02/03/22: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Scam alert in Hartley

Some Hartley residents are receiving phone calls from someone telling them they are late on their bill and threatening immediate disconnection, then prompting callers to dial an extension to give them certain information. If this happens to you, city officials ask that you please do not give out any information and hang up.

If you have any questions, please call Hartley City Hall at (712) 928-2240.

Career Day scholarship app period open

The application acceptance period for the O'Brien County Career Day Scholarship has opened and will remain open through April 5.

In partnership with local businesses, O'Brien County Career Day awards one successful applicant with a $500 scholarship to be used towards student loan debt, other educational expenses or expenses that assist in the preparation for their career or business in O'Brien County.

"Talented workforce recruitment is a strategic priority for O'Brien County Career Day," said Kiana Johnson, O'Brien County Economic Development Executive Director in a news release. "The annual O'Brien County Career Day is a day set aside for high school sophomores, where they have the opportunity to explore the many careers available to them right here in O'Brien County. To expand on that initiative, we launched a scholarship program to assist in incentivizing our area's top talent to return or stay in O'Brien County."

To be eligible to receive the O'Brien County Career Day Scholarship in 2022, an applicant must have received or will receive a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma from 2017-2022 from a participating school (Sheldon, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, South O'Brien, or MMCRU); be or will be employed or self-employed in O'Brien County, and/or will be a resident in O'Brien County; and return the following year as a guest of honor to the O'Brien County Career Day.

Applicants can download the scholarship application and complete guidelines from https://www.obriencounty.com/pdfs/8/O'Brien_Co_Scholarship_Guidelines_2022.pdf.

Applications must be submitted to Kiana Johnson, O'Brien County Economic Development Executive Director, P.O. Box 616, Primghar, IA 51245 or via email to [email protected] by April 5.

For more information on O'Brien County Career Day or the scholarship, contact Johnson at (712) 957-1313 or [email protected].

Area students on NWC dean's list

Two area students have earned spots on the academic dean's list for the fall 2021 semester at Northwestern College in Orange City.

Erik Vander Laan, of Hartley, a senior majoring in computer science, is a Collegiate Scholar who maintained a perfect 4.0 average for the semester.

Christina Mueggenberg, of Everly, a senior majoring in art/graphic design, was named to the dean's list for maintaining a grade point average of 3.50 or above.

UNI names locals to dean's list

Students from this area have been named to the fall 2021 semester dean's list at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

To be included on the list, a student must have earned a grade point of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, while taking at least 12 hours of graded work during the semester.

Everly: Chloe Kahl.

Hartley: Taylor Grohe, Wesley Peters.

Seasons Center receives specialized funding from CCNIA

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health in Spencer received $7,000 in specialized funding from Care Connections of Northern Iowa for holiday wellness baskets and internal food bank expansion.

Through this funding, Seasons Center was able to provide 100 holiday wellness baskets to clients in need in Clay, Osceola and Palo Alto counties during the month of December. The baskets included food items, a gift card for purchase of fresh meat and produce, and resources to promote positive mental health and self-care. Additionally, Seasons Center was able to utilize a portion of the funding to expand their internal food bank to allow for increased availability of food.

"Through this funding, we were able to provide much needed resources to individuals and families in need in Clay, Osceola and Palo Alto counties" said Sarah Heinrichs, Grant Project Administrator for Seasons Center in a news release. "We want to continue to stress the importance of overall health and safety related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and provide information on behavioral health programs and services, and other resources available to support the needs of individuals and families in our communities."

FCSAmerica pays nearly $300 million in dividends

Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) is returning more than $296.5 million of its 2021 net income to farmers and ranchers in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Cash-back dividend checks were mailed Jan. 27 and will be in the hands of the customer-owners shortly.

For 18 consecutive years the financial cooperative has shared its success in the form of cash-back dividends. Since 2004 FCSAmerica has returned more than $2.6 billion to eligible customer-owners.

This year's cash-back dividend is equal to 100 basis points, or a return of 1 percent of a customer's eligible daily 2021 balance with FCSAmerica. In Iowa this equates to a 2021 payout of $114.5 million. This puts the total net income returned to Iowa farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses in the past 18 years at $1 billion.

The Board of Directors for FCSAmerica also has approved a cash-back dividend to be paid from the cooperative's 2022 net earnings, the amount of which will be determined in December.

Pork producers elected to IPPA board

A Humboldt County pig farmer, Kevin Rasmussen, is the new president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. The change in leadership followed the IPPA annual meeting on Jan. 25.

Rasmussen replaces Dennis Liljedahl, of Essex, who now holds the past president position on the IPPA board.

Other additions to the board include Linda Schroeder, of Remsen, who is the new District 1 director. She replaces Dwight Mogler, of Alvord, whose board term had expired.

The board oversees leadership and direction for all IPPA Pork Checkoff programs, public policy and general direction of the organization.

ILCC trustees to begin search for next college president

The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees met at a special meeting on Monday to begin the search process for the next college president.

ILCC administrators will move forward with the presidential search process and have secured the services of Dr. Larry Ebbers, Professor Emeritus from Iowa State University, to lead the search.

The search will begin by conducting an online survey about the personal and professional characteristics desired in the new president and areas of focus for the college. The new presidential search process is on the heels of College President Valerie Newhouse's decision to retire later this year, effective June 30, 2022. Newhouse has served as president since 2009.

Wayne State announces fall dean's list

Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. included more than 1,200 students on the dean's list for exemplary academic achievement during the Fall 2021 semester. Students listed on the dean's list are full-time undergraduate students who have achieved a GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for the semester.

Paige Maaland, of Royal, is one of the students named to the fall dean's list.

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.

NWI fishing report

All walleye between 19-25 inches must be immediately released unharmed at Big Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji Lakes, Upper Gar Lake, Minnewashta Lake, Lower Gar Lake and Storm Lake; no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day.

Most area lakes have 14-plus inches of ice. Watch out for iced over holes and seams running across the lakes. Be sure you know a safe route on and off the ice. Bring safety essentials like flotation, ice picks and a friend. Area lakes have 3-6 inches of snow coverage.

Center Lake: Caution – the lake aeration system is currently in operation, creating a large open hole.

East Okoboji Lake: Most of the lake is fully iced with an average of 14-plus inches of ice allowing for safe ATV traffic in most areas. Be cautious of the open holes and seams that still persist. Panfishing has been good out from the Ritz; some sorting is needed. Try heavy tungsten jigs, plastics and baits.

Black crappie, good. Bluegill, good. Try jigging with tube jigs or a tungsten jig and live bait.

Ingham Lake: Caution – the lake aeration system is currently in operation. Ice conditions vary heavily around the lake; most areas have 14-plus inches.

Lost Island Lake: Caution – the aeration system is currently in operation on the east side of the lake out from the nature center. This creates a large open hole in the ice. The lake has varying ice conditions with an average of 14-plus inches.

Yellow perch, fair. Lots of sorting may be needed.

Minnewashta Lake: The panfish and crappie bite has been fairly good with the recent onset of ice. The bite is good enough that live bait hasn't been needed for success. Ice conditions are safe enough to venture with ATVs with an average ice thickness of 14-plus inches.

Black crappie, fair. A nice crappie bite can be found with a little movement around the lake. Bluegill, good. Try jigging with tube jigs or a tungsten jig and live bait. Pumpkinseed, fair.

Scharnberg Pond: Trout were stocked in mid-January; fish should be biting well. 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.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Caution, the lake aeration system is currently in operation. The lake is fully iced, with an average ice thickness of 14-plus inches. Be cautious of holes that have frozen over more recently on the main basin.

Walleye, fair.

Spirit Lake: The lake is fully iced, but conditions can vary in areas that had open holes until recently. Ice thickness is 14-plus inches in most places.

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: Ice thickness is 14-plus inches in most places; there still are a handful of seams usually running from points. Know where trouble areas are before you venture on or off the ice. Panfishing has been good with a little movement on the north end and Little Emerson Bay. Try heavy tungsten jigs, plastics or baits.

Black crappie, good. Try jigging with tube jigs or a tungsten jig and live bait. Bluegill, good. Many anglers have been successful off Triboji on the north end of the lake. Try jigging with tube jigs or a tungsten jig and live bait.

Current volunteer hired as new Clay County RSVP coordinator

The Northwest Iowa RSVP program has hired Mary Schomaker as the new Clay County Coordinator on the Spencer campus of Iowa Lakes Community College. Schomaker will be in the RSVP office Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Since 1996, Schomaker has lived and worked in the Spencer area. She brings a long history of volunteer service to her position, including Meals on Wheels, Relay For Life, assisting with Medicare annual enrollment, serving on church committees and as a regional leader for Girl Scouts of America leaders. Prior to retirement, Schomaker was an administrative secretary at Seasons Center, Spencer.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to be the Clay County RSVP Coordinator and look forward to getting acquainted with all the RSVP volunteers, fellow county coordinators, and business leaders in this area," Schomaker said in a news release. "I began as an RSVP volunteer in Clay County in 2009. I truly enjoy my Pen Pals and Food Pantry involvement with RSVP as a volunteer and look forward to helping others find their service fit."

Schomaker will coordinate current RSVP volunteers, recruit new volunteers, work with partner volunteer host sites and oversee the RSVP Literacy Partners program with all area schools.

RSVP is a national AmeriCorps Seniors program that matches volunteers with service opportunities to meet community needs. Although RSVP volunteers must be 55 or older, they can serve people of all ages. RSVP has been sponsored in Northwest Iowa by Iowa Lakes Community College since 1977.

To learn more about RSVP volunteer opportunities in Clay County, contact Schomaker at (712) 262-8858 or [email protected].

Fair & Events Center announces 2022 winter schedule to help cure cabin fever

The Clay County Fair & Events Center announces the 2022 Winter Event Series, which will be held in the Clay County Regional Events Center.

The four events, which will feature activities for all ages, are as follows:

Family Fest – Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Celebrating its 11th anniversary, this fun-filled festival allows families to enjoy time together through educational hands-on activities, Safety City, YMCA Kids Zone, 4-H Find-Out Day, local non-profit displays, food, performances by musician Phil Baker, and the Activity Stage. Family Fest is free for all to attend.

William Lawson featuring the Roe Family Singers – Friday, March 18, 7 p.m.

Considered a child prodigy, William is a talented mandolin, guitar, banjo and dobro player from Webb who by the age of 14 has already played on stage alongside such greats as Bobby Osborne and Ricky Skaggs.

Joining him will be the Roe Family Singers, who blend old-time sounds from barn dances, fiddle pulls, and county fairs with the rock and roll passion of youth. Featuring banjo, autoharp, guitar and Appalachian clogging, the band and family of fans regularly fill Minneapolis' 331 Club every Monday night.

Tickets are required.

Artrageous – Thursday, March 24, 7 p.m.

This one-of-a-kind "all Arts" show, often described as Blue Man Group meets Picasso, is amazing crowds across the globe. Step into this outrageous adventure of arts: The ONLY show where you can witness the fusion of live art, rock concert, imaginative movement, vocal performance, comedy, blacklight Bunraku and Artpunk wear. Be prepared to join in on the high energy, heart pounding action as arts and music collide on one stage.

Tickets are required.

Northwest Beer Fest featuring The Pork Tornadoes – Saturday, April 2, 3 p.m.

Formerly known as "Rock'n Bac'n Brew'n," this favorite event is back for its seventh year. Enjoy craft beer, local spirits, great food, plus a rockin' good time ending with one of the region's most well-known bands, The Pork Tornadoes.

Sampling from local breweries and distilleries will be from 3-6 p.m. In addition to samples, the Iowa Beer Bus will be back serving pints from your favorite brewery, and food trucks will be on site. The Pork Tornadoes will take the stage beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are required.