Moon Adventure Game at PHC

The O’Brien County Conservation Board invites families or groups of up to six players to experience the Moon Adventure Game on Saturday, Jan. 23, from 1-5 p.m. at the Prairie Heritage Center.

The Moon Adventure Game, presented by the NISE Network, is a fictional story grounded in actual NASA science and research about what people in the future may need to work and live on the moon. Players will assume the role of astronauts that are living and doing research on an outpost base on the moon. Together, players will work through a series of challenges due to a moonquake that has created some major issues. Players will quickly need to work together to solve the issues and restore systems that allow them to survive.

Families or groups will need to reserve a time on Jan. 23. For more information, visit prairieheritagecenter.org or contact Naturalist Abbie Parker at (712) 295-7200 or aparker@obriencounty.iowa.gov.

Virtual nature conservation book club at library

O’Brien County Conservation Board and the Hartley Public Library are offering a bi-monthly virtual book club that will focus on nature and conservation.

A variety of books, both non-fiction and fiction, have been chosen to discuss in a virtual platform from the comfort of your own home. This book club will meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Discussion questions will help lead the conversation.

Feb. 9 will mark the first virtual meeting and the monthly book pick is “Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale” by Adam Minter. To register and for more information, please visit prairieheritagecenter.org.

H-M-S menus

Monday, Jan. 25: Breakfast – Cereal, pop tarts (9-12), fruit, juice; Lunch – Mandarin orange chicken/rice, broccoli/cauliflower, bread (9-12), pineapple.

Tuesday, Jan. 26: Breakfast – Apple frudel, fruit, juice; Lunch – Barbecue pork/bun, fries, cooked carrots, mixed fruit.

Wednesday, Jan. 27: Breakfast – Breakfast pizza, fruit, juice; Lunch – Taco in bag, lettuce/cheese, corn, tomatoes (9-12), grapes, bread (9-12).

Thursday, Jan. 28: Breakfast – Pancake/sausage bite, fruit, juice; Lunch – Spaghetti, breadstick, baby carrots, celery, pears.

Friday, Jan. 29: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice; Lunch – Hamburger/bun, fries, baked beans, oranges.

Milk served with each meal. Fruit/veggie bar served with lunch.

Book club to discuss ‘The Martian’ Jan. 26

Between the Covers Book Club will meet in the front room of Hartley Public Library at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26 to discuss the first book in this year’s lineup. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed.

“The Martian” by Andy Weir is the story of astronaut Mark Watney who is left behind for dead on Mars when a dust storm endangers the lives of the Ares 3 crew and they are forced to evacuate the planet without him.

Left on his own on a cold, desolate planet where oxygen, radiation-shielding material, water, energy and food are in virtually non-existent supply, Watney must determine how he can survive until someone from NASA realizes he needs saving and can come up with a way to do so.

Relying on his engineering skills, resourcefulness, and quirky humor, Watney maneuvers his way through disasters that test his problem-solving skills and menacing circumstances that threaten his existence until a dangerous plan can be devised to save his life.

“The Martian” is Weir’s first novel and is competently researched in the field of conditions on Mars, orbital mechanics, the history of manned spaceflight and botany. A Wall Street Journal reviewer called it the “best pure sci-fi novel in years” when it was published in 2014, and in 2015 it was made into a film starring Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain.

Iowa Poetry Association announces 2021 Lyrical Iowa poetry contest

Anyone who has dreamed of becoming a published poet may make his or her dream come true through the Iowa Poetry Association’s (IPA) 2021 Lyrical Iowa Poetry Contest.

Lyrical Iowa is IPA’s annual anthology of poetry published since 1946 featuring more than 300 poems. The contest is open to anyone with an Iowa address.

“Each year we receive close to two thousand poems from people who wish either to be published for the first time, or to win or place in one of our seven contest categories,” said Lyrical Iowa editor Marilyn Baszczynski in a news release. “Anyone who enjoys writing poetry is invited to submit an entry, from school children to centenarians.”

Poets may submit up to a total of five poems in any of seven categories for adults. Students may submit up to five poems in their division (grades K-4; 5-8; 9-12, college). Only one poem per person may be published. Selections are made anonymously by out-of-state judges. Modest cash prizes are available for those who place in any of the categories.

In addition to the regular adult categories for general (any subject or form), sonnet, haiku, national/world events, humorous verse, and poetry for children, there is a special category for poems of the pandemic this year. Student divisions are open to any subject and form. Line limits are specified in all categories and divisions. Please see contest rules for more information.

The contest is open now through Feb. 28, 2021. Rules are available online at http://www.iowapoetry.com/rules2021.htm. Before entering, be sure to read some of 2020’s winning poems at http://www.iowapoetry.com/lyricaliowa.htm. Notifications are sent in July to winners and those whose poem is selected for publication. Prestigious Pushcart Prize nominations (iowapoetry.com/pushcart.htm) will be announced in early fall.

Email submissions are preferred for adult and college divisions; all K-12 must mail in submissions by USPS to appropriate school editors. If you cannot access the internet, send a SASE (self-addressed, stamped, envelope) for contest rules to Iowa Poetry Association c/o Marilyn Baszczynski, Editor, 16096 320th Way, Earlham, IA 50072.

“The contest is free and open to IPA members as well as non-members,” said Baszczynski. “The voices and points of view represented in Lyrical Iowa are fresh, diverse and always surprising. I hope if someone has always wanted to give this contest a try that this is the year.”

CC/E menus

Monday, Jan. 25: Breakfast – Cereal, fruit, juice; Lunch – Chicken patty, French fries, baked beans, oranges.

Tuesday, Jan. 26: Breakfast – Mini bagel, fruit, juice; Lunch – Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, dinner roll, peaches.

Wednesday, Jan. 27: Breakfast – Blueberry muffin, fruit, juice; Lunch – Sloppy joe, celery stick, baby carrots, pears.

Thursday, Jan. 28: Breakfast – Breakfast stick, fruit, juice; Lunch – Spaghetti, tossed salad, green beans, breadstick, banana.

Friday, Jan. 29: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice; Lunch – Chicken taco, refried beans, rice, apples.

Milk is served with each meal.

Ag Outlook canceled due to COVID-related issues

The Spencer Chamber of Commerce board with the partnership of the Ag Outlook Committee has decided to cancel the 2021 Ag Outlook scheduled for Feb. 16.

“We want to ensure to deliver the best agricultural conference and trade show; however, with current social distancing guidelines and travel issues for speakers and vendors we would not be able to deliver the high-quality event that our vendors, sponsors, speakers and attendees are accustomed to,” the announcement said. “We do look forward to planning a high-quality Ag Outlook event for Feb. 15, 2022.”

Food pantry hours at Hope Lutheran

Current hours for the food pantry at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly are Mondays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and Wednesdays, 1-5 p.m. Please knock on the church door and food will be brought out to you.

Applicants sought for healthcare scholarship and loan programs

Applications are now being accepted for the Bennie B. and Ernestine F. Shine Scholarship, Adam J. Anderson Scholarship, as well as the Cornwall Loan Program. All programs are designed to help area students pursue healthcare careers.

The Shine scholarship fund, administered by Spencer Hospital, annually awards funds to persons who have completed at least one semester of a nursing or allied health program, such as radiology, therapy programs (respiratory care, speech, physical or occupational), medical technology, laboratory tech, paramedic training, pharmacy, etc. These programs are not intended to fund individuals pursuing a degree in medicine, dentistry, physician assistant or veterinary science. The Anderson scholarship fund, administered by Spencer Hospital, annually awards funds to persons living in the Spencer area to pursue education and training to become a certified EMS provider (EMT through Paramedic).

Ben Shine was a long-time trustee of the Spencer Hospital Board. His wife, Ernestine Shine, was active in the hospital auxiliary and served as president of that organization. The Shines recognized the importance of quality health care for their community and were actively involved in maintaining a quality and progressive hospital. One effort toward achieving this goal was the establishment of the Shine Scholarship.

The Ruth Cornwall Loan Program was created by Wilson Cornwall in memory of his wife, Ruth, who had received quality hospital care and later home care from Spencer Hospital during an extended illness. The Cornwall family wished to help local people interested in receiving healthcare education. To accomplish this, a low-interest loan program was created. One hundred eightteen loans have been granted since 1977. During that time, more than $124,825 has been loaned to area people involved in health education programs.

The Adam J. Anderson Scholarship was created by Duane Anderson, of Webb, and Marcia Anderson Taylor, of Spencer, in memory of their son, Adam, who died in January 2001 of cancer. Adam had worked as a volunteer on the Terril ambulance crew after graduating from Iowa Lakes Community College and later took a job as an EMT for Spencer Hospital. According to his mother, Adam’s goal was to obtain his paramedic certification and he was accepted into paramedic school in August 2000; however, his illness had progressed so much he was unable to attend. The scholarship is intended to honor Adam’s memory and his spirit, and to enable others to fulfill the dream to be of service to others as paramedics.

The application deadline for both the Shine & Anderson Scholarship and Cornwall Loan is March 31. Recipients will be notified of their award in May. Students interested in applying for the scholarship or loan program should contact Danelle Stumbo, Human Resource Development Director at Spencer Hospital, 712-264-6623. Scholarship applications are also available online at http://www.spencerhospital.org/about-us/professional-education/scholarships/

Virtual healthy relationship education training offered Feb. 11

Professionals who work with children and families can gain additional tools to help couples build healthy relationships during a virtual training in February.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering Healthy Relationship Education Training on Thursday, Feb. 11 via Zoom. During the one-day program, professionals will learn how to use relationship education as a strategy to meet the safety, permanency and well-being needs of children.

This program uses a research-based curriculum that is being implemented across the country to help professionals encourage the development of healthy couple relationships. According to Extension Human Sciences Specialist Malisa Rader, research shows that when parents have more supportive and less conflicted couple and co-parenting relationships, the entire family is better equipped to handle stressors, which helps maintain family cohesion, child safety and permanency.

The all-day class consists of eight modules which are based on the National Extension Relationship and Marriage Education Model. Rader and Cheryl Clark, who is also a human sciences specialist, will teach the class. Interactive lessons, discussions and resources will be provided. Professionals who participate will gain an understanding of the important aspects of couple relationship education.

Healthy Relationship Education Training is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. There is a $50 fee for the program, which includes a curriculum manual and tools. For more information or to register go to https://bit.ly/3a4qg86, or contact Rader at mrader@iastate.edu or (515) 708-0622.

Virtual program offers tips for parenting in a pandemic

Raising children has its rewards and challenges but the COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it new challenges for families, says Malisa Rader, a human sciences specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“ACT Raising Safe Kids” teaches positive parenting skills to parents and caregivers of children from birth to age 8. The program will be offered via Zoom from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Feb. 2 through April 6.

Cost for the entire series of lessons and resources is $40 per participant. An educational pre-session for parents, foster parents, grandparents, primary caregivers and others in a parenting role will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 10 a.m. Individuals must have registered for the program to attend this session.

To learn more or to register visit https://bit.ly/act17233, or contact Rader at mrader@iastate.edu or (515) 708-0622.

CRP general signup open through Feb. 12

Iowa has about 45,000 acres enrolled in general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expiring this fall and all of it is eligible to re-enroll as part of the recently opened 56th general CRP signup. The sign up is open through Feb. 12.

The rules and eligibility requirements for this general signup are similar to the last one, where the cutoff was around 210 points. Landowners with expiring CRP, croplands having an erodibility index greater than eight, or located national and state priority conservation areas are eligible to apply. Those in the state conservation priority area will receive extra points as part of their offer.

A link to a map highlighting those areas is under the General CRP Information list online at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Wildlife-Landowner-Assistance/Conservation-Reserve-Program.

“Landowners interested in finding out what their rental rate would be should go to their local FSA office or contact one of our private lands staff,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, in a news release.

A map and contact information for private lands staff is available on the same webpage.

“Habitat is key for so many things, from supporting wildlife to improving water quality, and the CRP plays a huge role in the amount of habitat we have on the ground,” Bogenschutz said.