Stories from Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Newly-elected Storm Lake council members Bruce Carlson and Tyson Rice were sworn into office early Monday morning, just beating the Iowa Code requirement that says that new members must be sworn in by noon on the first business day of January. The two would serve in their first council meeting later that day...

A move by Zone Home Entertainment to the site of Varenhorst Fabrics, and an expansion by Rusts Western Shed into the vacated space, will leave downtown Storm Lake nearly filled. A couple of other retailers are currently looking at the space that will be available when Maurice's moves to the north business district, Storm Lake United CEO Gary Lalone reported to county supervisors Monday...

Buena Vista County has jumped up three spots on the list of county population rankings since last year, according to a new study by the Iowa Association of Counties. The BV County Board of Supervisors reviewed the new numbers informally Monday morning before their regular meeting. Buena Vista County is the only one in the area to improve in the rankings, they found...

A 17-year-old in Storm Lake was arrested after a family dispute Saturday in which the teen reportedly treated to stab victims. Around 9:15 a.m. Saturday, the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to a home in the 1500 block of East Milwaukee Avenue in reference to a report that a 17 year old juvenile male was armed with a knife and making threats...

Without heat, former school is rapidly aging

Chad Mittelstadt and daughter, Sophie, are enjoying the fresh snow and bright New Year's day cross country skiing at Frank Starr Park. They live in Cedar Rapids and are visiting Chad's parents and Sophie's grandparents, Ray and Marilyn Mittelstadt of Storm Lake, over the holidays. / Photo by Hugh Perry...

The former governor of Maryland glanced wistfully at the guitar laying on a table, left there by a barista at the coffee shop, seeming to wish he could strum instead of deliver his third campaign speech of a long weekend swing across Iowa. And he would play, but first things first. "Everyone wants to hear the governor sing - once," he joked after spotting the instrument, finding his rhythm in campaign mode instead...

Healy Excavating, Lake View, has been contracted by the DNR to clean out sand, weeds and debris that may be blocking high water from reaching the Lakeside Dam. They cleared trees and brush Monday and today will two to three feet of sludge accumulation. The work comes in the wake of heavy rains and wind that caused heavy damage to the lakefront in Lakeside. / Photos Hugh Perry...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center welcomed the first baby born in the First Embrace Obstetrics Department of 2016. Baby girl Hannah Pawthamyeemoon Paw of Cherokee, was born January 1 at 7:50 a.m. and weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Parents Rosy Paw and August Htoo and sister Ehchrist Paw are excited to start the new year with Hannah. / Photo submitted...

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today announced that the order cancelling all live bird exhibitions at county fairs, the Iowa State Fair, livestock auction markets, swap meets, exotic sales and other gatherings of birds due to avian influenza was lifted on January 1...

A few local poets will have their work published in the 70th annual edition of "Lyrical Iowa," a hardbound book published at the end of the year by the Iowa Poetry Association. Area writers included are Patricia Moe, Albert City; Catherine Dix Bonham, Aurelia; Don Winkler, Laurens, and Maddie DeWitt, Spencer...

Top, the new council woman, Judy Sievers, and the new Mayor, Roger Pomrenke, took their oath of office and took their new positions January 1, 2016. Bottom, Mayor Pro-tem Mike Rust presenting Marcella Koth a certificate of recognition for 16 years of service as a Lakeside council woman. A certificate was also given to Aaron Johnson Sr. (not pictured) for his two years of service. / Photos submitted...

Don Altena was unanimously chosen by his peers as the 2016 chairperson for the Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors Monday, during the board's first meeting of the year. The election of the vice chair was not so simple. Tom Huseman was nominated, but declined to accept the position, saying he feels he needs more experience on the board. Rhonda Ringgenberg, who had nominated him, then nominated Paul Merten, who was approved unanimously...

A couple of fundraisers are underway for the Lopez family of Storm Lake in the wake of a tragic accident. Leticia and her 19-year-old son Juan were coming home December 23 after last minute Christmas shopping. That day we had some rain which turned into ice. ...

The Buena Vista Regional Healthcare Foundation is pleased to announce that Suzette Radke joined the Foundation's Board of Directors in September 2015. Suzette has lived in the area for over 28 years, farming south of Alta with her husband Mike. She is currently the Director of Business Services/Controller at Buena Vista University and has been at Buena Vista for 25 years. ...

I felt like my insurance company wanted me out of healthcare when I received my new premium information for 2016. I paid over $1,600 a month for my wife and I to have medical insurance in 2015. Last fall I learned my current policy would increase to over $1,950 per month. ...

For lunch, Sue and I had a hamburger and fries at our local diner. Let me send you a picture of us eating it so you can see it. Oh yeah, I forgot: Why on Earth would we do that? You don't care, I don't care, Sue doesn't care and from the taste of it, the diner doesn't care. ...

Let's pass on the brewing beef between Iowa and California. The Stanford Band may have trotted out a lumpy, rabid-looking 9-foot version of a cow during the halftime of the Rose Bowl, but that doesn't mean we have to have one. In fact, it was pretty funny. Come on, admit it. Turn that frown upside down, buckaroos...

Iowa State University students will demonstrate their artistic and scientific abilities to the Spencer area in their upcoming exhibit at Arts on Grand. Their work varies in style, medium, size, and dimensions. From the finely drawn wing of an insect to the cranium of a mammal, this show promises to have something for every interest level...

Tony-winning 'Jersey Boys' to play eight shows in northwest Iowa

The Newell-Fonda boys basketball team struggled to hold onto the ball in the loss to at Emmetsburg Monday. The Mustangs (2-6) lost to the E'Hawks 69-49 for their fifth straight defeat. Newell-Fonda head coach Shad Coppock credited the loss to the team's 22 turnovers in the contest and a poor defensive second half...

The Newell-Fonda girls basketball team opened the new year with a road victory against Emmetsburg on Monday. The Mustangs (7-3) defeated the E'Hawks 48-24 to push their winning streak to four games. For Newell-Fonda head coach Dick Jungers, the Mustangs' defensive ability to hold Emmetsburg's offense in check was the key to starting 2016 with a win...

The Buena Vista women's basketball team shot 53 percent from the field and outscored Saint Benedict by 13 points in the third quarter to help lift the Beavers to a 74-64 victory to wrap up its play at the Saint Benedict Classic on Sunday afternoon. "We were just consistent," BVU head coach Janet Berry said. "We came into this game with a new mindset and got some great on the inside and outside."...

Nick Clark erupted for 23 second-half points, including a late three-pointer, but it wasn't quite enough in the end as the Buena Vista men's basketball team was edged 81-79 by DePauw University in the championship game of the Tampa Shootout on Wednesday afternoon...

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State redshirt junior Deonte Burton earned his second consecutive Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honor after averaging 18 points and shooting 72.2 percent from the field in the Cyclones' two games last week. Burton scored 19 points against Oklahoma just three days after tallying 17 points against Coppin State. ...

The Storm Lake Public Library's PIE classes, Mrs. Richardson and Mrs. Brashears' first grade classes, made gingerbread houses on December 18th.

Storm Lake St. Mary's Kindergarten class had a special visitor before the Christmas break. The class's Partner in Excellence -- Storm Lake Public Safety Department -- arranged for Santa Claus to come to Ms. Abby Carlson's classroom. Each child was able to sit on Santa's lap if they wished and share what they wanted for Christmas. Everyone received a candy cane from Santa...

Applications are now being accepted for several educational funding assistance programs which are administered through Spencer Hospital and designed to benefit area students studied for healthcare careers. Application deadline for the Bennie B. and Ernestine F. Shine Scholarship, Adam J. Anderson Scholarship and Cornwall Loan Program will be March 31...

The Iowa Central Storm Lake Center grows 9 percent in fall 2015

Diane Radke of Alta recently won election to the Buena Vista County FSA Committee. Radke will serve a three-year term representing Local Administrative Area #3 which includes: Elk, Nokomis, Washington, Maple Valley and Hayes Townships. Diane and her husband Dean farm in Maple Valley Township and are both retired from AgPartners. She is involved with 'Women in Denim' and members of the Farm Bureau. For the past year Diane has been minority advisor to the FSA committee...

A coffee was held on December 29 for the 2015 Auxiliary Nursing Scholarship recipients in the Center for Women at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. The winners are shown above, after accepting their awards. Left to right are: Grace Dierenfield, Sara Gisch, Callie Herrig, Ariana Batz, Megan Pickhinke and Rachael Tice. ...

Happy 85th Birthday to Rosemary Bergquist on January 10th! Rosemary, wife of the late Gordon Bergquist, was a lifelong resident of Alta and moved to Ankeny one year ago. Her children include Renae, Susan, Gary and Stacy. Please send birthday wishes to Rosemary Bergquist, 1275 SW State Street, #219, Ankeny, Iowa 50023...

CommUNITY Education is offering a Coffee and Canvas painting class on January 6th at 6 p.m. All ages and all skill levels are welcome! You will be taught all the skills necessary to paint a beautiful canvas! All supplies will be provided. This will be held at the middle school art room, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday Jan 6th. Participants will create a winter scape with ease. Call Community Education with questions, or to register...

The Buena Vista County Parkinson's Support Group will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12, in the fellowship hall at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1614 W 5th Street, Storm Lake. The church is located across the street from the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. Parking is available and the building is accessible. This meeting is free and open to the public who are interested in learning more about Parkinson's disease...

Three part series shows how Master Gardeners support food security

December 31, 1931 - December 30, 2015

June 4, 1927 - December 30, 2015

November 5, 1920 - December 29, 2015

August 6, 1925 - December 29, 2015

January 3, 1920 - December 28, 2015

Vandalisms Between November 30 and December 2, three vandalisms were reported. Total damages were estimated at $450. On December 5, a vandalism was reported at 115 Spring Court Road in Storm Lake. Total damages were estimated at $500. On December 20, a vandalism was reported at 509 Larchwood in Storm Lake. Damages were estimated at $200...

On the afternoon of Friday, January 1, at approximately 12:10 p.m., the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to 1409 North Seneca Street in reference to a possible stabbing. Responding officers were advised that a 17 year old male was allegedly intoxicated and out of control and had possible stab wounds to his abdomen...