August 2025

By PHIL MONSON

According to Humboldt’s Kathy Yoakam, “music is life.”

Yoakam, who spent 25 years teaching music in the Humboldt Community School District, is opening a new business, Top Level Music Academy. It will be located inside the former Humboldt Care Center South building along Highway 169 South.

Yoakam wants to keep music alive in the community.

“I want to make a musical impact on the community, ages 5 to 95,” Yoakam said. “It really doesn’t matter. I can teach younger kids too.”

“I’m just so excited about this. It’s going to be great,” Yoakam said. “I feel we need this here in our community.”

Yoakam, who retired five years ago, has been teaching music lessons from her home and other locations.

“I’m busier now than I ever was before. I used to have a part-time studio in Fort Dodge. I teach part-time in Algona and I teach lessons in my home three nights a week and I go to Fort Dodge one night a week,” Yoakam said.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Michael Sie Lee Street, convicted of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon in Kossuth County, failed to report back to the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility as required on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.

Street is a 23-year-old, 5'11", 262-pound White male. He was admitted to the work release facility on July 15, 2025.

Persons with information on Street's whereabouts should contact local police.

For more information on the state's work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910.

Joe Hadar, who played a big role in getting the sport of soccer started in Humboldt High School, is stepping down as head coach of the Wildcat boys’ program after 22 seasons at the helm.
The Humboldt Board of Education accepted his retirement at their July meeting.
Hadar was instrumental in getting soccer established and coached Humboldt in its inaugural season in 2002. In its first 11 seasons, it was a coed program as Humboldt didn’t start its own girls’ program until 2013.
As a coed program, Hadar had a won-loss record of 35-98. His boys-only coaching record is 102-61-2. His combined won-loss record is 137-159-2.
Hadar, a 1980 Humboldt High School graduate, is heavily involved with the family business in town, Hadar Manufacturing, which produces athletic protective mats and various equipment.