THE
Pioneer Enterprise 6HUYLQJ &HUUR *RUGR &RXQW\ DQG WKH FRPPXQLWLHV RI 5RFNZHOO 6ZDOHGDOH 0HVHUYH\ 7KRUQWRQ 'RXJKHUW\
9RO 1R ‡ 7KXUVGD\ 2FW 3 2 %R[ 5RFNZHOO ,RZD ‡ ZZZ SLRQHHUHQWHUSULVH FRP SHU LVVXH 8636 1R
Glow Run Glow-in-the-Dark 5K Run/Walk at Sheffield, Saturday, Oct. 12. West Fork Prom fundraiser. Registration fee includes t-shirt. Registration begins at 8:15 p.m. in the West Fork multi-purpose room. Event kicks off at 9 p.m.
Election Machine Test for 2013 City Elections The Cerro Gordo County voting system will be publicly tested at 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Cerro Gordo County Election Annex located at 121 3rd Street NW, Mason City. In the November 5, 2013 Regular City Election voters in Cerro Gordo County will vote on special paper ballots that will be counted with the use of optical-scan machines. In addition, a ballot-marking machine will be available in each precinct for any voter who needs assistance in marking the ballot. A ballot-marking machine will also be available at the county auditor’s office for persons voting by absentee ballot prior to Election Day. Iowa law requires a test of the voting system prior to each election in which it is used. The test is open to the public. Additional election and voter registration information can be seen at the Cerro Gordo County website at www. co.cerro-gordo.ia.us. Kenneth W. Kline, Cerro Gordo County Auditor and County Commissioner of Elections
Absentee Ballots Ready for Elections Absentee ballots are now available for all cities in Cerro Gordo County for the November 5, 2013 Regular City Election. An eligible and registered voter may vote an absentee ballot in person at the office of the county auditor, or may submit a written request for an absentee ballot to be mailed to the voter. Written requests for absentee ballots should be addressed to: Cerro Gordo County Auditor 220 N Washington Ave Mason City IA 50401. A written request must include the voter’s name, date of birth, registration address, signature, and the name of the election (regular city election) or date of the election (November 5, 2013). Requests should be mailed soon enough to allow the voted absentee ballot to be received back in the office of the county auditor by Election Day. Regular courthouse hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a voter may cast an absentee ballot in person on any regular business day prior to Election Day. Persons with questions about absentee voting, voter registration, or the city elections may contact the office of the county auditor at (641) 421-3041, or visit the Cerro Gordo County website at www.co.cerro-gordo.ia.us. Kenneth W. Kline, Cerro Gordo County Auditor and County Commissioner of Elections
Community Calendar
Sunday, Oct. 12 Fall Master Gardener Class – Saturday Class. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at ISU Campus, Ames. Monday, Oct. 14 A free Senior Health Clinic will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1405 S. Pennsylvania Ave, Mason City. Call CG Dept. of Health, 641-421-9316 or toll-free 1-888-264-2581, ext. 9316 for appointment. Tuesday, Oct. 15 Fall Master Gardener Class – Landscape Trees & Shrubs. 6:30-9:30 p.m. at CG Extension Office, Mason City. Wednesday, Oct. 16 Roadside, Forest and Aquatic Pest Management Pesticide Applicator Training. 9 -11:30 a.m., CG Extension Office, Mason City Monday, Oct. 21 West Fork School Board Meeting, 5 p.m. in Rockwell Tuesday, Oct. 22 Fall Master Gardener Class – Animal Ecology. 6:309:30 p.m. at CG Extension Office, Mason City. Wednesday, Oct. 23 School Based Flu Clinic. Vaccines available for children, parents and teachers. Most insurance accepted/Vaccine for Children Program. Rockwell school building, 4-7 p.m.. Ca Call 6641-421-9321 p. 93 for more info. Thursday, Oct. 24 Mosquito/Public H Health Pest Managem ment Pesticide Applicato tor Training. g
Thornton council hears request to build bus stop shelter By Nick Pedley Thornton will receive a new gazebo-like structure at the old school yard thanks to the volunteer efforts of one local girl. Lauren Moore met with the city council their meeting Monday night to discuss her proposed Girl Scout project for Thornton. The teenager needed the group’s approval to move forward with plans to build a structure on the former Meservey-Thornton school yard, which is now owned by the city. Moore said the structure will resemble a gazebo and would protect children waiting for the school bus from inclement weather. “I think that it’s a great idea and I’m all for it,� said Council Member Betty Jensen. Other members of the group echoed Jensen, but they wanted Moore to keep the council posted on the project’s development. Council Member Barry Groh felt the structure would be a nice addition to the town, but wanted the council to have some oversight since it’s on the city’s property. “My thought would be is that we’d like to be included with the placement and have some input with the design,� he said. Moore agreed, and said she just needed the council’s OK to relay the information back to Girl Scout officials. Moore brought along a model of the shelter she planned to build, and said costs were tentatively estimated at $7,500. She hopes to begin fundraising soon and was unsure of a completion date. The bus stop used to be at the old school house but moved near the park after the buidling closed. Moore’s plan would move it back to the school yard if officials from West Fork allow. She said her tentative blueprints included retractable side-doors that could be closed during the winter or times of other bad weather. “This is something she wants to do for the
city, but also for the kids, because she cares about them,� said Moore’s mother, Bev. After giving the bus stop project the go-ahead, council members shifted attention to a long list of procedural business on their agenda. Public Works Director Tom Janeka informed the group about upcoming repairs to a damaged fire hydrant near the elevator, which had raised some eyebrows in the months since it broke. The hydrant was allegedly damaged in August when area fire departments came to Thornton to refill their tanks during a car fire on Interstate 35. Officials from the city and Thornton Fire Department were unaware other squadrons were coming into town to use the hydrant, and questions arose about who would pay for the damage after the incident occurred. However, Janeka said the visitors weren’t to blame. “It looks to me like it’s been broke for a long time,� he said, noting that the broken parts were extremely old and worn. Janeka thought damage to hydrant was most likely furthered when the elevator demolished the old feed mill this summer. He suspected the ground near the hydrant moved quite a bit during the destruction, and thought it might have worsened the already crippled piece of equipment. Repairs would be easy and relatively inexpensive, and Janeka said only small parts needed replacement. “It’s a whole lot better than tearing up the road to get to it,� he said. “Hopefully everything comes a part good and in two hours we can get it back up.� Other business The council set the city’s trick-or-treat date and time for Oct. 31, from 5-7 p.m. The council’s next meeting will be held 7 p.m., on Nov. 4
Allison Novotney, daughter of Tom and Julie Novotney, and Ethan Meints, son of Daren and Pam Meints, were crowned West Fork Queen and King Saturday evening at the Homecoming dance. (Submitted photo by Pam Meints)
Rockwell council handles a light load last Wednesday By Nick Pedley Biweekly review of the city code topped a rather thin agenda at the Rockwell City Council’s meeting October 2. The council discussed throwing out the city’s curfew ordinance due to a lack of necessity. According to Rockwell Police Chief Rick Whitney, the curfew rules aren’t enforceable at a higher level if a citation is issued to a juvenile in violation of the rule. Currently, youths aren’t allowed in the streets, parks or other city property past 11 p.m. “Last time I filed one, juvenile courts called me and asked what I wanted them to do about it,� shared Whitney. “If I file one, it won’t be pursued.�
Whitney said curfew violations and citations aren’t an issue and suggested the council remove the ordinance from the code. Because it’s not really enforceable, Whitney said he basically ignores it. However, Council Member David Laudner was cautious about completely throwing out the statute. He felt the council should leave it on the books in case a problem should arise down the road. “If it’s not an issue, it’s not an issue,� said Laudner. Council Member Mike Flatness agreed. Both felt completely removing it could prove costly for Rockwell down the road. “It’s almost easier to leave it in than say 10 years from now, ‘Gee,
I really wish we would have had that in there,’ for whatever reason,� said Flatness. No action was taken on the matter, and the council moved on to other business. Public Works Director Jay Siefken informed the group he had contacted the owner of the Oakbrook Apartments. The council was interested in purchasing the vacant land on the apartment complex’s property to turn it into green space or a park. The bridge and road that runs through the property are in need of repair, and the group felt paying for those costs would be an ill-advised expense for a street that sees little traffic. Siefken was hesitant about mov-
ing forward with the land purchase. He said the council could run into some red tape if they proceed because the apartments are federally subsidized. He also pointed out the playgrounds at Linn Grove Park, Ziedler Park and the school building see little usage and felt another would be overkill. Siefken investigated the cost of playground equipment, and noted that it wasn’t cheap. The council felt an offer shouldn’t be made that totaled more than the cost to take over the land via eminent domain. Siefken said the ground lies within a floodplain, so it’s value would be minimal. The group discussed closing the road that runs through the property all
together to save optimum costs, but decided more information is needed if the city wants to move forward with the project. “I’d have to think about it a lot more before I figure out if it’s city money well spent, or if it’d be better used someplace else,� said Mayor Steve Karabatsos. Other business The council set the trick-or-treat date and time for Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m. The council’s next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. A public hearing is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., that evening regarding a zoning change from residential to commercial in Lots 7 and 8 of Block 8 in Rockwell.
West Fork FFA’ers participate in artificial insemination workshop By Nick Pedley A group of West Fork FFA students headed to Iowa Falls Oct. 3 and gained some handson experience with a rather unique area of the livestock industry. Ten students from Bret Spurgin’s Animal Science class participated in an artificial insemination workshop hosted by the Iowa Falls-Alden FFA Chapter featuring experts from Iowa State University and Ellsworth Community College. Students practiced insemination on organs removed from a cow’s reproductive tract, learned about the uses of ultrasound and
watched an artificial insemination on a live animal. The session gave students a first-hand take on an important part of the industry that doesn’t get much attention, according to Spurgin. “Obviously, most of them won’t be raising cattle or artificially inseminating cattle,� he said. “But it gives them a really good idea of the work that gets put into it and the science behind it.� One of the workshop’s stations was particularly handson. Students were given latex gloves, a reproductive tract removed from a dead cow and
In this issue: Courthouse ............................. page 4 Public Notices ........................ page 4 Area Sports ............................. page 8 Classifieds ................................ page 5
WF King & Queen
From left to right: West Fork FFA’ers Madison Steenhard, Peyton Perkins and Andrea Reed watch as an artificial insemination is demonstrated by veterinarians from ISU.
West Fork FFA students (in far right of picture, from left to right) Anne Jorgensen, Ethan Meints and Johnathon Ohrt watch as Ellsworth Community College associate ag professor Kevin Butt details the uses of ultrasound on cattle. (Photo by Nick Pedley) an empty insemination tube. They then practiced inseminating the organ mass, but it wasn’t so easy for everyone who handled the slimy blob of flesh. Many students squirmed and grimaced as they practiced the procedure. “I hope not, but you never know,� said West Fork junior Collin Jones-Smeby, when asked if he’d ever have to do a real artificial insemination. “It’s a lot different than learning about it in class,� said West Fork senior Marcus Wogen. “It’s interesting to actually see it other than reading about it.�
Spurgin said the insemination practice station got mixed reviews, but many students enjoyed the experience. “Some of them thought it was cool, some of them didn’t want to do it and then some of them said they’d never do it again,� Spurgin observed. The instructor noted livestock reproduction was only a minor portion of the Animal Science class. So far, students have learned about different species in the livestock industry and the products they produce. As the school year progresses, they’ll tackle topics like nutri-
tion and genetics, while also going more in-depth with the reproduction process. The class is provided by NIACC and allows students to gain college credit if they pass. Spurgin said this was the first time the class participated in the bovine artificial insemination workshop, and he jumped at the opportunity when IF-A FFA instructor Doug Dodd extended an invitation. Spurgin noted the class takes other field trips to places like the North Iowa Boar Stud in Riceville, but this was the only place where FFA to page 3