CMI holds 28th Annual Firemen's Benefit

Century Mutual Insurance Association, a northwest Iowa farm and residential insurance company, had to make adjustments to its Annual Firemen's Golf Benefit Tournament. This year's event was not held in person but instead offered an entry fee match to those teams who have participated in the past.

Eleven teams submitted entry fees totaling $2,860, with a match from Century Mutual of $2,860 for a total of $5,720 being distributed among eight fire departments.

Prin's Plumbing & Heating, Treimer's Insurance, United Community Bank, Savings Bank and Hartley Funeral Home sponsored teams for the Hartley Fire Department. State Bank & Insurance sponsored a team for the Everly Fire Department.

Century Mutual would like to thank all the sponsors for their generous donations to our local fire departments. These volunteer departments go above and beyond to help protect our communities and their efforts are appreciated.

Dagels take top placings at 4-H rabbit show

Two area exhibitors showed rabbits in the 4-H rabbit show at the 2020 Fair Special Edition: Iowa 4-H and FFA Livestock Show held in Des Moines on Friday, Aug. 7.

In the Senior Buck Commercial class, Luke Dagel, of Sanborn, won Best of Variety.

Paige Dagel, of Sanborn, was a two-time Best of Variety winner in the Senior Buck Fancy division and won Best of Variety in the Junior Buck Fancy class.

Hannah Jochims joins large BVU class

Hannah Jochims, of Hartley, joined Buena Vista University's largest freshmen class in seven years in the Convocation celebration on Aug. 21 in Storm Lake.

More than 250 freshmen and transfer students were welcomed by returning BVU students, staff members and coaches who donned masks and handed out water in a streamlined move-in process on the first day of Welcome Week on campus.

Each member of the incoming class visited with Interim President Dr. Brian Lenzmeier and his wife, Betsy, before proceeding through the Victory Arch. The next time each student will pass through the arch is on their graduation day as the class proceeds toward its Commencement ceremony.

H-M-S school audit report released

Nolte, Corman & Johnson P.C. released an audit report on the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District in Hartley.

According to the report, district revenues totaled $10,654,880 for the year ended June 30, 2019, a 10.66 percent increase from the prior year. Expenses for district operations totaled $9,286,743, a 0.31 percent increase. The significant increase in revenues is due primarily to the increase in property taxes and unrestricted investment earnings. The change in expenses was primarily due to an increase in the other expenses functional area.

The auditors reported 10 findings related to the receipt and expenditure of taxpayer funds. Findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties, gate admissions, expenditures exceeding budget amounts, sales tax payments, depositories not being listed, supplementary weighting, payroll procedures, board policies, field trips and physical plant and equipment levy expenditures. Recommendations were provided to the district to address each of the findings.

"The community school district's Board of Education has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the district's operations and financial transactions," the report stated. "Oversight is typically defined as the 'watchful and responsible care' a governing body exercises in its fiduciary capacity."

A copy of the audit report is available for review in the district secretary's office, the Office of the Auditor of State and on the Auditor of State's website at https:auditor.iowa.gov/audit-reports.

Help available to navigate new financial challenges

It's a scary time for Iowans who are suddenly out of work and struggling to pay their bills. Many have never filed for unemployment before and are unsure how to access community assistance and resources.

To help Iowans navigate this crisis, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach's family finance program specialists are providing one-on-one financial conversations. According to Cynthia Needles Fletcher, a professor and extension specialist in human development and family studies, financial educators are available to talk about options for revising a budget, prioritizing bills, paying down debt and connecting Iowans with community resources to stretch reduced incomes.

"Our goal is to provide accurate information to help Iowans make decisions," Fletcher said. "We are emphasizing research-based information, non-commercial information in an unbiased approach to help meet some of the real needs in Iowa."

Iowans can connect with a family finance specialist by phone or email. The conversations are free and confidential.

To schedule a one-on-one financial conversation or ask questions, contact the family finance specialist for your area.

In Lyon, Osceola, Sioux, O'Brien, Plymouth, Cherokee and Buena Vista counties, contact Carol Ehlers, human sciences specialist in family finance, at (712) 732-5056 or xehlers@iastate.edu. In Dickinson, Clay, Emmet or Palo Alto counties, contact Brenda Schmitt, human sciences specialist in family finance, at (641) 512-0659 or schmitt@iastate.edu.

If you have other questions or for a referral, call ISU Extension and Outreach's toll-free Iowa Concern Hotline at (800) 447-1985.

Cooler temps, hotter bite

Iowa Great Lake water temperatures have warmed a bit and are around 76 degrees. The area walleye bite has slowed considerably due to very warm water conditions. The panfish bite has been excellent in deeper water, especially on West Okoboji. The overall bite should pick up as temperatures go down.

East Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature is 76 degrees. Bluegill, good. Find schools in deeper water. Black crappie, fair. Yellow perch, good. Yellow bass, good.

West Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature is 76 degrees. The panfish bite has been great. The ability to anchor or use Spot Lock is very useful to stay on fish in about 20-30 feet of water.

1 more COVID-19 death in Clay County

The total number of deaths associated with COVID-19 in Clay County increased from two to three over the past week.

O'Brien County remained unchanged with seven deaths. Overall, O'Brien County has had 201 total confirmed coronavirus cases since March and 130 recoveries, while Clay County has had 236 cases and 174 recoveries.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Prairie View Campus in Sanborn grew by two over the past week. According to the state's coronavirus update page, the facility has had 22 confirmed cases and 13 recoveries.

Statewide, there have been 65,490 positive cases, 47,484 recoveries and 1,123 deaths.

Over 30 donors give blood in Hartley

More than 32 donors registered at the blood drive that was held in Hartley on Aug. 26. The donors collectively saved over 96 lives by giving a total of 32 lifesaving products.

The next drive in Hartley is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 12:30-5:30 p.m. To schedule a donation appointment, visit lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903.