New Hampton Tribune

09/29/2023

Sheriff's Office asks for public help in finding whereabouts of 18-year-old Nashua man

By Bob Fenske
[email protected]
The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office is asking for residents to be on the lookout for an 18-year-old Nashua man who has not been seen since early Wednesday morning.
In a press release that was issued on Friday afternoon, Sheriff Ryan Shawver asked the public to assist in locating the whereabouts of 18-year-old Kaden Ray Wilken, who graduated from Nashua-Plainfield High School this past May.
Shawver said Wilken stands about 6-foot-1 and has blonde hair and blue eyes.
The sheriff said Wilson’s last contact with anyone was around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Those who have information on Wilken’s whereabouts are asked to call 641-394-3121 or their local law enforcement agency.

02/08/2023

Hey, if we're going to be wrong on the weather, at least we're moving in the right direction. Thursday's storm doesn't look as bad as originally forecasted!

By Bob Fenske [email protected]

01/26/2023

Take the opportunity to thank a great law enforcement officer this Saturday when retired Sheriff Marty Hemann will be honored during a retirement ceremony at the Pub at the Pinicon. http://nhtribune.news/node/19753

12/23/2022

We apologize, but once again, our editor inadvertently did not jump a story, so here's the entire ambulance story that should have been in the Dec. 22 Tribune.

By Bob Fenske [email protected]

12/21/2022

Folks, let's be safe out there the next few days; if you can, it sounds like it's going to be a good time to stay home and find a good book, watch bowl games or binge watch something! http://nhtribune.news/index.php/node/19625

11/09/2022

GOP enjoys big election night in Chickasaw County; Ysbrand, Suckow and Troyna win contested county races. http://nhtribune.news/node/19519

10/20/2022

The drought is over! New Hampton girls take third at state qualifying meet to earn Chickasaws’ first trip as a team to the state meet since 1997’

10/08/2022

Congrats to New Hampton football coach Scott Frerichs for obtaining his 200th career victory Friday night as the Chickasaws rally for a 28-18 win over Forest City.

10/03/2022

County makes offer to EMS director candidate

By Bob Fenske

[email protected]

Chickasaw County may have landed itself an EMS director Monday as the Board of Supervisors approved a motion to make an offer to a person referred to just as “Candidate 3” after conducting closed session interviews with three candidates for the position.

After returning to open session, the board voted 4-0 — Supervisor Steve Breitbach excused himself from the interviews because one of his relatives was among the EMS director candidates — to offer the position to the unnamed candidate, pending background and reference checks.

The offer included an annual salary of $75,000, as well as benefits like health insurance and IPERS.

If the candidate accepts the offer, that person would serve as the director of the county-owned ambulance service that will begin operations on Jan. 1 and provide services to not only rural residents but also to the citizens of six county cities — New Hampton, Bassett, Fredericksburg, Ionia, Lawler and North Washington.

Board Chairman Matt Kuhn said that the name of the candidate will be released if and when the candidate passes the checks and accepts the position.

http://nhtribune.news/node/19428

09/17/2022

Campbelle Kolbet is New Hampton High School's 2022 homecoming queen. http://nhtribune.news/node/19385

09/16/2022

Ben Tenge is New Hampton High School's 2022 homecoming king. http://nhtribune.news/node/19382

09/01/2022

Supervisors back track on purchasing all new for EMS

The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors rolled the proverbial dice Monday and voted 4-1 to turn down an offer from the county’s current ambulance provider and instead buy two new ambulances and equipment for the county-owned ambulance service that must be up and running by Jan. 1.

Three days later, though, board members back tracked and agreed to consider a new offer by Chickasaw County Ambulance Service owner Jeremy McGrath to sell the county a 2016 ambulance, equipment for three ambulances and also provide help to the new county-owned ambulance service with state licensing and protocols.

And board members reiterated that they are still interested in bringing Nashua — one of two cities in the county that did not approve 28E agreements last month to join the service — back into the fold.

During the special meeting held Thursday, supervisors put on hold the purchasing of equipment for two new ambulances it approved purchasing from Klocke’s Emergency Vehicles after McGrath, who has consistently expressed concerns that the county would get all of its equipment in time to start a service because of supply-chain issues, made his proposal that would cost the county — as he put it — “around $450,000,” a price he later said was negotiable.

“That ambulance would get you on the road and get you going for sure Jan. 1,” he said. “The radios are already installed in it, it’s equipped, it’s ready to go. … You’d still purchase your two new ambulances.”

http://nhtribune.news/node/19339

09/01/2022

Supervisors back track on purchasing all new for EMS

The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors rolled the proverbial dice Monday and voted 4-1 to turn down an offer from the county’s current ambulance provider and instead buy two new ambulances and equipment for the county-owned ambulance service that must be up and running by Jan. 1.

Three days later, though, board members back tracked and agreed to consider a new offer by Chickasaw County Ambulance Service owner Jeremy McGrath to sell the county a 2016 ambulance, equipment for three ambulances and also provide help to the new county-owned ambulance service with state licensing and protocols.

And board members reiterated that they are still interested in bringing Nashua — one of two cities in the county that did not approve 28E agreements last month to join the service — back into the fold.

During the special meeting held Thursday, supervisors put on hold the purchasing of equipment for two new ambulances it approved purchasing from Klocke’s Emergency Vehicles after McGrath, who has consistently expressed concerns that the county would get all of its equipment in time to start a service because of supply-chain issues, made his proposal that would cost the county — as he put it — “around $450,000,” a price he later said was negotiable.

“That ambulance would get you on the road and get you going for sure Jan. 1,” he said. “The radios are already installed in it, it’s equipped, it’s ready to go. … You’d still purchase your two new ambulances.”

By Bob Fenske [email protected]

08/29/2022

Library, clinic partner to bring "Reach Out and Read" to New Hampton

t was an idea New Hampton Public Library Director Carrie Becker admits she immediately knew she had to steal.

While attending the 2021 Iowa Library Association (ILA) Conference, Becker heard about a program called “Reach Out and Read” and her first thought was simple.

We have to have this in New Hampton.

Less than a year later, the nationwide program is here.

“It’s the only nationwide early literacy program that works with physicians,” Becker said, “and there’s all kind of research, all kinds of studies, that show you how important it is to read before [a child starts] school. … When it comes from a doctor or a provider, that’s a trusted source for parents.”

By Bob Fenske [email protected] It was an idea New Hampton Public Library Director Carrie Becker admits she immediately knew she had to steal.

08/29/2022

Supervisors vote 3-2 to sell office building in New Hampton

Despite the objections of a couple of New Hampton residents, the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors Monday approved the sale of an office building located at 910 E. Main Street to a company that plans to build a second Dollar General store in the city.

Supervisors voted 3-2 — with Jake Hackman, Tim Zoll and Steve Breitbach — to approve the sale of the 0.8-acre property to the Overland Group for $100,000.

During the public hearing, both Nick Noehl and Jeremy McGrath questioned the wisdom of the sale of the building that currently houses two county offices — Veterans Affairs and General Assistance — and is home to several non-profit groups.

“It’s a nice location, it’s a great lot,” Noehl said. “I just feel like that’s in the middle of a nice, residential area. As far as having that store there, I don’t feel that’s the best for the community. I think it’s better suited for a different project.”

By Bob Fenske [email protected]

08/27/2022

Chickasaws claim 22-19 victory in physical opener with MFL

Thirty-eight toss sweep.

It’s one of New Hampton’s bread-and-butter plays, and it paid big dividends for the Chickasaws Friday night when junior running back Braden McShane scored what proved the winning touchdown on the play.

But this wasn’t your typical 38 toss sweep. Let’s put it this way: McShane ad libbed — a lot, we might add — on his 19-yard touchdown run with 7:52 remaining that — thanks to a late defensive stand — proved to be the winning score in New Hampton’s 22-19 victory over MFL-Mar-Mac in the season opener for both teams.

“I took the pitch and they sent, I don’t know how many but maybe like five or six guys that way,” McShane said, “and I thought, ‘Well, that isn’t going to work.’ But I saw a lane to cut back and all I had to do was juke a defensive tackle.”

He paused and laughed.

“And if I can’t juke a defensive tackle, then I probably shouldn’t play running back."

http://nhtribune.news/node/19317

08/23/2022

Happy first day back to school to area students, teachers ... and yes, parents (enjoy your day!)

08/23/2022

Supervisors make little headway on EMS

The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors spent more than half of their three-hour meeting on Monday discussing the county's ambulance service that must be up and running by Jan. 1.

And they came to one decision: The service's name will be Chickasaw County EMS.

To be fair, board members did make progress on a job description for the service's director — agreeing on a pay range between $70,000 and $90,000, depending on certifications and experience — but spun their wheels on purchasing ambulances and equipment.

In a meeting that got testy at times, supervisors deadlocked at 2-2 — Supervisor Steve Breitbach is on vacation and wasn't at the meeting — on a proposal to spend $1.1 million to purchase four rigs and equipment from Chickasaw Ambulance Service owner Jeremy McGrath.

That's because two supervisors, Board Chair Matt Kuhn and Jason Byrne, believe they can purchase new equipment and have it delivered by Jan. 1.

"The way I look at it is if we can get new equipment for a similar price," Kuhn said, "why not go that route because if we purchase used equipment, in three years, four years, the stuff is going to be 10 years old."

http://nhtribune.news/node/19302

08/15/2022

Supervisors hire ambulance consultant, mull over new offer from Chickasaw Ambulance Service owner

The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors approved hiring a consultant to help get a county-owned ambulance service up and running during a meeting Monday in which they learned that an offer made by Chickasaw County Ambulance Service owner Jeremy McGrath to sell the county ambulances and equipment may expire soon.

After more than an hour of discussion, board members by a vote of 3-2 approved a contract for $22,500 with Iowa Falls EMS Director Corey Larson to provide consulting services to the county for a service that includes six Chickasaw County cities — New Hampton, Fredericksburg, Lawler, Ionia, North Washington and Bassett.

Board Chairman Matt Kuhn said he had talked with SafeTech Solutions officials who told him that they "didn't think it would be out of line for what Cory is discussing." Kuhn added that SafeTech, which completed a feasibility study earlier this year for the Chickasaw County Ambulance Council, said it could provide consulting services for $250 per hour.

Kuhn two weeks ago said that Larson, who drew up budgets free of charge for the Ambulance Council last month, would charge $75 per hour for work done outside the scope of the contract.

Supervisor Jake Hackman said he would vote against the contract because the county didn't have at least two bids, but Kuhn countered that he felt SafeTech's information on what it would charge sufficed as a second bid.

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08/11/2022

Mother Nature has perfect timing for area farmers

ISU Extension Agronomist Terry Basol doesn’t know any farmers who did a “happy dance” this past weekend, but then again, he’d understand if they did.

“Oh my gosh, I kind of call that a million dollar rain for our neck of the woods,” Basol said of last weekend’s precipitation that ranged from 2.80 inches near Nashua to 3.52 inches in Charles City to 3.61 inches in New Hampton. “It was getting to the point that it was becoming worrisome so the timing was, well, it was just perfect.”

Rainfall had been sparse in recent weeks; in fact, the National Weather Service reported that all three area locations received far less than the normal amount of rainfall in July. Nashua, for example, usually averages 4.74 inches of rain during the month and received just 2.55 this year. And save for a light shower on the first day of the month, August had been dry until thunderstorms moved through the area Saturday night and Sunday.

Basol said that led to concerns about topsoil moisture throughout Northeast Iowa during what is a critical time for the development of both corn and soybean plants.

By Bob Fenske Of the Reporter ISU Extension Agronomist Terry Basol doesn’t know any farmers who did a “happy dance” this past weekend, but then again, he’d understand if they did.

08/09/2022

Supervisors make no progress on hiring ambulance consultant

The sound of spinning one’s wheels may not have been literally heard in the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday, but it most definitely was heard in the figurative sense.

Board members made little progress in getting a county-owned ambulance service off the ground Monday despite a more-than-40-minute discussion.Instead, the supervisors, who voted on Aug. 3 to sign 28E agreements with six cities that obligates the county to start an ambulance service by Jan. 1, made no progress in hiring a consultant to help the county get moving on its EMS service.

County Attorney David Laudner told board members that he had talked to the State Auditor’s Office and asked officials there if the county needed to hire a consultant through a bidding process.

“He said there has to be some forethought as to bidding and spending … fair and reasonable and open competition,” Laudner said, “[but] it does not eliminate a single-source option … his big thing was documentation.”

By Bob Fenske [email protected]

08/09/2022

Supervisors appoint interim auditor, look to sell office building on East Main

On the same day that the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors appointed an interim auditor, board members also made known its intent to sell a building on East Main Street in New Hampton that houses offices for several county departments and non-profit organizations.

The actions came on Monday during the supervisors’ regular weekly board meeting.

Start with the auditor, which, effective a week from this coming Monday, will be longtime rural New Hampton resident Sheila Shekleton.

Supervisor Jake Hackman said she was the lone “applicant” to express interest in the interim position that was created when former Auditor Stephanie Mashek resigned last month.

Shekelton said she was interested in the position when it opened because of her ties to the county.

http://nhtribune.news/node/19277

08/07/2022

Governor makes stop in Ionia, touts Iowa economy.

If we learned anything about Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during her visit to Ionia this past Saturday, it is this: The governor likes her salsa “hot.”

“No mild for me,” she said with a laugh during her visit to the Ionia Fun Days Farmers Market as part of an extended swing through the northern part of the state. “The hotter, the better.”

Although Reynolds emphasized that her trip to Ionia was simply a governor doing her job, she sounded very much like a campaigner during her hour-long stay as she touted the strength of Iowa’s economy and the resilience the state is showing as, she put it, Iowa “comes out of” the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We really focused on getting out to see Iowans gathered together for fairs, events like this, and to see Iowa’s small businesses,” she said, “and what we’ve found is that we have a very vibrant state. Our people are celebrating all Iowa has to offer, our small businesses are thriving and we’re going to keep rebounding. We’ve had a tough couple of years obviously, but Iowa’s spirit is alive and well.”

By Bob Fenske [email protected] If we learned anything about Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during her visit to Ionia this past Saturday, it is this: The governor likes her salsa “hot.”

08/07/2022

Little Brown Church comes up with perfect equation - Love + Trust = Great Marriage.

Mother Nature didn’t exactly cooperate, but then again, the Little Brown Church has been doing this Marriage Reunion for a long, long time.

It adjusted just fine, and couples came from near and far Sunday to renew their vows, hear a sermon on not just love but trust and tell their stories.

“We’ve been praying for rain,” said Jesse Boatright, the wife of the famed church’s pastor, Drew McHolm, “but maybe we needed to be a little more specific.”

The reunion, which is usually held both inside and outside the church just to the east of Nashua, was mainly an indoor affair after the area received more than 3 inches of rain overnight, but it didn’t matter to the couples — some who had been married for decades and some who are dang near newlyweds.

“It means a lot to both of us,” said Adrienne O’Neill of Charles City as she and her husband, Sean, departed the church. “We’re relatively new to the area, but we’ve enjoyed becoming friends with Drew and his wife, and we really appreciate their words about marriage.”

By Bob Fenske [email protected] Mother Nature didn’t exactly cooperate, but then again, the Little Brown Church has been doing this Marriage Reunion for a long, long time.

08/03/2022

County-owned ambulance becomes a reality

After months of what seemed like countless discussions and meetings, the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors Wednesday made a publicly-owned ambulance service a reality by signing 28E agreements with six of the county's cities.

The board approved the 28E agreements with Fredericksburg, Lawler, Ionia, New Hampton, North Washington and Bassett, all on 3-1 votes. Board Chairman Matt Kuhn, Jason Byrne and Steve Bretibach voted in favor of the agreements while Jake Hackman was the lone dissenting vote on all six of the agreements. Supervisor Tim Zoll did not attend the meeting.

Before the board voted separately on each of the agreements, County Attorney David Laudner reminded the board what it was committing to by signing the agreements.

"Just so you're aware," he said, "once you sign all these, you're on the hook for an ambulance service. So the work begins."

http://nhtribune.news/node/19259

07/29/2022

Well that was fun while it lasted ... RAGBRAI made for a hell of a party in New Hampton this morning!

07/27/2022

Well folks, RAGBRAI's almost here, and we're going to give them one hell of Friday, right?

Chickasaw County is now less than two days away from welcoming thousands of bicyclists taking part in RAGBRAI, and New Hampton officials on Wednesday sent out a map that shows the route not only that cyclists will be taking but also the roads supp

05/21/2022

What a day at state track meet! Nashua-Plainfield wins Class 1A girls team title, Turkey Valley’s Jalyssa Blazek ends illustrious career with her first two state titles and New Hampton, led by Carlee Rochford, placing in four events, scores 20 points to tie for 12th in 2A!