News

With increasing demand from its customers to bring quality drainage pipe to the north central Iowa area, Springfield Plastics, Inc. (SPI) is proud to announce it will open a new pipe yard in Humboldt, in late summer, at 2280 16th Ave. N. in the Northwest Industrial Park.
As a long-standing manufacturer of drainage pipe and the only U.S. manufacturer certified to use only 100 percent virgin resin in all products, Springfield Plastics is committed to providing the farming industry with the best quality pipe available.
Springfield Plastics, Inc. based in Auburn, IL, is a Midwest manufacturer that has created plastic pipe solutions for people in the agricultural, residential/building, commercial and highway markets since 1978. Read more about the business in this week's Humboldt Independent.

People would come to Bradgate and wonder where they were at.
“There weren’t any signs once you got into the west side of Bradgate,” Amie Wells, Bradgate resident and City Clerk said.
The Bradgate City Council started looking into where they might put up a sign and the logical place was a triangular piece of ground near the intersection of two county blacktop roads on the northwest corner of town. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) owns the land and granted their permission.
Wells started drawing up designs for the sign.
Read more about the project in this week's Humboldt Independent. If you don't get the paper, subscribe by clicking on the link at the top of this page to receive either print or digital editions every week.

Humboldt County Fair Queen Kate Curran was named as 1st runnerup at the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest on Saturday night.
“I was shocked. I was not expecting that at all,” Curran said.
Ironically, Curran was roommates with Jacqueline Ehrlich of Dubuque County, who was named Iowa State Fair Queen.
“When I first met her I could tell right away she was going to be the queen,” Curran said.
As 1st runnerup, Curran receives a $1,500 scholarship from the Iowa State Fair, plus a $300 gift card to Jordan Creek Mall.
Read more about Kate's experience at the Iowa State Fair in this week's Humboldt Independent. Subscribe by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

The year 2017 establishes a landmark year for 50 years of exhibiting Western wear and horse supplies at the Iowa State Fair for Melanie Edge, president of the Western Edge Ltd., of Humboldt and Ames.
A memorable early moment for Melanie Edge was selling 60 cowboy hats to a delegation of Japanese that visited the Iowa State Fair. “They looked so cute walking down the street with their bobbing up and down white cowboy hats.”
Melanie Edge will say that “Nothing does compare to the Iowa State Fair.” The Western Edge is on the road with their booths 175 days out of the year from Minnesota, Colorado, Texas, Wisconsin, to Nevada. But, by far the Iowa State Fair is the biggest and their favorite of all shows.

W & H Cooperative will soon be moving into a new headquarters on 16th Avenue North in Humboldt (across from Hadar Athletic).
Construction on the new 60’ by 150’ office and shop area began in February and is now nearing completion.
W & H Cooperative General Manager Jim Pauk said they are making about a $750,000 investment in the community. The new building will be highly energy efficient, is designed to be more efficient for staff and better meets today’s needs for an office and shop area.
“We’re excited to move in. We hope to be operational in the new building by the end of August,” Pauk said.
Read more about the business in this week's Humboldt Independent. Subscribe by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

Fareway will host a Grand Opening at their new Humboldt store on Aug. 11-12.
The store, which opened June 28, includes nearly 19,000 square feet, which is about 3,000 square feet more than the old store, which was built in 1970.
Fareway’s new modern store is located on Highway 3 west (1700 10th Avenue West) and grocery manager Jeremy Riesselman said reaction from customers has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Customer reaction has been amazing. They really like the new store. It’s clean, shopper friendly and organized very well,” Riesselman said. “There’s a lot bigger selection.”
Read more about the store, view photos and find out about the company's history in Humboldt in the special section in this week's Humboldt Independent. Subscribe by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

By Kent Thompson
The expression built from the ground up would be an apt description for Blacktop Service Company of Humboldt. The local family-owned road construction business is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The business began in 1967, when brothers Frank and John Wagner and their cousin, Ed Reding, who had been working for asphalt contractors in other states, decided they could do the business for themselves, right here in Humboldt County.

Look in this week’s Humboldt Independent for a special fair section with 2017 Humboldt County Fair results from the 4-H/FFA shows, as well as photos of all the winners.
Also see results and photos of open class horticulture and special contests and events like the frosted cinnamon roll competition, skid steer rodeo, mud volleyball, horseshoe pitching, open class photography, champion BBQ winners, Bill Riley Talent Search and feature photos of all the grandstand events.
Kate Curran was crowned 2017 Humboldt County Fair Queen and Keagan Burmeister was named runner-up and Miss Congeniality.
A draw from a hat determined 2017 Little Miss Humboldt County (Aysah Arnold) of Humboldt and Littler Mister (Deacon Collins) of Livermore.

Thanks to the generosity of the Ken and Marilyn Nielsen family, Humboldt will soon have a new 60,000 square foot wellness center.
The wellness center will be built on about five acres just north of Humboldt High School along Wildcat Road.
In a special meeting on Tuesday afternoon, the Humboldt City Council said they would accept the donation and provide the infrastructure (sewer, water and road) to serve the facility. The vote was unanimous in favor.
The Nielsens are having the wellness center built and once completed they will turn it over to the city of Humboldt. The city will then own and operate the wellness center. The Humboldt Recreation Director will be located in the new building.
“This is a personal first for me. To experience this sense of community, a family giving back at this level is nothing short of amazing,” Humboldt City Administrator Travis Goedken said.

By Kent Thompson
Approximately nine months after breaking ground, the new 41-room, two-story AmericInn Hotel and Suites on Highway 169 and 3rd Avenue North, officially opened for business last Thursday, July 20, with a soft opening.
According to Jason Brownfield, general manager for the Humboldt location, the business plans a grand opening in five weeks.
The new hotel promises a high-level of service and a 100 percent smoke-free environment. The hotel offers many amenities, including a microwave oven, refrigerator and 40-inch TV in each guest room.
The Humboldt location includes a wine and beer bar, fitness center, guest laundry facilities, free hotel-wide, high-speed internet and motorcoach parking.
The indoor heated pool and hot tub area is still under construction and is expected to be completed by Sept. 1. There is an error in the print version, the hotel allows only dogs 50 pounds or lighter, not all pets as stated.