Local and Area News

On March 2, voters in Alta and Aurelia will go to the polls to decide a request for a Public Educational and Recreation tax levy (PERL). It is the first time that levy, which is not often used in Iowa, has been proposed for the district. If approved, Alta-Aurelia would be the first school in the county to create the levy. It would be permanent, unless voters rescind it...

Alta City Clerk Megan Peterson discussed the next fiscal year budget with council members at a Jan. 11th special city council meeting. She indicated that revenue has not changed significantly so she is estimating the upcoming fiscal year budget to be similar to the current one. The new fiscal year begins July 1st. ...

Alta city council members discussed at a Jan. 11th special meeting a proposal from ISG in their plan to provide engineering services for replacement/repair of drainage and sewer lines. The project involves the design of a sewer replacement project on Cherokee and 9th Street and a sewer lining project in the area of Lake Street. ...

Several Storm Lake recreation projects that have languished during a pandemic could begin to move forward this spring. A dog park proposal suffered a setback when a potential site was lost. A Storm Lake landowner had offered property to be donated for the project, but amid delays, the owner passed away and survivors decided not to proceed with the donation...

A Storm Lake man faces multiple charges after police allege he met a 15-year-old girl on Snapchat, and later engaged in sexual contact with her at residences in Storm Lake during December. Police were notified of possible sexual assault on January 10. Investigation indicated that Nixon Mendoza Munoz, age 22, met the girl on the messaging application about two months before the alleged sexual abuse took place...

New District 6 State Senator Craig Williams admits to a bit of impatience. “There was a little more pomp and circumstance than I was expecting. I’m a guy who likes to get my shirtsleeves rolled up and go to work. I was complaining the first couple of days down here - where are the bills to work on? Then I came in today and there was a two-inch thick stack of bills to read. I learned to be careful what you ask for,” he chuckles...

A Storm Lake man who trafficked and intended to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine pled guilty Tuesday in federal court in Sioux City. Christian Javier Ramirez, age 31, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At the plea hearing, Ramirez admitted that earlier this year, he had conspired with others to deliver methamphetamine for him from Colorado to Iowa. According to the complaint filed in this matter, approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine was intercepted in Colorado by the Colorado State Patrol and was destined for Storm Lake, at the direction of Ramirez.      . ...

You hear that familiar voice on Iowa Public Radio, either introducing both obscure and well-known blues tracks, or touting the virtues of why this particular take of “Come Together,” by the Beatles is different than the well-known studio version. Iowa musician/band leader/radio personality Bob Dorr has given Iowans the gift of his love of music, through his radio shows, or gigs fronting the Blue Band, and its various musical off shoots, for decades now. ...

Buena Vista University staff began receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week. BVU nurses and athletic trainers are among group 1B, and the first at BVU, to receive the vaccine in preparation for future distribution to employees and students according to Centers for Disease Control guidance...

Phyllida Lloyd’s “Herself,” an Irish drama of spousal abuse set against Dublin’s housing crisis, has some narrative weak spots but its foundation of resilience and heart is strong. Previous forays into film by Lloyd, a veteran theater director, have been more elaborate, starrier affairs (“Mamma Mia!” “The Iron Lady”). ...

The Des Moines Symphony performs the fourth livestreamed concert in its “Live from the Temple” series, Dance, Rhythm, & Blues, on Thursday, January 21 at 7 p.m. From Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat to the ragtime riffs of Joplin’s The Entertainer, this wide-ranging program features dance music from French and American Impressionism to jazz, blues and swing. ...

Storm Lake Middle School band students have been selected to participate in the 53rd annual Northwest Iowa Junior High/Middle School Honor Bands Festival. Normally, students audition in person for a position into the two honor bands. Due to the pandemic, this year students recorded and sent in their audition tape. ...

The Storm Lake Public Library Trustees are discussing the future of a mural of children’s book characters on the wall of the children’s section. The Friends of the Storm Lake Library organization recently raised the possibility of using the wall as a projector screen or to mount a video monitor that could allow the library to host movie-type events tying in with books...

On January 6, Storm Lake Police located a wanted subject in Storm Lake identified as Nikki Segebart, age 36 of Denison. Segebart was wanted on two felony Pottawattamie County warrants charging her with violation of probation for Controlled Substance violation and Theft 1st Degree.  Police further allege that Segebart was in possession of approximately half an ounce of crystal methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia...

Western Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra continues to argue against any effort to remove President Trump in the closing days of his administration. Anticipating a 25th Amendment resolution Tuesday, Feenstra was critical. “Last week, I stated that I will strongly oppose any attempt to remove the president from office before the end of his term. ...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has set up a memorial at the Dickinson County Courthouse Plaza for a Spirit Lake man who patrolled the area’s state parks and waters for almost two decades. Memorial services will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at Good News Community Church in Okoboji for Iowa DNR Conservation Officer Steven Reighard Sr. Visitation will take place from 3-9 p.m. Thursday at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel in Estherville...

By DAVID PITT Special to The Pilot Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday night that she will ask lawmakers to immediately send her a bill to sign into law that would require schools to offer parents the option of having their children in classrooms full time despite continuing high levels of coronavirus throughout Iowa...

Today, the Kim Reynolds for Iowa Committee announced that it raised nearly $1.6 million in 2020 and has nearly $2.1 million cash-on-hand. This fundraising total breaks the record for contributions an Iowa Governor has received two years following a gubernatorial election. The campaign also announced Governor Reynolds goes into the year before a gubernatorial election with the largest cash-on-hand in state history...

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) announced today the appointment of Brian Dalziel to the position of Interim CEO effective February 2021. The Corridor provides professional economic development services for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. ...

Kirkwood Community College has released its Dean’s List for the fall 2020 semester. These students have achieved a 3.3 grade point average or higher after completing 12 or more credit hours at the college. Included is Edgar Nunez of Storm Lake.

The Storm Lake Community School District recently named two new principals to guide schools within the community. Both professionals are Buena Vista University graduates. Megan (O’Malley) Richardson ’02 formally began her tenure as Storm Lake Middle School Principal on Jan. 4. Michael Sullivan ’05 will serve as principal of the new Storm Lake Early Elementary School, set to open in January 2022...

Buena Vista County providers have nearly completed vaccination of the health care community, the first stage of the massive vaccine rollout to battle COVID-19, but expectations of availability to the general public have slowly been pushed backward...

A wanted Storm Lake man turned himself in to the county jail Friday after allegedly breaking into a home, choking a woman and threatening to kill her with a knife. Jesus Adrian Herrera Calcada, age 32 of Storm Lake, was held without bond. On January 3, police received a report of a burglary that had happened earlier in the day at a home in the 500 block of Lincoln Road...

Education advocates are calling on the Iowa Legislature to hold school districts that lost enrollment due to COVID-19 financially harmless. Iowa’s public schools experienced a 1.2% reduction in enrollment, totaling nearly 6,000 students in fall 2020 as families chose to send their kids to private school or keep them at home instead...

Education advocates are calling on the Iowa Legislature to hold school districts that lost enrollment due to COVID-19 financially harmless. Iowa’s public schools experienced a 1.2% reduction in enrollment, totaling nearly 6,000 students in fall 2020 as families chose to send their kids to private school or keep them at home instead...

One element of the pandemic year that has been positive for schools is federal funding that has made school lunches free to all students until the end of the school year. The action is relieving schools of a burden in a time when many families are struggling. Storm Lake Superintendent of Schools Stacey Cole and other superintendents would like to see that program be permanent, so schools can concentrate on education...

Sometimes, the creative needs to push a community service project forward come from unexpected sources - opportunity presents itself, and people figure out what to do. For Will and Landon Voyles, they just wanted to get rid of some toys from their collection. ...

Alliant Energy has presented 300 face shields for Alta-Aurelia High School, to help protect students and staff from virus concerns. Randy Brummer and Jeff Jensen of Alliant Energy delivered the shields recently. Students showed off some of the shields: Front: Jimmy Segovia, Armando Alarcon, Kiersten Ryherd. Back Row: Matthew Kueny, Jeff Jensen, Randy Brummer, Cade Ahneman. / AA schools photos...

After a busy December in Spencer Hospital’s Birth Center, January started very quietly – so quiet that the first baby of the New Year didn’t arrive until January 6th. As long as the wait seemed for the birth center staff, it really felt long for new mom Patty Schulz and her husband Dave. Patty’s labor started Tuesday morning yet baby Reba Jayne didn’t make her appearance until early Wednesday evening, after 36 long hours of labor for her mom...

District 4 Congressman Randy Feenstra issued a statement Friday opposing efforts to forcibly remove President Trump from office. “We are at a critical point in time in our nation’s history - a time where both parties need to come together for the good of the American people. Any effort by the House to impeach President Trump will only deepen divisions, and I will strongly oppose any attempt to remove the president from office before the end of his term...

The Storm Lake City Council continues to lament spending projected at half a million dollars for the coming five years for the municipal golf course. While the council agreed this week to let the capital expenses plan for the course stand, members want to see the course turned around so that it can at least pay its own way...

Each year Storm Lake United awards business members who have enhanced business growth and tourism in the Storm Lake Area. The nine businesses and business professionals that were recognized for their leadership and accomplishments in 2020 are as follows:...

December 23, 1928 - December 31, 2020

Applications are now being accepted for the Buena Vista County Community Foundation spring 2021 grant cycle. The application form can be downloaded from the foundation’s web page at www.bvcountyfoundation.com or may be requested by email at bvcfoundation@gmail.com...

Freshman members of Congress were sworn in last weekend in a rare Sunday session, including Republican Randy Feenstra, replacing the incumbent he beat in the 2020 primary, Steve King. After 12 years in the Iowa Senate, Feenstra represents the Iowa 4th District in the House of Representatives...

Chatting with State Climatologist Justin Glisan can be like having a conversation with someone who speaks in a language that you didn’t know existed. Ask him what winter is going to be like, and you’ll get a lecture in “Arctic oscillation,” “ocean-atmospheric phenomena,” and other stuff that we can’t spell let alone explain...

Buena Vista County supervisors intend to appoint a replacement for retiring Treasurer Sherie Elbert. Elbert recently announced plans to step down mid-term in February to spend more time with family. Her term runs through 2022. The county must also fill the seat of Recorder Shari O’Bannon, who plans to retire midterm at the end of April...

Buena Vista County has opted to continue the Families First Coronavirus Response Act protections for county employees. County Attorney Paul Allen last week made county supervisors aware that the federal program’s medical leave provisions was expiring at the end of the year. While it is not mandatory to continue, Allen recommended it...

The Community’s Front-Line Health Care Workers

THE BEST OF TIMES, THE WORST OF TIMES

At Buena Vista University’s Estelle Siebens Science Center, professors idled a small laboratory as the COVID-19 pandemic continued this fall.  The lab is about to come off the inactive list. “We have a freezer in the Science Center that has the ability to go down to minus 86 degrees Celsius, which is minus 122 degrees Fahrenheit,” says BVU President Brian Lenzmeier...

Amid complaints about shortages of initial COVID-19 vaccine shipments and a slower rollout than projected around the country, Buena Vista County received its full first allotment of 500 doses. Providers went to work vaccinating the first level of recipients - health care workers - immediately...

Prevent winter freezing by following some basic guidance

With the budgeting process underway, agencies are making their annual pitches to Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors for funding in the coming fiscal year. The Buena Vista County Fair Board is seeking $30,000, up from $25,000 for the current fiscal year...

King’s Pointe Resort is in need of refreshing. During continuing city council discussion on capital spending plans recently, the new manager of the city-owned resort proposed improvements to rooms on one side of the facility for 2021-22, the fiscal year starting July 1...

The on-again, off-again condo project, on the east side of Storm Lake, is back on-again, and in full swing towards getting completed. Shawn Foutch, and his Johnston, Iowa-based company, JMAE, are heading up the construction, and the sight of a new build going up in the City Beautiful, has many area residents excited in a region where houses, and apartments get bought, and rented quickly. Both Shawn, and his wife Meg, are involved in the company operations...

What is expected to be the largest housing development in Storm Lake history cleared a first hurdle Thursday night, gaining the blessings of the Planning & Zoning Commission on a 4-1 vote. Approval came despite the voicing of multiple concerns by a board member and some neighbors...

The Iowa Health Care Association has released details for upcoming steps as health care workers and residents in long-term care settings are the first priorities for vaccinations. There are three pharmacies that have been assigned to complete vaccine administration in long-term care facilities across Iowa...

RAGBRAI and its 10,000 biking enthusiasts won’t be rolling to Storm Lake in 2021. The community has withdrawn as the first overnight host Sunday, July 25, along with Maquoketa which was to have been a host town later in the ride, according to ride organizer Dieter Drake. He said RAGBRAI will hope to return to both towns in coming editions...

Methodist Manor Retirement Community administration in Storm Lake is wondering why their facility has only now started showing up in state listings of long-term care facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks. The state’s COVID-19 website as of this week listed 22 cases at the facility to date, six confirmed over the past week, and eight recoveries. ...