Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

07/13/23: Community Calendar

2023-24 registration is July 25 at CC/E

Registration for the 2023-24 school year at Clay Central/Everly Elementary will be held on Tuesday, July 25 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sign-up will be for grades PK-6 only.

See the ad on Page 3 for more details.

Correct date for Hartley blood drive

The correct date for the next LifeServe Blood Center community blood drive in Hartley is Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Upcoming activities at Hartley library

Children’s story time at the Hartley Public Library will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 17. An adult craft time featuring farmhouse rag wreaths will be held at the library at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18.

A scavenger hunt is planned for the next summer reading program session on Wednesday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m.

Food distribution at Trinity UCC

The Food Bank of Iowa’s mobile pantry program will be conducted on Wednesday, July 19, starting at 4 p.m. at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. The program is available free of charge and geared toward individuals in need of food assistance.

Participants are asked to stay in their vehicles and line up on the east side of the parking lot. The food will be brought to you as you drive under the canopy.

Red’s Catering menu

Red’s Catering in downtown Hartley will be serving four carryout specials on Wednesday, July 19 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

See the ad on Page 3 for more details.

Birder workshop July 26 at Oneota Park

Dive into the world of birding during the “Building Better Birder Workshop” on Wednesday, July 26. The event will be held at Oneota Park, which is located off 10th Avenue SE, south of Spencer High School.

Participants can come for as many or as few sessions as they would like. The schedule includes: 7-10 a.m. Sunrise Bird Hike; 6-7 p.m. Nocturnal Raptors of Iowa presentation; 7:15-8:30 p.m. Sunset Bird Hike; and 9-11 p.m. Owl Prowl Walk.

Everyone is welcome and no registration is required. Contact Naturalist Bree Blom at (712) 262-2187 for more information.

HLC food pantry

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.

Royal Fun Days runs July 14-16

Royal is prepping to get rowdy this weekend.

The community will host its annual Royal Fun Days event July 14-16. A variety of events are planned, with a few new attractions thrown into the mix.

Things kick off Friday with a community meal, karaoke at Haggy’s and a movie in the park. Saturday is the most jam-packed day, with a long list of events planned from sunup to sundown. New this year is the vendor show on Third Avenue.

The firemen’s breakfast, cornhole tournament and other events close out the fun on Sunday.

Youth mental health first aid training

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will provide Youth Mental Health First Aid for Clay County and surrounding community members next month at Spencer.

“Research from the National Alliance for Mental Illness shows that 1-in-5 teens and young adults live with a mental health condition,” said Demi Johnson, behavioral health program specialist. “Additionally, over 64 percent of youth living with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment, according to recent data from Mental Health America.”

Youth Mental Health First Aid provides adults with tools they can use to identify when a youth (ages 6-18) might be struggling with a mental health and/or substance use problem in their life.

Participants will also learn how to connect youth to appropriate support and resources when necessary. A five-step action plan will be taught to guide participants through the process of reaching out and offering appropriate support.

Youth Mental Health First Aid will be offered on Wednesday, Aug. 16, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Clay County Fairgrounds’ 4-H auditorium. The program is offered at no charge, with all registered participants receiving a complimentary catered lunch.

Spots are limited and pre-registration is required by Wednesday, Aug. 2. To register, go to https://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/MHFA.

For more information, contact Johnson at [email protected].

Vegetable Gardening 101 at Osceola Co. Fair

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host Vegetable Gardening 101 on Friday, July 21 at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. at the Osceola County Fair 4-H Building in Sibley, as part of Women’s Night at the Fair.

The program is designed for the beginner to seasoned gardener to learn more about horticulture and vegetable gardening.

“Whether you are just beginning to learn about horticulture or are a seasoned gardener, you’re invited to learn and share with us at the fair,” said Sandy Lamfers, Osceola County Extension Office assistant.

The program will focus on vegetable gardening, raised bed gardening, heirloom plants, helpful and harmful insects, diseases and pest control.

Both sessions are free and will cover the same topics with door prizes and giveaways, so the public is invited to come at either time, whichever works best for them.

For more information, contact Lamfers at (712) 754-3648 or [email protected].