Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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To the editor: I am so grateful for a small town newspaper like The Hartley Sentinel. There was a time when smaller towns were once productive and prosperous. The Hartley Sentinel was the hub for all surrounding small town news. Decades later, some of these same towns are now “bedroom” towns. The Hartley Sentinel has remained the hub for reporting news from those towns. I really appreciate the “From Our Files” column. It takes me back to the days of Yager’s Department Store, Elsie’s Cafe, Russell’s Bakery, Ketelsen Hardware and Rose Furnitur...
A changing of the seasons is upon us here in northwest Iowa. Though my grass quit growing a long time ago, I’m noticing more leaves in the yard each morning. There’s an occasional bite in the air and the days are shorter now, too – fall has arrived. I’m pretty happy about it. I know that’s an unpopular opinion, as summer is usually most folks’ favorite season. I’m a fall and winter guy through and through – mainly because I can be a hermit. I’m tired of having an itinerary all the time. That doesn’t mean I have nothing to do. I keep making e...
Have you ever had times in your life that made you say, “What an adventure that was!” I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that some of my adventures came completely without warning while others came by design. Often the end result left me shaking my head, but sometimes it left me smiling profusely. I prefer the latter. My life has generally been pretty low-key, depending who I compare myself to. I was a farm kid who never really traveled, and without television until age 11, my world was pretty sm...
A brief glance at the calendar this week had my eyes popping. We’re nearly halfway through September and the calendar shows no signs of slowing down. Snow will be flying before we know it. The arrival of fall was welcomed in my house. While I know it’s still technically summer, school has started, which means it’s fall. My kids were more than ready for classes to begin and so were we – summer break had certainly run its course. The school year started out rough for kindergartener Cece, but it had nothing to do with the classroom. She fell of...
I have fielded a bunch of emails, text messages and phone calls in the days since the school shooting in Winder, Georgia. Each one is from Perry, Iowa. Each one had the same question for me and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Each one came from a parent, teacher or other concerned person asking, why isn’t the public allowed to read the official findings by state agents about the shooting at Perry High School and Middle School last Jan. 4? High School Principal Dan Marburger and Ahmir J...
Author’s Note: This is the eighth of a series of devotionals from Psalm 146. “The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;...” – Psalm 146:8a We are living in a time when it seems that lies and deceptive notions are flooding every form of media – both conservative and liberal, Christian and non-Christian. The sad part is that there are many people believing the lies, the false narratives and ideologies that are leading this nation and even the world down the path of bondage, corruption and sexual pe...
During the 40 years I was a newspaper editor/manager, I strived to ensure the staff incorporated context into their articles. Sometimes, in a journalistic shorthand, that was described “the Iowa angle.” If there was a mass murder in Iowa, I would dip into my stash of clippings and find the list of the worst mass killings in Iowa history. That allowed us to give context to the magnitude of the tragedy. The same with tornadoes and floods. How does the number of deaths compare with the worst of...
Several years ago when we were still in Hartley, I went out to get in the van and it was covered with what looked like clear Karo syrup. I had no idea what it was. Our van sat in the driveway under a fairly large black walnut tree. But what in the world was that sticky substance? Was it something from the tree? I wasted no time getting to the car wash and then I called the garden center in Spencer. He had the cause right on the tip of his tongue. "You have aphids and the syrup is their honeydew,...
To the editor: The 100th O’Brien County Fair, held July 19-25 in Primghar, is in the history books. O’Brien County’s citizens and visitors were treated to an enjoyable, educational and exceptional experience all week long. The fair board and volunteers, with an assist from comfortable weather, did a wonderful job. Numerous 4-H and FFA alumni attended festivities throughout the special week. As coordinators (Carol McDowell and Ardith Evenson) of the first ever “Traditional Cinnamon Roll Contest” held Wednesday, July 24, we extend a heartfelt tha...
We packed up the SUV and headed to the Black Hills late last month. While it was nice to get away, I was more tired coming home than I was leaving. We visited some of the usual sites out there – Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park and other spots. It was beautiful, if not boiling hot. The car thermometer hit 110 degrees on the way out. Luckily the ol' A/C held up and didn't suffer the same fate as our unit at home. I hadn't been to Mount Rushmore in 24 years. I'm happy to report it is still t...
To the editor: When Mr. Trump was shot, Democrats spoke up to support him and his recovery. When news broke that President Biden had Covid and would need to be isolated, a word of support for the president’s recovery would have been appropriate. But Trump and his MAGA Republicans attacked him. The Republican Party with Mr. Trump as their leader has become mean, nasty and encourages violence toward those that disagree with them. So much for their rhetoric to unite the country. Shirley Mori Sorenson, West Des Moines...
To the editor: Last month, Summit Carbon Solutions received a conditional permit from the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) to construct a 680-mile CO2 pipeline across Iowa. The proposed pipeline, named the Midwest Carbon Express (MCE), will carry pressurized CO2 from ethanol plants across five Midwestern states to North Dakota where it will be permanently sequestered underground. The investment company will then earn billions of dollars annually in 45Q carbon tax credits. Summit recently filed additional applications with the IUC to bring 16...
What do you dream about? If you're like me, you don't remember dreams long enough to know what they're about. Sometimes my night dreams and daydreams run together, and then I really get confused! Hopefully I'm not the only one with these problems. I've been a daydreamer all my life. When I was in grade school, I often got in trouble for not paying attention to what was going on in class. I would sit there and try to listen to the teacher or work on an assignment, but something would invariably...
An unprecedented campaign got even wilder on Sunday when President Joe Biden withdrew from the race with less than four months to go. While the November election is still one big coin flip, Democrats from sea to shining sea are breathing a huge sigh of relief. Biden’s goose was cooked last month after a disastrous first debate with former president Donald Trump. To put it mildly, Biden seemed woefully out of his depth. Subsequent public appearances and TV interviews did little to soothe public opinion that the president is too old for four m...
I wouldn't consider myself overtly athletic at age 33. Lately, I've been putting that assertion to the test. The parks and rec board this month started a kickball league here in Hartley. Being the spouse of a board member, I was put on a team without my knowledge. I was perfectly fine with it, however, as it's been four years since I've stepped foot on a ball diamond in any competitive fashion. I used to play slow pitch softball in Ashton every Wednesday night during the summer. Unfortunately,...
Q: Why did you launch a congressional investigation just days after the assassination attempt? A: As Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, I’ve sent letters to the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department to request records and responses regarding Saturday’s monumental security failure. I’m looking for answers regarding the Secret Service’s procedures leading up to, during and after the assassination attempt. I also called on the Departm...
Author’s Note: This is the seventh of a series of devotionals from Psalm 146. “The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners.” – Psalm 146:7c Freedom is on the minds of people everywhere; not just here in the United States, where certain freedoms are granted under the Constitution; however, freedom is what people desire no matter what country they live in or the circumstances they find themselves in. Sadly, looking to others for freedom oftentimes result in disappointment, leading to deeper bondage...
Former president Donald Trump escaped death by the thinnest of margins Saturday when a gunman narrowly missed his shot at a campaign event in Pennsylvania. Trump suffered an ear injury and two others were hurt during the assassination attempt, while another audience member was tragically killed. The attack was the first such on a sitting or former president since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. Trump has remained defiant in the days since and hasn’t let the attempt on his life affect his schedule. With a bandage over his right ear, he a...
With the rain finally stopping and floodwaters receding, we've been left with rather healthy conditions for growing green things around these parts. I think you can both hear and see the corn growing these days if you concentrate hard enough. That also applies to the ever-healthy crop of weeds in my yard, particularly in my landscaping. I don't know how many hours I've spent yanking weeds and other unwanted vegetation this summer, but if my sore back is any indication, it's been quite a few....
When I first drove into Iowa to visit my son and his family, I was puzzled by the terrain: vast, flat farmland with little islands scattered at what seemed to be about half-mile intervals; islands of trees, in clumps, in every direction, as far as the eye can see. I asked my son how these huge trees grew in clumps all around the farmland. He explained that each clump of trees was surrounding a farmhouse, because without the trees, the winds could roar across the fields and the homes would have...
What an absolutely crazy two weeks it’s been here in northwest Iowa. I speak for the entire region when I say I’m sick of seeing soiled junk on curbs. Until it dries out for an extended period of time, everyone will remain on edge whenever rain is in the forecast. My heart aches for the thousands of people affected by devastating floods in Rock Valley, Spencer and elsewhere. The hopeless feeling of watching a river destroy your home is unimaginable, and the rebuilding process will be a monumental task. Seeing a unified effort to help those aff...
Hearts are heavy across the region due to massive flooding that brought untold levels of damage in Rock Valley, Spencer and elsewhere. Recovery will take years, and there's little folks can do but lend a helping hand right now. The sky was a geyser late last month. More than a foot of rain fell in some parts, which is obviously more than our ground, streams, creeks and rivers can handle. The deluge led to record flooding that displaced thousands of people. Homes were destroyed, businesses shutte...
Author’s Note: This is the sixth of a series of devotionals from Psalm 146. “Who gives food to the hungry.” – Psalm 146:7b In this series of articles from Psalm 146, we are finding that our hope and trust cannot be in a “prince,” or a “son of man” or “we the people.” So we are finding that we need to shift our hope and trust to the Lord God, our Creator, who is also our amazing provider for all our needs, both of body and soul; who “gives food to the hungry.” More importantly, the Lord G...
Memorial Day marked the unofficial start of summer as barbecues and road trips kicked off posthaste. The calendar’s flip brings with it a reminder to remember one simple task to save lives during the “100 deadly days of summer.” It’s perceived everyone wears a seat belt, but data shows that’s not true. In 2023, 45 percent of traffic fatalities in Iowa were unbuckled, translating to 123 lives lost. In a Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) survey of over 1,450 Iowans, 88 percent reported always buckling up in the front seat; only 67 percent a...
Summer season – hearts sing. Summer season – outdoor things. Robins chirping high on a limb; hummingbirds hovering by delphiniums. Grass growing lush and green; wind blows every day it seems. Blooming flowers galore – dianthus, peonies, daisies and more. Heat radiates from sun; shade of trees welcome. Birdbath filled to brim; full feeders hung from tree limbs. Reading outdoors on deck; birds splashing in birdbath getting wet. Sipping sweet tea, watching a nuthatch on tree. Feathered friends flit and stop by; finches, orioles, colorful to the e...
