News

Sheldon, Iowa — The Sheldon Community Ambulance Team, or SCAT, is finding itself in a position that many other rural ambulance services have been experiencing in recent months, namely a shortage of EMT’s to staff SCAT’s two ambulances.

SCAT Director Cindy Freeman will speak to the Sheldon City Council at their meeting Wednesday afternoon to inform them of the problem that she sees on the horizon.

Freeman says that, while SCAT isn’t in staffing trouble yet, she wants to be proactive with the situation, since circumstances can change overnight.  She says they’ve been trying different things to attract new members, but the most successful has been word of mouth.

She says that she has done some calculations on how many volunteer hours are required to cover a 24/7 ambulance service like SCAT.

Freeman says that, while they are currently able to fully staff SCAT’s two ambulances, they are still in need of additional volunteers.  She says that anyone who wants more information about SCAT, or thinks they may want to volunteer, can do so in a variety of ways.

She says that, as other area ambulance teams lose membership, SCAT is called on more and more frequently to provide ambulance services to surrounding towns, as well as handling all the calls in Sheldon.

Marshall, Minnesota — Four high school marching bands from the KIWA listening area will perform Saturday evening during the 20th Annual Pursuit of Excellence Marching Band Competition in Marshall, Minnesota.

The competition begins with the National Anthem at 5:25 Saturday afternoon, with bands starting at 5:30.  Bands from our area competing include:  The Wildcat Marching Band from West Lyon High School, at 7:00 pm, and the Sheldon Marching Orabs, who will compete at 7:45 pm.  Both schools will be competing in the Crimson Class; the Sibley-Ocheyedan Marching Generals, who will take to the field at 8:55 Saturday night in the Navy Class; and the MOC-Floyd Valley Dutchmen Marching Band, who will appear at 9:55 pm in the Ivory Class.

In addition, spectators will be treated to an exhibition performance by the Southwest Minnesota Mustang Pep Band at 8:15, as well as a judged exhibition by the Marshall, Minnesota High School Band at 10:40 pm.

Crimson Class Awards will be presented at 8:30 pm, with Navy and Ivory Class Awards being handed out at 10:55 Saturday night.

Gates will open at 4:30 pm for Saturday night’s 20th Annual Pursuit of Excellence Marching Band Competition.

Sheldon, Iowa — Several years ago, the City of Sheldon changed their zoning regulations with regard to moving a house to a new location in the city. According to the current zoning rules, a special exception must be requested for relocating a used residential property within the city. This requires a public hearing before the Board of Adjustment. Matt and Renae Hartog have purchased one of the lots in the Sunshine Addition which the city sold for one dollar. They told a recent meeting of the Board of Adjustment that they plan to construct a basement on that lot and move their current house from Sanborn to Sheldon.

About a dozen people either filed comments or voiced their opinion on the matter at the public hearing. Most of them were people living in the Sunshine addition who were opposed to the granting of a special exception for this purpose. Several people said they understood that those who bought the lots for a dollar were required to begin new construction within one year and moving an older house in could not be considered ‘new’ construction. Others felt that the proposed home would not be in line with the covenants for that residential area, calling attention to the covenant which states, “No building shall be erected on any lot unless the design and location is in harmony with existing structures and locations in the tract and does not violate any Protective Covenants.”

One resident said she wished Mr. Hartog had contacted his future neighbors and explained his plans.

After the discussion, the Board voted unanimously to deny the request for a special exception.