January 2023

Tue
31
Jan

Humboldt boys advance to state dual wrestling!


A jubilant Humboldt boys' wrestling team and its coaches and cheerleaders proudly display their banner after winning a Class 2A regional dual in Humboldt on Jan. 31. The Wildcats defeated Ballard Huxley, 38-29, to advance into the state dual team tournament in Coralville on Saturday, Feb. 4. Independent photo by PHIL MONSON.

The Humboldt boys' wrestling team kept their dual season alive Tuesday night (Jan. 31) in the Humboldt gym by turning back Ballard Huxley, 38-29 in Class 2A regional dual.

Humboldt will take an overall record of 18-2 into the state dual team tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville on Saturday, Feb. 4. Opening round action begins at 9 a.m. Humboldt, seeded No. 6, will meet No. 3 seed Sergeant Bluff-Luton at 11 a.m. on mat 4. The winner will face West Delaware (2nd) or Webster City (7th) at 3 p.m. in the semifinals. A loss would put Humboldt in the consolation match at 1 p.m.

Consolation finals will be at 6:30 p.m. The championship and third and fourth-place matches will be at 8:30 p.m.

Humboldt fell behind 14-0 in the match that began at 195 pounds. The Wildcats proceeded to win the next five straight matches for a 26-14 lead after Jayden Gargano moved up to 132 pounds and pinned Jayden Leland by technical fall, 15-0 with 41 seconds left in the third period.

Tue
31
Jan

North Care Center to close; 45 residents to be relocated

Humboldt’s North Care Center, the home to 45 residents, will be closing its doors. It is one of six Iowa care facilities that were placed in receivership after the owner informed the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) that it would be unable to continue operating.
On Monday, Jan. 23, the owner of Blue Care Homes, LLC, notified DIA that they were unable and/or unwilling to continue operations and would not be able to meet the needs of its residents at four nursing facilities and two assisted living facilities.
On Wednesday, Jan. 25, pursuant to Iowa Code chapters 135C and 231C, DIA filed for receivership of the six facilities. Receivership ensures that residents are safe and that they have the ability to move to a location of their choosing.

Mon
30
Jan

Lynx topple HHS boys, 67-47


Corey Dettmann rips a rebound away from an opponent under the basket in the Wildcats' 86-63 victory over Garner-Hayfield/Ventura on Jan. 30 in Humboldt. Independent photo by PHIL MONSON.

Humboldt’s varsity boys basketball team fell at Webster City, 67-47 in a conference game at Webster City on Feb. 3. Humboldt is 14-3 overall, 10-2 in conference play. Webster City is 15-1 overall, 8-1 in the NCC.

Humboldt kept pace in the North Central Conference boys' basketball race with a convincing 82-54 home court victory over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows on Feb. 2 in the Wildcat gym. Evan Hatcher scored 18 points, Will Orness scored 17 points, Josh Thurm made 16 and Corey Dettmann added 12 for the Wildcats, who improved to 14-2 overall, 10-1 in the NCC.

Humboldt made 18 3-pointers in rolling past Garner-Hayfield/Ventura, 86-63 Monday night, Jan. 30 in the Humboldt gym in non conference boys basketball.

Josh Thurm scored 18 points, Will Orness 16 and Evan Hatcher 14 to lead Humboldt. Elliot Carlson made 13, Corey Dettmann 12 and Owen Hubbell 10 for Humboldt.

The Wildcats travel to Clear Lake on Feb. 7 for another key NCC game.

Mon
30
Jan

Wildcat girls in 73-27 romp over Lynx


Humboldt senior post player Kayla Gieber blocks this Garner-Hayfield/Ventura shot attempt down low in the Wildcats' 60-40 victory over the Cardinals on Jan. 30 in the Humboldt gym. Independent photo by PHIL MONSON.

Humboldt’s varsity girls basketball team rolled to an easy 73-27 victory at Webster City on Feb. 3. Humboldt is now 13-6 overall, 10-3 in conference play.

Humboldt's varsity girls' basketball team ran their season record to 12-6 overall, 9-3 in the North Central Conference rolling past Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 70-43 in the Humboldt gym on Feb. 2.

Morgan Mann scored 22 points, Ava Fischer made 21 and Reagan Lee added 13 for Humboldt. Kaitlyn Nelson contributed nine points and Kayla Gieber added five for the Wildcats. Lexie Lane scored 18 for CGD.

Humboldt girls run past Cardinals, 60-40
Humboldt pushed their season record to 11-6 Monday night (Jan. 30) by running past the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura Cardinals, 60-40 in non-conference action in Humboldt.

Morgan Mann’s 23 points carried Humboldt. Ava Fischer had 15 and Reagan Lee 10 to lead the Wildcats.

Humboldt visits Webster City on Friday, Feb. 3, in NCC action.

Fri
27
Jan

Winter storm warning overnight through Saturday


This is the latest snow model from the National Weather Service, as of 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27.

Snow emergency
According to National Weather Service, all of Humboldt County is in a winter storm warning from late tonight through Sunday noon.
A band of moderate to heavy snowfall will impact northern Iowa late tonight into Saturday, especially around and north of the Highway 20 corridor.
● A narrow swath may receive 6 to 8 inches, with locally higher amounts. Snow intensity will taper off quickly just to the south, leading to higher uncertainty toward Highway 30.
●Patchy freezing drizzle possible south of the snow. Very little accumulation expected.
● Bitter cold late Saturday into early next week.
● Slight northward shift in location of heavy snow band, with a corresponding expansion of warnings and advisories.
Snowfall Details
● A relatively narrow swath of moderate to heavy snowfall will impact portions of northern Iowa, mainly along and north of the Highway 20 corridor.

Fri
27
Jan

Humboldt girls advance 4 into state wrestling


Humboldt's Sophia Harris (top), shown here pinning her opponent in a recent home match, is one of four Wildcats who earned a trip to the state tournament after placing high in a Super Regional in Sioux City Friday, Jan. 27. Independent photo by PHIL MONSON.

The Humboldt girls' wrestling team will send four athletes into this week's state tournament in Coralville after competing in a Super Regional in Sioux City on Friday, Jan. 27.

Senior Baylie Beers won the 130-pound title to earn a spot in the state meet, along with Brooklyn Robinson, who was second at 190. Humboldt's Sophia Harris at 110 and Claire Weydert at 135 both placed fourth at their respective weights but earned spots in the state meet. The top four place winners in each weight class of the regional advance to state.

Other Wildcats who competed but fell short include Sami Varangkounh at 105, Abby Dorn at 115, Lexi Roberts at 120, Ashlyn Sutterfield at 125, Mia Harris at 140, Ella Olson at 145, Elsie Hubbell at 155, Dylan Saathoff at 170 and Kennedy Robinson at 235.

State tournament action will take place inside Xtream Arena in Coralville, Feb. 2-3. Wrestling starts at 9:00 AM each day.

Thu
26
Jan

Beaman named District Coach of the Year


Humboldt head wrestling coach Chad Beaman (left), shown here with assistant coach Justin McDaniel at the state tournament in Des Moines in February of 2020, was recently named Class 2A Central District Coach of the Year. Independent photo.

Humboldt head wrestling coach Chad Beaman, now in his 20th season leading the Wildcats, was recently named Class 2A Central District Coach of the Year.

Beaman’s Wildcats are currently 14-2 in duals this season and entered the week 5-0 in the North Central Conference with hopes of winning the dual title after placing runner-up last week in the conference tournament. The Wildcats did just that Tuesday night, Jan. 24, by beating FD St. Edmond (63-18) and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (28-27) to win the NCC dual title in outright fashion.

Humboldt is ranked No. 6 in the latest 2A dual team rankings that came out on Jan. 23. The Wildcats will host a regional dual on Jan. 31, which includes Winterset and Ballard Huxley.

Thu
26
Jan

Supervisors trim Comp Board salary hike by 33 percent


Humboldt Co. Supervisors, from left: Erik Underberg, Sandy Loney and Rick Pedersen had varying views on the appropriate raises for county elected officials for 2023-24. After much discussion, the Board settled on an 11.39 percent raise for the county sheriff, 8.7 percent raises for the auditor, recorder, treasurer and county attorney, and 5 percent raises for the five supervisors, themselves.

By KENT THOMPSON
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Monday agreed to reduce the recommendations of the Humboldt County Compensation Board, but it was done with a whittling knife and not an axe.
After much discussion, the Board agreed to approve a reduction in the Comp Board’s recommendation of a 17 percent raise for the sheriff and 13 percent raises for all other elected officials.
On Monday, the Supervisors agreed to cut the raises down by 33 percent, to an increase of 11.39 percent for the sheriff and 8.7 percent for the county auditor, attorney, recorder and treasurer.
The Supervisors agreed to cut a little more from their own salary increases, taking a 38.5 percent reduction, to a 5 percent bump.
District 4 Supervisor Erik Underberg did not think the cuts went far enough, and voted against the proposal.

Thu
26
Jan

ALPHA meets needs of students where they are


Kristen Fisher (center), coordinator of ALPHA, Alternative Learning Program for the Humboldt Area, is shown here in her classroom with senior class students Esmerelda Reyes-Flores (left) and Justyne Henman. Independent photo.

By PHIL MONSON
Humboldt’s alternative learning program is in its 11th year successfully serving area students.
Known as ALPHA (Alternative Learning Program for the Humboldt Area) and led by coordinator Kristen Fisher, it continues to grow since it was created in 2012.
“We had previously been sending students in our at-risk population or dropouts to Pocahontas. I had taught special education at the high school for four years before coming over to become coordinator of the program,” Fisher said.
Fisher gave an in-depth report on her program last week during the Jan. 16 Humboldt School Board meeting.
“Students come to ALPHA for various reasons. Some come for medical reasons. It allows them flexibility for their appointments. It could be for special, emotional reasons, like anxiety or academics,” Fisher said.

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