News

HUMBOLDT - One of the largest and longest community packaging events in the state of Iowa took place last week inside the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church fellowship hall March 14-15.

Humboldt County Ministerial Association’s 13th annual Meals from the Heartland meal packaging event unfolded with the efforts of 450 students and teachers who packaged 57,672 meals on Friday, followed by over 300 community members on Saturday, who packaged 94,392 meals for a grand total of 152,044 meals packaged to feed the hungry.

The race meals packaged will be distributed throughout Iowa by the Food Bank of Iowa and to disaster victims in the United States. It also supports school lunch programs overseas.

To read the full story check out this week's issue of the Humboldt Independent!

By KYLIE PORTZ

HUMBOLDT - Earlier this month, much of the state of Iowa was closed due to a winter storm that brought heavy snow and intense winds and now, despite the first day of spring still a week away, severe thunderstorms are back in the forecast for this weekend. This morning, the National Weather Service of Des Moines issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for portions of western and northwest Iowa. The outlook predicts a slight to enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms for Friday afternoon and early evening, with the primary threat being damaging winds due to fast-moving storms, with gusts over 70 mph possible. Large hail and a few tornadoes are also possible.

By PHIL MONSON
HUMBOLDT - As the Iowa Legislature in Des Moines enters its third and final month of the 2025 session, area lawmakers Dennis Guth and Mark Thompson shared their thoughts and answered questions at a town hall gather-ing in Humboldt last Saturday, March 8.

Guth, a rural Klemme farmer, serves in Iowa Senate District 28, which includes the following counties: Humboldt, Hancock, Wright, Franklin and Hamilton, along with the cities of Roland and Story City.

Thompson, of Clarion, grew up near Eagle Grove and serves in the Iowa House of Representatives District 56.

Guth serves on the following committees: agriculture, health and human services, state government, local government and is chairman of administration and regulations, which oversees 16 different budgets.

Closings & Delays 3/7/25 (7:00 a.m.)

Humboldt County
Gilmore City-Bradgate Schools, 2 HOUR DELAY
Humboldt and St. Mary's Schools, CLOSED
King's Kids Preschool, CLOSED
Kiddie Cats, CLOSED
Twin Rivers, CLOSED

Kossuth County
Algona Public/Parochial & Lu Verne Schools, MORNING CLOSED
North Union Schools, 2 HOUR DELAY
West Bend Mallard Schools, 2 HOUR DELAY

Webster County
Iowa Central Community College: CLOSED
Southeast Valley, CLOSED

Wright County
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Schools, 2 HOUR DELAY
Eagle Grove Schools, CLOSED
Goldfield United Methodist Church, CLOSED (World Prayer Day Cancelled)

Closings & Delays 3/6/25 (7:00 a.m.)

Humboldt County
Gilmore City-Bradgate Schools, CLOSED
Humboldt & St. Mary's Schools, CLOSED
King's Kids Preschool, CLOSED
Kiddie Cats - OPENING AT 10:00 AM
Twin Rivers Schools, CLOSED

Kossuth County
Algona Public/Parochial & Lu Verne Schools, THURS MORNING CLOSED
North Union Schools, VIRTUAL CLASSES ONLY
West Bend Mallard Schools, CLOSED

Pocahontas County
Laurens - Marathon Schools, CLOSED
Pocahontas Area Schools, THURS MORNING CLOSED

Webster County
Ft. Dodge Schools, CLOSED
Ft. Dodge Meals on Wheels, CLOSED
Iowa Central Community College, CLOSED
Southeast Valley, CLOSED

Wright County
Belmond-Klemme Schools, THURS MORNING CLOSED
Eagle Grove Schools, CLOSED

Many people in Humboldt and surrounding counties are without power today due to the storm. According to the Department of Transportation, many roads have been deemed impassable. Plows have been pulled in the area, and a tow ban has been put into place. Multiple vehicles have been stranded, and clogged roads are making it difficult for emergency services to get to those stranded. Authorities are asking that people stay home today to allow for emergency crews to work safely.

ICCC's "Legally Blonde" opens Feb. 27 at Decker Auditorium

By KYLIE PORTZ

FORT DODGE - After nearly three decades of staging world-class productions at Iowa Central Community College, Director of Theatre Teresa Jackson is taking her final bow with “Legally Blonde”.

“Legally Blonde” opens at the Decker Auditorium at Iowa Central’s Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Dodge. Showtimes are Feb. 27-March 1 at 7:00 p.m. with a 2:00 p.m. matinee performance on March 2.

Tickets can be purchased online at iowacentral.edu/tickets or from the box office located in the Center for Performing Arts, at the south entrance of the Decker Auditorium Lobby.

The box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at $15 for adults and $10 for students, Iowa Central students get in for free with student ID.

0TTOSEN—An open house will be held on Friday, Feb. 21, at the West Bend Country Club from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to honor Kevin Walker's retirement from Farmers Cooperative Elevator—Ottosen.

By APRIL KELLEY
DAKOTA CITY - A snowy evening with the threat of dangerous road conditions cut much of the activity short at the Dakota City Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Chris Jansen with MSA Professional Services had planned to attend the meeting to review the new strategic plan; however, the threat of a winter storm forced him to postpone until March.

Tyler Gartenberg with Mid-American Energy was also on the agenda to give a franchise presentation but was postponed until March as well.

Brad Duffy, Public Works Operator reported on the new cameras that have been installed in several places around town.

“Someone took a mattress down to the bottom of the ramp at about 1:46 in the morning and threw it out,” Duffy explained.

“The cameras paid off because we were able to find who did it and they had to clean it up so that was a good purchase,” Duffy concluded.

By KYLIE PORTZ
HUMBOLDT - The Humboldt Community School District Board of Directors met for a snowy meeting on Feb. 10 where they received the 2022-2023 Audit report, met with the Humboldt Education Association, and were present with the District Career and Academic Plan and Triennial Wellness Assessment.

First on the agenda was to recognize Heather Johnson for the K-12 Student Services Coordinator’s work with the F.U.E.L program.

Board President Tate Satern said, “Every month, we have an opportunity to recognize someone that has made a significant difference in the lives of our students. Tonight is our pleasure and honor to recognize Heather Johnson.”

The anonymous nomination letter reads, “I nominate Heather Johnson and anyone who assists her because of all she does for the F.U.E.L. program and reaching out to others to let us know she will get clothes, furniture, etc. to get to students who are in need.”