News

By APRIL KELLEY
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors had a short agenda with only the joint drainage meeting at 10 a.m. on their agenda for Monday, Oct. 5 as well as approval of more than a dozen manure management plans.

They did hear from one local resident, Gary Naeve. Naeve wanted to discuss further his concerns involving the gravel road in front of property he owns in the county, not the road in front of his residence as had been reported last week in the Humboldt Independent.

The Humboldt Independent staff strives for accuracy and regrets any inconvenience this may have caused Mr. Naeve.

Naeve stated he wished to discuss the use of dump trucks in the county and his opinion that they should be exchanged for belly dump trucks.

“You can haul three loads in what your straight trucks carry,” Naeve said.

The county has two chassis they have purchased that they are waiting to be fitted with snow removal equipment.

By APRIL KELLEY
As acceptance of mental health issues and the treatment for them slowly increases, the need for therapists increases as well.

Nolan Vitzthum, a Licensed Independent Social Worker who is a Registered Play Therapist and a Certified EMDR Therapist, could see that need in her community in Wyoming.

“I was pregnant with my son when I started having a lot of conversations with my husband about what do I want my career to look like. I wanted opportunities to really balance motherhood with being a clinician,” Vitzthum said.

“I was actually approached by Veronica, somebody that I had worked with for the National Association of Social Workers, the Wyoming chapter. She was previously the executive director for NASW (National Association of Social Workers) Wyoming,” Vitzthum continued.

Veronica came to Vitzthum with a proposal of opening a private practice specializing in play therapy.

By PHIL MONSON
On Oct. 1, Humboldt Mayor Walter Jensen read a proclamation stating no one under the age of 16 not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian is not allowed at Taft Park.

The emergency curfew is in place until Nov. 1. Any questions regarding the declaration should be directed to the Humboldt Police Department. The proclamation took place at a press conference held in front of city hall.

“We are asking the community to help us with Taft Park. There have been some incidents there in the last couple of weeks that are being handled through the normal legal process where we have apprehended or are investigating,” Humboldt Police Chief Jacob Miller at the press conference.

“We are asking for parents in the community to keep an eye on that particular park and see if they can help us stem any incidences that may occur,” Miller said.

Taft Park was the main topic of discussion at the council meeting held on Monday night, Oct. 5.

In an emergency declaration issued by Humboldt Mayor Walter Jensen at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, the city has declared all persons at Taft Park in Humboldt under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Mayor Jensen's statement: "Due to recent events occurring at Taft Park, I, Mayor Jensen, issue the following emergency declaration, All persons at Taft Park under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian. This declaration is effective immediately, and is valid through November 1. Any questions regarding this declaration should be directed to the Humboldt Police Department by calling 515-332-2600."

By KYLIE PORTZ
It started with a Facebook post. The Loot Loft, a local furniture shop, was looking for someone to paint their storefront window. With the help of a friend, the post made it to local artist Kelsey Olson's timeline.

Olson, who had never painted a window before, was up for the challenge.

Olson said, "That one window changed everything. After that, I started walking into local businesses and asking if they'd trust me to paint their windows. One business led to another, and before I knew it, my work was spreading throughout our community, and I have people reaching out from surrounding towns for me to travel to paint."

She said, "Window painting started as a fun, creative outlet, but it quickly turned into something more. It reminded me who I was outside of just being a "mom". Paint by Kelsey has really helped me rediscover that creative part of myself again."

Olson, a Humboldt native, found her love for creating in the art room.

By KYLIE PORTZ
Nestled in the heart of Downtown Humboldt, sits the historic Humota Theater. A fixture of the town since 1928, the theater has served hundreds of cinephiles — a term used to describe movie fanatics — and families quality movies each year.

In 2018, the theater was threatened when it was nearly closed down by its corporate owners. Thankfully, the community was able to rally together and form The Humota Movie Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and officially reopened the theater in 2019.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic and various other challenges, the theater has continued to fight to keep its doors open.

Now, the nonprofit has a new problem, a leaky roof that’s damage makes it impossible to stay open during the rainy days that have plagued the region the past few months.

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.

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.

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.

By APRIL KELLEY
The following article contains information from two Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meetings due to the holiday and printing deadlines.

September 8 meeting
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, Sept. 8 due to the Labor Day holiday.

During the meeting, Alison Hauser, Crisis Liaison with Rolling Hills Community Services Region, presented her report to wrap up the first fiscal year of her grant.

Hauser reported that she served 189 people in Humboldt and Pocahontas counties.

She explained that she uses what is called the intercept model which means they initially receive referrals from anyone, not just law enforcement, to assist people who may be in crisis.

The next level is working with law enforcement, which does provide about 70% of her referrals.

The third level is through the jails and helping with the initial appearance at the courthouse.