News

Snow emergency
According to National Weather Service, all of Humboldt County is in a winter storm warning from late tonight through Sunday noon.
A band of moderate to heavy snowfall will impact northern Iowa late tonight into Saturday, especially around and north of the Highway 20 corridor.
● A narrow swath may receive 6 to 8 inches, with locally higher amounts. Snow intensity will taper off quickly just to the south, leading to higher uncertainty toward Highway 30.
●Patchy freezing drizzle possible south of the snow. Very little accumulation expected.
● Bitter cold late Saturday into early next week.
● Slight northward shift in location of heavy snow band, with a corresponding expansion of warnings and advisories.
Snowfall Details
● A relatively narrow swath of moderate to heavy snowfall will impact portions of northern Iowa, mainly along and north of the Highway 20 corridor.

By KENT THOMPSON
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Monday agreed to reduce the recommendations of the Humboldt County Compensation Board, but it was done with a whittling knife and not an axe.
After much discussion, the Board agreed to approve a reduction in the Comp Board’s recommendation of a 17 percent raise for the sheriff and 13 percent raises for all other elected officials.
On Monday, the Supervisors agreed to cut the raises down by 33 percent, to an increase of 11.39 percent for the sheriff and 8.7 percent for the county auditor, attorney, recorder and treasurer.
The Supervisors agreed to cut a little more from their own salary increases, taking a 38.5 percent reduction, to a 5 percent bump.
District 4 Supervisor Erik Underberg did not think the cuts went far enough, and voted against the proposal.

By PHIL MONSON
Humboldt’s alternative learning program is in its 11th year successfully serving area students.
Known as ALPHA (Alternative Learning Program for the Humboldt Area) and led by coordinator Kristen Fisher, it continues to grow since it was created in 2012.
“We had previously been sending students in our at-risk population or dropouts to Pocahontas. I had taught special education at the high school for four years before coming over to become coordinator of the program,” Fisher said.
Fisher gave an in-depth report on her program last week during the Jan. 16 Humboldt School Board meeting.
“Students come to ALPHA for various reasons. Some come for medical reasons. It allows them flexibility for their appointments. It could be for special, emotional reasons, like anxiety or academics,” Fisher said.

Due to the expected winter storm Saturday, the Humboldt Dance Team has postponed its clinic and show to Feb. 17. More details will be available as the date approaches.

The boil order for the city of Dakota City has been lifted, as of 9:45 this morning. All water in the city is now safe to drink and use without boiling. The city reported that sometime early Monday morning, a water main break occurred near the intersection of 4th Street North and 4th Street North. One pipe was about six inches below the other, forcing water to leak out, draining the city's 150,000-gallon water tower. The leak was discovered and repaired and the city conducted testing upstream, downstream and at the tower location. The city had to wait 24 hours before getting the OK from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to life the boil order. There was no contamination to the system and the city refilled the water tower supply in a timely fashion.

By PHIL MONSON

Caribbean Coffeehouse in Humboldt has re-opened at its new location.
Previously located one-half mile north along Highway 169, the popular business is now located at 500 13th Street North along 169 in the former Backseat Diner.

“We feel great about our move to our new location. It has been a long time coming and we are super-excited about moving here and realize our dream,” Jill Soenen, business owner, said.

“The new location is great. We have more space but not too much as we wanted to keep the quaint, cozy feeling of a coffee shop. I think this is a good amount of space for us,” Soenen said.

“This location is more visible from the highway and I think the fact this building has always been a restaurant is kind of nice so we’re happy to open it back up and give it new life,” Soenen said.

Soenen’s business was at its previous location for seven and one-half years.

By KENT THOMPSON
A couple’s Dakota City home was severely damaged by fire Monday afternoon, Jan. 16.
About 12:30 p.m., the Humboldt Fire Department, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management and Humboldt EMS were called to a structure fire at 307 5th Street South in Dakota City. The home was deemed a total loss as a result of the blaze.

“When we arrived at the scene the home was fully engulfed and flames were coming out of the back side of the garage,” Humboldt Fire Chief Jim Gronbach explained. “It looked like it started in the garage area and then worked its way back into the house to the north. It had been going for a while before we arrived on the scene,
“We made an interior attack and were able to bring the fire under control,” Gronbach said 40 minutes into the battling the blaze.

Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) is proactive in preventative medicine, now they are being proactive in regard to cybersecurity.
At the Board of Trustee’s meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3, Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michelle Sleiter reported that the hospital is contracting with KnowBe4, a company that provides cybersecurity awareness and training.
Sleiter said it is important to be proactive in regard to cybersecurity threats. She said the system will help educate staff and test the hospital’s vulnerabilities by sending realistic-looking “fake” emails and seeing click habits to assess the hospital’s level of cyber risk and need for education and training.
Read more about news at HCMH in this week's Humboldt Independent, your trusted source for local news and sports. Subscribe by clicking on the subscribe link at the top of this page.

By Jim Sayers
As he sat in the corner of his exceptionally well organized, meticulously clean, brightly-lit, energy-efficient and recently remodeled farm shop, Peter Bormann, rural Livermore, described his farm background and experiences leading to his current career as a Pioneer seed dealer.
“I was raised just down the road, not far from here, where my parents Mark and Sue Bormann still live. Our family farm grew grain and raised cattle. I have always loved farming,” Peter said.
“When I grew up in the 1990s, we didn’t always have a lot, and we learned to work hard doing anything we could. It became ingrained in my mind to try everything I could do. I love to work,” he said.
As a youngster, Peter participated in 4-H and FFA, and chose to skip school sports in high school at Bishop Garrigan in Algona, because there was “always farm work to do at home.” That work included harvest, feeding cattle, clearing snow and cleaning livestock facilities.

The Humboldt Community Chorus, under the direction of Terry Nelson, will be presenting their annual variety show, “One In Harmony,” on Feb. 10, 11, and 12 at the R. Wesley Carlson Auditorium at Humboldt High School. Tickets are now on sale at V&S Variety, Humboldt HyVee, from Chorus members, on-line at www.humboldtchorus.com or at the door.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children under 18. Show times are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Selections this year will include “Rock This Town,” “Sing a Song,” “Favorites from the ‘Rat Pack’” and “Sing, Sing Sing,” plus a medley of songs from “West Side Story”. The always popular gospel and patriotic songs include “Today is the Day,” “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” “Behold He Comes,” “Glorious Day,” “Our America” and “To Those Who Serve”.