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Risefest 2016 Seeks Volunteers

RiseFest 2016Sheldon, Iowa — Risefest, the Christian Music Festival presented in Sheldon each summer by Rise Ministries, is seeking volunteers for Risefest 2016.

Tina Cronin is Volunteer Coordinator for Risefest 2016, and she says they have approximately 600 volunteer positions that need to be filled.

She says one of the places that requires the most volunteers is the Merchandise Tent.

In addition, Cronin says a large number of volunteers are needed to work the Kids Zone at Risefest.

Other areas in need of volunteers include:  Gates & Greeting; Parking; Prayer Tent; Security; and more.  She says there is also a need for volunteers to help get the volunteers organized and in possession of the things they’ll need for their shifts.

Cronin says Risefest volunteers not only get the rewarding feeling that comes with helping with the festival, but get something more tangible, as well.

She says that volunteering for Risefest 2016 is simple, and can be done online.

To volunteer for Risefest, 2016, just click on this link.

Risefest 2016 will be held Father’s Day Weekend, June 17th and 18th, at the Risefest grounds just north of Highway 18 on Country Club Road in Sheldon.

Planned Solar Park Near Sibley To Create Power

Sibley, Iowa — Osceola County appears to be big into alternative or “green” energy. Several wind turbines have dotted the Osceola County countryside for several years. Now the environment is going to create electrical power in another way.
sun solar
A “solar park” is going to built north of Sibley near Hawkeye Point — financed partially through the member-owners of Osceola Electric Cooperative.

Osceola County Economic Development Director Mike Earll tells us more.


Earll says location was important to the REC.


The Sterler Solar Park cost is estimated at $480,000, and construction is slated to begin in April.

ISU Extension Offering Test Drive On Sheep Apps

sheepOrange City, Iowa — Sheep producers and agri-business professionals are invited to attend a hands-on computer workshop Tuesday, March 29 at the Sioux County Extension Office in Orange City.

The workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. and features two computer programs – Sheep BRANDS and the ISU Sheep Feedlot Monitoring Program, according to Iowa State University Extension’s Beth Doran.


She says the BRANDS program aids in formulating sheep diets; and the Feedlot Monitoring Program monitors and projects the performance of feedlot lambs.


She tells us about the facilitators of the workshop.


The workshop is jointly sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board, the Iowa Sheep Industry Association and the Northwest Iowa Sheep Producers. Computers will be supplied so participants do not need to bring their computers. To register, please call the Sioux County Extension Office at 712-737-4230 no later than this Friday, March 25.

Doran says the workshop is similar to a test drive, and will offer producers a chance to “try before they buy.”

NOAA: Listen To Entire Severe Weather Message

UPDATE — The Statewide Tornado Drill that was planned for Wednesday of this week — March 23rd — has been postponed to Thursday, March 24th, due to impending weather.

Sheldon, Iowa — This is Severe Weather Awareness Week In Iowa. Each day this week, the National Weather Service Is focusing on a different severe weather topic. Today’s topic is warning reception.

One of the most important precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family from severe weather is to remain weather aware — staying informed of the weather forecast and alert to the potential hazards.

Todd Heitkamp, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service says one of the most important questions they ask this week is how are you going to receive warning information?


While we here at KIWA provide detailed weather information, watches, and warnings, we realize that on days when severe weather may threaten the area, there are times when you can’t always listen, such as when you’re in church or during a meeting.

Heitkamp says there are many services available now including those available on the radio, apps, text messages, or emails on your cell phone, and weather radio to name a few. But he says to keep in mind that not all services work in all situations, and all of them can fail at the most important time — so you should have more than one way to get watches and warnings.


He also says that knowing about severe weather in the area doesn’t do any good if you don’t pay attention to the specifics — because warnings are not all the same — and then act on that information.


No matter how you are alerted to the fact that there is severe weather in the area, don’t forget to turn on KIWA Radio and listen for complete coverage while the storm system is in our area and producing severe weather.

For more information, click here for the National Weather Service’s Warning Reception Brochure.

Pride Of The Dutchmen Band To March In Hollywood Christmas Parade

MOC-FV Pride of Dutchmen Dutchman Marching Band 2Orange City, Iowa — The Pride Of The Dutchmen Marching Band from MOC-Floyd Valley High School are going Hollywood.  More accurately, they’re going TO Hollywood during their Thanksgiving break this fall.

According to Band Director Steve Connell, the Pride of the Dutchmen Marching Band has accepted an invitation to perform at the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, California.  The band will be one of 17 bands from across the country and around the world that have been invited to march down Hollywood Boulevard at the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Sunday, November 27th.

Connell says this will be the first Thanksgiving holiday trip for the Pride Of The Dutchmen Marching Band.

He says the application process to be invited to march in the parade was quite extensive.

Connell says that, as exciting as the Hollywood Christmas Parade is for the band, they will have other performances while in Southern California, as well, including one at Disneyland on November 25th.

Connell says that he and his wife traveled to southern California a few weeks ago to line up hotels, as well as other arrangements for the band’s trip.  He says that while there, they toured the USS Iowa Battleship Memorial, which is permanently docked at Long Beach Harbor.  It was there, he says, that a chance conversation with a ticket seller at the museum landed a third performance opportunity for the band.

The Pride Of The Dutchmen will perform a 30-minute concert at the USS Iowa Battleship Memorial beginning at 10:30 Sunday morning, November 27th.  They will be in southern California from November 23rd through November 28th

Ruling In Favor Of City Of Sibley In Blood Plant Case

Sibley, Iowa — According to the Osceola County Clerk of Court’s office, a magistrate is ruling that the Iowa Drying and Processing plant in Sibley will have to pay nearly $9000 in fines for a smell emanating from the plant.
Osceola County Courthouse Closeup_SVA
The case was heard on Monday, March 21st. Since Iowa Drying and Processing and their legal counsel failed to appear at the non-jury trial, the magistrate listened to the city’s argument, which alleged ten counts of the city’s offensive smells ordinance, and found in favor of the city.

In 2013, Iowa Drying and Processing purchased the former AMPI (that’s Associated Milk Producers, Inc.) building near Sibley’s downtown. Among their products, Iowa Drying and Processing makes a a high-protein agricultural blood product called plasma that goes into pet foods, according to company officials, and they admit that sometimes the process releases an odor.

The company said they’d install a deodorizing apparatus that would pump out a wintergreen smell, but Sibley City Administrator Glenn Anderson says it’s not working. And that’s a problem because Andrson says when it’s bad, people don’t want to go out to eat in Sibley’s restaurants or shop in Sibley’s stores.

A more expensive “wet scrubber” solution to the odor problem is being considered. The Sibley City Council wants it installed by April 1st.

Iowa Drying and Processing has been fined by the City of Sibley numerous times. According to court records, the first fine was for $50. After that fine, the Sibley City Council decided to change the odor ordinance. The old ordinance called for fines of $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, and $200 for each subsequent offense. The new ordinance calls for a first offense fine of $750 and subsequent fines of $1000.

After the ordinance changed, the plant continued to receive fines — first a $750 fine, and now eight more $1000 fines for a total of $8800 in fines. Fees and court costs will also likely be tacked on, and 2.54% interest will be charged. The clerk’s office says the deadline for Iowa Drying and Processing to pay is May 2nd.