Stories from Tuesday, April 4, 2017

We’ve read of our state’s fiscal year 2017 budget revenue shortfall of nearly $250 million. We heard the news that 73 of our 99 counties have declined in population, with more than half of our population living in just 10 counties. Iowa is the only state in the nation that has not doubled in population since 1900. We are growing at a sluggish rate of 2.89 percent. Our state’s current budgetary woes paired with our stagnant population growth are all symptoms of a slow growth state...

It was a day like any other day...but honestly what two days are exactly alike? Our lives fall into a routine and we don’t give much thought to things that don’t affect us...that is until they do…affect us that is. Pam and Randy Carpenter of Holstein have lived what many would call a normal life. ...

Deep into the school day at Newell Fonda, and IT department head Tim Limbert is showing off his virtual reality goggles. “Check this out. With this program, teachers can dial up a Mayan ruin, send the picture to the student’s program and through their goggles, but it’s 360 degrees,” says Tim. ...

The Storm Lake High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Colleen Hecht, will be participating in class 3A at the 42nd Annual Iowa Jazz Championships on Tuesday, April 4th, in Ames. Musco Lighting from Oskaloosa, Iowa sponsors the event in cooperation with Iowa Jazz Championships, Inc., Jazz Educators of Iowa, and the Iowa Music Educators Association...

The attorney for Melissa Ebert filed a motion on Thursday asking for a change in venue to Buena Vista or Sac County from Plymouth County, site of a 2015 accident that injured three and resulted in attempted murder charges against Ebert. The 30-year-old Cherokee County woman was accused of threatening to kill herself and her passenger, Damian Johnson, during an argument in the vehicle, before accelerating and intentionally veering the SUV she was driving into the path of an oncoming car driven by Dustin Boll, of Le Mars, on County Road C-28 on Sept. ...

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says that local jurisdictions that choosing not to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts for deportation are “thumbing their noses at the rule of law” and putting public safety at risk. Many local governments are not complying with ICE detainer requests that require a person who would otherwise be eligible for release to be held up to 48 hours for federal immigration officials to arrive...

On Thursday, March 30, 11 Storm Lake High School students participated in regional competition for National History Day held at Buena Vista University. The 2017 theme was “Taking a Stand in History.” All 11 students earned medals and will advance to state competition on May 8, at the Iowa Events Center. ...

“Is that your truck?” was the most common question among those passing by a nearly-submerged truck at Spirit Lake’s Memorial Park early Friday morning. The Spirit Lake Police Department answered that question with a faxed update about the mishap just before the noon hour...

Clay County supervisors have reviewed and approved a permit for a hog confinement to be constructed 2 1/2 miles east of Peterson. The proposed confinement is estimated to cost $1.25 million and will house 5,000 head. The confinement will be operated by Iowa Select Farms, who notes itself as the largest pork producer in Iowa, which also operates another local confinement in close proximity to the planned site. ...

HISTORICAL MOMENTS & MUSINGS (Facts & Fables) The Buena Vista County Historical Society & Museum

Sugarloom, the popular family-friendly vocal group out of Minnesota, has been booked for a Special Veterans Show at the Buena Vista County Fair July 21. Tickets will be $10 for adults, children 5 and under free. What do you do when you retire? Why sing and dance of course! Popps (Don) Pawlitschek formed Sugarloom in June of 2014. ...

Let me start this review by giving some background of myself, so you understand my wanting to review this CD. I’m 50+ years old and have basically listened to music my whole life. My whole day is filled with music, even when I’m working I have music playing in the background. I listen to all forms of music, from New Age to Jazz, Blues to Country, Rock to Metal...

SLHS sent 60 students to Iowa Central in Fort Dodge on March 29, to compete in competitions in auto, business, industrial tech and health. There were around 500 students from 17 different schools competing. Congratulations to the following SLHS students that placed in their respective competitions:...

Congratulations to Rotary’s March Students of the month, Zach Lenhart from Storm Lake St. Mary’s and Wendy Leyva from Storm Lake Public High School. Zach, the song of Pat and Carol Lenhart, is a senior, and active in sports, speeh and the National Honor Society. ...

The Northwest Area Education Association and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach invite Iowa educators to learn how to teach the High School Financial Planning Program April 24 in Sioux City. The High School Financial Planning Program is a vetted curriculum from the National Endowment for Financial Education. ...

This week Rep. Gary Worthan (R-Storm Lake) and Sen. Mark Segebart (R-Vail) met with students from Storm Lake St. Mary’s. The group was visiting the Capitol to talk with legislators as a part of a field trip. Pictured here are Rep. Gary Worthan (Storm Lake) and Sen. Mark Segebart (Vail) alongside students from Storm Lake St. Mary’s...

Six students from St. Mary’s sixth grade class will attend the Northwest Iowa ICDA Honor Choir in Orange City Tuesday, April 18. Students have learned four songs and will join over 200 other students in a concert that evening. Mrs. Gayle Strom is the St. Mary’s music educator preparing the local students for the honor choir. Students representing St. Mary’s this year include from left – Bethany Pariseau, Bianca Limones, Sydney Hurd, John Heitman, Lane Carlson, and Aidan Cavazos...

Drake University The following local students were named to the Dean’s List at Drake University. This academic honor is achieved by earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher for the Fall 2016 semester. Storm Lake Ellen Converse Molly Lamoureux Alta Chayce Glienke...

Buena Vista Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, is proud to award the ROTC Gold Medal to Justin Sacker of Van Meter. A Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadet qualifies for the DAR Gold Medal as a graduating senior being commissioned in one of the U.S. ...

The public is invited to stop into the Storm Lake Public Library on Thursday, April 13th for their annual patron appreciation event. “Soup Bar and a Song Social” begins at 11:30 a.m. and runs until around 1 p.m. A variety of soups and sweets will be available for library patrons to enjoy. Pianist, Candy Clough, will provide a medley of springtime songs and attendees can sign up to win door prizes. This is the Storm Lake Library’s concluding National Library Week event...

Ruth Hoferman returns to the Senior Center at 11:15 a.m. on Monday April 10 with her signature toe tapping music and songs you will remember. Ruth is one of the regular entertainers who volunteer their time and talent to bring music and fun to the seniors in Storm Lake. The seniors meet at the Sunrise Pointe Club House for the dinner date program. All seniors are welcome - if you plan to stay for lunch, please call a day or two ahead at 732-2828 or 732 -5158...

Galva-Holstein held their Kindergarten Round-Up held on March 30th. Top, a.m. attendees include: front, Mayci Heitmann, Kelby Butcher, Grace Whitmer, Emmett Stuhr and Nikita Powell. Back, Jayne Friedmann, Vivian Friedrichsen, Laura Friedrichsen, Aria Winkel and Genevieve Martin. ...

Recently, Rep. Gary Worthan (R-Storm Lake) met with members of the OA-BCIG FFA Chapter and Buena Vista and Sac County Farm Bureaus. The group was visiting the Capitol to talk with legislators about agriculture issues as a part of Farm Bureau Day on the Hill. Pictured here are Buena Vista and Sac County Farm Bureau members, OA-BCIG FFA members, and Rep. Gary Worthan...

The US 20 Corridor Association will hold its regular meeting on Friday, April 7 in Correctionville. The group will meet at the Correctionville Community Building, 312 Driftwood, at 10 a.m. Topics on the agenda include a construction update, Iowa DOT Commission news, and information on the historic site located west of Correctionville. All are welcome to attend the meeting. For more information on the Association and their advocacy for statewide four-lane US 20, visit www.4lane20.com...

Narconon reminds families that abuse of heroin and opioid drugs has become a national health crisis. Learn to recognize the signs of heroin abuse and get your loved ones help if they are at risk. Visit http://www.narconon-suncoast.org/blog/how-a-simple-drug-can-save-lives-a-guide-to-narcan-and-the-opiate-epidemic.html to learn about the signs and symptoms of opiate abuse and the overdose reversing drug known as Narcan and its availability in your state...

December 24, 1937 - April 1, 2017

Teens engage in sexual exploitation On the morning of Wednesday, March 29, at approximately 9:55 a.m. the Storm Lake Police Department took a report of a harassment and possible sexual exploitation. Police met with a 16 year old female who alleged that she had sent multiple sexually orientated videos to her boyfriend identified as a 14 year old male of Schaller on a prior date. ...