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CHANGES TO OUDOOR WARNING SIREN ACTIVATION

On Thursday June 1 2023, a new policy will take effect for the activation of the Outdoor warning sirens. Webster County Emergency Management Commission approved adding Hail and Wind as activation triggers for the sirens.

Activation Conditions:

Siren activation:

Tornado Warning

•Issued by the National Weather Service

News 31 May 2023

Share the fun of fishing during free fishing weekend June 2-4

Iowa residents can try fishing without buying a license on June 2, 3 and 4, as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) free fishing weekend. All other regulations remain in place.

News 31 May 2023

Bat survey looking for volunteers

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University are looking for volunteers interested in performing night time surveys for bats in Dubuque, Pocahontas, Marshall, Franklin and Butler counties.

The survey monitors bat occurrence in key areas of the state. It began in response to declining bat population from White Nose Syndrome, among other challenges.

News 31 May 2023

Fawning season is here, deer are on the move

The calls have been coming in to field offices and conservation officers for the past few weeks and will only increase as the first few weeks of June marks the peak of the deer fawning season.

Callers report finding an "abandoned" fawn in an unusual place, like a flowerbed or small patch of cover. Rest assured this is normal deer behavior.

News 31 May 2023

Iowa DNR Fire Program gearing up for national wildfires

AMES – While wildland fire season hasn't been active yet, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fire Program has been busy getting firefighters from Iowa ready to be dispatched to wildfires across the country.

Sports

The Dayton Leader - Staff Photo - Create Article

Sports 31 May 2023

Busy week produced two wins for SEV softball

By Greg Bates

Contributing writer

It was a jam-packed first week of the regular season for the Southeast Valley softball team.

The Titans started out 2-1 before losing all three of their games at an invitational over the weekend.

Sports 31 May 2023

Jags baseball go 1-2 in first week of season

By Greg Bates

Contributing writer

It was an up and down first week of the season for the Southeast Valley baseball team.

Sports 31 May 2023

Justin Losek and Cooper Nuss receive post season honors.

Justin Loseke and Cooper Nuss are both the recipients of a post season track & field honor as they were named Academic All-State recipients by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches this past weekend. To receive this honor, athletes must be a senior, have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher and be a state qualifier in this year’s state track & field competition.

Sports 31 May 2023

Weekly Fishing Report: Black Crappie are fair

LAKE VIEW - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released its weekly fishing report for area waterbodies, including Arrowhead Lake, Bacon Creek Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Storm Lake (Incl Little Storm Lake), Crawford Creek Impoundment, and Moorland Pond.

Sports 25 May 2023

Kitchen finishes fourth at state in shotput

By Greg Bates

Contributing writer

Coming off a season-best throw in the shotput at a state qualifier, Alex Kitchen was primed from a strong showing at the Iowa High School Track & Field Championships.

Sports 25 May 2023

Nuss, Loseke both medal at state

By Greg Bates

Contributing writer

Seniors Cooper Nuss and Justin Loseke finished their Southeast Valley boys’ track and field careers in style on the medal stand at state.

Obituaries

Obituaries 17 May 2023

Julia Irine

Julia Irene Rieken 94, passed away Friday, May 12, 2023, at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 18, 2023, at the United Methodist Church in Harcourt, with Pastor Kay. Christie officiating. Burial will be at Lost Grove Township Cemetery, near Harcourt. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Church until service time. Palmer Funeral Home, Gowrie is serving the family.

Obituaries 13 April 2023

Mary Knopf

Mary Knopf, 88, of Dayton, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, April 6, at UnityPoint Health ~ Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge.

Obituaries 6 April 2023

Daryl R. Haub

Daryl R. Haub, 84, of Dayton, Iowa, passed away on Friday, March 24 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Obituaries 15 March 2023

Larry Greenfield

Lawrence “Larry” Greenfield, 77, passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at his home in Burnside, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Burnside. Pastor John Sheahan will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Burnside.

Obituaries 15 March 2023

Frances A. Jenkins

Frances A. Jenkins 88, of Stratford, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Israel Family Hospice House Ames.

Opinions

Opinion 31 May 2023

From the Editor’s Desk: Summer

By Karl Jones

karl@calhouncountyphoenix.com

With graduation and Memorial Day behind us, summer is in full swing now.
Opinion 31 May 2023

Empty Nest: Wait and See About '23

Strange year. My first clue as to just how strange '23 was going to be was when our McIntosh Apple Tree didn't bloom. Ginnie and I have lived on the Empty Nest Farm going on eight years now, and that Mac Apple Tree has over produced every year, with apple-laden branches bent clear to the ground. The Macs are nice apples, too—full of flavor and great for eating or pies.
Opinion 31 May 2023

Conservative Corner: Memorial Day

By Paul Swanson
Opinion 31 May 2023

Coffee Therapy

It seems like all the parents and grandparents of school kids were showing pictures of the last day of school next to the first day last fall. It is obvious that all the kids have grown which makes the parents comment, "Where has the time gone?" Wait until they get our age and see how fast it goes.