Stories from Tuesday, March 28, 2017

CommUNITY Education will be offering Beginner Ball, an instructional T-Ball program for children 5 and 6 years old. Beginner Ball is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 22nd. Skills will be taught from 11 a.m. until noon on four Saturday mornings – April 22nd, 30th and May 6th, May 13th.. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Northwest Missouri State University head men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum has been named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) 2016-17 Division II Coach of the Year, in a release from the organization on Friday. The eighth year head coach has led Northwest to the last four MIAA regular season titles and lead the team to a national championship on Saturday for the first time in school history...

TUCSON, AZ - Jake Hadaway pitched seven innings, allowing just two unearned runs, and the Buena Vista baseball team scored three runs in the seventh inning tin a thrilling 4-2 victory against Luther College in the Iowa Conference opener for both teams played in Tucson, Arizona, on Friday afternoon...

On Sunday afternoons at Frank Starr Park in Storm Lake, a group of 20 or so guys join together and practice a sport that not many people know about, rugby. Rugby was created by William Webb Ellis back in the 1820s after he picked up a soccer ball during a game. He was later banned from playing the sport so rugby came from those ashes...

April 15 is right around the corner. Well, this year, taxes aren’t due until April 18, but you know what I mean. It means I get two and a half more days of not working on my taxes. My accountant keeps telling me not to wait until the last minute like I did last year. And the year before that. And the year before that and pretty much every year of my life...

As someone born and raised in Storm Lake, I have always been proud of the growth and change that Storm Lake has made since the ‘70’s. I have told folks that Storm Lake is leading Iowa into the future of diversity. Many towns and cities would be better off if they learned from Storm Lake’s experience as to how to rejuvenate themselves. I fully realize that it hasn’t always been an easy process...

With the specter of budget cuts from the Trump administration looming in the horizon, many programs, nationally and locally look to be affected. Storm Lake Middle School's Tornado Learning Club program, which gives kids after-school activities, at the middle school, from 3:30 p.m. ...

For local folks, 4H offers a myriad of opportunities for kids and adults alike, with every summer bringing new ventures and skill builders. For director Nichol Kleespies, and office manager Ellen Anderson, excitement is building due to some exciting new programs coming up for summer, and beyond. ...

The dredging era on Storm Lake will likely come to an end after this summer. In a meeting Friday, the Lake Preservation Association agreed to set the finish date for the project at December 31, 2017 - although it noted that this could be extended if desired later...

DES MOINES — The death of a 16-year-old Iowa girl has led to finger-pointing at the Legislature, and it’s an indication of how much has changed in the 17 years since the death of another child prompted a bipartisan inquiry and passage of legislation to protect children from abuse...

BISMARCK, N.D. – Authorities have confirmed an incident of vandalism against the Dakota Access oil pipeline in South Dakota and Iowa. Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners said in court documents Monday that there have been ``coordinated physical attacks’’ along the $3.8 billion pipeline that will carry oil from North Dakota to Illinois, but company officials didn’t provide further details...

After 40 years of service at Fareway, Bill Whitney is hanging up his apron. Bill has worked at three different locations in the same town (Storm Lake). Bill and his wife bought a motor home and will be on their way. He has three children and nine grand-children to keep him busy. ...

SPIRIT LAKE — A 23-year-old Spencer man faces a series of charges following a brief standoff with authorities in Spirit Lake. Chase Douglas Peterson is scheduled to make his initial appearance at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at the Dickinson County Courthouse. He was charged with trespassing, two counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon and one count of false imprisonment...

Some foam board, a permanent marker and Donald Trump’s 2016 victory recently brought a 2000 Spirit Lake graduate some extra attention. Kristin Garvey mixed personal beliefs and politics to create a message that encourage others to act with kindness – her words have been popping up across the nation including the Women’s March on Washington...

Most of this week has been consumed by floor debate in the chamber. We have been cleaning up House bills that have received committee approval and our caucus has determined that we want to keep them moving through the process. House bills must move across the rotunda and be approved by a standing policy committee in the Senate to remain viable through the next funnel deadline which is March 31st. Senate bills must meet the same requirements as they move to the House...

Lori Leonard Ryman of Holstein reminisces with Gov. Terry Branstad at the governor’s western Iowa farewell event last week. Branstad is to become the U.S. Ambassador to China.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) plans to conduct prescribed burns in 2017 in your area. Prescribed burn units are typically burned every one to five years and vary in size. The burns are conducted to achieve a number of habitat related objectives such as reducing vegetative cover, exotic and woody species control, nutrient cycling, weed control, and native prairie restoration...

After announcing last week that he would vote for the controversial GOP health plan, western Iowa Congressman Steve King never got the chance. As it became apparent that President Donald Trump didn’t have enough support in his own party to push the vote through the House, the bill was pulled Friday afternoon without coming to a vote...

After announcing last week that he would vote for the controversial GOP health plan, western Iowa Congressman Steve King never got the chance. As it became apparent that President Donald Trump didn’t have enough support in his own party to push the vote through the House, the bill was pulled Friday afternoon without coming to a vote...

• “Power Rangers,” a Lionsgate release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for “sequences of sci-fi violence, action and destruction, language, and for some crude humor.” Running time: 124 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

King’s Pointe Resort will be hosting an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, April 9 at 2 p.m. This event will be held on the Great Lawn. The Easter Bunny and King Splash will be present. Cost is $6. There will be kids crafts and activities in the waterpark...

Four professors have been selected as finalists for Buena Vista University’s 2017 George Wythe Award for Excellence in Teaching. They are, from left: • Dr. Gwen Hart, associate professor of English • Dr. Kristy McClellan, associate professor of biology...

On March 21, the Ridge View FFA Chapter held their annual banquet. There were 130 special guests, parents, and members that enjoyed a very nice banquet and meal. Following the meal was our award and degree ceremonies. Connie Anfinson and the Ida County Fair Board were awarded the Honorary Member Degree. ...

The Storm Lake Dollars for Scholars organization is winding down its 2016-2017 Community Campaign Fund Drive. In recent months, area residents have been contacted about contributing to the campaign. All funds collected will be given back in the form of scholarships to the graduating seniors of Storm Lake and St. Mary’s High Schools. Every dollar raised through the fund drive is invested in the education of our young people as our administration is entirely made up of volunteers...

On April 3rd, MISIC (Mid-Iowa School Improvement Consortium) will be presenting to several area administrators on best practices with aligned instruction and assessment. This event is being hosted at Storm Lake Elementary in the media center computer lab from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m...

High School Transition Night The Sioux Central High School Transition Night will be held Tuesday, April 4 at 6 p.m. in the Media Center. The presentation will cover information about high school courses, extracurricular activities, expectations and the impact of the first year of high school on a student’s overall life plan including college and career prospects. There will be activity booths from 6-6:30 p.m. and there will be a presentation by Mr. Scharn and Mrs. Lockrem from 6:30-7:30 p.m...

September 4, 1930 - March 22, 2017

November 19, 1945 - December 17, 2016

Marijuana odor leads to arrest of several people for possession of alcohol On the morning of Saturday, March 25, at approximately 12:55 a.m. two off duty Storm Lake police officers working security at the Kings Pointe Resort for a special event allegedly detected the odor of marijuana coming from a guest room...