Stories from Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst today pressed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to explain the flawed policy that leads to the downgrading of flood control projects in Iowa cities for funding prioritization. Grassley and Ernst cited Cedar Rapids and Des Moines as losing priority under the broken formula...

DES MOINES— The 2016 Water Year (ending September 30) brought a statewide average precipitation of almost 45 inches, 9.6 inches more than normal. This ranks as the third wettest water year among 144 years of record. Excessive rains in September over north-central and northeast Iowa resulted in flooding and a record crest along the shell Rock River and the second highest crest on record along the Cedar River...

LARRABEE—DNR investigators tracked down red color in Bear Creek about four miles west of Larrabee to runoff from an earthen basin at a cattle feedlot owned by Nathan Tentinger of Tentinger Farms. Apparent over-application and a leaking pump caused runoff, turning the small creek red. Investigators found high ammonia levels in Bear Creek but no dead fish...

Storm Lake High School students from a peer relations class recently visited Otsego Place. Students and Otsego Place tenants enjoyed roasting marshmallows and making s’mores together as a group. After indulging in the sweet treat, students and tenants circled up for small group conversations in order to get to know each other better. The peer relations class comes to Otsego Place twice per month to hold a conversation group with the tenants.

Peter Grady’s presentation to a packed audience in the east gallery at the Sanford Museum on Saturday evening began with Grady shuffling in wearing a blanket and wool stocking cap. He sat at a writing table that contained an American flag, a Civil War officer’s hat and bottle of what appeared to be whiskey...

When it comes to breast-cancer prevention, most women are probably aware of the need for self examinations and mammograms, as well as awareness of a family history for breast cancer. But other factors that can help women avoid breast cancer may not be as well known, or at least not as often discussed. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this might be the right time to discuss them...

“When to call 911” was the topic for the October Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Young at Heart. Joan Prach, Director of ER/Ambulance and Matt Imming, Emergency Services Educator/Supervisor presented. They shared some of the warning signs and risk factors for the Time Critical Conditions of strokes and heart attacks. BVRMC Emergency Services system can provide lifesaving interventions and definitive care much sooner than driving yourself to the hospital...

Blood is all you need to save lives in your community this month. 90% of Americans experience the need for blood in their lifetime, but less than 10% of the population donates regularly. A regular blood donation only takes an hour and can save the lives of up to three local hospital patients. You’ve got what it takes – all you need is blood...

The Laurens Ladies Golf League made a generous donation of $250 to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center’s P.i.n.k., which provides free mammograms to women with financial barriers.

‘The Addams Family: The Musical’ will kick off SCT’s 57th season

The 2016 Jack O’ Lantern Jam featuring the Badlands House Band is your chance to take part in the biggest party on the Lakes Halloween weekend. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. at the Waterfront at Bridges Bay in Okoboji. Live music begins at 9:30 p.m.  Admission includes spooky eats featuring Coconut Shrimp, Cubana Sliders, Pepper Bacon Sliders, and Blue Water Flatbread Pizzas. ...

With the World Series approaching and baseball fever at high pitch, the blogpost Galesburg’s Darkness recently researched the story of the Storm Lake area’s own World Series champion, and the bitter end to a storied life on the diamonds.

The Iowa Central Community College Storm Lake Center has more students this fall for yet another year. Iowa Central Community College’s Storm Lake Campus reported a 4.6% increase in enrollment. Overall Iowa Central over all their locations had a 1.5% increase in enrollment for the Fall 2016 semester compared to Fall 2015...

Donations to the “Cares for Kids” program at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center have recently been used to purchase a CuddleCot for the First Embrace Obstetrics. The CuddleCot and a Moses Basket are used together when a newborn passes away so the family will have additional time with their child...

A racial incident was reported to Buena Vista University Student Affairs October 9, alleging that two females were entering a bus at Malarky’s to return to campus when they were verbally abused by a student or students with racially-abusive terms and orders that they should sit in the back of the bus...

The City of Storm Lake has been awarded a grant from the state’s Resource Enhancement and Protection fund, commonly referred to as REAP, to purchase the former Joyce’s Greenery site. The two lots off East 5th Street are being cleared and will be turned into a neighborhood park...

The Storm Lake Art is putting its mark on the new SLHS performing arts auditorium, painting the sets for the upcoming musical, “Guys and Dolls.” The students say they are excited to be able to share their art work, and are creating the scenes right on the stage. The musical will be presented November 10-12, the first production in the new facility...

December 22, 1939 - October 10, 2016

July 7, 1915 - October 10, 2016

There is an intersection that some say doesn’t exist. Others say these roads have no business intersecting, they are too far apart. And there are others that bury their heads in their devices, refusing to pay attention to either road they are on. These roads meet at the intersection of farming and traffic safety. Whichever road you drive on it’s safe to say this intersection does exist. But we would argue these roads don’t have to be mutually exclusive...

Updates from the Storm Lake Police Department, Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office and the Storm Lake Fire Department.

Happy 50th Anniversary to Keith and Elizabeth (Betty) Kirby, who were joined in marriage on October 15, 1966. As your children and grandchildren, we could not ask for better role models as to what it means to be a happy couple, loving parents, devoted grandparents, and people of faith. We are so excited to celebrate this milestone with you in summer 2017...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s School held Grandparents and Special Friends Day Monday to a packed house. Preschool through fifth grade students shared music with “Make a Difference” a celebration of goodwill as their theme under the direction of Mrs. Gayle Strom. After refreshments and the concert, students had their pictures taken with their guests and were able to show their school to their grandparents and/or special friends...

August 28, 1933 - October 12, 2016

If legislation was introduced that would prevent the latest iPhone from being sold and instead require users to return to the days of big brick phones and other technology relics, you’d be up in arms. Well, the same thing is being proposed when it comes to ethanol blends—and you still should be up in arms...

I have a friend who reads clocks. Not reads in the typical sense of noting the time, but reads as in looking to see patterns in the numbers. There is a certain beauty in discovering order or meaningful sequences and my thoughtful friend finds this in clocks...

August 1, 1916 - October 12, 2016

July 21, 1926 - October 13, 2016

November 5, 1947 - October 8, 2016

The family of Dave and Jean Hadden would like to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary with a card shower. Dave and Jean were married on October 21, 1961 in Early. If you would like to help them celebrate, congratulatory cards can be sent to: Dave and Jean Hadden, 125 College, Storm Lake...

The Storm Lake Public Library will hold an Adult Coloring Night on Thursday, October 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the library. All adults welcome for a fun and creative evening. Coloring pages, pencils, and refreshments provided. Participants are also welcome to bring their own supplies. Contact the library at 712-732-8026 with any questions...

Just in time for Halloween, come out to the Prairie Heritage Center to learn about those “UNHUGGABLE” creatures that send a chill down our spine. Join the O’Brien County Naturalist for a look at bats, spiders, and other creepy creatures. Once you learn about their special skills and features, you may find that they are not all that scary at all...

Katie Struss of Albert City will be presenting Madagascar at the Albert City Public Library on Thursday, October 27, at 7 p.m. When Katie was an Environmental Science major at Simpson College, 25 students took a Biology Abroad trip to Madagascar in 2008. Katie will show us the sites, tell of the culture of Madagascar, vegetation and animals native to the island...

Registration is now open for area 4th through 8th grade students to attend ‘Fall STEM Fest 2016’ hosted by Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC) and Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach 4-H and Youth Programs. Fall STEM Fest 2016 is free to attend, and will be held Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at NCC in Sheldon...

On October 7th the students of Mr. Wall’s 8th grade science class competed against Mrs. Wieck’s SLHS science class in an Egg Drop design contest. Students were tasked with designing a contraption to prevent their egg from breaking when dropped from the school’s roof. ...

The Triton Marching Band from Iowa Central recently took to the road to perform five concerts in one day. Storm Lake High School, South Central Calhoun, Newell-Fonda, Manson Northwest-Webster, and Pocahontas Area hosted the performances on Thursday. “We had a great time,” the Triton band said in Facebook post thanking the schools for hosting them. / ICCC photo...

On Friday, Oct. 14, Buena Vista University crowned its 2016 Homecoming king and queen: Matthew Tennyson, a senior Elementary Education major from Fairmont, Minn.; and Elizabeth Kim, a senior senior biology and Spanish major also from Fairmont, Minn. ...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s and Alta-Aurelia high schools took part in “The Job,” a game show-styled career day at the Iowa Central Community College main camp in Fort Dodge Friday. Students learned about career paths, interview skills, and more. Keynote speaker Jeremy Bout of Edge Factor, a national educational motivation program, was joined by ICCC staff and area businesspeople for presentations...

Bob Dylan wins a Nobel prize in literature, and for many, the question is: why did it take so long? Until now, prolific songwriters have never been in favor with the Nobel committee, having been considered a ‘lower rung’ in the world of poetry and the arts. ...

The Sac City Public Library was recently awarded matching grants from Alceco, a farmer-ownded cooperative, and the Land O’ Lakes Foundation. The Sac City Public Library was awarded $300, and the funding will be sued next summer to fund six arts and crafts-based programs through the months of June through August...

Democratic candidate for Congress Kim Weaver said that she was struck by a keynote speech from Texas Representative Joaquin Castro Friday night at the Iowa Democratic Party Annual Gala. “Representative Castro spoke about his childhood, growing up on the west side of San Antonio with a single mother, a community activist working to improve the lives of the poor and oppressed. ...

Capt. Robert McCormack, who grew up in Cherokee and graduated from Wilson High School in 1941, was honored recently by the government of France for his service in World War II as a B-24 Navigator in the Eight Air Force 389th Bomb Group. McCormack, who is now retired in Arizona, received the award of the National Order of the Legion of Honor in the rank of the Chevalier (Knight). ...

Top, Buena Vista University Concert Band and returning Alumni celebrate the band’s 92nd year at the Homecoming Concert held in Schaller Chapel on October 16th. Bottom, Buena Vista University Concert Choir and returning Alumni celebrate the choir’s 87th year at the Homecoming Concert held in Schaller Chapel on October 16th. / Photos by Sarah Nicholson...

The proposal to ban pets in the Oak Hill Cemetery had been discussed extensively at Cherokee City Council meetings during previous months, but there was no discussion at the Oct. 11 meeting before the third and final reading of the measure passed by a 3 to 2 vote...

Eastman pronounced dead at hospital after truck leaves roadway, strikes pole

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host an educational Identity Theft Learning with Lunch on Nov. 2 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Cherokee County Extension and Outreach office. Identity theft is a major concern throughout the United States, with millions of consumers having their identities stolen each year. It occurs when a person’s personal information is stolen and used without his or her knowledge to commit fraud and other crimes...

The Spencer ADA Council with the support of the Northwest Iowa Care Connections will present a “Rural Transportation Forum: Connecting People to Services” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18. The free public meeting will be conducted at the Spencer Community Schools Administration Building...

Several Storm Lake Middle School Band Students have been selected to participate in the 49th annual  Northwest Iowa Junior High Honor Band Festival.  On Saturday, October 15, over 330 7th and 8th grade band students from 38 northwest Iowa schools auditioned for a position in the two select honor bands.  Approximately 190 students were chosen. These selected students will perform a concert at Storm Lake High School on Saturday, November 5, 6 p.m. ...

A federal judge has rejected Tyson Foods’ request for a new trial in a case that awarded $5.8 million to more than 2,700 of employees seeking back pay at the company’s pork plant in Storm Lake. Tyson lawyers filed a brief in June saying a new trial was necessary to address liability and damages issues and ensure workers included in the suit are entitled to a share of the award...

Dakota Access Pipeline company saw $2 million in damages after the latest “intentional burning” of pipeline equipment Saturday near Reasnor in central Iowa. Three bulldozers and an excavator were set on fire. This was the second arson reported at the site since construction began. The FBI has joined an investigation, but no arrests have been made...

STORM LAKE - Storm Lake volleyball hosted a tournament and came in fourth on Saturday with one win against four losses. Spirit Lake won the event going 5-0. “We played some of our best volleyball of the season today and that was nice to see.  Most of the day our serve receive was good so the setters were able to get some good sets to our hitters allowing them to be aggressive,” Tornado coach Kim Johnson said...

GOWRIE - On Saturday morning, Alta-Aurelia traveled to Gowrie for the Twin Lakes Conference meet. The girls finished in third place out of six teams while the boys ended up in sixth out of seven teams. The Warrior girls had two top five finishers. Alicia Turnquist finished fourth after running a 21:34 which was better than her time during the conference meet last year by nearly a full minute. ...

When the crypt doors creak and the tombstones quake spooks come out for a swingin’ wake happy haunts materialize, and begin to vocalize, grim grinnin’ ghosts come out to socialize…

Storm Lake, Iowa, appears the picture of economic health, a place where jobs are plentiful, the unemployment rate hovers near 3 percent, busy shops fill century-old brick buildings and children ride bikes on tree-lined sidewalks that end in the glare of its namesake lake...

Steve King’s refusal to debate Kim Weaver and the majority of his previous opponents in Congressional races represents nothing more than a continuation of the cowardice he initially exhibited as a young adult by obtaining three student draft deferments to evade military service and dropping out of college after fate provided him a draft lottery number so high that it eliminated the possibility of conscription...

I just want to say that I love the green lighting posts supporting SLHS. As a proud ‘10 alumni, I couldn’t be prouder of our boys this season. It is also important to note that “green lighting” also means supporting military veterans. I’m also an OEF, Operation Enduring Freedom veteran having served in Afghanistan with the Iowa Army National Guard in 2011, currently still in. ...