Kids miss their teachers and classmates, and teachers miss their students due to school closings because of Coronavirus. A solution to bridge the divide for a short time happened on Tuesday, March 24th, when Alta-Aurelia teachers participated in a “teacher parade,” a caravan of vehicles through the streets of Aurelia, then Alta. ...

The Alta-Aurelia School District is providing free meals to kids of all ages every Monday, Wednesday and Friday while schools are closed due to COVID-19. The meals are available for pickup and delivery to residents in Alta, Aurelia and surrounding areas...

It is now a standard worldwide, due to COVID-19, to educate students using unconventional methods, and the Alta-Aurelia School District is no exception. William Walters, Superintendent of Alta-Aurelia Schools, said the overall goal is to keep our students and families connected to school. ...

The Iowa High School Speech Association made the thoughtful decision to cancel Individual State Speech Contests that were scheduled around the state for Saturday, March 14 and the All-State Festival on March 30. State Contest means a large crowd of students and spectators from several school districts. ...

Alta-Aurelia Activities Director Grant Peckenschenider felt what was coming about a week before it happened. He expected the schools to get shut down before the announcements were made. “A week ago I felt it’d get postponed,” he said. “It’s disappointing but necessary.”...

PeopleWorks in Alta is not all about business. They leave room for fun. Located in the heart of Alta, the modern-looking renovated building at 224 S. Main St. offers a space for leadership and management training, meetings and parties, attracting people from all over...

The Alta-Aurelia spring play, “Home for the Holidays,” is being put on hold due to the school district’s closing due to the Coronavirus. “It is postponed indefinitely, depending on when school will be back in session,” play director Carrie Buddenhagen, said...

The Alta Community Library closed Tuesday, and will remain closed until further notice. All scheduled library events are cancelled.

Sunday, March 15 the Alta-Aurelia Trap team traveled to the Palo Alto Gun Club near Emmetsburg. This competition was open to the High School and Middle School athletes. Placing for the High School boys were Jacob Arnts first place and Tyler Erpelding second place. ...

The Alta-Aurelia High School concert and jazz bands put on a special performance Wednesday morning for the 5-8 middle school students. / Courtesy AA School District

Alta Elementary School administrators and teachers consider reading to be a priority for the pre-k through 4th graders and are working to boost reading test scores during the spring state testing cycle beginning May 4. Principal Stacy Mueller told the school board at the March 9 meeting that after analyzing the last few years of data, reading appears to be the subject on which to focus. “We know our reading needed some work,” she said...

After a lengthy search, the City of Alta has offered the code officer position to applicant Randy Sievert. A special meeting of the city council was held Wednesday to resolve the situation. Former code officer Matt Hess was fired last October, with a hiring delayed until a new mayor and council members took office. The city has advertising the position at 25-30 hours per week...

The Bethel University Choir Concert Tour appearance at Summit Church in Alta has been cancelled due to the nationwide coronavirus situation, according to an announcement Thursday. The event was to be held Saturday, March 21. 

Alta is in need of a good party. City officials discussed the lack of a community wide event during the most recent city council meeting. Mayor Kevin Walsh suggested, “As a community we should do something at least once a year.” Alta had “a good thing going” with a National Night Out event that several years ago grew into a larger celebration with 700-900 people attending. That kind of production comes with expense and a need for numerous volunteers, it was noted...

When Alta Elementary School students are having a bad day and feel anxious or upset, just need a break or deserve a reward, they have a place to go. Sherie Van Berkum’s room is considered a refuge for the pre-K through fourth-grade students. Van Berkum is the Behavior Interventionist/At Risk Coordinator at the school and was stunned at the March 2 assembly when she received an award for PLAEA’s PBIS Person of the Year Award, recognizing her work on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) from Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency (PLAEA). . ...

A generous $14,210 was raised on Feb. 29 to upgrade Alta’s elementary school playground. The fiesta-themed fundraiser with silent auction and dance was organized by the Warrior Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). “Our fundraiser went fantastic!” Kayla Wilson, PTO President, said. ...

The long-vacant Danish Lutheran Church in Alta may soon be torn down, as the city has worked for years to try to get the St. Paul, Minn. property owner to take action on the dilapidated building. It is one of four properties the city has targeted recently for eyesore or potential hazard conditions. One, a home on Peterson Street, was resolved voluntarily by the owner. After the city filed legal action, the owner of a second home on Lake Street agreed to take it down...

With a strong turnout from the neighborhood, Alta city officials reversed a plan to consider reducing the size restriction for homes in the Eighth Addition Cyclone Drive area, during this week’s city council meeting. The area currently specifies homes of 1,400 square feet or more. Finding it difficult to attract builders for the remaining lots, the city had considered allowing homes as small as 1,200 square feet...

The Alta-Aurelia Warrior Speech Team had a great day at the Individual District Speech Contest on Saturday, February 29. Ten performers brought 16 entries to the contest. Each performance received a Division I rating, advancing all entries to the Individual State Contest on March 14, to be held at Carroll Kuemper High School. ...

The Alta-Aurelia Warrior Speech Team wrapped up Large Group Speech Season with their Group Improv team performing at the All-State Speech Festival on February 22 in Ames. The Improv group of Sydney Stanton, Sierra Hill, Ellie Kaskey, and Jessica Larson earned an overall Division I rating and at least two judge’s nominations to receive the honor of performing at All-State. / Photo submitted...

Nurturing the younger generation who may have little or no shooting experience, then taking them to competitive excellence is what Mike and Kelli Bartholomew have done for nine years. However, it is not really about attaining excellence, but rather is more about learning shooting techniques, being part of a team and experiencing the highs and lows of competing. Mike is head coach and Kelli is one of nine volunteer assistant coaches on the Alta-Aurelia Trap team. ...

“Closed for the Holidays” is the upcoming spring play production of the Alta-Aurelia schools, to be performed Saturday March 21 and Sunday March 22 at Alta’s Roxy Theater. The play is a spirited and heartwarming comedy about travelers unable to reach their destinations because of a blizzard the day before Christmas Eve, leaving the roads impassable. The characters include a diverse group of travelers striving to sort out their troubles while stranded at a local community center...

The City of Alta budget meeting was held on Feb. 18 for the fiscal year 2021 budget which will go into effect on July 1, if approved in March. City Council members voted to set the final budget levy of $11.51, up from $10.59. Mayor Kevin Walsh opposed that much of an increase, believing that Alta residents saw property taxes increase this year. ...

Last weekend, February six dancers from Alta’s Drishti School of Dance & Fitness took part in their first ever dance competition, at the Iowa Western Community College Performing Arts Center, in Council Bluffs. “They’ve worked really hard, and got excellent feedback. ...

Mrs. Still’s Advanced Food Prep class had a real treat on Friday. Mr. Ryherd stepped in and became a guest chef during a recipe demonstration. / Photo submitted

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. ...