News

After being tagged in a social media post suggesting a mural be painted on the Mill Race dam in Humboldt, Humboldt High School art instructor Justine Hellman set the wheels in motion to get it done.
Hellman’s Painting class started work on the mural on Friday, Oct. 8.
Students applied a base layer of paint and will be adding texture in layers. The 13 members of the class spent all school day working on the mural on Friday. On Monday, an expert in mural painting was scheduled to meet with the class to critique their work and make suggestions as they continue to develop the mural.
“We want people to know we are continuing to work on the mural. What they see at the end of the day today is not the finished product,” Hellman said.
Read the full story and see more photos in this week's Humboldt Independent, your trusted source for local news and sports. To subscribe click the link at the top of this page.

By KENT THOMPSON
Kevin and Lisa Rasmussen have long held the belief that producing a high-quality healthy product in a ethical and responsible manner is its own reward.
That doesn’t mean that the family pork producers haven’t changed or improved methods and operations over time.
The Rasmussens have been actively involved in promoting their product for a number of years. Kevin has served on the public policy and by-laws committees of the state association. In 2018, he was named national runner-up for the America’s Pig Farmer of the Year.
Last year, Kevin was named president-elect of the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA). He will become the head of the statewide producer commodity group, representing more than 4,000 affiliated and associate members, following the Pork Congress in January 2022.

Motorists will want to take a cautious approach when traveling on Highway 169 through Humboldt during the next three weeks.
Work began on Monday for an approach replacement and deck resurfacing project on the Highway 169 Bridge south of 3rd Avenue North in Humboldt.
Work will be done under regular traffic conditions, but the highway will be reduced from the normal four lanes to two lanes between now and Nov. 10, according to Pete Hjelmstad, field services coordinator for the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) Mason City office.
“Work will include reworking both approaches along with deck repair. When the northbound lanes are completed, work will begin on the southbound lanes,” Hjelmstad said.
Hawkeye Paving Corp. of Bettendorf is the primary contractor for the project. The maintenance reconstruction was let for a total cost of $360,894.65.
“The timeline is weather permitting,” Hjelmstad noted.

By Jeff Gargano
For W & H Cooperative, consolidating its headquarters in one new location has worked out even better than anticipated.
“It’s worked out really well to be at the bulk plant property. Putting everything under one roof has been a benefit to the drivers because the paperwork is easier in one location. They can get their paperwork, grab a cup of coffee and take off in the morning,” W & H Cooperative General Manager Jim Pauk said.
Located on 16th Avenue North across from Hadar Manufacturing, the new W & H Cooperative headquarters opened in August of 2017.
W & H Cooperative employs 90 people currently (they’d like to be at 100 to 105 employees).
Three years ago, W & H Cooperative purchased a refined fuel, propane department and bulk plants in Dows. Some upgrades have been completed at The Station in Fort Dodge and more renovations are being investigated.

By KENT THOMPSON
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) has always promoted October as Breast Cancer Awareness month with a special event or activity. This year, HCMH really is “Shining a Light” on breast cancer.
If you drive by the hospital at night you will notice pink lights across the top of the building, thanks to some creative minds and funding through the HCMH Foundation.
“The Foundation plays a large role in breast cancer awareness and fundraising. We proposed to the Foundation a permanent lighting solution. It included not just lighting the building pink for October, but being able to have the lights operating for Christmas and other times during the year. It also included highlighting all of the services we provide,” HCMH's Mardi Ratzlaff said.

Cindy VanSickler opened Function First Spine and Sport at 604 Sumner Avenue in downtown Humboldt earlier this summer.
The chiropractor has nearly 10 years of experience both in Minneapolis-St. Paul and in Fort Dodge.
“My goal is to educate and empower people to help themselves out of pain. Our patients leave here with at least one exercise and one stretch to do. To change the model of healthcare we have to help ourselves,” Dr. VanSickler said.
“We decided to come look at Humboldt and we’re so impressed with the vibrant downtown. We ended up talking to Humboldt Realty who had this space next door to their real estate office,” VanSickler said.
After some painting and remodeling, Function First Spine and Sport opened for business on June 18. Read more about the business in this week's Humboldt Independent.

Construction started on Sept. 21 on the new home of Harmony Animal Hospital in Humboldt.
The veterinary practice won’t be moving far, in fact the new 3,500 square foot structure is being built adjacent to the current building at the intersection of Highway 169 North and 12th Avenue North.
The original 1,000 square foot building, built in 1970, will be taken down when they are able to move into the new structure. The new building will face west towards Highway 169 with a covered entrance and parking lot on the west side.
Sande Construction is the general contractor on the project, which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2022.
Dr. Culley Holm and Dr. Erin Kramer are the owners of Harmony Animal Hospital and they’re excited about having more room and space to continue to grow. Read about their project in this week's Humboldt Independent. Subscribe by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

Humboldt’s 2006 Class 3A state championship football team held their 15-year reunion last week, prior to the Sept. 24 homecoming game. The squad was recognized at the Humboldt/Ballard game later that evening. Look for an in-depth story of the formidable group in the November issue of Humboldt NOW! Magazine.

At the Humboldt High School, the Homecoming Coronation ceremony was held Thursday evening, Sept. 23. Luke Sievers was crowned Homecoming King and Joie Smith was crowned Homecoming Queen. See Homecoming activity photos and coverage of the big game, which Humboldt won, 40-0, in this week's Humboldt Independent, your trusted source for local news and sports.

By KENT THOMPSON
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Monday gave verbal approval for the vacation of 12-feet of road right of way for 226 feet to allow for the construction of a new commercial dry fertilizer building at the Farmers Cooperative Elevator in Ottosen.
The new building would be to the south of the current building. “The new structure will hold about 9,000 ton of dry fertilizer, about 4.5 times the size of our current building,” Walker said. The old building will be used this fall and next spring and when the new building is completed, the old building will be demolished and used for parking. He said contractors are preparing to pour concrete beginning next week.
Read more about county government and local business this week and every week in the Humboldt Independent, your trusted source for news and sports.