01/27/22: Community Calendar

Blood drive Feb. 7 at Spencer

LifeServe Blood Center is conducting a drive at Southpark Mall, 901 11th Street SW in Spencer, on Monday, Feb. 7, from 7-11 p.m.

Appointments are required. Schedule a donation appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903.

Hot beef at Red’s

Red’s Catering in downtown Hartley will be serving hot beef on Wednesday, Feb. 2 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

See the ad on Page 3 for more details.

Lasagna fundraiser for new pool is Feb. 6

The Hartley Community Pool Campaign Committee will host a lasagna fundraising meal to benefit the new pool on Sunday, Feb. 6. The event will be drive-thru only at the Hartley Community Center.

See the ad on Page 8 for more details.

May City firemen to hold soup supper

Firefighters in May City will hold a soup supper on Saturday, Feb. 5 at the fire hall.

Dine-in and curbside service will be available. See the ad on Page 8 for more details.

No movie night at Melvin FRC

The movie night scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 30, at First Reformed Church in Melvin, has been cancelled due to the rise in Covid-19 cases. The next fifth Sunday movie night is scheduled for May 29. Be sure to pass that word on to those who normally attend.

Winter Funderland Feb. 5 at MCP

Join the O’Brien County Conservation Board for Winter Funderland at Mill Creek Park, on Saturday, Feb. 5. The event will feature a variety of fun-filled activities for all ages, both outside and indoors.

Hours for the event are 2-6 p.m. There will be horse-drawn wagon rides around Mill Creek Park, a snowball slingshot competition, opportunities to try out ice fishing and snowshoeing (snow/ice pending), create your own birdfeeder or build your own snowman catapult. You can also have your picture taken with Oh Brien, the conservation board’s new bison mascot, go on a flashlight gnome scavenger hunt and so much more.

Winter Funderland will also host a human dogsled race starting at 3 p.m. Teams made up of five people, four sled pullers and one sled rider, will compete in this hilariously fun event. Participants must be ages 13 and older, and it is free to participate. If you would like to set up a team, please register by calling (712) 295-7200 or emailing [email protected] with your team name, contact information and ages of participants. Sleds and rope will be provided. Teams can register the day of the event by 2:30 p.m.

For a full schedule of Winter Funderland events, visit http://www.prairieheritagecenter.org.

H-M-S menus

Thursday, Jan. 27: Breakfast – Waffles, fruit, juice; Lunch – Italian pasta bake, garlic toast, green beans, baby carrots, applesauce.

Friday, Jan. 28: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice; Lunch – Hot dog/bun, French fries, baked beans, oranges.

Monday, Jan. 31: Breakfast – Cereal, muffin (9-12), fruit, juice; Lunch – Pizza, romaine salad, cherry tomatoes, apples.

Milk served with each meal. Fruit/veggie bar served with lunch.

CC/E menus

Thursday, Jan. 27: Breakfast – French toast sticks, cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice; Lunch – Cheese ravioli, tossed salad, breadstick, banana.

Friday, Jan. 28: Breakfast – Breakfast stick, cereal, toast, fruit, juice, yogurt; Lunch – Chicken taco, refried beans, rice, apple.

Monday, Jan. 31: Breakfast – Cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice; Lunch – Corndog, French fries, pears.

Milk is served with each meal. Menus are subject to change at any time.

Workshop seeks to encourage personal wellbeing

“What About Me? My Wellbeing” is a four-week workshop series starting at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 1 in Sheldon. The program is designed to help adults enhance their individual wellbeing and quality of life.

Through four, 45-minute hands-on sessions participants will explore social and emotional wellbeing, financial wellbeing, physical wellbeing and the importance of taking time for oneself.

With more than its share of challenges, the last few years have affected many individuals’ physical, emotional, social and financial wellbeing. This program is all about taking time out of one’s busy schedule to reflect and plan for the future.

According to O’Brien County Extension Human Sciences Program Coordinator Kate Stewart, “What About Me? My Wellbeing” program is for adults at any stage of life.

The program’s four sessions will be held from noon-12:45 p.m. on Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22 at the Sheldon Community Building basement located at 416 9th Street in Sheldon. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch to each session.

There is no fee to participate in the four-series program but registration is required. Register online at https://go.iastate.edu/BF113A or contact Stewart at (712) 957-5045 or [email protected].

Farm Bill meetings offered in February

Iowa producers have until March 15, 2022 to make their annual election for Price Loss Coverage or Agriculture Risk Coverage (at the individual or county levels) under the 2018 Farm Bill.

This annual decision impacts the 2022 crop year, consistent with the 2018 Farm Bill. Similar annual decisions for the 2023 crop year will coincide with the final year of the bill.

In order to help Iowans understand their options for 2022, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the USDA Farm Service Agency will hold in-person meetings during the week of Feb. 13. Individuals who prefer to attend a virtual learning session can visit the Ag Decision Maker Farm Bill information and resources webpage at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/farmbill.html.

“The key decision is between Price Loss Coverage and Agriculture Risk Coverage (county or individual),” said Extension farm management specialist Gary Wright in a news release. “A farmer’s choices will depend on the type of operation, where located, and their price outlook.”

PLC payments are triggered when the marketing year average price falls below the reference prices of $3.70 per bushel for corn and $8.40 per bushel for soybeans. Whereas ARC-CO payments are triggered when actual county revenue for the crop is less than the guarantee. According to Wright, current USDA price projections for 2022 are $4.80 per bushel for corn and $10.50 per bushel for soybeans.

“The producers’ overall 2022 crop decisions by announced deadlines will want to include (a) the federal crop election (ARC versus PLC); and (b) a thorough review of the other crop insurance options,” Wright said. “These two decisions should be evaluated jointly, following consultation with their trusted crop insurance agent (in regard to annual premiums), to ensure the desired risk control management steps are being fully considered.”

Ag producers and landowners are encouraged to be proactive and attend an in-person or virtual session if they have questions about their options. There is no fee to attend, but preregistration is required. Sessions will be approximately two hours in length, with time for questions.

In-person meetings are scheduled as follows:

• Thursday, Feb. 17, 9-11 a.m., Northwest Iowa Community College, Building A, Room 117, 603 W. Park Street, Sheldon; Preregister to (712) 957-5045.

• Friday, Feb. 18, 9-11 a.m., Grace United Methodist Church, 311 2nd Avenue, Spencer; Preregister to (712) 262-2264.

Additional questions can be directed to Wright at (712) 223-1574 or [email protected].

Extension offers workshop for swine producers

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer a workshop for hog confinement site operators on four dates in February throughout northwest Iowa.

Workshop options include: Wednesday, Feb. 2, Forster Community Building, Rock Rapids; Friday, Feb. 18, Plymouth County Extension Office, LeMars; Wednesday, Feb. 23, Sioux County Extension Office, Orange City; and Monday, Feb. 28, Buena Vista County Extension Office, Storm Lake. All sessions will be held from 11:40 a.m.-2 p.m.

A working lunch will be provided for $15 per person. Preregistrations are appreciated, but walk-ins will be welcome. To preregister or for more information contact Stender at (712) 261-0225 or [email protected].

Regular hours at Royal library

Hours at the Royal Public Library are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 3-5 p.m .; and Tuesday and Saturday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

3 local Al Anon meetings

Al Anon meetings are held at the following locations each week:

Wednesday, 8 p.m., 511 Southmoor, Spencer; Thursday, 8 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Royal; Sunday, 7 p.m., Sanford Medical Center, 118 N 7th Ave., Sheldon.

Camp Autumn fundraiser set for Feb. 12

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health and Camp Autumn are hosting the third annual ice fishing tournament and fundraiser at Camp Autumn on Saturday, Feb. 12.

This event is open to the public. There is no registration fee; however, freewill donations will be accepted. Registration is encouraged but not required.

The first 50 kids (15 and under) will receive a free ice fishing rod and reel combo courtesy of the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club. Prize categories will be based on length of fish. Coffee, hot cocoa and a chili lunch will be available. All money raised goes towards scholarships for children to attend Camp Autumn, a therapeutic camp for children.

The Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club will be coordinating and judging the tournament. They will also be providing ice shacks, poles and gear for individuals or families who do not have ice fishing equipment. Equipment will be available on a first-come, first-serve rotating basis.

Camp Autumn is located at 4233 Yew Avenue, northeast of Sutherland.