January 2025

City offers support for development group

By PHIL MONSON

After deliberating in a 40-minute special meeting on Monday afternoon, Jan. 13, the Humboldt City Council unanimously voted no on purchasing the Reasoner Dam.

The city was forced to consider taking ownership of the dam after the Humboldt County Conservation Board declined earlier this winter to allow the River Development Group to take ownership, instead asking the city to assume ownership and allow the development group to raise its own funds to make necessary improvements to the dam and the wide body of water north of it, known for over a half century as Lake Nokomis.

“Our goal has always been to make Lake Nokomis a recreational attraction that it once was. The potential for boating, jet skiing, kayaking and of course, fishing,” said River Development Group member Susan Tille, who is also mayor of Rutland.

Marcene Marie Smith, age 96, passed away peacefully on Jan. 9, 2025, at Rotary Senior Living in Eagle Grove. Marcene was born on Aug. 16, 1928, to Mabel (Manny) and Fred Becker in the Boone County Hospital. She attended Page Public School. As an only child, Marcene spent a lot of time drawing and developing artistic talents. She loved to sing and took piano lessons for nine years. In high school, Marcene enjoyed studying art and was part of all vocal music groups.
In the fall of 1946, Marcene attended Simpson College in Indianola as a freshman music major. As a piano student, she was assigned to accompany Loren Miner. Their friendship blossomed, and in November of 1947, Loren proposed. They were married in August 1948 in the Boone Methodist Church. Together they raised two children, Stephanie and Wayne, until Loren’s death in 1962 from Hodgkin’s Disease

Humboldt's Danica Diedrick placed second at 170 pounds to lead the Humboldt girls' wrestling team at the Ogden tournament on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Diedrick was 2-1 on the day to improve her record to 27-5 on the season.

Teammate Brooklyn Robinson placed fourth at 235 pounds for Humboldt. Robinson is now 26-3 on the season.

Humboldt finished 13th as a team with 58 points. Osage (231.5), Ankeny (209.5), South Tama (167), Spencer (144) and Algona (139) took the top three spots.

Humboldt returns to action at home on Jan. 13 when they host Lake Mills and West Fork in dual action. The Wildcats will compete in the conference tournament at Iowa Falls on Saturday, Jan 18.

Humboldt wrestles at Eagle Grove on Jan. 20, in a double dual that will include Northwood-Kensett. The Wildcats wrestle at Mason City on Jan. 25. The Class 1A regional meet will be held in Osage on Jan. 31.

Elliot Carlson scored 25 points and Jackson Flaherty and Coen Matson each hit 14 in leading the Humboldt boys' basketball team to an 81-57 victory over Iowa Falls-Alden in a North Central Conference game in the Humboldt gym on Friday night, Jan. 10.

Humboldt, which improved to 5-4 overall on the season, 4-1 in conference play, also had Mason Van Pelt with seven points and Jackson Dodd with five. Isaiah Busick and Valley Davis each had four, along with Chase Flaherty. Owen Heider and Parker Sleiter each had two.

Calvin Hutchinson and Kale Kalous each scored 12 for the Cadets, who moved to 6-4 overall, 2-2 in conference play.

Humboldt returns to action on the road at South Central Calhoun in a non-conference game at Rockwell City on Jan. 14. The Wildcats will host Algona on Jan. 17.

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