Stories from Saturday, September 6, 2014

They don't do neon signs or billboards, and they don't have an advertising budget. In fact, they don't even have a paved road. "In the beginning I thought it would be a huge problem to let people know we exist out here, but largely thanks to word of mouth, it's going terrific," says Terry Boltjes, director of the Prairie Heritage Center, rural Peterson. "We're having a steady flow of about 14,000 visitors a year - lots of walk-ins, campers, lots of school groups."...

A contractor working on the Storm Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant Wednesday struck and broke a sewer line at about 5 p.m. The damage caused approximately 90,000 gallons of partially treated and raw sewage to leak onto the ground around the plant. An estimated 10,000 gallons flowed into Outlet Creek...

The calendar may still say summer, but at Santa's Castle, as the song says, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Or at least a chaotic form of the holiday, as old exhibits are torn down and new ones prepared. "We're concentrating on restoration of two major scenes of antique animation that no one has seen in many years," Curator Ron Stevenson says...

A mother accused this week of child endangerment in Storm Lake over the game "Pass Out" has responded to the allegations, the first arrest in the city for the practice that causes participants to go unconscious over lack of oxygen. The woman said she has been suspended from her job in a local children's care facility pending the outcome of the charges. Here is the bulk of her statement:...

ALBERT CITY - Sioux Central bounced back from a 12-6 week one loss to Pocahontas Friday night by smashing visiting North Union 45-0 despite missing quarterback Caleb Anderson after a mid-week concussion. "We did some nice things out there. Our quarterback was out with a concussion, and we had some young kids step into the position and do a nice job," Sioux Central football coach Brandon Goodchild said...

STORM LAKE - The venerable Battle Ax trophy was up for grabs, resting in the center of Storm Lake's bench on a cool, crisp Friday night. The Tornadoes hosted familiar early-season rival Cherokee and held on in a thriller for a 26-20 win. Storm Lake started fast with two first quarter touchdowns, Cherokee stormed back to take the lead in the third, then the Tornado defense steeled down the stretch...

AURELIA - For most of the game it seemed like nothing would work for the Ridge View Raptors. Even though they were sluggish in the first half the Raptors were able to put their offense together when it mattered most and were able to win the game 14-7...

LAKE PARK - A retooled Newell-Fonda team gave Harris-Lake Park a fight on the road Friday night, before bowing out 32-26. The Mustangs fall to 2-0, headed into another road trip next week to Dunlap for the District opener with Boyer Valley. Dustin Johnson had a three-yard scoring run for Newell-Fonda Friday night, and Brady Dicks hit Conner Wolterman on a 26-yard scoring strike...