore or with waders. The perch bite continues to slowly pick up as water temperatures fall.
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 with slip bobbers along weed edges. Yellow perch, fair. Perch are moving in shallower 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 52 degrees last Thursday. Anglers have been successful fishing for bluegill and crappie in 10-15 feet of water. Most any bait has been working. Use lead core or tadpole baits.
Black crappie, good. Crappie have been very picky lately, but can be easily caught if you aren't afraid to switch things up.
