Rock Valley News

AT A COUNTY PARTY CONVENTION LAST NIGHT, RANDY JACOBSMA WAS NOMINATED FOR COUNTY TREASURER.

Rock Valley Iowa boasts economic development, and parks and recreational facilities that provide a living environment that is envied by neighboring towns.

A northwest Iowa district judge is one of 33 Iowa residents seeking a seat on the state Court of Appeals.

For those following the top basketball players in the Class of 2010, there is no doubt that you have likely heard of Jordan Dykstra of Rock Valley and Harrison Barnes of Ames.

As an elected official, Dennis Wright believes in responding to his constituents by trying to get things done.

More than 100 concerned Sioux County citizens packed the Sioux County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 26 to express frustration with immigration issues.  Everyone agreed that the law has to be enforced when it comes to people entering this country illegally, but they also agreed that immigrant workers are important to the economy of Sioux County.

"Obviously this is a huge issue in the county when so many people show up at a Supervisor's meeting," said Wright, a Supervisor who represents Hull and Rock Valley.  "I thought these people deserved a response from us."

Bob Gayer of Rock Valley, Iowa, sent us this photo of Ray Clark's G.I. Farm Class in Alcester, S.D. These men had just taken a tour of John Morrell in 1953.

The high cost of filling our vehicles with gasoline has led some people to look for alternative methods of transportation.  A Hull man found a cheaper way to get around but he's also receiving extra benefits.

Russ Vander Schaaf purchased a bicycle engine, which is mounted on his bicycle and helps him get around in all sorts of weather and windy conditions.  He tries to leave his car in the garage as much as possible.

He discovered bicycle engines on the Internet and ordered one made by a company called Golden Eagle Bike Engines.

Thirty-four people have submitted applications to fill a vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals.

Muriel Gayer, 62, died Sunday, April 13, 2008, at her residence in Inwood. Funeral service were held at 2:30 p.m., Thursday at the Inwood Christian Reformed Church. Burial was held prior to the service at Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley. The Reverend Bill Donkersloot officiated. Memorials may be directed to the Muriel Gayer Memorial Fund at the West Lyon Community School.

Muriel Elaine Boeve was born March 10, 1946, to Cornelius "Case" and Elizabeth (Intveld) Boeve in rural Doon. She attended Rock Valley Public Schools and graduated from Rock Valley High School in 1964. Muriel attended Northwestern College where she earned her Bachelors Degree in Music in 1968. Muriel was united in marriage to Les Gayer on August 7, 1968, at the First Reformed Church in Rock Valley. She taught elementary music for 2 years in Rock Valley before teaching music at West Lyon Elementary for 36 years where she conducted many music programs. She retired in 2007. Muriel was a member of Inwood First Reformed Church where she was the praise team leader. Muriel enjoyed playing piano, camping, boating and especially spending time with her grandchildren.

Arlene Van Der Brink, 73, of rural Maurice died Sunday, May 11, 2008 at the Sioux Center Community Hospital.

Memorial services were held Wednesday at 11am at the Netherlands Reformed Church of Sioux Center with the Rev. P.L. Bazen officiating. Interment was held prior to the memorial service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

In lieu of flowers the Van Der Brink Family prefers memorials to the Netherlands Reformed Christian School of Rock Valley.

Arlene Margaret Van Der Brink was born on May 25, 1934 in Sioux County, Iowa to Bert and Jane (Koel) Kamerman. Arlene was raised at Sioux Center where she received her education, graduating from Sioux Center High School.

Nelmina "Nel" Vanden Bosch, 72, died Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D. Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley. Burial was held at Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley. The Rev. Al Kuiper and the Rev. Mark Beernink officiated.

Nelmina Haan was born October 30, 1935, near Luverne, Minn., daughter of Jake and Gertrude (Scheer) Haan. Nel graduated from the Hills High School. She married Marvin Vanden Bosch on April 7, 1954, at Hills, Minn. For 14 months Nel stayed home with 2 infants while Marv served in our military in Japan. After Marv returned, they lived in Rock Valley where she was a homemaker until her last child entered school, then she was a cook at Valley Manor before Marv needed care at home. Nel enjoyed baking, flower gardening, caring for others with cards, food, care packages, but most of all spending time with family. Read more

“And the tornado actually came on the top of those houses before it hit this structure here.”

One week ago Thursday, Ron Demers was following some highly active tornadoes across northwest Iowa. via KTIV-TV Sioux City

“They had used these pits for gravel and sand and when they had utilized what all was available, they really didn't need it anymore so they donated about 92 acres to the city with the understanding that we would develop it into a campground.”

If you want to get away this summer but don't want to have to travel far because of those high gas prices, you might stay right here in Siouxland. via KTIV-TV Sioux City

Check out the latest video feature from IowaPreps.com Video Now: Few doubt that Rock Valley forward Marcus Heemstra is among the top basketball players in the Class of 2010. via Rivals.com

Of the five tornadoes that touched down in northwest Iowa on Thursday, the strongest was an EF 2 near Rock Valley. via KELO-TV Sioux Falls

“We had a lot more than six people calling in. Sometimes two or three people were calling to report the same tornado. We have to sort through that a little bit”

No injuries are reported in Thursday night storms Jon Walker * jxwalker@argusleader.com * May 2, 2008 Officials are checking reports today of six tornadoes that swept through northwest Iowa in Thursday night's ... via Argus Leader

One of the towns affected by last nights tornadoes was Rock Valley, Iowa. Locals say the tornado twisted and turned its way through town and many of them are surprised that no one was seriously injured. via KTIV-TV Sioux City

“This thing was huge. I cannot believe it. I saw one other tornado west of Canton one time, but this one dwarfed it. It was unbelieveable. Another three miles and this place would not be here right now”

Remember - our on-air polls are scientific. Online Opinion is not. It's simply an easy way to speak your mind. via KELO-TV Sioux Falls

“We are very thankful for all the years that Western has served our students and our children”

In just four months summer vacation will be finished and students will be returning to school.  But a handful of freshman students will blaze a new trail when they report to Hull's newest educational institution, Trinity Christian High School.

Trinity has been created by the Midwest Society for Protestant Reformed Secondary Education and is the culmination of 13 years of work and planning.

The freshman class will meet in a temporary location this year, while the 29,000 square-foot school is being built.  In the fall of 2009, these students, along with another class of freshmen will move into the new facility, at Hayes Avenue northwest of Hull. Read more

The U.S. Congress wants to help small businesses, an admirable goal. Legislation passed last year by the House of Representatives, which would encourage federal agencies to contract with small businesses, is ... via Des Moines Register