March 2015

MYRON "MIKE" V. ERICKSON, 96, Humboldt, died Wednesday, March 4, 2015, at the Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale, AZ.

Humboldt voters said yes by a two-to-one margin Tuesday, yes to continuing the unified law enforcement levy. Not a new tax, but one city taxpayers have been paying since 1986. “Shall an annual levy, the amount of which will not exceed a rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value of the taxable property in the Unified Law Enforcement district be authorized for providing additional monies needed for unified law enforcement services in the district?” The final tally was 146 “yes” votes to 70 “no” to the aforementioned question. Most of the voters were at the polling place at Humboldt City Hall on Tuesday. There were nine absentee ballots, two “yes” votes and seven “no” votes. The unified law enforcement levy has been in place for the past 30 years to pay for the city of Humboldt’s shared cost with Humboldt County for the operations and maintenance of the Humboldt County Law Enforcement Center. The city pays 30 percent of the cost and the county pays 70 percent.

A high-speed chase between Kossuth County law enforcement and a Fort Dodge subject ended with the car going in the ditch east of Livermore, and the suspect being apprehended. The incident occurred in the early morning hours Tuesday, March 3. According to Kossuth County Sheriff Steve Kollasch, a routine traffic stop in Algona for a broken taillight resulted in a nearly 20-mile pursuit, with speeds at times reaching 100 miles an hour. A Kossuth County Deputy Sheriff and an Algona Police officer pursued a 2001 Buick Century on Highway 169. The deputy continued the pursuit into Humboldt County, receiving assistance from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. The chase ended about 2:25 a.m. when the subject failed to negotiate a curve at the intersection of States Avenue and 130th Street east of Livermore. Arrested was Bobby Bennett, 44, Fort Dodge. He was charged with eluding law enforcement, a class D felony.

Humboldt had four players selected to the post-season all-North Central Conference boys' basketball team recently by the league coaches. Senior guard Jaxon Heinz was one of four players named unanimous first-team selection. Junior guard Thomas Orness was a second-team pick while seniors Brady Ross and Austin Zylstra were chosen third-team.Humboldt sophomore Avery Terwilliger was a first-team pick for the girls with senior Kessa Kuyper named second-team.See complete story in the Humboldt Independent Newspaper. Click the link above to subscribe today.