Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Hot pork at Red’s
Red’s Catering in downtown Hartley will be serving hot pork on Wednesday, March 2 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Pick up in the front. See the ad on Page 3 for more details.
Bald Eagle Watch is must-attend event
The O’Brien County Conservation Board invites everyone to the Prairie Heritage Center on Saturday, March 5 for an enjoyable morning of viewing bald eagles, participating in activities and learning more about our national symbol.
The annual Bald Eagle Watch is a come-and-go program from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Conservation staff and other volunteers will be on hand to help you spot and identify eagles and other birds. You can enjoy different hands-on activities, both indoors and outdoors, for people of all ages at the Prairie Heritage Center.
Saving Our Avian Resources (SOAR) Executive Director Kay Neumann will share an educational program about the bald eagle and raptors at 11 a.m. The presentation will also feature one of SOAR’s non-releasable education ambassador bald eagles. You won’t want to miss this fantastic presentation. To learn more about SOAR visit https://soarraptors.org/.
Bring the whole family for a morning full of learning and fun. Contact the Prairie Heritage Center at (712) 295-7200 for more information about this great event.
Blood drive March 7 at Spencer
LifeServe Blood Center is conducting a drive at Southpark Mall, 901 11th Street SW in Spencer, on Monday, March 7, from 1-5 p.m.
Appointments are required. Schedule a donation appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903.
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.
Growing Up Wild training offered at PHC
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is teaming up with O’Brien County Conservation Naturalist Abbie Parker to host “Growing Up Wild” training on Saturday, March 26, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Prairie Heritage Center near Peterson.
“Growing Up Wild” is a workshop for early childhood professionals, childcare providers and teachers who work with children ages 3-7. The training focuses on reconnecting children with nature by building on their sense of wonder and exploring the world just outside the door.
According to Lori Korthals, an Extension specialist in family wellbeing, discussion and activities will directly relate to advancing young children’s physical and intellectual development. Growing Up Wild will feature hands-on activities and resources focused on age-appropriate practices and concepts in math, science, language, literacy, healthy living, play and creativity.
The workshop is for adult participants only. Attendees can then take what they learn as well as the resources provided at training back to their own school or childcare center. Attendees are asked to dress casually in attire appropriate for outdoor activities.
To register for the program, visit https://go.iastate.edu/S8BCDO. There is no charge to attend. For more information, contact the O’Brien County Extension office at (712) 957-5045 or email [email protected].
H-M-S menus
Thursday, Feb. 24: Breakfast – Waffles, fruit, juice; Lunch – Pork chop patty, mashed potatoes, corn, roll (9-12), pears.
Friday, Feb. 25: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice: Lunch – French bread pizza, romaine salad, tomatoes, oranges.
Monday, Feb. 28: 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, Feb. 24: Breakfast – French toast sticks, cereal, toast, fruit, juice, yogurt; Lunch – Chicken patty on bun, baked beans, banana.
Friday, Feb. 25: Breakfast – Donut, cereal, toast, fruit, juice, yogurt; Lunch – Popcorn chicken, baby carrots, peaches.
Monday, Feb. 28: Breakfast – Cereal, toast, fruit, juice, yogurt; Lunch – Chicken nuggets, tri-tater, corn, applesauce.
Milk is served with each meal. Menus are subject to change at any time.
Author to discuss new book at HPL Saturday
Local author Roger Stoner will be having a discussion of his new book, “An Unfortunate War: The Sioux Uprising of 1862,” and conducting a book signing at the Hartley Public Library at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26.
Stoner was a columnist for 15-1/2 years and has published several historical novels after a grade school field trip to the Gardner Cabin on West Lake Okoboji, where he learned the frightening tale of the violence which is commonly known as “The Spirit Lake Massacre.” His short stories have been published in anthologies about growing up in small towns in the Midwest, including “Knee High by the Fourth of July,” “Amber Waves of Grain” and “True Cow Tales.” He has also had magazine articles published in “Fishing & Hunting Iowa” and “Successful Farming.”
“An Unfortunate War” describes the events leading up to the Sioux Uprising of 1862 and the aftermath. The story begins by telling the story of how the United States government acquired the lands occupied by the Dakotah (Santee Sioux) people during the first half of the 19th Century. The focus is on the series of treaties that were negotiated with the Santee people which systematically purchased their ancestral homelands. With each new treaty they retained less and less terrain upon which to make even a subsistence living. Excessive dependence upon annuity payments promised in the treaties was the result.
Against the sweeping backdrop of a rapidly expanding nation, “An Unfortunate War” explains the idiosyncrasies associated with the United States government policies toward the original Americans living in southern Minnesota. Unrest due to these policies caused an uprising leading to “An Unfortunate War.”
Guided tour of Charleston, S.C. at Hartley library
The Hartley Public Library will host a virtual guided walking tour of Charleston, S.C. on Monday March 7, at 6 p.m. in the back room of the library.
The tour will discuss Charleston’s history and architecture, and participants can sample sweet tea and a Charleston favorite: benne wafers. Come get a taste of travel without leaving town.
Conversations with Conservation will ask “Why Prairie”
Join the O’Brien County Conservation Board for Conversations with Conservation on Thursday, March 3 at 5:30 p.m. This adult-focused series will be held at the Prairie Heritage Center.
Conversations with Conservation will focus on learning about an interesting topic with a guest speaker who is passionate and knowledgeable about their topic. March’s guest is Amy Crouch with The Nature Conservancy. Her talk is titled “Why Prairie?” and participants will learn about over 10,000 years of history in 60 minutes.
Crouch will share why and how prairies formed, how they’ve persisted for so long, why they’re endangered and how we can make sure they’re around for future generations. The presentation will begin shortly after 5:30 p.m.
The program series will be held at the Prairie Heritage Center on the first Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m., unless noted differently. To see the upcoming schedule for Conversations with Conservation visit http://www.prairieheritagecenter.org. For questions or more information, contact Naturalist Abbie Parker at (712) 295-7200 or [email protected].
Fraud prevention workshop March 3 at Sutherland
Protecting savings and assets becomes increasingly important as people age, and unfortunately, older adults can be attractive targets for fraudsters.
To help protect local citizens from fraud, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host “Stay Independent: Spot, Stop and Avoid Fraud” on Thursday, March 3, from 10-11 a.m. at the Willoway Complex in Sutherland. The workshop is free to attend but preregistration is required.
According to Carol Ehlers, Extension human sciences specialist in family wellbeing and finance, the program is designed to raise awareness among older adults and their caregivers on how to prevent financial exploitation and fraud. The curriculum is updated often to reflect new information on frauds and scams, and how to prevent them.
“Spot, Stop and Avoid Fraud” is a part of the Stay Independent Health Aging series. The free workshop focuses on frauds and scams, including what they are and which ones are common in Iowa; why the older population is a target for frauds and scams; the warning signs of common frauds and scams; and ways to protect yourself from frauds and scams.
The Stay Independent program is geared towards adults 60-plus and/or their caregivers. The program will help Iowans identify warning signs of common scams and review ways to protect their finances.
To preregister or for more information call the O’Brien County Extension office at (712) 957-5045.
“Gardening with Children” training offered at Spirit Lake
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host “Gardening with Children” childcare provider training on Tuesday, March 15, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Dickinson County Extension office in Spirit Lake.
The training, which is approved by the Department of Human Services for two credit hours, provides adults with gardening ideas and the ability to recognize and implement best practices relative to nutrition, physical activity, health and safety for the children under their care. Attendees will engage in experiential-learning gardening activities, including crafts, learning activities, literacy, container gardening basics and taste testing.
According to Amy Jones, an Extension sciences specialist in food and health, gardening promotes healthy lifestyles, early learning experiences, social development and environmental stewardship among young children.
Registration fee for “Gardening with Children” is $10 and can be completed online at https://go.iastate.edu/KPUC1X. Registration deadline is March 13.
For more information, contact the Dickinson County Extension office at (712) 336-3488.
Farm succession workshop March 16 at Spirit Lake
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach invites area farmers and livestock producers to attend “Farm Succession for You” on Wednesday, March 16, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Dickinson County Community Room, located in the Expo Building at the fairgrounds in Spirit Lake.
The program is designed to provide both practical experience and real research-based technical expertise to guide farmers and ag businesses in building their succession plan.
According to Madeleine Bretey-Smith, Extension ag program coordinator, the 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, with the following topics featured: “Succession: What is your vision? What are your goals?”; “Ideas for a Successful and Harmonious Farm Transition”; “Succession Planning Legal Review”; and “Beginning Farmer Loan and Tax Credit Programs.”
The program will address the importance of creating a successful transition plan that is legally binding and secure. As goals, life and laws change, succession and transition planning are an essential part of a successful farm business.
Registration fee for the program is $30 per person or $40 per married couple. This fee includes one set of resource materials, as well as a noon meal and refreshments.
Individuals planning to attend should register by phone to ISU Extension and Outreach Dickinson County at (712) 336-3488 or ISU Extension and Outreach Emmet County at (712) 362-3434. Questions can also be directed to either office.
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.
VITA tax site open in Spencer thru March 17
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Clay County continues to offer free tax preparation and electronic filing for low-to-moderate income Iowans through the IRS VITA program.
Staff members Sarah Dirks and Michele Hogrefe are trained, tested and certified VITA volunteers for Clay County. Their office is located in Spencer.
Appointments are required and are still available March 3 and March 17. To schedule an appointment, call (712) 262-2264.
3 local Al Anon meetings scheduled
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.
All are welcome to attend. Visit http://www.al-anon.org for more information.
