News

There’s something new with the Humboldt County Fair Queen competition this year.
In addition to the Humboldt County Fair Queen contest, younger contestants will get a chance to experience what it’s all about.
Girls ages 7-11 can run for Junior Miss, and girls ages 12-15 can run for Princess. In addition there still is the Little Miss and Little Mister contest for boys and girls ages 4-6.
“We hope to get more girls involved and give them a glimpse of what it’s like to run for Fair Queen, and to be able to interact with the Fair Queen candidates,” Queen coordinator Amber Harrison said.
The Junior Miss and Princess candidates will meet with judges and answer some questions on Friday morning, July 20, at the Humboldt County Extension Office. This is also the time for the 2018 Humboldt County Fair Queen Contest.

By KENT THOMPSON
While new Humboldt-Dakota City Chamber Director Cari Riesselman has lived in the community for two years, getting out in the community and meeting people was one of the reasons she applied for the job.
Riesselman, who began her duties on June 1, grew up in Cedar Rapids and spent much of her adult life in that vicinity before relocating with husband Jeremy, when he became the Fareway store manager in Humboldt in June 2016.
Riesselman is still learning the specifics of all her duties as the Chamber of Commerce director.
“I was told I will be the face of the Chamber in the community. It will be my job to work with the different businesses, the Chamber members, the public and visitors to the community, to let them know what’s going on in Humboldt and where to find information as well as goods and services,” Riesselman said.

The public is invited to an Open House at the new Kiddie Cats Child Care and Learning Center on Thursday, June 21, from 4-7 p.m. Opening date is Monday, June 25. Regular hours will be 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The newly constructed facility is attached to the north side of Mease Elementary School in Dakota City. Sande Construction of Humboldt was the general contractor on the $1.18 million project.
Kiddie Cats will have a capacity of 107 children age 0-5, plus additional capacity for after school children.
There are three infant rooms, two rooms for ages 2-3, two rooms for ages 3-4, plus a flex room, which can be used for what is needed at that time. In addition, the Mease school gym is licensed for additional programming as well.
Kiddie Cats will employ 20 people once it meets capacity. Staff is now being hired and staff will be added as enrollment grows.

As part of the Humboldt Public Library summer reading program, “Libraries Rock,” Ann (Bottelson) Morris, will present the children’s program, “Author’s Rock,” on Friday, June 15, at 4 p.m., in the Springvale Room at the library. Beginning about 4:30 p.m., she will host a Meet and Greet Q and A program for children and adults. Ms. Morris will have autographed copies of her books available for purchase and will personalize each book sold. This event is sponsored by the Humboldt Library Founda-tion.
Ann Morris, a Humboldt native, graduated from Humboldt High School in 1973 and is the daughter of Emery and Mavis Bottelson. She has always loved English and languages and graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, with a degree in Spanish Education.

What a better way to enjoy a Saturday than with some great activities, friends and musical entertainment?
It will all be provided at this year’s Humboldt Area Arts Festival on Saturday, June 16th at the Humboldt County Historical Museum grounds, 1st Avenue North in Dakota City.
The headline band for the Music Under the Stars portion of the day (7-10 p.m.) will be the Marshall County Hangmen from State Center.
John Schumacher and Dave Gray are two of the original members of the group who enjoy all genres of music and their kindred personalities.
Along with two other band mates, the Hangmen have just about any musical taste in their repertoire, which spans from Honky Tonk to Rockabilly, Rhythm and Blues, Rock classics and original compositions.
From 10 a.m. to noon, Zach Suntken and Company will be providing a variety of music.
From 12-12:30 p.m. Toby Kid Klauenberg will be performing his special comedy act.

The 2018 political primary season is upon us, with primary election voting on Tuesday, June 5. In local candidates for county offices, all of the filings are on the Republican side, with most uncontested. The lone exception is Supervisor District 2, which includes the southwest portion of Humboldt (Precinct/Ward 1), all of Corinth Township and the southern half of Weaver Township.
Four candidates are seeking the Supervisor seat, Brian Skow, Jim Crabtree, Sandy Loney and Todd George. Other Republicans running unopposed for county office are Bruce Reimers, Supervisor District 1, Rick Pedersen Supervisor District 3, Jana Bratland, county treasurer, Diane Amundsen, county recorder and Jonathan Beaty, county attorney.

After practicing law in Humboldt for more than 40 years, Marc Arends and Bob Lee will be slowing down.
Starting June 1, the two lawyers plan to work one day a week by appointment and be “of counsel”.
Arends and Lee have planned their work slow down for some time, hiring Ashley Emick 10 years ago, Brett Legvold five years ago, and most recently Robert Myott, who started with the firm last year. Emick and Legvold are partners in the firm, and Myott is an associate attorney. The name of the firm will remain Arends, Lee, Emick and Legvold.
“We want to thank the people of Humboldt County. We were the new kids on the block 40 years ago. The people were great to us, as were the other attorneys in town. They’ve all been very good to work with,” Arends said.

The harness race season starts in Humboldt on Saturday, June 2, at 12:30 p.m. at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds.
The Iowa Harness Race Association has announced the following races dates at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds: June 2, 12:30 p.m.; July 4 and July 7, 12:30 p.m.; July 24, 6 p.m.; Aug. 11 and 12, 12:30 p.m.; Aug. 18 and 19, 12:30 p.m.; Aug. 25, 12:30 p.m.; Sept. 15 and 16, 12:30 p.m.; and Sept. 22 and 23, 12:30 p.m.
Rain dates are set for Oct. 6 and 7 at 12:30 p.m. in Humboldt.
For more information go www.iowaharnessracing.com or follow the Iowa Harness Race Association on Facebook.

By Phil Monson
The Humboldt School District will purchase 275 new computer Chromebooks for the 2018-19 school year.
The purchase was approved by the board of education in their regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 21.
The new laptop computers will be issued to students in grades 5-9, and also to incoming students from Twin Rivers and St. Mary’s schools.
Technology director Tony Richardson provided bids from three different companies and the board selected Connections to purchase 275 at $182.11 each for a total of $50,080.25. The management license will cost $6,567. 275 carrying cases at $23 each will total $6,325.
School superintendent Greg Darling explained the computers are part of a three-year rotation that includes elementary, middle school and high school.

Brook Hjelmeland and Lizzie Tecklenburg were named Valedictorians of the Humboldt High School graduating Class of 2018 at commencement ceremonies held Sunday afternoon, May 20, in the high school gymnasium. Salutatorian honors went to Meg Grice and Tabitha Jergens. Gabriella Kent and Trevor Satern were awarded the Marvyl Friesth Award and their names will be added to the plaque in the Humboldt High School cafeteria.
Silver Cord Award recognition: Zach Collins, Robert Monson, Morgan Nehring and Amber Wittrock.
This year’s graduating class has 98 members and 17 are in National Honor Society. Twenty-one students earned a 3.0-3.499 Grade Point Average during their four years at Humboldt High School.