By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com

Coralville, IA – Humboldt’s record-setting volleyball season came to an end Wednesday in the Class 3A state semifinals, as the fifth-seeded Wildcats fell to top-seeded Western Christian in four sets at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

The Wolfpack earned a 25-15, 25-19, 20-25, 25-22 victory to advance to Thursday’s state championship match.

Western Christian was led by junior Morgan Kooiman with 24 kills, while freshman Josie Hall added 20 kills and 11 digs. Junior Maddyn De Jager contributed 12 kills and 12 digs, and Kooiman also finished with 10 digs. senior Hadley Dekkers distributed 58 assists, while senior libero Breslyn Kooima recorded 29 digs.

The Wolfpack posted a .447 in the second set and .291 efficiency for the match.

Humboldt responded after dropping the first two sets, taking the third 25-20. The fourth set featured 10 ties and six lead changes before Western Christian pulled away for the 25-22 victory.

Junior Adelynn Goodell led the Wildcats with 17 kills, three blocks and two aces. sophomore Brayleigh Angstrom added nine kills, while junior Jazzie Dodd finished with eight kills, 11 digs and two aces. Junior Addie Waldorf recorded 39 assists, and senior Gracie Johnson and freshman libero Ryan Cirks each had 14 digs.

Following the match, Humboldt head coach Kara Waldorf said she was proud of the fight her team showed against a Western Christian team with so many offensive weapons.

“I’m super proud of the girls. The fight that they showed today was incredible,” Waldorf said. “That Western Christian team just has so many weapons, and the fact that we played right with them.”

After falling behind two sets to none, Humboldt made an adjustment at the net to try to slow down Western Christian’s outside hitters.

Waldorf said freshman Mollie Emick was brought into the lineup with a focus on blocking, an adjustment she felt helped take away some of the Wolfpack’s attacking options.

“I thought it actually took away some of their shots and kind of made it a little bit harder for them,” Waldorf said.

Although the Wildcats were unable to force a fifth set, Waldorf said she appreciated the way her team continued to compete.

“It’s hard to lose, but I’m so glad that we lost fighting and not just kind of gave it to them,” Waldorf said.

Humboldt finishes the 2026 season with a 39-5 overall record and an undefeated 11-0 mark in North Central Conference play.

The 39 victories establish a new program record for wins in a single season.

The Wildcats also accomplished several other milestones:

• Won their third consecutive outright North Central Conference championship (2024, 2025 and 2026).
• Extended their NCC winning streak to 27 matches, including 54 consecutive sets won.
• Captured at least a share of the conference championship for the fourth consecutive season, dating back to the 2023 co-championship.
• Made their third state tournament appearance in program history (2020, 2025 and 2026).
• Reached the state semifinals for the second consecutive season.

Waldorf said she did not necessarily expect the Wildcats to make it this far when the season began, initially viewing 2026 as a building year.

“When I started this season, I really did not have the expectation to be here,” Waldorf said. “I figured it was going to be a building year.”

She credited the contributions of the underclassmen and the team’s chemistry for helping Humboldt exceed those expectations.

Waldorf said the players genuinely care about one another, something she believes showed in the way the team competed throughout the season.

Humboldt will graduate several seniors, including four-year varsity player Gracey Johnson, but returns much of its roster heading into the 2027 season.

Waldorf said she’s especially excited about the development of the younger players, who now have consecutive state tournament experiences.

“They’ve experienced this now, so it’s not new to them, and they’re going to want it so bad,” Waldorf said.

The coach also credited the Humboldt community for its support throughout the state tournament run, saying the turnout and the sea of yellow in the stands meant a great deal to the players and coaching staff.

Waldorf said the team plays for one another, the town of Humboldt and the younger girls who love volleyball.

Humboldt closes its 2026 campaign at 39-5, establishing a new standard for wins in a single season while making another memorable run to the Class 3A state semifinals.

Western Christian improves to 40-5 and will face sixth-seeded Cherokee in Thursday’s Class 3A state championship at 2:30 p.m. The Wolfpack are in search of their 20th state championship, which would tie them with Wahlert Catholic in Dubuque.

Des Moines, IA – Democrats scored major victories in Tuesday’s 2026 midterm election, winning Iowa’s U.S. Senate race, the governor’s office and three of the state’s four congressional districts.

Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat, while Rob Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn to become Iowa’s next governor.

Democrats also flipped the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts. Christina Bohannan, Lindsay James and Sarah Trone Garriott won their respective races. Republican Chris McGowan won the 4th District, giving Iowa a three-to-one Democratic majority in its U.S. House delegation.

Democrat Nate Willems also defeated Republican incumbent Brenna Bird to become Iowa’s next attorney general.

Other statewide races remained close as election results came in. Republican Paul Pate led the Secretary of State race, while Republican Mike Naig led the Secretary of Agriculture contest. Democrat Taylor Wettach led the State Auditor race, and Republican Roby Smith led the State Treasurer race.

Humboldt County voters favored Republican candidates in several of the major statewide and federal contests, including races where Democrats won statewide.

In the U.S. Senate race, Hinson received 2,514 votes in Humboldt County, compared to 1,165 for Turek and 124 for Libertarian Thomas Laehn.

In the governor and lieutenant governor race, Republican Zach Lahn and running mate Derek Wulf received 2,501 votes locally. Democrat Rob Sand and running mate Dave Muhlbauer received 1,354 votes.

Republican Chris McGowan received 2,597 votes in Humboldt County’s Fourth Congressional District race, compared to 1,137 for Democrat Dave Dawson.

In Iowa House District 56, Republican Mark Thompson received 2,698 votes, compared to 1,080 for Democrat Kyle Kruse.

Humboldt County also favored Republicans in the other statewide contests:

• Secretary of State: Republican Paul D. Pate – 2,769; Democrat Ryan Peterman – 1,031.
• Auditor of State: Republican Chris Cournoyer – 2,642; Democrat Taylor Wettach – 1,115.
• Treasurer of State: Republican Roby Smith – 2,621; Democrat John Norwood – 1,123.
• Secretary of Agriculture: Republican Mike Naig – 2,822; Democrat Chris Jones – 983.
• Attorney General: Republican Brenna Bird – 2,643; Democrat Nate Willems – 1,151.

Three County Board of Supervisors seats were on the ballot. All three Republican candidates ran unopposed.

Bruce Reimers received 610 votes in District 1, Dennis Thompson received 757 votes in District 2, and Rick Pedersen received 607 votes in District 3.

Other unopposed county candidates included Jana Pettinger for County Treasurer with 3,244 votes, Nicole Niemeyer for County Recorder with 3,219 votes, and Jon Beaty for County Attorney with 3,030 votes.

In the Humboldt County Hospital Trustee race, voters could select four candidates. Scott Curran led with 2,630 votes, followed by Karen Berte with 2,596, David Boswell with 2,515 and Kevin Bomhoff with 2,378.

For County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner, Jeff Helvick received 2,661 votes and James Sayers received 2,310 votes.

The County Agricultural Extension Council race saw Chelsea Nostrom receive 2,475 votes, Brad Frerk 2,430, Robert Abens 2,121 and Ethan Murrow 2,094. Joel Rasmussen received 2,805 votes for an Extension Council vacancy.

Humboldt County voters supported retaining all judges listed on the ballot.

Among the results, Iowa Court of Appeals Judge Julie A. Schumacher received 1,922 yes votes and 573 no votes. District 2B Court Judge Amy Moore received 1,817 yes votes and 596 no votes.

Voters also approved Constitutional Amendment 1 locally, with 2,015 yes votes, or 63.60%, compared to 1,153 no votes, or 36.40%.

All six Humboldt County precincts reported in the unofficial election summary.

A total of 3,894 ballots were cast out of 6,432 registered voters, resulting in 60.54% voter turnout.

All results are unofficial pending the official canvass.

Coralville, IA – The No. 5 Humboldt Wildcats are headed back to the Class 3A state volleyball semifinals for the second consecutive year after defeating No. 4 Solon in four sets Tuesday, November 3, at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

Humboldt defeated the Spartans 25-17, 25-19, 22-25, 25-17 to advance to the semifinals and improve to 39-4 on the season. The Wildcats will face top-seeded Western Christian at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 4, in a rematch of last year’s Class 3A semifinal.

Humboldt controlled the opening two sets before Solon responded with a 25-22 victory in the third. The Wildcats regrouped and took control in the fourth set, hitting .324 to close out the match.

Humboldt head coach Kara Waldorf was pleased with how her team followed its game plan, particularly with its passing, defense and serving.

“Our three goals for today were passing, I thought the back row did a wonderful job,” Waldorf said. “And obviously we have a very strong offense, so when we can pass well, just, we can beat a lot of teams.”

Junior Adelynn Goodell led Humboldt with 21 kills, eight blocks and two service aces. Junior Jazzie Dodd also delivered a big performance with 18 kills and 20 digs, while sophomore Callie Olsen contributed nine kills.

Junior Addie Waldorf recorded 44 assists, 10 digs and four block assists. Freshman Ryan Cirks added 19 digs.

After Solon claimed the third set, Waldorf said she wanted her players to maintain an aggressive approach rather than allow the momentum shift to carry into the fourth.

“Just because they won that set doesn’t mean anything. We are still up, so we should be playing aggressive and like we are winning, instead of like we just lost a set,” Waldorf said.

The Wildcats responded with a 25-17 fourth-set victory to secure their spot in the semifinals.

Goodell’s 21-kill performance continued a strong postseason stretch for the Humboldt junior. Waldorf praised her ability to attack from different angles and use a variety of shots to keep opposing defenses off balance.

“She hits those angles, she takes different shots, and that’s really what makes her hard to defend,” Waldorf said. “She had a fantastic night and we needed that from her.”

Dodd also provided an important offensive option for the Wildcats. Waldorf said the senior stepped up with strong attacking, defensive passing and shot selection, helping Humboldt get through rotations when Goodell was in the back row.

The victory sets up another meeting with Western Christian, the tournament’s top seed. Humboldt defeated the Wolfpack in five sets in last year’s Class 3A semifinal to advance to the state championship match, where the Wildcats finished as the state runner-up.

Dodd said the team is excited for another opportunity against Western Christian and to experience the atmosphere surrounding the state semifinal.

“I’m really excited to play them again and just, like, have all the energy and, like, the environment around us just to rematch them and see if we can pull it off again,” Dodd said.

Goodell also expressed confidence in the Wildcats’ ability to repeat last year’s semifinal result.

“Obviously we played them last year and we won it as a great game, 5 sets, and I think that we know that we can do it again,” Goodell said.

Waldorf said she does not want her team approaching Wednesday’s matchup with an underdog mentality, despite Humboldt’s fifth seed and Western Christian’s top seed.

“I really, truly think this team is so talented that I don’t want them to think of it as like an underdog mentality,” Waldorf said. “Like, I think we can play with any top team in the state.”

The Wildcats and Western Christian are scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 4, at Xtream Arena in Coralville. A victory would send Humboldt back to the Class 3A state championship match for the second consecutive season.

Funeral Services for Yvonne L. “Bonnie” Gates, 96 of Humboldt, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4th at Zion Lutheran Church in Humboldt. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3rd at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral & Cremation Service. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Knierim.

The Mason-Lindhart Funeral & Cremation Service of Humboldt is assisting the family.  www.masonlindhart.com

Calhoun County, IA – A Pomeroy man will serve at least 70 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole or work release after being convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a child over a period of years.

According to a November 2 press release from Calhoun County Attorney Ben Smith, Jason Michael Peed was convicted October 30 in the Iowa District Court for Calhoun County of continuous sexual abuse of a child and two counts of sexual abuse in the second degree. All three charges are Class B felonies.

Following a trial to the court, District Court Judge Kurt J. Stoebe found that Peed committed three or more acts of sexual abuse involving the same child over a period of at least 30 days. The court also found that Peed committed separate sex acts with the child while the child was under the age of 14.

Stoebe sentenced Peed to the maximum prison terms on all three counts: up to 50 years for continuous sexual abuse of a child and up to 25 years for each count of sexual abuse in the second degree.

The three sentences were ordered to run consecutively, resulting in a total indeterminate sentence of up to 100 years in prison, beginning immediately. Under Iowa law, Peed must serve at least 70 years before becoming eligible for parole or work release.

Upon release, Peed will be subject to a special sentence under Iowa Code Section 903B.1, committing him to the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections for the remainder of his life under supervision as if on parole. He must also register as a sex offender.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the Calhoun County Attorney’s Office.

Sioux City, IA – A 44-year-old man with ties to Fort Dodge and Des Moines has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that distributed more than 14 kilograms of the drug in the Fort Dodge area.

William Rondell Lashawn Smith, most recently of Johnston was sentenced October 30 in federal court in Sioux City to 152 months’ imprisonment.

Smith pleaded guilty on April 21, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to evidence presented during the plea and sentencing hearings, Smith was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 14 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area between January 2023 and February 2024.

On three occasions in February 2024, Smith distributed more than 2 ½ pounds of methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. One of those transactions took place within 1,000 feet of Meriwether Park in Fort Dodge.

In February 2024, officers searched two of Smith’s properties and seized cocaine, methamphetamine, more than $8,000 in cash, three firearms and drug distribution materials, including two scales.

U.S. District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Smith to 152 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal prison system.

Smith remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde. The investigation involved the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Humboldt, IA – The Humboldt boys’ and girls’ cross country teams celebrated their 2026 seasons Sunday evening, November 1, with their annual team banquet in the Humboldt High School cafeteria.

Head coach Joel Hoogland recognized athletes from both programs for their accomplishments throughout the season, including personal records, mileage milestones, varsity letters and team-voted awards.

The evening also provided an opportunity to recognize the seniors and look ahead to the future of Humboldt cross country.

The Humboldt girls finished the season with three runners qualifying for the Class 3A Iowa High School Cross Country State Championships.

Juniors Avery Fisher and Aubry Fisher and freshman Jade Malo all finished inside the top 50 at the October 31 state meet in Fort Dodge. Avery placed 30th in 19:30.5, Malo finished 43rd in 19:47.9 and Aubry placed 44th in 19:49.0.

Hoogland also recognized the team’s fourth-place finish at the district meet, a result he said had not been accomplished by the program in nearly a decade.

Several individual accomplishments stood out during the season.

Avery Fisher led the girls in mileage, running 450 miles. She qualified for state, earned all-conference recognition and recorded a season and lifetime personal record of 19:20 at the Pocahontas meet. She finished No. 1 on the team’s two-mile time trial record board and No. 2 all-time in season averages.

Aubry Fisher ran 434 miles and also qualified for state and earned all-conference honors. She recorded a 19:20 personal record at Pocahontas, ranking No. 2 on the team’s time trial list and No. 3 in all-time season averages.

Malo, a freshman, ran 286.25 miles and earned a varsity letter. In addition to qualifying for state and earning all-conference recognition, she set her lifetime personal record of 19:25 at the district meet. Hoogland noted that she established the No. 4 all-time season average and the No. 5 all-time two-mile time trial mark.

Malo’s state-meet performance was especially remarkable, as she completed the race with a broken fibula after falling during the opening portion of the race.

Other girls earning varsity letters included Maren Lindquist, who ran 208.25 miles and established a personal record of 22:32 at the conference meet, and Ashlyn Pettit, who ran 240 miles and set a personal record of 23:21.

Hoogland also praised the boys’ program for its steady improvement throughout the season.

Among the individual highlights, junior Henry Kramer ran 312 miles and established a season and lifetime personal record of 17:40 at the Ridge View meet. Kramer also recorded the fastest time on the team’s two-mile time trial record board.

Other notable accomplishments included Bentley Rodgers running 262 miles in his first year of cross country and earning a varsity letter. Rodgers set a personal record of 20:08 at Ridge View and finished No. 4 on the team’s two-mile time trial record board.

Sophomore Wade Carlson ran 247 miles and recorded a personal record of 21:26 at Iowa Falls. Freshman Callen Mathis ran 245 miles, earned a varsity letter and set a personal record of 20:11 at the district meet.

Senior Ike Fowler completed 218 miles and recorded a season personal record of 20:30 at Eagle Grove. He also finished No. 3 on the team’s all-time two-mile time trial board.

Hoogland said the boys showed improvement throughout the season, and he was encouraged by the direction of the program.

The teams also selected winners for four awards recognizing character, leadership, sportsmanship and contributions to the programs.

The Wildcat Spirit Award recognizes positivity, enthusiasm and sportsmanship.

• Boys: Wade Carlson
• Girls: Ellie Lemmenes and Laina Dettmann

The New Wildcat Award recognizes first-year runners who embraced the challenges of cross country with determination and energy.

• Boys: Axel Rhead
• Girls: Jade Malo

The Future Leader Award recognizes athletes demonstrating leadership, strong character and a commitment to the sport.

• Boys: Wade Carlson
• Girls: Aubry Fisher

The Wildcat Legacy Award recognizes seniors for their dedication, sportsmanship and positive impact on the team.

• Boys: Luke DeWinter
• Girls: Macey Rodgers

Hoogland also took time to recognize the senior athletes and their contributions to the program.

He noted that he has been with the Humboldt cross country program for four years, making the seniors who competed throughout all four years of high school particularly meaningful to him.

He praised the group for making practices enjoyable and helping create a positive atmosphere for the entire team.

The coach also thanked the parents, volunteer coach Nikki Rasmussen, strength coach Mr. Lewis and the families who supported the program throughout the season.

With a large group of returning underclassmen, Hoogland is optimistic about the future of both programs.

He said the team has plenty of young talent returning and another group of incoming freshmen eager to join the program.

“The sky’s really the limit on both sides,” Hoogland said. “We have a lot of youth coming back that we can be excited about to build around.”

The Wildcats will look to build on their 2026 accomplishments when the 2027 cross country season arrives.

2026 Humboldt Girls Cross Country Roster

• Laina Dettmann – Senior
• Avery Fisher – Junior
• Aubry Fisher – Junior
• Rosie Goodenow – Freshman
• Jozlyn Himrod – Freshman
• Alexis Hotovec – Junior
• Gracelyn Illg – Senior
• Olivia Illg – Sophomore
• Whitley Lash – Freshman
• Ellie Lemmenes – Junior
• Maren Lindquist – Freshman
• Jade Malo – Freshman
• Madison Parker – Junior
• Ashlyn Pettit – Freshman
• Macey Rodgers – Senior
• Kimberly Sanchez – Sophomore
• Mia Sorensen – Junior

2026 Humboldt Boys Cross Country Roster

• Johnatan Cabrera – Junior
• Wade Carlson – Sophomore
• Luke DeWinter – Senior
• Ike Fowler – Senior
• Mason Frideres – Junior
• Joe Frideres – Junior
• Colin Heider – Freshman
• Thomas Hermsen – Freshman
• Brooks Hinners – Senior
• Henry Kramer – Junior
• Brayden Lennon-Meyer – Senior
• Callen Mathis – Freshman
• Andrew Nedved – Senior
• Riley Olson – Sophomore
• Axel Rhead – Freshman
• Isaac Rieck – Freshman
• Bentley Rodgers – Sophomore
• Ayden Russell – Senior
• Yahel Sanchez – Senior
• Eli Spellmeyer – Sophomore
• Miles Zeman – Junior

Dakota City, IA – Humboldt County voters will head to the polls Tuesday, November 3, for the 2026 Midterm Election, with federal, state, county and township races, judicial retention questions and a proposed constitutional amendment appearing on the ballot.

Polls throughout Humboldt County will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Voters must provide an approved form of photo identification at their polling location before receiving a regular ballot.

Several federal and statewide offices will be decided in Tuesday’s election.

The candidates for United States Senate are Democrat Josh Turek, Republican Ashley Hinson and Libertarian Thomas Laehn.

In the Fourth Congressional District race for the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Dave Dawson faces Republican Chris McGowan.

The gubernatorial race features Democrat Rob Sand and running mate Dave Muhlbauer against Republicans Zach Lahn and Derek Wulf.

Other statewide races include:

• Secretary of State: Democrat Ryan Peterman and Republican Paul D. Pate.
• Auditor of State: Democrat Taylor Wettach and Republican Chris Cournoyer.
• Treasurer of State: Democrat John Norwood and Republican Roby Smith.
• Secretary of Agriculture: Democrat Chris Jones and Republican Mike Naig.
• Attorney General: Democrat Nate Willems and Republican Brenna Bird.

For Iowa House District 56, Democrat Kyle Kruse faces Republican Mark I. Thompson.

Three seats on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors are included on the ballot.

Bruce Reimers is the Republican candidate in District 1, Dennis Thompson is the Republican candidate in District 2, and Rick Pedersen is the Republican candidate in District 3. Write-in votes are also permitted in each race.

Other county offices include:

• County Treasurer: Republican Jana Pettinger.
• County Recorder: Republican Nicole Niemeyer.
• County Attorney: Republican Jon Beaty.

Each of those races also allows write-in candidates.

Several township trustee and clerk positions will also be decided.

Candidates listed in the Notice of Election include:

• Avery Township Clerk: James Day.
• Beaver Township Trustee: Adam Parle.
• Beaver Township Clerk: Pat Hill.
• Humboldt Township Trustee: Ryan Foth.
• Humboldt Township Clerk: Shawna Crahan.
• Lake Township Trustee: Matthew Nervig (to fill a vacancy) and Mark Hansen.
• Lake Township Clerk: Robert A. Rasmussen.
• Norway Township Trustee: Gordy Mersch.
• Norway Township Clerk: Nick Torkelson.
• Rutland Township Trustee: Joel Tille (to fill a vacancy) and Gary D. Jensen.
• Rutland Township Clerk: Brett Kampen.
• Vernon Township Trustee: Daniel J. Anliker.
• Wacousta Township Trustee: Blaine Thompson.

Additional township trustee and clerk positions in Avery, Corinth, Delana, Grove, Humboldt, Lake, Vernon, Wacousta and Weaver townships include write-in opportunities. The notice also lists vacancies to be filled in Delana Township.

Four candidates are listed for the County Hospital Board of Trustees, where voters may select up to four: David Boswell, Karen Berte, Scott Curran and Kevin Bornhoft.

For the Humboldt County Soil and Water Conservation District, voters may select two commissioners. The listed candidates are James Sayers and Jeff Helvick.

The Agricultural Extension Council includes two separate positions. Joel Rasmussen is listed for a vacancy, while Ethan Murrow, Chelsea Nostrom, Brad Frerk and Robert Abens are listed for the four-member council election.

Write-in candidates are permitted in these races.

Voters will also be asked whether several Iowa judges should be retained in office.

The Court of Appeals judges on the ballot are Julie A. Schumacher, Sharon Soorholtz Greer and John M. Sandy.

District 2B judges include Angela L. Doyle, Amy Moore, Christopher Polking, Ashley Sparks and Bethany J. Currie.

District 2B Associate Judges Stephen A. Owen and Joseph L. Tofilon are also included. Voters will select yes or no for each judge.

A proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution will also appear on the ballot.

The amendment would require at least a two-thirds vote of the members elected to each chamber of the Iowa Legislature to pass legislation increasing individual income tax rates, corporate income tax rates or other state taxes based on income or legal and special reserves. It would also require a two-thirds vote to establish a new state tax on those types of income or reserves.

The requirement would not apply to taxes imposed at the option of a local government. The proposal also establishes a one-year deadline for lawsuits challenging whether covered legislation was properly enacted.

Voters will decide whether to adopt the amendment by voting yes or no.

Humboldt County has six designated precinct polling locations:

• Precinct 1 – H1: Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1212 Sumner Avenue, Humboldt.
• Precinct 2 – H2: Humboldt Community Center, 607 First Avenue South, Humboldt.
• Precinct 3 – H3: Humboldt County Fairgrounds, 311 Sixth Avenue North, Humboldt.
• Precinct 4: Faith United Methodist Church, 111 Southeast Second Street, Gilmore City.
• Precinct 5: American Legion, Otto Field Post 415, 308 Fourth Avenue, Livermore.
• Precinct 6: VFW Dakota City, 412 Main Street, Dakota City.

Voters who are uncertain of their assigned precinct or polling location can use the Iowa Secretary of State’s polling place search at:

https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx

Voters may also contact the Humboldt County Auditor’s Office at 515-332-1571.

All six polling locations are fully accessible to individuals with physical disabilities. Each location has ballot-marking devices that allow individuals with physical, sight or hearing disabilities to vote independently.

Voters who are physically unable to enter a polling location may request curbside voting by calling the Auditor’s Office at 515-332-1571.

All voters must provide an approved form of photo identification at their polling location before receiving a regular ballot.

Voters who were not pre-registered by the October 19 deadline must provide both an approved form of photo identification and current proof of residence.

If a voter cannot provide proof of identity or residence, another registered voter in the same precinct may attest to the voter’s identity and/or residence. Voters may also cast a provisional ballot and provide the necessary documentation to the County Auditor’s Office by noon on Tuesday, November 9, for their ballot to be counted.

Humboldt County residents who are not registered can find voter registration information through the Iowa Secretary of State’s website or contact the County Auditor’s Office.

The absentee voting process began August 25, the first day voters could submit an absentee ballot request form.

Absentee ballots became available for mailing and in-office voting began Wednesday, October 14.

Monday, October 19, was the deadline to submit an absentee ballot request form for a mailed ballot and the pre-voter registration deadline.

The final day for in-office absentee voting is Monday, November 2. The Humboldt County Auditor’s Office will remain open until **5 p.m.** for the final opportunity to vote absentee in person.

There will be no voting available at the Auditor’s Office on Election Day. All voters must report to their designated polling location on Tuesday.

For additional election information, voters can contact the Humboldt County Auditor’s Office at 515-332-1571.

The 2026 General Election is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Fort Dodge, IA – Three Humboldt Wildcats finished among the top 50 runners in the Class 3A girls race at the 2026 Iowa High School Cross Country State Championships Saturday, October 31, at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

Juniors Avery Fisher and Aubry Fisher and freshman Jade Malo represented Humboldt in a field of 136 runners, with all three Wildcats crossing the finish line in under 20 minutes.

Fisher led Humboldt with a 30th-place finish in 19:30.5. Malo placed 43rd in 19:47.9, while Aubry Fisher finished 44th in 19:49.0.

For Avery Fisher, the performance was another opportunity to compete against some of the best runners in the state. She said the first two miles went well before the final mile became more challenging.

“It felt pretty good the first couple miles. The third mile kind of got me, but I’m pretty, like, happy with my performance,” Fisher said.

Wet and muddy conditions also played a role in Saturday’s race. Fisher said she tried to stay toward the outside portions of the course to avoid the muddiest sections.

The junior said competing against a higher level of competition was one of the biggest takeaways from returning to the state meet.

“It’s just really exciting to, like, compete with really good competition and just be able to push myself and run with girls that I hadn’t been able to run with all season,” Fisher said. “I really hope to come back next year and possibly run a faster time or just place higher.”

Aubry Fisher, also a junior, finished just nine-tenths of a second behind her sister. While she said her race did not go exactly as planned, she was pleased to have another opportunity to compete at the state meet alongside her twin sister and Malo.

“It was really exciting to have another runner like Jade, and just a younger team, but being able to lead them and just kind of help them out and just see how they improve throughout the season,” Aubry Fisher said. “I’m really proud of them.”

Malo’s first appearance at the state meet turned into an especially memorable performance.

The Humboldt freshman started strong but fell during the opening 400 meters of the race. She got back up and continued running, eventually completing the three-mile course in 19:47.9 despite suffering a broken fibula.

Malo said she had been experiencing discomfort throughout the week, which had initially been thought to be tendonitis. She believes the injury may have already been a stress fracture before the fall during Saturday’s race.

Despite the pain, her goal was to finish.

“I really just wanted to finish. I don’t know, I just thought I had never not finished a race,” Malo said. “I almost stopped at 2.75, but I was close enough, so I just pushed through.”

Malo said she was shocked to learn afterward that she had completed the race with a broken bone.

“Yeah, it was very shocking. I did not think it was anywhere near broke,” she said. “I figured it was a stress fracture, there’s no way I just ran three miles on a broken leg.”

Humboldt head coach Joel Hoogland said Malo’s determination was something he would remember for the rest of his coaching career.

“Not a lot of people can probably say they ran half a meet on a broken leg,” Hoogland said. “But I mean, just a lot of toughness there to say, ‘I’m not only going to run well, but I’m going to finish on that as well.’ I would never be able to do it. I can’t even put into words what that means.”

Hoogland was pleased with the overall performance from his three state qualifiers, noting that all three finished in the top third of a competitive field.

He said Avery Fisher ran aggressively, worked her way through the early congestion and closed the race well. Aubry Fisher also turned in a strong performance, finishing close to her teammates.

All three Humboldt runners improved their state-meet placing from the previous year.

The coach also pointed to the girls’ fourth-place finish at the district meet, something the program had not accomplished in nearly a decade.

“I thought we had a great year,” Hoogland said. “On the girls’ side, finishing fourth at the district meet, something that hasn’t been done in almost a decade. They can really be proud of that finish.”

The future also looks promising for Humboldt. Avery and Aubry Fisher will return for their senior seasons in 2027, while Malo will enter her sophomore season.

Hoogland said the program has plenty of young talent returning on both the girls’ and boys’ sides.

“The sky’s really the limit on both sides. We have a lot of youth coming back that we can be excited about to build around,” Hoogland said.

The Wildcats wrapped up their 2026 cross country season with three representatives among the state’s top 50 Class 3A girls’ runners.