Four individuals are running for three seats on the Odebolt-Arthur School Board in the Sept. 8 election.
Incumbents Pat Hoefling and Paul Neumann, both of Odebolt, are seeking reelection to their respective seats. Also seeking election are Stacy Raasch of Odebolt and Brad Lundell of Kiron. The top three vote-getters will be elected to the board.
Pat Hoefling 61, of Odebolt said, “My biggest concern is to keep a useful building in our district. I try to keep a watchful eye on our district. Also I try to vote in the best interests of our communities within our district.”
Hoefling feels the two biggest issues facing the district in the next couple of years are student numbers and finances mainly from the state. He said, “We need to try to keep the students we have and turn no one away and keep a close eye on our budget and make sure we don’t spend more than our allowable growth will allow.”
Hoefling has been employed as a floater operator, sprayer operator and maintenance for 31 years, Hoefling Trucking for 10 years and Hoefling Lawn Service for 10 years. He is a member of Farm Bureau, Odebolt Development Corporation and St. Martin Catholic Church and choir.
He and wife, Ann, have nine children: Joey, Nancy, Mike, Mitch, Matt, Vicki, Janet, Heidi and Scott.
Paul Neumann, 58, of Odebolt has owned Neumann Construction for 38 years. He and wife, Elaine, are the parents of Clayton, Alison, Kim and Jessica. Neumann is a member of Faith Lutheran Church, president of O-A/BC-IG Dollars for Scholars and the IASB Legislative Review Committee.
Neumann said, “I find being a school board member interesting and challenging. In the past 11 years I have been involved with the progressive changes made toward our district. I look forward to using the accumulated knowledge I have gained of district finance, student advocacy, state legislative issues and past local issues for the betterment of our district and students. I have also served on many local and state committees and attended workshops to improve my knowledge and keep current on district information.
“School budget and finance is one of the top priorities of all school issues. We have had the good fortune of having fiscally responsible superintendents in the past and have kept our district strong financially. As we have an incoming superintendent with a strong finance background that tradition should continue. Working together as a superintendent and board team we work to keep finances in check.
“Another issue we face is the stability of our districts. With enrollments not increasing in our district, stability for our students and communities is an important foundation. Whole grade sharing has given us this foundation and needs to be built upon as we move forward for our students’ opportunities and future. The world is changing fast. The public needs to be involved and informed in our district as we move forward and as a board member I will listen to your suggestions and concerns.”
Stacy Raasch, 35, of Odebolt has been employed in Ag equipment sales at Schenkelberg Implement in Sac City for four years. She and husband, Scott, are the parents of Saige (kindergarten). Raasch is a member of the Sac County Fair Board, Sac County Cattlemen’s Association and former president of the Sac County 4-H Endowment Board. She is an ISU graduate in public service and administration in agriculture and political science.
“I’m seeking election to help ensure the best education and positive experience for our children at O-A Elementary and O-A/BC-IG Middle School. I also want to continue to work for a long-term whole-grade sharing agreement or consolidation that is mutually beneficial to all communities without sacrificing the integrity of the kids’ education.”
Raasch feels the two biggest issues facing the O-A district in the coming years are whole-grade sharing and education and technology.
She said, “We need to find a mutually beneficial solution for all communities and keep the education of the kids at the highest standard. I hope to accomplish it by doing extensive research and using the resources that are available.
“Education and technology: Work to continue to educate our teachers so they can provide the top education that our kids deserve and keep our kids up to date with the ever-changing technologies.”
Brad Lundell, 39, and wife, Sarah, are the parents of Jonathan (11), Ally (eight), Jacob (three) and Jett (22 months).
Lundell graduated from Odebolt-Arthur in 1994, then attended Iowa Western Community College and graduated with a degree in ag business/farm management in 1996. He returned to the family farm to join the family operation. In addition to row crop farming of corn and soybeans, the family has grown the farming operation to include hogs and turkeys.
He is a member of Iowa Farm Bureau, attends Arthur Evangelical Free Church, plays guitar with the praise band at church, is an Awana Leader on Wednesday nights, youth soccer coach and current vice president of the Sac County 4-H endowment board.
“I am seeking election because I have a strong interest in education. I’d like to help ensure that our district continues to strive to excellence. While it is very important that we keep our students’ education a top priority as well as working to stay strong financially, I feel two of the major issues facing our school district are enrollment and district uncertainties,” said Lundell.
“So far our enrollment has been steady and to ensure that the Odebolt building stays open we have to maintain kids in the building. That is done by keeping the O-A/BC-IG sixth through eighth grades here and to ensure that our building is kept up, maintained and inviting to potential students.
“We need a better working relationship with the BC-IG school district. Additionally this plan would be in the best interest of the students and fully use the facilities for their original intent. At a recent school board meeting, conversation included the possibility of moving the middle school students to the Ida Grove facility. This dialog may have brought mistrust to community members. I feel that Odebolt has a great facility, large enough to accommodate student population numbers.
“Trying to hire teachers and administrators into a district that isn’t on the same page is challenging. Elementary teachers wondering where they will be teaching causes speculation. The districts have worked together in the past, but now the districts will have to slowly work to rebuild the trust of the community. When there is a good, trusting relationship, teacher morale is high, community spirit is flowing and our students are the real winners,” said Lundell.
Filing underway for open city council, mayor seats
Persons interested in running for open seats on area city councils could begin filing nomination papers Aug. 24. The last day to file papers is Thursday, Sept. 17, at 5 p. m.
Papers are available from the county auditor and must contain a minimum of 10 signatures of eligible voters from that community. Nomination papers must be filed with the county auditor.
In Odebolt, there are four council seats up for election. The council seats up for election are Jim Scott, Todd Bengford, Lee Hemer and Ruth Ann Mohr. Hemer and Mohr were appointed to fill unexpired terms.
The deadline for voter preregistration is Friday, Oct. 23. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
ONRC Auxiliary News
(Excerpts) The Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center (ONRC) Auxiliary met Aug. 22. Administrator Nancy Snyder reported staff has been busy cleaning the basement, as it got water in it. Thrasher Basements is coming to fix the problem. A roofing company is coming in October to fix the roof problem.
ONRC will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in October. An open house is planned for Sunday, Oct. 11.
Plans are to have a garage sale on Friday, Sept. 18, and also on Saturday. If anyone has anything to donate, it would be appreciated. Also, we may need some help with it.
The next meeting will be Sept. 17th.
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OTHER NEWS
Community Basket Mobile Food Pantry
[from Faith Lutheran Church newsletter]It is exciting as we begin another year of this very important ministry that reaches out to help meet the food insecurity that many in our communities face each month. At the mobile in Battle Creek we served 92 households from our 7 communities plus a few from outside of these communities. A special bonus for all of the households was that this month we bought laundry soap and toilet paper for each household.
Our next distribution is scheduled for September 17th at the Arthur Community Center. This ministry is funded solely on donations, with those donations being matched by monies from the Faith Foundation.
Monarch Tagging Program
Tuesday, September 8th
Sac County Conservation Building in Hagge Park
6:00-7:00 pm
The majestic monarch butterfly will be getting ready to head to Mexico. Come out to Hagge Park to help provide scientists with information about this great migration by helping to catch, tag and learn about monarch butterflies.
This program is free of charge, but preregistration is requested. To register, contact Sac County Conservation at 712-662-4530 or sccbnat@frontiernet.net.
Each session is limited to 16 children, call and reserve your spot today!
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Knee High Naturalists- Butterflies
Wednesday, September 23rd
Sac County Conservation Building in Hagge Park
9:30-10:15 am & 4:00-4:45 pm
This program is for children ages 2-4 and an attending adult. Kids and adults alike will participate in crafts, activities, and enjoy a snack. This month we will learn about butterflies! There are two identical 45 minute sessions per day.
This program is free of charge, but preregistration is required. To register, contact Sac County Conservation at 712-662-4530 or sccbnat@frontiernet.net.
Each session is limited to 16 children, call and reserve your spot today!
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