February 2021

Thu
04
Feb
Thu
04
Feb

Expansion is Humboldt Vet Clinic's community commitment


The Humboldt Veterinary Clinic team now includes 19 employees, with the addition of three full-time staff members in conjunction with the new addition in 2020. Pictured front row from left: Dr. Tracy Lindquist, Dr. Rachael Ostrem, Dr. Aubrey Cordray (practice owner), Dr. Leigh Meyer and Dr. Renee Bertram. Second row from left: Kelsey Soukup, Kylee Albertz, Bailey Jo Pavelka, Hannah Peterson, Kevin Cordray (business owner), Michaela Wendel, Jaci Applegate, Bailey Walrod and Taylor Licht. Other team members not pictured: Dr. Jim Illg, Julie Jorgensen, Jenna Wickre, Mia Toomsen and Lauren Erickson. Submitted photo.

By KENT THOMPSON
Serving the needs of the people who helped build the business has been the overarching goal of Dr. Aubrey and Kevin Cordray, owners of Humboldt Veterinary Clinic.
The business is nearing the completion of an 18-month construction process. Dirt work started in August of 2019 and the first concrete was poured in October of that year.
“The project has evolved constantly throughout the many months. One of our goals from day one was to work with as many individuals, businesses and contractors on the local level as possible,” Kevin Cordray said.
That goal has been achieved with approximately 60 local contractors, businesses and organizations involved in the Humboldt Vet Clinic expansion, equating to about 190 local individuals having involvement with the project.

Thu
04
Feb

County completes first phase of 390-acre native habitat area


Pheasants Forever member Dale Vinsand (with cap), instructs Dylan Vitzthum on how to prepare to take a pheasant in the field. In an effort to improve pheasant and other game hunting in the area as well as provide a natural hiking area in the county, Humboldt County Conservation recently announced the completion of Phase 1 of the Prairie Creek Wildlife Area project. Read more about it in this week's Humboldt Independent newspaper. Independent file photo.

By KENT THOMPSON
The Humboldt County Conservation Board met recently for its monthly meeting and discussed completion of Phase 1 of its Prairie Creek property acquisition project in Vernon Township.
Board members Bob Rasmussen, Tate Satern, Mary Miner and Bob Moser were present at the meeting, along with employees Todd Lee and Chris Clarken.
Humboldt County Conservation Director Todd Lee told the Board that the sale of 160 acres from Kent Kiburz to Humboldt County was finalized on Jan. 22, and paperwork delivered to the Humboldt County Recorder’s Office.
The county is purchasing the property for $712,000, with all of the funds coming from grants and donations. No county property tax dollars are being used.
“It’s been a long time in the making and has come about due to the cooperation of a lot of entities,” Lee said.
“This is our biggest project ever and is something that is unprecedented for a county the size of Humboldt.

Thu
04
Feb

DNR tells county, 'dam is your responsibility'


This is a screen shot from the Reasoner Dam interactive site the county has established to collect information about the dam and the river. Visitors to the site, www.cutt.ly/reasoner have until Feb. 8 to place at pin at their favorite location in the area and tell a little about why. Discussions about the postings and information gleaned from the public will be part of an interactive meeting planned for Tuesday, March 2. More about that in upcoming issues.

By KENT THOMPSON
You own it. You take care of it.
While the words weren’t that blunt, that was the general message from Jon Garton, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Land Management Bureau, to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors at their regular weekly meeting on Monday.
The Reasoner Dam is owned by the Humboldt County Conservation Board. Garton told the Board that the DNR is working with Santec and Professional Landscape Architect and Environmental Scientist Mimi Wagner on developing an appropriate, modern use for the dam area as well as developing water trails in Humboldt County.
“There is a lot of confusion about the responsibility of river dams in the state, as they are on state waters,” Garton said.
The Iowa Code states that the owner of a dam has the responsibility to maintain the dam and any appurtenant structures in a safe condition, which shall include regular inspections to identify maintenance problems.

Wed
03
Feb
Tue
02
Feb

Wildcat boys roll past Webster City, 82-49


Humboldt's Ben Kuehnast goes around a defender for an inside bucket in the Wildcats' home victory over Algona on Jan. 26. Kuehnast scored 13 points in Humboldt's 77-44 victory over Hampton-Dumont-CAL on Feb. 2. Independent photo by Phil Monson.

The Humboldt boys' basketball team picked up another key conference win by rolling past the Webster City Lynx, 82-49 on Saturday, Feb. 6 in the Humboldt gym.

The victory improved Humboldt's overall record to 11-5, 8-3 in the North Central Conference.

Wildcat boys in 77-44 romp over HDC
The Humboldt boys basketball team won their fourth straight win tonight (Feb. 2) in a 77-44 romp over Hampton-Dumont-CAL in a North Central Conference game in the Humboldt gym.

Sam Fischer scored 16 points to lead Humboldt's scoring. Ben Kuehnast scored 13 and Jacob Heier and Will Orness each had nine for the Wildcats, who improved to 10-5 overall, 7-3 in the NCC.

Humboldt's scheduled home games with Clarion-Goldfield-Dows on Friday, Feb. 5, have been cancelled by CGD administration due to COVID-19 concerns.

Next action for Humboldt is at Iowa Falls on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Mon
01
Feb

Wildcat girls roll past Bulldogs, 57-37


Humboldt ’s Bae Arnold droves past an opponent in a recent home game for the Wildcats. Arnold is now the school's individual 3-point scoring leader. Independent photo.

Jayda Hoefer scored 14 points to lead four Humboldt girls in double figures scoring as the Wildcats rolled past Hampton-Dumont-CAL, 57-37 in the Humboldt gym Tuesday night (Feb. 2).

Kendal Clark made 13 points, Jori Hajek had 12 and Bae Arnold scored 11 to power Humboldt, which moved to 15-4 overall, 9-3 in the North Central Conference. Arnold also became the school's career 3-point field goal shooter, hitting a trio of 3-pointers to give her 55 total. She topped the previous record of 52 set by Avery Terwilliger.

Humboldt girls turn back Webster City, 46-34
The Humboldt girls basketball team made it a season sweep of the Webster City Lynx, posting a 46-34 victory Monday night (Feb. 1) inside the Humboldt gym.

Mon
01
Feb

Week left to pin your location on Reasoner Dam StoryMap


Visit the Reasoner Dam StoryMap (Reasoner Dam (arcgis.com)) and scroll to the Interactive Map opportunity. Set a pin on your place! This map will be active for one more week, until Monday, February 8. Humboldt Independent file photo.

"Share your favorite locations in Humboldt near the Des Moines River, Reasoner Dam, Joe Sheldon County Park, Bicknell Park and other areas!
Visit the Reasoner Dam StoryMap (Reasoner Dam (arcgis.com)) and scroll to the Interactive Map opportunity. Set a pin on your place! This map will be active for one more week, until Monday, February 8.
We’ll be posting all the pinned locations on our StoryMap soon after February 8," said Mimi Wagner, Santec professional landscape architect and senior environmental scientist said Monday in a press release. Wagner has been working with Humboldt County Conservation on the project of improving the Des Moines River around the Reasoner Dam in Humboldt.

Mon
01
Feb

COVID-19 vaccines for adults 75 and older Wednesday at Humboldt County Events Center; appointments required

From Michelle Sleiter, HCMH CEO and Joleen Sernett, Humboldt County Public Health director
Today (Monday, Feb. 1,) Public Health departments are allowed to move into Phase 1b in the vaccination plan. This is great news, but continues to bring challenges due to the vaccine shortage occurring. Each county is allowed doses based on their population and usage. We are actively working to get as many vaccines in the arms of Humboldt County residents as quickly as possible.
We did receive 100 doses on Friday and will be receiving an additional 100 this week to begin Phase 1b. We have spent significant time over the last few days determining our best plan with the limited number of doses. With that being said, here is our plan:
We will be injecting 200 doses to Humboldt County residents 75 and older on Wednesday, February 3 from 12-2:30 p.m. at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds Events Center. An appointment is required.

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