August 2021

Thu
19
Aug

DAVID S. CARMAN

DAVID S. CARMAN, 52, of Des Moines, formerly of Humboldt, died Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, at Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines.

Thu
19
Aug

Doug Van Pelt’s legendary run comes to an end


Humboldt coach Doug Van Pelt gives instructions to Addison Thompson during a home softball game in late June. Van Pelt is stepping down from his head coaching position after leading the Wildcats the past 25 seasons. He has a total of 29 years in coaching softball, having worked four years as an assistant at Lisbon. Independent photo by Phil Monson.

25-year Humboldt softball coach steps down

By Phil Monson

Thu
19
Aug

Heinz moves to free safety position at Iowa


JAMISON HEINZ

By Phil Monson

Jamison Heinz is hoping his move to the defensive side of the ball will result in playing time before his career is up at the University of Iowa.

Heinz, a 2020 Humboldt High School graduate, begins his second year on the Hawkeye football team. After playing wide receiver on the scout team last year as a true freshman, Heinz moved over to free safety on defense during spring ball and is happy with his transition.

“The competition down here is fierce. On offense at wide receiver, we had guys like Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith, both great guys to look up to who did very well in their careers at Iowa. And then we have guys coming back like Tyrone Tracy and Nico Ragaini, who both will play significant roles this year for the offense,” Heinz said.

Thu
19
Aug
Thu
19
Aug

Humboldt School Board hears facilities study report


Humboldt welcomes 13 new teaching staff members for the new school year, which begins next week. Pictured, from left, front row: Amy Gotto, Rebecka Allen, Tiffany Wurth, Amanda Altman, Kayla Long, Katie Phillips , Morgan Weydert and Amberly Smith. Back row: Joel Hanus, Nick Dosland, Matthew Railsback, Holly Stockdale and Dani Buhs. Independent photo by Phil Monson.

By PHIL MONSON
The highly anticipated district facilities study was unveiled at the Humboldt School Board meeting Monday night (Aug. 16).
In the board’s monthly meeting, Ryan Ellsworth of Estes Construction of Davenport, who serves the Iowa Association of School Boards which provides a service to districts in Iowa, said the district’s high school building has the most pressing needs but is structurally in great shape.
Ellsworth said the good news is that overall the district’s percentage of infrastructure and improvement needs in the “urgent” category are quite low.
Ellsworth said both Mease and Taft Schools have areas that do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and the Taft building has asbestos in the existing flooring. He reported that HVAC controls and boilers have reached the end of their useful life at both centers.

Thu
19
Aug

Humboldt Police to institute vehicle and body cams


Humboldt Police Chief Joel Sanders explains protocols Humboldt Police will adopt regarding the use of body cameras, which were purchased earlier this year. They will be activated and used by officers, along with two in-car cameras in the near future. Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.

By KENT THOMPSON
The Humboldt Police Department (HPD) will start wearing body worn cameras in the near future. Officers aren’t obligated to inform the public that they are being recorded, but department policy advises them to do so.
Humboldt Police Chief Joel Sanders appeared before the Humboldt City Council on Monday night and allowed the Council members to look over the small body-mounted cameras and then explained the operations and policy behind the technology.
He said the main purposes of the cameras are to:
• Gather valuable evidence in prosecuting criminal and traffic violations.
• Demonstrate the department’s commitment to transparency.
• Ensure the accountability of HPD officers and citizens.
• Continue the public’s trust in HPD officers.
• Protect HPD officers from unjustified complaints of misconduct.

Thu
19
Aug

Livermore woman sees MLB game at Field of Dreams


Debbie Bahr and her grandson, Lawton Thompson, of Livermore, are shown here with three of the ghost players from the original movie, Field of Dreams, in last week’s showcase game in Dyersville on Aug. 12. Submitted photo.

By Phil Monson
Debbie Bahr of Livermore believes in taking time out to share special moments with her grandchildren.
And did she ever last week – taking 6 year old grandson Lawton Thompson to the Field of Dreams major league baseball game in Dyersville on Aug. 12.
Famed after the 1989 movie filmed in Iowa starring Kevin Costner, it proved to be a memorable night on a picturesque setting and topped off with the Chicago White Sox beating the New York Yankees on a walkoff home run for a 9-8 White Sox victory.
“The game was well worth it. It was an amazing finish,” Bahr said.
Read more about her journey to the cornfield in this week's Humboldt Independent, your trusted source for local news and sports.

Wed
18
Aug
Tue
17
Aug

Two injured in Humboldt accident


Humboldt County Sheriff Dean Kruger (left) and Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Ambulance EMT staff work on a patient Tuesday afternoon following a traffic accident at the intersection of 11th Street North and 5th Avenue North. Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.

By KENT THOMPSON
Two Humboldt women were injured and transported for treatment Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 17, at 3:52 p.m.
Humboldt Police were called to the intersection of 5th Avenue North and 11th Street North for a report of a personal injury accident.
According to the report, a 2013 GMC Terrain Denali LL sport utility vehicle driven by Jessica Huete Maradiaga, 38, of Humboldt, was northbound on 11th North when a 2005 Ford 150 SuperCrew cab pickup driven by Andrew Owen Zinnel, 34, of Bode, failed to yield while traveling eastbound on 5th Avenue North. The Zinnel vehicle struck Huete Maradiaga’s SUV, forcing it into the residential yard at the northeast corner of the intersection, damaging a tree and a child’s swing/playset. The Ford pickup also jumped the curb and struck an internet/telephone box and flattened a city street sign.

Thu
12
Aug

RVTV gearing up for another Cy-Hawk Rivalry

RVTV will be returning to Humboldt’s Sumner Avenue for the annual Cy-Hawk Rivalry on Thursday, Sept. 9. The event will be held from 4-11 p.m. in downtown Humboldt.
There will be free kids’ activities from 4-7 p.m. in the Kids’ Zone. Music will be played throughout including Mojo Productions from 7-11 p.m, along with food vendors and a beer garden. Raffle tickets will be selling for $5 each or 5 for $20 and a live auction will be held at 8 p.m. There will also be a Cy-Hawk Jail and local Celebrity Dunk Tank. Keith Murphy and crew from WHO-TV Channel 13 are scheduled to be in Humboldt throughout the afternoon and evening doing live broadcasts.
Check the Humboldt Athletic Boosters Facebook page for more information and updates, as well as upcoming issues of the Humboldt Independent.

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