News

The LuVerne Fire Department received a $5,000 boost in their fundraising efforts to build a new fire station.
Gary Moritz, Director of Communications at NEW Cooperative, presented the $5,000 check to the fire department last Thursday night.
The current fire station that houses their fire trucks and gear is in a dilapidated state. Matt Lawson, secretary-treasurer of the LuVerne Fire Department, said they are raising funds to build a new structure with basic amenities.
“The new fire station will provide a safe and reliable structure to store our emergency response vehicles and equipment. It will also provide an environment that is more user friendly to perform vehicle maintenance and fire training classes,” Lawson said.
Read more about this story in this week's Humboldt Independent. Receive the print or digital editions by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

By KENT THOMPSON
A Humboldt woman has been charged with attempted murder and domestic abuse assault dis-playing a weapon, following an investigation into an incident involving a Humboldt man that occurred April 29, 2018
On Aug. 6, Vilma Cyreena Velasquez, 26, of Humboldt, was arrested on two Humboldt County charges, attempted murder, a class B felony, and domestic abuse assault displaying a weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor.
According to the complaint affidavit filed with the Humboldt County Clerk of Court, on or about April 29, Velasquez allegedly chased Austin Dean with a bat. At the same time, a male suspect, who is still at large, allegedly struck Dean, who was riding a bicycle at the time, with a pickup truck.
Read more about this and other crime news in this week's Humboldt Independent. Subscribe to have all of the news delivered to your door by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

By KENT THOMPSON
Citizens in Humboldt will be developing a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation to operate the Humota Theatre.
That was the offshoot of a 50-minute meeting last Wednesday, Aug. 1, at the Humboldt/Dakota City Chamber and Welcome Center.
About 40 interested citizens/stakeholders attended the meeting.
Andy Milam, a Humboldt resident and marketing and public relations coordinator with the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, knows a little about 501(c)3 corporations, and formulated an ad hoc steering committee along with Humota Theatre co-manager Sarah Vanord and few others.
Milam set up some temporary bylaws and operations work and then asked an attorney to vet it. He emphasized that the documents can be changed according to the 501(c)3 non-profit board’s direction. He said his initial work is just one small piece of the overall work to get the non-profit operating.

By KENT THOMPSON
The calm of a summer’s afternoon was broken in the town of Rutland on Monday, Aug. 6, when a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy was attacked while executing a search warrant.
According to the report, on Monday, Aug. 6, at 2:14 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies Cory Lampe, Roger Bennett and Tim Fisher arrived at 201 2nd Ave. S. in Rutland to execute a search warrant.
When the deputies entered the residence, they encountered the defendant, Michael J. Saeger, 47, who lives at the residence. After initially speaking to deputies, Saeger became combative and fled to a nearby room, with a deputy giving chase.
Saeger then retrieved a knife and attempted to stab Deputy Lampe approximately four times. Lampe’s body armor prevented him from sustaining any serious injuries.

By KENT THOMPSON
The Kiddie Cats Childcare and Learning Center has announced the hiring of a director for the new facility.
Heather Bergman was originally hired as a teacher and when the director position opened, she was offered the job.
Bergman is a native of Britt in nearby Hancock County. She worked at a day care there for three years, basically becoming the assistant director, although that wasn’t her official title.
She recently moved to the community and found the opening at Kiddie Cats dovetailed wonderfully with her personal and career goals.
“I want this center to be something that Humboldt and Dakota City are proud of. I want this to be a place where people want to send their kids and have a waiting list of children to come here. I want the kids leaving here every day saying that they want to come back,” Bergman said.

Cool and nearly picture-perfect weather highlighted six days of activities at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds in north Humboldt last week. Even the one downpour of rain last Wednesday night came with enough notice that the Fair Queen coronation ceremony was able to be moved into the Humboldt County Events Center before the torrential, but brief rains hit. Thanks to the unseasonably cool temps throughout the week, near record crowds packed the grandstand for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday night lineup of entertainment. "We had very good crowds and participation in all of the fair events," Fair Board Vice President Jeff Halvorson said. To read about and see photos of all of the fair place winners, pick up a copy of this week's Humboldt Independent. Better yet, subscribe and get the newspaper delivered to you in either print or digital methods. Like Humboldt Newspapers on Facebook to see photos and additional content.

Horse racing at its wildest will be coming to the Humboldt County Fairgrounds grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 6 p.m. It’s chuckwagon races, a popular event among young and old alike.
Admission is $15 for adults and youth 13 and older, $5 for youth ages 5-12 and youth under age 5 are free with an adult admission. Gates to the grandstand will open at 5 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door.
The Humboldt/Dakota City Noon Kiwanis Club will be serving food and drinks.
Six Chuckwagon outfits, all individually owned and maintained compete for the prize money. It is a race to the finish line and such spills and mix-ups you have never seen before.

By KENT THOMPSON
The Humboldt Board of Education followed the lead of the Humboldt City Council last Thursday morning, approving a 28E agreement to hire a School Resource Officer.
The police officer hired to serve the position will be an employee of the city of Humboldt, with the salary of the officer split between the city and the school district. During the school year, the officer will be located at the school centers, high school, middle school, Taft and Mease Elementary centers and the Humboldt Alternative School.
“We have been getting input from School Board member Kyle Kluender (an Iowa State Patrolman), the attorneys for the city and school district, city officials and school administrative staff,” Humboldt School Superintendent Greg Darling said. “Two of our administrators have worked in districts where there was a School Resource Officer,” Darling told the Board members.

By KENT THOMPSON
Judging from an initial meeting on the future of the Humota Theatre in Humboldt, there is interest among citizens in keeping the 90-year-old movie theatre going.
About 35 persons crammed into the Humboldt City Council chambers Thursday night during the supper hour for an hour-long meeting to discuss the possible future of the theatre in the community.
Humboldt City Administrator Travis Goedken outlined the particulars surrounding the R.L. Fridley Company’s announcement that the theatre could be closing as early as Sept. 1.
Goedken said that won’t happen if the community has a viable plan in place to take over ownership and operation of the theatre.
While such a scenario could take several forms, the most likely is to start a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation to operate the theatre. Other options are a local private buyer or a community investor-group, who would operate the theatre much like a retail business.