The Webster City Community Schools and the Webster City Education Association honored four retiring staff members Thursday afternoon. They are (left to right) high school custodian Riley Powell, food service employee Linda McKenzie, first grade teacher Julie Tharp and middle school assistant principal Duane Harding. Each of the retiring staff members received a plaque thanking them for their many years of service to the school district and the students they served.KQWC congratulates these four retiring staff members. 

Hamilton County's Special Olympic athletes made their way through the downtown area of Webster City Thursday morning as a part of the annual Torch Run event. The competitors come from the Webster City and South Hamilton schools and from Friends Forever Social Education Center. The athletes will be competing this Friday and Saturday at the Special Olympic Summer Games in Ames on the campus of Iowa State University. Thursday's parade featured the Webster City Middle School directed by Jon Jensen and the law enforcement officers from across Hamilton County. There was a smaller turnout of law enforcement participants due to the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of 15 year old Kathlynn Shepard of Dayton. KQWC Radio extends its best to the Special Olympic participants in Ames this week.

Webster City Community Theatre will welcome playwright Phil Olson (pictured above) to its Readers Theatre on Sunday,June 2 at 4:30 p.m. Olson wrote the series of "Don't Hug Me" musical comedies that have been performed on the W.C.C.T. stage: "Don't Hug Me","A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol","Don't Hug Me County Fair" and "Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant". Next fall Olson will begin work on "Don't Hug Me We're Married". Olson has recently penned a new play, Mom's Gift and has been conducting play readings.  Mom's Gift is a seven character play that takes place in the living room and front porch of the Swenson family home in a Minneapolis suburb. The Webster City Community Theatre invites you to join them for this special reading.

Iowa U.S. Congressman Bruce Braley will make an appearance in Webster City this Friday afternoon,May 24 at 4:30 at Lomita's at 500 Second Street. Braley will be meeting with residents during a "meet and greet" event. Last February, Braley announced plans to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Tom Harkin.

Authorities will resume their search Tuesday mornining in trying to help locate 15 year old Kathlynn Shepard who was reported missing late Monday afternoon. Shepard was with another juvenile when they were abducted after accepting a ride from a stranger. The other juvenile is safe after she was found walking out of the timber near a farm house in Boone County. She was being treated at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge. Kathlynn Shepard was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a Minnesota Vikings cap. She is five feet six inches tall and weighs 160 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. Late Monday, the Dayton police department had located the alleged abductor but Shepard is still reported missing. The name of the suspect has not been identified. Volunteers and law enforcement agencies spent much of late yesterday afternoon and in the early evening in searching for Shepard. Volunteers are being asked to report to the Dayton Community Center at 10 Tuesday morning to resume the search. A search plane will be used during the daylight hours to help locate her. If you have any information on the wherabouts of Kathlynn Shepard, please call the Webster County Sheriff's Department at 515-573-2323.

Sunday afternoon was a special time for high school seniors across the KQWC listening area. The strains of Pomp and Circumstance was heard in seven high school gymnasiums to welcome the Class of 2013. Sunday's commencement in Webster City was the first one to be held at the new gymnasium. The featured speakers for the afternoon were Brenna Paukert, Emily Elm and Emma White. Music for the ceremony was provided by the high school concert band directed by Roger Steig and the Purple and Gold singers directed by Andrew Wotherspoon. A total of 133 seniors received diplomas in the ceremony held Sunday. Similar commencement ceremonies were held in Blairsburg as 15 seniors received diplomas at Northeast Hamilton high school. 53 seniors graduated at South Hamilton high school in Jewell. At Eagle Grove high school,48 students graduated on Sunday. Clarion-Goldfield's commencement featured 67 students. The Roland Story graduation ceremony had a total of 77 graduating this year. The Belmond Klemme Class of 2013 was made up of 41 students. KQWC Radio salutes all of our area graduates!

For about two hours early Thursday evening, Webster City firemen battled smoke originating from the former Electrolux washer and dryer factory at 400 Des Moines Street. The call was received shortly before 5:30 as dark smoke could be seen originating from the plant that was in the process of being demolished. Spectators were on the scene for a few hours watching the progress of the fire and how it was being extinguished. Webster City fire chief said the spark from the demolition work may have played a contributing factor into how the fire got it started. The rain of early yesterday evening helped out in trying to extinguish the blaze.There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire at the former Electrolux building. The Blairsubrg fire department offered mutual aid as they manned the Webster City fire station since many of the fire department members were busy at the scene.,

Following the meeting, the Webster City city council will meet in closed session to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent followed by a discussion on the purchase of particular real estate in the community. Monday evening's council meeting will be telecast on Cable Channel 12 in Webster City.

Superintendent Sarah Binder reviewed with the board on the projects that will involve the school building and grounds in the next few weeks. The roof project has been worked on the new Early Learning Center. The paint project at the Stratford school gym will begin June 10. The grading and surfacing work on the school parking lot will begin  in July with the final surfacing work to begin in August.

The board approved the hiring of Erica Johnson as a new vocal music teacher beginning with the 2013-14 school year.

In other matters the Stratford school board on Wednesday evening learned that the recent health inspection of the school building passd with flying colors by state health officials. Superintendent Binder informed the board that several surrounding school districts toured the Stratford school to learn about the co-teaching program that is proven to be a success over the past few years. The board also learned from Binder that the Stratford school district has applied for Paramount School Status. It won't be until fall on whether or not the district will be eligible for the program.

Today is the final day that the senior class of Webster City High School will be together before Sunday's commencement ceremony. On Wednesday evening,over $52,000 in scholarships and awards were distributed to the senior class at the annual scholarship award program at Prem Sahai Auditorium. A total of 122 scholarships were presented to the seniors. Following the awards program and a meal at the high school cafeteria, the annual Baccalaureate service was held. Karen Daniels was one of the featured speakers at the ceremony. Daniels offered words of encouragement and support as the seniors prepare to enter the world of college,work or the military once they receive their diplomas on Sunday afternoon.Others featured in Wednesday evening's ceremony were Bradon Bergman, Brenna Paukert, Monica Maharry, Jan Ryherd, Erin Anderson, Coyce Carlson, Kaitlyn Biere, Allison Bailey,Nick Thilges, Morgan Moline and Rev Tony Ede of Trinity Lutheran Church. This Sunday is the day when 132 seniors will receive diplomas at Webster City High School gymnasium with the ceremony to begin at 2:00 p.m. This will be the first time the commencement ceremony will be held in the new gym after many years at Jefferson Gymnasium. 

A 28-E agreement with Northeast Hamilton for 2013-14 was approved for the sharing of staff including consumer science, transportation director and the talented and gifted program. Another agreement with the Iowa Association for Educational Purchasing was approved for next year. A new school bus for the district fleet was approved from Blue Bird in the amount of $81,500. The funding for the bus will come from the South Hamilton physical plant and equipment levy

The South Hamilton board looked at summer projects at the school buildings.The work will include a new roof for the elementary building,pea rock for the playground and new lights for the circle drive at the middle school high school in Jewell.

In personnel matters, the South Hamilton board accepted resignations from Kara Sloan for 7th grade Girls Basketball, Vicki Smith as Homeschool Assistance Teacher, Charlene Roach as an Elementary Aide and Chris Hall as Junior High Student Council advisor. The new hires include Kelsi Ratallick for high school science, Sarah Terrones for special education, Catherine Hines as a Technology Integrationist and Jolene Schaefer for Junior High Student Council advisor.

A proposed loan agreement with First American Bank for laptop computers was approved by the South Hamilton board.

Support staff salary increases were approved on Monday evening by a vote of 4 to 1. The increase will be at 4.75 percent for the 2013-14 school year. There will be a six percent increase in salary for director of buildings and grounds Curt Stoeker. 

St. Thomas Aquinas Church and School on Wednesday morning honored the local law enforcement agencies on National Law Enforcement Memorial Day. A Mass was held to honor the men and women who protect Webster City and Hamilton County each day. Representatives of the Webster City Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and the Iowa State Patrol were in attendance. During the service, the law enforcement members in attendance were presented with a St.Michael Medal. St. Michael is the patron saint for law enforcement. A brunch was enjoyed by the law officers at the conclusion of the service in the Parish Center.

A record high was set at the KQWC Radio Hill weather reporting station on Tuesday afternoon. The temperature hit 98 degrees at mid afternoon breaking the old record of 94 set on May 14,1932. Tuesday's high marked the first time since September 11,2012 when the mercury hit 91 degrees that day. No records are expected today as temperatures are forecast to reach the mid 70s with partly cloudy skies.

The Randall Fine Arts Council and the Webster City Community Theatre will serve as the co-sponsors of a special theatrical appearance of Jane Cox from Iowa State University Theater in Ames. Cox will perform a one woman show, The Promised Land, a story about a Nebraska pioneer woman homesteading in the late 1800s. The performance will be held at the Webster City Community Theater on Saturday,May 25 at 3:00 p.m. There is no admission charge but a free will offering will be taken to offset costs to the Council and W.C.C.T. Cox has been involved with over 250 productions as an actress, designer or director. Her one woman shows have been performed in over 20 states as well as the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian. The first one woman show she performed was The Belle of Amhearst about Emily Dickinson which toured Iowa through a grant from the Fisher Foundation. It was also performed in other states and in Russia. She wrote the Yellow Rose of Suffrage through funding from a grant from the Liberal Arts and Science College at Iowa State University. It concerns the life and words of one of Iowa's women, Carrie Chapman Catt.

In the past few weeks, two more individuals were arrested for the latest Hamilton County Crimestoppers Most Wanted poster. 23 year old Manyvone Pim Bunyan (pictured above) of 1215 Third Street in Webster City turned himself in at the Webster City Police Department after learning of the most wanted poster. He was arrested and transported to the Hamilton County Jail. In addition, a tipsoft tip led to the arrest of 29 year old Jeffrey Johnson of 1203 East Second Street,Apartment 2 in Webster City. Johnson was located at 1118 John Street in Webster City. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department assisted Webster City Police in his arrest and apprehension. He was transported to the Hamilton County Jail. The tipster in reference to the arrest of Jeffrey Johnson was paid $150 in cash.

The Van Diest Medical Center Tuesday morning appointed three new board members at a special meeting. David Taylor and Roberta Knutson of Webster City and Justin Deppe of Jewell will serve the remaining terms of the three vacancies on the Board. Board Member and Chair of the Nominating Committee Hank Witt said that he was delighted to make the recommendations. Taylor's term will be through December 31,2016 while Deppe and Knutson's term will expire on December 31,2014. The new board members will be administered the oath of office at the beginning of the May Board Meeting, which is scheduled to take place next Tuesday,May 21.2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the board room of the hospital.

Iowa U.S.Senator Charles Grassley will be holding town meetings in the KQWC listening area on Thursday afternoon,May 30. Senator Grassley will be meeting with residents of Wright County at the Clarion Public Library from 1:15 until 2:15 p.m. After his appearance in Clarion he will be in Webster City for a similar meeting at the Hamilton County Iowa State University Extension Service office at 311 Bank Street. Residents are invited to ask questions and comments to Senator Grassley at these meetings.

The board also approved offering $25,000 for the property east of the school which is the former daycare facility. The split closing costs will be 50/50 with the seller.

15 seniors will receive diplomas on Sunday,May 19. The Northeast Hamilton board approve the list of graduates who have met the requirements to graduate this year.

In other matters, the Northeast Hamilton board approved a 28-E agreement with South Hamilton  for Kathy Thelke to teach Family and Consumer Science, Chris Hall for the Talent and Gifted program and Gene Greenfield for transportation director responsibilities. Resignations were accepted from school secretary Kris Klaver, fall and winter cheerleading director Jill Bosch and yearbook sponsor Jamie Griffith. Tim Hurt was hired as assistant baseball coach. Donations of $200 towards the support of the Northeast Hamilton FFA students from Innovative Ag Services was accepted plus several After Prom donations. The Northeast Hamilton board terminated the half time teaching contract for Paige Moberly for the purposes of budgetary reasons and effective staffing from the district.

Textbook and lunch fees were discussed. Superintendent Pat Hocking said the lunch fees will most likely rise 30 cents for next school year. There will be further discussion at the June board session.

Superintendent Hocking presented an update on the ground water testing in the school Trileaf is recommending to the D.N.R. that the testing site be closed. The DNR has 90 days to respond.

Beginning in June, the summer office hours will begin at Northeast Hamilton. Hours will be Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Northeast Hamilton will use a staff member to help with summer needs such as painting and mowing. The hours will be on an as needed basis.

Tom Madden representing Yaggy Colby Associates presented the first pay request of $92,625 to Nettleton Excavating for the 2013 Storm Sewer Project which was approved by the Clarion city council.

Nick Barrett of Chappy's on Main was present to ask for permission to close 1st Avenue S.W. between South Main and the Clarion fire station beginning Thursday evening,June 6 for a band he has hired for Friday,June 7.The council approved Barrett's request.

Clarion Library board member Pat Kirstein informed the council that Nancy Nail will become the new library director effective July 1,2013. Nail replaces Nola Waddingham who will be retiring  on June 30th. A retirement coffee for Waddingham is set for May 30th.

Representatives of the Iowa Department of Transportation presented a power point presentation in regards to a three lane conversion recommendation on Highway 3. The council will take the recommendation under advisement. 

A public hearing for May 20 was set for the rezoning of Lot C, Walnut Grove addition from an R-1 to an M-1 district on the recommendation of the Clarion Planning and Zoning Committee to complete the area.

The council approved a contract with Landgraphics-Lawn and Landscape Service from Belmond for mosquito spraying in the amount of $5500 for this summer.

Ron Fiscus presented a contract for Private Development between the city of Clarion and the Clarion Goldfield  Schools for the sale of land for a residential development. Council members went on to approve a resolution for the residential development project between the city and I & S Group.

In other matters, the Clarion city council approved a resolution for a contract between the City of Clarion and Wright County for a 1% interest buy down agreement on a loan agreement of $100,000 between the Wright County Revolving Loan Fund and Hagie Manufacturing Company to expand its operation and to increase employment. Kathy Showalter of Planscape Partners was present to discuss an application to the Iowa Department of Transportation Opportunity Rise Grant for the construction of an offset turning laen for Hagie Manufacturing. The city financial assistance would be 20% of $180,025 for public infrastructure improvement to Highway 3. A resolution was approved to endorse the application for the Iowa Department of Transportation's Immediate Opportunity Rise Project Fund for Hagie Manufacturing Company.

Eleven fifth grade students received their certificates Wednesday afternoon for successfully completing the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program at Northeast Hamilton in Blairsburg. Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Whitmore served as the instructor of the course that teaches the students to make right choices in their lives and saying no to drugs,alcohol, tobacco and violence. Featured speakers were three student athletes from Iowa State University including Knute Severson of the Cyclone football team. The fifth graders honored with their D.A.R.E. certificates were Makyenzie Dilley, Brooke Gordon, J.J. Lanken, Bradley Maikhio, Danielle Moon, Jordin Pigsley, Makiah Ricke, Adalie Schwandt, Sheldon Tapper, Therese Traster and Alex Utrera. 

The South Hamilton Community School District is one of over 300 school districts nationwide to be honored the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) as one of the Best Communities for Music Education. The Carlsbad,California based NAMM made the announcement recently. This award celebrates the hard work by students,teachers and parents who have made strengthening the music education program at South Hamilton. Another Iowa school district, Pocahontas, received a similar honor. A special ceremony is set for next Tuesday evening, May 14 at 7:30 during the South Hamilton High School vocal and band concert at Robert Jensen Auditorium in Jewell with the public invited to attend this program as the award will be presented.

After an absence of several years, a tradition will return next Wednesday, May 15 at St. Thomas Aquinas School. A Mass to honor the Webster City Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriffs Department and the Iowa State Patrol members will be held at 8:30 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The service is to honor the men and women who protect the communities they serve as law enforcement officers. Following the service a brunch will be held for the officers. 

The Webster City Post Office and its letter carriers is asking the community to help support our neighbors in need with the annual "Stamp Out Hunger" day this Saturday,May 11. Residents are asked to please their non-perishable food items by their mailbox on Saturday. The letter carriers will pickup the food items to be delivered to the Upper Des Moines Opportunity food pantry. In addition, residents can drop off the non perishable food items in a postal hamper in the box lobby of the Webster City Post Office until Saturday. The cooperation of all residents would be appreciated in making the food drive a success. 

The public is invited to join the Friends of Little Wall Lake and Boy Scout Troop 520 to help clean up the shores of Little Wall Lake on Saturday,May 11. The group will gather at the South Boat Ramp at 9 a.m. and begin collecting trash along the shore and in the shallow water. The public is asked to bring trash bags and gloves. If you have a flat bottom boat that you can pull along in the water, it would be most welcome. Friends of Little Wall Lake is a volunteer non profit group dedicated to improving conditions at Little Wall Lake in Hamilton County. The goal is to ensure that the lake remains a recreational vacation destination for all who wish to come and enjoy the area. The organization recently received an Enhance Hamilton County grant to help pay to pump water into the lake this spring and bring the water level back up so it's safe for boating and recreation activities.

A great turnout was noted for Saturday night's Friends of St. Thomas Aquinas School Ball held at the Parish Center. A total of $161,500 was raised to help benefit the parochial school in Webster City. Those attending enjoyed a meal, live and silent auction, music for dancing by In Your Ear Mobile Sound,and the heads or tails game. The winner of the raffle prizes are Brett Knutson,Jr. of Fort Dodge winning $1000 in SCRIP gift cards, a 55 inch LG HD TV was won by Jim and Judy Bergkamp of Webster City and the winner of $10,000 was Lisa Dorothy.

The date of May 2,2013 will be one that north central Iowans won't forget for a long time. Seven inches of wet heavy snow was dumped on the Webster City area causing downed tree limbs and scattered power outages. Classes in many area school districts were cancelled. The majority of spring sporting events for today are either postponed or cancelled. Residents are using their snow blowers for hopefully the final time this season. There is still a possibility of snow in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning. Rain is in the forecast for Saturday. Temperatures are forecast to be in the 60s by early to mid next week. 

The Wright County Supervisors approved the purchase of a new garden tractor to be used for the courthouse grounds, the new Wright County Social Service Building and the south courthouse annex. The tractor will be purchase from Woolstock Implement at a cost of $23,000. The new  unit will feature a snow blower, and a rotary broom to clean the dirt from the sidewalks. The new tractor will be ready for use in the next few weeks.

In another matter the supervisors revisited the decision on the employee retirement investment plan. The board voted to designate the Retirement Investment Club (RIC) to new county employees while Nationwide Insurance will continue to offer their plan for all current Wright County employees.

No objections were raised during the budget amendment hearing on Monday. The board went on to approve the amended budget with a decrease of approximately $7,493. The date of May 13 at 10:00 was set for an informational meeting for Drainage District 57 in Boone and Norway townships.

The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation on Monday evening awarded a total of $79,201 in grant monies to 16 organizations serving the people of Hamilton County during a ceremony at the Webster City Community Theater.Since the creation of the foundation in 2005,nearly $600,000 in grants have been awarded to organizations around the county. Here are the latest recipients of the latest grants:

Blairsburg Opera House received a grant for $1500 for storage units.

Boone Valley Izaak Walton League received a grant amount $4000 for electric improvement work.

Friends of Little Wall Lake received a grant for $6,750 for the restoration project at the lake south of Jewell.

Hamilton County Conservation received a grant of $1,663 for trail kiosks and panels.

Hamilton County Crimestoppers received a grant for $2,103 for marketing projects.

Hamilton County Fair Foundation received a grant for $15,000 for the third phase of the arena project.

Hamilton County S.E.E.D. received a grant for  $9,000 in tourism and marketing projects.

Jewell J.A.D.E./Jade Foundation for $7,500 for rain gardens.

The City of Kamrar received $5,000 to be used for park improvements.

Kendall Young Library received a grant of $5,000 in digital archives.

Stanhope Development Group received a grant of $2,500 for playground improvements.

Stratford Library received a grant of $1,000 for building improvements.

The Webster City Community Theater to receive $5000 for phase two of their addition project.

Webster City Free Clinic to receive $4000 for the purchase of medications.

Williams Library to receive $4,685 in carpet and outlet work.

The Youth and Family Center to receive $4,500 for crisis counseling.

If you would like to know more about Enhance Hamilton County Foundation you can go on line to www.enhancehamiltoncounty.org

The South Hamilton Community School Board meets at 7:30 Tuesday evening. This will be a closed door meeting for a personnel issue.

The City of Webster City Recreation and Public Grounds Department held its Annual Tree Planting Day on Saturday,April 27. The picture above shows the volunteers who helped plant 300 trees.

Front Row (left to right) Michael Geerdes and Gabe Ruby

Second Row: Candace Ruby, Heather Geerdes and Gayle Olson.

Third Row: Jared Ruby, Will Ruby, Wayne Fuhlbrugge, George Caggiano, Kent Harfst and Rev.Craig Blaufuss.

In addition to the Recreation and Public Grounds Department,the tree planting was sponsored by Black Hills Energy and Trees Forever.

Northeast Hamilton superintendent and principal Pat Hocking has announced his resignation from his position that will take effect at the end of the school year. Hocking has been named to be the new superintendent of schools in Lisbon located in Linn County. Hocking will take over for Brad Laures who has served as superintendent in Lisbon for three years and is taking over the superintendent's job at Denver. Hocking has served as K-12 principal of Northeast Hamilton from 1994 to 2012. His career began back in 1989 as a K-8 teacher in the Clearfield School District. The Northeast Hamilton School Board will begin the task of finding a new superintendent in the coming weeks.

Lammers said that there were no bids received for the roof replacement project at both the conservation office and maintenance building and for the golf course club house facility at Briggs Woods Park. He told the board that he will seek new quotes and will take the lowest quote received. Work is expected to begin in the next few weeks once the quotes are received to the conservation department.

Penny Brown representing the Prairie Rivers R C and D organization met with the Hamilton County Conservation board as she presented a marketing plan for the new cabins to be constructed this year at Briggs Woods, Bells Mill and Little Wall Lake Parks. Brown said she plans to lay the basics with a group of Iowa State University design students to work on the marketing proposal that will be presented to the conservation board at next month's meeting. 

A report from the Iowa County Assurance Pool was presented to the conservation board on the status of the Little Wall Lake boat house inspection held recently. The structure that was built nearly 50 years ago is facing several issues including a leaky roof, trip hazards and the forming of black mold. The conservation board Thursday decided not to open the boat house at Little Wall Lake for reservations this year but the public can still use the surrounding dock for fishing. 

The decision on a cabin donation policy was tabled until next month's board meeting. The meeting date will be on May 30 at 1:00 p.m. at a location to be announced.

David Toyer announced on Tuesday that he will be resigning his position of Webster City Economic Development Director. Toyer has accepted a position with the Greater Burlington Partnership as its Economic Development Director. His last day on the job in Webster City will be on 7 and will begin his new duties in Burlington on May 15. Toyer has been an economic consultant and later as economic development director for the city since January,2010. The city will begin the task of finding a replacement for Toyer in the next few weeks. 

This has been a busy Tuesday morning for the Webster City Fire Department. For nearly three hours, firemen were on the scene of a house fire at about 6:15 this morning at the Lonnie Short residence, 104 Maple Avenue. When firemen arrived, flames were coming from the garage area. The fire then spread from the garage to the attic area. Residents inside the home were awoken by the barking of the family dogs and a fire alarm. There were no injuries reported. Webster City Fire Chief Mike Lund said the most probable cause was an electrical malfunction in the garage. There was heavy fire damage to the garage and attic,heavy water damage to the first floor of the home along with considerable smoke damage.

A summer lunch program will be offered beginning June 10 at the Webster City Middle School. Assistant food service director Lori Hartnett described the new service that will be offered to those 18 and under from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Monday through Fridays. The reason for offering this program that the Webster City School District is over 50 percent of free and reduces lunches for students. The Webster City Ministerial Association along with teachers and community members will be helping coordinate the efforts for this program. There will also be special activities during the summer lunch program. Adults will be charged $3.50 if they would like to join their children. There will be more information in the next few weeks on this program.

Grant Applications will open on April 26.

Grant training for applicants at City Hall on May 2 at 7:00pm.

Grant applications are due by May 24.

The applications to the Hotel/Motel Tax committee will be on May 28.

First round review to determine finalists will be at 5:00 p.m. on June 5.

Letters will be sent out to finalists on June 6.

Final televised presentations will be on June 18 at 6:30 p.m. on cable channel 12 in Webster City.

Final determination of recommendations will be on June 24 at 5:00 p.m.

The recommendations memo to City Hall is June 25 by 4:00 p.m.

The recommendations will be presented to the City Council on July 1 at 7:00 p.m.

Grant applications can be obtained at the City Clerks office in the Webster City City Hall or online as of April 26 at www.webstercity.com. If you want more information please call City Hall at 832-9151.

Wright County Supervisor Chairman Stan Watne (left) administers the oath of office to newly elected Wright County Sheriff Jason Schluttenofer (right) at the Wright County Supervisor's meeting. Schluttenhofer was elected last week to fill the term of retiring sheriff Paul Schultz who retired last Februrary. Schluttenhofer's term expires on December 31,2016.

 The management of Webster City Federal Savings Bank announced Thursday their intentions of acquiring Independence Federal Bank for Savings in Independence,Iowa. The announcement came following their annual meeting of stockholders and after official notification from the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of Currency of receipt of the merger and acquisition application. Webster City Federal President and C.E.O. Stephen Mourlam said they are excited at the opportunity to expand their operations to the community of Independence. Mourlam further stated that Independence Federal has been a staple to their community for over 75 years and anticipate continuing that dedication to providing safe, sound and secure financial services at both locations for another 75 years. Independence is located 100 miles east of Webster City and has a population of 5,966. Mourlam further stated that Webster City Federal officials toured the community and met with management of Independence Federal and drove away knowing it would be a great fit for both institutions. The application is subject to extensive review from federal regulatory agencies before consummation can be completed but Mourlam anticipates the merger should be completed by September, 2013. Webster City Federal Savings Bank has been in business since 1934. Construction of their new 15,000 square foot financial center is scheduled to begin this spring. Mourlam concluded that there has been a lot of progressive activities taking place at Webster City Federal and are looking forward to continuing the efforts by growing to the Independence area.

The Stratford school board learned that the painting of the school gym will begin in June.Funds for the painting project came from the Stratford  Stride group and a grant from Diamond Vogel Paint Iowa Beautiful grant. There will be work this summer on the parking lot using either concrete or asphalt. The main concern is the installation of intakes and drainage. Superintendent Binder said there are three companies ready to offer their assistance in the drainage work. There will be more information at next month's meeting on bids for the parking lot project. 

Superintendent Binder said there was 100 percent participation in the final Parent Teacher conferences held recently. Binder said the joint meeting of the Webster City and Northeast Hamilton school boards last week was productive as they reviewed issues and programs involving the three school districts.

The board wrapped up its meeting with  a closed door strategy session.

A special meeting of the Stratford council has been set for April 29 at 7:00 p.m.to amend the budget for the 2013 fiscal year. In another matter, the council approved General Obligation refunding and improvements bonding;financing $410,000 in bonds to pay off the swimming pool debt and finance water main project with a 15 year term with Ruan Securities as the underwriting agent. A public hearing on entering a General Obligation Water Improvement and Refunding Loan Agreement was approved for the paying off of the swimming pool debt amount.

The council approved the quote from EMC for $7,966 for variable frequency drive equipment for the water plant and quote from Electrical Advantage for $2,902 for instatllation of the same equipment. A quote from Maguire Iron to paint the exterior of the water tower was approved by the council. 

There was also a discussion regarding traffic visibility issues on Highway 175 in two different areas. They include traveling south on Teneyck Avenue and traveling off of Shakespeare Avenue. A prior discussion with the Iowa Department of Transportation revealed  that the Iowa D.O.T. will erect No Parking signage on Highway 175 if the council passes an ordinance for it. The council indicated that more signage is not always the best thing however vehicles need to be moved from the public right of way so that there is a better visibility in areas all along Highway 175.

A Wright County deputy will become sheriff after a special election on Tuesday. Jason Schluttenhofer was elected to fill the remaining term of Paul Schultz who retired on February 22 after 13 years on the job. In unofficial returns, Schluttenhofer received 865 votes as the Republican candidate for sheriff while independent candidate Jim Lester received 554 votes. Since Schultz retired in February,Wright County jail administrator John Mandal has served as interim sheriff. A total of 1,423 votes were cast in Tuesday's special election. Schluttenhofer will be sworn in on Monday during a meeting of the Wright County Board of Supervisors. The term expires December 31,2016. 

The first annual Hamilton County Fair Hoof 'N Huff is set for Saturday,June 8 at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The event is a 5K Family Fun Run and Walk open to everyone. Registration and Packet pickup will be at 7:00 a.m. and the race beginning at 8:00 a.m. The registration forms are available now at Fuller Hall in Webster City. Cost of pre-registration until May 15 is $20.00 with the fee going up to $25.00 after May 15th. You can also register on-line at www.active.com. The registration fee includes Dri-fit Hoof 'N Huff T-shirt and post-race refreshments. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. If you have any questions you can e-mail angieschlader@hotmail.com

The Wright County Supervisors  met with Wright County Transit director  Colleen Bartlett on a grant request from the MIDAS Council of Governments to be submitted to the Iowa Department of Transportation for a new transit office and storage facility in Clarion. The facility will be 36 hundred square feet with an office,restroom and an area large enough to store six regional transit vehicles. The proposed facility would be located in the southeast side of Clarion. Total cost of the project is estimated at $433,900. The Iowa Department of Transportation grant is worth $347,120 while the local match is estimated at $86,780. It will be late June when a decision on whether or not the grant will be accepted.

The supervisors also went on to approve a joint drainage district assessment with both Hamilton and Hardin Counties. A pilot program for managers with Humboldt and Wright Counties using electronic documentation to better coordinate with the providers and clients was approved by the supervisors. The board also approved a request from county engineer Adam Clemons to hire a student to work on secondary roads bridge crew this summer.

Iowa Fourth District Congressman Steve King will be the featured speaker at the Hamilton County Republican Party Spring Event this Saturday evening, April 20 at 5:30 at the Webster City Senior Citizen/Community Center. There will be free will offering meal served up with the event open to everyone. Others expected to attend will be State Representative Rob Bacon and State Senator Jerry Behn.

The Eagle Grove school board approved the 2013-14 school calendar with the opening day of classes set for August 19. A bid from Cornwell, Frideres Maher and Associates of Fort Dodge was accepted to do the school district audit for three years beginning with the 2013 fiscal year. In another matter the Eagle Grove Community School Board adopted the 2013-14 budget with a tax rate of $16.22 per thousand of assessed valuation.A budget guarantee resolution was approved by the board. 

Other respondents to the survey said they would like to have more book clubs, more computer and electronic resource classes and more programs for children and families.

Another question was "If Kendall Young Library hours were expanded by opening at 9:00a.m., would you use the library more often due to the extra hour of service?" Of the 445 responses,20% indicated "Yes" to this question though some of the "No" respondents left comments indicating that they might use the library during this time and some would like the library to be open even earlier. On the other end of the spectrum, 8 people mentioned the desire for later hours and another 8 people expressed interest in Sunday hours. The desire for Sunday hours got mentioned again in 7 more comments later in the survey.

The library's customer service scores were very good with over 95% of respondents giving ratings of "Good" or "Excellent". There were 169 responses to the question "Please share any comments you have about the Library's customer service" and they were overwhelmingly positive. Only 6 of the comments were negative, 3 were mixed and 3 were neutral. 

Director Angie Martin Schwarze said it will take some time for the staff and board of the library to digest the information in all of the responses, but overall the results of the survey are quite positive. Some responses highlighted the need to continue to market Kendall Young Library's programs and services in the Webster City community. This is especially true of the online resources particularly the online databases, which are not as well known or used by a large number of library patrons.The library staff will be reviewing the results of the survey at the April 25th Staff Meeting.

Next Tuesday is Election Day in Wright County. Voters will decide who will be the new sheriff. The candidates are Independent candidate Jim Lester (left) and Republican candidate Jason Schlutenhoffer (right) both of Clarion. The winner will take over the seat vacated due to the retirement of Paul Schultz on February 22.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. next Tuesday. The polling places include:

Belmond City Hall for voters in the city of Belmond and in Belmond,Pleasant and Iowa Townships.

Wright County Courthouse for voters in Clarion and Norway, Lake,Lincoln, Grant, Dayton and Wall Lake Townships.

Dows Convention Center for votes in the city of Dows and Galt and for Blaine and Vernon Townships.

Goldfield Legion Hall for the voters in the city of Goldfield and in Boone and Liberty Townships.

Eagle Grove Memorial Hall for voters in Eagle Grove and Woolstock and in Woolstock, Troy and Eagle Grove Townships.

The South Hamilton board set the public hearing to amend the 2013 fiscal year budget on Monday, May 13. The audit prepared by Burton E. Tracy and Company for the 2011-12 fiscal year was approved. Plans to hire a technology integrationist position for next year were approved with the job listing to be advertised in the next few weeks. The person hired would help provide technology assistance for students and staff. Those who are interested must have a teaching degree and a background in technology.

In other matters the South Hamilton school board voted to approve to finance the laptops from First American Bank in Jewell. A new TV class will be offered in the new school year at South Hamilton high school. 

In personnel matters, the board accepted the resignations of Lori Soloyivov as elementary special education teacher and Doug Sogard for 7th grad boys basketball. Coaching contracts were approved for Max Jensen as assistant varsity/JV baseball coach, Hannah Kofron as assistant varsity/JV softball coach, Cole Swenson for junior high baseball coach and Danielle Ostander as junior high softball coach.

Mike Billings announced Monday evening that he is retiring on June 30,2014 as superintendent of the Roland Story Community School District. When he retires,he will conclude 14 years as superintendent in the district. Billings has been in education for 34 years. A search committe will be appointed this August to begin the task of finding a new superintendent with the goal of having one in place by next spring.

In other matters the Roland Story school board accepted contracts for fourth grade teacher Chad Gilroy, and part time school improvement specialist Batista Simpson. The volunteer boy's golf coaching contract for Jacob Sheahan was accepted by board members. Contracts to Nic Steenhagen for junior varsity baseball, Gunnar Wyatt for 9th grade baseball, Mariah Stumpf for 9th grade softball, Dalyn Varela for 8th grade softball and Rachel Hagedorn for 7th grade softball for this summer. The resignation of 8th grade basketball coach Steven Richardson was accepted.

The Roland Story school board Monday approved the list of graduation candidates for 2013. There was a hearing on amending the 2013 school budget and for the 2014 fiscal year budget with no objections raised.

A Williams man won a $10,000 prize in the March 29 Mega Millions drawing. Gesley Keane claimed his prize on Monday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Mason City. He purchased his winning ticket at the Pilot Flying J truck stop near Williams. The winning numbers in the $34 million jackpot drawing on March 29 were 25-31-36-46-53 and Mega Ball was 21. The Megaplier number that night was 4. Keane matched four white balls and the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. Had he added the Megaplier to the ticket, he would have multiplied his win to $40,000.

Kelli Reis will be the new Webster City Middle School assistant principal beginning this August. Reis was named to replace retiring assistant principal Duane Harding at Monday evening's Webster City School Board session.Reis serves at the girls physical education instructor. She submitted her resignation from her teaching position due to the new job opportunity. The Webster City school board also accepted resignations Monday evening from high school art instructor Theo Clark, high school English instructor Teresa Egger and first grade teacher Kelsie Meyer.

Tuesday,June 4 will be the final day of classes in the Webster City Community School District. There will be professional development days for the staff on Wednesday,June 5 and Thursday,June 6. 

A fireworks permit was approved for Mark Loats of Belmond.

The date of April 29th was set for a public hearing on amending the county budget for the 2013 fiscal year in the amount of $7,000 in expenses.

The Wright County Supervisors accepted the bid from Sadler Construction of Eagle Grove in the amount of $29,741 for the indoor renovation of the former First Citizens Bank building in Clarion. The work on this project is expected to be completed by June 3.

After a year long investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigationg and the Boone Police Department, 39 year old Alexander Joseph Fazzino has been arrested and charged with Murder in the First Degree,a Class A Felony. Fazzino is accused of killing his wife,32 year old Emily Fazzino. On January 29,2012 at approximately 8:00 P.M.,the Boone Police Department received a 911 call from Alexander Fazzino who indicated his wife was attempting to kill herself. Upon arrival at the Fazzino residence at 1210 South View Court in Boone, police located Emily Fazzino in the bathroom. She was lying on the floor unresponsive. Officers also observed Emily had bruising on her neck and forehead. All attempts by officers to revive Emily were unsuccessful. An autopsy conducted by the State Medical Examiner's Office revealed Emily's remains had no sign of drug abuse or a drug overdose. The autopsy also identified several areas of trauma, including the neck and throat as well as the sides and front of Emily's head. Additionally, a forensic pathology expert reviewed the autopsy findings to conclude that Emily died of asphyxia due to neck compressions and or drowning. Alexander Fazzino was arrested on Sunday,April 7 at the Dick's Sporting Goods parking lot by the Lee's Summit Police Department in Independence, Missouri. He was booked on an Iowa warrant into the  Lee's Summit Police Department jail where he currently remains as of Monday afternoon. Fazzino is being held on $1.5 million bond.

 The Hamilton County Relay for Life Committee announces that this year's fundraiser for the American Cancer Society will go on the road to Jewell. In an effort to make Relay for Life a more inclusive county event, there will be a new location this year. The goal is for future relays to also travel to several Hamilton County communities, giving other towns in the county an opportunity to host the event. The Relay for Life of Hamilton County 2013 is scheduled for Friday,June 28 from 5:30 until 10:30 p.m. at the South Hamilton High School Track in Jewell.The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a community celebration where individuals and teams participate in games, theme events and take turns walking around a track relay style to raise funds while celebrating the lives of those who have had cancer, remembering those lost and fighting back against the disease. Committee members are currently contacting corporate sponsors and previous teams to distribute team organizational packets so they may start planning fundraising events. New teams are always welcome. If you would like more information, please contact Hamilton County Relay for Life Chair Bev Huisman at 515-832-4785 or bhuisman@iowatelecom.net

Wright County Engineer Adam Clemons will present to the board the Iowa Department of Transportation agreement for a project on Highway 69 south of Belmond and Highway 17 south of Eagle Grove. 

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad last Monday,April 1 recognized over 20 landowners, families and organizations for their gifts of conservation land, land value, conservation easements in 2012 DURING THE "Gift to Iowa's Future Day" ceremony. These gifts totaling more than $5 million, protected 3,500 acres in 21 counties. Mike and Pat Brandrup of Webster City were among those honored. They helped protect 110 acres along the Boone River near Webster City with a bargain sale donation to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The land has an excellent example of mixed natural habitats along the ecologically significant Boone River. Oak/hickory woodland, oak savanna, hardwood bottom timber, restored prairie pothole, oxbow wetlands, and upland prairie plantings all co-exist on the 110 acres. The river frontage is natural and well established with bottomland timber that adds to the experience of paddlers, anglers and wildlife observers on the Boone River. The site will eventually be transferred in ownership and managed by the Hamilton County Conservation Department. In 2008, the Iowa Legislature designated the first Monday in April as Gift to Iowa's Future Recognition Day to celebrate and honor individuals, corporations and organizations that permanently protect land for parks, trails, natural areas, fish and wildlife habitat and other benefits. Over 60 percent of this year's honorees worked with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to tailor their donations. I.N.H.F. is a statewide nonprofit whose mission is to protect and restore Iowa's land water and wildlife.

The picture shows from left to right, Governor Terry Branstad, Mike and Pat Brandrup, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa D.N.R. Director Chuck Gipp.

Webster City Community Theater is proud to present "Adorabelle and the Silly Seven",an all youth show directed by Al Yungclas. The production will feature a cast of  12 young people from around the Hamilton County area. Tickets will go on sale this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. for the six performances set for April 12,13, 19 and 20 at 7:00 p.m. and on April 14 and 21 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 for reserved seats. For reservations,call the box office at 515-832-4456 or online at www.wcctonline.org. The box office will be open weekday evenings from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Saturday mornings from 10 until 12 noon and one hour before show time.

A great turnout was on hand for Thursday's open house at the new location of Hamilton County Public Health at 820 James Street. Prior to the public tours,a ribbon cutting was held. Hamilton County Board of Health members, Hamilton County Supervisors, and Public Health director Shelby Kroona cut the ribbon to the new location. Last January, the staff moved all of its equipment from its previous location at the corner of Division and Seneca Streets to the former U.A.W. Hall at 820 James Street.  Visitors at the open house toured the offices and met with the staff providing health services every day of the year to the residents of Hamilton County.

Transamerica Financial Advisors will be sponsoring an event featuring Aaron Thomas on Thursday,April 25 from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Prem Sahai Auditorium in the Webster City High School. Thomas will be speaking about Overcoming Adversity, Standing for Something, The Power of One. Thomas is the son of the late Ed Thomas, the long time football coach of the Aplington Parkersburg Falcons. Aaron is the head basketball coach, athletic director,assistant football coach and director of student services at Aplington Pakersburg high school. In this incredible story of ordinary people thrust into an extraordinary situation,Aaron Thomas will share his family's journey of showing uncommon strength of darkest of times including the 2008 tornado that destroyed much of Parkersburg and the fatal shooting of Ed Thomas by a former player a year later.  This program with Aaron Thomas is free of charge and open to the public. 

2013 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Northeast Hamilton Community School District. The district was created with the merger of the Blairsburg, Kamrar and Williams school districts in the early 1960s. Blairsburg has served as the home base for the district for half a century. In honor of the 50th anniversary,there will be a celebration on April 17th during the annual V.I.P day. The day will feature displays of the 50 years of the school district. A lunch will be served for the visitors that day. Reservations for the meal need to be made by calling the school office at 515-325-6234. There will also be an assembly later that afternoon featuring the music of the last 50 years. Plans are in the works for other special events marking 50 years of Northeast Hamilton with more information on this to be announced.

The National Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources-Forestry Bureau are proud to announce that the City of Webster City has received the 2012 Tree City USA Award at the 23rd annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon held at the Stoney Creek Inn on April 2 in Altoona. The City of Webster City has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa communities,by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations. Webster City was one of 89 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status. In the picture from left to right are Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp, Ann Fuhlbrugge, Wayne Fuhlbrugge and State Forester Paul Tauke.

The annual Webster City D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) graduation ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday evening,April 9 at 7:00 at Prem Sahai Auditorium at Webster City High School. This year 135 fifth grade students from Webster City Middle School and St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary will be honored for successfully completing the course. For over 25 years,D.A.R.E. has taught the fifth graders about leading a positive life and to stay away from drugs,alcohol, tobacco and violence. This year's featured speaker will be D.A.R.E instructor Sgt. Ed Wardell. He will talk about the program and on his service with the military. The D.A.R.E. ceremony is open to the public.

The board also met with Amanda Baker of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to review the Iowa State Association of Counties Health Insurance Renewal program. Board chairman Stan Watne said they will do some research on the plan with a decision to be made at next Monday's board meeting.

There was the approval of the amended depositories for the Wright County Treasurer's office. First Citizen National Bank will increase their deposit up to 10 million dollars, First State of Clarion to increase their deposits to $500,000 and Security Savings Bank to be reduced $1,000,000.

The Friends of Kendall Young Library invites you to their annual meeting on Thursday,April 11 at 6:30 in the Kendall Young Library meeting room. The featured speaker will be Larry Stone with his presentation of "Floating Through History:An entertaining look at Iowa's Waterways". Stone is a nature photographer, writer, lecturer,and native Iowan. In this program,he will share images and stories of the natural and cultural resources found along Iowa's waterways. Stone worked for the Des Moines Register from 1972 to 1997,traveling throughout Iowa, sharing stories and photos of the state's natural treasures.  A brief Friends of the Library business meeting will precede the presentation. Stone's appearance is made possible by Humanities Iowa.

The National Weather Service outlook for Iowa for April indicates near normal precipitation and temperatures. Last April in Webster City the average high was 63 and the average low was 37 degrees. We measured 4.39 inches of rain in April of last year. KQWC Radio is the official observer for the National Weather Service in Webster City.

The conservation board approved the 28-E agreement for the JewEllsworth trail project. The recreational trail will link the two communities of Ellsworth and Jewell. Conservation director Brian Lammers informed the board tha the agreement was reviewed  by the Hamilton County attorney plus the attorneys for the cities of Ellsworth and Jewell.Conservation director Brian Lammers will meet with the city council members of Jewell and Ellsworth on Monday, April 8 on the trail project. No date has been set for the ground breaking event.

In another matter the Hamilton County Conservation Board on Thursday received a grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the Water Trails Crew Assistance program. The program is ramp access improvements to the Allbright and Tunnel Mill canoe facilities. 

The Hamilton County Conservation Department will put out bids for the roofing project at the main conservation building in Briggs Woods Park and for the Briggs Woods Club House.Bids will be open at the next meeting on April 25th at 10:00a.m.

Robert Mason is now the Chief Executive Officer for Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City. At a meeting held Wednesday morning, Mason was named by the Van Diest Medical Center board to the C.E.O. position after serving on an interim basis since last November when Palmer Schneider retired after 33 years of service. Mason has 24 years of executive level experience including all phases of health care management.Prior to coming to Webster City,Mason helped establish the Mercy Family Care Network as the premier primary care network in north central Iowa headquartered in Mason City,establish the position of Executive Medical Director and Executive Committee of the Mercy Family Care Network and recruited 37 physicians, six mid level providers and six office managers. Mason served as a member of the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Senior Leadership Team. He also acted as board liaison to several of the regional hospitals managed by Mercy.

In other matters at the special board meeting, Carroll Ose was appointed as Van Diest Medical Center as board chairman for the rest of 2013.The Van Diest Medical Center board also accepted the resignations of three members including Don Bottorff,John Hemingway and Stephen Mourlam. Chairman Ose thanked the three for their previous years of service. The resignations were in response due to the management change late last year.

The slate of officers for 2013 were approved. Carroll Ose named as chairman, Myra Maxon as vice-chairman, Hank Witt as secretary and Nancy Dermand as treasurer.

In another matter, the Wright County Supervisors approved to extend the current lease for the Department of Human Services and Community and Family Resources on month by month basis through this June. Both departments will be moving into their new headquarters,the former First Citzens National Bank building sometime this spring.

The board set the date of Monday,April 8 at 6:00 p.m for a public hearing in regards to the 2014 fiscal year budget. Superintendent Mike Sherwood informed the board that this maybe the most difficult budget  in his 16 years as a school superintendent. Sherwood said the state legislature has made no decision on allowable growth and other issues that impact the state's education budget. Sherwood and school business manager Cathi Hildebrand have been working the last few weeks on putting together numbers in a worst case scenario. The scenario would be if the legislature takes no action leaving it at zero percent allowable growth for the Webster City district. Sherwood said there would two ways to move forward. One of them would set the tax rate at a certain level. The tax rate would be at $15.59 per thousand. The current rate is at $14.33. The budget will be published in the coming days to show the figures for the cominig school year.

The Webster City school board received good news from officials of Standard and Poors financial rating service on the district's bond rating. The rating was an A plus with the outlook to be stable. The rating reflects the assessment of the district's pledge of sales tax receipts which are transitioning to a statutory statewide average distribution of sales taxes on a per pupil basis. Another solid indicator is a very strong maximum annual debt service coverage based on current enrollment and projected sales tax collections. The final indicator in the rating is for adequate bond provisions, including an additional bonds test and a debt service reserve equal to the standard three prong test. The bonds are used to pay for school building and improvement projects. 

A financial services agreement with Piper Jaffray was approved by the Webster City school board on Monday night. The board also set the date of April 8 for the public sale of school bonds. A resignation request from Webster City High School  custodian Riley Powell was accepted. Riley will be retiring after 33 years at the end of the current school year.

The Hamilton County Conservation Department will sponsor a program entitled  "Bison and Prairie Seed Dispersal:Restoring Ecosystem Functions in Reconstructed Tall grass Prairie on Saturday afternoon, April 6  from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the conservation office in Briggs Woods Park. You are invited to come explore the natural history of the bison in the eastern tall grass prairie and see how the loss of these mega-herbivores impacted the ecology of our remaining tall grass prairies. Pete Eyheralde has been involved in bison ranching in southern Iowa for the past 17 years and is a PhD student at Iowa State University. He is exploring the role of bison as seed dispersal agents in the tall grass prairies. Eyheralde will share his findings from his research in Iowa and how this information may lead to new techniques for grassland management, increasing biodiversity in our prairie reconstruction process. There is no charge to attend this program.

The board of health announced plans to submit a grant to Elderbridge for eight projects. They include Homemaker, Home Care Aide, Respite Care,Reassurance Visits, Phone Calls to the elderly, Medicaid Management and outreach for cost management. The grant will be submitted in the next week.

Director Shelby Kroona informed the board that the health department will be applying for a Local Public Health Incentive for $800 that will  be tied to Environmental Services provided by public health.

The Stratford council reviewed building and special permit requests from Corina Garrels of Corina's Cafe. The special request was to add a brick wood burning fireplace in the brick fence surrounding the outside patio. There were concerns from council members on who would be monitoring the fire,how neighboring businesses felt about the wood burning and that the downtown businesses have rubber roofs that could easily catch fire. The council also wondered if Garrels would consider installing a gas fireplace instead. After much discussion,the council voted to approve the building permit request by Corina Garrels for Corina's Cafe of a cement patio with a brick fence but not the special request for a fireplace and to have the city manager tlak with Garrels about alternate sources of energy for the fireplace with the special request to be reviewed by the council upon more information is received.

Stratford city manager Rachel Cahill discussed with the council the pilot project to install load control devices to reduce energy peak demands. She explained that until Central Iowa Power Company (CIPCO) consents to demand response management and Midland Power Cooperative changes Stratford's rate structure, there is not a realization on any payback. At this point, the city of Stratford can not rationalize going any further on this project until an economic payback exists. 

The Stratford council looked into the possibility of personnel sharing between Stratford and the City of Stanhope. It was mentioned that if an emergency occurs,mutual aid agreements are already in place. This issue will be revisited at a later time.

Kelsey Lindmark was hired as the co-manager of the Stratford outdoor swimming pool for this summer. The council also approved to use A-Line Iron and Metals as the disposal method for the high pressure sodium street light heads and lamps.

This year's theme of the St. Thomas Aquinas School Ball has been announced. "Masquerade Ball" will be held on Saturday,May 4 in the Parish Center. The money raised will help support the local parochial school. Last year's ball raised $148,850. Highlights of the evening will include a dinner,music for dancing, live and silent auction,a raffle and much more. Ticket information on the ball will be announced by ball officials in the coming weeks.
 

The cast for "Adorabelle and the Silly Seven" has been announced by director Al Yungclas. Jenna Short will play the role of the Magic Mirror. Morgan Shannon as the Queen. Mike Paisley as Huntsman Hall. Clara Nottbrock as Adorabelle.  Katie Greenfield as Docko. Jake Nilles as Grumpo. Chase Huber as Sneezo. Amy Isvik as Sleepo. Kyra Wagner as Bashfo.  Riley Jergens as Happo. Emma Bailey as Doofus and Peter Amstalden as Prince Ethelebert. Production dates will be April 12 to 14 and April 19 to 21.

 Hamilton County has dropped to 64th place in the latest nationwide County Health Ranking report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Last year Hamilton County was ranked number 57 and in 2011 the ranking was at number 30.The report measures overall health and factors that influence health. The factors shared in the report are mortality, morbidity, health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors and the physical environment of residents. Sioux County ranked the highest in overall health outcomes while Johnson County was ranked highest for all factors that influence health. The Iowa Department of Public Health said that it's important to understand these rankings do not present a complete picture of what Iowa's counties have accomplished. The rankings will be used in conjunction with other community health assessments and planning efforts to find the best ways to address challenges and build upon successes. You can find out more about the health rankings list at www.countyhealthrankings.org.

This Sunday, the Ellsworth Community Gym will be the location for a benefit for Miguel Hegland. Hegland was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease. He received successful treatment for quite awhile with up to 40 pills and IV's a day,but now is without doctor's care or insurance because it was canceled. There will be a meal, silent auction, and a documentary about Lyme Disease all beginning at 12 noon. The documentary shows the nationwide spread of Lyme disease and includes a segment about the high number of Lyme disease sufferers around Little Wall Lake. The event is open to everyone.

Motorists in Webster City contributed an estimated $1800 during the annual Pony Express Riders toll road operation on Saturday. The riders operated toll road stations at East and West Second Streets and South Superior Street. The money raised will be delivered to Camp Sunnyside as part of the statewide Pony Express ride on Saturday,March 30. Hamilton County Pony Express riders will also bring with them money raised from a dance held last month at the Moose Lodge. This year will mark the 46th annual ride to the Easter Seals camp near Des Moines. The camp helps disabled children and adults with recreational activities. The Hamilton County Pony Express Riders wish to thank everyone for their generous contributions on Saturday.

Tickets are on sale for the 25th annual Hamilton County Pheasants Forever Banquet set for Monday,March 25 at the Ed Prince Building on the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Webster City. Doors open at 5:30 with the prime rib dinner set for 7:00 p.m. There will be a raffle, drawing and auctions throughout the entire evening. The proceeds will benefit wildlife habitat in Hamilton County. Over the last 25 years, an estimated $650,000 has been raised through this yearly benefit.Only 300 tickets will be sold. For ticket information please call any of the following Pheasants Forever members...Mick Chambers at 515-835-7838, Mark Fielder at 515-297-0856, Rusty Grace at 515-297-0687, H Madsen at 515-835-1112, Rob Carpenter at 515-835-7025 and Bill Chally at 515-835-0739.

There was a discussion on the plans for the gym project set for this summer. Superintendent Binder told the board that she has submitted applications for grant funding from the Enhanced Hamilton County Foundation, Loews and Diamond Vogel Paint. There has been monetary support for the school gym project from the Stratford Boosters and Stratford Stride group. The work is expected to begin this summer. In the meantime construction is just getting started on the ELC (Early Learning Center) facility.Bids will be accepted at next month's meeting for the parking lot project,security cameras and keyless entry. 

Superintendent Binder informed the board that she was pleased with the numbers in the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in February. The board also commended the work behind this year's fun night held last Saturday, March 9 as a fund raiser for their many activities.

The board will take final action on the school calendar at next month's board session.

The Wright County Supervisors also met with officials of the Wright County Charitable Foundation. The Foundation over the past year distributed over $100,000 to worthy projects in the county to organizations serving the needs of residents. The Wright County Charitable Foundation's Endowment Fund alone is now at a half million dollars since it was established in 2005. The foundation will make another distribution of funds later in the year.

The board tabled action on appointments  to the Wright County Civil Service Commission until next Monday's meeting.

There was a conference call with John Krajewski of JK Energy Consulting of Lincoln, Nebraska in regards to a new power supplier for the Stanhope community. The council tentatively selected Heartland Consumers Power District of Madison,South Dakota as the supplier beginning January 1,2014, subject to further negotiation and a formal contract to be signed in May. Further discussion to take place with Heartland regarding the possible construction of a substation. 

The Stanhope council also approved a PULL Service Agreement between the Stanhope Municipal Utilities and the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities.

The board set the date of April 8th for a hearing date for the 2014 fiscal year budget before the regular school board meeting. Board members Joely Swenson and Will Johnson agreed to volunteer to be on the Support Staff salary committee. There was the approval of specifications for a new school bus. In other matters, the South Hamilton board approved the purchase of new laptops for the 2013-14 school year and switching the school management system from JMC to Infinite Campus beginning in the next school year. Contracts were approved for Beth Heller for 7 to 12 grade science, Mindy Gray for Assistant Individual Speech and Cody Voga for Junior High Baseball.

Another exciting Character Counts Day at Webster City Middle School was held Wednesday as students and staff celebrated the six pillars of character. Due to the two hour delay of classes,everything went on schedule with the theme,"Catch the Wave with Character Counts. The day featured appearances by Miss Iowa Mariah Carey, and the Rich Wieber bike show at Jefferson Gymnasium. A total of 20 speakers met with students sharing their experiences and how to reach out to family and friends. The afternoon featured the Taste of Character in Jefferson Gymnasium for all students, staff and community members sampling food representing the pillars of character. Various service clubs and other organizations were on hand to distribute the samples. Entertainment featured the Webster City High School jazz band and vocalists plus the students from the Dance Connection. The middle school students also traveled to the elementary buildings to work with the students at Pleasant View and Sunset Heights.

This Saturday,March 16th,the Hamilton County Pony Express Riders will be holding a toll road to raise money for Camp Sunnyside. All of the money raised will go to help with the special needs of many children and adults disabilities. The hours for the toll road will be from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on East and West Second Street and on South Superior Street. Camp Sunnyside is Easter Seals' flagship program, offering recreational opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. The money raised will be delivered to the camp on Saturday,March 30th during the annual Pony Express ride to the camp located outside Des Moines.

 Northeast Hamilton board members directed superintendent Pat Hocking to pursue the following Physical Plant and Equipment Levy projects. The projects include the implementation of iPads for Kindergarten through 12, a new school bus, plan for a bus barn project, purchase a new school copier and make repairs to the track to be used for practice and to the baseball field fences.

Superintendent Hocking and Susie Fiscus presented a preliminary budget proposal for the 2013-14 school year. The proposed tax rate was $10.64. This is a decrease of 86 cents from last year, The board set April 11 as the date for the public hearing to approve the 2013-14 school year budget.

April 17th was set as the date to celebrate 50 years of the Northeast Hamilton school district. The date will be the Very Important Person Day at Northeast Hamilton with special activities set for the day.

Officials with NEW Cooperative have approached superintendent Pat Hocking and board member Randy Greenfield about wanting to purchase the school bus barn.The board directed superintendent Hocking to pursue this option and meet with NEW Co-op officials.

Driver's education fees were set at $255 per student and $200 for the instructor at Northeast Hamilton. Jeff Meyer was appointed as Play Director.

In other matters the Hamilton County Supervisors approved the hiring of John Beatty of Humboldt to be the new assistant county attorney. Beatty's salary will be at $38,000.

The board also approved a traffic safety improvement funding request for work on Hamilton County R-33. The work would involve the installation of safety edges on the side of the road. A contract with Iowa Central Community College for safety training for all county employees was approved by the board. Don and Marie Seamands were appointed to serve on the Hamilton County R C and D board.

Eight inches of snow was dumped on the Webster City area from Sunday evening into Monday morning. The storm caused the cancellation of school in all area districts today. There were numerous reports of cars and trucks heading into the ditches due to snow and ice. The storm caused numerous other events to be postponed or cancelled during the day into Monday evening. Webster City street crews and Hamilton County snow plows have been busy through the day in removing the snow from streets and highways. There is a slight chance of snow for Tuesday. By the end of the week,temperatures could reach the lower 40s from Friday into Sunday. 

State Senator Jerry Behn and State Representative Rob Bacon will be meeting with Hamilton County residents this Saturday,March 9 at a Legislative Town Hall meeting in the Webster City City Council chambers from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. The meeting is designed to hear what is happening at the state legislature and to ask questions and comments to both state legislators. This program is open to the public.

The Wright County Supervisors tabled action on making their selection of two members to serve on the Civil Service Commission. The board will take action on this at next Monday's meeting.

New Webster City Chamber director Deb Brown introduced herself to the Webster City City Council at their meeting Monday night.Brown was hired by the local chamber after spending the past four years as the communications director for the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Franklin has been active as a volunteer in the Hampton and Franklin County area. Born and raised in Geneva,Iowa and educated in Iowa, Brown has lived in Chicago for 30 years. She returned back to Iowa to care for her elderly parents. Brown told the council that she is excited to  begin her work as director in Webster City.

The monthly report prepared by Webster City Police Chief Brian Hughes on Monday relating to police activity in the community during the month of February.

The Webster Theater in downtown Webster City will be closing its doors this week. The theater has been in business for many years. A sign in front of the theater said that Thursday's showing of Warm Bodies will be the final movie to be shown at the theater. There has been no word as to the reason behind the closing. NKM Theaters also owns the Metropolitan Theater in Iowa Falls and is the current owner of the Webster Theater.

A  1995 Webster City High School graduate was the keynote speaker at Sunday afternoon's National Honor Society induction ceremony held at Prem Sahai Auditorium. Guy Leman presented words of encouragement to the 20 members inducted in the local chapter. This year's new members of the National Honor Society are the following seniors. They are Josi Dinsdale, Brody Foster, Ada Juarez, Monica Maharry, Bridget Moriarty, Alissa Runyon and Rebecca Sanchez. The junior students inducted were Maddie Bertran,Garrett Claude, Caitlyn Dellinger, Megan Gilbert, Tanner Hild, Madeline Keane, John Maubach, Gina Moline, Ben Mossman, Kaylee Schnathorst, Morgan Shannon, Douglas Stoakes and Hannah White. Each of the students were selected for demonstrating excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character. KQWC Radio salutes these students from Webster City High School.

Another round of winter weather returns to the KQWC listening area tonight through Tuesday as a WINTER STORM WATCH will go into effect. The National Weather Service said Hamilton County could receive 4 to 7 inches of snow once the system exits the area by Tuesday. Winds will be from the southeast at 15 to 20 miles per hour tonight and then shift to the north by later in the day on Monday. Keep tuned to KQWC Radio, and on our Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest weather information.

A Webster City physician was named by Governor Terry Branstad to serve on the Iowa Board of Regents.Dr. Subhash Sahai will begin his six year term on the board effective May 1. Governor Branstad also appointed Robert Cramer of Grimes to serve on the board beginning May 1. Current board president Craig Lang was reappointed to the board. The Board of Regents is responsible for overseeing Iowa's public universities. Sahai has been practicing medicine since 1976. Dr. Subhash,his wife Sue and his brother the late Dr. Anil Sahai opened the Webster City Medical Clinic. Dr. Subhash is the chief of staff at Van Diest Medical Center. He also served as a member of the Webster City Community School Board.

Jefferson Gymnasium welcomed the Dairyland Donkey Basketball group Thursday night as a fund raiser for the Webster City FFA. The audience enjoyed a 90 minute game featuring FFA members,teachers and community members riding the donkeys across the court. Thursday's fund raiser netted approximately $3,000 to go toward the FFA scholarships for its members in Webster City. 

 The annual Character Counts Day is coming to Webster City Middle School on Wednesday,March 13. The theme this year is "Catch The Wave With Character Counts". You are invited to stop by and see the commons wall around the theme for the week,see the classroom doors decorated in the theme and feel the sense of the appreciation when we help others and exhibit good character through the building. Interested parents, business representatives, staff members and community members are invited to join the middle school students and staff on this big day. There will be 20 guest speakers at the middle school during the morning to promote the importance of the six pillars of character and the importance of reaching out to help others through a variety of experiences. Each speaker will be presenting two to four different classes. The presentations will be approximately 30 minutes beginning at 8:20 with speakers coming from various locations in Iowa and here in Webster City. Rich Wieber from Minnesota will be using his bicycle  stunts and motivating message to present a high energy and fast paced program that will inspire the students to live out their dreams. Miss Iowa, Mariah Cary will be appearing on Character Counts Day to share some motivational tips around the importance of good character, setting goals, and being the best person you can be. She will also be sharing her "tap dance" talent which she performed at the recent Miss America competition. During the afternoon, more exposure to the importance of helping others and the six pillars of character will take place when a Taste of Character will be held in Jefferson Gym for all students, staff and community members. Everyone will have the opportunity to taste a small sample of food representing the pillars of character. Various service clubs and other organizations will be on hand to distribute the samples. Entertainment for the afternoon will include students demonstrating their tumbling and dancing talents from the Dance Connection. Also the high school jazz band and high school vocalists will be appearing in the afternoon to provide background music for a Taste of Character. In the spirit of helping others, the middle school students will be traveling to the elementary buildings to work with elementary students. All afternoon sessions will begin at 1:00 p.m.

The National Weather Service outlook for Iowa for the month of March indicates we could be in for normal precipitation and normal to slightly below normal temperatures. Last March in Webster City the average high was 61 degrees and the average low was 35. Last March saw a number of record high temperatures set in Webster City. We also measured an inch and a half of snow a year ago with 1.51 of that in rain or melted precipitation. KQWC Radio is the official observer for the National Weather Service in Webster City.

In another matter the conservation board Thursday approved the purchase of a Cushman utility vehicle to be used at the Briggs Woods golf course. The total cost of the vehicle is set at $11,000.

The Hamilton County Conservation Board approved adjustments to the 2013 fiscal year budget. This is for roof repair work on the conservation office at Briggs Woods park and the Briggs Woods Golf Course club house. The work is expected to begin sometime this spring.

A purchase agreement for logs to be used in the construction of the Legacy cabins at Briggs Woods, Little Wall Lake and Bells Mill parks was approved by the board. The floor plans for these cabins were also approved by the board with bid notices to be sent out on Friday.

The next scheduled meeting of the county conservation board will be on Thursday,March 28 at 10:00 a.m.

The Iowa Opera ensemble from the Des Moines Metro Opera presented "The Three Little Pigs" at Webster City Middle School on Wednesday afternoon. A cast of five presented the music set to the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and composed by John Davies. The music featured music from Mozart's famous operas "The Marriage of Figaro","Don Giovanni","The Magic Flute" and "Cosi fan tutte".For the past 27 years,  Opera Iowa has traveled across the state presenting a taste of opera to school students. Opera Iowa is the educational arm of the Des Moines Metro Opera.

The Webster City FFA chapter will be sponsoring a night of Donkey Basketball this Thursday evening at 8:00 p.m. at Jefferson Gymnasium. The proceeds will help benefit the FFA scholarship fund with the awarding of scholarships to FFA members. Donkeys will be provided by Dairyland Donkeyball of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Teams will be made up of FFA members,students and community members.This is the ninth year for the traveling donkey basketball that has delighted audiences in an 18 state area of the country.  Tickets for the contest can be purchased at the box office. 

The date of March 25 was set for a public hearing for the 2013-14 school calendar at the school administration building.

The Webster City school district is now part of the Pepsi generation. The Webster City school board signed a contract with Pepsi Cola bottlers in providing Pepsi soft drink and water products during all home athletic events beginning this spring. The contract is for a five year period. The old contract with Coca-Cola expired last week with the final winter sporting event at the Webster City high school gymnasium.

A fund raising project for Dawn Scholtens and her second grade class at Sunset Heights elementary school was approved by the Webster City school board.For the second year in a row the students will give up taking a shower or bath for a week as a way to raise money to build a well in Africa for school students. Last year an estimated $2000 was raised for a similar well construction project in Kenya. The shower strike event will be held sometime this spring. If you would like to know more about the project, you can go on line to www.wellawareworld.org

The board will look at marketing updates for Briggs Woods Golf Course. There will also be consideration on a Cushman utility vehicle purchase.

In other matters, the conservation board will discuss a purchase agreement for logs with Prairie Rivers R C and D. Director Brian Lammers will present his monthly report on activites within the conservation department.

In another matter the Wright County Supervisors  set the date of Monday,April 8 at 10:00 for a public hearing for the work on Drainage District 176 located two and a half miles east of Clarion.

A resolution was approved to maintain in force those area having flood hazards in Wright County. No objection was raised as the resolution was passed and adopted.

Several Wright County landowners met with the supervisors in regards to the dangerous obstruction in the right of way. Letters were sent out to the property owners instructing them to remove these obstructions. The owners complied with the request.

The Wright County Social Services Department will officially take possession of the former First Citizens National Bank building in Clarion in early March.

While students in three Hamilton County school districts enjoyed a day off from class,it was a time for teachers to receive training when it comes to technology.  Teachers and administrators from Webster City,Stratford and Northeast Hamilton attended a day long professional development event that focues on the changes in technology and how it will affect the classroom. There were several workshops during the day hosted by teachers, AEA officials and speakers including Scott McLeod (above). McLeod is a professor of school leadership from the University of Kentucky. He is spending this academic year as the director of innovation for the Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency in Pocahontas. McLeod was one of the keynote speakers at Webster City High School as he presented a topic entitled "Getting Beyond Fear and Control". The teachers in attendance learned about the usage of Ipads as they will be distributed later this year to students.

Wright County voters this spring will select their next sheriff. Paul Schultz retired from his position on Friday after 12 years on the job. On Saturday,Jim Lester announced he would seek the position of sheriff. In a press release, Lester said that out of respect for the sheriff,he wanted to wait until Schultz's retirement became official before he announced his candidacy. Born and raised in Wright County, Lester,46 has been working public service for 27 years. He began his career in law enforcement as a Reserve Officer with the Clarion Police Department in 1986. In 1987,he joined the Clarion Ambulance Service and received his EMT training through Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. In 1989 he was hired as Eagle Grove's Director of EMS and also worked as a police officer. Lester graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 1989 and returned full time to the Clarion Police Department in 1990. He has been an EMS Instructor since 1990 and has trained nearly 100 EMTs throughout north central Iowa. Sheriff Vern Elston hired Lester as a Deputy Sheriff in 1992 and following the election of Sheriff Schultz in 2000, Lester was appointed Chief Deputy and Jail Administrator. He has received training from the National Institute of Corrections in Jail Administration and Budgeting for Small Jails.

In 2008, Lester volunteered to add the role of Emergency Management Coordinator to his duties.  As the Emergency Management Coordinator he assisted citizens and communities in the county respond and recover through two Presidential Disaster Declarations. Lester was responsible for the forming fo the Wright County CodeRed partnership providing the citizens of the county with emergency phone, text and email notifications along with severe weather alerts. He received his Iowa Certified Emergency Management Coordinator status in 2011.He is a member of the Iowa Emergency Management Association, Wright County Sexual Assault Response Team,Iowa Law Enforcement Intelligence Network and for the past year has worked closely with the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. He works closely with DHS in the investigation of child abuse cases in Wright County.Lester is past president of the Wright County EMS Association and is a member of the Clarion United Presbyterian Church where he serves as an Elder and has served on the personnel and finance committees. He also serves on the Clarion Goldfield Sports Boosters Bond. He was a foster parent for 10 years and has 3 adopted children. He also served on the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association Board of Directors.

The Wright County Supervisors are expected to set the date of April 16th for the election for Wright County Sheriff.

In other matters, the supervisors will approve an amendment to contract on the Mitigation Plan for the county. A landowner will meet with the board to discuss a dangerous obstruction in the right of way. Deb Lukes will give an update on the status of DNR permits for the 2010 disaster flood payments. There will also be a discussion on the Wright County Social Services Building paperwork plus other matters.

The board meeting is set for 9:00 Monday morning at the supervisors board room in Clarion.

Superintendent Binder informed the school board that the school has been nominated for a grant from the Monsanto Fund for school improvements and other projects. The district is expected to find out in the next few months on whether or not they are selected.

There was also a discussion on school safety. The board looked at the possibility of installing a keyless entry system and to have security cameras inside the building.

As for the Early Learning Center, there will be a meeting with the contractors in regards to the project. It is hoped that ground will be broken once the weather warms up in the next few weeks.Another project that is being considered is for the parking lot. A bid from Fort Dodge Asphalt for the work was presented but no action was taken. The board wants more information on how the asphalt company will address the issue of drainage. This issue will be discussed at next month's board session.

The Stratford school held the Iowa MAP testing earlier this month. Superintendent Binder informed the board that all but one student met their individual goals in the tests.

A presentation was made by Andi Berglund on preparations for the observance of Dr. Seuss' birthday at the Stratford school in early March. There will be some special activites lined up for the students and staff.

The Stratford school board also saluted the efforts of the students who participated in the recent Iowa Assessment test. Brian Ouverson was commended for his work this season with girls and boys basketball in grades first through sixth.

A nationally known speaker and author will be coming to Webster City this Monday for a Professional Development Day sponsored by the Webster City Community School District. Elizabeth Hubbell will deliver the keynote address on technology in the classroom. The entire day will be a district wide technology fair with other national speakers from AEA, district teachers and other school districts. The goal is to train teaching staff and set up a support structure that will facilitate training for all staff. Teachers will have a more complete sense on how they will develop  lessons and implement different approaches to instruction using iPads. There will be no school on Monday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 26. 

The board and administrators also discussed school security with the A.L.I.C.E. (Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate) program. Dr. Jim Verlengia the Superintendent of the Colo Nesco district will present the program at a future administration meeting. Board members approved the SAI School Funding resolution.

South Hamilton students and parents are reminded of the snow make up days set for this Monday, February 25, Friday,March 29, Thursday,May 23 and Friday,May24th with additional days to be made up after Memorial Day. Preparations continue for the Elementary Carnival  set for Friday,March 15.There was also the approval of the overnight stay for the Dance Team wrestlers and special olympic team members, fundraisers for the junior high students and music department.

Longtime Van Diest Medical Center Laboratory Director Joyce Gelhaus was honored Tuesday night on her retirement. Board chairman Don Bottorff (left) presented Gelhaus (right) with a special award thanking her for her years of service at Van Diest Medical Center. During her tenure with Hamiton County Public Hospital and Van Diest Medical Center, Gelhaus has worked 84,458 hours in 38 years and 4 months-which is currently the longest tenured employee at the hospital. Gelhaus began her career in November,1974 as Lab Technologist,moving to Assistant Lab Director in July,1978 and on to Lab Director on December 31,1995 where she has continued to serve in this capacity.

The Van Diest Medical Center Board held a hearing on the 2013-14 Tax Asking Tuesday night. The amount was set at $1,600,000. This is an increase from the current year amount of $850,000. There were no written or oral objections received during the hearing.The increase in the tax asking was due to the increase in charity care cases, an increase iin IPERS,and the decrease in third payer payments.

A total of $43,936 in capital requests for the month were approved by the board for the purchase of two pediatric cribs and a new surgery table.

Two medical staff appointments were approved by the Van Diest Medical Center. Drs. Jeffrey Ashline and Danielle Anderson of Emergency Practice Associates were approved for hospital privileges.

The Webster City Area Development Chamber has announced that Deb Brown will assume the responsibilities of Chamber Director effective March 4. Brown accepts the position vacated by Carrie Fitzgerald in January. Webster City Area Development-Chamber President Jeanne Hill said that Brown has years of experience to the Webster City Chamber as well as plenty of energy and excitement to help make a difference in Webster City. Brown has spent the last four years as Communication Director for the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Brown sits on the Franklin County Historical Society Board, the financial secretary at the Geneva United Methodist Church and an active volunteer in Hampton and in Franklin County. Brown has been responsible for all aspects of the Greater Franklin County Chamber's communications including but not limited to, offline and online marketing. The Greater Franklin County Chamber also includes Franklin County Tourism and Hampton Main Street organizations under their main umbrella. Brown has assisted with membership management, media relations, grant writing and fundraising, and organizing events. Brown curates and hosts the State of Now Conference in Des Moines, speaks at various social media conferences around the country and has worked with the Iowa Museum Association on leading interactive programs. She has taught marketing classes for North Iowa Area Community College and had been their program director in Hampton for the past two years.Brown was born and raised in Geneva,Iowa and educated in Iowa and having lived 30 years in Chicago.

The supervisors also reviewed the budget figures and will be submitted to the state. Property owners will notice a slight increase in their property taxes for the next fiscal year. Supervisor chairman Stan Watne said that the balance for next fiscal year will a positive one.

In another matter, the Wright County Supervisors approved the slough bills for 2013. A total of 3,169 acres for land,rivers,and forests used for hunting and conservation purposes were approved with the property to be exempt for taxes.

The KQWC listening area will be under a WINTER STORM WATCH from Thursday morning until Friday morning for the potential of moderate to heavy snow and strong winds. The snow is expected to arrive sometime after midnight Thursday morning to continue throughout the day into Friday. Keep tuned to KQWC radio for the latest weather conditions later this week.    

North central Iowans should continue to monitor the weather for later in the  week as the potential exists for a dangerous winter storm beginning late Wednesday night into Friday. Snowfall totals at this time are uncertain but there is the likelyhood of 6 to 12 inches of snow in northeast Iowa. Another big concern will be strong northwesterly winds that will be causing the blowing and drifting of snow.Keep tuned to KQWC radio in the next few days on the winter weather for later in the week.

Weather for this Sunday in the KQWC listening area should be on the mild side with sunshine and highs in the low 40s. The weather by later in the week could turn downright nasty with the posibility of heavy snow and strong winds on Thursday and Thursday night. At this time it is too early to say how many inches is expected with this possible storm. Keep tune to KQWC radio, kqradio.com, and on our Facebook and Twitter pages later this week.

Webster City Police on Friday received information that Jaime Cervantes who is featured on this month's Hamilton County Crimestoppers most wanted poster,had been observed at 1222 Water Street,Apartment #2 in Webster City. The information was received through its TipSoft program. Tipsoft is a program that allows citizens to anonymously send text and web based information to law enforcement in Hamilton County.

When city police officers knocked on the door, Cervantes answered the door. Initially he denied being Jaime Cervantes and stated he was not in the apartment,but when officers confronted him with his picture on the most wanted poster,he admitted he was in fact Jaime Cervantes and knew he had an active warrant. Officers then arrested Cervantes and transported him to the Hamilton County Jail. Upon further investigation it was discovered that Cervantes had provided law enforcement with a fake name. His real name is Gonzales Cervantes Yolman Guadalupe. This was verified by his Mexican identification. Webster City Police Chief Brian Hughes said the tipster received a $100 cash reward.

The Northeast Hamilton board learned that total valuations for the district for the 2013-14 school year is at $190,641,570. The increase in part is due to the value of land in the Hamilton County area. Last year's valuation is $177,646,865.

A discussion on PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) funded projects was a part of the meeting. The projects would include the purchase of iPads for 3rd through 7th graders, a new bus, new school vehicle, installing of a wireless sound system for the school cafeteria for meetings,new microphones for the gym sound system,paving the west parking lot, the purchase of a new color copier and siding both the tractor shed and weight room. This issue will be discussed at next month's board meeting.

There was a review of Drivers Education fees for this summer. Superintendent Hocking recommended charging $255 per student and paying the instructor $200 per student. This will be an action item at the March Northeast Hamilton School Board meeting.

Board members approved the contracts for Deb Larson for Special Eeducation Associate, Chace Pruismann as head baseball coach, Natalie Ostheimer as head softball coach,Shannon Muhlenbrook as head boys track coach and Josh Vanderloop as junior high boys track coach.

The date of Wednesday,April 17 was set for the annual VIP (Very Important Person) Day at Northeast Hamilton.

The board set Tuesday,March 12 at 7:00 p.m. for the March meeting date and time.

As for the camping fees, the board looked at reviewing the current rates from last season. The board approved a $3.00 increase for full hookup including water,sewer and electricity. It will mean the cost will be at $24 from the current $21. Electric and water rates will see an increase of $2.00 to a new fee of $21. The electric sites will be increasing an additional one dollar. The new fees will take effect  this spring. The reason for these increases is to comply with the 2013-14 conservation department budget which was approved during their meeting. The conservation department budget will be forwarded to the Hamilton County Supervisors for their review.

The cabin plans were not available for review but will be ready for review at the next board meeting set for Thursday,February 28th.

In other matters the Eagle Grove school board met with Matt Gillaspie with Piper Jaffray on the results of the bond sale. Gillaspie said that the total savings to the district will be at $573,995. The Eagle Grove school board adopted a resolution directing the sale of $3,810,000 in General Obligation School Refunding Bonds to the winning bidder, UMB Bank of Kansas City,Missouri.

The board also received an update from Robert Blue Middle School teachers Amanda Johnston, Leslie Wenzel, Mary Ann Smith and Sarah Teeselink along with Principal Scott Jeske on how they are meeting district goals to assure that all students are successful in the classroom.

The Stanhope council set the date of Monday,March 11 at 6:30 for a public hearing on the 2013-14 operating budget.

In another matter, the council approved the opening an account within the existing accounting system to be title as the Community Center Building Account. City Clerk Ron McKenzie indicated that there is already a fund entitled Community Center which could be changed to Community Center Building Account for expenditures and a corresponding revenue account would also need to be created.

A non binding Letter of Intent with D3,LLC was approved by the supervisors. The letter is in regards to the potential sale of property across from the Hamilton County Courthouse on Red Bull Division Drive for a special development project that is now in its early stages.

A contract with Active Networks, Incorporated with Briggs Woods Golf Course for software services was approved on Tuesday.

The Hamilton County Supervisors set Tuesday,March 12 at 9:15 a.m. for a public hearing of the 2014 County Budget.

The Wright County Supervisors will meet for their session at 9:00 Monday morning. There will be a meeting with Wright County Engineer Adam Clemons on the status regarding the secondary roads office building. The board will meet with Michelle DeLa Riva and Shelly Lumsden with Community and Family Resources to discuss the County Substance Abuse Contracts.In other matters, the supervisors will act on a compensation board recommendation, discuss the county budget and hold a budget hearing for the county emergency management department at 10:00 a.m.

This evening at 6:30 the board will meet with the Wright County Farm Bureau members at the Farm Bureau in Clarion.

The Randall Fine Arts Council will sponsor the appearance of Paul Hertz in an afternoon of organ music at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Story City on Sunday, February 10. The concert will begin at 3:00 p.m. This was originally scheduled for January 27th but was postponed due to the weather. Hertz is the organist at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Ames and has studied organ with Lynn Zeigler at Iowa State University and Steven Hoffman at the University of Wyoming. Paul grew up in Nevada,Iowa  and has a degree in music composition from the University of Wyoming.

The first half of the recital,"Music for the Church Year" will feature a variety of works based on hymn tunes. It will bein with music for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany,continue with music for Holy Week, Easter and Pentecost and closes with music for Trinity Sunday, All Saints Day and Thanksgiving.

The second half of the recital, "Five Hundred Years of Organ Music" will feature organ works by Bach, Buxtehude, Rheinberger, and more.The organ recital will close with Paul Hertz's original composition,"Fantasia for Organ as well as several original organ improvisations. There will be a reception following Sunday's recital.

Visitors enjoyed sampling over 45 treats during Sunday afternoon's Festival of Chocolate held at Kendall Young Library. The first annual event drew an excellent turnout. The event was delayed one week due to the icy conditions last Sunday. Here are the top winners:

Confection and Candy Division-1st Place:Zibby Miller for Nutella Nuggets. 2nd Place:Mary Jane Mourlam for Dark Chocolate Cherry Fudge. Honorable Mention:Tom McLaughlin for Chocolate Dipped Premium Pretzels.

Cookies:1st Place: Laura Brockett for Chocolate Waffle Cookies. 2nd Place-Daniel Blankenship for Chocolate Snickerdoodles. Honorable Mention to Shirley Yungclas for her Whoopie Pie entry.

Brownies and Bars:1st Place:Linda Barrick for Mint Brownies. 2nd Place-Carol Kayler for Wonderbars. Honorable Mention to Carol Kayler for Raspberry White Chocolate Bars.

Cakes and Cupcakes:1st Place:Stephanie Hill for Chocolate Cheesecake. 2nd Place:Laurel Palmer for Sour Cream Chocolate Cake.Honorable Mention to Roberta Knutson for Chocolate Cake Balls.

People's Choice winners:1st Place: JoAnn Robb for Oh So Orange Brownies. 2nd Place to Zibby Miller for Nutella Nuggets.

Each of the winner received special prizes. The event was sponsored by the Friends of the Kendall Young Library as a benefit for their many activities.

The Hamilton County Fair Foundation would like to thank those attending Sunday's "Sundaes on Sunday" luncheon at the Webster City Middle School. The proceeds of the meal will go toward the third phase of work on the multi purpose arena at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The project will include new restrooms,heating, air conditioning and small refreshment area with banquet tables and chairs. The Hamilton County Cattlemen helped with the cooking of the meal. The Hamilton County 4-H senior group also assisted.

Approximately 30 people participated in Saturday morning's "Building a New Business in the 21st Century" in the Webster City City Council chambers. The meeting was open to new small business owners and those who wanted to start their own business. The participants in the program were Darcy Swon, Mona Everson, Jason Kroona, Zona Graves, David Toyer and Catherine Bergman. Sponsors for the event were SCORE, ISU Extension, Hamilton County S.E.E.D., Webster City Economic Development office,Small Business Development Center and Webster City Chamber of Commerce.

The National Weather Service outlook for February in Iowa indicates near normal temperatures and normal to above normal precipitation. Last February the average high in Webster City was at 39 degrees and the average low was 18. We received 3 inches of snow along with 1.09 inches of rain and or moisture content. KQWC Radio is the official weather reporting station for the National Weather Service in Webster City.

This has been one week of weather extremes in the KQWC listening area. Ice, fog, snow and now bitter cold for today and tomorrow morning. The entire listening area is under a WIND CHILL ADVISORY until 12 noon Friday. The highs this day are expected to reach around zero with a wind chill of 10 to 15 below zero. Tonight's low will be from 10 to 15 below zero with a wind chill hovering around 20 to 30 below zero due to the strong winds out of the northwest. By Friday we can expect a high of 15 to 20 degrees with a 40 percent chance of light snow during the day. 

There was a meeting with Jan Libby of Healthy Harvest. Libby was requesting $1500 from the supervisors to continue with this program for next fiscal year. Healthy Harvest coordinates projects for residents to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. Health Harvest operates Farmers Markets in Clarion,Dows,Belmond and Eagle Grove.

The second reading on the Wright County Floodplain Management program was approved with the third reading set for next Monday.The plan would not include a DNR permit for the cleanout of ditches.

There was the approval of Bridge Load Posting for about 200 bridges in Wright County. 119 bridges have been inspected for usage.This year there are plans to replace a bridge on Wright County c-70 near the French Church east of Woolstock. 

North central Iowans are spending this Sunday in the safe confines of their homes as the result of freezing rain and sleet that started at about 5 o'clock. Many area churches in the KQWC listening canceled worship services and Sunday School activities due to the weather conditions. The Festival of Chocolate at Kendall Young Library in Webster City has been postponed until next Sunday, February 3 from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY has been issued until 3:00 Sunday afternoon for Hamilton, Webster, Boone and Story Counties while a WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect until 12 midnight Sunday night for Wright, Franklin and Hardin Counties. The freezing rain of this morning should gradually change over to light rain this afternoon with highs in the mid 30s which should help melt off the ice on  the streets and highways. Tonight temperatures should be in the low 30s with another chance of light rain, fog, and periods of light freezing rain. Cloudy skies are expected for Monday with highs in the low 40s.

The conservation board spent time looking at the setting of fees for the camping season along with the cabins, shelter and recreation areas. Conservation director Brian Lammers said there are two  options for the board to consider. The first one is to keep the fees as the same as last year's. The second is to increase the fees a few dollars to make the difference in the budget. Board members will review the options with a decision to be made at the February board session. The board also tabled action until the February board meeting on setting fees for Briggs Woods Golf Course.

In another matter, the Hamilton County Conservation Board Friday morning approved a contract with Snyder and Associates for the engineering work on the Jewellsworth Recreational Trail. The Hamilton County Supervisors are expected to approve the contract at a future board session.

Krystel Doolittle was named as Hamilton County Conservation Board president for 2013. Jim Richardson as vice chairman with George Caggiano as secretary. The other board members are Mike Brandrup and Roger Lenz.

The next scheduled meeting of the Hamilton County Conservation Board will be held on Thursday,February 28th with the time of the meeting to be announced.

The following resolutions were approved by the Statford City Council. The resolutions include city employees to attend meetings deemed necessary for their city work and for city employees to receive reimbursement for mileage and related expenses, a snow removal policy for South Marion and Oakwood Cemeteries,a Records Management and Retention Policy,a City Investment Policy and the establishement of a City of Stratford City Council Procedural Rules. 

The Stratford City Council approved and authorized the Mayor to sign the Department of Transportation application from the Webster City Snowmobile Club for snowmobiles to travel on Highway 175 within the city limits and authorize the City Manager to create a resolution to approve the proposed snowmobile route on the City of Stratford's public right of ways noting that this approval does not include crossing over private properties.Mike Nepperney was appointed as a representative and Rachel Cahill as alternate to the North Central Iowa Regional Solid Waste Agency. Rachel Cahill and Brian Wilde as Hamilton County S.E.E.D. Board members. Rachel Cahill as director and Julie Ehresmann as alternate representative on Iowa Agency for Municipal Wind Board

Shirley Helgevold of the MIDAS Council of Governments was present to discuss the Hazard Mitigation Plan for Clarion. Helgevold informed the council that Wright County has approved the County plan pending approval from the cities. The Clarion City Council on Monday tabled action on adopting the plan until the February 4th council meeting.

There was the approval of a letter of intent between Hagie Manufacturing Corporation and the city of Clarion for the construction of a new hangar at the Clarion Municipal Airport.

The date of Thursday, February 7 was set for a public hearing for the 2014 fiscal year budget workshop beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Clarion City Administrator Rochelle Pohlman informed the council that Clarion Packaging has requested the city change the name of the street on which their company is located. Clarion Packaging officials say that truck drivers are having trouble finding their location, since the GPS locator sends them down South Main Street to 5th Avenue which is not a through street. The council declined to make a decision and will take this under advisement. 

Pohlman also informed the Council that the Hotel Motel tax revenue has brought in $10,372 since it was implemented with 25% going to parks and recreation and 75% to tourism in Clarion. The Hotel/Motel committee has awarded $4,777 in grant requests to date.

The students and staff of St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Webster City is gearing up the annual observance of Catholic Schools Week beginning Saturday. This year's theme is "Catholic Schools Raise the Standards". A Mass featuring the young people of the church will be featured. They will serve as greeters, singers and lectors. Following the Mass, there will be a free chili supper in the parish gym and an open house to view the outstanding work by the young people plus a Scholastic Book Fair in the school cafeteria. An all-school kickoff will be held on Monday with Principal Duane Siepker's PowerPoint presentation. This will be followed by treats for everyone including hot cocoa and glazed donuts for the students before classes. On Tuesday morning at 9:00 there will be a live broadcast on KQWC FM from the Parish Center as we interview the students and staff.  On Friday,February 1, the school will celebrate the prayer partners at the student Mass at 8:30 a.m. There will be a beach party in the parish gym. The staff will be honored with a late afternoon luncheon. The following Friday, February 8, the students will enjoy a day of snowboarding and snow tubing at Seven Oaks near Boone. A day to celebrate the school's grandparents and grand-friends will be held in the spring. 

The Hamilton County S.E.E.D. office welcomed  Michael Wagler and Thom Guzman with the Iowa Economic Development Authority's Main Street Program at a two day program visit. This is the annual visit by officials to get a perspective into how the Main Street concept is working in the communities of Ellsworth,Jewell and Stratford.  Both Wagler and Guzman met with economic development officials in all three communities on Tuesday afternoon reviewing the past year in regards to Main Street project. Since its inception 20 years ago there has been a net gain of 91 new businesses, 69 n new jobs,256 building rehabilitation projects, $4,918.520 in private dollars invested in to participating downtown districts and 85,858 documented volunteer hours. In these challenging economic times,there has been continued positive impact in each of the three communities and passionate involvement. The Main Street officials stressed to help support the vision of Main Street in their respective communities, create a marketing plan,and a resolution of support from each city council.

As for staff reductions, the board is proposing to agree to the language presented by the Northeast Hamilton Education Association. There was a proposal by the Northeast Hamilton district to discuss the possibility of adding an additional 1 to 2 Professional Development days to the contract starting in 2013-14. The board also proposed that the Northeast Hamilton district would want to stay with the current contract in regards to exchanging sick leaves for personnel days.

Both the Northeast Hamilton School Board and the Education Association will meet in closed session over the next few weeks to work out a new agreeement.

There will be discussions on Monday with county department officials on budget matters for the 2013-14 fiscal year. They include:

11:00-11:30 Sheriff, Jail,Law Enforcement and Emergency Management.

11:30-12:00 noon  Economic Development- Tourism and Transit.

1:00-1:30 p.m.  Conservation

1:30-2:00 p.m.  Nurses and Hospice.

2:00-2:30 p.m. Sanitarian.

2:30-3:00 p.m. Mental Health/Developmental Disabled, Case Management, General Relief, Veteran Affairs.

3:00-3:30 p.m. Planning and Zoning & Drainage mapping project.

3:30-4:00 p.m.  County Attorney.

The budget discussions will continue on Tuesday with the Auditor at 10:00 a.m. and with Secondary Roads at 10:30 a.m.

Stanhope council members met with Keith and Erma Bockoven of 3401 Briggs Woods Road . They shared their sentiments on not wanting snowmobiles on their property and to discuss what needs to be done to change the snowmobile route through Stanhope. The Bockovens indicated that they are not opposed to the snowmobiles but they are concerned with the liability of the snowmobiles being on their property and therefore they wish for the snowmobilers to find an alternative route. The council thanked the Bockovens for their input.

In other matters the Stanhope council approved an Enhance Hamilton County Foundation grant application for upgrading the emergency siren and for a Stanhope Development Group application for business district landscaping. A DNR  grant application was approved by the Stanhope City Council. The application will be completed by the MIDAS Council of Governments for possibile upgrading of existing park playground equipment. The third and final reading on ordinances dealing with All Terrrain vehicles,installment payment of cost abatement and service discontinuance and lien exemption.

The council approved a continuing resolution authorizing the continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program which offers rates for residential properties as low as $129.00 per year.

There was also a discussion on the alternatives as it pertains to the electric utility and the new wholesale electric contract set to begin January 1,2014 and alternatives  as it pertains to the possible construction of an electrical substation to serve the community and further upgrading of the electrical system.

The Webster City City Council Tuesday night held a three hour goal setting session with Jeff Schott of the Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The purpose of the session was to work on issues in the Webster City community for 2013. They include economic development programs,working with the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors on issues of importance between the city and the county,infrastructure projects,identifying housing opportunities in the communities, developing a street lighting plan, sidewalk construction projects and on a succession plan for city employees who will be retiring in the next few years. Schott will be writing a report to Webster City City Manager Ed Sadler on what was covered Tuesday night. The council will take action on the report at a future meeting. 

The make up days for missing school on December 20th and 21st will be made up on Feburary 25th and March 29th. If there are any additional snow days, they will be made up at the end of the school year.

Transportation director Gene Greenfield gave the board a summary of the Bus/Vehicle fleet with mileage and condition of the vehicle. Greenfield will come to the February School Board meeting with specifications and recommendation for a new bus.

In other matters the South Hamilton board accepted the resignation from Jim Kubichek and thanked him for his many years of service. Athletic director Todd Coy gave the board members a list of current vacant coaching positions. The positions will be advertised on the school web site. The board thanked the Trinity Lutheran Church Circle of Ellsworth for a donation of $145.  The South Hamilton Elementary Boosters donated $5500 towards band instruments and $2500 toward the purchase of document cameras.

Connie Harris represented the Domestic Sexual Assault Outreach Center of Fort Dodge met with the Supervisors requesting $7,000 from the board to continue with their services next fiscal year. Harris presented a summary of its activities in Wright County over the past year serving those who were affected by domestic and sexual violence.

The board also went on to approve the depository for the Wright County Sheriff's up to $150,000 with First Citizen's National Bank.

Investigators have been able to link both Woodman's to crimes in at least 13 counties across the state of Iowa involving multiple victims, both corporate companies and individuals alike. At this point in the case investigators continue to process evidence, interview witnesses and follow up on additional information and in an attempt to identify and locate other victims. Anyone with more information is asked to call the Fort Dodge Police Department at 515-573-1426.

Girls:Algona  53 Webster City 30

Clarion Goldfield 58  Eagle Grove 52

Saydel  62  South Hamilton 40

Northeast Hamilton 59  GMG  30

Boys:GMG 50  Northeast Hamilton 31

Clarion Goldfield 61  Eagle Grove 47

South Hamilton 59  Saydel  52

Webster City 42  Algona 41

Plans for this year's Prom at Northeast Hamilton was presented by junior class member Tyler Smith. This year's theme is "Big City,Bright Lights" on Saturday, April 27th. Smith told the board that the meal will be tentative held at a restaurant in Fort Dodge or in Ames.

A rough draft of the 2013-14 school calendar was discussed at the meeting. Northeast Hamilton is working closely with Webster City to align professional development days and schedules. Beth Heller met with the board regarding staff concerns with the proposed calendar. The board is considering the suggested ideas.

There was a look ahead to this year's summer and fall sports programs at Northeast Hamilton. The board reviewed potential participation numbers to ensure there are enough students to  participate for the season. The issue will be discussed at next month's board meeting. In one other matter, the board discusseed the district's safety procedures for disasters and emergencies.The school will run drills periodically so that all staff and students are aware of what to do if a situation should arise.

Friday,May 31st has been tentatively set for the final day of classes at Northeast Hamilton barring any further snow make up dates. Northeast Hamilton cancelled classes on December 20 and 21 due to the weather conditions.

Officials with Webster City Federal Savings Bank have announced plans to build a new facility to be located at the corner of Fairmeadow Drive and Superior Street. The construction on the new two story 15,880 square-foot building is scheduled to begin this April with completion slated for early 2014. Webster City Federal President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Mourlam said the time is right to build this new facility. Mourlam said the new facility will allow the bank to build its customer experience, support future growth of the institution and the services they provide and reflects the strong commitment to the  future of Webster City and surrounding communities. The two story facility will feature green building materials and components and has been designed in an efficient manner to handle current and future banking services. The efficiencies will allow employees to better serve customers in a professional, confidential, secure and timely manner. Customer convenience has also been designed into the new building and will include front door parking, a comfortable waiting area complete with a fireplace and easy accesss to the ATM and drive up facilities.The new building will sit at an angle with the front entrance facing the corners of Superior Street and Fairmeadow Drive. Customer parking will be located to the south of the structure with the drive up being located to the east. The existing full-service ATM will remain in its present location. In addition to the space for Webster City Federal's operational needs, a 1,250 square-foot Community Room will be available for use by the public, independent of Webster City Federal's business hours. 

Single Source LLC of Cedar Falls  will serve as the general contractor on the project. Specs on the building project will be sent from Single Source to local contractors later this month.

Webster City City Manager Ed Sadler said that this is a great example of the positive growth that is occurring in Webster City. "Van Diest Medical Center, Farm Credit Services, Fareway, Hy-Vee, Casey's General Store, Town and Country Insurance and the Webster City Competitive Gymnasium are just a few examples. The decision by Webster City Federal to build new shows their commitment and confidence in the future of Webster City and surrounding communities".

Webster City Federal has been a full service community bank since 1934. The bank is currently located at 820 Des Moines Street with ATM services within Van Diest Medical Center and at the corner of Superior and Fairmeadow Drive in Webster City. 

Myra Maxon was sworn in Tuesday night as a new member of the Van Diest Medical Center Board of Trustees. Maxon was elected in November to take over the seat from George Heller whose term expired at the end of last month. Maxon's term will be for the next six years. Carroll Ose also was sworn in to another six year term.

Van Diest Medical Center board members met with Jim Fitz Patrick of the Mercy Health Network regarding the search for a new Chief Executive Officer. Fitz Patrick said it appears that it will be at least mid February when the names of the potential candidates will be reviewed and the setting of interviews. Bob Mason is the interim administrator for the local hospital since Palmer Schneider stepped down this past November.

The board commended the efforts of the hospital staff during the blizzard conditions of December 20th. A multi vehicle accident occured north of Williams on Interstate 35 that injured 25 people and fatally injured two people. Van Diest Medical Center was one of the receiving hospital for the injured patients. Hospital staff employees met with Iowa State Patrol officials recently for a debriefing of the accident of three weeks ago.

Dr. Subhash Sahai was named the chief of medical staff at Van Diest Medical Center for this year. Dr. Joe Latella as vice-chief . Dr. Mark Andrew will be the medical staff secretary-treasurer for 2013.

Girls: Bishop Garrigan  47  Eagle Grove 27

Nevada 60  South Hamilton 33

North Iowa  72  Belmond Klemme 33

North Tama 41  Northeast Hamilton 24

St. Edmond 66  Clarion Goldfield 31

Boys: Bishop Garrigan 61  Eagle Grove 47

Clarion Goldfield 49 St. Edmond 42

North Tama 71  Northeast Hamilton 21

Nevada 49 South Hamiton 47

North Iowa 48  Belmond Klemme 39

In other matters,the Hamilton County Supervisors approved a contract with Pitney Bowes for a postage meter with the Department of Human Services. The board also set the date of Tuesday,January 29th at 1:30 p.m. for a public hearing on the change order for Drainage District 8.

Hamilton County Public Health Director Shelby Kroona is urging all residents who have not already done so to get their flu shot. With the move to the new Public Health building January 17th and 18th,the staff will probably not have the time for vaccinations. Kroona said this year's flu season has reached a high intensity with 17 deaths nationwide as of  this week. If you need a flu vaccination please call Hamilton County Public Health at 832-9565.

The Wright County Supervisors also adopted the Land Use Plan on Monday. Supervisor members along with members of the county planning and zoning commission and residents on future uses of commercial and industrial land. The plan also addressed keeping Wright County's ag base land in tact.

At their meeting next Monday, the Wright County Supervisors will be proposing a flood plain ordinance in cooperation with the National Flood Insurance Program.The ordinance would require Wright County residents who live in a flood plain to purchase flood insurance. In addition the ordinance will discourage building in the flood plain areas of Wright County.

Girls: Colo NESCO 59  Northeast Hamilton 55

Belmond Klemme 93   CAL 27

Iowa Falls Alden 74  Clarion Goldfield  47

Boys: Iowa Falls-Alden 50  Clarion Goldfield 47

Colo NESCO 62 Northeast Hamilton 29

Tonight on KQWC FM the Eagle Grove Eagles girls and boys will Bishop Garrigan will be broadcast. The girls game at 6:15 followed by the boys contest at 7:45 p.m.

The Wilson Brewer Historical Park will receive $12,181 to be used towards the hours of operation,add new monthly events that would showcase the park and several holiday events. 

The City of Webster City will be using an $8,000 toward a new website. It was 10 years ago that the current city website was online for the first time. 

A total of $6,904 will go toward the Webster City Performing Arts Center for promoting their productions and hosting Camp Creamery this summer for children learning more about the theater.

The Webster City City Council will be having a work session in the near future with the Hotel Motel Tax Board to further review the grant process and procedures for groups wishing to apply for grant monies in the future.

There were appointments made for 2013 at Monday night's council session. Karyl Bonjour was appointed as City Clerk. Ann Smith as Deputy City Clerk. Gary Groves as City Attorney. Stephen L. Mourlam as City Treasurer. Ken Wetzler and Ed Sadler were appointed to serve on the North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Association. Karla Wetzler was appointed to serve on the Mid Iowa Regional Housing Authority. Brian Stroner as Right to Know Coordinator.Kent Harfst will serve on the Greenbelt Advisory Commission. Brian Hughes will serve on the Hamilton County E-911 Service Board. Janet Adams will be on the Hamilton County Communication Service Advisory Board and Resource Enhance Committee. Mike Lund was reappointed to the Hamilton County Civil Defense Board. Kent Harst and Ken Wetzler will serve on the MIDAS Transportation Advisory Committee.

Webster City Chamber Director Carrie Fitzgerald announced Friday that she will be resigning as director of the chamber effective next Friday,January 11th. In an e-mail received today, Fitzgerald will be moving with her husband Ian to Cedar Falls as he has accepted a new job in that community. As for Carrie, she will be employed at her former employer before assuming the Webster City chamber job at VGM and Associates. Fitzgerald extended a thanks to the community for her work as director for the past few years. The chamber board will begin the task in finding a new director in the coming weeks.

The Wright County Supervisors approved the names of individuals to serve on boards and commissions for 2013.Resolutions for attendance at meetings,payment of claims prior to a board meeting, depositories for county funds and the master matrix were approved. Preparation for working on the budget was a part of the Wednesday meeting. There will be further budget talks in the coming weeks.

Webster City Mayor Janet Adams (right) on Wednesday afternoon administered the oath of office to the newest member of the Webster City Police Department. Adam Petersen grew up south of Sioux City. He attended Ellsworth Community College for two years and later transferred to Iowa State University in Ames where he majored in Animal Ecology. Petersen said he enjoys helping people as one of the reasons he wanted to become a police officer. He was also impressed with the community of Webster City and its police department. Petersen will be reporting to the Iowa Police Academy next Monday for training and classroom work for a 14 week period.

Doug Bailey was named Hamilton County Supervisor Chairman for 2013 during Wednesday's annual organizational meeting of the Supervisors. Bailey takes over for David Young who served as chairman during 2012. Bailey and Wes Sweedler were administred the oath of office after they were re-elected last November to a four year term. Shari Vermett was sworn in Wednesday morning as Hamilton County Treasurer. Vermett succeeds Deb Leksell as she retired after 27 years on December 31st.

Kim Schaa was sworn in as County Auditor by David Young during the annual organizational meeting Wednesday morning. Schaa was re-elected last November for a four year term.

Denny Hagenson was sworn in to another four year term as Hamilton County Sheriff. 2012 Supervisor Chairman David Young administered the oath of office to Hagenson. 

The supervisors also approved resolutions for the appointment of staff by newly elected and appointed officials, providing the authority to the County Treasurer to invest county funds and to designate the Hamilton County Engineer as the person to certify the completion of work and final acceptance of Farm-to-Market and federal aid projects. Hours for the courthouse will continue to be from 8:00 until 4:30 P.M. weekdays with the meetings of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors to continue on the second and fourth Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m.. There were also numerous appointments to boards and commissions for 2013.

The National Weather Service outlook for January in Iowa promises equal chances for both precipitation and temperatures. Last January the average high in Webster City was 35 degrees and the average low was 14 degrees. Webster City received six inches of snow last January with 64 hundredths of rain and or moisture content.

As for all of 2012, Webster City received a grand total of 25.23 inches of rain with 15 inches of snow. The hottest day for all of 2012 was 102 degrees on July 23rd. There were 39 days last year when the mercury was at or above 90 degrees. The coldest day in 2012 was on January 21,2012 when the mercury hit 15 degrees below zero. KQWC Radio is the official observer for the National Weather Service in Webster City.

There will be appointments to various boards and commissions for 2013.Resolutions for attendance at meetings, the payment of claims prior to a board meeting, naming depositories and a construction evaluation for the master matrix will be considered.

The Wright County Supervisors will meet at 1:00 p.m. for a budget discussion and to discuss the County Social Services building plus other matters.

Webster City Police investigated a car pickup accident at First and Grove Streets at about 12:20 p.m. Reportedly a westbound 1993 Chevrolet C-15 pickup truck driven by James Ubben of Webster City was unable to stop in time due to the icy conditions of the intersection. The Ubben pickup struck the driver's side rear bumper of a 2000 Buick LeSabre driven by Richard Laird also of Webster City. The Laird car was making a turn on to Grove Street at the time. There were no injuries reported. Investigating Sgt. Shiloh Mork estimated the damage to the  Laird car at $2500 and an estimated $500 in damages to the Ubben pickup.

The second accident of Thursday afternoon happened just after 2:00 p.m. at West Second Street and West Avenue when a northbound 2003 Chevrolet Trail Blazer SUV driven by Rebecca Sanchez of Webster City was attempting to stop at the stop sign. Due to the icy street conditions, the Sanchez SUV could not stop as it slid through the stop sign colliding with an eastbound 2010 Freightliner semi operated by Dustin Loomis of Riverdale,Michigan. Both drivers escaped injury. Damage to the Sanches SUV was estimated at $5000 with an estimated $10,000 in damage to the Loomis semi. Investigating officer Ryan Pittman charged Rebecca Sanchez with Failure to Have a Valid Driver's License and Failure to Prove Security Against Liability.

The Elementary Boys Pool Grades 1 and 2 First Place Tucker Clabaugh, Second Place Tegan Murra Third Place Chandler Berlein.

Elementary Boys Pool Grades 3 and 4  First Place Jacob Willson. Second Place Trey Shannon Third Place  Garrett Holdgrafer.

Middle School Boys Grades 7 and 8 Pool Tournament 1st Place Connon Shannon, 2nd Place Lincoln Spellmeyer 3rd Place Aaron Halbach.

High School Boys Grade 9 to 12 Pool Tournament 1st Place Camden Lawrence. 2nd Place Skyler Tincher 3rd Place Cody Sleiter.

Elementary Division Girls Ping Pong Grades 1 and 2-1st Place  Livia Kasch  2nd Place Tegan Murra.

Elementary Division Boys Ping Pong Grades 3 and 4-1st Place Isaac Mouw 2nd Place Cody Kolbeck

Middle School Boys Grades 5 and 6 Ping Pong- 1st Place Casey Kolbeck

High School Boys Ping Pong-1st Place Derek Tincher 2nd Place Camden Lawrence.

Middle School Boys Grades 7 and 8 Ping Pong 1st Place- Connor Shannon 2nd Place Matthew Johnson.

Friday's event will be the Spot Shot Basketball Contest. Registration at Fuller Hall begins at 1:00 p.m. and the competition at 1:30 p.m.

The elementary division for boys in grades Third and Fourth featured Tavis Eklund in first place, Trey Shannon in second, Tyler Olson in third and Cody Kolbeck in fourth. For the girls, Leah Kasch was first and Ally Hanus was second.

The middle school division in grades five and six featured Caleb Olson placing first, Tucker Judkins in second and Casey Kolbeck in third. Gianna Borer was the only competitor in the girls five and six grade bracket.

The middle school boys division in grades seven and eight had Connor Shannon in first, Logan Danielson in second, Austin Carpenter in third and Aaron Halbach in fourth. The high school boys grades 9 through 12 featured Camden Lawrence in first, Cody Slater in second and Broch Halbach in third.

There will be a pool and ping pong tournament today, December 27 and on Friday December 28 will be the Spot Shot Basketball Contest. Registration will begin at 1:00 p.m. and the contests beginning at 1:30

The 1000 block of First Street was the location of an accident at about 2:15 p.m. Reportedly a westbond 2001 Kia driven by Chance Christian of Webster City hit a patch of ice on the street. The Christian car accidentally ran into the side of a parked Dodge Dakota pickup with the name of the owner unknown. Investigating officer Ryan Pittman estimated the damage to the Christian car at $1000 and an estimated $500 in damages to the parked pickup.

Police were called to the intersection of James and Grove Streets shortly after 10:30 Wednesday night to investigate a two car accident. Reportedly an eastbound 2011 Kia driven by Matthew Hood of Webster city was preparing to make a right turn on to Grove Street when the car slid due to the icy conditions. The Hood car ended up damaging the left front fender to a parked 1999 Pontiac Sunfire with the name of the owner not known. Investigating officer Brandon Pritchard estimated the damage to the Hood car at $2000 and an estimated $1500 in damages to the Pontiac.

Two Colo residents were injured at mid morning Monday in a one vehicle accident at the junctions of U.S.Highway 20 and 69 south of Blairsburg. Reportedly an eastbound 2001 Dodge pickup truck driven by Bradley Kohlwes of Colo lost control of his truck, traveling into the south ditch and rolling it. Kohlwes and a passenger, Amy Kohlwes were transported to Van Diest Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. Investigating trooper Saldivar estimated the damage to the Kohlwes pickup at $10,000.

A one car accident late Monday morning happened on Highway 20 at the Boone River Bridge southeast of Webster City. Reportedly a 2005 model car driven by Christopher Bowden of Cedar Falls was heading eastbound when he lost control of his car striking the side of the bridge. Bowden escaped injury. Investigating trooper Saldivar estimated the damage to the Bowden car at $4000.

The board also reviewed the 2013 golf, camping and recreation fees. Lammers and the board went over the fee schedule for this year with the main concern being the increase of the utilities andthe trash policies. The board will be setting the fees at their January meeting.

There was no action taken on the contract with Snyder and Associates for the JewEllsworth trail project. The issue will be revisited next month.

The Hamilton County Conservation Board voted to allow the Fort Dodge Community Foundation to serve as the fiscal agent for the installation of trail kiosks in Hamilton and Webster Counties. This is a joint project between the Hamilton and Webster County Conservation Departments and the cities of Fort Dodge and Webster City as part of the Great Places Initiative with the state of Iowa.

The next scheduled meeting of the Hamilton County Conservation Board will be on Friday,January 25th at 10:00 a.m. at the Briggs Woods Conservation Office.

Attorney    $64,030.12

Auditor      $51,564.20

Recorder    $50,148.38

Sheriff        $67,445.33

Supervisors  $34,353.78

Treasurer   $50,490.17.

The recommendations will be forwarded to the Hamilton County Supervisors for review and approval. The Compensation Board named John Zahn as chair for 2013.

The Fall 2012 Wright County grant recipients include:

Rowan's Lions Club for Iscreen Vision for KidSight for early detection of vision problems with the grant totaling $3,100.

Kenneth Banks VFW Post 642 of Eagle Grove for making the building handicapped accessible.The grant for this project was $500.

Heartland Museum of Clarion for new tables and chairs. The grant amounted to $3,000.

Belmond Historical Society for steel storage shelving amounting to $700.

Rotary Club of Eagle Grove Home, Incorporated for a roof project amounting to $4,000.

Eagle Grove Chamber of Commerce for the Chamber Lemonade Stand with the grant total at $3,000.

Dows Historical Society for work on the Mercantile Upper Windows. The total amount of the grant was $3,000

Eagle Grove Historical Society for the Carnegie Library renovation to the front entry. The grant was at $5,000.

Belmond Area Arts Council for barn reroofing project at the Meacham Arts Center with the grant totaling $4,500.

Eagle Grove Memorial Library for the digitization fo the Eagle Grove and Goldfield newspapers at $2,000.

Belmond Trees Forever for the trail extension project in the Belmond community. The grant totals $$3,500.

Belmond Parks Board for trail repairs totaling $3,300.

Wright County Economic Development for the Entrepreneur 4 a Day program in the schools amounting to $1,400.

Eagle Grove EMS for an ambulance lift totaling $5,000.

Eagle Grove FBLA for a new concession stand and restroom at the football field totaling $3,500.

There were 15 applications in this grant cycle. Each grant applicant is required to match a portion of the funds necessary to complete the project.Volunteer labor hours can also be added to the funds and hours needed to completed each project.

Girls:  Webster City 41  Bishop Garrigan 35

Algona 55 Eagle Grove 41

Greene County 55 South Hamilton 39

Roland Story 42  Gilbert 35

Clear Lake 52  Clariond Goldfield 29

Boys: Bishop Garrigan 67  Webster City 56

Algona 74  Eagle Grove 41

South Hamilton 51  Greene County 46

Roland Story 50 Gilbert 41

Clear Lake 73 Clarion Goldfield 40

The Northeast Hamilton Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball games at Dunkerton were postponed Tuesday night. The games will be rescheduled for a later date.

There was a discussion on school colors. The South Hamilton board voted that all uniforms will be approved by the Athletic Director and consist of only cardinal red and white with a slight accent of black.

In other matters, the board voted to eliminate the paragraph containing a payment of unused sick leave in the board policy regarding personal illness and disability of certified personnel. South Hamilton board members voted to approve the retirement program for the administrative group, support staff and teachers. An offer by Hiala Architecture to develop a 10 year facilities plan was turned down by the school board.

Contracts were approved for the following people and positions: Mindy Gray for Assistant Speech, Tyler Schaefer for Volunteer Girls Basketball, Doug Hatch and Sam Groves for Volunteer Wrestling.

A bid from Classic Designs was approved to build Trophy Cases for the South Hamilton school. Dan Woodin from the Ames Community Schools was approved for Iowa Association of School Boards board member to represent the district.

Lori Kautzky from National Insurance described a special pay plan for retiring staff members. The special pay plan would save the district and the employee FICA which is 7.65% for the district and 5.65% for the employee. The board approved placing the retiring employee's money in the Special Pay Plan.

South Hamilton Board members recognized the South Hamilton GEMS dance team for their participation in state competition.The GEMS were state champions in Class VII Pom, Small School Military and Class 2 Kick. The team also honored for a Sportsmanship Award,a  Judges Award and a Distinguished Academic Award.

Hamilton County's farmland value jumped up 20.26 percent in 2012. That is according to the Iowa State University Extension Survey released on Tuesday. The average cost per acre this year was at $10,514. The amount was up from last year's cost per acre in the county at $8,743 which is an increase of $1,772. The ISU survey showed farmland values increased almost 24 percent over last year for an average cost per acre of $8,296. It marks the third straight year that land values in Iowa have increased by 15 percent or more. The survey notes that this is significantly higher than the 18 percent increase reported by the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank in October. I.S.U. economist Mike Duffy said the difference is survey estimates could be due to values increasing more rapidly in the past few months than earlier in the year. He said better than expected crop yields and the level of the land sale activity due to the prolonged changes in land related taxes contributed to the increasing values.

The value of farmland in surrounding counties for 2012 included Boone County at $9,614, Franklin County at $9,606, Hardin County at $9,498, Story County at $9,930, Webster County at $10,207 and Wright County at $10,659.

Hamilton County Supervisor Chairman David Young (left)  of Stanhope honored County Engineer Dan Waid (right) during Tuesday's Hamilton County Supervisor's meeting with a special award from the Iowa County Engineer's Association as the 2012 State County Engineer Excellence Award recipient. Waid has been Hamilton County Engineer since 2006.Prior to that he served as County Engineer in other counties across the state. Waid was honored during last week's state meeting of the association held in Des Moines. A reception to honor Waid was held at the conclusion of Tuesday's board session

Art in Boone River Country requesting $6,400 for next year's sculpture contest and sculpture workshop for children. The event will take place August 6 to 8,2013.

Webster City Community Theatre requested  $6,904 to fund the Camp Creamery theater camp next summer featuring three staff members from the Old Creamery Theater in Amana. The camp is aimed at children ages 7 and up to learn the basics of the theater and the chance to present a play to a live audience. The remaining funds will go toward advertising the lineup of shows for 2013.

City of Webster City requested $8,000 for updating the city's website.The current website has been online since 2003.

Wilson Brewer Historic Park Committee requested $12,181 to help fund their information center at the park on Superior Street and for special activities during the year including Memorial Day, Heritage Day, Veterans Day and a celebration of 100 years of the Boy Scout program in Webster City.

Webster City Women's Club requested $3,931 for building a handicap ramp at the Jane Young House in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Webster City Hotel Motel Tax Board voted down the request from Webster City Bowl for $24,901.The reason for turning down the request was that the board did not want to set a precedent of granting tax monies to a business where direct personal gain could be had.

The board will make a presentation at the Webster City City Council meeting on January 7th presenting the requested recommendations. It will be up to the council to make the final decision.

Vaudt reported 13 of 35 credit card transactions tested were not supported by receipts itemized in sufficient detail to determine the property of the purchases. In addition, 1 transaction tested did not have pre-approval from the Board of Supervisors to exceed the maximum travel per diem rate as required by County policy. Vaudt also reported a written policy regarding uniform purchases for the Jail Administration has not been developed and implemented and a formal system has not been established for tracking ammunition inventory.

In addition, Vaudt reported the Sheriff's Office maintains a bank account which is used for all daily collections, such as room and board fees, gun permit fees, cash bonds and civil collections. The Sheriff's Office remits the County's portion of the funds collected from the bank account to the County Treasurer each quarter. The activity in the bank account was appropriate and in accordance with Iowa Code. Vaudt also reported the quarterly payments remitted to the County Treasurer were in accordance with Iowa Code.

The report also includes recommendations to strengthen the internal controls and overall operations of the Sheriff's Office.  Recommendations to the Sheriff's Office include depositing training course fees collected in accordance with the Code of Iowa, reviewing credit card purchases for compliance with Hamilton County's credit card and travel policies prior to payment, developing and implementing a written policy for the purchase of uniforms for the Jail Administration and developing and implementing a formal system to track ammunition inventory. In addition, Vaudt recommended the Department of Public Safety ensure the recommendations regarding the provision of training courses by Sheriff's Office personnel and the deposit of any related fees collected are communicated to the other Sheriff's Offices. A copy of the report has been filed with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Hamilton County Attorney's Office and the Department of Public Safety.

Voters in Wright County early next year will make their selection for County Sheriff. Paul Schultz submitted his resignation to take effect February 22,2013. The board accepted the resignation and voted to move forward with a special election to fill the vacancy as opposed to an appointment. There has been no date set for the special election.It is likely the election will take place in mid to late February or early March.The county parties will nominate candidates via county convention. Other interested persons can get on the ballot via petition and run as an independent candidate.

Webster City Mayor Janet Adams made a request of $6,400 for next year's Art in Boone River Sculpture Event. The plans will include a summer sculpture workshop for young people including a contest with the sculptures to be designed by students under high school age.Another activity would include the lining up of a speaker from the Rural Art Group, purchase of a banner to be displayed, distribution of posters promoting the sculpture contest,artist stipends,and cement for four sculpture pads.The tentative dates of next year's Art in Boone River Sculpture event will be August 6 through 8.

Loween Getter of the Webster City Community Theater requested an amount of $6,904 to be used toward a theater camp next summer featuring three staff members of the Old Creamery Theater from Amana. Camp Creamery would be in charge of a one week theater workshop giving children ages 7 and up the opportunity to work and perform with professional actors from the Old Creamery Theater while they rehearse and present a play. The cost for a child to participate will be at $30. The dates for Camp Creamery will be July 29 to August 5,2013. The Community Theater also said the other half of the requested funds would help with promoting the schedule of productions for 2013 including "Sleeping Indoors" in February, "Adorabelle and the Silly Seven" in April, "Nunset Boulevard"  set for next July and a fall or Christmas production slated for later next year.

Kirby Winter representing the City of Webster City asked for $8000 to help update the City of Webster City website. The city has had a website since 2003 but it is in need of updating with new features to be added next year.

Erin Christenson of Webster City Bowl asked for a total of $24,901  for upgrades to their system at the local bowling alley. The current scoring system dates back to the early 1980s. Christenson said there is a possibility of a high school bowling team due to the fact that bowling is becoming a growing sport at the high school level.

The Webster City Women's Club requested a grant of $3,931 to be used for installing a handicap ramp at the Jane Young House. The ramp would be used for those needing help coming in and out of the home during tours and special events.

A request from the Wilson Brewer Historic Park Committee amounting to $12,181 for their information center at the park. The money would be used for special activities in the year ahead including National Train Day, Memorial Day, Heritage Day and Veteran's Day. One of the major events set for next will be for the 100th birthday of the Boy Scout program in Webster City. The event will take place September 28th and 29th as an estimated 600 boy scouts will be in Webster City for an all scout reunion.

The Hotel Motel Tax Committee will study the recommendations and present them to the Webster City City Council at their January 7th meeting.

The Youth and Family Center of Hamilton County held their annual Friends Campaign Kickoff and Holiday Party at the Hamilton County ISU Extension office  Tuesday evening. A special recognition was presented to American Legion Post 191 with a Philanthropy Award by Community Advisory Board Co-chair Kathy Birkestrand to Legion Commander Doug Johnson. For many years the Legion has held a toll road in Webster City with proceeds going to numerous local programs including the Youth and Family Center.

A volunteer service award was presented to Sherry Lambi by Kathy Birkestrand for Lambi's service on the Community Advisory Board. Lambi has been a member of the board for the last several years in addition to her work on the Hamilton Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, 4-H Leader and other community projects.

The board also recognized Pam Hammond for her 10 years of service to the Youth  and Family Center. Hammond was unable to attend the Tuesday evening ceremony.

Girls: Clear Lake 53  Webster City 12

Janesville 39 Northeast Hamilton 24

Algona 46  Clarion Goldfield 22

Iowa Falls Alden 46 Eagle Grove 21

Saydel 36 Roland Story 35

Boys:  Clear Lake 50 Webster City 46

Janesville 51 Northeast Hamilton 44

PCM 50  South Hamilton 40

Algona 60 Clarion Goldfield 56

Belmond Klemme 65  Osage 46

Iowa Falls-Alden 62  Eagle Grove 32

There was no action taken on the 2012 Urban Renewal Report with the matter to be discussed at a future board meeting.

Webster City experienced a new record high Monday afternoon. The temperature just after 1:00 Monday reached 66 degrees. It breaks the old record of 62 degrees set on December 3,1952. Temperatures are falling this afternoon to a low Monday night in the low 30s. Highs will continue to be above normal this week. Highs Tuesday are expected to be in the mid 50s.

Girls Basketball:

Iowa Falls Alden 52  Webster City 35

Clarksville 50 Northeast Hamilton 37

Bishop Garrigan 47  Eagle Grove 26

Saydel 58  South Hamilton 46

St. Edmond's 61 Clarion Goldfield 38

North Polk 60   Roland Story 40

Boys Basketball

Iowa Falls Alden 61  Webster City 41

Bishop Garrigan 78  Eagle Grove 39

St. Edmond'S 57  Clarion Goldfield 43

North Polk 47  Roland Story 44

South Hamilton 85 Saydel 67

The National Weather Service outlook for December in Iowa indicates the month could bring equal chances of temperatures and precipitation. Last December the average high was 37 and the average low was 18 degrees. December,2011 brought two inches of snow along 1.68 in the form of rain and or moisture content. KQWC Radio is the official observer for the National Weather Service in Webster City.

The conservation board Tuesday gave its support of joining Webster County in co-hosting the Iowa Association of County Conservation Board Fall Conference in the fall of 2016. Conservation boards from all over the state will be meeting in both counties to discuss issues in relation to conservation and the great outdoors.

A property resolution agreement with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation was approved by the board. There was also a closed meeting in regards to a real estate and property issue.

The Wright County Supervisors will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m. on Drainage District Number 23 on the classification and annexation for the closure of the agricultural drainage wells.

There will be a meeting at 1:00 p.m. with Wright County Attorney Eric Simonson and Sheriff Paul Schultz to discuss personnel issues and the case load involved. There is a possibility this could be a closed session.

For the second time this month, Webster City experienced a record high temperature. 70 was the Wednesday afternoon high at the KQWC weather reporting station on Radio Hill. The old record was 69 degrees set the afternoon of November 21,1990. Thanksgiving Day promises highs in the low to mid 60s until mid afternoon when temperatures will fall to a low Thursday night in the mid to upper 20s. Highs on Friday will be in the mid 30s. Strong northwest winds of up to 40 miles per hour are forecast prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Wind Advisory for portions of the KQWC listening from noon Thursday until 6:00 Friday morning.

The Stratford council voted to approve a five year contract with Waste Management for the collection and disposal of garbage and recycling for residential areas on a weekly basis in the Stratford community. Mayor Mike Neperney signed the agreement.

A proposal from Rehab System for $4,935 to line the interior pool pump pit was approved by the Stratford council. Financing for this will be made through the Local Option Sales Tax funds designated for the outdoor pool facility. Work on this project will begin in the spring.

The Stratford city council approved the renewal of the Volunteer Firefighter Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage for 2013 in amount of $444.60. A contract with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield for employee health and dental benefits was approved for next year.

There was an update in regards to the Stratford Library Board and staff. Current Library Board members are Rick Adams, Christina Bauer, Marilyn Carlson and Jerry Janney. Mayor Mike Neperney will be appointing another board member since Heidi Heck has resigned. Diana Erickson is Library Director and Janis Johnson has been hired as a Library Assistant.

The council tabled action on the City of Stratford Action Plan until the next council meeting on December 10th.Prior to the council meeting there will be a 6:00 p.m. work session to discuss painting options for the exterior of the Stratford water tower.

The Webster City Middle School presented its annual "Thank Goodness for Jazz" concert Tuesday evening in the school commons. Selections were presented by the sixth,seventh and eighth grade jazz bands under the direction of Lynn Corrow and Jon Jensen. The next Middle School band concert will be the annual holiday concert on Monday,December 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the school multi purpose room.

Wright County Economic Development Director Brad Hicks approved the sale of a 2005 Freightliner semi-tractor. The semi came into county possession following the default of a business loan. Three bids were received and the sale went to the high bid of $10,001 by Weifenbach Trucking out of Fonda. The county will proceed to other remedies to recover the remaining default balance.

The quarterly revenue report for the period ending September 30,2012 from the county recorder was approved showing a revenue of $91,407.

The Stratford school district has been asked to participate in a pilot project with Learning.Com.The program helps teachers select lessons and activities most suited for individuals,small groups and whole groups. Learning.Com will provide will follow the child's progress in the classroom on a year by year basis.This program is aligned with the Iowa Core Curriculum.

Stratford School is using the Iowa School Alert System where families register and receive alerts by text message or email when school is delayed, dismissed early or canceled. The school will also look into getting district cell phones to use in these situations.

A multiple year snow removal bid from Kim Jensen was approved. The recent parent teacher conference was a success with 100% participation. Board members also approved the firm of Nolte,Cornman and Johnson,P.C. for the school audit for fiscal years 2013 and 2014.

The K-Mart Parking lot was the scene of a two car accident shortly before noon Friday. Reportedly a 1994 Honda Civic operated by Margaret Brown of Duncombe was entering a parking space when her car accidentally struck an open door to a 2012 Toyota Avalon owned by Kathryn Hildebrand of Webster City. The Hildebrand car was parked at the time. Investigating officer Eric McKinley estimated the damage to the Brown car at $1000 and an estimated $1500 in damages to the Hildebrand car.

On Saturday afternoon, a car pickup accident was investigated in the parking lot at 305 Fairmeadow Drive.Reportedly a 1999 GMC Sierra pickup truck operated by Sean Godwin of Fort Dodge was traveling westbound through the lot when the right front bumper of his truck accidentally collided with the rear bumper of a 1997 Buick Park Avenue operated by Lorrie Johnson of Lehigh. The Johnson car was preparing to back out at the time. Investigating officer Brandon Pritchard estimated the damage to the Godwin pickup at $500 and no estimated damage to the Johnson car.

The Stanhope City Council learned that the repaving of Iowa Highway 17 through Stanhope will be completed during the summer of 2014. The work will consist of a three inch asphalt overlay. The city will be responsible for raising all manholes and for any intake repair and retrofitting and for the asphalt where it is 51 inches. The area affected would be from Railway Street to Park Street. The D.O.T. will update ADA pedestrian ramps along Highway 17 through Stanhope at no cost to the city. The estimate for the city's portion of the resurfacing is 33% of the total cost or $45,000 with three installments of $15,000 per year beginning with the first payment due July 1,2015. This figure does not include the additional costs for the manhole raising and intake repair and retrofitting.

The clerk was directed to check on the dog and other animal leash laws in neighboring communities and report his findings to see if Stanhope's current ordinance can be improved.

Stanhope Public Works director Tad Stupp met with the council in regards to an issue with the Iowa Rural Water Association brining a camera to the community. The camera will be used as a way to improve drainage in the 800 block of Iowa Street on the south side of the street. Harris Company will work with the city of Stanhope to get an accurate cost estimate for the planned work. It was reported that two small sink holes near the pavement on Main Street are most likely as a result of the extreme drought being experienced. Mayor Harold Hove suggested that the city consider resubmitting the old brush burn pile site behind the Maintenance Facility at 160 Parker Street to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for re-consideration.

The 100th anniversary of the Boy Scout program in Webster City will be celebrated September 28 and 29,2013 at the Wilson Brewer Park-Bonebright Museum complex. The museum will mount a large display on scouting beginning in May,2013 and will host an All Scout Reunion on September 28 and 29,2013. The weekend's activity schedule will be announced at a later date. On the "possible" list is a Saturday night campfire at the museum and an outdoor movie showing of "Follow Me Boys" based on the book "God and My Country" by the late Webster City author MacKinlay Kantor and starring Fred MacMurray and Kurt Russell.  Also that weekend, the Webster City Boy Scouts will host more than 600 Central Iowa scouts in a Camporee at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. If you have any Boy Scout photos to share, please e-mail them to nancykayser@iowatelecom.net. You can also contact Nancy if you have any Boy Scout items to donate to the museum or have items just for display during the reunion.

The Van Diest Medical Center wants to express its gratitude for the countless contributions Schneider made to the county hospital. His vision and experience in hospital operations, strategic planning, management information systems and corporate compliance will be missed.

The Board of Trustees at Van Diest Medical Center Thursday named Robert (Bob) Mason as the interim C.E.O. effective immediately. Board chairman Carroll Ose said that with more than 24 years of executive level health care management experience, Mason will provide progressive leadership during this transition period. The Van Diest Medical Center board plans to begin the search for a new C.E.O. in the coming weeks.

The Kendall Young Library board looked at the 2013 budget. There was no action taken on the figures with the discussion to continue at next month's board session.

In another matter the Kendall Young Library board looked at the issue of allowing the renewal of library materials. Director Martin Schwarze told the board that she has done research on libraries with the similar size of Kendall Young Library with the renewal of materials. She told the board that of the libraries she has researched, Kendall Young Library does not offer renewals.There was no policy set Tuesday night but the issue will be revisited at a future board session.

Director Martin Schwarze said the library will have a tree on display in this weekend's Festival of Trees and Tablescapes at the Bridge. The event is being sponsored by All Cultures Equal as a fund raiser for their program.

Superintendent Tim Johnson and Chris Gunderson will be leading a committee with the intention to seek, apply for and hopefull receive grants for the South Hamilton Community School District.

There was a meeting with Eric Vermeer of Haila Architects on the Junior High Visitor locker rooms and to develop a 10 year facilities plan for South Hamilton. Vermeer will bring the plan back to the board at a future meeting.

The board approved the funding of the Fruit Program for the remainder of the school year. The cost for this program will be at $6,897.Monies received at registration and from Great Western Bank will reduce this cost.

A bid was reviewed by the board from Classic Designs for Trophy Cases at the school. Superintendent Johnson was directed to seek two additional bids for the Trophy Cases with the intention to make a decision at the December board meeting.

In another matter, the South Hamilton board learned the certified enrollment for 2012-13 school year was submitted. South Hamilton has 12 less students residing in the district but had 8 more student open enroll into the district resulting in an overall loss of 4 students.

The board was informed of the Special Pay Plan that will save the School District and retiring employees money from their retirement package by placing their money in a Special Pay Plan. Lori Kautzky from National Insurance will be at the December School Board meeting to discuss the Special Pay Plan in detail.

Superintendent Johnson informed the board about next month's possible changes to the Administrative Retirement Program. The changes will be presented in order to have consistency within the retirement programs.

Two resignations were accepted by the South Hamilton board. Lisa Pulis as High School Assistant Volleyball Coach and Rob Perela as Middle School High School Science instructor.

An excellent turnout was noted for the recent Parent Teacher conferences. High School Principal Scott Dryer recognized the students and teachers involved with the Veteran's Day service held November 9th.

Superintendent Johnson announced his plans to attend a financial planning conference. This conference will allow Johnson to develop a budget plan for the next five years.

On Thanksgiving Day, the Webster City Recreation Department will have the annual Turkey Trot beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Fuller Hall Recreation Center. This is a 5K run or walk with individual and team competition. Participants may sign up just before the race. The entry fee is two canned goods, to be donated to the Webster City Food Pantry. Refreshments will be offered to the individual and team competitors. For more information please call 832-9193.

The annual free Thanksgiving meal will be held again this year at Whoop-ti-doos on Thursday,November 22. The serving will be from 11 until 2 p.m. at 626 Second Street. The menu will feature turkey and dressing,mashed potatoes and gravy,dinner rolls, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.For more information on being a volunteer at the meal or to make reservations please call Whoop-ti-doos at 832-3663.

Alan Hanson updated the council on the Water Collection System Inspection held recently. As in previous inspection, there are minor items that need consideration. Hanson told the council he is working to upgrade the current chlorinator in the water plant. The council was also informed of the disinfection rule that goes into effect when sampling.

Linda Wild asked if the Randall council was planning to circulate a new questionnaire about Randall and what the citizens might like to see in the community.Wild would like to include recreation type needs in any questionnaire the city might be.

In another matter the Randall city council met with its city clerk with a list of information received from council members regarding junk and junk vehicles on residential property. After discussion it was decided that the city clerk would send out letters to those on the list giving them 60 days to comply or prepare a written plan if the task is too large to be completed in the given tme. A letter regarding a unsafe building will be sent by the city attorney.

The Randall council reviewed the proposed ordinance regarding lawn mowing of properties. After minor revisions, the new ordinance will be introduced at the December meeting.

David Okerlund of Clear Lake was the keynote speaker at Tuesday night's Webster City Rotary Leadership Banquet held at Trinity Lutheran Church. He presented a positive message on "Leadership" to the audience gathered in the church sancturary following a meal prepared by the culinary staff at Windsor Manor Assisted Living. 37 students from the three Hamilton County high schools were honored for their role in the community and the classroom.The Northeast Hamilton High School students honored were Stephen Chamness, Abbigail Luppes, Kaylee Massman, Noah Ronnfeldt, Whitney Schutt, Logan Seiser and Steven Smith. Students from South Hamilton High School honored were Jacob Bennett, Christian Brinkley, Brittany Butler, Joshua Doering, J.T. Greenfield, Lane Heinlein, Brittany Nicholson, Lucas Olson, Maggie Peters and Sarah Rudy. The Webster City High School students were Erin Anderson, Ben Bahrenfuss, Kelsey Bahrenfuss, Kaitlyn Biere, Lucas Daniels, Josi Dinsdale, Chelsea Egger, Brody Foster, Chris Goodrich,Kirk Greenley,Taylor Koestner, Morgan Moline, Boone Myers, Carrie Ommen, Logan Parkhill, Brenna Paukert, Jan Ryherd, Sidney Smith, Jon Tasler and Nick Thilges.

Art in Boone River Country-Sub Committee of the Webster City Pride Committee requesting $6,400 for next year's Art in Boone River Country Sculpture Event. This would include a children's art contest.

The City of Webster City requested $8,000 for a new Webster City.com website.

Webster City Bowl requesting $24,901.85 for system upgrades when they host bowling tournaments.

Webster City Community Theater requesting $6,904 for the Performing Arts Center.

Webster City Women's Club  requesting of $3,931 for a handicap ramp at the Jane Young House.

Wilson Brewer Historic Park Committee requesting $12,181 for the Wilson Brewer Historic Park Information Center.

The board voted down requests from the Border Brigade Archery Club and the Hamilton County Exposition.

The six selected by the board will be receiving written requests to appear at Webster City City Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday,December 4th to present information on their projects. The Hotel Motel Tax Board will make their recommendations to the City Council for final approval on December 17th.

After serving the residents of Hamilton County for 26 years, Deb Leksell announced Tuesday morning her retirement as Hamilton County Treasurer. Leksell's last day on the job will be December 31,2012. Leksell read her letter of retirement to the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors at their board meeting. Leksell served on the executive board and as president of the Iowa State County Treasurer's Association. She told the board on some of the accomplishments with the driver's license service, the Iowa State County Treasurers's website as a vehicle for electronic collection of taxes on the individual, portfolio and escrow accounts and motor vehicle renewals. Leksell thanked the people of Hamilton County for their support and her office staff. She also recommended Shari Vermett to be her successor. Vermett has 27 years of service to Hamilton County. She currently serves  as the tax and driver's license supervisor in the Treasurer's office. The Hamilton County Supervisors plan to accept applications for the position of Hamilton County Treasurer with the public having the opportunity to call for a special election if need be.

Memorial services for Ryan Spencer will be held Tuesday morning at 10:30 at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center Chapel with Rev. Tony Ede officiating.

A new record high for November 10th was set Saturday afternoon in Webster City. 76 degrees was set at mid afternoon breaking the old record of 73 on November 10,1949. North central Iowans took advantage of plenty of outdoor activities Saturday. There will be some big changes for the rest of the weekend with rain and falling temperatures. On Sunday we are expecting daytime highs in the 40s. By Monday daytime highs will be in the lower 30s.

Veterans from the South Hamilton and surrounding area received a standing ovation during a ceremony Friday morning at the school gymnasium in Jewell. The South Hamilton school district held an hour long service to salute the Veterans as their special day is set for Sunday. The service feature special music, words of salute by students and a video presentation marking Veterans Day. There was an appearance by Bill Peterson of the Hamilton County Veteran Affairs thanking the South Hamilton community for the warm welcome. Following the ceremony,there was a reception for the Veterans at the school library.

A Veterans Day service will be held this Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the school gym in Blairsburg to honor the Veterans of the Northeast Hamilton area. The ceremony will be conducted by the Williams American Legion Post and the Northeast Hamilton school district. The event is open to everyone.

An open house honoring Veterans Day will be held this Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at the Depot Museum at Wilson Brewer Historic Park in Webster City. You are invited to visit the military room featuring uniforms and artifacts dating back to 1865 to the present war in Afghanistan. Refreshments will be served.

The Northeast Hamilton board learned that the district is up three students in certified enrollment numbers compared with last year. This brings the district's total certified enrollment to 229 students. Last year's certified enrollment was at 226 students in the district.

Contracts were offered to Jory Rapp for a special education associate and Paige Moberly for part time at-risk teacher. St. Paul Lutheran Church of Williams donated $300 towards special needs at Northeast Hamilton.

In another matter the Northeast Hamilton board Thursday evening approved allowable growth applications to keep the district's unspent authority as high as possible. It should be pointed out that the approval of modified allowable growth does not raise taxes. It increases the authority, not cash. The board approved allowable growth applications for Budget Guarantee, Open Enrollment, Special Educaton Deficit, Transportation and On-Time Funding.

Superintendent Hocking informed board members that last week's parent teacher conferences were well attended. They also discussed the change of high school and middle school teachers having conferences in their rooms this year instead of in the gymnasium.

Northeast Hamilton will have the annual Veteran's Day program on Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in the school gym.  The Iowa Hall of Pride Game will be held on Saturday, November 17 at 6:00 p.m. for the girls game and the boys will play at 7:30p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Upper Des Moines Opportunity office in Hamilton County.

In the other returns, Republican Dennis Guth was the winner in the State Senate District 4 race with 3,504 votes in Wright County while Democrat Bob Jennings had 2,339.State. District 8 State Representative Henry Rayhons received 4,354 votes as he was unopposed. Republican Steve King received 3,221 votes for the U.S. Representative District 4 seat while Democrat Christie Vilsack received 2,691 votes. Wright County voters selected Mitt Romney as President as he received 3,309 votes and Barack Obama had 2,794 votes on Tuesday.

For President and Vice President

Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan  3986 votes

Barack Obama/Joe Biden  3776 votes

U.S. House of Representative District 4

Steve King  3919

Christie Vilsack  3683

State Senate District 24

Jerry Behn   4141

Shelly Stotts  3310

State Representative District 48  

Rob Bacon  4266

Becky Perkovich  3175

Public Measure on the renewal of the Hamilton County Hotel Motel Tax

Yes  1421

No     707

Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins received 3583 No votes for retention while there were 3.042 Yes votes.

Van Diest Medical Center Board of Trustees

Carroll Ose and Myra Maxon were the top vote getters. Ose received 4,272 votes and Maxon with 3,751. They will be sworn in at a future board meeting. George Heller received 2,606

All of the Hamilton County elected officials  were unopposed for their seats in Tuesday's election. Auditor Kim Schaa received 6,476 votes. Supervisors Douglas Bailey with 1,620 votes and Wes Sweedler with 2,167 votes. Sheriff Denny Hagenson received a total of 5,722 votes. Paul Whitmore received 1,193 votes for the sheriff's position but announced last month he would not seek election.

Voter turnout has been good on this Election Day. The Webster City Fire Station is the home of the first precinct polling station.As of mid morning 60 people have voted so far at the fire station with the polls to remain open until 9:00 tonight.

In addition to the race for the White House and the Iowa U.S. Fourth Congressional District between Republican Steve King and Democrat Christie Vilsack there are some interesting local races. There are three people competing for the two seats on the Van Diest Medical Center board of directors.They are incumbents George Heller and Carroll Ose and challenger Myra Maxon.

Voters in the rural sections of Hamilton County are voting to renew the Hotel/Motel tax. If approved the tax would be collected from guests staying at the rural Hamilton County hotels including the Best Western Norseman Inn and Boondocks Motel in Williams and the cabins at Briggs Woods Park.The current tax rate would be at 5% and would remain the same if approved by the voters.

In the race for the Iowa House and Senate,the candidates are Democrat Shelly Stotts and Republican Jerry Behn competing for the newly created Iowa Senate District 24 seat. The district covers all of Hamiton, Boone, and Greene Counties and portions of Webster and Story Counties.

For the Iowa House District 48 seat, the contestants include Democrat Becky Perkovich and Republican Rod Bacon. The district covers all of Hamilton County plus portions of Boone, Story and Webster Counties.

For Hamilton County elected officials,they are all uncontested. The names on the ballot include Auditor Kim Schaa, Sheriff Dennis Hagenson and Supervsiors Doug Bailey and Wes Sweedler. Paul Whitmore's name appears on the ballot for Hamilton County Sheriff however he announced in early October he was withdrawing from the race.

KQWC Radio will have coverage of the election returns from the Hamilton County Courthouse beginning after 9 tonight. Our broadcast is sponsored by Webster City Federal Savings Bank.

The Hamilton County 4-H Foundation announced the winners of the Chicago Award Trip Sunday. The winners are Megan Hughes, Stephen Chamness, Morgan Shannon, Mara Borer, Tanner Hild and Kaleigh Greufe. They will be leaving Webster City on November 22 enjoying their visit to the Willis Tower, Lincoln Park Zoo, Navy Pier, Chicago Theater, Museum of Science and Industry and more. They will return to Iowa on Sunday morning, November 25. 

The Outstanding Intermediate Award Winners are Katie Austin, Jessica Carlson, Raquel Holt,John Owens, MaKayla Tapper, Cayson Carlson, Ashley Dilley, Dustin Nicholson and Isaac Patterson. The winners will be attending the Iowa State University women's basketball game on Saturday,January 19,2013 in Ames.

The winners of the trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha next April will be McKenna Mitchell, Grace Hoffman, Madison Klocke, Anna Ervin, McKayla Cavan, Alexandria Schwerin, Maren Borer, Katie Greendfield, Shea Hassebrock, Gabbi Struchen and Hannah Miller.

The Outstanding Junior Award winners include the following students. Grace Hoffman of the Boone Boosters. Ashlyn Hay, and Teagan Gourley of the Cass Red Cardinals. Madison Klocke, Gabbi Struchen, Anna Ervin and Shea Hassebrock of the Clear Lake Sailors. Clara Klein of the Freedom Flickers, Sean Godfredsen of the Freedom Warriors, Sheldon Tapper of the Kamrar Komets. Lexie Schwerin and Marla Grubb of the Lyon Kings. Harlie Stienlict of the Stratford Spirit and Levi Greufe of the W.H.H. club.

The major award winners include the Acheivement Award presented to Molly Greeenfield, Brittany Nicholson, Jan Ryherd and Megan Hughes. The Agricultural Award winners were Brittany Nicholson and Coyce Carlson. Citizenship Award winners were Molly Greenfield, Coyce Carlson, Brittany Nicholson and Jan Ryherd. The Leadership Award winners were Erin Anderson, Morgan Shannon, Molly Greenfield and Coyce Carlson. Merit Award winners include Erin Anderson, Sarah Elm, Molly Greenfield and Bridget Moriarty. The Ak-Sar-Ben Leadership award winners were Stephen Chamness and Tanner Hilld. The Danforth Leadership Award winner for this year was Brittany Nicholson.

KQWC Radio congratulates the winners of these 4-h awards and salutes the Hamilton County 4-H program!

A total of 32 homes across Webster City were winterized by 100 volunteers representing the Webster City Warm Hears Warm Homes program on Saturday morning. 14 teams spent four hours providing this service to low income,elderly and disabled residents in the Webster City community. The volunteers worked on caulking, weather-stripping, putting plastic on windows, door sweeps and other insulating techniques. Coordinator Justin Jones would like to thank the volunteers for the time and effort in this special project.

In other matters, the Webster City City Council will make a motion on a tree grinding contract for the Tree/Brush drop off site, consider a request for a Fence Enclosure Project at the Line Department and consider a purchase of a new I-Record Interview room recording system for the Webster City Police Department.

Two public hearings will be on Monday's council agenda. At 7:15, there will be a public hearing on the submittal of a Community Development Block Grant Application for Housing Rehabilitation. The second hearing at 7:20 p.m. will be on the proposed amending of ordinances as it relates to definitions,allowable uses, and new requirements for certain uses necessitating a development agreement.

Following the council meeting, the council will meet in a closed session to evaluate the performance of the City Manager.

Van Diest Medical Center administrator Palmer Schneider proposed there would be no changes to current contract in regards to wages and salaries, on call and call back, paid time off, and benefits.

Following the opening presentation, both sides met in closed session for negotiations.

With less than a week to go before Election Day, former Iowa Governor and current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack paid a vist to the Hamilton County Democratic headquarters Wednesday evening.Vilsack spoke on behalf of his wife Christie Vilsack who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the newly created 4th district made up of 39 counties including Hamilton County. During his half hour presentation to supporters, Vilsack presented some of the reasons why his wife would make a good representative to Iowans. He said she would concentrate on education, creating a sound economy and a focus on agriculture. Vilsack also made a pitch for Barack Obama's re-election for the presidency next Tuesday. He explained his role working with the President on agriculture issues as U.S. Agriculture Secretary. Joining Vilsack at Wednesday night's event were Iowa House District 48 candidate Becky Perkovich and Iowa Senate District 24 candidate Shelly Stotts. Vilsack is confident that his wife can go on to win in next Tuesday's race against Republican candidate Steve King. King has been in the U.S. House since first elected in 2002.

As for precipitation, Webster City received 3.27 inches of rain for the month. Normal rainfall for October is at 2.58 inches.

The National Weather Service outlook for Iowa for the month of November predicts a month of near normal precipitation and normal to above normal temperatures. Last November in Webster City the average high was 50 degrees and 27 degrees being the average low. There was 1.13 inches of rain recorded in November,2011. KQWC Radio is the official observer for the National Weather Service in Webster City.

Progress continues to be made on the adddition to the Webster City Community Theatre. The foundation walls are in place, the basement floor has been poured and construction has begun with beams, stud walls, and floor joists in place for the lower level. Jaycox Construction will continue working to complete the first and second levels before winter. Jiffy Plumbing has been working on water and sewer lines. The Webster City Community Theater family is grateful to all who contributed and eagerly awaits the completion of the addition and having about 6,000 square feet of new space in which to expand. The fund raiser which began earlier this year also brought in donations to replace the auditorium seats. The new seats were ordered in April. Due to a shortage selected upholstery fabric and production issues at the assembly plant, the seats will not be installed in time for Webster City Community Theatre's first production of the season, "Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant". The vendor has provided very nicely padded, sturdy folding chair to be used in the interim. The board and building committee deeply regret this inconvenience,but trust the audience will find these chairs a comfortable temporary alternative.

Koch Nitrogen Company,LLC has begun constructions on a $10 million state-of-the-art control center building at its fertilizer plant located near Fort Dodge. The project is an upgrade to the current facility and consolidates control center functions, operations and maintenance for the site.Koch Nitrogen president Steve Packebush said the new facility will allow the company to improve and enhance the current operations with consolidated activities and an updated office infrastructure.Packebush said that the new building will help improve their level of responsiveness to their customers in this growing market.

In addition to housing the plant's control center, administrative and operations offices, the new facility will also feature a multilevel maintenance shop. The building is expected to be fully operational in early 2014 and will replace the current structure,which will be razed.

Koch Nitrogen manufactures anhydrous ammonia and UAN fertilizers. The company currently employs about 70 people at the plant with the possibility of hiring some additional employees in the future.

Blairsburg and Stratford-5:00 until 7:00 p.m.

Ellsworth-6:00 until 8:00p.m. Hot Dogs and refreshments will be served at the fire station at 5:30. Youngsters can register for special prizes at the fire station but they need to be home by 8:15 p.m. October 31st.

Jewell- A Halloween party will be held at Montgomery Memorial Library at 5:00 p.m. Trick or treating in Jewell will be from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. There will be refreshments at the fire station from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Stanhope- 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a Halloween party at the community building from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Randall and Williams- 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Kamrar will observe their Beggar's Night on TUESDAY,OCTOBER 30TH. The hours will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. with a party at the fire station at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

Webster City-On October 31, there will be merchant downtown trick or treating from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at participating stores. The residential trick or treating will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Crestview Nursing and Rehabilitation will have their trick or treating activities on October 31 from 3:30 until 5:00p.m.

Southfield Wellness Community will have their trick or treating from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. October 31st.

Windsor Manor Assisted Living will have a Halloween party for young and old from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a petting zoo,scary meal and more.

Residents of Kamrar along with Cass,Freedom, Fremont and Independence townships will vote at the Trinity Lutheran Church activity room in Webster City at 1229 Kathy Lane. You are asked to use the east entrance.

Residents of the cities of Blairsburg and Williams and of Blairsburg,Liberty and Williams townships will vote at the Blairsburg City Hall.

Residents of the cities of Stanhope and Stratford and Clear Lake, Hamilton, Marion and Webster townships will vote at the Stanhope Community Center..

Residents of the cities of Jewell and Randall and the townships of  Ellsworth and Lyon townships will vote at the South Hamilton High School in Jewell.

Residents of the city of Ellsworth and Lincoln, Rose Grove and Scott townships will vote at the Ellsworth Community Center.

Here are the Webster City Polling Locations...

First precinct-Webster City Fire Station at 919 Superior Street.

Second precinct- St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 1005 Beach Street.

Third precinct and the north portion of the Webster City in Cass Township-First Baptist Church at 543 Division Street.

All polling stations will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on November 6.

In other political news,Vice President Joe Biden will appear in Fort Dodge this Thursday,November 1 at the Fort Museum Opera House with doors to the event to open at 2:00 p.m.Tickets for the event may be picked up at the Webster County Democratic headquarters at 1014 Central Avenue in Fort Dodge this Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m.

Another excellent was noted for Sunday's Webster City Rotary Turkey Dinner held at the High School cafeteria. The proceeds from the dinner will be going to Meals on Wheels and other community projects. There is no final number available as to how much was raised and meals served. There were three options for diners including dine in, drive up or carry out. The local Rotary club thanks those who attended the dinner on Sunday.

A wide range of questions faced the candidates during a forum Thursday night in the Webster City City Council chambers. The forum was sponsored by the Hamilton County League of Women Voters and broadcast on both KQWC Radio and Cable Channel 12. Participating in the forum  were Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 48 Becky Perkovich of Napier. Perkovich's challenger Republican Rob Bacon was not in attendance due to the fact that he was at Fort Benning, Georgia attending the graduation of his son on Friday.The candidates for Senate District 24 featuring Democract Shelly Stotts and Republican Jerry Behn both of Boone were featured. Questions posed to the three candidates focused on the environment,allowable growth for schools, early childhood education, the needs of the mentally ill, voter identification and more.

Other candidates participating in the forum were Myra Maxon and Carroll Ose who are two of the three candidates for Van Diest Medical Center board of trustees. Both candidates expressed their willingness to serve and the future direction of the medical facility. Another medical center board candidate George Heller was extended an invitation to participate in the forum but turned it down.

Catherine Bergman of the Hamilton County S.E.E.D. economic development office presented information on the vote to renew the Hamilton County Hotel Motel Tax. The unopposed candidates for office including Auditor Kim Schaa, Sheriff Dennis Hagenson and Supervisors Doug Bailey and Wes Sweedler participated in the forum.

If you plan to rent the Legacy Cabin at Briggs Woods Park,you will have to wait a few more weeks. The Hamilton County Conservation Board Thursday morning discussed this issue with director Brian Lammers. Lammers said there will be one more state inspection of the cabin. The concrete floor is being stained. There are also plans to construct a ramp to the deck sometime this fall. Lammers said it will be the second week of November when reservations will be accepted. Earlier this month a good turnout was noted for the open house at the cabin facility. Visitors said they liked what they saw.There were some planning to make reservations for the coming holiday season.

The conservation board learned of the final round of improvements to the Little Wall Lake campground near Jewell. The renovation would include converting the old 36 campground spaces into 21 new camp sites. The sites will feature 50 amp service and water to all camp sites. Director Lammers said the plan is to have the Little Wall Lake campground project complete by Memorial Day 2013.

In another matter, the conservation board will be submitting a proposal to the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors to apply for a county General Obligation bond request for $650,000 to help fund the construction of five more cabins similar to the Legacy Cabin at Briggs Woods Park. The supervisors will consider the request at a future board session.

Director Lammers said that both the Hamilton and Webster County Conservation Boards will co-host the Fall 2016 Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards conference. This year's conference was held at the Honey Creek Resort in Moravia. Next year the county conservation board conference will be held in Okoboji. The association is made up of each of the 99 conservation boards across Iowa. They are devoted to oversee local outdoor recreation and nature management programs.

The next scheduled meeting of the Hamilton County Conservation Board will be on Tuesday,November 27 at 10:00 a.m. at the Briggs Woods Park conservation office.

Fort Dodge Police are continuing to investigate this incident and are following up leads they have developed. If you have any information on this crime, please call the Fort Dodge Police Department at 515-573-1426.

Monday,October 29: All fire hydrants within the area South of Elm Street, West of Des Moines Street and North of Ohio Street.

Tuesday,October 30: All fire hydrants within the area South of Second, West of Des Moines and North of Elm Street.

Wednesday,October 31: All fire hydrants within the area West of Des Moines Street and North of Second Street. This area will include the area to Van Diest Supply Company.

Thursday,November 1: All fire hydrants within the area North of Ohio, East of Des Moines Street, South of Elm Street to the Boone River,including the area of the Waste Water Plant and Street Department. Also the area South of East Dubuque Street, East of Bell and south of the east/west High Street leg including the  Hamilton County Fairgrounds.

Friday,November 2" All fire hydrants within the area South of Second, East of Des Moines and North of Elm west of the Boone River. Also the area North of East Dubuque. West of Bell, North of the East West leg of High Street to include the easement to Hillcrest Mobile Home Court.

Monday,November 5: All fire hydrants within the area of East of Des Moines Street and North of Second Street and North of Second Street. This is to include the White Fox to 210th to Des Moines Street loop outside the city limits.

Tuesday,November 6":All fire hydrants within the area South of Ohio Street, West of the railroad tracks and East of Des Moines Street. Also all hydrants south of Highway 20.

Wednesday,November 7: All fire hydrants within the area South of Ohio Street, West of Des Moines Street and North of Highway 20.

In the event of inclement weather or unforeseen events, the flushing schedule may be adjusted. The Webster City Public Works Department hopes residents will understand this inconvenience and bear with them during this work. Any discoloration of water or small particles in lime in the water should last for a short period of time.

A 28 year old Ogden man has been charged with First Degree Murder following the death of his wife. Josh Andrew Powell was arrested by Ogden Police on Sunday morning. A 911 call was made to the Boone County Sheriff's Office communications center from Powell. He stated that his wife was deceased inside the home at 101 West Cherry Street in Ogden. Josh Powell was waiting outside the residence upon the arrival of police. The police then entered the residence and found the body of 25 year old Jacalyn Powell. Court records show Josh Powell admitted he and his wife had an altercation on Saturday night. Powell said that during the fight, he intentionally struck  Jaclyn Powell resulting in her death. Joshua Powell stated that he checked Jaclyn Powell's pulse and she did not have one. Josh Powell was transported to the Boone County Sheriff's Office where he was formally charged. He is being held in the Boone County Jail on a $2 million bond. An autopsy of Jacalyn Powell will be conducted by the State Medical Examiner's office in Ankeny on Monday. The investigation is being conducted by the Ogden Police Department, Boone County Sheriff's office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Storm Lake 44  Webster City 29

Clarion Goldfield 27 Hampton Dumont 10

Fort Dodge St. Edmond 35 Eagle Grove 0

Nashua Plainfield 20 South Hamilton 12

Nevada 41 Roland Story 23

Belmond Klemme 13 Southeast Webster- Grand  12

Northeast Hamilton 70  CAL 6

The playoffs begin this Wednesday night, October 24th. Webster City will face Grinnell at Grinnell beginning at 7:00 p.m. Clarion Goldfield will make a trip to face Boyden-Hull Rock Valley at Hull beginning at 7:00p.m. on Wednesday.

There was a discussion on the Riverside Park campground in Webster City. The Webster City Parks and Recreation Commission gave its support of the Hamilton County Conservation Department's  operation of the Briggs Woods facility. Next month the commission will be meeting with the Webster City City Council for a work session focusing on the future of the campground facility at Riverside Park.

Both the commission and conservation board plan to apply for a hotel motel tax grant to purchase a heater for the cross country ski groomer.

Other matters discussed include the success of last July's RAGBRAI event in Hamilton County. Webster City and Hamilton County worked together to make the event a big one for the thousands of bikers and visitors. Kent Harfst also informed the conservation board about the new Wilson Brewer Historic Committee that held its first meeting this month. The general consensus was that the Webster City Parks and Recreation Commission and Hamilton County Conservation Board are working together for the betterment of all residents and the recreational opportunities.

Webster City Middle School vocal music director Dane Barner directed the 7th and 8th grade students in a concert Thursday evening. A large crowd was on hand for the first concert of the school year. This Tuesday evening there will be a Middle School band concert featuring all the grades beginning at 7:00 at the school's multi purpose room. Admission is free!

The Stratford council approved a Youth and Family Center funding request of $600 for the 2014 fiscal year.

The Downtown Revitalization Facade Project was discussed. Council members were informed that Iowa Economic Development (IEDA)  and the State Historical Preservation Office determined that it is the city's responsibility to determine which properties to have in the project and the submit the proposal to IEDA for approval. IEDA had already rejected a proposal that yielded a greater square footage covered because the project scope was reduced too much and that not enough emphasis  was placed on  the "slum and blight" requirement from Housing and Urban Development. The property owners met October 1st to discuss the situation and provide input. Many scenarios were developed in the process as an effort to keep the dollars in the community. By a vote of 3 to 1, the Stratford city council approved the list of properties to the IEDA for the project.

The council will discuss at their November 12th meeting the proposals for collection and disposal services of residential and participating non-residential solid waste in the Stratford community. The council needs a clarification on the current container sizes from Waste Management.

Christina Bauer was appointed to serve on the Stratford Public Library Board of Trustees.

A resolution was approved authorizing the city clerk to certify to the county for collection of mowing done by a city of Stratford employee.

The Stratford board approved the At Risk program for this school year. The program includes the extended summer and intervention blocks for students.

Superintendent Sarah Binder informed the board that the Martha Simonson tennis court project is now completed. It will be dedicated next spring during the Stratford school olympics as the students will showcase their tennis skills. Bids for snow removal will now be taken and will be reviewed at the November board meeting. A special meeting of the Stratford school board has been called for next Tuesday, October 23 for the bidding project on the Early Learning Center expansion project.

There was good news at Wednesday's board session. Superintendent Binder told board members that the district received Paramount School status for this year. The status recognizes Stratford for their commitment to Positive Behavior Interventions and Support.

Next Tuesday evening the Stratford school will have a Family Night beginning at 5:30 for 4 and 5 year olds and their families. A Family Night for 3 year olds and their families will be on Thursday, November 1st at 5:30. The Stratford school will offer a  Positive Behavior Intervention Support course set for a six week period on November 13 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m.

The November meeting for the Stratford school board will be held November 14 at 5:30 at the school library.

The Wright County Supervisors postponed the November 12 classification and annexation hearing for Drainage District 23 and adopted a resolution approving the engineer's report. The hearing was rescheduled to November 26 at 10:00a.m.

In another matter, the Webster City City Council approved a resolution to enter into a contract with Cropland Containers,Incorporated of Webster City for a Performance Grant to Support Economic Development and Job Creation. With this grant, it will mean the creation of 18 new jobs. Webster City Economic Development director David Toyer told the council that he has worked with Cropland Containers, Incorporated as they seek to expand their business operations at 2001 Marvel Street in Webster City. Last month Webster City Economic Development receive an application for incentives from Cropland Containers requesting a grant in support of their expansion project. Cropland Containers started in 2009 in Webster City.The company is associated with Stainlez,Incorproated of Blaine, Minnesota which was formed in 2001. Both companies are owned by Brian Bilyeu and Lavonne Parker. As their existing lease was coming up on its expiration, Cropland Containers began to review its space operations including the opportunity to relocate a portion of its business from Minnesota to Webster City. Cropland Containers is in the process of acquiring two facilities in Webster City. Closing on the real estate is currently anticipated to occur in late October or early November.The hiring of the 18 new positions will be performed locally. The entire total project costs for building acquisitions, renovations, machinery and equipment purchase and all other identified and related costs are projected at approximately $1,775,000. The annual payroll for the jobs to be created is estimated at $354,000 when all 18 jobs have been filled. Cropland Containers requested a $72,000 performance grant from the city.

After these 3 enhancements are completed,the only remaining part will be to hard surface the three bridges between the two cities and prepare the balance of the trail with crushed rock until funding is available to hard surface it. It is hoped that the final stages can be completed with local input.

Humboldt 28 Webster City 24

Clarion Goldfield 30 East Sac County 12

West Marshall 28 Roland Story 6

South Hamilton 42 Eagle Grove 20

Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 64  Northeast Hamilton 14

Belmond Klemme 26 Bishop Garrigan 18

A Cedar Falls woman made an appearance in Webster City Thursday night speaking about a proposed new law aimed at quickly locating missing children. Robin Arnold is the author of the Cousin's Law. The law is being proposed after the disappearance of Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook of Evansdale. The two young girls disappeared on July 13 after riding their bicycles in Evansdale.Arnold told the audience that about 9,000 signatures have been added to a petition requesting the Iowa Legislature to consider action on this proposed bill. The bill proposes if a child is missing more than one hour,the parents need to report the child missing to the police or there will be a fine. The device known as A CHILD IS MISSING will be activated and mandated to be used through a free data voicemail that alerts 900 residents and businesses in the first minute the child went missing and 1600 in the second minute. This is a free service  and is of no cost to the state or taxpayers. The third purpose of this proposed law states within two hours, a volunteer search of vehicles and area exists can be initiated. The fourth is if a child is missing more than 3 hours, a state wide Cousin's Law alert will be issued by the use of media and interstate marquees similar to an Amber Alert. The fifth part of the law states if a child is missing more than 8 hours, Human Trafficking Task Force will be begin checking know hotspots where children could be taken. The Cousin's Law is a more rapid response to alert the public to the possibility that a child may have been abducted. The public  will also be alerted that, although this has not been ruled an abduction there are circumstances that allow the Cousin's Law Alert to be used. It is the hope that the common goal of this bill is to find missing children as rapidly as possible and bring them home safe.

In other matters the Stanhope council accepted a bid from Lampert's of Webster City in the amount of $6,040 for the materials to be used in the roof replacement project at the city  maintenance facility. The Legendary Construction firm of Webster City will provide the labor at a cost of $6,500.

Stanhope fire chief Mike Hanson informed the council that the exterior siding project for the Fire/EMS Building has now been completed by Seamless Pros of Jewell. The cost for all the work is $12,508 with funds coming from the fire department.The works also included the replacement of the roof guttering system. Chief Hanson and Stanhope City Clerk Ron McKenzie have completed the application for an Iowa DNR Fire Grant Application for the purchase of radios and pagers in the amount of $4,980

A group of parents addressed the Northeast Hamilton school board with school bus route concerns. The parents offered different ideas for the Williams bus route including running the bus route backwards at night and offering another bus route. The board is taking this issue under consideration.

In personnel matters, the Northeast Hamilton board accepted a contract for Kacey Pruismann for varsity girls track coach for next spring. John Seiser will be coaching junior high football for this season. There were four salary lane changes for the school year approved for Leslie Keehn, Jenny Pruismann, Jill Bosch and Josh Vanderloop.

The school board went on to accept a 28-E agreement with the Prairie Lake A.E.A. for additional technology support for a total of $3780 for the school year. The services are for 3 hours a week for the rest of the school year. Joe Wakeman is still the head technology person for Northeast Hamilton. He will perform all the confidential and important work on the system.

Board members Kim Schaa and Roxanne Anderson were named to serve on the school board negotiating team for a series of negotiation meetings set for later this year.

In another matter, the Northeast Hamilton school board approved the General Fund pay off of the $8,000 loan that the Hot Lunch Fund owed the PPEL (Physical Plant Equipment Levy)  Fund.The board discussed the Hot Lunch program in general. The fund will be monitored with continued discussion at upcoming board meetings.

The board discussed a report from the Iowa Star Conference has been approached about Lutheran Valley joining the conference. The conference schools are in favor of exploring the option to letting them  join the Iowa Star Conference but there are still a lot of things that need to be worked out. Board members also will work outside contracting to assist with snow removal on an as needed basis for this winter.

The preliminary enrollment report for South Hamilton was discussed. The official submittal for student enrollment is October 18th. School staff members are currently putting the final touches on the report. The official student enrollment will be shared at the November school board meeting.

In another matter, the South Hamilton school board resolved to make an interfund loan. The loan will transfer money from the General Fund to the SAVE fund in the amount of $540,000 at an interest rate of 1% and set monthly payments of $30,000 with a balloon payment of the balance to be paid in September,2013. The interfund loan will be paid by October 1,2013. Superintendent Tim Johnson shared with the board a list of projects compiled by administration and staff. The list of projects will be reviewed and prioritized.

South Hamilton students in grades 6,8 and 11 will be participating in the Iowa Youth Survey on Wednesday,October 24. The survey is a very useful tool to help the district understand the needs of students better.

In personnel matters, the board approved Wayne Risetter as a permanent substitute bus driver.

High School principal Scott Dryer informed the board on the following students to be honored at the Webster City Rotary Leadership banquet next month. The students are  Jacob Bennett, Chrisian Brinkley, Brittany Butler, Joshua Doering, John Greenfield, Lane Heinlein, Brittany Nicholson, Lucas Olson, Maggie Peters, and Sarah Rudy.

The South Hamilton board voted to continue to meet on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. for the 2012-13 school year.

Mike Grove was re-elected as board president and Will Johnston was re-elected as board vice president for 2012-13.

The council also reviewed a letter sent to citizens regarding junk and junk vehicles, lawn mowing, snow removal and sidewalk improvement grants. Council members have been asked to check properties to find vehicles and junk that needs to be removed from properties per the code of ordinance. Once the list is compiled,the city attorney will be asked to send letters to offenders asking them to remove junk vehicles and junk from their properties.

In one other matter,the work on seal coating city streets in Randall will begin this weekend weather permitting.

The council set Wednesday,October 31st from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m as Beggar's Night in Randall.

Another great turnout was noted for the Webster City Fire Department open house held Tuesday evening at the fire station. Visitors of all ages enjoyed learning about the operation of the fire department. There were activities including a stop,drop and roll game, stay low maze, fire extinguisher practice, a garden hose drill with push the bucket and much more. Visitors also had the opportunity to see the fire trucks and rescue equipment used by the fire department. The open house is held every other year as a way to thank the community for their support. The event is held in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week.

Peterson Construction of Webster City was hired as the firm to remodel the first floor restrooms at the Hamilton County Courthouse. The supervisors accepted the bid from Peterson's at $46,100. Another local firm Habhab Construction submitted a bid of $49,586. The architect's estimated was at $60,000. Work on the project will begin in November with the completion slated for sometime in late December or early January.

In personnel matters, the Supervisors approved Cami Jo Oberender Haviland as a full time dispatcher for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department.

A resolution was approved by the Hamilton County Supervisors for the sale of county property and a quit claim deed for the property purchased by James C. Wagner in the amount of $10.00. located on Cedar Street.

The Supervisors went on to approve a liquor license for the Pilot Travel Center formerly Trump's located southwest of Williams. It now appears that the new travel center will be completed by sometime in November.

A spraying quote from B and W Specialists from Algona for Drainage Districts 204 and 263 was approved by the supervisors in the amount of $56,000.

Rehearsals for Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant are underway. It's the fourth show in the "Don't Hug Me' series written by Phil Olson with music by Paul Olson. Featured in the cast will be Ken Theobald as Gunner, Mary Sealine as Clara, Wil Groves as Kanute, Marcia Fritz as Bernice and Dan Corrow as Aarvid. Tickets go on sale November 3rd.

In observance of Fire Prevention Week, the Webster City Fire Department invites you to their open house this Tuesday evening, October 9 from 5:00 until 7:30 p.m. at the fire station at Bank and Superior Street. Free refreshments including hot dogs, potato chips and lemonade will be served up by the firemen. Activities include a stop/drop event for children, stay low maze, fire extinguisher practice,garden hose drill with push the bucket, lift a vehicle with airbags and more. The public is invited to attend this event. The open house will let the public know more about fire safety in their homes and businesses.

As a kickoff to 4-H week, the Hamilton County Iowa  State University Extension Service sponsored a 4-H Rally Day Sunday afternoon at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. A great turnout of young people was noted for this event as a way to draw new members into 4-H.All nine 4-H clubs from across the county were represented. There were games and demonstrations during the Rally Day. Young people interested in joining 4-H should contact Hamilton County 4-H Youth Coordinator Cheryll Entriken at 832-9597. A reminder the annual 4-H'er-ama awards program is set for Sunday, November 4th.

Those attending Sunday's Octoberfest at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Webster City did not go away hungry. Another great turnout was on hand for the dinner, country store,games and raffle held at the Parish Center. There was no final figure available as to how many were served and how much was raised at this annual event.

The Hamilton County Republicans held a chili supper and auction Saturday evening at the Ed Prince Building on the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. Those attending the benefit included (left to right) Hamilton County Sheriff Denny Hagenson, Iowa U.S. House of Representative Steve King, WHO Radio talk show host Simon Conway,Iowa State Auditor Dave Vaudt, Iowa State Senate candidate Jerry Behn and Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz. The proceeds of the chili supper and auction went to support the work of the GOP candidates in the November 6th election.

Webster City recorded a new record low temperature on Sunday morning. 16 degrees was the record for October 7. The old record was 23 degrees set on October 7,1952. High temperatures for the week ahead will be in the upper 60s for Monday and upper 50s on Tuesday with lows in the mid 30s to low 40s. There is also a slight chance of rain on Tuesday.

All Webster City Community School students will be dismissed two hours early on Thursday,October 11 for Middle School Parent Teacher Conferences and Elementary & High School Professional Development. High School staff will continue the work of Mike Mattos on "Response to Intervention" developing Tier 1,Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions for struggling students. Classes will resume on Friday,October 12.

Waverly Shell Rock 24 Webster City 8

South Hamilton 34 Ogden 20

Laurens Marathon 54 Northeast Hamilton 16

Aplington Parkersburg 62 Eagle Grove 16

Spirit Lake 46 Clarion Goldfield 7

Gilbert 42 Roland Story 20

The Webster City Community School Board will meet in closed session this Monday to conduct a hearing to suspend or expel a student or to discuss whether to conduct such a hearing unless an open session is requested by the student or a parent or guardian of the student it the student is a minor.

As for precipitation Webster City received 2.96 inches of rain. Normal rainfall for September is 3.59 inches.

The National Weather Service outlook for Iowa in October indicates a month of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. Last October in Webster City the average high was 68 degrees and the average low was at 36 degrees. There was only four tenths of an inch of rain recorded in October,2011. KQWC Radio is the official observer for the National Weather Service in Webster City.

Clear Lake 24  Webster City 7

North Iowa 41 Northeast Hamilton 12

Aplington Parkersburg 41 South Hamilton 0

Greene County 20 Roland Story 6

Garner Hayfield Ventura 31 Clarion Goldfield 7

West Fork of Sheffield 39  Eagle Grove 26

The public is invited to tour the new Legacy Cabin constructed at Briggs Woods Park south of Webster City. The Briggs Woods Legacy Cabin will be open for a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour at an Open House event scheduled for this Friday,October 5 at 10:00 a.m. It will again be open to the public on Sunday, October 7th from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m.The construction of the cabin is a groundbreaking effort of many partners, including Hamilton County Conservation Board, Prairie Rivers of Iowa R.C.& D, Enhance Hamilton County Foundation and many volunteers. Briggs Woods County Park is one of Iowa's oldest parks and is considered by many to be a "crown jewel" among Iowa's county parks.

Hamilton County Conservation Director Brian Lammers said the Hamilton County Conservation Legacy account was developed years ago for the future management of the county's natural resources and wildlife management. The Legacy Cabin is a significant component of future planning. It will serve as a model for natural resource utilization and will provide revenue back into the parks. There are plans to unveil future county park cabins in the future.

The unit sleeps 12 to 15 people in three bedrooms with an extra sleeping area over the porch. It is completely furnished with a full kitchen and is sited just steps away from Briggs Woods Lake, golf course, a swimming beach, fishing, hiking and bike trails.

To get to the cabin, go to Briggs Woods County Park south of Webster City on Highway 17, enter the park and follow the signs to the Legacy Cabin.

The Hamilton County Supervisors will consider personnel action with the county sheriff, public health and cell phone reimbursement. Applications for a liquor and cigarette permit will be considered. There will also be a discussion on drainage district number 9 with the Johnson Upper Main Petition.

There was a discussion on the capital improvement plan for the parks and recreation department. The plans for next year would include completing the hard surface on North Terrace Drive trail entrance, replacing the roof at Brewer Creek Shelter, electrical repairs at the outdoor swimming pool, improvements at Kendall Young Park, new gutter at the Depot Museum and a canoe access project at Riverside Park. There were no changes made to the plan by the parks and recreation commission.

Director Kent Harfst informed board members to offer a sport called pickle ball. It was suggested to offer this in the winter in the Fuller Hall gymnasium. The sport is similar to indoor tennis. It will be done on a trial basis. Harfst will be checking with Jon Doolittle about the equipment.

In one other matter, Harfst plans to contact potential hole sponsors next week for the disc golf course at Brewer Creek Park.

A discussion on the future direction of mental health services in Hamilton County and the state of Iowa was addressed at a meeting sponsored by the Hamilton County League of Women Voters Thursday night. The program held at the Webster City Fire Station meeting room looked at some of the changes ahead for the regional services for mental health patients. The participants in the program were Hamilton County Supervisor Doug Bailey, Hamilton County Social Services Director Patti Triebel, Deb Schildroth, the director of Story County Community Services in Ames and League of Women Voters of Iowa lobbyist Amy Campbell. Hamilton County is currently working on the reorganization of mental health services with Boone, Madison, Hardin, Franklin, Marshall, Story and Calhoun counties.Next April, the Hamilton County Supervisors is expected to approve a written letter of intent to form a region that will provide the necessary services for mental health patients. The region will then comply with requirements. The Iowa Department of Human Services will provide a written notice of compliancy. After the letter has been approved the D.H.S. will work with counties who have not agreed upon a region. On July 1,2013, Hamilton County will be assigned a region if not done voluntarily. The full implementation date for the region will be June 30,2014. The redesign of the mental health program would transform the management structure for mental health and disability service from a county based system to a regional system. It would also transition the basis for funding responsibility from legal settlement to residency. Core services would be established that will be available throughout the entire state. The redesign would cover eligible adults not covered by Medicaid, establish a regional services fund for regions to pay for services, require counties to begin functional assessments in the 2013 fiscal year, outline requirements for a regional management plan and establish a regional financing plan with fixed budget and growth by the state.The Iowa Legislature will likely take a further look at the redesign plan when they reconvene in January.

A sculpture designed by a former Webster City area resident will be dedicated on Monday afternoon at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Urban Campus. "Path of Peace" is the work designed by Ron Dinsdale of Huxley. The sculpture is a 14 and a half ton, 18 foot high Bedford Indiana Limestone sculpture. The creative endeavor was commissioned by Iowa Peacemakers Monument,Incorporated and supported by the Urban DMACC Campus, the Des Moines City Council and the Iowa State Department of Transportation. Dinsdale taught art at Northeast Hamilton in Blairsburg and Valley High School in West Des Moines. Dinsdale's sculptures have been selected for city public art exhibitions and commissions as well as numerous commissioned sculptures around the world and the United States including the Webster City Community School District and at Kendall Young Library. The sculpture dedication ceremony begins at 1:00 Monday afternoon, September 24 at the DMACC Urban Campus in Des Moines

The Homecoming parade begins at 2:30 Friday afternoon through downtown Webster City. The parade will begin at West Twin Park, heading north on Seneca, then turning west on Second, traveling south on Des Moines Street and ending at the Webster City Middle School. There will be floats, bands, fire trucks and more as a part of the parade Friday afternoon. The Webster City Main Street U.S.A. Kiwanis chili supper will be held at the high school cafeteria with serving from 5:30 until 7:30. The proceeds will go toward the service club and their many activities. The Homecoming football game between the Webster City Lynx and Algona Bulldogs will be held at 7:30 Friday night at Lynx Field. KQWC AM-1570 and www.kqradio.com will bring live coverage of the game. Homecoming wraps up Saturday night with a dance from 9:00 until 12 midnight at the high school cafeteria.

Stratford superintendent Sarah Binder informed the board that the certified enrollment count day is Monday,October 1st. The board will get a better idea as to enrollment numbers for the 2012-13 school year at next month's board meeting.

There was a review on the new guidelines for healthy food selection on the lunch program. Superintendent Binder informed the Stratford school board on Wednesday about new menu items due to the government requirements. On Wednesday a dish called Cowboy Cavatini was served to Stratford students. It's a dish made up of pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, Mexican seasoning with mozzarella cheese.

The board also reviewed the standards and benchmarks in the classroom for the new school year.There was also a review of the Dibels testing held earlier this month in the school.

In other matters the Stratford school board learned that the fence has been installed for the Martha Simonson Memorial Tennis Court. Resurfacing on the court is expected to be completed by the end of this month with a dedication to be held at a later date.

The board approved this month's capital requests totaling $159,126. Plant operations is requesting a 2013 Chevrolet 2500 4 by 4 pickup truck, a snow plow blade and an air conditioner for the I.T. (Information Technology) server room. The hospital I.T. department requested 2 host servers for virtual environment to replace 10 physical servers that are over 5 years old.

The new foundation donor board at the west entrance of Van Diest Medical Center has been installed. It lists all of the people that have made monetary contributions toward the completion of the Van Diest Medical Center facility. Foundation board members looked at several different designs.Administrator Palmer Schneider said he was pleased with the final product.The foundation will recognize every donor. Those individuals who have contributed $100 and below will be recognized in a book for public display.A dedication of the new foundation donor board will be held sometime in October.

The board met in closed session to discuss patient care quality and process improvement initiatives for the hospital last night.

The Victory Bell and Tower at Webster City High School will have a new address. The Webster City City Council approved the request of the Webster City Class of 1965 to move the bell and tower to near the Parker Morse Banks Stage at Graceland Cemetery. Darlene Dingman said the tower will be refurbished in the coming weeks with installation set for later in the fall.

In another matter the South Hamilton school board approved the allowable growth for the district's special education deficit in the amount of $131,000 for the 2012-13 school year. The board also approved a salary correction for technology director Lanny Schafroth to 4.5%.

Webster City 27  Iowa Falls 7

Clarion Goldfield 40 Estherville Lincoln Central 26

Dike New Hartford 56 Eagle Grove 0

Hudson 7 South Hamilton 6

Newell Fonda 56 Northeast Hamilton 0

West Hancock 47 Belmond Klemme 6

The council voted to approve an independent contractor-hold harmless agreement by and between David Ulicki of Stanhope and the City of Stanhope for general maintenance assistance retroactive to September 4,2012.

At the last regular meeting, the Stanhope city council approved a contract with JK Energy Consulting of Lincoln, Nebraska for the preparation of a request for proposals fo wholesale electricity purchase to begin on January 1,2014. Clerk McKenzie reported that he has submitted a large volume of information to the firm. The firm is in the process of developing the request for proposals which should be ready by next week.

Beggars night in Stanhope was set by the council. It will be held Wednesday,October 31 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. There will be a party for youngsters from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the lower level of the Stanhope community building.

In other matters, the Northeast Hamilton board approved a contract for Amy Pruismann as halftime secretary and halftime special education associate. There was a discussion of the FFA auction funds and a decision from the state auditor. The auditor ruled that the FFA auction money must go into the Fiscal Year 2012 General Fund budget by state law. The school board approved a donation of $3,500 to the Webster City FFA to promote the chapter with current and future Northeast Hamilton students. An invitation will be extended to Webster City FFA students to attend a Northeast Hamilton school board meeting in the future. The board approved that the remaining funds from the auction stay in the General Fund.

Superintendent Pat Hocking informed the Northeast Hamilton board that the school district is down approximately 15 students from the end of last year. The certified count which drives funding for the Northeast Hamilton school district will be available at the October meeting.

The board goals for the 2012-13 school year were approved. They include a successful partial day sharing with Webster City, the raising of test scores and communicating with the public and showing them the benefits of technology in the classroom.

The Northeast Hamilton board approved to amend the 2012-13 Master Contract from High School vocal to vocal music supplement pay from 11 percent to 3 percent due to the partial day sharing plan with Webster City.

There was also the first Professional Development time at the Thursday meeting with Jess Toliver from the Eagle Grove school district. Next month the board will meet in closed session to discuss goals for the superintendent and administrative assistant for the upcoming years.

In other matters, the council will consider a resolution approving a change order to the Jordan Well Project contract  with the raw water main construction with Synergy Contracting,L.L.C. of Bondurant. The council will set dates for work sessions for the Line Apprentice Program and with the Park and Recreation Commission in regards to the city camping park.There will also be a discussion on electric rates.  The council will meet in closed session to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent.

A ribbon cutting and  grand opening was held Thursday at the new United Stop and Shop in Stratford. The convenience store is located at 810 Highway 175 in the building that has housed a convenience store for as long as many can recall-nearly 25 years. The business is owned by United Co-op which is headquartered in Webster City and operates the grain elevator in Stratford. Deb Tilley manages the c-store.

In other matters the Roland Story school board approved the annual fall fundraiser by the FFA, the Health Occupations Students of America and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapaters.A request to allow the Story City FFA chapter to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis was approved this fall. The Roland Story school board approved Home School Supervisor contracts for Laura Boettger, Erik Ringsby, Alice Jean Hanson, Sally Hennager and Sandy Bauer. A volunteer contract for Middle School wrestling coach Ben Knutson was approved.  There will be an increase in the price of adult lunches at $3.00 effective immediately pending verification with the Iowa Department of Education that this is required to have an approved National School Lunch Program application.

Kendall Young Library in Webster City will be demonstrating their new audio visual system with the showing of the movie War Horse on Tuesday,September 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the library meeting room. The recent audio-visual upgrade includes surround sound speaker, a large motorized screen and ceiling-mounted projector. The project was made possible with a grant from the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation matched by funds from the Friends of the Kendall Young Library and Hamilton County.

In other matters, the Eagle Grove school board will continue to meet on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Board president Jon Rowen was named as the delegate to attend the Iowa Association of School Board delegate assembly in Des Moines on November 14.The board also approved to change the adult meal price to $3.00 from $2.75

The Homecoming parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. through downtown Webster City. The Main Street U.S.A. Kiwanis chili supper will be held at the High School cafeteria with serving from 5:30 until 7:30. All proceeds will go to the service club and their many activities. The Varsity football game will be held at 7:30 Friday night when the Lynx face the Algona Bulldogs. The Homecoming dance will be held Saturday night in the High School Cafe from 9:00 until 12 midnight.

Bill Klein of Potter and Brant CPA presented the 2011 Audit to the Kendall Young Library board. There were no changes made in his presentation. The board is expected to approved the audit at their October meeting.

There was a discussion on the board's role with Kendall Young Park. The trustees are the owners of the park located on the north side of the city with the land leased to the city.Kendall Young Library board members looked at some future activities for the park but no decision was reached.

The Kendall Young Library board Tuesday night voted to close the library on December 24 and 25 for the Christmas holiday period. The library will be open on Monday, December 31 from 10 until 5  and closed on New Year's Day, Tuesday,January 1,2013.

Loween Getter will present a program on the "Houses of Willson Avenue" on Wednesday,October 3 at 7:00 p.m. She will highlight some of the historic homes built over a century ago with pictures and the story behind these residences. The public is invite to attend this presentation.

The Kendall Young Library board will be hiring a groundskeeper beginning next April. There will be a discussion on the hiring process for a groundskeeper in February.

The Randall council approved the creation and the funding for a new voluntary residential sidewalk improvement program for the remainder of the 2013 fiscal year.

The lease agreement with the South Hamilton Community Schools for use of the Randall gymnasium for winter sports and the South High Pride tournament was approved by the council Tuesday night.The rate for the agreement was set at $2500.

Randall city clerk De Ann Frisk sent a letter to citizens and businesses in August regarding junk and junk vehicles, lawn mowing, snow removal and a sidewalk improvement grant. The council will discuss the issues at the October meeting to give citizens and businesses time to start cleaning their property.

A special meeting of the Van Diest Medical Center board of trustees has been called for Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. at the medical center's cafeteria conference room. The board will hear a presentation by representatives from the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics regarding affiliation opportunities. There will be no decision made at this special meeting.

Humboldt          25   25   19  25

Webster City     21   18   25  18

Clarion Goldfield  25   25   25

Eagle Grove        11  19     9

PCM (South Monroe)    25   25   25

South Hamilton            17  23   15

Northeast Hamilton      25   25   25

Meskwaki Settlement   20    15   13

Mary Sealine was appointed as a rural board member for the Hamilton County S.E.E.D. economic development board to replace Keith Carlson who resigned last month. The board approved the hiring of Adira Koester as a part time regular employee for the county attorney's office in the $51,828.An agreement was approved between Hamilton County and Fort Dodge Business Systems for a five year lease of a color copying machine to be used by the Hamilton County Conservation Department. The lease agreement will be at $141 a month.

In other matters the supervisors set the date of September 25 for two public hearings. A hearing will be held at 9:05 a.m. for a loan agreement in a principal amount not to exceed $400,000 for the remodeling project at the future home of Hamilton County Public Health at 820 James Street. The project is expected for completion in December with the moving set for February.Another hearing will be held at 9:15 to sell half a lot on the far east end of Cedar Street near Riverside Park.

Hamilton County Engineer Dan Waid informed the board that county road D-20 is reopened between Highway 69 and Interstate 35 after a summer long paving renovation project. The road reopened last Friday.

KQWC Radio joins its listeners as we remember the victims of the terrorist attacks eleven years ago today and those who are serving our country.

Webster City Police were summoned to the intersection of White Fox Road and Second Street at about 5:50 Monday evening to investigate a two vehicle accident. Reportedly a southbound 1997 Ford F-350 pickup truck driven by Todd Hilpipre of Clarion could not stop in time. The Hilpipre pickup struck the rear hatch door of 2002 Chevrolet Venture van operated by Katherine Banks of Webster City. The Banks van was stopped at the time waiting  for traffic. Damage to the Banks van was estimated at $2000 with no damage to the Hilpipre pickup.

An accident at Broadway and Walnut Street was investigated shortly after 12 noon. Reportedly a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV operated by Debra Tolle of Webster City was backing from a private drive when her vehicle accidentally struck a parked 2004 Chevrolet Impala with the owner unknown. Investigating Sgt. Ed Wardell estimated the damage to the Tolle SUV at $400 and an estimated $600 in damages to the Impala.

The second accident Saturday afternoon happened on Bluff Street. Reportedly a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV driven by Bethanie Jo Scott of Webster City was backing from a driveway onto Bluff Street when her SUV accidentally struck the right front fender of a southbound 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by Bessie Trask of Kamrar. There were no injuries reported. Investigating officer Eric McKinley estimated the damage to both the Scott SUV and the Trask car at $1500 each.

A one car accident at First and Grove Streets was investigated shortly before 4:00 p.m. Saturday. Reportedly a 2002 Buick LeSabre driven by Doris Helton of Webster City was initially traveling westbound on First Street when she apparently made a wide right hand turn onto Grove where she over corrected to avoid hitting an oncoming vehicle.The front bumper of the Helton car  ended up colliding into a utility pole on the east side of Grove Street. Helton suffered minor cuts to her face.She was treated on the scene by Van Diest Medical Center EMS staff. Investigating officer Brandon Pritchard estimated the damage to the Helton car at $5000.

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon to enjoy the variety of classic cars, trucks and tractors in the parking lot of Southfield Wellness Community. The show attracted approximately 80 cars and tractors from a number of area communities. This was the 11th annual car and tractor show as a kick off to National Assisted Living Week through Saturday,September 15. Visitors also had the opportunity to vote for the People's Choice and Driver's Choice awards. The People's Choice winners in the car division were Clarence Wilde of Eagle Grove in first place, Monte Pringle of Fort Dodge in second and Shirley Sinclair of Webster City in third. The tractor division first place winner was Paul Olson of Webster City and Darrel Ackerman of Blairsburg in second. The Driver's Choice award winners in the car division were Quinton Rottering of Webster City in first and Larry Brim of Webster City in second. Trent Stone of Williams was first place in the tractor division and Darrell Ackerman of Blairsburg in second place.

Webster City 28  Charles City 21

West Bend Mallard 52  Northeast Hamilton 12

Clarion Goldfield 17  South Central Calhoun 12

Dike New Hartford 34  South Hamilton 0

North Polk 17  Roland Story 6

Nashua Plainfield 39   Eagle Grove 22

Newman Catholic 47 Belmond Klemme 22

KQWC Radio will bring you the Webster City-Iowa Falls football game this Friday,September 14 at 7:30 on AM 1570. The South Hamilton-Hudson game can be hear on FM 95.7 on Friday. Both games can be heard on our audio stream on www.kqradio.com

The planning committee consists of representatives from many community organizations including Black Hills Energy, City of Webster City, Webster City PRIDE Team, Webster City Ministerial Association,Hamilton County Board of Supervisors, OHP Marketing Services,Upper Des Moines Opportunity and the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce, The committee will conduct a weatherization assessment of each home in advance.They will determine what measures are needed,develop a list of needed supplies and materials and will make the final decisions on eligibility.

If you are elderly, disabled, a veteran, handicapped,physically or economically unable to perform weatherization tasks to your home and want to sign up for these free services, or if your organization,business or church would like to volunteer to be part of the event with a 6-member team,contact Justin Jones at Black Hills Energy at 641-580-0330. Tasks are easy to do and training will be provided. You don't have to be experienced, just have a willingness to help others.

Plans for homecoming at South Hamilton high school were presented to the school board. On Tuesday, there will be a continental breakfast at the high school with a Big Event assembly at the high school during the day. The coronation of the queen and king will be held Tuesday night at 7:00 at the Robert Jensen Auditorium. The contestants for homecoming queen at South Hamilton are Kira Dagit, Mattea Detrick, Eliana Lowry, Mariah Ostrander and Naomi Ruger. The King candidates are Josh Doering, J.T. Greenfield, Jacob Haugland, Lane Heinlein and Justin Shepherd. The festivities on Tuesday will include an introduction of the fall athletic teams and the Big Event winners performance. On Thursday, September 13 there will be a chili dog feed following the home volleyball match beginning at 7:30 in the high school lunch room. The homecoming bonfire will follow. The homecoming football game with Hudson is set for September 14 at 7:00 followed by a dance from 10:30 until 12:30 a.m.

The South Hamilton board learned of plans of a motor coach trip to Chicago April 26 through 28 of next year for the high school band and choir.The students will be a part of a Festival of Music competition with students from across the midwest.There will also be a time for sightseeing and attending a musical.The tour for the South Hamilton band and choir members is held every three to four years with the students covering part of the cost and the remaining half from the school music boosters. The board will take formal action on the trip request at next month's board meeting.

In another matter Rick Young spoke before the school board on plans for locating the school victory bell at a specific location on the school grounds in memory of L.K. Ryen. Ryen was a long time instructor at South Hamilton who passed away 40 years ago. No action was taken but the matter will be revisited at next month's board session.

Officers investigated a two vehicle accident at Des Moines and Ohio Streets at 7:51 Wednesday morning. Reportedly a northbound 2003 Mitsubishi ECL operated by Russell T. Kountz of Webster City accidentally struck the rear end of a 2007 GMC Yukon pickup truck operated by Jennie Williams also of Webster City. The Williams pickup was stopped at the time. Investigating officer Ted Knutson estimated the damage to both the Kountz and Williams vehicles at $100 each.

Two cars were damaged in an accident at Bank Street and Broadway shortly after 3:30 Wednesday afternoon. Webster City police reported a westbound 2004 Dodge Stratus driven by Ashley Meyers of Webster City was stopped at the intersection and then proceeded. The Meyers car collided with a southbound 2009 Chevrolet HHR driven by Michael Hames also of Webster City. There were no injuries reported. Investigating officer Ryan Pittman estimated the damage to the Meyers car at $500 and an estimated $1000 in damages to the Hames car.

If convicted on all charges, Mofle and Kern face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment,a $20,000,000 fine, $300 in special assessments and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment. If Peterson is convicted on all charges he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $40,000.000 fine, $300 in special assessments and at least ten years of supervised release.

Trial for Mofle, Kern and Peterson has been scheduled for November 5,2012

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn S.Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation,Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster City Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

There will be three more clinics on September 13th. A flu shot clinic will be offered at the Stanhope Community Center from 9:30 until 10:15 a.m. The Randall City Hall from 10:45 until 11:15 a.m. Ellsworth Public Library from 12:30 until 1:15 p.m.

Hamilton County Public Health will offer flu shot clinics on September 19,20 and 26 and on October 10 from 9:00a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Flu shot clinics for children 6 months to 18 years will be held at the Public Health building on October 9 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. and October 11 from 2:30 until 5:00 p.m. The final clinic will be during the Webster City Lions pancake breakfast on October 21 at the Middle School from 9:00 until 11:00a.m.

For information on costs and the clinics please call Hamilton County Public Health at 832-9565.

Heavy rain,thunder and lightning woke up residents early Wednesday morning in the north central Iowa area. Webster City measured only 65 hundredths of rain through early today. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for the KQWC listening area until 3:00 this morning. There was a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Webster and parts of Humboldt, Pocahontas and Calhoun counties until 1:00 this morning. Once the precipitation exits the area,Wednesday should be sunny with temperatures of around 80 degrees. The high on Tuesday in Webster City reached 97 degrees.

Representatives of the Doodlebug Committee attended a ceremony at Tuesday night's Webster City City Council meeting asking mayor Janet Adams to proclaim the week of September 10 to 15 as Doodlebug Week. The Doodlebug was a popular scooter manufactured from 1946 to 1948 in Webster City. Today there are at least 1,000 of the scooters still in existence. The 26th annual Doodlebug Reunion is set for September 13 to 15 at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds.Collectors and enthusiasts of the popular motor bike from over 60 years ago will be in attendance.

In other matters, the council appointed Lori Graham to serve on the Wilson Brewer Historic Committee for the term ending June 1,2014. Betty Eilers and Charles Smith were appointed to serve on the Wilson Brewer Historic Park Committee for the terms ending June 1,2016. The resignation of Pawel Kraska on the Hotel Motel Tax Board was accepted since he will be moving from the community due to the recent sale of the Executive Inn.

Webster City Area Development Chamber executive director Carrie Fitzgerald presented a report to the council on the activities in her office over the past three months including a successful RAGBRAI event on July 24th. The annual Ladies Night Out event is set for Thursday,October 18. Wacky Wednesday will be held on November 21 from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. as a way to get shoppers to come to Webster City on the night before Thanksgiving for holiday bargains.

The council also approved a motion to enter into an loan agreement for the Federal Aviation Administration for the Webster City airport hangar project grant. Another loan agreement was approved by the council Tuesday night with the Department of the Navy for night vision glasses for the Police Department.A resolution for engineering services with Bolton and Menk,Incorporated of Ames for the Jordan Well construction phase was approved. The total amount of the contract was for $188,000

Webster City school superintendent Mike Sherwood has announced that the next scheduled meeting of the school board will be on Tuesday, September 11 instead of Monday,September 10. Meeting time will be at 6:00 p.m. at the administration building. The agenda will be released this week.

A Webster City man visiting family in the Des Moines area over the Labor Day weekend just happened to buy a Powerball ticket while out to dinner--and won a $1 million prize. Tom Christeson said he just bought the ticket at a Hy Vee store in Urbandale. Christeson and his wife Norma had decided to spend the weekend visiting their daughters and their families,but planned to head back home on Sunday. Their visit got extended after they realized their good fortune. Christeson who drives a grain truck at Heartland Co-op in Randall said he already had been planning to retire in January, and he will stick with those plans as the co-op's busy season is approaching with the fall corn harvest.Christeson said he has more room in mind for his winnings with an expansion of their family home. Christeson is the third big winner in two years for Webster City. Larry Dawson of Webster City won a $9.09 million jackpot in the Hot Lotto game in May,2011 while Aenoi Phetxoumphone of Webster City won a $1 million prize in the Lifetime Riches instant scratch game in February,2011.

Hamilton County Democrats invite the public to an open house at their party headquarters this Sunday afternoon, September 9. The hours for the open house will be from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. at 600 Second Street. Area candidates have been invited to meet with the public during the open house. Refreshments will be served.

The 26th annual Doodle Bug Reunion is set for September 13 to 15 at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds.The reunion is to celebrate the popular gas powered scooter manufactured in Webster City in the mid 1940s. There will be free admission with everyone welcome. The three day event will include an extended trail ride plus an endurance run are planned. Several parts vendors will be in attendance. If you would like more information contact Vern Ratcliff at 515-832-5727, Jerry A. Wells at 515-832-4194 or Don Nokes at 515-832-4184. There is more information online at www.wcdoodlebug.com

Early Friday evening local police responded to a report of a one car accident at Bank and Wood Streets. Reportedly a westbound 2007 Pontiac G6 driven by Kelsie M. Smith of Webster City swerved off the road after she apparently lost consciousness. The Smith car went up a curb, into the grass striking a city owned light pole and street sign. Smith was transported to Van Diest Medical Center for treatment of injuries. Investigating officer Ryan Pittman estimated the damage to the Smith car at $10,000.

On Sunday morning local police investigated an accident in the McDonald's parking lot on Fairmeadow Drive.Reportedly a westbound 2001 Toyota Echo driven by Alan Kennedy of Cedar Rapids and an eastbound 2007 Dodge Charger driven by Michael Gemmel of Webster City collided with one another in the lot. Both drivers escaped injury. Damage to the Kennedy car was estimated at $1500 with the damage to the Gemmel car at $2000.

Early Sunday afternoon officers were called to the Casey's General Store at 700 Superior Street. Reportedly a 2005 Ford Taurus driven by Darbie Helton of Webster City accidentally struck the front door to Casey's. Investigating officer Eric McKinley estimated the damage to the Helton car at $100 with the damage to the door estimated at $2000.

The National Weather Service outlook for September in Iowa indicates it will bring another month of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. Last September in Webster City the average high was 72 degrees and the average low was 46 degrees. There was 1.77 inches of rain received in September,2011. KQWC Radio is the official observer for the National Weather Service in Webster City.

Webster City, St. Thomas Aquinas and Eagle Grove will dismiss classes two hours early.

Clarion Goldfield and Dows to dismiss at 1:30 this afternoon with no afternoon pre-school.

Stratford elementary school to dismiss at 1:45 p.m.

Tim Wilaby of the Juvenile Court Services Department met with the supervisors to discuss possible office space for juvenile court officer. The county will look into vacant courthouse offices that may work.

County engineer Adam Clemons discussed and reviewed plans for replacement of a bridge on Davis Avenue in section 16 in Troy Township south of Eagle Grove. The scheduled bid letting will be on November 28.

The board opened bids for a 1988 Chevrolet 3500 pickup truck. After reviewing the bid the board decided to keep the truck and transfer it to the secondary roads department.

The Hardin County 4-H First Lego League swept junior division honors at the Iowa State Fair Robotics Challenge. The Hardin County 4-H team won the NXT Challenge Award and the Junk Drawer Challenge Award. They were runner-up in the Mechanical Ingenuity Award and were named the Overall Junior Division Winner. The Robotics Challenge competition required programming a robot to accomplish assigned tasks within a time limit utilizing designated resources. The purpose of the First Lego League is to inspire youth to explore science and technology. Members of the team from left to right are Devon Wilson from Radcliffe, Joel Stephenson from Iowa Falls, Samantha Reinertson from Eldora, Joseph Tibbs from Alden, Alex Geitz from Iowa Falls, Emily Stansbury from Eldora and Jake Miller from Iowa Falls. The team is coached by Jason Miller from Iowa Falls.

The intersection of Prospect and Webster Streets was the scene of a two car accident shortly before 5:30 p.m. Reportedly a south bound 2003 Buick LeSabre driven by Verona Yates of Webster City collided with a west bound 2007 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Shirley Stahl also of Webster City. There were no injuries reported.Investigating Sgt. Shiloh Mork estimated the damage to both the Yates and Stahl cars at 1,000 dollars each.

A two car accident at Superior Street and Fairmeadow Drive happened shortly before 6:00 p.m. Reportedly a 2012 Chevrolet Volt driven by Roy Molina of Ankeny collided with the rear side of a 2002 Buick LeSabre operated by Jamie Gregerson of Pocahontas. The Gregerson car was stopped at the stop light at the time of the accident. No injuries reported. Investigating officer Ryan Pittman estimated the damage to the Gregerson and Molina cars at 500 dollars each.

On Tuesday evening, Webster City Police investigated an accident in the 600 block of Second Street. Reportedly a 2000 Chevrolet K-1500 pickup truck operated by Irene Cejas Sosa of Webster City was backing out of a parking stall when she apparently made a sharp turn into the side of a parked 2001 Chevrolet pickup truck with the owner not immediately known. Investigating officer Joel Delaney estimated the damage to the parked Chevrolet pickup at 1500 dollars and no damage to the Sosa pickup.

The Hamilton County Supervisors approved the final plans for three bridge projects in the county. The bridges are located in section 24 of Scott Township on Ziegler Avenue, section 24 in Liberty Township on Tollman Avenue and in section 14 of Ellsworth Township on 360th Street near Tollman Avenue. All three bridges are over 90 years of age.The work on improving and expanding the three bridges will take place sometime this next year. The date of October 4th will be the bid letting date for the bridge project.

In other matters, the Hamilton County Supervisors approved a resolution to withdrawal from the 28-E agreement with Boone County in sharing an assistant county attorney. Hamilton County attorney Pat Chambers said that Adria Kester of Boone will continue to offer her services as an assistant county attorney for Hamilton County since she was appointed as Boone County attorney last week. She will not receive any benefits as a result of the change. Kester will be running for Boone County attorney in the November election.

Ground was broken Friday morning on the expansion project for the Webster City Community Theatre. Doug Getter (left) and Abby Sturtevent (right) with shovels in hand broke ground on the west side of the theater. The project includes a 6,000 square foot,3-story addition onto the west of the facility. The addition will expand the back stage area and include a workshop/paint shop, green room, changing rooms, makeup area, restrooms, and laundry area. There will be much need storage space for costumes, set pieces and props. In addition there will be new seats and an expanded parking area. Jaycox Construction will be in charge of the project. Students in the Webster City High School Building and volunteers from the Webster City Community Theater will be assisting. Completion of the expansion is scheduled for early November.

Van Diest Medical Center staff in the Med/Sug,Emergency, OB and Surgery departments attended in-services this past week to learn how to operate the new Baxter IV (intravenous) pumps, used for administration of intravenous medications and solutions. The training was conducted by Baxter representative Peggy Pilon (standing in the picture). Van Diest Medical Center recently purchased 53 of the new "smart pumps". The new pumps increase patient safety by having an entire drug library downloaded into them. Clinical nurse educator Vicki Roby said when a nurse wants to give a medication through the pump, he or she types in the name of the drug and the pump will give recommendations for the appropriate dose and rate. In most cases, the nurse does not have to follow the recommendations if the patient's condition warrants something different, however there are limits which cannot be over ridden. There are other features to also increase patient safety.

The Webster City Community Theatre will open its 44th season with the musical comedy, "Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant" by Phil Olson and Paul Olson.Auditions will be held Sunday,September 16 and Monday,September 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the theater at 1001 Willson Avenue. Director Loween Getter and Music Director Don Anderson will be casting the roles of Gunner and Knute. Mary Sealine, Marcia Fritz and Dan Corrow will be reprising the roles of Clara, Bernice and Arvid respectively. Performances will be November 9 through 11 and the 16th through 18th. For more information please call Loween Getter at 515-297-0846.  This is the fourth show in the series about the characters at the Bunyan Bar in Bunyan Bay,Minnesota. In this episode Gunner and Clara are expecting their first baby any day. She is 8 and a half months pregnant and worried that the upcoming baby shower will have to be cancelled. Knute,owner of several outfitter stores and Arvid, the Karaoke salesman are both still trying to win the hand of the same female. Bernice works at the Bunyan when she isn't singing in lounge shows in the cities.