On Tuesday, March 21, the Ridge View National Honor Society Induction Ceremony took place at the Rosemary Clausen Center in Holstein. Former Inductees into the National Honor Society, Jake Breyfogle and Beth Mentzer, welcomed us with a stirring speech. Grace Naberhaus educated us on the emblem, while Kyler Wunschel, Beth Mentzer, Shania Graybill, and Levi Albers educated us on Character, Scholarship, Leadership and Service. These are qualities met of a National Honor Society inductee.
Ranell Drake, driven for service all his life. He has lived on his farm near Odebolt since he was nine months old and he is 70 years old today. A life well spent on the farm is what he knows. Drake went to school for diesel mechanics in Fort Dodge and used that education in his lifetime. This is also where he met his wife Kathy, who you can tell is a proud supporter.
Shear Magic in Odebolt has been in business for 18 years. Jan Thomsen (Hoefling) bought the business from Shanda Mohr, who Thomsen credits for getting her started and teaching her the ways of the business. Thomsen wants to say thank you to her for that.
Shear Magic offers men’s and women’s hair cuts, colors, perms, waxing, kids cuts and a personal pampering for the day. When asked what she likes best about her business, she said she likes that it is very diverse. It is not the same routine everyday. Thomsen says,
Every 4-H’er knows this motto. This is exactly what the supporters of a new swine barn at the Ida County Fair want you to be a part of. This is an opportunity to continue to promote agriculture and our youth. They have a vision. They need your help.
Peggy Gebers, president of the fair board, said, “We have been discussing the new swine barn for three years now and it has just come to a point that it was time. We have raised enough money to get started. We have quotes for what it takes to build the new swine barn.”
Mike Williamson, owner of Mike’s Electric in Battle Creek, has a long family history in the small town. “I’m a hometown boy,” he stated. “I’m the sixth generation of Williamson’s here in Battle Creek. Growing up, my dad was postmaster, so I knew about everybody in town.”
Williamson talked about some of the services he provides.
This year’s theme was “Dancing through the Decades.”
Brody Bisenius and Beth Mentzer were the emcees for the night and entertained with jokes and high-energy introductions. The show was jammed full of beautiful dancers performing solo or as a group. They even had the parents involved.
On March 14, the CrossRidge Evangelical Free Church of Holstein hosted a skating party at the Skate Palace, with a wide variety of pies to choose from, in celebration of National Pi Day. March 14 is called National Pi Day because the date 3-14 correlates with the mathematical term “pi” which rounds off to 3.14. Pi is a mathematical constant, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. March 14 also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday. And 3.14 flipped backwards spells PIE. That can’t be a coincidence!
Some very sweet couples danced at the Father Daughter Dance on the eve of March 18.
Fathers brought their young daughters to the OABCIG high school for the Father Daughter Dance. There was a luncheon before, and then fathers and daughters gathered in the gym. Multiple colored balloons filled the room and lights down low where there was dancing or just tossing the balloons around. By far, it was the sweetest thing to witness as fathers showed their love to their daughters.
At the OABCIG school board meeting, the Fine arts department shared what they are doing.
Art teachers Marie Sussman, of the Ida Grove Elementary building and Madison Allen, of the Odebolt Elementary and Middle School building, presented examples and information on their class work since the beginning of the school year.
Jacob Welper talked about a piece they are working on to get students talking about mental illness and the work they did with music to support causes to assist with mental health awareness.
The Galva-Holstein Board of Education and the Schaller-Crestland Board of Education met in joint session Monday, March 13 at 7 p.m. in the Holstein media center. Board members in attendance were Tyler Gebers, Don Kalin, Beth Schossow, Jamie Whitmer, Matthew Wittrock and Jeff Witzke, as well as Superintendent Bisenius.
The Board approved the resignation of Jacquelyn Courtright, English-Language Arts teacher at the high school, at the end of the school year. The Board also approved the resignation of Joshua Sussman, High School Principal, at the end of his contract in June.
