12/16/21: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

NCC programs rank in Top 20 of Best Associate Degrees

Best Accredited Colleges (bestaccreditedcolleges.org) has ranked two of the programs at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon in their latest national Best Associate Degrees in higher education list. NCC’s Associate Degree Nursing was ranked No. 12 and the Associate Accounting Degree was ranked No. 17.

According to BestAccreditedColleges.org, hundreds of institutions across the country were considered. They ranked NCC using data around financial aid awards, the quality of education, faculty, campus resources and other information.

The Associate Degree Nursing is an Associate of Applied Science degree completion program. It is designed for students who have successfully completed the Practical Nursing program at NCC or for the Licensed Practical Nurse eligible to practice who wishes to continue study for an Associate Degree in Nursing (RN).

Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination given by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. They may also transfer credits to four-year programs to obtain their Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

NCC offers both a full time or part time option for the ADN program.

The Associate Accounting Degree is an Associate of Applied Science degree. It is designed for students to work extensively with all aspects of the accounting cycle. After the first two semesters, a student is prepared for an entry-level position in bookkeeping and general accounting. If a student chooses the two-year degree program, they would have additional skills useful in a public, private or government accounting career.

NCC offers both a full or part time option for the Associate Accounting Degree program. This program is also offered both on campus and online or a combination of both.

NWI fishing report

Most lakes are fully capped, but ice conditions are very poor. If you plan to try to fish the ice, make sure you have flotation, ice picks and check ice thickness often. The new layer of snow will hinder ice production.

East Okoboji Lake: The lake was fully iced over last Thursday with a thickness of 3 inches or less. Anglers are advised to use best ice safety practices when out on the lake. Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair.

Scharnberg Pond: Trout were stocked earlier this fall. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow trout, good. Trout are biting on a variety of different baits. Try a worm or lure that imitates a minnow.

Spirit Lake: The lake was fully iced over last Thursday with a thickness of 3 inches or less. Anglers are advised to use best ice safety practices when out on the lake. 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. Yellow perch, fair.

West Okoboji Lake: There was about 50 percent ice cover across the lake last Thursday, with better ice within bays. Thickness was 3 inches or less. Anglers are advised to use best ice safety practices when out on the lake. Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair.

Little Free Library set up at PHC

The next time you visit the Prairie Heritage Center stop by and grab a book at the new Little Free Library. The library was set up outside the nature center at the beginning of December and it is filled with nature-themed books for people of all ages to enjoy.

Do you want to learn more about how to identify birds, plants, insects, and more? There are plenty of identification guide books to choose from and take as you explore a trail. Curious about natural phenomena? You will find many book titles to fill your curious mind. Guests can take books with them, return them after exploring or add more books to the collection.

O’Brien County Conservation Board will expand the Little Free Library to Mill Creek Park for guests and campers to utilize in the near future. It is a goal of the board to place a Little Free Library at Dog Creek Park and Douma Park in the future. Keep your eyes out for the blue boxes popping up at a Conservation Board park near you.

The Conservation Board is still collecting nature themed books with which to continue stocking the Little Free Libraries. They can be adult or child focused. If you have a donation of books you would like to give, please bring them to the Prairie Heritage Center. For questions or more information please contact (712) 295-7200.