Popular Stories

Police bust uncovers over a quarter million dollars in drugs (5/6/19)

Storm Lake Police have cracked a drug trafficking operation, seizing 70 pounds of marijuana, over four pounds of crystal meth, “magic mushrooms” and weapons including assault rifles. Thursday, police along with the local tactical entry team and sheriff’s department SERT team support, executed a search warrant at 1005 East 9th Street. There, they seized four pounds of what then believe to be methamphetamine and a 2012 Infinity...
Linn Grove Dam runs dry as river cuts new channel (6/19/19)

Following heavy spring flooding along the Little Sioux River, the river has carved a completely new channel south of the dam, running through and heavily damaging the park land. For the first time in his four years as County Engineer, no water is running over the dam, says Brett Wilkinson...
New early childhood center plan set SL school board debates date to go to public vote (6/19/19)

With a new plan in hand for an Early Childhood Center, the Storm Lake Board of Education is split about when to take that proposal to the voters for a second attempt to attain funding. After narrowly failing with a $29 million plan for a preschool-first grade plan in a bond election last December, the district has opted for a three-phase project starting with kindergarten only - 10 classroom plus the gym, media center and music spaces that would serve the whole complex. ...
SL native steps in to lead DHS (6/19/19)

A Storm Lake native has been named interim director of the Iowa Department of Human Servies. DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven says he resigned Monday at the request of Gov. Kim Reynolds, as Reynolds indicated she wishes to take the department in a new direction. Reynolds issued a news release stating that she’d appointed Gerd Clabaugh as interim director. Reynolds complimenting the job Clabaugh has done as director of the state Public Health Department since 2014...
Seize the Day One Storm Lake woman risked it all to find a cure for her epilepsy (6/17/19)

Everyone said it was too risky—a surgical journey almost nobody chooses. It had a 50 percent chance of working. There was a substantial risk she might not ever be able to speak again. But to her, the choice was obvious. “I’m going to do it anyway,” said epileptic Shelby O’Bannon. “I would rather go down swinging than not try at all. Life was meant to be lived.”...
SLPD says no to new ICE program (6/17/19)

Police Chief Mark Prosser says Storm Lake Police Department will not encourage or cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s new Warrant Service Officer program, an extension of an existing program that would authorize local law enforcement to act as an arm of ICE...
Experimental drug treatments under way for young ALS victim (6/19/19)

After receiving her first Antisense Oligonecleotide, also called ASO, infusion on Monday, June 10, the family of 25-year-old Jaci Hermstad reported no adverse side effects. “Jaci did great after the first ‘jacifusen,’” her mother Lori Hermstad said. ...
Tractor traverses the country for veterans (6/21/19)

1948 “Johnabilt” raises PTSD awareness slowly but surely
BV County Fair makes new crowd-pleasing changes (6/19/19)

The Buena Vista County Fair is preparing to welcome attendees once again with a new and exciting line-up of events, activities, contests and carnival rides. New this year, attendees can look forward to the comeback of Bulls & Barrels, a Barnyard to Blue Ribbon Bike Ride, and a contest that combines craft beer brewing and a good old barbecue...
South School apartment construction ramps up soon (6/14/19)

A project to convert the South School into apartments has been delayed due to financing hiccups, though work is expected to ramp up this month. Shawn Foutch of Foutch Properties said he expects framing to start going up by the end of June, pending final building permit applications to get started...