OA VOTERS APPROVE LEVY - Tuesday, Feb. 1, voters in the Odebolt-Arthur School District overwhelmingly approved continuing the instructional support levy (ISL) for five years, according to unofficial election results. A total of 354 votes were cast with 315 yes and 39 no votes.
In Odebolt, voters approved the measure by 206 to 22. Residents in Ida and Crawford Counties voted in Arthur with 45 voters approving the ISL and seven individuals voting no. Of the 74 absentee ballots cast, 64 were in favor and 10 were against it.
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GIRLS BASKETBALL The O-A/BC-IG girls defeated a pair of state ranked teams in the semifinals and finals of the Western Valley Conference basketball tournament last week. The Falcons (19-0), ranked first in class 2A, played L-B, 15th ranked in 2A, in the semifinals and Ar-We-Va, ranked third in 1A, in the finals. This was the eighth year in row that the Falcons reached the finals of either the Maple Valley or Western Valley Conference basketball tournaments. O-A/BC-IG opens regional tournament play against Cherokee this Saturday at 7 p.m. in Ida Grove.
BOYS BASKETBALL The O-A/BC-IG boys’ topped River Valley 90-51 in a conference tournament consolation bracket contest played in Sloan Friday. The Falcons open district tournament play next Monday, Feb. 14 with a 7 p.m. home game against Alta-Aurelia. Coach Jon Nelson said if the Falcons win their first round district game there is a good chance they could play their second round game on Feb. 17 at home. O-A/BC-IG’s record stands at 12-5 heading into play this week.
THE ODEBOLT NURSING AND REHAB CENTER AUXILIARY will crown a king and queen for Valentine’s Day. “Elvis” will be there to sing love songs that day. The next meeting is Feb. 17 with staff serving.
O-A EDUCATION FOUNDATION ACCEPTS ONLINE DONATIONS Donations and memorials can be made to the Odebolt-Arthur Education Foundation online safely and securely. No stamps to buy, no trip to the post office. You can choose any amount, type in the name of who your memorial is for and who to notify of your donation. When you have submitted your information, you will receive an instant receipt to your e-mail, plus you will receive a receipt in the mail along with an Endow Iowa Tax Credit Application.
Go to
www.desmoinesfoundation.org and choose “Donate On-Line.” Then click on “Affiliate Funds,” then “Sac County.” Find the dropdown box and choose “Odebolt Arthur Education Foundation Endow Iowa Fund.” From there you can enter the information requested to complete your donation/ memorial which then qualifies for the Endow Iowa Tax Credits.
Consider giving to the O-A Education Foundation for the future of the school. For more information, contact Carol Auen at 668-4860.
TOWNS RECEIVE TREES PLEASE! GRANT MidAmerican Energy Company is providing $229,000 to 81 cities and community organizations throughout its Iowa service territory in support of its latest Trees Please! program. Trees Please! funds are distributed to local communities each year to promote energy efficiency and environmental beautification through the planting of trees.
Area communities/groups receiving funding are Battle Creek, Odebolt and Schleswig, $1,000 each; and Holstein Boy Scout Troop 144, $2,000. The grants are based entirely on the individual merits of the project, the benefit to the community and the ability to obtain matching funds. Communities were notified in December 2010 they would receive a grant and checks are being delivered to winning communities.
For more information about Trees Please!, call 800-434-4017.
O-A/BC-IG DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS FUND-RAISER DINNER IS APRIL 10 The O-A/BC-IG Dollars for Scholars Foundation Board announces its second annual event of “An Evening for Education” on Sunday, April 10, 5 p.m. at Skate Palace in Ida Grove.
Those attending will enjoy a dining experience in the festive setting provided by the previous night’s junior–senior prom.
The meal will include New York strip steak prepared by the Sac and Ida County Cattlemen with salad, potato, vegetable, and dessert served tableside by O-A/BC-IG High School students (and future scholarship recipients).
The evening begins with a reception at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and entertainment at 7:30 p.m. The comedian, Toby Kid an Iowa native, will share his small-town Iowa humor. Following his act, there will be a live auction and the results of the silent auction. Suggested attire is business to business casual, and Knop Photography will be on hand for portrait packages with a percentage of the proceeds going to the scholarship fund. All proceeds fund the scholarships provided each year to O-A/BC-IG seniors who apply. In 2010, a total of $179,851 in scholarships were awarded to 72 students.
(Click
http://www.oabcig.org/OA-BCIG%20scholarship%20Foundation.htm for complete information.)
TO THE EDITOR:
If it’s possible, I have great pride in our local community more than ever before. The overwhelming support of the instructional support levy in last week’s public election was a wonderful message for our local school administrators and board of education.
It is an indication that the patrons of the communities within the Odebolt-Arthur School District understand the importance of creating the optimum learning environment for our young people, especially in these challenging times. But it’s like Yogi Berra says, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”
Our local school, like many across our state, will continue to benefit from this financial assistance as it has for many years. Our state’s will not be raised, but the educational expectations of our young people certainly will.
- Al Wilke Odebolt
TO THE EDITOR:
It gives us a good feeling to live in communities with such a great voter turn out in spite of inclement weather as we had on Feb. 1 for the renewal of the Instructional Support Levy.
With 315 of the 354 ballots cast at the polls as Yes votes, this sends an overwhelming positive message that the patrons of our communities partner hand in hand with our administration, teachers and school board at Odebolt-Arthur. This partnership will help reassure that each and every student who passes through our schools will receive and maintain the great quality education as they have in the past and into the future.
Academic achievement is no small task and with the incredible work of our administration and teachers and staff and community support that we are very proud of at Odebolt-Arthur, it is attainable. Thank you.
- Paul Neumann O-A board member
