The Alta-Aurelia Trap Shooting Team began its season on Monday with the first classroom session for new athlete training where a new crop of young shooters in middle and high school met to learn the sport. This is the 9th year that Head Coach Mike Bartholomew and his wife, Kelli, have led the team...

Alta-Aurelia schools staffing changes for 2020-21 will include hiring two full-time instructional coaches instead of the existing part-time coaches. One coach will work in the Alta schools and the other in Aurelia. The matter was discussed at the Feb. 10 School Board meeting...

On February 8 the Alta Community Library hosted a Very FROZEN Party where participants could come dressed up, meet and have pictures taken with the Frozen Friends. Princess Anna introduced the other characters: Olaf (snowman), Princess Elsa, and reindeer (Sven). Participants were able to listen to a read along story. Several fun activities were: Do A Dot coloring a snowball game, and Go Noodle Frozen dance along video. Snacks were served to over 100 attendees. /Photos submitted...

The Alta-Aurelia Warrior Speech Team had a full weekend Feb. 8 and 9. On Saturday the 8th, they performed at the State Speech Contest in LeMars. The team brought six entries which each received overall Division 1 (Excellent) ratings. Readers Theatre “Dear Speech Diary” was the only Warrior Speech Team entry to earn straight 1’s...

On Wednesday, February 5, Alta Elementary students and staff kicked off their morning by participating in World Read Aloud Day. Before they could celebrate, they needed to get ready, by choosing their favorite book to listen to; but the mystery was, they didn’t know who was going to read it. Staff members chose their favorite book and book covers were put on display for the kids to choose...

At the February 10 Alta-Aurelia School Board meeting, principals reported to the board about student test scores. Elementary and middle school Principal Jeannie Henningsen gave recent data of K-8 students. “I’m really excited about our scores and winter screening,” she said. However, she emphasized that the results are just a snapshot of what the students are doing throughout the year...

Last Friday night saw the Alta-Aurelia PTO hosting a pulled pork dinner with preceeds going to the new playgrounds. / Photo by Craig Shultz

Alta - Aurelia has a new flag that rolls down for the National Anthem. It was provided by the Warrior Boosters. / Photo by Craig Shultz

Mom2Mom of Alta will be hosting a Motherhood/Child Personality Types- Speaker on Wednesday, March 4, at 9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. at Summit Evangelical Free Church. Join them in welcoming a speaker who will focus on motherhood and child personality types...

Pictured here from left to right: Scarlet Riedell, Tammy Bush, Brylee Bengtson, Sadie Bengtson, Libby Bengtson. Aurelia First United Church youth took blanket donations for Valley Vet. Aurelia First United Methodist Church Youth take collections every Sunday in the form of items, and monetary donations called noisy offering (change), to support local organizations in need. / Photo submitted...

A Very FROZEN Party will be presented on Saturday, February 8, 10-11 a.m. at the Alta Community Library, and you are invited to join in. The library will celebrate all things “Frozen.” The party will be jam packed with fun and exciting things. There will be a meet and greet with Anna and Elsa as well as a photo opportunity. ...

The Alta City Council voted to set the maximum spending levy at $11.51, up from the current $10.59, following a public hearing at the Feb. 3 regular meeting. The amount is not the city’s final budget levy but is the maximum the council can choose to levy...

Join St. Paul Lutheran Church for the annual LYF Sweetheart Supper on Sunday, February 16 at 6 p.m.. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. a new menu: buffet style, pork loin, veggie, salad, dessert and drink. Entertainment to follow. Cost is $15 for individuals and $25 for couples. Call the church to make your reservations at (712) 434-2331. Child care provided, please mention that at the time of ticket purchase. “Love never fails...” 1 Corinthians 13:8...

This week, Rep. Gary Worthan (R-Storm Lake) and Rep. Dan Huseman (R-Aurelia) welcomed students involved in Alta-Aurelia FFA to the Iowa House of Representatives. The students were visiting the Capitol for the Legislative Symposium, which is designed to build character and promote citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism. Pictured here is Rep. Gary Worthan (Storm Lake), Rep. Dan Huseman (Aurelia) and students with the Alta-Aurelia FFA. /Photo submitted...

Bernie Sanders carried the night in dramatic fashion at Buena Vista County’s first-ever bilingual satellite caucus Monday. A crowd of 105 turned out to pack the small Better Day Cafe in downtown Storm Lake, perhaps 90 percent of them Latino voters...

The Alta-Aurelia Warrior Speech Team delivered six great performances at District Large Group Speech Contest in Storm Lake on Saturday, January 25th. Each of their entries received a Division I rating, sending the entire team on to State Speech Contest on February 8th in LeMars. The Warrior Speech Team will host their Large Group Speech Showcase on Sunday, February 9th at 2:00pm at the Roxy in Alta. Admission is by free-will donation to help the team purchase materials and equipment...

Alta-Aurelia Warrior Speech and Drama presents the Large Group Speech Showcase, Sunday, February 9, 2 p.m., at the Roxy Theater in Alta. Join the Alta-Aurelia Warrior Speech Team as they present their Large Group Speech entries from the 2020 season. Admission is by free-will donation to help the team purchase new materials and equipment...

Members of the Alta Aurelia Trap team participated in the Winter Iowa Games at the Shelby County Trap and Skeet range Near Harlan. Athletes that placed today were: Middle School- Braden Schmidt placed first in singles, handicaps and doubles. High School- Kyler Mattsen placed first in doubles. ...

Thanks to generous donors, the Stuttering Foundation has donated books and DVDs to libraries across the country, including the Alta Community Library. Stuttering Foundation books are directed to parents of children who stutter, adults who stutter, speech pathologists, pediatricians, family physicians, nurses, health care professionals, hospitals, schools, clinics, day-care centers, and all those concerned with the problem of stuttering. ...

Alta-Aurelia High School’s 22-member Warrior Jazz Band scored the highest possible rating this past Monday, Jan. 27, at the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) Jazz festival held in Storm Lake. They were among the bands receiving the highest overall rating, Division 1...

Toddle Time will meet on Friday mornings at 10:30 a.m., for children ages 5 and under. A Very FROZEN Party! On Saturday, February 8, at 10 a.m. you are invited to join the Alta Community Library in celebrating all things frozen with A Very FROZEN Party. ...

Come enjoy a night of dance March 14 with the Fusion dancers’ year end showcase!. Lots of great performers including Little Fusion dancers, co-ed, buddy, parents and area schools guests. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Alta-Aurelia High School gym. /Photo submitted...

Faced with increasing requests for funding and worries over aging infrastructure, the Alta City Council reluctantly agreed this week to look at a substantial property tax increase. The city is currently at its maximum levy asking of $8.10 per thousand of valuation plus the allowable employee benefits levy, totaling $10.59...

The Alta City Budget will be stretched for a number of sizable projects - notably, funds toward a future fire truck, a library request for salary and more hours, upgraded Christmas lights, and an anticipated request toward playground projects. The council gathered for a special meeting this week to pore through the upcoming fiscal year budget, which must be finalized by March...

“If you are in need of assistance, you are welcome” is the motto of The Lord’s Cupboard food pantry on 213 Main Street in Alta which provides food, toiletries and paper products to residents living in the 51002 area code. The pantry is open for business every Friday from 10 a.m. ...

Representatives of the Alta School Foundation came to the Alta-Aurelia School Board this week, proposing a merger with a similar group in Aurelia, to better reflect the now-consolidated district. The foundations are citizen volunteer groups that help support the needs of the schools and teachers. Currently the Alta group is helping to purchase Chromebook computers for the classrooms...

Darlene Stille gets a new lease on teaching career at AA: ‘the higher the standards, the higher the achievement’

With the Warrior Parent Teacher Association and the City of Alta Park Board joining their efforts to develop playgrounds, Kayla Wilson of the PTO reports that the school group is setting out to surpass last year’s total of funds raised, with all the funds to be directed toward the projects...

The Alta-Auralia pep band performs during halftime. / Photo by Craig Shultz

Buena Vista Raceway manager Joey Ciechanowski will be leaving his position after two years at the helm. “With many thoughts and long considerations, I have made a decision to not renew my contract regarding the promotion of the Buena Vista Raceway for the 2020 season and return the track to the Buena Vista County Ag Association,” he said in a social media announcement Wednesday. ...

Grant Peckenschneider will step down as co-head coach for Alta-Aurelia football. He plans to continue as an assistant coach. Chris Reinert, currently co-coach, will be the head coach, as the school board chose not to open the position to applications...

During a busy meeting Monday night, the Alta City Council considered efforts to add new housing. In his first meeting as mayor, Kevin Walsh said he had been in contact with local real estate developer Joe Aube, who has some interest in available building lots on Cyclone Drive...

Some Alta-Aurelia third-grade girls get a chance to play ball during halftime of the varsity girls game on Tuesday night. /Photo by Craig Shultz

Altans could face a tax increase as the city looks for ways to afford upcoming infrastructure needs. The tax levy rate is currently $10.59 per $1,000 of property valuation. The most it could be increased to is $11.46, which would raise about an additional $56,000 per year. With a mild increase in overall property valuations, the city could then expect a budget increase of about $66,000 from the current year, according to City Clerk Megan Peterson...

The Alta City Council began the process of filling it vacant city code officer position this week, after the previous employee was fired under the previous mayor’s watch in late 2019. “We have kind of a big void right now,” Mayor Kevin Walsh said, hoping the position can be filled by spring. The pervious code officer had also been assigned to maintain the community building, which in retrospect was “not the best decision,” he said...

The Hanover Historical Society will hold its 23rd Annual Meeting, Sunday, January 12th, beginning at 2 p.m., at St. John Lutheran Church, Hanover. The public is invited. There will be a short business meeting. The highlight of the meeting will be the speaker, Jaymie Bral. ...

On Saturday, January 18, at 10 a.m. all are invited to join the Alta Community Library in celebrating all things frozen with A Very FROZEN Party. The party will be jam packed with fun and exciting things. There will be a meet and greet with Anna and Elsa as well as a photo opportunity. There will be a live read along, sweet refreshments and fun activities! Participants are welcome to come dressed up! Boys and girls alike will surely be delighted with the magic and fun during the party...

The Alta Park Board recently went over contracts to hire a swimming pool manager, ball programs director and concessions manager for the coming season, with plans to begin the search process this month. Lifeguards for the pool continue to be a concern, with the pool forced to close at times last season for lack of trained staff. ...

The Alta Firemen’s Association will host its first Cornhole Tournament Saturday, February 22 at the Alta Community Center. The fun starts at 2 p.m. with registration for teams, and the first toss follows at 3 p.m. Competing teams will be made up of two members, but single participants can register as well and be paired up to make a team. ...

There were 11 fewer calls in 2019 than in 2018 for the Alta Fire Department, according to Chief Kirk “Bubba” Reetz, who recently compiled year-end figures. “It was a nice downtick,” he said. 2019 saw 178 calls for service involving nearly 1,900 hours of firefighters’ time. The department took part in 17 community events, 12 department meetings, 91 outside meetings and seven outside training events, for a total of 6,935 firefighter volunteer hours...

City, school groups eye a joint fundraising campaign, looking for input from kids

An Alta man faces charges after shutting his car window on a Storm Lake Police officer’s arm, and driving drunk with his two small children in the back seat. Around 4 a.m. on the morning of December 31, an officer pulled a vehicle over near the intersection of C49 and 90th Avenue...

Alta-Aurelia Warrior wrestling hosts a pasta dinner fundraiser January 4, at Aurelia Community Center, 5-7:30 p.m. The wrestlers and cheerleaders will be hosting the free will donation pasta dinner. Proceeds will help cover the costs of overnight travel expenses for an upcoming tournament and updating equipment in the wrestling practice room...

The Alta-Aurelia Community School District held a “friendly competition” to collect donations for The Lord’s Cupboard, as part of the No Hungry Neighbors food drive conducted by the City of Alta, and the Alta Municipal Utilities. Overall, the School District donated 4,221 pounds of food! Of the four schools, the Alta-Aurelia Middle School donated the most with 2,717 pounds of food, bottled water and household goods, and won the “friendly competition” this year...

Alta Iowa Firefighters Association’s 1st Vice-President, Nick Riley, came to Alta Fire Department during its annual Hometown Christmas Soup Luncheon to present two recently retired firefighters with awards for their lengthy service. Rick Meyer served 46 years with the department and Dan Strand 26 years. Rick and Dan each received an award as well as IFA’s 125th Anniversary Statue. Chief Reetz also presented a years of service award to Rick and Dan. / Photo courtesy Natalie Meyer...

Alta-Aurelia High School students founded a Kindness Club, dedicated to doing good things for people in the community. The club was cited by the school board recently as an example of what extra-curricular efforts can achieve. The clubs was formed three years ago, and has about 60 members. The Kindness Club is dedicated to doing good things for people in the communities, and also has raised money for a couple of different charities...

Children at the Alta Community Library enjoyed a few games of bowling thanks to Toddle Time. Green pop bottles decorated as Christmas trees were used as bowling pins and soft toy snowballs worked as bowling balls. / Photo submitted

Gigi Nelson was honored for her service to the school district during the December Alta-Aurelia Board of Education meeting, the last of her term. Nelson helped play a key role as the Alta and Aurelia districts came together for consolidation. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

The Alta-Aurelia school district took part in RIPL training last week. Shown are students with Ben Rudrud of National School Safety Consulting. RIPL – or Relational, Impactful, Preventative Leadership – is equipping teachers and staff with tools to help better connect with students in meaningful ways and create strong relationships. ...

Wellness often begins with employers, and the local Area Education Agency is examining the potential impact in the workplace. Prairie Lakes AEA Chief Jeff Herzberg directed the AEA board at its most recent meeting to study an article on the Surgeon General’s call to employers to ramp up their well-being initiatives...