Stories from Tuesday, April 25, 2006

When Storm Lake Police Chief Mark Prosser sees reports of threatened school massacres in small areas, he remembers Storm Lake is not exempt from the possibility of it happening here. He believes area schools are as safe as any in the country, saying there is no way to predict school violence. He urges people to take seriously and report any threats heard from students...

Berneta R. Dunham January 10, 1926 - April 20, 2006 Berneta R. Harson Dunham, age 80, of Storm Lake, died Thursday, April 20 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Funeral serviceervices were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 24 at the First Baptist Church in Storm Lake, with Reverend Tom Hinshaw officiating...

Buena Vista Community Theatre has chosen to produce Rogers and Hammerstein's classic "State Fair" as the summer musical at the newly-restored Roxy theater in Alta. "State Fair" is Rogers and Hammerstein's only musical written directly for the screen. ...

The Associated Press reports last week that Baylor University has sent out an e-mail threat to its coeds not to pose for Playboy magazine. And it isn't bluffing - one girl was previously booted out of school for posing even though the magazine didn't publish the photo, and a whole frat is on double-secret probation because a shot of some of its guys (fully togged) goofing in the background with a couple of bikini girls, once appeared in Hugh Hefner's rag...

A view against Progress AWAYSIS To The Editor, On my way home this last weekend I became very disturbed with all the work that is going on dealing with Project AWAYSIS. Before all the work had begun, I loved to observe the fountain on my way home. It bothers me to think that Storm Lake would get rid of such a site that has actual meaning behind it. ...

CommUNITY Education is accepting nominations for its 7 annual "Senior Volunteer of the Year" award. This award is presented to a community volunteer over the age of 55 years who has shown outstanding commitment and dedication as a volunteer in the Storm Lake area...

The Aurelia High School Class of 2006 lost two of its members to sudden, unexpected deaths in the past year, and classmates have proposed a memorial to their two departed classmates. Class members Ryan Mattheis and Shana Kai presented their final plans to the Aurelia School Board. ...

The first new Sac County Barn Quilts of 2006 started showing up on historic barns and corncribs around the area last week. While volunteers have been working for several months to design, mark and paint the new quilt blocks, the results of their efforts are just now becoming part of the rural landscape...

Building a lake in Cherokee County may be possible, but there are considerable hurdles to overcome, the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors were told recently. "Most of the time, the only real show stopper is cost," Michael Sotak, one of three representatives of Olsson associates present at the meeting, told the supervisors. Also present from the Omaha based engineering firm were Jeff Thorn and Paul Nolan...

Budget talks broke off Friday with Republicans and Democrats pointing the finger of blame at each other. House Speaker Chris Rants, R-Sioux City, said Republicans offered a three-year plan increasing teacher pay by $105 million, and would slow down implementation of their phase-out of the state's income tax on pensions and Social Security...

After delivering a verbal spanking to its consulting engineers for underestimating the cost of Project AWAYSIS to the tune of millions of dollars, the Storm Lake City Council has voted unanimously to award the contracts for the lodge hotel and waterpark, a pivotal step to make AWAYSIS a reality...

After years of waiting, it looks like some progress may be coming in the Little Lake project as local Department of Natural Resources Environmental Services Director Julie Sievers reported funding is available for a feasibility study slated to begin in May...

The deadline is approaching for applications for the Deb (McCoy 1967) Schall Memorial Scholarships. Deadline for applications is noon Friday, April 28 in the school administrative offices. Scholarships are for students attending St. Mary's School in grades K-12 for the 2006-07 school year. ...

A zero percent one-time $2,500 loan is available to a St. Mary's graduating senior for college expenses. This is the seventh year that the Pigott-Bair Loan Program has offered this unique opportunity for St. Mary's students. The Pigott-Bair Loan Program was established in 2000 through a gift by St. ...

Five Storm Lake High School students will be travelling to Dallas, Texas, to compete at the International DECA Conference April 28-May 3. Douan Banhleuxai and Lindsey Dreher will be competing in the Financial Analysis Team Event; Jacob Frederick will be compete in Food Marketing; Angelica Manriquez will be competing in Full-Serve Restaurant Management; and Matt Semprini will be competing in Quick-Serve Restaurant Management...

Martin Coon and Rebekah Kosky Mr. and Mrs. Rusty Kosky of Newell and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Coon of Rochester, MN, are pleased to announce the engagement of their children, Rebekah Ann Kosky of West Des Moines and Martin G. Coon of Salt Lake, Utah. The bride is employed by Mercy West Medical Center in Des Moines. The groom is employed by Guidant Corporation in Salt Lake City, Utah...

Storm Lake High School Advanced Career Exploration students had the opportunity participate in competition events last week. Winners received medals for first, second and third place in five different categories. Many community members volunteered to serve as judges for the events and Buena Vista University provided space in the library for the competition to take place...

Storm Lake High boys track and field coach Jeff Brennan said this week's Drake Relays isn't the most important meet of the year for high school teams, but didn't downplay the event, either. Besides being a world-famous meet that combines high school athletes, Division I, II and III college teams, and some of the top track and field performers in the world, Drake is a motivating factor for prep athletes who compete in it...

The Storm Lake boys track and field team rolled on here Friday afternoon, winning the Class A Division of the Pocahontas Relays. The Tornadoes took first places in five individual events and also won the 4x100 relay, finishing with 164 points to 91 for Jefferson-Scranton. Spençer was a close third with 90 points, followed by Humboldt, Webster City and Algona...

The Buena Vista University baseball team dropped to 3-6 in the Iowa Conference and to 11-16 overall here Saturday after losing a doubleheader to Central College. Central (8-4, 27-9), the 16th-ranked team in NCAA Division III, took game one 6-1 and the second game 8-6 ...

The Alta boys field event athletes got things started here Friday, and the momentum continued on the track as the Cyclones won the Class C Division of the Pocahontas Relays. The Cyclones finished with 172 points to 138 for Southern Cal and 78 for Laurens-Marathon. Newell-Fonda was fourth with 73 points...

The Storm Lake High girls track and field is starting to hit its stride with the postseason just two and a half weeks away. Taking five first places, six seconds and collecting 20 season/and or career best times and distances, the Tornadoes finished second to Lakes Conference and 3A power Spirit Lake...

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dowdy Howard and Mary Dowdy, Aurelia, will celebrate 25 years of marriage with an open house on May 7 from 1-3 p.m. at Studebaker's Restaurant on 112 Main Street in Aurelia. They are the parents of three children; son Aaron, Spirit Lake, and daughters Amber and Nicole who attend Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg. The couple has one grandson, Zander...