Stories from Friday, August 1, 2014

City works to get housing units up to stiffer state requirements on smoke detectors

Five Buena Vista University faculty members recently visited Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, as part of the McCorkle Fellowship program. During the 12 day trip, the Fellows visited various destinations and landmarks across the island's 63 square miles, gaining international perspectives and broadening their field of knowledge in their academic specialties...

"Paint the Town," a first effort of its kind by the Witter Art Gallery, wasn't quite the art explosion that the gallery had hoped for, but undeterred, Director Ron Stevenson is soldiering on with the next event in the series, "Paint the Parks" on Saturday, August 16, hoping to build the events gradually...

Florence Schoenthal, age 96, of Storm Lake, formerly of Schaller, died Thursday, July 31, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 6, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Schaller. Burial will follow in the Schaller Cemetery. Visitation will take place Tuesday, August 5, from 5-7 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller is in charge of the arrangements...

Al Schutz, age 59, of Storm Lake, died Thursday, July 31, at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. Memorial services will be held at a later date in Mallard. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Alan Schutz was born on September 18, 1954 in Emmetsburg, the son of Robert and Betty (Strong) Schutz. Memorial services will be held at a later date in Mallard. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Al died on July 31, at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, at the age of 59...

Mere inches separated two different race winners on Wednesday night as the Buena Vista Raceway wrapped up its season. Although it was the end of the season it doesn't mean that it was the end of close racing and fast cars. While some drivers entered the night trying to get points to become champions most were just focused on getting one last win...

For a dozen weeks the races came from all across northwestern Iowa to race on the 3/8 mile track in Alta. While the competition was tough all season long six champions emerged for the 2014 season. BVR Bombers: Devon Pierce proved throughout the season that being consistent is a key to championships. On the season, Pierce finished with four wins, and only three finishes outside the top five...

GALVA - Quad County Corn Processors announced today that it will host a grand opening event for its new "bolt on" bio-refinery that is turning corn kernel fibers into cellulosic ethanol. Quad County is the site of Iowa's first cellulosic ethanol gallons and the world's first corn kernel fiber cellulosic ethanol, a process that was invented by Plant Engineer Travis Brotherson and patented by Quad County Corn Processors...