Save for Mother Nature, it was a great month

If this editorial was a letter to Mother Nature, it might read something like this:Dear Mother Nature;You do know it’s supposed to be spring, right? It’s time to get with the program.Sincerely, the folks of Chickasaw CountyBut despite the fact that spring’s appearances have been relatively few and far between, there were plenty of folks this past month who reminded us why in and around Chickasaw County is such a great place to live, work and play.So without further ado ...A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton Elementary Carnival Committee, the carnival’s sponsors and the event volunteers for another great night of fun. We are especially impressed with the number of high school students who not only work at the event but actively engage with the younger children. They may not know it, but they are making last impressions with younger students who will one day fill their shoes.A tip of the hat ...To the TRIBE Trail Committee and all those who supported Fools for Fitness event, which raised more than $12,000 for the trail that will eventually connect existing ones in Mikkelson Park and the west-side Industrial Park.A tip of the hat ...To former Nashua-Plainfield High School student-athlete Brandon Marks for putting on a “Boot Camp for a Cause” to raise money to help the Troy and Carrie Tysdahl family as they stay in Iowa City after their son, Knox, was born 17 weeks premature.A tip of the hat ...To the St Joseph Community School first-grader Riley Berns who not only had a lot of fun as the school’s “principal for the day” but also more than dressed the part. And for all of us who aren’t Chicago Bears’ fans, we applaud Berns’ first suggestion, the removal of Principal Christina Carlton’s Bears bumper sticker.A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton girls golf team which had a torrid first month of the season as the Chickasaws broke their 18-hole and 9-hole school records. We can’t wait to see what May has to bring. And while we’re at it, hats off to the New Hampton boys golf team, which has also gotten off to a fast start to the season.A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton girls track team’s 4x100 team of Rachel Rinken, Darian Wegner, Bailey Knowlton and Sadie Tenge, who along with Wegner in the long jump, qualified for the Drake Relays this past weekend.A tip of the hat ...To Iowa BIG North students Hunter Carey, Devon McClain, Jared Aegerter and Jordan Drewelow for pouring their hearts and souls into bringing a “drive-up movie theatre” to New Hampton two times a month this summer.A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton Women of Today for all the work the small club’s members go through each year to give area children a great — albeit fast — Easter Egg Hunt. And hats off to the New Hampton Fire Department and the New Hampton Lions Club for once again volunteering at the event.A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton High School students who gave us another great Variety Show. From singing to speech making to dancing to performing magic, the show offered more proof that our young people have all kinds of talent.A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton trapshooting team that continues to show it’s going to be a force to be reckoned with when shooters from around Iowa gather for the state meet in June. A New Hampton squad has won nearly every meet the Chickasaws have competed in thus far this season.A tip of the hat ...To New Hampton High School Band members Bethany Zenk, Will Throndson and Sydney Lau for earning “Best of Center” awards at the recent state solo and ensemble contest. It marked the third straight year Zenk, who plays the clarinet, has earned the prestigious award and the first time that Lau and Throndson, who performed a drum duet, had brought home the award.A tip of the hat ...To Chickasaw Trail Riders and Lime Springs Saddle Club for their efforts to make the Pony Express another rousing success. The annual event that is held on Good Friday and Easter Saturday has raised more than $10 million for Camp Sunnyside.A tip of the hat ...To New Hampton High School administrators and teachers for being willing to take a risk and try something new — the Chickasaw Challenge, a unique two-day program where teachers were able to share their passions with their students.A tip of the hat ...To the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative and the numerous volunteers who put on the annual Bike Rodeo at New Hampton Elementary School. We can’t think of a better event to help children realize and the importance of bike safety as the summer months near.A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton Ministerial Association and Chickasaw Connections for bringing Davenport West basketball coach Mark Bigler to Chickasaw County, where he shared a powerful message about the dangers of alcohol and drugs with students in New Hampton and Sumner-Fredericksburg.A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton Health Fair Committee for the fun and educational fair it recently held. Here’s to this becoming an annual event.