Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
SK Repair+ holds ribbon cutting: SK Repair+ held its ribbon cutting with members of the Hartley Chamber of Commerce on March 4. The full-service automotive shop is located in the former D's Auto Repair building on Eighth Avenue Southeast in Hartley. Owners Stephen and Matt Embrey have 25 years of combined experience working as mechanics. The brothers opened the shop late last fall. Pictured here, Stephen cuts the ribbon as his dad, Kenny, and Matt look on.
Students invited to Military Academy Day
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) will host a Military Academy Day for Iowa students in grades 8-12 who are interested in applying to one of our nation's five military academies. Representatives from all five academies will be present to answer questions and provide advice.
The five academies are the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
"I invite every student in the 4th District who is interested in applying to one of our nation's military academies to attend my Military Academy Day," Feenstra said in a news release. "This will be a great opportunity to better understand the application process and meet with other Iowa students who share similar interests."
The event will be held at Iowa Central Community College in the Triton Café Boardroom on Tuesday, April 4, from 4:30-7 p.m. The address is One Triton Circle in Fort Dodge, and the program will begin promptly at 5 p.m.
For more information please contact Jim Oberhelman, U.S. Military Academy Coordinator in Rep. Feenstra's office, at (515) 302-7060.
NCC seeks businesses for 8th Grade Career Day
Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon is seeking businesses to be a part of 8th Grade Career Day on Friday, April 14.
This is the second year that NCC will offer a more hands-on Career Exploration format for over 1,500 eighth grade students from schools throughout northwest Iowa. Businesses that would like to connect with these students through a hands-on activity about your career, which could include a simulator or other hands-on activities, should email [email protected] by Friday, March 31 to sign up for a booth.
Please include your space requirements and access needed for electricity. Please bring your own extension cords. A catered meal will be provided for presenters.
If you are not sure how to create a hands-on activity for your career, please email NCC for assistance.
Career Day Scholarship applications due April 5
The application acceptance period for the O'Brien County Career Day Scholarship remains open through April 5.
In partnership with local businesses, O'Brien County Career Day awards two successful applicants 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.
To be eligible to receive the Career Day Scholarship in 2023, an applicant must have received or will receive a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma in 2017 to 2023 from a participating school (Sheldon, H-M-S, South O'Brien or MMCRU) and be or will be employed or self-employed in O'Brien County; and/or be 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/career-day/career-day-scholarship-2023.
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.
Clay County Fair Queen apps being accepted
The search is underway for the next Clay County Fair Queen.
The winner will be crowned Sunday, April 30, and reign over this year's Clay County Fair. She will also compete for the Iowa State Fair Queen title in August.
Females between the ages of 16 and 21 by Aug. 9, the first day of the 2023 state fair, may apply. Candidates must never been married, cannot be a professional model, cannot represent any other organization, and must reside in Clay County or an adjoining county if the majority of her activities are in Clay County. Applicants must be a member of at least one service organization such as 4-H, Girl Scouts or a church group. Eligibility is not limited to 4-H or FFA membership.
The Clay County Fair Queen will represent the Clay County Fair at the Flagfest Parade in June, the Iowa State Fair during the queen contest, selected celebrations during the summer, and the Clay County Fair in September. The fair will be flexible with appearance dates if the queen has educational conflicts during her reign.
Applications are available online at https://claycountyfair.com/get-involved/fair-queen/. The application must be submitted to the Clay County Fair Queen Contest, PO Box 527, Spencer, IA 51301 or emailed to [email protected] on or before April 10. A committee will then select the finalists who will compete for the title on Sunday, April 30 at the Clay County Regional Events Center.
Finalists will be notified by April 17 and will receive more information regarding the next phase of the competition. Candidates will be judged on personality, attitude, awareness, leadership and citizenship, contribution to the community, overall appearance, charm, poise and her three-minute or less self-expression portion. All judges' decisions will be final.
Call the Clay County Fair at (712) 580-3000 or email [email protected] with any questions.
Deadline to apply for OBCCF grants is approaching
The deadline for submitting an application for this year's grant cycle for the O'Brien County Community Foundation (OBCCF) is Saturday, April 15. Applications are available online at http://www.siouxlandcommunityfoundation.org under the affiliates tab.
Since the first grants were made in 2006, over $1.5 million has been awarded to nonprofit organizations to help support present and emerging needs in O'Brien County in the areas of arts and culture, community betterment/beautification, education, environment, health and human services.
Those eligible to apply include nonprofit organizations and units of local government that serve O'Brien County and are tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Non 501(c)(3) groups such as service clubs and organizations may apply as long as the group has partnered with an eligible 501(c)(3) organization that has agreed to serve as a fiscal sponsor to receive the grant if awarded.
The O'Brien County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Siouxland Community Foundation. Questions about the grant program or online application process may be directed to (712) 293-3303.
