Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Festival of Trees runs thru Dec. 23 at Hartley library
This year’s Festival of Trees at the Hartley Public Library will be held now through Dec. 23. The event showcases decorated trees from local businesses and clubs.
Those who visit the display during normal library hours will be able to vote for their favorites in several different categories.
Can and bottle redemption bin in Hartley closed
Local residents are reminded that the can and bottle redemption bin in downtown Hartley has been closed for the winter. It will re-open this spring.
All funds raised from the bin have been donated to the pool project.
Holiday open house is Friday at Snider’s
Snider Auto Care Center in Hartley will hold a holiday open house on Friday, Dec. 17 from 4-7 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
See the ad on Page 4 for more details.
Holiday lighting contest in Hartley
Friday, Dec. 17, is the final day to enter the Hartley Chamber of Commerce’s holiday lighting contest. Winners will be announced at the end of the month.
Categories include: “Christmas Is For Kids,” “Most Whimsical Christmas,” and “Classic Christmas.”
H-M-S Middle School holiday concerts
The sounds of the season will be shared by Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School students at the following holiday concerts.
Thursday, Dec. 16: Grades 5-6 band and music, 7 p.m., middle school gym in Sanborn.
Monday, Dec. 20: Grades 7-8 band and choir, 7 p.m., middle school gym in Sanborn.
Blood drive to be held Dec. 29 in Hartley
The next Hartley community blood drive is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 29, from 12:30-5:30 p.m. at the Hartley Community Center. New donors are especially needed.
Appointments are required in order to donate blood. To schedule an appointment text LIFESERVE to 999-777, call (800) 287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org.
H-M-S board to meet
The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board will meet on Monday, Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school media center.
H-M-S menus
Thursday, Dec. 16: Breakfast – Pancake/sausage bites, fruit, juice; Lunch – Ham, mashed potatoes/gravy, green beans, strawberries, roll, bread (9-12).
Friday, Dec. 17: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice; Lunch – Chicken patty/bun, broccoli, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes (9-12), grapes.
Monday, Dec. 20: Breakfast – Cereal, pop tarts (9-12), fruit, juice; Lunch – Mandarin orange chicken/rice, broccoli, cauliflower, apples.
Tuesday, Dec. 21: Breakfast – Breakfast pizza, fruit, juice; Lunch – Hot dog/bun, French fries, baked beans, peaches.
Milk served with each meal. Fruit/veggie bar served with lunch.
Gardening enthusiasts invited to live webinars
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach O’Brien County will host the Iowa Master Gardener January webinars live in their office located at 340 2nd Street SE in Primghar. The programs are free and open to any gardening enthusiasts.
According to Kate Stewart, O’Brien County Master Gardener Program Coordinator, attendees will be able to watch the live webinar, ask questions in real-time and enjoy light refreshments and fellowship with other area gardeners.
Webinar topics and schedule are as follows:
• Jan. 4, 6-7 p.m. - Planting Design Tips: Participants will learn simple tips to help arrange plants in their garden. Elements such as form, texture, color, massing, plus several others will be highlighted.
• Jan. 11, 6-7 p.m. - Planting Design Models - The arrangement of plants is a beautiful process that can feel overwhelming. This presentation will highlight several planting models (or templates of-sorts) that individuals can follow to arrange plants in different ways depending on the site or style they wish to convey.
• Jan. 18, 6-7 p.m. - Planting Design Graphics - People have so many ideas for their gardens and landscapes and would like to draw something on paper. This presentation will show how to draw plant symbols, plus showcase the power of drawing plants in both plan (top view) and elevation (side view).
Each live showing will feature interactive learning from an expert with a Q&A session at the end of the presentation. All showings are free and open to the public, but preregistration is required to plan for space, materials and refreshments. Preregister for the showings in Primghar by calling (712) 957-5045.
Individuals wanting to attend a session virtually from their own home can register online at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/winter-webinar-series.
Farm succession workshop Jan. 12 at Primghar
O’Brien County Economic Development and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach invite area farmers and livestock producers to attend “Farm Succession for You” on Wednesday, Jan. 12 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Primghar Community Building.
The program is designed to provide both practical experience and real research-based technical expertise to guide farmers and ag businesses in building their own succession plan.
“We’re seeing historic cropland prices with the land being sold to out-of-state and even out-of-country investors,” said Kiana Johnson, O’Brien County Economic Development Executive Director in a news release. “This program is being hosted as an opportunity for farmers to learn about and begin making plans to protect their farm for the next generation, whether that be for a child or grandchild, neighbor or friend.”
The program will focus on farm transition and estate planning, and will address the importance of creating a successful transition plan that is legally binding and secure.
Registration fee is $20 per person or $30 per married couple. It includes one set of resource materials as well as a noon meal and refreshments.
Individuals planning to attend should register online at https://go.iastate.edu/MLENCF or call (712) 957-5045. Deadline to register and guarantee your meal is Wednesday, Jan. 5.
Questions can be direct to Marsha Rehder, O’Brien County Extension Ag Program Coordinator, at (712) 957-5045 or [email protected].
Cow-calf producer meeting scheduled in Royal
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a 2022 cow-calf producer meeting focused on moving forward after drought in three locations throughout January.
The programs are free and open to all cow-calf producers. Individuals need only attend one meeting as topics covered will be mirrored at each meeting.
The meeting schedule is as follows:
• Thursday, Jan. 20, from 1-3 p.m. at the Iowa Lakes Community College Farm near Emmetsburg. To attend, preregister by Jan. 14 to (712) 852-2865.
• Monday, Jan. 24, from 1-3 p.m. at the VFW Building in Estherville. To attend, preregister by Jan. 21 to (712) 362-3434.
• Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 1-3 p.m. at the Community Building in Royal. To attend, preregister by Jan. 21 to (712) 262-2264.
According to Extension Beef Specialist Beth Doran, each program will focus on three key topics.
Gentry Sorenson, Extension crop specialist, will lead a discussion on repairing pastures and establishing cover crops. Doran will provide a cow-calf outlook and benchmarking update, two topics key to financial stability or growth for producers. And the local Farm Service Agency Director for each county will provide current information related to financial assistance available for cow-calf producers.
Each meeting is free to attend but preregistration is required to plan for space and materials. Preregister to the appropriate phone number listed above. Questions can be directed to Doran at (712) 737-4230 or by email to [email protected].
Blood drive Dec. 28 at Spencer
LifeServe Blood Center is conducting a drive at Southpark Mall, 901 11th Street SW in Spencer, on Tuesday, Dec. 28, from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Appointments are required. Schedule a donation appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903.
Date change for CC/E board
The Clay Central/Everly school board meeting this month will be held Monday, Dec. 20, at 5:30 p.m. That is a change from the regular meeting date due to the holiday break. The meetings are held in the music room at the elementary school.
Food pantry at Hope Lutheran
Current hours for the food pantry at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly are Wednesdays, 1-5 p.m. Everyone is allowed to come in and pick out their food, but masks are required.
