Local and Area News

Governor Reynolds calls new legislation to increase education funding by 2 percent “historic” for preK-12 funding. Some school district superintendents beg to differ. The legislation, which advanced through the Iowa Legislature last week with Reynold’s blessing, would increase funding to public schools by nearly $90 million, including $19 million for the transportation equity fund and $2.9 million for per-student equity issues...

In the first of a new series of monthly “Pay It Forward” themed events at Our Place Multicultural Center in Storm Lake, two local immigrants told a small crowd Thursday night about their tasks of working with migrant families arriving in the community...

The Storm Lake Fire Department logged 21 structure fires in 2018, up two from the previous year and the highest total since 2015. The department also responded to 30 smoke scares or assistance calls, 29 inspection requests, nine carbon monoxide cases, six electrical malfunctions, six hazardous materials spills, four vehicle fires, four grass or trash fires, four rescues, one gas odor call, and 88 false alarms, according to the newly released City public safety annual report...

As temperatures plummet outside, Buena Vista University has been searching for fun fitness options indoors. Students Jacob Hollister and Emma Bloom tried out a log-rolling event in the BVU pool Wednesday, with a hand from Tyler Prescott. The event made popular by lumberjacks is being offered regularly for the students, and an in-pool human version of the game Battleship is also being planned...

2019 Fourth of July Commodores Rob and Michelle Smith have announced the theme for the July 3 and 4 festivities – “Coming Home.” “We chose ‘Coming Home’ because we want to encourage friends and family to come home and hold class reunions around the Fourth, but we also want people to consider coming home to Storm Lake to live,” Michelle said, noting they both came back home to live after living in the Pacific Northwest. ...

Police located a wanted suspect in a delivery of methamphetamine case Friday - driving under the influence of the drug. A Storm Lake officer pulled over a vehicle around 3:45 a.m. in the West Milwaukee area after spotting a driver believed to be wanted...

One of the Beavers around BVU found itself snow covered after a recent system passed through.

With a $97 million statewide flood resiliency grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, project consultants for the North Raccoon River Watershed Plan are looking to gather feedback from locals to make a plan that works for everyone...

Buena Vista University is hosting the annual WISE High School Art Exhibition, through March 14 in the Social Sciences and Art Hall. The show is open to the public, free of charge, during university hours. The juried exhibit features the best of art work submitted through high schools around western Iowa, including works by area students from Storm Lake, Sioux Central and Alta-Aurelia. / Dana Larsen...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s will be conducting a Lenten Parish Mission “I am Beloved,” March 10-13, led by Fr. Michael Hinken, SOLT, JCL. Sessions will be provided at 6 p.m. each night in English and also at 7:15 p.m. in Spanish all at the church. Fr. Hinken is a priest of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, a Society of Apostolic Life (SOLT) serving the Church worldwide in areas of greatest need. ...

Iowa state auditor Rob Sand said taxpayers could be on the hook if the Iowa Finance Authority pays $4.15 million to settle sexual harassment claims against former IFA Executive Director David Jamison as planned. Some of the complaints stemmed from Jamison’s behavior at an unnamed Arnolds Park hotel bar. ...

On November 9th the operators of the Malibu Nature Preserve knew they were in trouble! Just days before, the Woosley wildfire had jumped the 101 Freeway and headed toward the ocean. Firefighters were struggling to contain the fire and rain was nowhere to be seen. ...

Buena Vista University has announced that Steve Wozniak, who designed Apple’s first line of products, will be the 23rd William W. Siebens American Heritage Lecture laureate on Friday, Oct. 4. Wozniak joins a list of preeminent American Heritage lecturers that has included former world leaders, heads of state, and others who have reached the highest levels of accomplishment and recognition in their fields...

With more loans getting paid off, Buena Vista County Supervisors are looking to decrease the overall tax levy burden. With less than 1 percent carryover, Supervisors decided to increase the levy for the rural basic fund, raising it by 21.5 cents per thousand dollars. This will put the ending fund balance at about 20 percent carryover...

National FFA Week is celebrated each year during President’s week. This year celebrations will take place from February 16 - February 23.  “Just One,” is this year’s theme for FFA. Everyone has that one decision, one risk, one conversation that makes all the difference in their lives. The National FFA wants us to imagine the impact combining each of our “Just Ones” can have.   ...

BVU dedicates new Center for Diversity and Inclusion “This is a big deal,” Buena Vista University President Joshua Merchant said, scanning the crowd of campus and community members who came out Monday to help christen a new Center for Diversity and Inclusion in the University Forum...

An environmental activist who has publicly admitted to vandalism along the route of the Dakota Access oil pipeline in Iowa and South Dakota - including $2.5 million in sabotage damages in Buena Vista County alone - is asking a judge to dismiss her as a defendant in a $1 billion federal racketeering lawsuit filed by the pipeline developer...

The Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune swept to 20 awards in the 2019 Iowa Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contests. Awards were presented last weekend in a gala ceremony in Des Moines. The Pilot-Tribune claimed first place honors in the state in Best News Story for staff writer Elijah Decious for poignant coverage of a parent’s plea on behalf of an overdose victim at an area summit on opioids...

Late-winter ice anglers are finding success on Storm Lake, according to local experts, but concern over ice safety continues. “The fishing is pretty good. People are bringing in walleyes, perch, crappies, a few white bass,” says Josh Schwartz of Gone Fish’n, the outfitting business now based out of the marina at Casino Beach. ...

Storm Lake has enjoyed (and does enjoy) numerous annual celebratory events (The Star Spangled Spectacular; Wood, Wine and Blues; Labor Day in the Park; Lakefest; Memorial Day Picnics; RAGBRAI; et. al.), but roll them all into one aggregate annual celebration and it would be an anemic event compared to the past annual awesome “The Great Iowa Balloon Races.” Which, in fact, ballooned (no pun intended) into a tremendous balloon rally and fantastic Balloon Festival. ...

Area legislator supports limits in all 3 branches of government DES MOINES — Iowa District 1 Sen. Zach Whiting, R-Spirit Lake, introduced a resolution for a national term limits amendment proposal convention. The resolution, SJR11, was filed last week and was referred to the committee on state government. Whiting also filed a term limits resolution to term limit the Iowa Legislature (SJR4)...

Arts on Grand is very excited to be hosting a solo show for long-time professional artist and Spencer native Deborah Madsen Burow February 19– March 30. Her whimsical yet highly skilled work will dazzle your eyes and fill your heart. What’s your favorite color? My favorite color is JOY. ...

Service is an integral component of the Storm Lake St. Mary’s High School, and the high school students learned about military service last week while participating in a unique in-school service project. The students worked with the Iowa Veterans’ Perspective organization to help record veterans’ stories in hopes of preserving them for all to view at the Library of Congress...

Just about everybody has that drawer, stuffed with old t-shirts that don’t fit or never get worn any more. A group of local volunteers is turning those cast-offs into new dresses and shorts for impoverished children in Haiti. They were inspired by the We Sew Love ministry, founded by former Storm Lake resident Linda Jacobson, in Birmingham, Alabama...

Storm Lake Elementary School is one of thousands across the country that has joined a Pennies for Patients campaign to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s blood cancer research efforts. One of the students, kindergartener Avril, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2015 at age 3 and is currently undergoing treatments monthly...

Freshman Buena Vista University elementary education student and track athlete Regan Sylvester drew on her childhood experiences baking cupcakes alongside her great-grandmother to illustrate the importance of integrity in an award-winning essay. The 2018 Sioux Central graduate was selected as the top essayist among all first semester sections of freshmen seminar students...

BVU student relays life lessons learned cooking alongside great-grandmother in award-winning essay

2019 opens up with either the promise of continued, robust economic growth, or a looming recession, for the United States. Job growth figures vary across the country, and it is still not uncommon to see many people holding down two, or more, jobs. Iowa’s unemployment rate fluctuated, for half of last year, between 2.9, and 2.8 percent, finally dropping to an 18-year low of 2.6 percent in July, then down to 2.4 percent in November and December. ...

Buena Vista University launched a new scholarship program last week for students who are “legacy” - children or grandchildren of university graduates with degrees. Starting next fall, any student with those family ties beginning enrollment will be awarded the $4,000 Legacy Scholarship...

Members of the SOS Board presented a check for $25,000 to St. Mary’s Principals Diane Jones and Ryan Berg at the Pink Out game. All proceeds from sales made at the store benefit the operation of St. Mary’s School. Board members presenting were left – Maggie Reyes, Monse Villegas and President Nick Landgraf. Students are Landgraf’s children Isabelle and William. /Photo Submitted...

Following a 3 percent raise for most elected officials across the board, Buena Vista County employees received a proportionate bump in pay. Buena Vista County Supervisors approved the Board of Compensation’s recommendation of 3 percent raises for all elected officials except for the county attorney, plus stipends for the auditor and treasurer, and longevity...

EVERLY — Despite the winter weather, a group of farming professionals gathered inside the Hap Keletsen Community Center Thursday and discussed the new features of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 — alternatively called the farm bill — with Dr. Alejandro Plastina, assistant professor of economics at Iowa State University. The presentation was part of the “2019 Farm Update,” hosted by Cornerstone Insurance and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach...

As an entry into the pantheon of great newspaper movies, Steven Spielberg’s Pentagon Papers drama “The Post” is inked with deep affection for the analog apparatus of the newspaper business, circa 1971: the hum of broadsheets rolling through the presses, the metal clanking of handset type, the thump of a newsstand’s morning delivery...

As international trade continues to be an issue central to farmers throughout Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds reacted positively to the EU’s European Commission decision to allow the use of U.S. soybeans for biodiesels in the EU last week. Prior to the decision, soybean oil byproduct from exported soybeans were unable to be used as fuel in the EU and the byproduct was shipped back to the U.S...

DES MOINES — The Iowa Legislature is moving forward a series of bills that would legalize sports betting. Lawmakers discussed four bills Wednesday in a Senate subcommittee, and the bills are on the calendar for discussion Thursday by House members. The bills offer opportunities for competing groups, including state-licensed casinos, a horse racing group, the Iowa Lottery and professional sports organizations, to run sports gambling operations...

Zena Olerich, Patient Advocate and Katie Schwint, Director of Communications at BVRMC, recently accepted a check in the amount of $2,116.20 from employees at Central Bank. The money was raised at a dinner the bank sponsored at the St. Mary’s Pink-Out Night on Friday, February 1. “We are very thankful for this nice donation for our Oncology patients” stated Katie Schwint...

Central Bank Staff made a generous donation to CAASA. Money was raised through employee donations to wear blue jeans to work on the last Friday in January. CAASA offers free and confidential supportive services to survivors of sexual violence. Pictured are Central Staff presenting the donation to CAASA Advocate, Jenny Ahlers...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center and Cardiovascular Associates sponsored, “Ask the Cardiologist Your Heart Questions” presentation at BVRMC February 6. Herbert Hartmann lll, MD, F.A.C.C. was the featured speaker. The well attended Free Lunch & Learn gave the attendees to ask their concerning questions...

With temperatures dipping below zero, a student at Buena Vista University does homework pressed against the warmth of the new fire-ring fireplace in a Forum study area. With its new feature, students have taken to calling the area, “The Fire Room.” / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

Western Iowa Congressman Steve King made national news again this week after inviting “Diamond,” of the pro-Trump blogsite and popular Fox News guest duo Diamond and Silk, as his guest at the State of the Union address. “Having only one ticket, I invited one of two guests for the State of the Union tonight, Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson, otherwise know as Diamond & Silk. ...

The public is invited to come together for a moment of remembrance in honor of the father and son, Zackary and Blair Newlon, who lost their lives after falling through the ice on Storm Lake January 20. The event will also be a tribute to the first responders and medical staff who rescued and saved the lives of the family’s two young daughters, Sophie and Sydney...

There were no activations in 2018 for the Storm Lake Clandestine Lab Team, which includes one Storm Lake Police officer and one Storm Lake firefighter, specially trained for dealing with labs as part of the community’s efforts at drug eradication. The team was formed in 2003 with a federal grant...

Applications are being accepted for the U.S. Citi zenship Class offered at the Storm Lake Public Library. The eight - week course introduces students to historical and cultural information used on the Naturalization Test. Classes will be held on Tuesdays, beginning February 19 and will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Child care will be avai lable...

The Storm Lake City Council has approved a one-year lease agreement allowing St. Mary’s to operate Memorial Ballfields, a site owned by the City. As in the past, in lieu of rent, the parochial school will take responsibility for maintaining the fields...

As jail bookings wane at the county jail, the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office says an emerging crisis in mental health care, in conjunction with a deteriorating mental health care infrastructure, is becoming a bigger part of their work. The County Jail saw 1,196 bookings in 2018, with an average population hovering around 24 inmates, said Captain Marty DeMuth, jail administrator. ...

For some, hogs are more than a living—they’re a way of life. Newell-Fonda High School graduate Carli Grau is proud to carry that legacy. Though she concedes that she hadn’t previously entered a barn since she was 9, the connection she had with her father and grandfather kept a flame burning, even after they passed...

Love is in the air, and the Women of the Hope Evangelical Free Church in Storm Lake want to make sure no one is left out. The group recently made 90 Valentine’s Day cards for the residents of Methodist Manor, as well as cards for some of the shut-ins they know of around the community...

Storm Lake Police were called to the Tyson pork plant early Saturday morning, where two pedestrians had been struck and injured by a vehicle. Officers located the female victims near the security office of the plant. One was suffering from serious upper body and facial injuries and the second had a leg injury. Both victims were transported by ambulance to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center for treatment...

After responding to a report of a man standing in the middle of the road yelling in the early morning hours Sunday, Storm Lake Police found themselves struggling with an intoxicated suspect who reportedly resisted arrests, kicking one officer in the face and biting another...

Storm Lake United is excited to announce the arrival of Fall in Love with Storm Lake, a sales promotion that will run through February 16th and features numerous prizes as well as a downtown Chocolate Walk on February 9th! The Witter Gallery is also holding a Chocolate Extravaganza on Saturday the 16th. During the promotion period, shoppers can register at each participating business for a chance to win the following prizes:...