News

The Humboldt Community School District Board of Directors met for their regular board meeting on Oct. 19 at the administration building.

Humboldt High School Principal Dr. Jessica Goodenow was recognized at the start of the meeting.

Board President Tate Satern read the nomination letter, “As Mr. Rogers used to say, look for helpers, the ones who go the extra mile to make others feel loved, supported and understood. They are the ones who give when no one is watching and who step up to help even when it isn’t easy.”

He continued, “Jessica Goodenow has done all of these things time and time again, not only for my child but countless others. She is never one to say, that isn’t my job. Instead, she steps in, finds a solution and does whatever she can to help. She is truly one of those helpers.”

A building in downtown Humboldt was destroyed by fire in a blaze that occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 12:30 p.m. at 18 8th Street South. Multiple agencies responded to the fire.

Humboldt Police Department blocked off roads leading to the scene to allow crews the space to work and keep bystanders safe as they worked to extinguish the flames. There were reports of power outages along Sumner Avenue, and power was restored around 2 p.m.

There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time. No one was in the building when the fire started. It was called in at 12:25 p.m. The building, owned by Hoag's Plumbing and Heating, was completely engulfed in flames when Humboldt firefighters arrived on the scene. The building is located one-half of a block southeast of the main company building at the corner of Sumner Avenue and 8th Street South.

By PHIL MONSON
In 1976, Humboldt natives Marc Arends and Bob Lee began Arends & Lee Law Firm and went on to serve the community for many years.

The duo retired in 2018 but before they exited for good, they cemented the foundation already in place with the arrival of Ashley Emick, Brett Legvold and Robert Myott.

Located at 520 Sumner Avenue in downtown Humboldt, the firm’s new name is Arends, Lee, Emick, Legvold & Myott. They are proud to celebrate the firm’s 50th anniversary.

Emick came to Humboldt right out of graduate school 18 years ago. Legvold arrived 14 years ago and Myott has been with the firm 10 years.

“My husband, Brad, is from Humboldt originally and I was interested in practicing in a small town and I knew Humboldt had a great reputation for a small community,” Emick said.

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.