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Fri
29
May

Rec Center to reopen on Monday

Submitted by admin on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 1:09pm

Abbey Harklau of Humboldt does a squad press at the Humboldt Recreation Center. The center will open for the first time in over two months on Monday, June 1 at 5 a.m. with restrictions. Humboldt Independent file photo.

“The Humboldt Recreation Center will opening June 1 at 5 a.m. We know everyone is excited to come and enjoy the facility, but please remember things will be very different,” Paxton Petersen the city’s interim recreation director said.
The Humboldt Recreation will be following guidelines and precautions from Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Department of Public Health, and will be strictly enforcing them to ensure the health of our members and employees.
Please read the list of restrictions and precautions below to familiarize yourself and families with the changes that we will be following. We also ask that everyone follow these restrictions and use healthy hygiene so we can continue to loosen restrictions.
The Humboldt Recreation Center will be reopening to members on Monday, June 1.

Thu
28
May

Annual Humboldt 4th of July Parade cancelled

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 3:26pm

Humboldt Mayor Dan Scholl and family members throw out flying discs during last year's 4th of July Parade. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced Thursday that this year's parade has been cancelled. Humboldt Independent file photo.

As many of you know, when the former Chamber of Commerce dissolved, the Humboldt County Development Association agreed to host the annual 4th of July parade to ensure continuity of the event.
However, it is with great sadness, that we announce that HCDA will be cancelling the 4th of July parade. Please note that HCDA only agreed to host the parade. Any inquiries regarding the status of the fireworks display should be directed to the City of Humboldt.
“We understand this decision will be a disappointment to many, however we believe it is in the best interest of the community at this time. The last few months have been difficult for many of us. However, I believe with focused recovery efforts and continued health and safety measures, we will persevere,” said HCDA Executive Director Alissa O’Connor in a letter Thursday afternoon.

Thu
28
May

City buildings could open next week

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 12:12am

The jury is still out on whether or not there will be scenes like this at the Humboldt Family Aquatic Center this summer. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has OK'd public pools to be opened for lap swimming and swimming lessons only at this time. The city of Humboldt has not made a decision on if the pool will open this summer. Humboldt Independent file photo.

By KENT THOMPSON
Many city facilities could open by next week, but that doesn’t mean it will be in the same fashion people are accustomed to.
Pool
“The governor’s proclamation is going to allow lap swimming and swimming lessons only for pools that decide to open. A lot of municipalities have said they won’t be opening this summer,” Humboldt City Administrator Travis Goedken said.
“Our park board met earlier this month and directed city staff to move forward as if the pool will open,” Goedken said.
Rec Center
“We have been meeting a lot with Humboldt County Public Health about all our facilities, city hall, the rec center, the library, the pool. We had a meeting on May 11 with Joleen Sernett and Kim Schipull with Humboldt County Public Health to determine our plans for reopening and precautionary measures we had in place. They gave us some other precautionary measures to consider,” Goedken said.

Thu
28
May

Humboldt seniors honored with banners

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 12:03am

Steve Nostrom of Terry and Bob's Sign Company hangs senior banners on 5th Street North last Thursday morning. The banners will remain hanging until senior graduation on June 21. Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.

All 116 Humboldt High School seniors are pictured on banners adorning the west side of 5th Street North in Humboldt.
Bobby and Connie Rasmussen of Terry and Bob’s Sign Company spearheaded the banner effort.
“This year’s class has had a lot happen to them and I just felt they needed something,” Bobby Rasmussen said.
The Rasmussens approached some businesses for support and the project was off and running.
The Rasmussens decided to make a blue and gold two foot by three foot banner with each senior’s photo and name on it. Getting all of the photos was a challenge as some seniors had not had their photo taken when school was called off in March. But the Rasmussens made arrangements to have those photos taken.
Another challenge was getting the brackets to hang each banner.

Thu
28
May

Absentee or in-person voting allowed for June 2 primary

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 12:02am

Livermore City Hall and the Humboldt County Events Center will be the two locations for in-person voting. Citizens requesting absentee ballots may vote at the courthouse from their car Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call the Auditor's Office at (515) 332-1571 when arriving and receive the correct ballot.

By KENT THOMPSON
Humboldt County Republicans and Democrats will be going to the polls on Tuesday, June 2, for the primary elections.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Humboldt County Auditor Peggy Rice are encouraging voters to cast absentee ballots. Because of the pandemic, only two polling places will be open for primary election voting. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Voters in the Avery-North Weaver, Delana-Wacousta-North Rutland and Humboldt-West Vernon precincts are asked to vote at the Livermore City Hall.
Voters in the Dakota City-Grove, Humboldt 1-Corinth-South Weaver, Humboldt 2-Beaver-South Norway, Humboldt 3-South Rutland, North Lake-East Vernon, and South Lake-North Norway precincts are asked to vote at the Humboldt County Events Center at the fairgrounds.
People with questions about where to vote may contact the Humboldt County Auditor’s Office at (515) 332-1571.

Thu
21
May

Memorial Day services

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 12:04pm

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Memorial Day Service in Humboldt will be a broadcast only on KHBT 97.7 on Monday, May 25, at 9:30 a.m.
VFW Commander Dave Lee will read a speech on the air as well as other traditional Memorial Day readings by Humboldt High School students.
There will not be the traditional ceremonies at area cemeteries.
“We’ll go back to normal next year,” Lee said.
Livermore
Livermore will hold Memorial Day services on Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. on Main Street in front of the Freedom Rock and Veterans Memorial Park. Those attending can stay in their vehicles and face north.
Renwick
Renwick is postponing the Memorial Day program until July 4 at 10 a.m. There will be a 21 gun salute and taps on Memorial Day at 10 a.m. at the Memorial site.

Thu
21
May

Hackers breach school computer network

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 12:01pm

Because of a breach in its computer network, the Humboldt School District has been forced to purchase a network security contract.
Mike Sherwood, interim superintendent, updated the board of education in their monthly meeting on Monday night, May 17.
“A week and a half to two weeks ago our district was hit with some ransom ware so our network has been shut down. The district carries a cyber security rider on the existing insurance policy and that covers the cost of hiring a law firm, which has expertise in dealing with ransom ware. They are working through the issues through a cyber security firm to help us get through this,” Sherwood said.

Thu
21
May

One-cent sales tax renewal going to voters

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 11:59am

A special election will be held on Sept. 8 where voters in Humboldt County will decide whether to continue an existing one-cent sales tax for another 10 years.
The current one-cent local option sales tax in place is set to expire on June 30, 2021.
At Monday’s meeting of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors the board voted to approve a resolution to place the matter on the ballot in a special election. Auditor Peggy Rice explained state law does not allow the matter to be put on the November general election ballot.
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors opted to leave the wording on the resolution for the county portion of the proceeds the same as it has been with 70 percent of the revenues going towards Humboldt County Secondary Roads projects and 30 percent towards Humboldt County community betterment projects approved yearly by the Board of Supervisors. Subscribe and see the rest of this story and more.

Thu
21
May

Rutland buildings burned in training exercise

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 11:56am

A total of 58 firefighters from 12 area fire departments took part in a training exercise at Pro Cooperative in Rutland on Saturday, May 16. Departments represented were: Gilmore City, Bode, Livermore, Bradgate, Renwick, Clare, Badger, Goldfield, West Bend, Manson, Eagle Grove and Pocahontas. There were also 12 instructors onsite. A total of four buildings were burned in the training. The training was coordinated by Scott Thompson of Fire Training Consultants.

The landscape in Rutland changed on Saturday as four buildings owned by Pro Cooperative were burned down in a training fire coordinated by Scott Thompson of Fire Training Consultants.
A total of 58 firefighters from 12 area fire departments took part in the training exercise. Departments represented were: Gilmore City, Bode, Livermore, Bradgate, Renwick, Clare, Badger, Goldfield, West Bend, Manson, Eagle Grove and Pocahontas. There were also 12 instructors onsite.
Water was drawn from the Des Moines River just below the Rutland dam to use in the training. A crew of firefighters from Gilmore City were stationed at the river filling tanker trucks who then brought the water to a series of portable water tanks that were set up on Main Street.
Thompson also brought his aerial fire truck which he used to cool a Quonset building that was not to be burned, even though it was about two feet from a feed warehouse that was burned.

Thu
14
May

St. Croix opens Humboldt location

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 7:18am

A few members of the St. Croix Hospice Humboldt team include (l to r): Rachel Johnson, Becky Lane, Lynne Mckenna and Britany Sundall.

In response to growing need for hospice services in Iowa communities, St. Croix Hospice has opened a new branch in Humboldt. The new location at 701 Sumner Ave. will serve patients in Calhoun, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Pocahontas, Palo Alto, Webster, Winnebago and Wright counties.
Heidi Comely is Regional Director of Clinical Operations for St. Croix Hospice overseeing Humboldt. She said they are branching off from their Spencer location due to increased hospice utilization in local communities. The Humboldt office, which opened April 28, has about 16 employees to start.

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