News

BY APRIL KELLEY
The R.I.V.E.R Development Group (RDG) and Supervisor Chair Dave Lee presented a Revised Option One for the Reasoner Dam to Supervisors Erik Underberg, Rick Pedersen and Sandy Loney at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday, April 15. Bruce Reimers was not in attendance.
Lee informed the Supervisors that the Revised Option One was very similar to the first one but was streamlined and reworked by Nate Hoogeveen at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) so that it is less expensive, costing only $12 million as opposed to the previous $2o million reported on the Stantec proposal.
“I have talked to Todd (Lee) and he was receptive of it. I talked to Cole (Bockelmann) of the city and the city would get back involved with it. I think if we get the three entities together, I think we could get things going and get this put in for about half the cost,” Lee said.
Supervisor Pedersen asked if funding options had been explored.

By APRIL KELLEY
and KENT THOMPSON
Humboldt County Supervisor Bruce Reimers and Humboldt County Attorney Jon Beaty were at loggerheads last week regarding questions about contracted work on the new shelter being constructed at Joe Sheldon Park.
A spirited discussion ensued after Reimers and Supervisor Chair Dave Lee raised questions on work completed by Satern Exteriors for roofing at the shelter, located west of the south campsite at the park.
Satern is currently the vice chair of the Humboldt County Conservation Board. The Conservation Board and some members of the Board of Supervisors have been at odds over what to do with deteriorating Joe Reasoner Dam on the West Fork of the Des Moines River in Humboldt.
Read about the interchange in this week's Humboldt Independent. Subscribe by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

By KYLIE PORTZ and PHIL MONSON
A tentative agreement regarding teacher salary for the upcoming 2024-2025 fiscal year was reached between the Humboldt Community School Board and the Humboldt Education Association.
Earlier this year, new mandates were made by the Iowa state legislature with the passage of HF 2612. A controversial bill that covers matters of education including area education agencies as well as teacher salaries.
The bill requires the increase of the minimum teacher salary to $47,500 for teachers with less than 12 years of experience and $60,000 for teachers with 12 or more years of experience.
The Humboldt School District received teacher salary supplement funds, which made negotiations a little more challenging according to Superintendent Jim Murray. Read more about the Humboldt Community School District in this week's Humboldt Independent.

It’s spring and people are thinking about cleaning up their homes and properties. The cities of Humboldt and Dakota City are doing something to aid in the effort.
The city of Humboldt will be having its only open burning day of the spring this Saturday, April 13, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting. Residents will want to be aware that wind speeds will be in the 15-20 mile per hour range from the south with some gusts up to 27 miles per hour. Another option is taking leaves and organic yard waste to the city compost pile located on Kentucky Avenue, north of 16th Avenue North. It is open daily during daylight hours.
Only burning of yard and garden waste will be allowed (no rubbish) and residents are asked to have a readily available water source at the site of the burn pile.

By KENT THOMPSON
One short year after opening, the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) Mental Health and Wellness Center is ready for expansion.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michelle Sleiter said the time is now if the hospital is going to come close to meeting the demand for services.
“The demand for mental health and wellness services at HCMH continues to grow. Our new space is full and a decision to expand and grow was in front of the board,” Sleiter said.
The current waiting list is 128 patients. The new patient wait time to see the nurse practitioner is two weeks. HCMH has interest from a psychiatrist who would be employed by the hospital but would see patients remotely. Two therapists are interested in full-time employment if space is available.
Read about the decision and what it will mean in this week's Humboldt Independent, your trusted source for local news and sports.

By KYLIE PORTZ
Renovations are underway at the Humboldt Community Center. The city acquired the building (formerly The Senior Center) in 2018.
The space is unrecognizable, with ladders, tools, and equipment strewn about. But the bones of the new community center are evident in the fresh drywall and new lighting.
The space has been transformed with a new kitchen built in cooperation with the building trades class at Humboldt High School in 2020. The class also remodeled one of the bathrooms for their project.
This year the interior remodel began with the acceptance of a bid by Harvey Remodeling Company to do the work. So far new ceiling lights have been installed, new fans added, new drywall, and electrical updates have been made.
Read more about the renovations in this week's Humboldt Independent.

By PHIL MONSON
In an effort to have the most updated strategies to ensure school safety, the Humboldt and Twin Rivers School boards held a work session with law enforcement officials last week in Humboldt.
Humboldt Police Chief Joel Sanders and assistant chief John Rodriguez were on hand, along with Humboldt County Sheriff Dean Kruger and Chief Deputy Cory Lampe, to update school officials of ongoing changes to better respond to emergencies, along with periodic ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training sessions with school staff.
School building principals also updated new safety measures implemented during the school year.
“School safety has been a hot topic since the event in Perry in early January, certainly, but it has always been a hot topic in recent years for us as we try to make our school as safe as can be,” Humboldt and Twin Rivers School Superintendent Jim Murray said.

When the Special Olympics regional track and field competition takes place on April 18, weather will not be an issue.
The event, normally held in Fort Dodge each year, will now have a new host in Humboldt, with the meet to take place inside Humboldt’s spacious Nielsen Family Fieldhouse in the recreation center.
“It’s been held in Fort Dodge for many years. I don’t know of any other place it has been held at,” Humboldt Special Olympics Coach Ashley Mohr said.
“This will be the north central region, which includes Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster City, Eagle Grove and surrounding towns. Some adults with special needs will come and take part as well,” Mohr said. “The event will begin at either 9 or 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 18."

The 2024 St. Mary Spring Gala was the most successful ever, raising $132,000.
“It takes many people for the Gala to be this successful. We want to thank the Gala co-chairs this year: Joel and Maria Zeman and Brian and Anna Olson. It would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication. The hours spent preparing for the event and serving the church and school community will not be forgotten. When there was hard work to be done, you rolled up your sleeves and made sure it was the best year for gala ever,” St. Mary School and Parish Development Director Suzanne Newton said.
Read more details about event and see photos in this week's Humboldt Independent.

Several area places of worship celebrated Holy Week activities last week, including several special events on Easter Sunday. The Humboldt Independent is interested in sharing religious information with its readers to be published weekly in the Humboldt Independent. Please send your information, including worship schedules, Sunday School, Bible study classes, prayer meetings and other weekly events as well as special services, musicians and ministers with Heather Dahl, Humboldt Independent account representative at: heather@humboldtnews.com. Also contact her if you are interested in helping to sponsor the page on a weekly basis.
Kent Thompson
General Manager/Editor