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May 2020

Fri
29
May

Rec Center to reopen on Monday

Submitted by admin on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 1:09pm

Abbey Harklau of Humboldt does a squad press at the Humboldt Recreation Center. The center will open for the first time in over two months on Monday, June 1 at 5 a.m. with restrictions. Humboldt Independent file photo.

“The Humboldt Recreation Center will opening June 1 at 5 a.m. We know everyone is excited to come and enjoy the facility, but please remember things will be very different,” Paxton Petersen the city’s interim recreation director said.
The Humboldt Recreation will be following guidelines and precautions from Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Department of Public Health, and will be strictly enforcing them to ensure the health of our members and employees.
Please read the list of restrictions and precautions below to familiarize yourself and families with the changes that we will be following. We also ask that everyone follow these restrictions and use healthy hygiene so we can continue to loosen restrictions.
The Humboldt Recreation Center will be reopening to members on Monday, June 1.

Fri
29
May

18 COVID-19 cases reported in Humboldt Co., 12 have recovered

Submitted by admin on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 1:00pm

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Humboldt County Public Health have identified four additional cases of COVID-19 in the county. One Humboldt County resident is in the 18-40 age group and three residents are in the 41-60 age group. The four new cases bring the total positive cases in the county to 18. According to the coronavirus website, two cases were identified on May 28, one on May 30 and one on May 31.
The state website reports that as of Monday, 333 citizens have been tested in Humboldt County with 18 positive tests. There have been no Humboldt County deaths. Twelve of the 18 cases have recovered.

Thu
28
May

Annual Humboldt 4th of July Parade cancelled

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 3:26pm

Humboldt Mayor Dan Scholl and family members throw out flying discs during last year's 4th of July Parade. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced Thursday that this year's parade has been cancelled. Humboldt Independent file photo.

As many of you know, when the former Chamber of Commerce dissolved, the Humboldt County Development Association agreed to host the annual 4th of July parade to ensure continuity of the event.
However, it is with great sadness, that we announce that HCDA will be cancelling the 4th of July parade. Please note that HCDA only agreed to host the parade. Any inquiries regarding the status of the fireworks display should be directed to the City of Humboldt.
“We understand this decision will be a disappointment to many, however we believe it is in the best interest of the community at this time. The last few months have been difficult for many of us. However, I believe with focused recovery efforts and continued health and safety measures, we will persevere,” said HCDA Executive Director Alissa O’Connor in a letter Thursday afternoon.

Thu
28
May

Let's Play Ball!!

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 12:25pm

Humboldt's Jacob Thurm at the plate during the 2019 high school baseball season. Baseball and softball teams will begin their seasons with practices on June 1 and games beginning June 15. Independent photo.

By Phil Monson

Baseball and softball will now become a reality this summer!
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the governing sports bodies announced last week that the summer sports season can be played as the state looks to ease back to normal from the massive shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a press release from the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, softball and baseball teams can begin practice on June 1 and begin playing games on June 15.

“We are ecstatic to be able to do this. It has been such a rollercoaster the last two months. There were days where things were looking optimistic and then the next day you would hear something pessimistic and you didn’t think anything was going to happen,” Humboldt baseball coach Jason Thurm said.

Thu
28
May

May 28, 2020

Thu
28
May

City buildings could open next week

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 12:12am

The jury is still out on whether or not there will be scenes like this at the Humboldt Family Aquatic Center this summer. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has OK'd public pools to be opened for lap swimming and swimming lessons only at this time. The city of Humboldt has not made a decision on if the pool will open this summer. Humboldt Independent file photo.

By KENT THOMPSON
Many city facilities could open by next week, but that doesn’t mean it will be in the same fashion people are accustomed to.
Pool
“The governor’s proclamation is going to allow lap swimming and swimming lessons only for pools that decide to open. A lot of municipalities have said they won’t be opening this summer,” Humboldt City Administrator Travis Goedken said.
“Our park board met earlier this month and directed city staff to move forward as if the pool will open,” Goedken said.
Rec Center
“We have been meeting a lot with Humboldt County Public Health about all our facilities, city hall, the rec center, the library, the pool. We had a meeting on May 11 with Joleen Sernett and Kim Schipull with Humboldt County Public Health to determine our plans for reopening and precautionary measures we had in place. They gave us some other precautionary measures to consider,” Goedken said.

Thu
28
May

Distance learning during a pandemic

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 12:05am

Taft second grader Jazlyn Himrod joins her classmates in Mrs. Miller's class from a safe distance at home. It has become the norm since school has been closed since March 16. Submitted photo.

By KENT THOMPSON
More than 100 fidgety kindergarten students gathered around their computers last Thursday evening for the last class session of an unanticipated and highly eventful 2019-20 school year.
As kindergarten instructor Staci Matson asked parents to put their computers on mute so the virtual Zoom class could begin, the class seemed worlds away from what a normal end of the school year day would be.
It served as a goodbye to retiring Elementary Principal and a welcome to new Elementary Principal Ryan Fedders (Taft).
Bruder has been joining many of the weekly Zoom meetings for elementary students and sat in front of his computer for 13 last Thursday.
Matson said she has been Zooming her kindergarten class one day a week since classes ended in mid-March.

Thu
28
May

Humboldt seniors honored with banners

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 12:03am

Steve Nostrom of Terry and Bob's Sign Company hangs senior banners on 5th Street North last Thursday morning. The banners will remain hanging until senior graduation on June 21. Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.

All 116 Humboldt High School seniors are pictured on banners adorning the west side of 5th Street North in Humboldt.
Bobby and Connie Rasmussen of Terry and Bob’s Sign Company spearheaded the banner effort.
“This year’s class has had a lot happen to them and I just felt they needed something,” Bobby Rasmussen said.
The Rasmussens approached some businesses for support and the project was off and running.
The Rasmussens decided to make a blue and gold two foot by three foot banner with each senior’s photo and name on it. Getting all of the photos was a challenge as some seniors had not had their photo taken when school was called off in March. But the Rasmussens made arrangements to have those photos taken.
Another challenge was getting the brackets to hang each banner.

Thu
28
May

Absentee or in-person voting allowed for June 2 primary

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 12:02am

Livermore City Hall and the Humboldt County Events Center will be the two locations for in-person voting. Citizens requesting absentee ballots may vote at the courthouse from their car Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call the Auditor's Office at (515) 332-1571 when arriving and receive the correct ballot.

By KENT THOMPSON
Humboldt County Republicans and Democrats will be going to the polls on Tuesday, June 2, for the primary elections.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Humboldt County Auditor Peggy Rice are encouraging voters to cast absentee ballots. Because of the pandemic, only two polling places will be open for primary election voting. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Voters in the Avery-North Weaver, Delana-Wacousta-North Rutland and Humboldt-West Vernon precincts are asked to vote at the Livermore City Hall.
Voters in the Dakota City-Grove, Humboldt 1-Corinth-South Weaver, Humboldt 2-Beaver-South Norway, Humboldt 3-South Rutland, North Lake-East Vernon, and South Lake-North Norway precincts are asked to vote at the Humboldt County Events Center at the fairgrounds.
People with questions about where to vote may contact the Humboldt County Auditor’s Office at (515) 332-1571.

Wed
27
May

Another COVID-19 positive case reported

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/27/2020 - 3:32pm

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Humboldt County Public Health have identified one additional case of COVID-19 in the county. The announcement was made Wednesday afternoon. The Humboldt County resident is in the 41-60 age group.
As of Wednesday, May 27, there are 14 total positive COVID-19 cases in Humboldt County and nine of those patient cases have recovered. Humboldt County Public Health continues to work closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and other state and local partners to respond to this ongoing pandemic. When cases of COVID-19 first began being reported in Iowa, they were related to travel outside of the state. Now, however, there is a widespread community transmission. This means the virus is spreading from person-to-person, and often without known contact with a positive case.

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