05/11/23: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Hartley woman earns 3rd place at national contest

Lauri Myers, of Hartley, last month earned a third place finish in Human Resource Management at the Business Professional of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif. The event features competitions in various categories with contestants from across the country. Myers won bronze for interpreting personnel policies and knowledge.

Myers is a student in the Administrative Assistant program at Iowa Lakes Community College. She is currently employed as an office administrator at Hartley Cold Services.

"Lauri worked very hard this year to achieve this success and accomplished one of her educational goals to be successful at the national competition," said Deb Jones, professor and BPA Advisor at Iowa Lakes, in a news release.

Myers' colleague, Shelbie Hurdle, of Emmetsburg, also won awards at the conference.

Y'Adnom contributes to trail project

Y'Adnom concluded its club year with a contribution to the Hartley Recreation Trail project at the waffle fundraiser last Sunday. The club's main projects are the Cemetery Walk during Summer Celebration and the ongoing sales of the magical Cleaning Cloths.

H-M-S groups receive II ratings at festival

Musicians from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School participated in the State Large Group Music Festival on May 6 at Sheldon. The concert band and concert choir both received Division II ratings.

The band performed "Chorale and Shaker Dance II" and "In Heaven's Air," and the choir performed "Gloria in Excelsis" and "Goin' to the Holy City." The ensembles are directed by Andrew Yenzer and Kristi Daggett.

Winners in area visual arts show

Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon hosted the Northwest Iowa Visual Arts Show for both NCC and northwest Iowa high school students. All students participating in the show were invited to the Visual Arts Invitational and Awards Ceremony on April 27.

First, second and third place awards were given in each category, with honorable mentions awarded at the judge's discretion. An overall Best in Show award, chosen by the high school art teachers, was also presented.

Two students from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn were among the high school award winners.

Alyssa Gibbons placed first in the Mixed Media category for her entry "Monstrous Clock." She tied for second in the Sculpture & 2D Mixed Media category for her untitled entry.

Kade Seger was one of the entrants who received honorable mention for a drawing titled "Lava Fall."

Northwest Iowa high schools that participated in the show were Boyden-Hull, Central Lyon, H-M-S, LeMars, MOC-Floyd Valley, Rock Valley, Sheldon, Sibley-Ocheyedan, Sioux Center, South O'Brien, Trinity Christian and Western Christian.

Cooperatives make donation to NCC Powerline program

Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon recently received a $10,000 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 school's Powerline program.

The donation reflects 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 Basin Electric Power Cooperative Matching Donations 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.

Seasons Center awarded $119,643 ARPA grant

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health in Spencer has received $119,643 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Health Information Technology and Infrastructure Grant to enhance, improve and expand the delivery of home and community-based services (HCBS) for Iowa Medicaid members.

The ARPA funding will allow Seasons to upgrade their telecommunications equipment and agency infrastructure, and improve the capacity to serve clients outside of the traditional office setting. Funding will specifically be used for new telephones, computers and tablets, additional servers, an Electronic Health Record Lab interface and an agency vehicle.

"As more and more individuals receive services in a non-traditional way: home settings, community-based settings or via telehealth, up-to-date telecommunications technology is necessary to provide timely and thorough services," said Christina Eggink-Postma, Season's Vice President Program Coordination and Compliance. "The funding provided by ARPA will provide Seasons with the technology needed to better facilitate ongoing communication for agency staff, to facilitate client referrals, ongoing coordination of client care, mobile telehealth services, employee engagement and retention, and general business operations."

Water summary update: Another dry month

Rainfall in April was just over two inches but 1.5 inches below normal for the month, according to the latest water summary update by the Iowa DNR.

This comes after a drier than normal March. As a result, streamflows are down across much of the state and conditions are generally deteriorating in the eastern two-thirds of Iowa.

While all of the Drought Regions of Iowa are rated as "normal, " downward trends are shown in the state's central, northeastern and southeastern parts. The U.S. Drought Monitor introduced a small area of moderate drought in southeast Iowa, reflecting the drying trend in that part of the state. May should provide nearly five inches of rainfall so conditions could improve with normal precipitation.

"It is discouraging to see below-normal rainfall as we enter the normally wet spring months," said Tim Hall, Iowa DNR coordinator of hydrology resources, in a news release. "Normal rainfall in May and June will help to alleviate drought conditions in much of the state. Still, the dry April was not helpful."

The Iowa Drought Plan notes a downward trend in Drought Regions 2, 3, and 5, which are currently shown as 'Normal,' but Hall said conditions could get worse in the months ahead if normal rainfall amounts don't occur.

Ag Hall of Fame nominations due June 16

The O'Brien County Agriculture Steering Committee has opened nominations to the 2023 Agriculture Hall of Fame from now until Friday, June 16.

The Value Added Agriculture Steering Committee established the annual Agriculture Hall of Fame Awards in 2001 to recognize outstanding citizens who make significant contributions to the agricultural community of O'Brien County and to encourage participation in the ag sector. In 2016, nominations were opened up to businesses that make a difference in the O'Brien County ag community.

Any person/business residing in O'Brien County or engaging in ag-related activity in the county is eligible for this award. The successful candidate must have demonstrated leadership, stewardship, community service and service to the agricultural industry.

Nomination forms are available at O'Brien County Economic Development or the Farm Bureau office, both in Primghar, or at http://www.obriencounty.com. The Hall of Fame Award winner will be announced at the O'Brien County Fair just prior to the Fair King and Queen Coronation Ceremony on Monday, July 24, at approximately 7:50 p.m.

The Value Added Ag Steering Committee was formed in 1998 when the O'Brien County Economic Development Corporation identified the need for a coordinated effort to promote value-added agriculture. The committee is a diverse group of producers, community and agri-business leaders that will search out and assist with the establishment of value-added agriculture to create economic opportunities for residents and to develop marketable products using ag resources in a manner consistent with the committee's quality of life statement.

For additional information on O'Brien County Agriculture Hall of Fame nominations, contact Kiana Johnson, O'Brien County Economic Development, at (712) 957-1313 or email [email protected].

NWI fishing report

Courtesy docks are in for the season. Water temperatures are in the upper 40s and low 50s. Most fish are still out in deeper water, but should start to make their way shallower as water temperatures increase.

The walleye season on the Iowa Great Lakes is open.

East Okoboji Lake: The water temperature is in the lower 50s.

Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair. Yellow perch, fair. Sorting will be needed.

Ingham Lake: Walleye, fair.

Lost Island Lake: Water temps are in the lower 50s.

Black crappie, good. Walleye, good.

Minnewashta Lake: Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Courtesy docks are in place.

Walleye, fair.

Spirit Lake:The water temperature is in the low 50s. All boat ramp docks are in place.

Black crappie, good. Yellow perch, fair. Use small jigs tipped with a minnow. Sorting may be needed.

West Okoboji Lake: Water temperatures are in the upper 40s. All docks are in place.

Black crappie, fair. Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill, fair.