Sioux Center, Iowa — Construction is underway on a new hospital and health center in northwest Iowa. The groundbreaking in Sioux Center was held last week on what will be a 19-bed facility. Hospital C-E-O Kayleen Lee says they’ve been working on the plan for many years.

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Lee says the panel worked with local groups to find out what types of medical services were most needed — and wanted.

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Lee says they hope to move into the new facility by the end of next year.

Hot Weather Continues to Stress Fish

The hot and dry conditions across the state continue to take its toll on Iowa fish.

A fish kill in the Des Moines River is occurring due to low water flows and high water temperature. This fish kill is in the same area as the fish kill that occurred on July 6-7.

“River conditions are getting worse, increasing an already stressful condition for fish,” said Mark Flammang, fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The combination of low water and high temperatures stresses fish, especially those susceptible to warmer water, like sturgeon, northern pike, yellow perch and walleye.

Channel catfish and bullheads, two species that are more tolerant of warmer water, are also showing signs of stress.

2011 Pheasant Harvest Tops 100,000 Roosters

The 2011 Iowa pheasant harvest reflected what the roadside counts had predicted, that the population was down after five winters with above average snowfall followed by five wetter than normal springs.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources estimates that 109,000 roosters were harvested during the 2011 hunting season, the lowest since standardized estimates began in 1962. Harvest was highest in the northwest region, followed by central and southwest.
The harvest estimate is based on a random survey of hunters. The survey is used by the DNR to estimate the number of hunters pursuing small game, hunter effort by species and harvest.

The survey collects data on quail, cottontail rabbit, squirrel, partridge, and mourning dove, in addition to pheasants.

According to the survey, an estimated 57,285 mourning doves were harvested during Iowa’s inaugural mourning dove hunting season.

Predictions for Iowa’s 2012 pheasant population and season forecast will be issued based on the upcoming August roadside survey that will take place Aug. 1-15, on more than 200, 30-mile routes.

Weather patterns this past winter and spring suggest Iowa will see its first significant increase in pheasant numbers in 6 years.

A white-tail deer at a hunting preserve in Davis County has become the first positive detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Iowa. The positive sample was verified this week, and DNR is working closely with the State Veterinarian on this isolated incident.

There is no evidence that CWD can spread to humans, pets or domestic livestock such as pork, beef, dairy, poultry, sheep or goats.

The Davis County facility where the animal was held has been inspected by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to ensure that any remaining deer remain contained. The facility is surrounded by an eight-foot fence. A quarantine has also been issued for the facility.

“Given all of Iowa’s surrounding states have confirmed cases of CWD, Iowa DNR was prepared to address this isolated incident,” said DNR Deputy Director Bruce Trautman.
The DNR and IDALS have a CWD response plan in place to address the disease.

“We have a CWD surveillance program in place to test deer, elk and moose at the facilities that raise farm deer and we have worked closely with DNR to plan for a possible finding of the disease,” said Iowa State Veterinarian Dr. David Schmitt.

Iowa has tested 42,557 wild deer and over 4,000 captive deer and elk as part of the surveillance program since 2002 when CWD was found in Wisconsin. The DNR will increase testing of wild deer in the area by working with hunters and landowners to collect samples from hunter harvested deer beginning this fall.

CWD is a neurological disease that only affects deer, elk and moose. It is caused by an abnormal protein, called a prion, which affects the brains of infected animals, causing them to lose weight, display abnormal behavior and lose bodily functions. Signs include excessive salivation, thirst and urination, loss of appetite, progressive weight loss, listlessness and drooping ears and head.

The prions can attach to soil and spread the disease among deer. Chronic wasting disease was first identified in captive mule deer at a research facility in Colorado in 1967. Prior to the positive detection in Iowa, CWD had been detected in every bordering state.

The Sioux County Youth Fair finale Wednesday, July 18 at the Sioux Speedway in Sioux Center, Iowa featured the 3rd Annual Ver Hoef Automotive Sprint Car Showdown.

The event saw a good size crowd and a number of competitors take to battle the half-mile. The B and B Salvage Hobby Stocks took to the track for two features on the night. In the first feature, Travis Schreurs took an early lead only to relinquish it to the #17L of Justin Luinenberg of Reading, Minnesota. The #1 car of Schreurs battled to nearly edge past the Luinenberg machine at the end, but came up short. Luinenberg won, Shreurs came to the line in second, but the Baltic, SD racer failed postrace inspection. That gave second place to Dylan Fitzpatrick of Sioux Falls, SD in the #82JR car. Third was #45 Drew Barglof of Sioux Rapids. #17 Trevor Holm of Chandler, MN finished fourth, and Chad Ten Napel of Sioux City, driving #32 rallied to finish fifth after being spun earlier in the race.

Feature number two put Brandon Nielsen on the pole after a last place finish in the first main event. Nielsen took the early lead, but a slight miscue let Drew Barglof take advantage and scoot by on to victory. The front of the field was tight and any miscue allowed the driver behind take advantage. Nielsen of Spencer finished second in the #T8, Justin Luinenberg finished third, Dylan Fitzpatrick fourth, and Chad Ten Napel was fifth. Barglof’s efforts allowed him to sneak out of third place in the B and B Salvage Challenge Series points to take the Championship for the second year in a row. Chad Ten Napel came up just short, 2 points behind. Brandon Nielsen was the series leader going into the night, but finished third. Justin Luinenberg was fourth in the series, and Dylan Taylor from LeMars, Iowa was fifth in the standings with the #86 car.

The Heartland Racing Association Traditional Nonwing Sprints have been dominated this year by Brett Mellenberndt when racing at their home track in Rock Rapids. This Wednesday night looked like it was going to be no different 23 miles south in Sioux Center as Mellenberndt battled the #97 car to the lead after starting outside row two. Unfortunately for him, it was not meant to be as he suffered mechanical failure on the last lap and failed to finish. Eager to pounce was Alex Schriever as he put the #0 car in victory lane for his first career HRA victory. Finishing second was #14R Randy Rosenboom, one of the original competitors at Sioux Speedway in the 1970’s. Third was #71 Jeremy Vander Plaats. In fourth was #91 Jeff Davis, and Steve Yarns drove the #98 car to a fifth place finish.

The 3rd Annual Ver Hoef Automotive Sprint Car Showdown JSTS Sprint Car field saw 30 competitors from throughout the Midwest and Canada take to the track to try earn the $2000 top prize. Four heat races and a B-Feature slimmed the A-Main field to 20 very fast winged 360 sprint cars. Canadian Lou Kennedy, Jr. started on the pole in his #21K machine and stretched out an early lead. The race encountered a few cautions, but his lead was only challenged after a caution for a slowing John Lambertz in the #12L. After the caution, Illinois native Kaley Gharst drove his #6 machine around Kennedy in turn one only to have the #21K drive back to the lead in turn three. Lou Kennedy, Jr. went on to win the main event by about half a straightaway with Gharst in second. Missouri’s Brian Brown was the hard charger of the night as he started the main event outside row six in twelfth position to finish in third. Nebraska hotshoe Billy Alley picked up the fourth position, and another Kennedy racing machine, Thomas Kennedy finished fifth in the #20K.

This event concludes the 40th Anniversary season at Sioux Speedway. Thanks for supporting the speedway and joining us in 2012, we hope to see you again in 2013.

For complete results visit www.siouxspeedway.net

A hot Tuesday evening at the Sioux County Youth Fair saw a mix of familiar foes and some newcomers to the Sioux Speedway in 2012 for the 4th Annual Mouw Motor Company Stock Car Nationals. The first class to take to the track for their main event was the B and B Salvage Hobby Stocks. Newcomer, Corey Probst out of Worthington, Minnesota took the early lead in his #75C car and set his sights on victory lane; however, Sioux Speedway veteran Drew Barglof took advantage of a restart and put his #45 machine out in front of Probst. The Sioux Rapids driver went on to pick up his second career Hobby Stock victory at Sioux Speedway. Following Barglof was Probst in second. Reading, Minnesota’s Justin Luinenberg picked up a third place finish in the #17L. Another driver making his first start at Sioux Speedway in 2012, Trevor Holm, finished fourth in his #17 car. Rounding out the top five behind the Chandler, Minnesota competitor was Brandon Nielsen of Spencer in the #T8. Nielsen takes sole possession of first place in the B and B Salvage Challenge Series going into the final event July 18. #32, Chad Ten Napel of Sioux City sits 4 points back in second, and Drew Barglof moves into third 14 markers back.

The Steve Brouwer Trucking B-Modifieds saw some fierce battles on the track and a first time Sioux Speedway winner. Steve Bents from Rushmore, MN took the early lead and had June 28 winner Jake Simpson in tow trying to run Bents down. A caution for the #43k of Josh Kelderman restacked the field and setup for a restart. Simpson got a good run on the restart and he and Bents got together before they even made it to the flagstand. Simpson ended up against the front stretch guardrail in his #5 car. The caution flag waved once again with the #15B of Bents and the #5 of Simpson both relegated to the tail. That allowed Mitch Van Engen of Doon to take advantage and cruise to victory in his #9 machine, his first on the Sioux County half-mile. Bents battled back to finish second. Dan Van Bruggen of Hospers picked up a third place finish in the #42V. Algona’s Jake Simpson ended up fourth and Harvey Vande Weerd of Alton came home in fifth with the #44V machine.

The Sybesma Graphics Stock Car division took to the track to decide the 2012 Mouw Motor Company Stock Car Nationals Champion. 2010 winner, Troy Woelber took the early lead on the low side, but Elijah Zevenbergen battled on the outside to eventually take the lead. For most of the early part of the race the top five to six cars raced door-to-door. As Woelber was collected in a wreck in turns 1 and 2, Zevenbergen had to fend off new challenges by Jake Masters in the #11 as well as Randy Brands in the #27 car. Masters from Greattinger took the lead from the #66Z Zevenbergen machine near midway and Boyden, Iowa racer Brands followed suit passing Zevenbergen for second. As Stefan Sybesma and Zevenbergen battled for third, Brands started hunting down Masters. For a number of laps the #27 car kept pace, but was about a half of a straightaway behind the #11. Brands found the bottom side of turns 1 and 2 to his liking in the late stages and was in striking distance of the Masters machine with about four laps to go. Brands stuck the nose underneath Masters, but did not have enough to battle the #11 car out of the corner. On the next lap, Jake Masters took the low line to quell the charge by Brands. Masters went on to win, Randy Brands was second. Stefan Sybesma took the #5B car from an eigth place starting spot to third, Ocheyedan’s Zevenbergen came home in fourth, and Paul Wenzlaff of Yankton, SD finished fifth in the #10X car.

Please make sure to join us for the 3rd Annual Ver Hoef Automotive Sprint Car Showdown Wednesday, July 18 as pit gates will open at 5 pm, grandstands open at 6 pm, and racing will start at 7:30. This event will feature the JSTS Winged 360 Sprint Cars, HRA Traditional Nonwing Sprints and Hobby Stock Double Features.

For complete results visit www.siouxspeedway.net

2012 Siouxland Conference Baseball Standings
Conference Overall
MOC-FV 13-3 19-10
West Lyon 11-5 17-9
B-H/RV 10-6 13-14
Central Lyon 9-7 16-11
Sheldon 8-7 12-15
Sioux Center 6-10 11-15
Okoboji 6-9 11-15
George-Little Rock 5-11 12-14
Sibley-Ocheyedan 3-13 5-17

1st Team All Conference 
Colin Sandbulte GLR 12
Trevor Johnson Sheldon 12
Cody Hatting Sheldon 12
Zach Jones Okoboji 12
Jon Van Beek West Lyon 11
Brandon Snyder West Lyon 10
Ethan Stofferan Sibley-Ocheyedan 12
Luke Grooters Central Lyon 11
Ross Ackerman Central Lyon 12
Christian Rozeboom Sioux Center 9
Caleb De Haan MOC-FV 12
Lawton De Jong MOC-FV 12
Casey Guthmiller MOC-FV 11
Colin Pennings MOC-FV 11

2nd Team All Conference 
Jacob Moser West Lyon 12
David De Haan MOC-FV 11
Jared De Bey Central Lyon 12
Brent Klingenberg GLR 10
Brandon Frick Sheldon 12
Jerod Hanson BHRV 10
Kyle Jensen BHRV 12
Alex Koepp Okoboji 12
Kamden Glade Sioux Center 11
Miles Kleinhesselink Sioux Center 12

Honorable Mention
Tyler O’Connor Sibley-Ocheyedan 11
Judd Rozeboom GLR 12
James Halbur Okoboji 12
Ty Brink Sioux Center 11
Chad Den Hartog Sheldon 12
Chris Ladd Central Lyon 12
Tyler Dolieslager BHRV 11
Tyler Kruse West Lyon 12
Tyler Harald MOC-FV 12

The Western Christian Wolfpack won the Class 2A District 1 title Saturday night with a 4-3 win over Boyden Hull Rock Valley at Open Space Park in Sioux Center. With the win the Wolfpack move on to the Substate 1 game Tuesday night in Spencer with a spot in the Class 2A State Tournament up for grabs. It will be a rematch of last years title game as Alta Aurelia defeated North Union 5-1 Saturday night in Emmetsburg in the District 2 Championship game.

Western got on the board first with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third inning. Jordan Van Maanen reached on an error then scored as Davis Fenchel reached on an error as well. Fenchel would later score on a wild pitch.

Boyden Hull Rock Valley got a run back in the bottom of the inning as Blake Eichmann drilled a double to open the inning and came in to score on a single down the third base line by Isaiah Richter.

In the tip of the fourth Western scored two more to take a 4-1 lead when Heath Bonestroo reached on an error and later scored on an rbi single that kicked up the chalk on the leftfield line behind third base off the bat of Van Maanen that ended up in the corner.

Marcus De Jager reached on a walk and eventually scored from third on a sac fly to center off the bat of Grant Van Bemmel.

The Nighthawks answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth as Chris Sietstra reached on an error to open the inning and was followed by Tyler Dolieslager who walked. Sietstra scored on a fielder’s choice by Kyle Jensen. Dolieslager came in on an rbi single to the left side of the infield by Eichmann.

Both defenses and pitchers settled in after that to and the final three innings of the game were scoreless.

Grant Van Bemmel went the distance for the win. He gave up 5 hits walked 2 and struck out 3.

Tyler Dolieslager went the first 3 innings and was tagged with the loss. He gave up just 3 hits and struck out 4. David De Bruin went the final 4 innings giving up just 1 hit and retired the side in order twice.

With the win Western Christian improves to 15-14. BHRV ends the year at 13-15.

Western will meet Alta Aurelia Tuesday night in Spencer with the winner advancing to the State 2A Tournament. We’ll bring you the broadcast on KIWA FM 105.3.

In other District title games in Class 1A District 2 Remsen St Mary’s defeated Central Lyon 6-4. They will host Lawton Bronson on Tuesday night. Lawton Bronson eliminated Hinton 12-6 at Lawton Bronson for the District 1 Championship.

In 1A District 3 Storm Lake St Mary’s defeated South O’Brien7-1 at Storm Lake. They will meet Algona Garrigan who eliminated West Bend Mallard 4-0 for the District 4 title. That game will be played at Algona Garrigan. All start times Tuesday will be at 7pm.

Iowa Governor Branstad has ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff beginning at 5:00pm on today, July 13, 2012 until 8:00am on Monday, July 16, 2012 in honor of United States Army Sergeant James Skalberg Jr. originally of Emerson who died on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 in Afghanistan. All individuals are encouraged to join in this tribute.

Boyden Hull Rock Valley and Western Christian will meet for the Class 2A District 1 Baseball title on Saturday as both posted semi final wins Tuesday night at Open Space Park in Sioux Center.

In the first game of the night a pair of big innings was the difference as the Nighthawks outlasted the Sheldon Orabs 11-8. In the first inning Sheldon took an early 1-0 lead as Cody Hatting led off with a single and scored on a single to right by Trevor Johnson.

The Nighthawks took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning as they plated 3 runs. The big hit was a 2 run double to center by Isaiah Richter.

In the bottom of the third BHRV plated 3 more. Jerod Hanson highlighted the inning with a 2 run single.

Sheldon cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the 5th. Cody Hatting drilled a triple to the fence in left and scored on a sac fly by Brandon Frick. Trevor Johnson doubled and later scored on an error.

The Orabs took a 7-6 lead in the top of the 6th as they loaded the bases for Brandon Frick who responded with a two out triple that rolled to the fence in left to drive in 3. the throw in was bobbled as Frick came in to score the 4th run of the inning.

The Nighthawks answered with a 5 run 6th inning keyed by 2 run double by Hanson who drove in 4 runs on the night. A double by Chris Sietstra drove in 2 more. When the inning ended BHRV was back in front 11-7.

Sheldon got a run back in the top of the 7th as Graden Nordahl drove in the Orabs final run with a single to centerfield.

Kyle Jensen went the first 5 and two thirds innings for the Nighthawks with Tyler Dolieslager finishing up. Trevor Johnson went the first 5 innings for Sheldon with Cody Hatting on in relief getting 2 strike outs. The other out came when right fielder Chad Den Hartog threw out a runner out at the plate.

With the win Boyden Hull Rock Valley improves to 13-14 on the year while Sheldon ends the season at 14-15.
In the second game Western Christian jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Unity Christian came roaring back. 3 runs scored in the second inning. As Drake Vant Hul drove in a run with a fielders choice and Heath Bonestroo singled in a run. The third run was unearned.

In the third inning two more came across as Colton Van Otterloo hit a sac fly to right and Van’t Hul stroked a double to drive in his second run of the game.

Unity plated 5 runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 5-5. The inning was highlighted by a 2 run single up the middle by Trevor Dorhout.

The Knights took their first lead of the game at 8-5 with 3 more runs in the top of the sixth. Grant Kobza singled in a run and Aaron Van Wyhe followed runs with a single up the middle that plated the other two.

Western countered with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning and the score was back to even at 8-8. Davis Fenchel singled in a run and Ryan Le Loux drove in 2 with a double to the fence in center.

Western held Unity scoreless in the top of the seventh before scoring the game ender in the bottom of the inning. With 1 out Van’t Hul drilled a triple to the fence in centerfield. Bonestroo followed with a single through the left side of the infield for the game winning rbi.

Colin Faber went the first 4 and a third innings with Marcus De Jager coming on with the bases loaded and went the final 2 and two thirds. Alex Schoonhoven went the distance and took the loss.

With the win Western improves to 14-14 for the season while Unity ends the year at 10-22.

On Saturday its Western and Boyden Hull Rock Valley back at Open Space Park for the District Championship and a berth in the Substate game in Spencer on Tuesday the 17th. We’ll bring you the broadcast of both games on the Heart of Rock KIWA FM 105.3. Pregame for both contests begin at 6:50 with a 7pm first pitch for both games.