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September 2026

Mon
28
Sep

RICHARD H. JENNINGS

Submitted by admin on Mon, 09/28/2026 - 1:18pm

Richard H. “Rick” Jennings, 73, of Humboldt, passed away on Wednesday morning, Sept. 23, 2026 at his home in Humboldt.
Richard was born Jan. 23, 1953 in Fort Dodge, the son of Wayne and Jean (Waterbury) Jennings. He grew up in Humboldt and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1971. Richard enlisted in the United States Navy where he served two tours in Vietnam on an aircraft carrier. He worked for his parents in their clothing store in Humboldt for a short time and then started a career driving truck for 30 plus years, driving over a million miles in one year as a team with his wife. On Dec. 16, 2000, Richard was united in marriage to Sherry Larson. The couple made their home in Humboldt. He was a fan of NASCAR, the Iowa State Cyclones, helped a friend with rodeos and stock shows, went for coffee every morning, enjoyed his family, dogs, animals, old country music and his yellow Kenworth – International.

Fri
25
Sep

Conservation looks at cashless camping

Submitted by admin on Fri, 09/25/2026 - 1:00pm

By APRIL KELLEY
Humboldt County Conservation Director Todd Lee updated the Humboldt County Conservation Board on the sale of the Reasoner Dam.

“R.I.V.E.R. Development did agree to accept the purchase agreement as it was presented after our last special meeting with the addendum included, that basically says we’ll provide them with any documentation, studies, inspection reports et cetera that pertain to the dam,” Lee said.

Both sides had agreed to create an easement through county land so that R.I.V.E.R. Development Inc. can get to the dam to work on it.

“Our attorney suggested doing something a little different called a maintenance access agreement. Fewer hoops to jump through, cheaper but just as binding,” Lee said.

Both the attorneys for the county and R.I.V.E.R. Development Inc. have agreed that the access agreement is sufficient.

Thu
24
Sep

Tree removal project now delayed

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/24/2026 - 1:00pm

Xia Beaupain (right) was sworn in as Humboldt’s newest police officer at the Humboldt City Council meeting Monday night, Sept. 21. Amy Zeman, administrator/clerk, administered the Oath. Independent photo.

Approving hiring of new police officer

By PHIL MONSON
Humboldt’s efforts to remove dead ash trees in the community have hit another snag.

Earlier this summer the council had to re-bid for the project due to a technicality. They ended up accepting a low bid from ArborPro Tree Service of Fort Dodge.

Now ArborPro has backed out of its commitment because of changes in the company and financial struggles it is facing. How to proceed from this point dominated discussion at the Humboldt City Council meeting on Monday night, Sept. 21.

“They wanted to change the payment policy but our RFP (request for proposal) clearly states they will be paid after the project is completed. That protects the city so we don’t have somebody that comes in and does half the job and then takes off,” Humboldt City Administrator/Clerk Amy Zeman said.

Thu
24
Sep

Wildcat girls 3rd at Storm Lake

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/24/2026 - 9:19am

Maren Lindquist shown here competing for the Wildcat cross country team in a meet earlier this month. Independent photo by Phil Monson.

Asche, Jensen lead middle school runners

Humboldt’s girls placed third and the boys were 14th in the team scoring of the Storm Lake Invitational cross country meet on Sept. 15.

Avery Fisher ran fourth in 19:39.1 to pace the Wildcat girls. Aubry Fisher was seventh in 19:53.8. Henry Kramer was 27th to lead the Humboldt boys with a time of 18:01. Bentley Rodgers was 103rd in 20:26.

The Humboldt Middle School girls were led by Hadley Asche. Asche was 11th in 14:36.8. Quinn Jensen was 24th in 13:58.2 to lead the Wildcat boys.

“Losing the Clear Lake meet to the homecoming parade had us looking for a new meet to replace it this year. The Storm Lake meet may have given us everything we needed and more in a new meet,” HHS coach Joel Hoogland said.

“On both sides the meet featured six ranked teams and many ranked individual runners. It may be the best field we run in this year outside of the state meet,” Hoogland said.

Thu
24
Sep

Swimmers host Winkler Invite

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/24/2026 - 9:09am

Morgan Townsend shown here competing for the Fort Dodge girls' swim team. In dependent photo.

The Fort Dodge High girls’ swim team, with six athletes from Humboldt, hosted their own Gary Winkler Invitational last Saturday, Sept. 19 and placed fourth.

Spencer won with 376.5, followed by Carroll with 307.5, Sioux City Metro 269, Fort Dodge 180 and Algona at 133.

Fort Dodge lost to Des Moines North, 113-57 in a meet in Fort Dodge on Sept. 15.

Humboldt’s Adelyn Meyer, Embree Meyer, Morgan Townsend, Ellen Townsend and Danica Diedrick all saw action in the meet.

The Dodger swimmers will travel to Algona on Sept. 24. They’ll compete at Des Moines Roosevelt on Oct. 6.

Humboldt Results Sept. 19
Adelyn Meyer: 14th in 200-yard freestyle in 3:11.16. 19th in 100-yard backstroke, 1:37.40. 4th leg of 12th place 400-yard freestyle relay, 5:43.34.

Morgan Townsend: 23rd in 100-yard freestyle, 1:22.76. 1st leg of 13th place 200-yard freestyle relay (2:29.98). 20th in 100-yard backstroke, 1:52.20.

Thu
24
Sep

2026 Home Edition

Wed
23
Sep

Humboldt school board hears report from Taft and Mease administrators

Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/23/2026 - 9:30am

By KYLIE PORTZ
There was plenty for the Humboldt Community School District to discuss at their monthly meeting on Sept. 21, from updates from elementary administrators to the sale of a storage shed built by the industrial technology class.

First, the board recognized two staff members for the “Champions for Children” award, which highlights staff and members of the community who go above and beyond for Humboldt’s students.

Recognized at the meeting were Creighton Jenness, who serves as the district’s Director of Special Education and Jacob Halverson who provides maintenance for the district.

Administrator Reports
With no public forum speakers, the board heard the elementary administration team’s school improvement goals and plans for Taft and Mease Elementary Schools. Presenters were Mease Principal Jenna Haselhuhn, Taft Principal Michelle Dyvig, Taft teacher Morgan Parle and K-4 music teacher Lucinda Boyd.

Wed
23
Sep

September 23, 2026

Wed
23
Sep

September 23, 2026

Mon
21
Sep

ELEANOR F. BARTON

Submitted by admin on Mon, 09/21/2026 - 1:29pm

Eleanor Frances (Heun) Barton, age 92, of Ames, after developing some heart issues, passed away surrounded by family on Sept. 16, 2026. She was the youngest of 13 children of Norbert and Frances Heun, of Iowa. Born on Dec. 21, 1933, in Fort Dodge, she was the only one of her siblings to be born in a hospital.

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