August 2018

Tue
21
Aug

BREAKING: Victim identified in Tuesday accident


A Life Flight helicopter leaves the scene of an accident at the Highway 169 and Bode/Livermore corner late Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 21. The accident involving a car and semi tractor pulling a grain trailer claimed one fatality. Independent photo by Phil Monson.

A two-vehicle accident on Highway 169 Tuesday, Aug. 21, has claimed the life of an Algona woman.
Yessi S. Collazo, 28, of Algona, died from injuries sustained when the 2016 Ford Mustang she was riding in, collided with a 2005 International tractor-trailer on Highway 169, nine miles north of Humboldt at the intersection with Humboldt County Road C-20. The accident occurred at 3:38 p.m.
According to the Iowa State Patrol (ISP), who investigated the accident, the Ford Mustang, driven by Yorday L. Perdomo, 38, of Algona, was southbound on Highway 169.
The International tractor-trailer, driven by Jerry J. Metzger, 63, of Whittemore, was northbound on Highway 169 and was attempting to turn west onto C-20, when contact was made with the Ford Mustang.

Tue
21
Aug

Humboldt runners have high expectations


Returning letter winners for the Humboldt cross country program, front row (l-r): Madeleine Ruzicka, Shelby Hayden, Kallie Nilles, Lauren Erickson and Bryce Gidel. Back row: Quinton Orr, Calvin Carlson, Joe Kunert, Devon Coon, Noah Helmer and Tyler Craven. Not pictured: Isabella Luu. Independent photo. See more photos at www.humboldtnews.com.

The Humboldt High Cross Country team has been in the midst of something great in recent years and look for it to continue in 2018.
Veteran head coach Dean Clasen returns for his 21st season leading the Wildcats. The Wildcat girls are coming off a seventh-place finish in last year’s Class 3A state meet. Humboldt easily won their fifth straight North Central Conference title last year, eighth out of the last nine years and appear poised for another crown.
The boys were edged out by two points from winning last year’s conference meet, but return plenty of experience to challenge again.
“Our girls look pretty strong again this year and should be favored in our conference and our boys will be up there competing again,” Clasen said.
“The numbers for the boys have been pretty steady, around 30. The girls’ numbers have jumped to 30, which is pleasant to see. So we have around 60 on our squad and we are balanced throughout all four grades,” Clasen said.

Tue
21
Aug

HHS foursome on FD swim team


Humboldt girls on the Fort Dodge High swim team this season, front row (l-r): Rylie Becker and Kosett Burmeister. Back row: Sydney Whipple and Maria Elizondo. Independent photo.

Humboldt’s pipeline to the Fort Dodge girls’ swim team continues.
Humboldt has four girls on the Dodger roster this fall, which includes junior Kosett Burmeister, sophomores Sydney Whipple and Rylie Becker along with freshman Maria Elizondo.

See full story in this week's Independent. Subscribe today for print/digital access by selecting the link on this page to get started!

Tue
21
Aug

Wildcat girls will contend in NCC volleyball


Returning letter winners for the Humboldt volleyball team, front row (l-r): Claire Varangkounh, Carlie Thompson and Jori Hajek. Back row: Macy Becker, Mady Lange, Kyah Arnold and Ashlyn Clark. Independent photo.

If last year is any type of indication, good things should be in store for the 2018 Humboldt High volleyball team.
Last year Humboldt entered the year with just two senior letterwinners, but head coach Justin McDaniel and his staff were able to guide the squad to a regional final, where they lost to a talented Sioux Center team for the right to advance to state.
Humboldt returns seven letterwinners from last year’s squad that went 26-8 overall, 5-2 and runner-up in the North Central Conference.
“I’m really looking forward to this season. We came into last season very inexperienced but I’m very happy with what we able to do. We showed good things. It was exciting to reach the regional finals. We played the No. 1 rated team tough but came up short,” McDaniel said.
“This year we come back with more experience overall and seven letterwinners, that will certainly help us here in 2018,” McDaniel said.

Tue
21
Aug

Humboldt football team opens season at home Friday night against Algona


Returning letter winners for the Humboldt football team, front row (l-r): Tyler Vitzthum, Joey Busse, Lucas Volf, Timmy Larson and Sawyer Savery. Middle row: Jacob Weisbrich, Carter Krichau, Treyton Satern, Jamison Heinz, Jacob Thurm and Caiden Baker. Back row: Jack Arndt, Owen Newton, Matt Miller, Owen Terwilliger and Justin Jones. Independent photo.

The Derrick Elman era is under way for the Humboldt High School football program.
Elman, a Buffalo Center native and former Morningside College standout, has spent the last 14 seasons as an assistant at Iowa Falls-Alden. Elman replaces Greg Thomas, who stepped down last November after 18 seasons leading the Wildcats.
Elman inherits a Wildcat squad that went 3-6 overall in 2017, 2-5 and sixth in Class 3A District One. Certainly a lot of transition to deal with, but Elman says it couldn’t have gone any smoother since he arrived in Humboldt last May.
“We have had a good start in pre-season practice. The kids have looked real good on both sides of the ball, especially up front,” Elman said. “And we definitely have some guys in our younger grades who can help us and have shown it in practice right now.”

Tue
21
Aug

BREAKING NEWS: DC water safe for drinking and cooking


As of Thursday morning, Aug. 23, the Dakota City has advised residents that it is once again safe to use city water for drinking and cooking. There was no bacteria in the water, just an issue of clarity, which has been resolved.

The city of Dakota City reported Thursday morning that the city’s water is once again safe for drinking and cooking.
On Tuesday, the city issued a water advisory, asking residents to used bottled water for drinking or cooking because of gray cloudiness in the water.
“There was no bacteria in the water, just some cloudiness as a result of bentonite clay not being completely filtered out, as a result of our well drilling that is occurring.
“City workers worked very hard flushing the system and conducting tests. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported Thursday that our clarity level, which is something that we don’t normally test for, is below 1.0 and the water is safe again to drink and use for all purposes,” Dakota City Clerk Angelique Berry reported.
The city thanks residents for being understanding during the inconvenience.

Mon
20
Aug

Ross begins 4th year at Iowa as starting fullback


Brady Ross

Former Humboldt standout named to Leadership Council

Mon
20
Aug

Wickett eyes starting role at Buena Vista


Mason Wickett

After returning to football last fall, Humboldt’s Mason Wickett is pushing for a starting role on the Buena Vista University football team this fall.
Wickett, a 2016 Humboldt High School graduate who transferred to BVU after one year at Iowa State, saw extensive action in a reserve role his freshman season last fall in the defensive line.
He played in all 10 games for the Beavers and recorded 25 tackles (14 solo) and had one quarterback sack. The Beavers finished 3-7 overall in 2017, 2-6 in Iowa Conference play. They lost two games by a combined three points.
“Off-season conditioning has been going pretty well for me and our team,” Wickett said during a July interview. “We are keeping focused on the program they have set up for us. It is challenging being off-campus and not having my teammates nearby to push me, but I’m doing the best I can to keep going.”

Mon
20
Aug

Clark set for 2nd year at Iowa Central


Devon Clark

In the highly-competitive world of college football, Humboldt’s Devon Clark is realistic.
At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Clark is undersized as a linebacker or tight end, positions he played in high school before graduating in 2017.
That’s why he begins his second year at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge focusing on becoming a long snapper for the Tritons this fall. He feels it can be his ticket to playing at a higher level beyond the 2018 season.
“Last year I was a wide receiver. This year I’m making the transition to long snapping,” Clark said. “It’s not the most popular position, it will be a little different being that guy down in the trenches who doesn’t get much attention. The only way I’ll get my name in the paper is if I screw up.”
“My all-time goal is to be able to play Division I-A college football. My dad (Derrik) played at Iowa State and my uncle (Dallas) played at Iowa. That is always where you want to go,” Clark said.

Mon
20
Aug

ROLLAND SANDER

ROLLAND "RON" SANDER, 83, rural Humboldt, died Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines. Those wishing to send online condolences can send them to masonlindhart@gmail.com and we will see that it gets to the family. Be sure to put the deceased’s name in the subject line.

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