Stories from Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Our friend Melody's flight was delayed, so I had plenty of time to watch people come and go at the airport. Picking up visitors at the airport is a loathsome task on the best day; there's nothing quite like driving around for 45 minutes trying to find a space in the short-term parking lot to get you in the mood to host friends at your house. ...

The Witter Gallery would like to thank those who contributed, promoted, and attended their most recent event, Pastries and Paint held on Saturday, April 23. Storm Lake business owners and media organizations are essential to our community as they provide economic development, but also a helping hand in the community. The community support in getting the event ready and promoted was overwhelming, and we really appreciate every contribution...

Over the past thirty years the most conservative minded members of the Republican Party have turned it into a haven for people who consider change a sinful thing - so much so that progressively inclined party members have been treated as RINO heretics to be driven unwelcome from the GOP - a Grand Old Party because it was once that of two forward moving visionaries that were so outstanding that they are affixed looking out on...

Lisa Naslund said her son Dillon was screaming at her, "You don't understand! You don't know what it's like!" Dillon had completed three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was back home, but he wasn't himself. Lisa said "I thought, 'when are we getting our son back?' We were a close family, and I just gave him room. But in 2012 we lost our son to suicide. When he was overseas I had to prepare myself for the possibility of his death, but nothing could prepare me for this."...

The Storm Lake LIC approved the new contract between themselves and the Iowa DNR, in which the DNR gives the LIC $850,000 (90% of the cost) for the dredging project through December of 2018 on the condition the LIC matches 10%. The LIC has about $47,000 on hand, but needs a total of $94,5000 to meet their portion of the agreement...

WASHINGTON -- Marking Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and survivors of sexual assault Tuesday, urging the Senate to pass the Campus Accountability and Safety Act. This bipartisan legislation would protect students, professionalize the response to and reporting of sexual assault cases, and provide colleges and universities with incentives to solve the problem of sexual assault on their campuses...

Rain dampened plans for the Fiesta Latina in Chautauqua Park Saturday, but organizers moved the show indoors to the dance hall on Railroad Street. A packed crowd enjoyed music and dance entertainers, children's games and crafts, and of course, the popular south-of-the-border food. The event is planned by RAICES diversity group at BVU, to celebrate and raise awareness on Storm Lake's multicultural population. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

The Little Sioux River crested far out of its banks at Linn Grove on Sunday. Flood stage is 18 feet and the river was measured at well over 20 feet, causing some damage and swamping the riverfront land. The National Weather Service predicts another peak around 20.2 feet late today or early tomorrow, followed by a slow ebbing. The river is expected to remain above flood level into early next week. / Hugh Perry photo for the Pilot-Tribune...

The Buena Vista County Sheriff's Department is investigating a report of a woman being held captive. Sheriff Kory Elston said that a 911 call came in from Sparky's One Stop Shop in Newell Saturday morning. A 45-year-old woman reported that she had been held against her will in a rural Newell residence since early March...

The Okoboji School Board has scheduled a special session for noon Tuesday, May 3, to address a teacher's suspected use of alcohol at the Milford-based high school's prom. Milford Police Department charged 33-year-old Royce Otto Van Roekel of Milford with public intoxication after a 10:30 p.m. investigation Saturday night at Boji Bay Funhouse and Event Center...

The Iowa Legislature concluded its work on Friday, April 29 after spending 110 days in session. Veteran Storm Lake lawmaker Gary Worthan is satisfied with the session. The Republican state representative says the session will be remembered as "one that took Iowans' priorities and turned them into realities by working together and finding common ground."...

Sen. Chuck Grassley has received hundreds of letters and calls from Iowans, the majority from patients, with concerns about the Obama Administration's proposed rule to test new models on how Medicare Part B pays for prescription drugs. The number of letters and calls is expected to increase as more people learn of this policy. ...

It is the end of the session. As I sit here at my desk at 7:30 a.m. the House chamber is deserted except for Rep. Heaton, Rep. Huseman, one lone page, a couple of doormen, and myself. The House will convene at 10 a.m. this morning rather than 8:30 as we wait for the Legislative Services Agency to redraft bills that were amended and passed yesterday...

Courtesy of "Gandy Dancers" and a "Gold Spike" HISTORICAL MOMENTS & MUSINGS (Facts & Fables) The Buena Vista County Historical Society & Museum

Earth Extremes

Witter Art Gallery in Storm Lake presents the Ridge View Middle School 2nd annual art exhibition, May 3-14, with a reception tonight from 5:30-7 p.m. Admission is free.

The "Live at the Lake" 2016 concert schedule has been set for Arnolds Park. The outdoor, lakefront venue offers a free-admission concert weekly. The adjacent amusement park opens for the season May 21, and the concert series begins in the second week of June...

The Twin Lakes Conference Girls Golf Championship Tournament was held Monday on the par 72 Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. Area teams had a strong meet, with Alta-Aurelia running away with the team title, Newell-Fonda in second, St. Mary's fourth and Sioux Central ninth in the 11-team field...

The Storm Lake High School boys tennis team improved its meet record to 3-3 with a 9-0 sweep of Cherokee Monday on the home court. "It was a perfect day for tennis and the guys did a great job of staying focused and being patient," Coach Val Rosenthal said...

Storm Lake hosted Cherokee, Kuemper Catholic, LeMars, MOC-Floyd Valley, Sioux Center, Spencer and Spirit Lake teams for the Tornado Relays Monday. At top, Emma Kenkel crosses the line to win the girls 400 meters. Above, Matthew Marroquin sets the pace in the 3200. Full results were not yet available at presstime. / Photos by Dana Larsen...

The 2016 Iowa Conference Softball Tournament gets underway this Friday, May 6, at Decorah, with top-seed Luther College serving as the the host. Buena Vista, which finished 7-5 during IIAC play, will be the third seed and open play on Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. against sixth-seed Wartburg (6-6 IIAC)...

The career of Storm Lake native John Bral came to an end on Saturday, as did the season for the Buena Vista men's golf team, as the Beavers played the back nine holes to conclude the final round of the Iowa Conference Men's Golf Championships at Oneota Golf and Country Club...

Senior Neil Marshall doubled with one out in the seventh and scored one batter later on Brandon Wessels home run to left to help lift BVU to a 5-4 victory in the opener of Sunday's doubleheader. He also doubled in a run as BVU completed the sweep with a 2-0 victory in game two...

Students from the Buena Vista University computer science department competed against each other and students from three additional schools during BVU's fourth annual virtual Capture the Flag computer security contest on Saturday, April 16. A total of 67 students competed in the contest from BVU and three other schools: Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash.; Taylor University in Upland, Ind.; and The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash...

The third and fourth grade students of Albert City/Truesdale schools put on a series of plays for parents and fans of theatre Thursday night. The audience enjoyed three shows, "Sir Bookworm," "Click, Clack, Moo,Giggle, giggle, quack," an "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing." Mrs. Spragg, third grade teacher and Mrs. Dirks, fourth grade teacher produced the plays, They credited the students, their parents, and the community for helping it all come together. / Photo by Christy Eral...

The Ridge View FFA Chapter attended the State FFA Convention on April 17th through April 19th in Ames. Hallie Mentzer, Jon Pickhinke, Gus Leonard, and Kyle Friedrichsen received their Iowa Degrees. The Iowa FFA Degree is the highest degree the state can bestow upon a member. ...

Yulisa Vazquez, a senior at Storm Lake High School has been named the 2016 recipient of the Storm Lake P.E.O Scholarship. Yulisa will be honored at the P.E.O Founder's Day event June 20. Yulisa, the daughter of Javier and Sanjuana Vazquez was chosen from an outstanding field of applicants from Storm Lake and St. Mary's high schools. She plans to attend the University of Iowa majoring in nursing...

Bruce Storm, Farm Loan Manager for the Buena Vista County FSA office, receives a retirement clock presented by Rex Wittrock, County Executive Director. Bruce retired last Friday with almost 39 years of service to USDA's Farmer's Home Administration (FmHA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA)...

The Sac County Extension and Outreach office, along with Denise Lake from the Giftique, are offering a hanging basket workshop on Wednesday, May 11. This hands-on workshop will provide techniques on creating shape and adding design to your baskets or flower pots. ...

Cherries are a delicious fruit that can range from sweet to sour, but are always a treat. Can they be grown in Iowa? Absolutely. Different climates support different types of cherry trees, but they can be successfully grown in Iowa's climate. ISU Extension and Outreach horticulturists help navigate the challenges of growing cherries in Iowa. To have additional questions answered, contact the ISU Hortline at 515-294-3108 or hortline@iastate.edu...

Ms. Brugman's first grade classrooms partnered Security Trust and Savings Bank as their Partners in Excellence partnership for the 2015-2016 school year. On April 29th , Security Trust and Savings Bank stopped by the classroom to teach them about the importance of saving money, and how to do that. ...

The Storm Lake Public Library will host another Adult Coloring Night on Thursday, May 5th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. All interested adults welcome to join us for a fun evening of coloring. Refreshments, coloring pages, and pencils provided. Contact the library with any questions...

Randy and Darla Smith of Iowa Falls are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley, to Carsen Anderson, son of Dan and Brenda Anderson of Storm Lake. The couple plans to be married on August 6 at Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls...

The Omeyocan Dance Company exists to celebrate Mexico's colorful cultural history and to share it with others through performances that feature authentic dances, costumes, and music. They entertained at Fonda's Cinco de Mayo celebration Sunday. They seek to enrich both their audience and dancers alike with appreciation and an enhanced cultural awareness of Mexico's storied past and vivid traditions. / Photo courtesy of Scott Kilbride...

January 9, 1930 - April 29, 2016

February 28, 1922 - April 30, 2016

Assault at Tyson On the afternoon of Friday, April 29, at approximately 2:20 p.m., the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to the Tyson Pork Plant on Richland Drive in reference to an assault. Upon arrival of police they met with the victim who alleged that she was assaulted in the locker room by a Marsha Billups, age 53 of Storm Lake. The victim reported the two women were arguing when Billups allegedly poked the victim several times in her face with her fingers...