News

By KENT THOMPSON
A full-fledge effort to save the Humota Theatre is under way.
The effort comes following an announcement last week that the theatre will close Sept. 1, unless a plan is in place to provide a transition from the current ownership of R.L. Fridley Theatres to a local group, hopefully a non-profit corporation who would be able to operate the theatre and keep it open as a local business and an entertainment venue for the community.
There was some confusion initially after last week’s announcement by the city of Humboldt, which was printed in a press release in the July 5 edition of The Humboldt Independent.
The city of Humboldt will not be taking over operation of the theatre. The city’s involvement will be as a resource and a conduit to try to organize individuals who are interested in forming a group to help save the theatre.

A Humboldt man is dead and a Fort Dodge woman seriously injured following a three-vehicle accident that occurred late Monday night, July 9, in Webster County.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident occurred 2.5 miles west of Badger on County Road C-56. The time of the accident was 11:44 p.m.
According to the report, A 2005 Land Rover sport utility vehicle driven by Aisha I. Ismail, 24, of Fort Dodge, was traveling westbound on C-56 and initiated a pass of a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado pickup pulling a car trailer driven by Michael J. Heuck, 51, of Spencer.

Due to Wednesday night's inclement weather, the fireworks display has been moved to tonight Thursday after dark at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds.

There will be entertainment galore
Next Generation Shows returns as the carnival Wednesday through Sunday. They’ll also offer free face painting.
Tuesday night will have harness races with a free gate. Wednesday night at the grandstand will be the Little Miss and Mister Contest, 4-H Style Show and Humboldt County Fair Queen crowning.
Lew-e Clown shows start on Thursday. The free shows will be daily at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Holly Rocka Rollaz will perform a free show at the grandstand on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Take an authentic trip back to the fantastic 50s. Based out of Minnesota, the band plays Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash and many more.
The Lucas Oil Tractor/Pickup Pull takes place on Friday night, followed by a local pickup pull.
The 2018 Humboldt County Fair will feature bull riding at the grandstand on Saturday night, July 28.

Recently, community leaders have had discussions with R.L. Fridley Theatres Inc. about the operations of The Humota Theatre in Humboldt. Fridley Theatres hopes to donate the Humota property, as they have successfully done in many other Iowa communities, and transition the business to a local group in order to continue operations. The transition
would include donation of the building and a heavily discounted price for the equipment inside.
There are some capital improvements that will be required to maintain the building such as replacing the roof and HVAC system that would require a capital campaign to fund those projects. If a plan for acquisition is not in place by Sept. 1 to transfer ownership, the Humota Theatre will close.
The City of Humboldt and the Humboldt County Development Association would like to assist any persons or group that wishes to see the continued operation of The Humota and are looking for those champions.

The corn is well above waist high this 4th of July and high above the cornfields Friday afternoon was the Wingfoot One Goodyear Blimp making its way southeast across Humboldt County about 3:45 p.m. Friday. The blimp had been in Sioux Falls, SD for a tire store promotional appearance, and was on its way to the Quad Cities International Airport for an overnight stop before heading to Joliet, IL on Saturday, for another promotional stop. Several residents called The Independent reporting seeing the blimp and following it. It's not too hard to do, blimps travel about 1,500 feet in the air and move pretty slowly, about 35-45 miles per hour.

By KENT THOMPSON
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors made it official on Monday. After seven months of waiting, the Board removed the “interim” tag from County Engineer Ben Loots’ title, approving a three-year contract for Loots to serve as the county’s head engineer beginning July 1 and continuing through June 30, 2021.
“I’m very happy. I’m excited,” Loots said after the Board’s action which came after a 20-minute closed session with the engineer and County Attorney Jon Beaty. “I’ve been interim since December. I think this new contract shows that they are happy with the work I have been doing and we can keep chugging along.”
The contract was unanimously approved by the Board following the closed session.
Loots will be paid an annual salary of not less than $97,500 for fiscal year 2019, not less than $100,500 for fiscal 2020 and not less than $103,500 for fiscal year 2021, unless the contract is terminated.

Craig Christensen and LuAnn Burgers are best friends, so when both were diagnosed with cancer on the same day in August 2016, it may have seemed like a cruel joke.
What it became was a deeper friendship as the pair shared their similar but quite different cancer journeys: LuAnn - breast cancer, and Craig - colorectal cancer.
They shared their highs and lows, pains and pleasures, laughter and tears and how they were able to come out on the other side of the devastating but beatable disease.
It is appropriate that Craig and LuAnn will lead the survivors lap at the 2018 Humboldt County Relay for Life this Friday at the Humboldt High School running track. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. with the open ceremonies and a celebration of life starting at 6 p.m.
Read about Craig and LuAnn's stories in this week's Humboldt Independent newspaper. Subscribe to print or digital editions by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

Dr. Shanna Miller has joined Three Rivers Eye Care in Humboldt.
A native of Algona, Dr. Miller attended Wartburg College in Waverly, where she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. She then went on to receive her doctorate at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, graduating with honors. She is a member of the American Optometric Association as well as the Iowa Optometric Association. Her interests include ocular disease, contact lenses, and primary eye care for the entire family.
She is excited to return to North Central Iowa to begin serving the local community. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and being outdoors.

By Phil Monson
Groundbreaking is underway on the new addition at Humboldt High School.
In the regular monthly meeting of the Humboldt School Board Monday night (June 18), Humboldt School Superintendent Greg Darling reported Kingland Construction of Forest City began digging on the project earlier in the day.
“We’ve had a couple of little change orders on the project, but nothing drastic,” Humboldt School Superintendent Greg Darling said.
The addition will be on the north side of the school building, east of R. Wesley Carlson Auditorium.
Darling said architectural plans are being finalized for the demolition of the old middle school building. After the new middle school opened in the fall of 2013, the district vacated three quarters of the building but continue to use the west wing and gymnasium.