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VOLUME 154 • NO. 36 • $1.00 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF HARDIN COUNTY ELDORA, IOWA 641-939-5051 www.eldoranewspapers.com /eldoranewspapers

Pine Lake renovations

continueBy Elaine Loring

News Editor ELDORA – Beyond the barricades of a blocked drive-way, and through a tunnel made by a canopy of trees, construction crews continue to work on facilities at Pine Lake State Park. “Normally we’d be full,” State Park Manager Don Pri-mus said. “Especially with one of our big holidays coming up.” Labor Day looked quite different this year as the park is closed until all renovation projects are complete. An Oct.

12 finish date was original-ly scheduled, but storms and other acts of nature have add-ed some time to that, Primus said. The over $1,000,000 in con-struction and updates include an open-air shelter house, which will overlook the lake, new toilets at Circle Point, and new restrooms and showers at the campgrounds. The cabins, which were built in 1933, have also practically been gutted

Above: Pine Lake State Park remains closed to campers as construction continues in

different areas around the park.

At right: This American Ginseng plant grows wild at Pine Lake State Park this time of year,

but is illegal to harvest on public land.See PINE LAKE:

Page 2

Ambitious Ackley entrepreneur is farmers

market vendorBy Sarah Carson

News Writer ACKLEY - The road to the Na-tionals is being paved with cookies and fresh garden produce for one energetic youth. A stop at Ackley’s Victory Park between 5 and 6 p.m. on any sunny Monday evening will be met with the cheerful smile of none

other than Maielle Roelfs. Accom-panied by her neighbor, John Muller, the soon-to-be 13-year-old is selling huge, delicious cookies, along with zucchini, cucumbers, green beans, and tomatoes from her gardens to raise money for an upcoming trip to the Bible Quiz Fellowship Nationals. It would be a challenge to find many 12-year-olds (or many adults

From cookies to quizzes

See FARMERS MARKET: Page 3

Ackley residents, John Muller and Maielle Roelfs, sell cookies and produce at Ackley’s Victory Park Farmers Market recently. Roelfs is selling her items in an effort to raise money to attend the Bible Quiz Fellowship Nationals, scheduled at the Wisconsin Dells in April 2021.

Primus objection overruled

By Elaine LoringNews Editor

ELDORA – It did not take very long for a panel of three Re-publicans to determine the fate of Hardin County Supervisor candidate and Democrat Don Primus, at a special Aug. 31 meeting. Mark Seward of New Prov-idence, had submitted an objection to the Hardin County Auditor’s of-fice on Aug. 21, stating that the nomination process used by the Democrats was not done proper-ly. Primus was chosen as supervi-sor candidate via a Zoom meeting during a Democratic convention on Aug. 4. Hardin County Super-visor Lance Granzow had select-ed a panel of three Republican county government officials to make a decision on Primus’ can-didate status because there are no elected Democrats in the court-house, and only one who has no party affliation. Primus said he “had heard” that Seward had filed a com-plaint, but had never received a certified letter, in the mail or otherwise, telling of the complaint. According to Iowa Code 2020 Section 43.24, “when an objection has been filed, notice shall be mailed within 72 hours by certified mail to candidate affected, addressed to the can-didate’s place of residence as stated by the candidate’s affida-vit of candidacy…” “I did not receive a certified letter I could sign for to prove I received it,” Primus said. “He (Seward) had 72 hours to mail the certified letter. That would have been Aug. 24. One of the points of my motion to overturn was failure to follow Iowa Law 43.24.” Primus attended the Aug. 31 special meeting and spoke to the panel, which included Hardin County Sheriff Dave McDaniel, Hardin County Re-corder Lori Kadner and Hardin County Supervisor Reneé Mc-Clellan. Seward was not in at-tendance in person or via Zoom. Primus asked the panel to over-turn the objection and had sub-mitted several documents as evidence. His attorney, Shayla McCormally, was also in atten-dance and spoke on Primus’ be-

Don Primus

See PRIMUS: Page 3

Clean water starts herePerdue, Reynolds, Ernst, Naig tour Radcliffe farm

SAFETY FIRST: Walkers helped across busy street

By Elaine LoringNews Editor

ELDORA – Crossing a busy street on the way to school can be scary for some, but Ann Clem-ons, paraeducator at El-dora-New Providence Elementary will be a morning mainstay at the corner of Edgington Avenue and 10th Street, stopping traffic and helping kids safely make their way across the busy street. On a breezy morning the first week of school, three walkers took advantage of Clemons’ position, and Ella Owens, fifth-grade, Breken Koppes, second grade and Brooklyn Koppes, kindergar-ten, safely crossed the street.

Students who live in Eldora no longer have an in-town bus route and need to make their own arrangements to get to school. This change was due to the COVID-19 pandemic and having the need for an extra bus traveling between Eldora and Hubbard. This change was to give riders the chance to spread out

See SCHOOL: Page 2

By Elaine LoringNews Editor

RADCLIFFE – U.S. Sec-retary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, along with Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Joni Ernst and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig made a stop at the farm of Radcliffe resident Heath Stolee on Sept. 3. The visit was part of the Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here Tour and the lead-ers participated in a field day, sponsored by Iowa Corn, to learn about the nutrient-reduc-tion wetland installed on Stol-ee’s farm. His farm is one of 41 conservation wetlands that are currently under development in Iowa. The visit included a tour and speeches led by by Naig, who

said, “We are having a great year for conservation. We’re improving our land and water for future generations.” He applauded Stolee for his conservation efforts and was glad he got to see the progress of his wetlands before it was completed. He also planned to From left, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Radcliffe farmer Heath

Stolee, Gov. Kim Reynolds, and Sen. Joni Ernst listen to Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discuss his thoughts on Stolee’s wetland project.See CLEAN WATER:

Page 9

Farm the best and conserve the rest.

- Heath Stolee