Sioux County Edition · No. 4 ·
Nobody's running against them + your ballot, explained
About a 10-minute read · covering Orange City, Sioux Center, Rock Valley, Hull, Alton, Granville, Hospers and every gravel road between.
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Coffee & County
Five minutes on what's happening from Orange City to Rock Valley.
Good morning, Sioux County.
It's a wet one. Rain all day, highs in the low 50s, so grab the umbrella you forgot you owned. Election Day is a week from Tuesday, so I spent part of my weekend reading every sample ballot in the county. Turns out most of the suspense is at the top of the ticket. Also: three of our volleyball teams play for a trip to state Tuesday night.
● Every county race on your ballot is unopposed.
● Sioux Center votes today on a 9% sewer rate increase.
● The county's data center rules get their final vote Tuesday.
● Volleyball: Western Christian, MOC-Floyd Valley and Sioux Center play for state tournament spots Tuesday.
OUT THE WINDOW
MON 🌧️ 52° / 45°Rain | TUE 🌤️ 62° / 48°Clearing | WED ⛅ 68° / 48°Partly sunny |
Rain is almost certain today, with showers hanging on into tonight. Then it turns nice: sunshine by Tuesday afternoon and upper 60s Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is near 70 with a chance of afternoon storms, and Halloween Saturday has a 70% chance of showers. Plan the costumes accordingly.
Forecast for Sioux County from the National Weather Service →
ELECTION · 8 DAYS OUT
Early voting ends Monday, Nov. 2
● Vote early in person at the courthouse in Orange City through Mon., Nov. 2, at 4:30 p.m.
● Election Day is Tue., Nov. 3.
● Need a ride? RIDES offers free door-to-door trips to the polls in Orange City and Sioux Center through Nov. 3. Book ahead: 1-800-358-5037, ext. 1.
● Questions: Sioux County Auditor, 712-737-2216
TOP STORY
Your ballot, explained
The county has posted a sample ballot for every precinct. I went through them. Here's what's on yours:
● Every county race is unopposed. The supervisor seats in Districts 2 and 4, plus treasurer, recorder and county attorney, each have one name on the ballot. You can still write someone in.
● Iowa House: District 4, on Sioux Center and Rock Valley ballots, is contested: Republican Skyler Wheeler faces no-party candidate Garth Van Donselaar. District 3, on Orange City and Hawarden ballots, has one candidate.
● Up top: governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House District 4 and five other statewide offices, all contested.
● Flip it over: seven people are running for five Extension Council seats, two for two soil and water commissioner spots, and nine judges are up for retention.
● Amendment 1 would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise income tax rates or create a new income tax. We covered both sides in No. 2.
Ballots differ a little by precinct, so check yours before you go.
Find your sample ballot at the Sioux County Auditor →
PRESENTING SPONSOR
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Sioux Center: Final sewer rate vote today
The City Council takes its third and final vote at 4 p.m. on a 9% wastewater rate increase starting with January 2027 bills, with a similar increase the year after. The city says a family of four using 3,000 gallons a month would pay about $3.62 more a month in 2027. The money goes to new lift stations and sewer mains.
Read more from the City of Sioux Center →
Sioux Center: Highway 75 should open by Thanksgiving
The main paving on Sioux Center's north side is done. Crews still have sidewalks, driveways, median landscaping and artificial turf to finish, and the project manager expects the highway to be fully open just before Thanksgiving. A soggy September cost about two weeks.
Read the full story at Sioux Center News →
Hull: The Golden Turkey is up for grabs
The Hull Area Chamber and Hull Food Pantry Thanksgiving food drive is back, and local businesses compete for the Golden Turkey Trophy. Drop off canned and boxed food, boxed stuffing, baking mixes, peanut butter, toilet paper or money at American State Bank, D&K Door, Fareway, the Chamber office, Ignite Gym & Fitness or Iowa State Bank. Drop-off dates are Oct. 31 and Nov. 16.
Rock Valley: Another $4.3 million from FEMA
FEMA approved more than $4.3 million to repair flood damage to Rock Valley's wastewater treatment and its water and sewer systems. It's separate from the home buyouts we covered Friday.
Read the full story at KIWA Radio →
Hawarden and Ireton: West Sioux's school project nears the finish
Kids are already in the renovated elementary schools, but the district's $15.5 million project isn't done yet. Lighting, tile, paint and countertop fixes remain, and contractors were on site Friday to work through the list. The district plans a ribbon cutting once it's finished.
Read the full story at the N'West Iowa REVIEW →
Sioux County: Data center rules get their final vote Tuesday
The supervisors are set to take their third and final vote on the county's data center rules at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the courthouse in Orange City. Passing them wouldn't approve any specific project.
Read the full story at Sioux County Radio →
Sioux Center: Court sides with Dordt in vaccine case
The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit by a former Dordt nursing student whose request for a religious exemption from the university's COVID-19 vaccine requirement was denied. The lower court found the objection mainly reflected his parents' views.
Read the full story at KIWA Radio →
FROM THE BLEACHERS
Three teams, one win from state
Thursday was a perfect night for Sioux County volleyball: all four of our Class 3A and 4A teams won their regional semifinals. Three of them play for a state tournament spot Tuesday night:
● Class 3A, Region 1: Treynor at Western Christian. The top-ranked Wolfpack beat Spirit Lake 25-11, 25-18, 25-16.
● Class 3A, Region 2: MOC-Floyd Valley vs. New Hampton. The No. 2 Dutch swept Algona.
● Class 4A, Region 5: Sergeant Bluff-Luton at Sioux Center. The No. 6 Warriors swept Spencer and gave up just 31 points in three sets.
Unity Christian also won, 3–1 over OABCIG, and faces Humboldt in the Region 4 final. The small schools go tonight at 7 p.m.: Rock Valley at Hinton in Class 2A and South O'Brien at Boyden-Hull in Class 1A. Sioux County Radio carries all five matches.
Thursday's scores at Western Iowa Today →
Football: West Sioux rolls on
First-round playoff football Friday:
| CLASS | FINAL |
| A | West Sioux 38, Logan-Magnolia 0 |
| 2A | OABCIG 28, Western Christian 21 |
| 2A | Kuemper Catholic 35, Unity Christian 0 |
Friday, 7 p.m.: West Sioux (9–0) hosts West Monona in the Class A round of 16, and Sioux Center (8–1) plays at Sioux City Heelan in Class 3A.
Round of 16 matchups at the N'West Iowa REVIEW →
College football
Dordt won 41–13 at Mount Marty for its fifth straight win, and Northwestern beat Waldorf 68–10. Saturday, Dordt hosts Waldorf and Northwestern plays at Dakota Wesleyan.
CAMPUS CORNER
Dordt and Northwestern this week
Dordt: A silent play with puppet vacuums
Two sophomores direct “Hotel Próżnia,” a student show that plays like a silent film, with puppeteered vacuums inspired by old vacuums on campus. It follows hotel staff stuck in long, repetitive work. Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Fourth Avenue Theatre. Free.
Details from Dordt University →
Northwestern: A Ukrainian artist's prairie paintings
“Inner Garden,” watercolors and oils by Yuliia Popova, opens today in Te Paske Gallery and runs through Dec. 11. Popova moved to northwest Iowa after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the region's prairies and Dutch heritage show up in her work, down to hand-painted wooden shoes. Open weekdays 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturdays until 3. Reception with the artist Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.
Details from Northwestern College →
Coming up: Northwestern's play “Everything is Wonderful” runs Nov. 12, 14 and 19–21; tickets ($10, $5 students) go on sale to the public Friday. And mark Nov. 14: Dordt plays football at Northwestern, 1 p.m.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Hull man gets federal prison time in gun case
A 36-year-old Hull man was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for having a gun as a felon. His former girlfriend, 44, of Sioux City, got three months for buying the handgun for him in 2023 and lying on the federal purchase form.
Read the full story at KIWA Radio →
ADVERTISE IN COFFEE & COUNTY
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MARKETS
At the elevator
| NW IOWA CASH (FRI.) | AVG. BID | BASIS |
| Corn | $4.15 | −35¢ to −45¢ Dec |
| Soybeans | $11.94 | −45¢ to −70¢ Nov |
| FUTURES | CLOSE | CHANGE |
| Corn (Dec) | $4.56 | −4½¢ |
| Soybeans (Nov) | $12.56½ | +3½¢ |
| Live cattle (Dec) | $231.12 | unch. |
| Feeder cattle (Nov) | $348.12 | +$1.20 |
| Lean hogs (Dec) | $65.57 | +2¢ |
Friday’s closes. Corn gave back 4½ cents, soybeans and feeder cattle edged higher.
Stocks: rising oil prices pulled the market down Friday. The Dow fell 652.82 points, or 1.2%, to 52,215.16. The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% and the Nasdaq 0.2%.
Mortgage rates: the 30-year averages 7.32% and the 15-year 6.68%, both down slightly, per Freddie Mac's weekly survey released Thursday.
Sponsor our Markets section. Co-op, ag lender, financial advisor or equipment dealer? Put your name on this section. Hit reply.
NEW IN TOWN
Sioux Center: Service Trucks International moves into a bigger building
Demand for its Tiger Cranes pushed Service Trucks International to add a 56,000-square-foot crane assembly building at its plant at 351 20th St. NW, just west of Bomgaars. A dozen employees moved in Sept. 4, and the company still hit its production goals for the month.
Read the full story at Sioux Center News →
Opening, moving or expanding? Hit reply. New businesses get a free mention.
NOW HIRING
Jobs around the county
| Baristas and managers Scooter’s Coffee · Sioux Center: barista (16+), assistant manager and general manager (18+), day, midday and weekend shifts · Rock Valley: all positions · Details in the Sioux County Swap Facebook group | |
| Electric lineworker City of Orange City · Full-time · Open until filled | Apply → |
| Orders and customer service Avenue Veterinary Supply · Sioux Center · Part-time · Resume by email or drop off at 349 N. Main Ave. | Email → |
| Motor vehicle / driver's license clerk Sioux County Treasurer · Orange City · Full-time · Open until filled | Apply → |
More local openings are posted at Sioux County Radio's Job Hunter.
Hiring in Sioux County? Hit reply to post your job here.
COMING UP
On the calendar
MON 26 | Volleyball semifinals, 7 p.m.: Rock Valley at Hinton, South O'Brien at Boyden-Hull. Sioux Center City Council at 4 p.m. Empty Chair Display from Family Crisis Centers, Centre Mall, Sioux Center, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. through Friday. |
TUE 27 | Data center rules: final vote at 9 a.m., courthouse, Orange City. Volleyball regional finals.Titanic and Tea, 6:30 p.m., Sioux Center Public Library. |
WED 28 | Wild Child Nature Series for ages 2–5 with an adult, 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. Free; pre-register at 712-552-3057. Prairie Woods Nature Center, Oak Grove Park near Hawarden. |
THU 29 | First Impressions Community Forum, 4:45–7 p.m., Sioux Center Public Library. Trained visitors toured town as first-timers, and Iowa State shares what they found. Sandwiches; RSVP at 712-722-0761. Right Tree, Right Place, Right Way, 6:30 p.m., Sandy Hollow, Sioux Center. |
FRI 30 | Playoff football, 7 p.m.: West Monona at West Sioux, Sioux Center at Sioux City Heelan. |
SAT 31 | Hawarden Trunk or Treat, 4–5 p.m., Hawarden Community Center parking lot. Dordt football hosts Waldorf. |
SUN 1 | Clocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m. |
MON 2 | Last day to vote early, until 4:30 p.m. Spanish conversation for ages 13 and up starts at the Sioux Center library, 7–8 p.m.; sign up at siouxcenterlibrary.org. |
TUE 3 | Election Day. |
EN ESPAÑOL
Vote por adelantado hasta el 2 de noviembre
Puede votar en persona en el juzgado de Orange City hasta el lunes 2 de noviembre a las 4:30 p.m. El día de la elección es el martes 3 de noviembre. RIDES ofrece viajes gratis de puerta a puerta para votar en Orange City y Sioux Center hasta el 3 de noviembre. Reserve con anticipación al 1-800-358-5037, extensión 1.
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Dordt and Northwestern
📍 DID YOU KNOW? · ORANGE CITY
Orange City was founded by settlers from Pella, and their first name for it was even more Dutch: Holland.
Know a fun fact about your town? Hit reply.
ONE GOOD THING
Warrior hype chains, made in-house
Sioux Center High School's special education students are running their own little business. With a new 3D printer from the career and technical education boosters, they're printing Warrior-themed hype chains, the logo necklaces you see at every game now, and sold their first batch at the homecoming tailgate. Real customers, real work experience.
Read the full story at Sioux Center News →
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