Stories from Thursday, August 4, 2016

A Laurens man has been arrested after an investigation into counterfeit $100 bills being passed in Storm Lake. Police say the man was duped into passing the fake bills in hopes of a romance with the woman shipping the counterfeit money from Africa into the U.S...

As an admitted news junkie a good part of the last month has been spent watching our two national parties practice democracy in their national conventions. First the Republicans gathered in Ohio, and then the Democrats in Philadelphia, and now we are settling in to the 100 days before America makes its way to the polls and elects a new president. ...

When you host an outdoors event in the middle of July, you can expect it to be hot! Faith, Hope and Charity would like to thank everyone in Storm Lake and the surrounding communities for your generous support of our Taste of Storm Lake on Thursday, July 21st! With the extreme heat warnings in place, we were EXTREMELY grateful for all the wonderful folks who stopped by for dinner...

Local leaders don't foresee decriminalization, but medicinal use becoming a hot topic

Governor Terry Brandstad visited Storm Lake Tuesday morning to hold a round table discussion on water quality with local farmers, politicians and concerned citizens. The meeting was moved into the Regatta Grille because of higher than anticipated participation, with about a dozen farmers, various state representatives and other citizens in attendance...

Storm Lake resident Tim Humes recently approached the Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors. After experiencing difficulties trying to sell rural land he owns near Sioux Rapids for a nature preserve, he is urging the county to identify the 100 most sensitive properties in the county in hopes they can gradually be targeted to become public land...

Todd Hudspeth, former Chief Executive Officer of Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, received a Deferred Judgment from the Buena Vista County District Court Monday, after entering an Alford plea of guilty to Judge John Duffy to felony Forgery charge...

The Storm Lake City Council voted unanimously this week to proceed with meetings toward establishing an urban renewal plan for the former South School, terming it a "blighted" property. Foutch Brothers LLC is pursuing the purchase of the vacant school from the local school district, with plans to convert it into a 39-unit market-rate apartment complex...

The Cherokee City Council, at the July 26 meeting, passed the first reading of an ordinance banning pets from the Oak Hill Cemetery but subsequent readings were not waived, meaning that citizens will have the opportunity to provide further input at a future meeting prior to the ordinance being implemented...

Here's a look at the DNR Fishing Report. Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) The dredge is in operation in the northeast portion of the lake. Boaters should use extreme caution in this area and must maintain a 100 foot distance from the dredge, booster pump and all dredge pipes at all times. ...

FORT DODGE - A 21-year-old- Iowa woman who caused a Christmas Day crash that killed a 6-year-old Webster City girl has pleaded guilty to three traffic violations. The Fort Dodge Messenger says Ruth Tomlinson pleaded guilty to driving on the wrong side of a highway, failure to maintain control and having no proof of insurance. She was ordered to pay $2,300 in fines and court costs...

After submitting a grant request to The American Legion of Iowa Foundation in mid-April, Faith, Hope & Charity Development Director Carol Williams recently received word from the Foundation's President, David K. Rehbein, that FHC's grant application to install a "Lego Wall" at the care facility had been approved...

On the afternoon of Monday, August 1, at approximately 12 p.m. the Storm Lake Police took a report in connection with a stolen vehicle. Police were advised by the reporting party that a Brianna Holmberg, age 31, of Storm Lake, had allegedly stolen his 2005 Toyota Camry. ...

Storm Lake City Council member Tyson Rice wants to know what City Manager Jim Patrick's intentions are toward his job. Patrick, who has held the top position on the city staff since 2010, was scheduled to interview for a similar position in a New Mexico city late last week, and had been among finalists seeking other jobs in 2015, including posts in Oregon and Washington State...

The Storm Lake City Council has approved a change order for increased costs on the Erie Street project. While excavating near the intersection of Milwaukee and Erie, it was found that some of the soil under the streetbed had been contaminated with leaking petroleum residue from a gas station that had been located there years before...

Folk-roots band Honeywise is coming to Byron's in Pomeroy Sunday, August 28, 5-9 p.m. The popular Cedar Falls group blends the outlaw country guitar influences of Jason Suratt with Sophia Landis' delicate piano and Native American flutes, and the thumping and slapping of Trevor Troupe's double bass. They combine this with the richness of their voices for a unique, organic sound...

Storm Lake United is very excited to once again bring Wood, Wine and Blues to Storm Lake. The event will take place August 19th - August 21st, 2016 in Storm Lake's Sunset Park. Six carvers were picked for Wood Wine & Blues. This event will consist of a three day chainsaw carving contest, products from Iowa vineyards, various craft and art vendors in the park, arts and crafts for kids, a free concert in the park, and much more...

With beautiful sunsets and fun activities throughout the summer, it's a perfect time to think about entering memorable prints as photography exhibits at the 2016 Clay County Fair, Sept. 10-18. Hobby photographers may enter up to 12 photographs total with one picture per class. Classes include color photographs or black and white photographs of people, places or landscape, things, plants, or animals/ insect world...

From July 19th through the 28th, Buena Vista's Men's Basketball coach Brian Van Haaften led a team of Division III All-Stars through Brazil. Two members of BVU's basketball team were selected, soon to be senior Kennedy Dray and recently graduated Nick Clark...

The awards and all conference honors for the Ridge View baseball team have been announced. The varsity pitching MVP was senior Alex Pinkhinke. The varsity offensive MVP was senior Grant Anderson. The varsity defensive MVP was senior Colt Wandry. Anderson and fellow senior Kyle Schiernbeck were named to the first team of the Western Valley Conference. Senior Peyton Boyle and Pinkhinke were both named to the second team. Senior Joe Kenny and Wandry were both named as honorable mentions...

Saturday morning, the descendants of Hans Schmidt flooded the Clay County Fairgrounds as they attended the Schmidt Family Reunion. Genealogist Josiah Schmidt had begun planning the event in 2013 and worked since then to contact as many relatives as possible...

June 10, 1924 - July 30, 2016

May 23, 1928 - August 1, 2016

Two people have been arrested after a report of a domestic assault. On August 1 the Buena Vista Sheriff's office received information of a male and female who had assaulted each other while driving in Buena Vista County. During the incident three children were in the vehicle. ...

Monday evening, the Spencer City Council approved the contract and performance bond with Randy Helmer's Construction. As discussed at a previous council meeting, the project will add pedestrian refuges to several intersections along Grand Avenue. In addition to this project, the council also approved a quote from General Traffic Controls in the amount of $31,950 for crossing lights at these refuges. The lights will be paid for by the Safe Routes to School Fund...

Wanted person On the evening of Monday, August 1, at approximately 9:29 p.m., the Storm Lake Police Department responded to 503 C West 8th Street in reference to locating a wanted person. Upon arrival of police they located and arrested Rosa Florido De Cruz, age 31 of Storm Lake, who was wanted on a warrant charging her with Contempt of Court reference False Report to a Public Entity...

Come join in on the fun with a Back to School Fashion Show with LuLaRoe. The fashion show will be held at the White House Cupcakery on Tuesday, August 9th at 6:30 p.m. They invite everyone who is already familiar and not familiar with LuLaRoe to view all the styles and different ways to pair the styles together. ...

With a jam-packed parking lot, and a line of people waiting to get inside, Shoe Sensation held a Grand Opening and ribbon cutting last Thursday morning. Area Director Kim Jin was on hand for the opening, saying, "This is our seventh store in Iowa, and Shoe Sensation is really excited to be in Storm Lake."...