05/12/22: Community Calendar

Volunteer umpires needed in Hartley

The summer baseball and softball program in Hartley is need of umpires for the summer season. The rec department is also in need of a director.

See the ads on Page 5 for more details.

Receive Division II ratings at festival

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School's concert band and mixed chorus both received Division II ratings at the Large Group Music Festival on May 7. H-M-S was the host site for Class 2A bands and vocal groups.

The concert band's selections were "Kentucky 1800" and "Sleepsong," while the chorus performed "The Heavens Are Telling" and "If Music Be the Food of Love."

Ag Hall of Fame nominations being accepted

The O'Brien County Agriculture Steering Committee has opened nominations to the 2022 Agriculture Hall of Fame from now until June 17.

The committee established the annual Agriculture Hall of Fame Awards in 2001 to recognize outstanding citizens who make significant contributions to the agricultural community of O'Brien County and to encourage participation in the ag sector. In 2016, nominations were opened up to businesses that make a difference in the O'Brien County ag community.

Any person/business residing in O'Brien County or engaging in ag-related activity in the county is eligible for this award. The successful candidate must have demonstrated leadership, stewardship, community service and service to the agricultural industry. Nomination forms are available at O'Brien County Economic Development or the Farm Bureau office both in Primghar and on the website, http://www.obriencounty.com. The Hall of Fame award winner will be announced at the O'Brien County Fair just prior to the fair king and queen coronation ceremony on July 25.

The Value Added Ag Steering Committee was formed in 1998 when the O'Brien County Economic Development Corporation identified the need for a coordinated effort to promote value-added agriculture. The ag committee is comprised of a diverse group of producers, community and agri-business leaders that will search out and assist with the establishment of value-added agriculture to create economic opportunities for residents and to develop marketable products using ag resources in a manner consistent with the committee's quality of life statement.

For additional information on O'Brien County Agriculture Hall of Fame nominations, contact Kiana Johnson, O'Brien County Economic Development at (712) 957-1313 or e-mail [email protected].

NCC, ILCC are Top 2 online colleges in Iowa

University HQ, a college data center for higher learning, has ranked two area community colleges at the top of their 2022 Best Online Colleges in Iowa list. Northwest Iowa Community College is ranked No. 1 and Iowa Lakes Community College is No. 2.

Ranking factors included for this study are admission rate, graduation rate, net price, online availability, retention rate and student-to-faculty ratio.

University HQ uses the most reliable data sources available. They compile information from government and industry sources which are consistent, reliable and unbiased. The same data sources are used so the comparisons are even and consistent.

Iowa conifers struggling with winter burn

Iowa Department of Natural Resource foresters are receiving reports of moderate to severe winter burn damage to arborvitae and white pine trees across Iowa.

"The ground remained frozen for a long time at the start of this year and the ambient temperatures were above freezing," Tivon Feeley, DNR forest health forester said in a news release. "The tree is forced to use their water reserves in the needles, but can't absorb new water from the frozen soil. The lack of water causes the trees to dry out."

Winter burn is common on conifers planted in open, unprotected locations exposed to severe winter weather. Symptoms include browning or bleaching of the needles, trees losing needles, and tree death. These symptoms become more apparent as the day becomes warmer and tend to be worse on the side of the tree exposed to sunlight or wind during the winter months.

If needles on the tree are dead but buds are alive, new plant foliage will regrow to replace the winter burned foliage. If both the buds and needles are dead, the tree will not recover. The tree will need to be removed.

There is no way to prevent winter burn. You can reduce the risks by properly mulching around your conifers and making sure the tree is well-hydrated before it goes dormant in the fall. Watering is especially important in drought years.

The DNR cautions planting conifers in newly planted windbreaks. Deciduous trees generally grow faster, have fewer disease and insect problems, and provide faster protection. Contact your local district forester for further assistance.

NWI fishing report

The walleye season opened back up May 7 for Spirit Lake, East Okoboji and West Okoboji. Most courtesy docks are in place. Area water temperatures are lower with the recent cold weather. The Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery currently has walleye and muskellunge eggs in the hatchery.

East Okoboji Lake: Lake temperature was in the low 50s on May 5. The water level was 2 inches over crest. The walleye season opened May 7.

There has been a fairly good crappie bite recently. Anglers using electronics have been fairly successful finding schools of fish.

Black crappie, good. Bluegill, fair. Yellow bass, fair.

Minnewashta Lake: Black crappie, good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye, fair.

Spirit Lake: Water temperature was in the high 40s on May 5. The lake was 20 inches below crest making launching boats more difficult. Courtesy docks are in place.

Black crappie, fair. Use a tube jig and bobber. Bluegill, fair. Yellow perch, fair.

West Okoboji Lake: Water temperature was in the mid-40s on May 5. The water level was 2 inches over crest.

Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair.

Family caregivers of military members need support

Many military service members and veterans with physical and mental illnesses and injuries receive care and support from family and friends. These caregivers help those they care for have better quality of life. Yet playing this role can impose a substantial physical, emotional and financial toll on caregivers.

According to Malisa Rader, a human sciences specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, veterans suffer more frequently from traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, diabetes and paralysis or spinal cord injury. Caregivers of service members and veterans sacrifice their livelihoods, health and wellbeing as they support care receivers through panic attacks and chronic mental and physical conditions, and help them navigate the health care system. They also save the United States $14 billion each year as voluntary labor.

Extension is offering a telehealth course titled "Powerful Tools for Caregivers of Military Members and Veterans" starting Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. This educational offering provides information, support strategies, communication techniques, stress reduction ideas and resources to assist family caregivers of veterans and military personnel with their concerns related to caregiving. The course will be led by certified class leaders, most with military experience.

To register or find more information, visit https://go.iastate.edu/T3Q7RS or contact [email protected].