Mikaela Mackey

Iowa

Reporter at The N'West Iowa REVIEW

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Articles

Wacker paints mural at Prairie Heritage Center

3 weeks ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

SUTHERLAND—Kali Wacker is making her own way as an artist, working on her second mural in O’Brien County. Based on the Prairie Market 590- square-foot storefront mural she completed in July in Paullina, O’Brien County Conservation hired Wacker to paint a mural in the basement of Prairie Heritage Center southeast of Sutherland. This mural, however, looks a little different from the prairie flowers on the grocery store. “That’s something that’s new,” Wacker said.
South O'Brien students dive into history

1 month ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

PAULLINA—South O’Brien High School students dove into history to find inspiration for their futures this semester. Social studies teacher Kevin Hanlin took his junior students to present 23 projects at the National History Day Sergeant Floyd Regional Contest March 11 at Northwestern College in Orange City.
New windows slated for South O'Brien

1 month ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

PAULLINA—The South O’Brien School District Board of Education made clear new plans to add to renovations of its secondary school remodel project. Discussion of new windows in original parts of the school had taken place over several months and the plans were officially passed by a unanimous decision during the board’s March 17 meeting. “The entire building will match with new windows,” said superintendent Wade Riley. “The exact same specifications that’s going to be in the new addition.
Boyden-Hull Elementary rocks its socks

1 month ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

BOYDEN—Students and staff of Boyden-Hull Elementary rocked their socks, literally and metaphorically, in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day March 21. The above-the-ankle socks symbol comes from their resemblance of chromosomes, as people with Down syndrome are born with one extra chromosome. To rock one’s socks means to confidently wear a pair of mismatched, bright socks while also meaning to confidently embrace one’s differences.
O'Brien board finds temporary engineer answer

1 month ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

PRIMGHAR—The O’Brien County Board of Supervisors has found an interim county engineer when Dennis Clark leaves the position March 31. Chair Barb Rohwer reached out to three retired county engineers to possibly fill in as an interim until a full-time engineer is hired. The three were former O’Brien County engineer Scott Rinehart, former Sioux County engineer Doug Julius of Sioux County and former Dickinson County engineer Dan Eckert.
NCC event helps rejuvenate caregivers

1 month ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

SHELDON—Caregivers from N’West Iowa and beyond became care receivers for a day at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. From guest speakers, to yoga, to massages and more, NCC and Iowa CareGivers partnered to offer the free event to all direct-care providers for a time of self-care and rejuvenation at the Iowa CareGivers’ Direct-Care Worker Reservoir Replenishing Retreat on Thursday, March 13.
Boyden takes steps for new day-care service

1 month ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

BOYDEN—The community of Boyden is taking its first steps to a permanent home for its new day-care service. The idea for First Steps Academy began with a public meeting at the Demco Community Center in Boyden on Nov. 9, 2023, when community members discussed the need for child care in town of about 1,300 residents. About 50 people attended the meeting while 160 community members completed an online survey sharing input about the need.
O'Brien Conservation board discusses funds

1 month ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

SUTHERLAND—A simple agenda item to discuss camping fees opened a cluster of unanswered questions and concerns during the O’Brien County Conservation Board meeting Wednesday, March 12. Conservation director Mark Wilson began with sharing McCullough Creative’s final cost for main floor exhibition renovation project at the Prairie Heritage Center southeast of Sutherland is $428,000, matching the original estimate exactly. He said the board sits $48,000 short of reaching that total amount.
Search underway for O'Brien County engineer

1 month ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

PRIMGHAR—As the search begins for a new engineer, the O’Brien County Board of Supervisors discussed some avenues of how to fill the role at its meeting Tuesday, March 11. County engineer Dennis Clark began in the position Aug. 7, 2023, following the retirement of Scott Rinehart in July of that year. Clark announced his resignation, effective March 31, at the March 4 supervisors’ meeting.
Scrubs Camp displays health care careers

1 month ago | nwestiowa.com | Mikaela Mackey

SHELDON—N’West Iowa students received a bird’s-eye view of multiple health-care fields at Scrubs Camp on Tuesday. The program at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon introduced seventh- through 12th-grade students from 20 area schools to careers in nursing, pharmacy technology, medical coding and more through a day of activities.