News

This year’s NW Iowa Women’s Conference will focus on con-necting attendees to faith during the most troubling times in their lives.
The theme, Undone: Making Peace with an Unexpected Life, aims to help women persevere when losing one’s religion isn’t just a reference to an R.E.M. hit, but strongly-contemplated reali-ty brought on, often, by force’s beyond one’s control.
In fact, that’s the personal message the conference’s fea-tured speakers hope to share because it’s something Michele Cushatt and Cindy Finch have personally experienced.
“To me, God is my safety, my anchor, so I’ve always, always had a hunger for him. He served me well until my life fell apart,” Cushatt related. “I’d always treated faith like a math equa-tion.”
However, following a divorce, she said treating her faith like an equation no longer worked and she had to reinvent herself.

By Jeff Gargano
Just a little over two months into the new school year and the Humboldt and Twin Rivers School Districts have had 12 incidents of vehicles passing a stopped school bus.
With buses now outfitted with cameras, violators are being turned in to authorities where they could face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license and higher car insurance rates.
The tragic Indiana bus accident that claimed the lives of three siblings last week is a reminder of how important it is to stop and wait for a stopped school bus.
“Our biggest fear is the loss of one of our children,” Humboldt and Twin Rivers transportation director Leo Reigelsberger said.
Read more about this story in this week's Humboldt Independent. Get your copy delivered to your door or your electronic device by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

Election Day 2018 is almost here. The general election in Humboldt County will be Tuesday, Nov. 6, at the polling places in each of the nine precincts in the county. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the precinct polling places as follows:

Preston and Jadie Peterson of Northland Auto in Humboldt have purchased B & N Auto Sales from Bill and Sheri Petersen effective Nov. 1.
The purchase ensures a Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealership will remain in Humboldt.
The B & N dealership will be renamed Northland Auto. Preston and Jadie will continue to operate Northland Auto at both locations. The Highway 169 location will continue to handle sales of quality used vehicles. The Highway 3 location will offer new Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles as well as used vehicles.
“Bill has been great to work with during the transition. He really wanted it to stay in town and have someone local operate it,” Preston said. “We are bringing warranty work back to the dealership. We plan to offer vehicle leasing through Chrysler Capital. We plan to do some updating and hope to grow the business.”

The Humboldt High School 2018 fall musical is this week. "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" tickets are now available to the general public in the high school office, $8 for adults and $5 for students. Three performances are scheduled for Nov. 1, 2 and 3, at 7 p.m., in the R. Wesley Carlson Auditorium. The large cast of 70+ HHS students is under the dramatic direction of Ashley Garst, musical direction Michael Blair, and pit orchestra Drew Barker. The show is sure to promise nostalgia and fun for all ages! “How To Succeed” is presented with special arrangements through Music Theatre International. Read about the production and see photos, including a full-color page supported by local businesses in this week's Humboldt Independent. Subscribe to print or digital editions by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

Four Humboldt High School music students have attained the highest individual honor availa-ble to Iowa high school musi-cians by being selected as mem-bers of the 2018 All-State Or-chestra and Chorus.
Hope Hjelmeland has been selected as a member of the All-State Orchestra. Hope (coronet) is the daughter of Ron and Jodi Hjelmeland, and is the student of Drew Barker and Kathy Yoakam. Holly Kirchhoff (so-prano), Sydney Burns (alto), and Carter Holm (bass) have been selected as members of the All-State Chorus. Holly is the daughter of Jeff and Ramona Kirchhoff. Sydney is the daugh-ter of Bruce and Teresa Burns. Carter is the son of Culley and Traci Holm. The trio is students of Michael Blair. Sydney also studies with Joan Enockson. The public concert will be Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum in Ames.

U.S. Congressional Candidate J.D. Scholten continues his barnstorming tour of the 4th District in Humboldt County on Monday, Oct. 22 from 12-1 p.m. at the VFW Hall, 412 Main St., Dakota City.
Scholten welcomes everyone, regardless of party affiliation (or lack thereof) to attend, ask questions, and join in conversation about the issues impacting Iowans.
This is the Sioux City Democrat’s third stop in Humboldt County. He is looking forward to the opportunity to hearing from county residents.
Scholten will also be in Fort Dodge on Sunday, Oct. 21, at the Iowa Central Community College Biohealth Science Auditorium for a town hall focused on Social Security and senior issues. Appearing with Scholten will be Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. The event is free and the program will begin at 11:30 a.m.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst has announced that she will be holding a town hall meeting at the Humboldt High School R. Wesley Carlson Auditorium on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 4:30 p.m. The high school is located at 1500 Wildcat Road.
According to Sen. Ernst's office, the town hall meeting in Humboldt is part of Ernst's 99-county tour to hear from constituents about the issues most important to them. The public is welcome to attend this meeting.

By KENT THOMPSON
Nestled among the farm fields of southwestern Wright County sits the largest production facility in a four-county square area.
The 160-acre tract of land is five miles south of Eagle Grove and just west of Highway 17. It will be the home to a Prestage Foods of Iowa pork processing plant
“We feel we are largely on schedule. Our plans are to begin commercial production with the entire workforce in early January,” said Jere Null, Prestage Foods of Iowa Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Ground was broken for the $325 million, 725,000 square foot facility on March 30, 2017.
Prestage Farms is the fifth largest pork producer and the fifth largest turkey producer in the U.S., producing 421 million pounds of turkey and 922 million pounds of pork per year.