News

New flagpole sparks interest in rural cemetery

By PHIL MONSON
When Jayden Erie moved up in the scouting ranks in his local Boy Scout Troop 108, it didn’t take him long to find a community service Eagle Scout project.

In less than six months it has all become a reality after the recent installation of a new flagpole at the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church cemetery in Corinth Township, southwest of Humboldt.

“When I ranked up in scouts, scout leaders Gerald Davis and Sandy Collins were pushing me to think about what I would do for an Eagle Scout project. We asked Pastor Katie Russell if she had any ideas and she came back with the idea of re-doing the flagpole out at the church cemetery southwest of town,” Erie said.

“The troop leaders and the scout council approved of it. Then I began the planning and paperwork to get started. I started attending meetings at the church to get approval,” Erie said.

By APRIL KELLEY
The Public Safety Commission met in special session on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to discuss hiring a Communications Officer to oversee dispatch following several meetings held to gather information.

Shawna Crahan, Deputy Auditor and payroll/HR Administrator, presented the job description formed during the meetings.

The position summary states, “The Communications Officer's primary duty is the management and supervision of Humboldt County 911 Communications Center while continuing to serve in the role of dispatcher as needed. Dispatching duties are performed only on an incidental basis to ensure continuity of operations”.

The Commissioners disagreed over the last sentence, changing the description to read “Dispatching duties are performed only on an as-needed basis to ensure continuity of operations.”

By APRIL KELLEY
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors heard from several citizens during the general public concerns portion of their regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 31.

Bret Harklau with R.I.V.E.R. Development Inc. attended the meeting to let the supervisors know that he had attended the Conservation Board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to discuss the sale of the Reasoner Dam.

“I met with the Conservation Board about our contract to purchase the Reasoner Dam. We want to go forward but we need to have paragraph two removed that says the buyer assumes from the seller all of the seller's liabilities, obligations, debts, contracts or other commitments,” Harklau said.

Harklau told the Supervisors that the R.I.V.E.R. Development Inc. lawyers and the Conservation Department lawyers are continuing to talk to each other to iron out the issues.

By APRIL KELLEY
The Humboldt County Conservation Board met in special session on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to discuss the recent developments on the sale of the Reasoner Dam.

The R.I.V.E.R. Development Inc. group had chosen not to sign the purchase agreement following the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting on Aug. 10.

The Supervisors voted unanimously to sell the dam to R.I.V.E.R. Development Inc. during open meeting. Still, they failed to sign the final agreement during the open session, allowing instead for the parties to leave the room and go into the hall to complete the paperwork.

Once in the hall, R.I.V.E.R. Development Inc. President Deb Harklau stated they still had concerns with the wording of the purchase agreement. That the group felt that the liability clause did not protect R.I.V.E.R. Development Inc. and left them open to future litigation for past incidents that had occurred on the river.

By APRIL KELLEY
Karen Berte, the newest member of the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) Board of Trustees, was sworn in during the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Berte replaced Tim McCartan which will become official in November following the election.

MRI/Surgery expansion project
The board approved the bids opened during last week’s special session.

The project, which is estimated to cost approximately $7.6 million will come in roughly $1 million under budget.

“The project would be funded primarily by hospital reserves as well as foundational support, looking at a million dollars over 10 years as it supported other projects,” Sleiter said.

A grant for $1.5 million and a possible 0% or 1% interest loan for $2.36 million are also expected to help pay for the project.

The Trustees approved two resolutions regarding the remodeling project.

Team Comet, Dr. Aubrey and Hayes Cordray, win Champion Showman, raise $23,000 for charity

By KYLIE PORTZ
Since 1983, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has been drawing crowds and raising funds for the Ronald McDonald house at the Iowa State Fair.

Founded in 1983 by then Governor Terry Branstad, the show has raised over $6 million in donations to benefit the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa in Iowa City, Des Moines and Sioux City. This year, the event raised a record-breaking over $572,000 for the organization.

The event is hosted by the Office of the Governor of Iowa, the Iowa Cattleman’s Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council and features 25 youth exhibitors and 25 local or state celebrity participants who each partner up to show the 25 sponsored steers in the ring.

Opens Honeycomb Speech and Language Therapy

By PHIL MONSON
Nearly 10 years ago, Humboldt’s Abby Larson, the former Abby Wickre, faced a life-threatening accident that shapes who she is today.

The adversity she faced has only strengthened her resolve as she serves others.

Larson recently opened her own business, Honeycomb Speech and Language, PLC, on the top floor of the newly-remodeled Edward Jones building in downtown Humboldt.

“I am enjoying being back to smalltown life and I am thrilled to be able to serve the community I grew up in as I put down roots here with my own family,” Larson said.

She has arrived, but it’s been a long, hard journey.

By APRIL KELLEY
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) CEO Michelle Sleiter reported to the Board of Trustees that plans for the new MRI and surgery suite are progressing on time but a little over budget.

“Originally, Graham had done the original estimate when we started talking about this probably over a year ago, the cost estimate was coming in at about $7 million for the two areas (MRI and surgical), including most of the equipment as well. Based on current information and estimations, they're showing us at about $9 million now for the total project,” Sleiter said.

As with any remodeling project, issues arise as the project continues that add costs to the original estimate.

An exterior storm line will need to be attached to the project which will also necessitate some repaving of the parking lot where the storm line will be disturbed.

By PHIL MONSON
In a special meeting of the Humboldt City Council on July 24, an interim city administrator contract with Dan Gifford was terminated (immediately) by a unanimous vote.

Gifford, who came out of retirement to fill the vacancy until Humboldt hires a replacement in the next few months, had been on board since July 6. He had been working two days per week, Mondays and Wednesdays at 20 hours per week. He was paid $1,500 per week plus mileage ($111.64 per round trip) from his home in Spencer.

Gifford had retired in September of 2024 from his city administrator position after 27 years of experience.

“To be honest, it’s not working out. Amy (Zeman, city clerk) is doing too much work. She is doing all the work. We have zero help coming from our interim city administrator,” Humboldt mayor Walt Jensen said.