08/01/24: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Co-ops donate to NCC Powerline program

Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon received a $15,000 gift from the combined efforts of North West Rural Electric Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative. From the funds received, new lab equipment will be added to the NCC Powerline program.

The funds reflect a combined total donation match from Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Matching Donation Fund. Headquartered in Bismarck, N.D., Basin Electric is the primary power supplier for Lyon County Rural Electric Cooperative, Osceola Electric Cooperative, North West REC and Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative. The fund exists to provide charitable matching gifts to a wide range of programs for the greatest social and economic benefit to its members, employees, and the communities they serve.

The local rural electric cooperatives have had a strong relationship with Northwest Iowa Community College, as it has supported the operational needs of the cooperative for many years. Many powerline workers employed by these entities have graduated from NCC’s Powerline program.

Senior softball players named all-academic

Senior athletes with cumulative grade point averages of 3.75 or higher are eligible for inclusion on the War Eagle Conference’s all-academic list for their respective sports.

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn seniors named all-academic for softball are Delaney Murphy, Abigail Otto and Kinsey Schirmer.

Everly native lands $10K scholarship

Carissa Doran, an Everly native, was recently selected for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (PCAOB) PCAOB Scholars Program. The PCAOB Scholars Program seeks to benefit students who are likely to become auditors and to make a difference to students who might otherwise choose a different career path.

Doran will receive a $10,000 scholarship to cover educational expenses. She is a master’s accounting student at the University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business, having recently graduated with her undergraduate degree in May 2024. Doran has accepted an audit assistant position with Deloitte in Tempe, Ariz., which she will start after finishing her master’s degree in 2025.

NCC on track for record enrollment year

Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon is poised to achieve a historic enrollment record for the 2023-24 academic year. The college reported large enrollment numbers for the first two semesters, and an increase for the start of the summer semester signaling the potential for the highest annual enrollment in its history.

The fall 2023 semester witnessed significant enrollment, becoming the second-largest fall cohort since becoming a college in 1966, with 1,792 students. That is second only to the previous fall enrollment. Credit hours increased by 2.68 percent, underscoring continued growth in academic engagement.

Spring 2024 saw enrollment reach a record-breaking 1,952 students, marking a 5.51 percent increase over the previous spring’s record of 1,850. This achievement represents the largest spring enrollment since the college’s founding.

Enrollments for summer 2023 saw a headcount of 805 students with a total credit count of 4,427.5. Summer 2024 continued this trend with a headcount of 824 students and a credit count of 4,645. This represents a 2.36 percent increase in headcount and a 4.91 percent increase in credit count from 2023 to 2024.

Farmland Leasing Meetings to be held in August

Farmland Leasing Meetings for agriculture property owners, tenants, ag business representatives and lenders will be held throughout northwest Iowa in early August.

Each workshop will discuss farmland ownership and tenure, cash rental rates and land values, methods to improve leasing arrangements and determine fair rent, Iowa law for terminating a lease and legal aspects of farmland leasing, an update on agriculture markets and the new Iowa agriculture laws, and resources from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“These meetings are designed for both ag property owners and tenants,” said Gary Wright, Extension farm management specialist, in a news release. “We will focus greatly on landowner and tenant information such as rental rates and land values. Successful ag decision-makers will want to gain the most current and accurate information as they finalize 2024 and look towards the 2025 crop year.”

Upcoming workshop options in this area are:

• Tuesday, Aug. 6, 9 a.m.: ISU Extension and Outreach Clay County Office, 1515 West 18th Street, Spencer; Register to (712) 262-2264.

• Wednesday, Aug. 7, 9 a.m.: Northwest Iowa Community College, Building H, Room 520, 603 West Park Street, Sheldon; Register to (712) 957-5045.

• Thursday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m.: ISU Extension and Outreach Dickinson County Office, 1600 15th Street, Spirit Lake; Preregister to (712) 336-3488.

Meetings are approximately 2-1/2 hours in length, and all registrants receive a leasing arrangement book as well as access to research-based resources from ISU Extension and Outreach. Specific topic depth and breadth at each meeting will vary to best suit participants’ needs and wants, but individuals need only attend one meeting.

There is a $20 per individual or $30 per couple registration fee for those who register with the Extension office hosting the meeting at least two days prior to the workshop date. A $5 fee will be added for late registrations.

“We encourage individuals to call in and register so that we can have adequate space and materials prepared,” Wright said. “We do not want to turn anyone away or run short on leasing books.”

For more information regarding land leasing and value or the upcoming workshops, contact Wright at (712) 223-1574 or [email protected].

Grant to fund CDL program at NCC

Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon and 10 other community colleges have received a grant from the State of Iowa totaling $4.8 million, which will provide an opportunity to support CDL programs.

“Here in Iowa, we need to do everything we can to help get more skilled, qualified drivers on the road, and that work has to include easing the pathway to a CDL,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The $301,000 grant allows NCC to build and purchase CDL training infrastructure, which will allow future students to obtain their CDL licensure, construct a new storage building and purchase two truck-trailer semi combinations and a bus. A testing permit for a CDL permit will make NCC a fully accredited license testing center, which will allow for NCC to train 80 additional students annually.

Director of Workforce and Economic Development Jason Anderson has been working to get all required documents gathered and putting together plans for what the future of the CDL department is going to look like. Allowing these upgrades will provide students to have a “one-stop-shop,” where they will be able to test for permits, take the course and test to become certified.

Jeremy Sprock, a native of Rock Rapids, has joined the NCC team as the CDL Trainer/Examiner. Sprock has previous experience driving truck for the Lyon County Secondary Roads, and was also transportation director at George-Little Rock and Central Lyon for the last 18 years. Sprock plans to become DOT certified, which will enable him to provide Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) training to future students.

The new building is already in the early construction stages and will be located south of Building C on NCC’s campus, next to parking lot No. 2, where current CDL training takes place. By the beginning of January, NCC will be a fully licensed testing center. Anderson hopes the program will be fully equipped and ready to go by the start of the summer of 2025.

Kiwanis starts ‘Sweet Dreams for Spencer’

The Spencer Kiwanis After Five Club is partnering with the SCT Playhouse Basil & Mildred Deegan Children’s Theatre thanks to a grant from the Clay County Community Foundation for a program dubbed, “Sweet Dreams for Spencer.”

The program’s goal is to provide replacement household items to kids (ages: infant to 17) that were destroyed by the recent flooding that has impacted the Spencer and surrounding northwest Iowa communities.

The “Sweet Dreams for Spencer” program plans to provide the following: A twin or full size mattress; bed frame and headboard; bedding including sheets, pillows and comforter; book for bedtime stories; and a small stuffed tiger.

Spencer After Five Kiwanis is a local group of like-minded volunteers who strive to make a difference for local youth and families. The club focuses specifically on kids and has been successful in providing college scholarships and community programs that are specific to kids. The club is part of a global network of clubs and members who partner with each other and with organizations whose missions align serving kids who need them most. Program Partners include: Spencer After Five Kiwanis, The Basil & Mildred Deegan Children’s Theatre at Spencer Community Theatre, The Clay County Community Foundation, #SpencerReads and the Spencer Public Library.

For more information and to access the simple application form, please visit the SCT Playhouse Box Office, Spencer Public Library or Speed Printers offices.

NWI fishing report

The 5 mph ordinance has been lifted on all lakes. Water is receding around an inch a day on many lakes. Most ramps and accesses are out of the water. Area water temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s.

East Okoboji Lake: Lake level is 1.4 feet above crest. Most boat ramps and docks are now functional.

Black crappie, good: Bluegill, good. Many bluegill have been seen and are easily catchable around functional docks. Largemouth bass, fair. Bass are a little ways off shore; you can still find some around docks and other structures. Yellow perch, good. Many perch have been seen; sorting will most likely be needed.