On dean’s list at Minnesota State Mankato

The Academic High Honor and Honor lists for the 2022 spring semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato have been announced.

Kyler Rieck, of Hartley, was among 2,363 students who earned a 3.5-3.99 average to qualify for the Honor List. To qualify for academic honors, undergraduate students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours for the semester.

Town and Country Innovation celebrates 7th year at the 2022 fair

The Town and Country Innovation Department will celebrate its seventh year of competition at the 2022 Clay County Fair powered by SMU, Sept. 10-18.

The fair’s newest competitive department, which began in 2015, started from the back of every Successful Farmer magazine, specifically, the page headlined as “All Around the Farm.” After three successful years, the department has changed its name to incorporate more opportunities for people to exhibit their greatest creations.

Entries can be anything from a simple improvement to an everyday household appliance, an adaptation to an existing tool or machine, or even a brand-new invention. Some examples of past entries include a garden hose adapter, a flower planter made out of an old school desk, a calf catcher, and a work table made from a cable spool.

“Bucket of Junk,” which focuses on being innovative and resourceful with a five-gallon bucket of identifiable junk, will return this year. The Town and Country Innovation exhibits are judged on workmanship, usefulness, appearance, design, and creativity.

Entries are open to all from any county or state. Check out the exhibitor handbook online at http://www.claycountyfair.com or pick one up at the fair administrative offices to find the rules and guidelines to enter your work at the fair. Pre-registration for all exhibits is encouraged and can be completed online, by mail, or in-person by Aug. 22. For those who choose not to pre-register, registration can also occur when entries are accepted on Sept. 8 (4-6 p.m.).

NWI fishing report

Most area lake temperatures warmed into the upper 70s-80s over the last week. Algae blooms have popped up on few area lakes, making visibility much lower. Bass and panfishing have been great on most lakes out along weed lines in 10-15 feet of water. Most fish are moving out deeper as they have finished with spawning.

East Okoboji Lake: Lake temperature is in the mid-80s. The water level is 4 inches over crest. Fish are moving shallower post-spawn. Trolling has been working very well. Find crappie and yellow bass in 10-16 feet of water. Try fishing weed lines where there is new vegetation growth.

Black crappie, good. Best bite is in 10-15 feet of water along weed lines. Bluegill, good. Walleye, fair. Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps in the main basins. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow bass, good.

Lost Island Lake: Fishing/trolling is getting more difficult as aquatic vegetation reaches the surface in many places. Black crappie, fair. Walleye, slow: Try trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs off weed lines. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow perch, fair.

Minnewashta Lake: Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good; some sorting may be needed. Black crappie, good. Bluegill, good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): The late afternoon bite has been fair. Many anglers are targeting fish schools during the day. Vegetation growth is making fishing more difficult in many areas.

Spirit Lake: Water temperature is in the low 80s. The lake is 4 inches below crest. The walleye season is open. Black bullhead, good. Try fishing the northern grade of Spirit Lake. Black crappie, fair. Use a tube jig and bobber. Bluegill, fair. Walleye, good. Use spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps; try to find weed lines. Yellow perch, fair. Many perch can be caught, you may need to sort for size.

West Okoboji Lake: Water temperature is in the low 80s. The water level is 4 inches over crest. Many fish are moving deeper post-spawn. Rocky points and areas with new vegetation growth have seen the most success.

Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair. Largemouth bass, fair. Smallmouth bass, fair. Try fishing off points with surface baits or jerk baits. Walleye, fair. Try fishing off points by trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset.

Iowa sees below normal rainfall for third month in a row

Iowa’s June precipitation was 3.75 inches, 1.51 inches below normal for the month, according to the latest Water Summary Update by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

An area of extreme drought returned to Iowa for the first time since August 2021, and drought conditions were deteriorating as the month ended. Streamflow, groundwater and soil moisture conditions are below normal in parts of Iowa.

June rainfall in Iowa was below normal for the third month in a row. While the state saw improvement in May, that changed in June, especially in northwest Iowa, where some locations are more than eight inches short of rainfall for the year

Average monthly precipitation typically decreases throughout summer and into fall, but there is still an opportunity to improve conditions throughout the rest of the year, according to Tim Hall, the DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources.

Iowa sending firefighters to 3 states

As wildfires continue to rage in parts of the west, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fire Program has started to dispatch wildland firefighters to Alaska, Texas and Colorado.

The fire program recently sent six Iowa wildland firefighters to Alaska for three weeks and two firefighters to Colorado for two weeks. Three wildland firefighters along with the DNR type 6 fire engine are in Texas fighting the Dempsey Fire.

“We just sent three firefighters to replace the first crew,” said Ryan Schlater, fire specialist, with the Iowa DNR’s Fire Program, in a news release. “They are patrolling for new fire starts. Conditions are very hot and dry.”

Iowa DNR fire staff watch the daily fire behavior and new fire starts, such as the new one threatening Yosemite’s Mariposa Sequoia grove of trees.

“We have more firefighters available and ready to go once resource orders come in,” explains Schlater.

The fire program has been sending wildland firefighters to national incidents since 2006. A crew and fire engine helped fight the Rim Fire in Yosemite in 2013.

Celebrate a child’s first fish

Preserve the memory of your child or grandchild hooking their first fish this summer with a special certificate. Print the certificate yourself from an electronic file posted online or request a printed certificate.

Apply for a first fish certificate online at http://www.iowadnr.gov/firstfish. It’s easy and free to participate. There are no size, species or age requirements – only that it is the very first fish the angler has successfully landed.

Family and friends can join in on the celebration by viewing the first catch photos of their kids and other budding anglers on the First Fish webpage once the entry is approved.

Give your kids a lifetime of BIG memories this summer. Follow the simple tips for taking kids fishing on the Iowa DNR website at https://www.iowadnr.gov/idnr/Fishing/Fishing-Tips-How-Tos/Taking-Kids-Fishing.

Income eligibility rules for free, reduced price meals

State officials recently announced the policy guidelines for free and reduced price meals for Iowa children unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and the Afterschool Care Snack Program.

Contact your local district’s central office for more information about the rules and how to obtain benefits.