News

Sheldon, Iowa — Several weeks ago we told you that the Sheldon High School Band had been selected to perform at this year’s Iowa Bandmaster’s Association Convention in Des Moines, a week from this Friday.  Sheldon High School Band Director Cliff St. Clair says that, while the band members are excited about that opportunity, they are more focused on their Tuesday (May 3rd) evening Spring Concert, and Large Group Contest this Saturday (May 7th).

St. Clair says the band has been putting in extra-length practices, since their performance for the Iowa Bandmasters will run 45 minutes, nearly twice as long as their normal concerts.

He says the band is preparing to face the single toughest audience for whom they will perform all year.

The Orab Band is the only Class 2A band appearing at the Bandmasters Association Convention this year.  In fact, there were no bands in Class 3A that were accepted to play for the 2016 convention.  The Sheldon band is also the lone band from this part of the state, in any class, that earned the right to perform.

St Clair says the Sheldon High School Band will perform for the Iowa Bandmasters Association Convention at 1:00 pm, Friday, May 13th, at the Downtown Marriott in Des Moines.

Other bands chosen to perform at this years Iowa Bandmasters Association Convention include:
4A – Ames High School  – Chris Ewan, director
3A – None selected
2A – Sheldon High School – Cliff St. Clair, director
1A – Springville High School – Jennifer Adams, director
Middle School 4A/3A – Northwest Junior H.S. – Jane Triplett and Kevin Brown, directors
Middle School 2A/1A – Clarinda Community School – Marty Aldrich, director
Elementary – Excelsior Middle School – Steve King, director
Jazz – Johnston High School – Jeff Robilliard, director
Jazz – Southeast Junior H.S. – Bill Pringle, director
Cedar Rapids Jazz Big Band – Al Naylor, director
Eastern Iowa Brass Band – Alex Beamer, director
Graceland University – Erin Bodnar, director

Northwest Iowa — We may soon be paying less for eggs at the grocery store, as egg production operations in northwest Iowa and elsewhere are recovering from last year’s outbreak of bird flu. That outbreak sent egg prices skyward, but the number of laying hens nationally is now approaching pre-flu levels. As a result, U-S-D-A economist Annemarie Kuhns says retail egg prices are dropping.

She says the U-S-D-A expects retail egg prices to fall nine-to-ten-percent this year compared to the average 2015 price. Some 34-million birds on 77 Iowa farms had to be destroyed after contracting the virus last year.

O’Brien County, Iowa — The cities of Primghar and Hartley will hold special elections tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3rd.

In Primghar the issue at hand is whether the city should take control of the natural gas system. The system is now owned by Black Hills Energy, based in Rapid City, South Dakota. The Primghar City Council voted to cancel its franchise agreement with Black Hills Energy. The Council now proposes to take over the natural gas system and create a City-owned municipal utility.

Black Hills Energy has been running a campaign against the move, saying prices could go up, since while the gas company’s prices are regulated by the Iowa Utilities Board, a municipal system would set its own rates, unchecked by a state board.

Proponents for City ownership say money from the sale of gas could be funneled into other city projects, such as a new swimming pool. They also emphasize that their opinion is that local control is better than control in Des Moines or Rapid City.

Black Hills says the system is not for sale. If the vote goes through, the City would start a legal process in an attempt to force Black Hills Energy to sell its system to the City. The purchase price would be determined in court.

In Hartley, the election will decide on the replacement of a city council member. The lone name on the ballot is Valerie Moermond, and unless a write-in candidate would get more votes, Moermond would be the winner. The winner will fill the vacancy created when Brad Meendering unexpectedly resigned in February.

Polling places are the O’Brien County Courthouse Community Room for Primghar voters and the Hartley Public Library for Hartley voters. Polling hours are noon until 8 PM in both communities.

Click here for sample ballots.