November 2012

The city of Bradgate has a new (1981 model) fire truck after a fundraising campaign to collect $10,000. The fire department received many contributions, large and small that allowed the city to complete the purchase of a Ford LN900 Smeal pumper truck. Pro Cooperative partnered with Land O’Lakes (Pro Coop donated $1,000 and Land O’Lakes Foundation matched this with an additional $1,000. The city of Bradgate contributed $2,800. They also received many donations from the public and other businesses. “Each was greatly appreciated, whether it was $5 or $1,000. It all adds up to help us meet our goal of providing better service to our community,” Nancy Johansen, secretary-treasurer of the Bradgate Volunteer Fire Department, said. They were getting close to the goal when they received a phone call from a former Bradgate area resident. Jody and Mike Christianson now live in Montana and they still receive the Humboldt Independent Newspaper.

The song says, "When you wish upon a star your dreams come true." Such was the case for Humboldt's Morgan Raether and her family. Morgan was granted a wish to see Disney World through the Make A Wish Foundation. Morgan suffers from intractable epilepsy and cannot walk or talk, but her family said she really enjoyed many of the experiences she had on the trip to Orlando, FL. Morgan, her mother, Joy, and grandparents Rev. Jerry and Barb Raether of Humboldt got to tour several of the Disney theme parks and also got to stay at a special 70-acre park and village that is specially designed for terminally ill and special needs children and their families. Ready more about Morgan's experiences in this week's edition of The Humboldt Independent, now available online by clicking on the E-Edition link above.

With only a few action items Monday night and barely a quorum of council members present, some of the biggest news at the Humboldt City Council meeting came at the end. Humboldt City Administrator Aaron Burnett reported that the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted approval for the installation of amber flashing beacons with the sign “School Speed Limit 30 When Flashing,” on Highway 169, at the intersection with Wildcat Road and 4th Avenue SW. According to the DOT agreement, the Humboldt Community School will have control of the beacons and they will be programmed to flash for a 45-minute period in the morning when students are going to school, and a 45-minute period in the afternoon, when students are going home from school. The beacons can be programmed to be activated for after school-hour events. To read about what the city and school leaders think about the change subscribe to The Humboldt Independent print or online editions.