July 2019

By KENT THOMPSON
Every year the Sathers-Odgaard VFW Post 5240 and VFW Auxiliary sponsor a patriotic essay and art contest.
Now, through the help of a Dakota City veteran, an injured Iraqi war veteran and local students, the VFW Hall has some patriotic art of its own, on 5th Street South, for all the world to see.
Dakota City veteran Richard Houston came up with the idea as a way to honor veterans and Americans. A 29-year Army veteran, Richard said it is an honor for him to lend some artistic endeavor for the community. “This is for everyone who went (to war) and for those who didn’t come back. I did this for Dakota City and Humboldt to enjoy.”
Read the full story of the project in this week's Humboldt Independent. Happy birthday America, land of the free and home of the brave!

Humboldt’s baseball and softball teams now have a connection to the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team.
Batting cages for both teams now sport turf from US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Baseball coach Jason Thurm received an email that said the Vikings were replacing their turf and were looking to sell the old artificial turf at a discounted per square foot price.
“I thought it might be a good deal for us,” Coach Thurm said. He forwarded the email on to Activities Director Greg Thomas.
Two rolls of turf were purchased for 95 cents a square foot. One roll was used for the softball batting cage and one for the new baseball batting cage. The turf, concrete work and cage is being paid for by the Humboldt Athletic Boosters.
Read the full story in this week's Humboldt Independent newspaper.

Class 3A post-season baseball pairings are out and the Humboldt High baseball team will face Webster City in a first round district game on July 19 at Slater. The Wildcats and Lynx will begin at 5 p.m. The second game that night in Slater has Ballard Huxley meeting Perry. The district final in Slater will be played on July 22 at 7 p.m.

The other half of substate will be played in Gilbert with Boone facing Algona in a 5 p.m. game and Gilbert and Greene County meeting in the 7 p.m. game. The district final will be July 22 at Gilbert.

The substate game to determine a berth in the state tournament will be played on July 24 and hosted by the highest remaining seeded team.

Chris Witzke has learned a lot about patience over the last two years.
His patience has translated into a new opportunity to continue his education and play collegiate baseball.
The 2016 Humboldt High School graduate will attend Harding University in Searcy, AR. Searcy is located northeast of Little Rock.
“I’m excited about going to Harding University. It’s a really nice school and they have a very competitive baseball program. I think it will be pretty fun,” Witzke said.
Harding University competes at the NCAA Division II level in the Great American Conference. Witzke will continue as a pitcher and outfielder at Harding.
Witzke has played the last two seasons at Des Moines Area Community College in Boone. He underwent Tommy John surgery in the fall of 2017. After sitting out in 2018, he returned to action this past winter.