City employees and volunteers have been busy this summer working to make our parks and outdoor amenities even better! A new dock, open shelter, playground equipment, and pickle ball court are all on the list of recent improvements.

New Trees 
The City continues to plant new trees in our parks and campgrounds each year. If you would like to donate to the fund for trees, please contact City Hall.

City Hall Now Open

Emmetsburg City Hall and EMU are now open to the public with the following guidelines. Thank you for helping keep our community safe and healthy!

1. Please access services remotely when possible. Utilize the payment drop box or make payments by phone or online. 
2. We’re using counter-top sneeze guards, sanitizing surfaces regularly, and offering hand sanitizer to keep employees and the public safe. 
3. Please practice social distancing. Masks are recommended by the CDC.
4. Stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have potentially been exposed.

Upcoming Holiday

September 7 - Labor Day
Emmetsburg City Hall and Emmetsburg Municipal Utilities will be closed on Monday, September 7. Monday’s trash will be collected on Tuesday.

Hiring Dockside/Golf Manager

The City of Emmetsburg seeks to hire a Dockside/Golf Manager for The Shores at Five Island Community Center. For more information, contact City Administrator Kim Kibbie at 712-852-4030. Position open until filled. EOE.

Library Update

The library remains open to the public by appointment:

• MWF 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  
• T&TH 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
• SAT 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Curbside services are available and encouraged. Call to make an appointment or to have your items brought to you curbside. Masks are mandatory in the college facility. Visits are limited to 1 hour.

The life blood of KEMB-LP Radio is our community, especially our schools, students and our E-hawk pride.

When the coin is tossed and the whistle blown, KEMB is there for football. When the wrestlers take the mat, KEMB is there, and when the boys and girls of summer take to the ball fields, KEMB is there. Our students deserve the recognition and the coverage for their families who may not be able to attend, and even more importantly as we see how the seasons play out this year. KEMB wants to air volleyball, basketball, music too.

Our two limitations are announcers and sponsors. Ali Laubenthal and Connor Joyce proved that students are excellent announcers as they joined Scott Higgins in calling softball and baseball. Do you have knowledge of volleyball or basketball in order to call play by play? Would you enjoy hearing our musicians in concert on air? The equipment is easy to learn for any student or adult.

A special note of appreciation to our sponsors who make it possible for the E-Hawks to be on air. Your commitment to the students makes it possible for announcers to get paid for time and mileage. Sponsorships are now available for the 2020-21 year. Call 852-5362 for details.

Deb Hite

Director, Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce
712.852.2283

Honoring Brian Campbell
A Message from Mayor Patrick Degen

Our community suffered a great loss on July 21st with the untimely passing of our friend Brian Campbell.

Brian and his family have called Emmetsburg home for nearly 50 years. Brian served our community in so many ways. For many years, he mentored our young people as an instructor at Iowa Lakes Community College. For better than 16 years, Brian graciously volunteered his time with our local ambulance service. His co-workers at Palo Alto County Hospital knew Brian as someone who could always be counted on to step up whenever he was needed.

At the time of his passing, Brian was serving his fourth term on the Emmetsburg City Council. I served with him for many of those years, both while I served beside him on the council and most recently as Mayor. Brian never wavered in his values. He never formed an opinion or cast his vote without weighing the facts and giving careful consideration. Brian was an honorable and astute public servant. Any vote cast for him was a vote well spent.

Brian's faith was important to him and a big part of his life. He was grateful for the blessings bestowed upon him and was confident in God's plan for him and his family.

God bless you Brian. Rest easy in paradise. You will be missed.

Emmetsburg Community School District 
Superintendent Darren Hanna

The ECSD Board of Directors has approved the ECSD Return to Learn/Reopening Plan. The plan includes in-person learning as well as an option for parents to request their students learn remotely. Details of the plan can be found at www.e-hawks.org by clicking on Explore on the home page and then clicking on ECSD Return to Learn Plan. Information including a recording of the presentation of the Return to Learn/Reopening Plan at the 8/5/20 meeting is listed in the drop-down menu.

Registration will be completely online this year with all electronic payment fees waived. Online Registration runs from August 7th through August 14th.

ECSD will conduct Parent-Teacher Conferences on August 24th and 25th. The purpose of the conferences is to allow parents to ask any questions about how the school day will look. In addition, parents will receive an overview of tools that will be used should their student be learning from home.

The first day of school for students will be August 26th.

Emmetsburg Catholic School
Principal Jean Hyslop

Emmetsburg Catholic School is excited to start school on August 24, 2020, in the building with staff and students. It will certainly look a bit different, and procedures will be a bit different. There will be no bussing on August 24th and 25th, so parents will need to transport their children. It has been a busy summer getting ready for the 2020-2021 school year. Classrooms have been painted, hand sanitizing stations have been installed, and new teachers have been hired. We welcome Samantha Helvering to 3 year-old preschool and the middle school, Hannah Haverkamp in kindergarten, Annabelle Jensen in 2nd grade, and Megan Geelan in the middle school. Blessings to students, families, and staff on a safe return to school.

Iowa Lakes Community College

Iowa Lakes plans for classes to resume on Tuesday, August 25.

Iowa Lakes Community College President, Valerie Newhouse, shares that "we plan to move forward with classes as previously scheduled, with a modified move-in plan for students residing in our dorms. Additionally, we will conduct pre-move-in health screenings that will include temperature checks and a questionnaire.”

Iowa Lakes will implement new methods of instruction in addition to offering online and traditional classroom experiences. LAKER LIVE courses allow students and faculty to participate in a face-to-face, virtual classroom through a video conferencing platform.

Any traditional classroom instruction or labs will be held in smaller groups to maintain social distancing standards. Career and Technical programs will be held with modifications to allow for social distancing,

President Newhouse notes, "There are many caveats to our plan. We can make changes as needed depending on the coronavirus status within the Iowa Lakes District. We will monitor and assess the recommendations or guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for higher education institutions." 

Hosted by the Palo Alto County Veterans Affairs Office in conjunction with RSVP. Representatives from the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, the Veterans Crisis Line and more will make presentations on claims, health care, new programs, how the VA system works and who to call for help. For information, contact Cliff Christensen, Palo Alto VA Director, at 712-852-2066. All area Veterans, spouses and dependents are invited to attend. Face coverings will be required.