News

By KIRK HUNDERTMARK
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Livermore closed its doors in the same way many Iowa congregations have in recent years, not because of a lack of faith, but because of shrinking membership, an aging community and a growing shortage of pastors in rural areas.

These challenges are affecting churches across the state and across denominations, and Immanuel felt them more sharply with each passing decade.

For generations, Immanuel was far more than a place of worship. It was where families gathered for baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals, Christmas programs and potlucks. It held the stories of the farm families who built Humboldt County, and it anchored the identity of the Livermore community. When a church like Immanuel closes, the loss is felt well beyond Sunday morning.

Cole Bockelmann, who has served as administrator of the city of Humboldt since the fall of 2021, has accepted a position as finance director for Mason City. The Mason City Council accepted his hiring at their meeting on June 2. Bockelmann's last day will be July 2. He will begin his new duties in Mason City on July 6.

"It has been a privilege to serve the City of Humboldt and to work alongside an outstanding group of staff and elected officials. Together we have accomplished many transformationative projects that have created a lasting, positive impact on the community. Deciding to leave Humboldt was a very difficult decision and I will miss working as part of our team," Bockelmann said in a statement released to the Independent on June 3.

"Thank you for the opportunity to work for the City of Humboldt. I am confident that the City will continue to thrive due to the efforts of our residents, elected officials and staff," Bockelmann said.

By APRIL KELLEY
The discussion around the Commercial Wind Energy Conversion Systems (CWECS) Ordinance #77 dominated the Humboldt County Supervisors' meeting on Tuesday, May 26.

More than 75 people attended the meeting that was held in the District Courtroom on the second floor of the Courthouse

Approximately two dozen participants spoke during the meeting, with most raising concerns against allowing wind turbines in the county. Each participant was allowed two minutes to help keep the meeting manageable.

“I don't know what I could say now that I haven’t already said in previous supervisor meetings, my recent email to supervisors, and my recent letter to the editor in the Humboldt Independent,” Bode resident Mark Olson, started the conversation.

By APRIL KELLEY
SGT Michael A. Hulsey gave the Memorial Day address during the program at Veterans Park in Renwick.

Hulsey started his military career shortly after completing school, in April of 2001, just months before the attack on the World Trade Center.

That act and the President of the United States and Congress declaring war against terror would shape Hulsey’s military career, his health, and his family’s daily life well into the future.

Hulsey was deployed three separate times. The first year- long deployment was for the Invasion of Iraq began March 19, 2003 (Iraq 2003 and 2004).

The second year-long deployment was to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006 and the third was to Afghanistan in 2009 for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Hulsey was medically retired after 11 years of service in 2012, following his multiple combat deployments across the Middle East.

By KYLIE PORTZ
The 6th-grade literacy classes at Humboldt Middle School held a “Wax Museum” on May 21, showcasing what they have learned during their unit on Ancient Greece.

The students each selected a god, goddess, or creature from Greek mythology and spent a few class periods researching them, memorizing what they had learned and creating posters and costumes to present during the Wax Museum. The process took a little over a month to complete.

One of the teachers whose class participated was English and Language Arts teacher Theo Vardaxis, whose family hails from Greece.

He said, “I think it’s gone better than last year, honestly. Having one year under our belts helps make doing this an even better experience.”

Humboldt/Dakota City
American Legion Adams Post 119 of Humboldt and VFW Post 5240 of Dakota City will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at Bicknell Park in Humboldt on Monday, May 25, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

A short program, which includes the reading of the 28 names of veterans who died in 2025, will be followed by a rifle salute at the park.

Following the service at Bicknell, the honor guard will travel to the following cemeteries to honor the veterans buried there at the approximate time:
- 10:05 a.m. – Union Cemetery
- 10:25 a.m. – Corinth Cemetery
- 10:45 a.m. – Indian Mound Cemetery
- 11:00 a.m. – St. Mary’s Cemetery

Livermore:
The Livermore American Legion Otto Field Post No. 415 Annual Memorial Day program will be held Monday, May 25, at 11:00 a.m. on Main Street of Livermore, south of the Humboldt County Freedom Rock and Veterans Memorial Park.

By PHIL MONSON
An ordinance which would allow Humboldt residents to keep chickens on their property will be revisited by the Humboldt City Council at an upcoming meeting.

At their regular meeting on Monday night, May 18, the council heard from city administrator Cole Bockelmann in his report that he is going to draft an ordinance for them to consider at the upcoming June 1 meeting.
“Based on feedback from the council, I will draft an ordinance on that for our next meeting,” Bockelmann said.

Area resident Lindsey Winter, who has attended meetings in recent months asking the city to reconsider allowing chickens, was at Monday’s meeting and spoke briefly to provide more information.

Winter provided the council with a more revised proposal that would address concerns brought forth at recent meetings.

Olson, Thurm class valedictorians

By PHIL MONSON
A total of 112 senior class students took part in commencement exercises at Humboldt High School last Sunday, May 17, inside the high school gym.

Class president Joel Thurm and vice president Claire Olson introduced representatives Abigail Armitage, Eva Fridolfson, Emily Frideres and Zach Theesfeld.

Administration and faculty taking part in the event on stage was superintendent Jim Murray, principal Travis Sprague, assistant principal Jessica Goodenow, activities director Ryan O’Hern and school counselor Barbra Kozisek. Murray and school board president Tate Satern took part in the presentation of diplomas.

Flag bearers were FFA member Joseph Frideres and Skills USA Club member Joel Cowan. Junior Class escorts included Laina Dettmann, Gracey May, Zoey Montag, Macey Rodgers, Cade Birdsell, Luke DeWinter, Griffin Groat and Cash McIntire.

Sister’s Homestyle Entrees of Humboldt received the Small Business of the Week Award from U.S. Senator Joni Ernst last week.

Ernst, who is Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, has made it a point to present the award to businesses in all 99 counties of Iowa and enter them into the Congressional Record.

In her Humboldt stop on May 8, Ernst presented the award to company owner Mary Catherine Ferry in a gathering of company employees and well-wishers.

“The fact that they do so much for this community but for other communities and those that are not able to get out to the grocery stores or maybe are elderly and can’t prepare their own meals, it just does so much good,” Ernst said. “She has so many wonderful employees here as part of the team. That’s why I’m proud to present her the Small Business of the Week Award to Sister’s Homestyle Entrees of Humboldt.”

By APRIL KELLEY
Being far from loved ones on your own can be mentally taxing enough, but add in living in less than ideal conditions, the danger of things exploding around you or getting shot and the mental fatigue of a service member grows exponentially.

One proven way to help with the mental stress of deployment is to be able to maintain a connection with home. While technology has definitely helped to keep people connected who are far apart, there is still something very special about getting a package from home to lift a person’s spirits.

Jeremy Stattelman was lucky to have a fellow Humboldt resident who dedicated herself to sending him packages from “home” every week when he deployed not once, but twice.