Stories from Friday, December 8, 2017

February 2, 1913 - December 3, 2017

For Kathy Peterson, calling her Alta – based business PeopleWorks Inc., was symbolic of a dream and a vocation she was destined to do. “I can honestly say that I love my job everyday, and there are new challenges with it everyday, as well,” says Kathy...

The Alta City Council continued to seek a solution to an RV parking controversy, during its final meeting of the year Monday night. The council has been trying to create a parking lot ordinance, after an RV owner purchased a vacant site in a residential area for long term parking of the camper...

During the Alta City Council’s final meeting of mayor Ron Neulieb’s tenure Monday, the city presented him a plaque in appreciation of his six years of leadership. He will leave office at the end of the year, after deciding not to seek another term. Neulieb says he will leave the city roll with mixed feelings...

The Aurelia Commercial Club will be holding a kids shopping event for children in the 5th grade or under on Saturday, December 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Aurelia Community Center. There will be a large selection of items for sale ranging from $1-$10. This is a time for the child to bring their list and shop for gifts for family or friends...

Tuesday’s program featured Corbett Butler, band director at Alta-Aurelia High School. Corbett has held that position for the past seven years. Band numbers are up this year with 160 kids--38 of which are high school. The middle school band in Aurelia has 120 kids. ...

Pork producers who own or manage a sow herd are invited to attend an Advanced Swine Reproduction seminar in Northwest Iowa sponsored and hosted by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Pork Industry Center and the Iowa Pork Producers Association...

The City of Cherokee continues exploring the process for the voluntary annexation and zoning of he South Industrial Area, which includes the former Tyson Deli Foods facility, which has been vacant since 2014. The Cherokee Planning & Zoning Commission supports the voluntary annexation of the former Tyson Site...

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health received a $1,200 grant from the American Legion of Iowa Foundation to purchase a unique blend of therapy and skill development resources for Camp Autumn, a therapeutic camp for children, located near Sutherland, in O’Brien County...

Storm Lake Honda and Storm Lake Radio present “Guitars4Gifts,” an acoustic evening performance at Lake Creek Country Club, an acoustic evening benefiting Upper Des Moines Opportunity charity agency in Storm Lake. The Dec. 16 event starts at 6 p.m with a meal prepared by Zimmy’s Bar and Grille, followed by acoustic performances by vocalist Jessica McClintock of Fort Dodge, and Nashville recording artist Jordan Davis...

The annual University of Okoboji Winter Games may be best known for frigid events like broomball, but the music is hot, and easily worth the trip alone. The concerts get underway Thursday, January 25, with local favorite Damon Dotson, at the Barefoot Bar at Parks Marina, starting at 6:30 p.m. Dotson is a folk/pop singer/songwriter based out of Des Moines, and originally from Northwest Iowa...

The Storm Lake Public Library will host their Monthly Monday Matinee on Monday, December 11, beginning at 1 p.m. This month’s film is part of the on-going Great Directors film series. Directed by Woody Allen, and starring Allen and Diane Keaton, this 1977 film received widespread critical acclaim. It won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actress (Keaton)...

Evan Archer, Emily Arnts, Ethan Arnts, Matthew Arnts, Izzy Sievers, Graham Small, Greta Small, Glenn Small and Abbie Watts received state recognition for their target scores in the Iowa 4-H Shooting Sports Winter Postal March in the category of Small-bore Rifle. ...

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is asking the FBI to prioritize producing documents relating to the activities of high-ranking FBI Agent Peter Strzok, following reports that Strzok engaged in communications demonstrating political bias while handling matters in two sensitive, high-profile investigations. ...

It was standing room only for the annual Wassail Party at the Witter Gallery this week. A performance by the local music troupe A Touch of Broadway has become a tradition for the holiday season, in the same room where that group gave their first public performance 17 years ago...

The execution of a arrest warrant for 34-year-old Stefanie Odom, of Spencer, resulted in a total of four drug-related arrests Friday evening. Spencer Police, at approximately 5 p.m., arrived at 118 1/2 E. Park St. Apt. A, to serve the arrest warrant. ...

On the morning of Wednesday December 6, at approximately 10:44 a.m. the Storm Lake Police Department was called to the area of Superior Street and East 7th Street on a report of a male and female arguing. Officers arrived on scene and determined the male subject, Brandon Joseph Tripp, age 30, of Sioux Rapids, had active warrants for his arrest...

On the evening of Wednesday December 6, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the Storm Lake Police Department was called to 1015 Witter Street for a disturbance.  Upon arrival Officers determined that Alyssa Marie Dowdy, age 22 of Cherokee, had been involved in an argument.  Officers further determined that Dowdy was intoxicated and had driven her 6 month old child to the residence while intoxicated. ...

FOREST CITY - Eagle Grove Community School District has received apology letters from KIOW Radio and the Forest City Community School District, after an incident with two radio employees making racist comments in an online broadcast of basketball games...

A new report from an Iowa State University sociologist identifies a dozen Iowa towns where residents believe quality of life in their community is improving at the same time the population is shrinking. David Peters, an associate professor of sociology and author of the report, said these towns, described in the report as “shrink-smart” communities, show that a smaller population doesn’t necessarily denote a withering community...

Pop up Facebook on your device, search for “The Dakota Show”, and what will come up, will be the start of a long-realized dream by Storm Lake high school student Dakota Caldwell. Since completing an internship this past summer at Storm Lake Radio, Dakota has started on his journey to a career in broadcasting, by implementing a Facebook page to help broadcast “The Dakota Show” on-line. ...

Buena Vista University announced a new “Education for Service Scholars” program that will be offering up to 10 full scholarships each year to students from Buena Vista County high schools. In exchange, the recipients will become members of the AmeriCorps program for their four academic years, filling public service needs in the local communities. ...

Storm Lake man Dylan Sassman faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty in a plea agreement this week to charges stemming from an incident in summer 2017. Sassman, 25, was arrested by Storm Lake Police on July 28. He has remained in the county jail since then...

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Oct. 25 to commence one of two “Little Free Pantry” locations in Storm Lake. The small, watertight structures were put into action by Buena Vista University student, Taylor Loy, and are being used to house food items that are available for anyone in the community...

Headed into its final week, the annual Adopt-A-Family for Christmas program has seen a record 232 families “adopted,” with six remaining. The Pilot-Tribune and Upper Des Moines Opportunity co-sponsor the program each year, matching generous individuals, families, businesses, clubs, classrooms and church groups with needy local families to provide the Christmas experience they might otherwise not have. ...

December 6, 2017

The students in the Aurelia building 3-8th grades completed the Presidential Physical Fitness Test over the month of November. The test includes the mile run/distance option (cardiovascular endurance), pushups (muscular strength), curl ups (muscular endurance), shuttle run (agility), and sit and reach (flexibility). ...

ALTA - Sioux Central and Alta-Aurelia went to war on Tuesday night with neither team able to pull away from the other through the four quarters of play. However, thanks to 11 more made free throws, the Rebels were able to best the Warriors, 51-46. Alta-Aurelia came out against Sioux Central with their best foot forward, taking a six point lead after the first quarter, 14-8. ...

ALTA - The Warrior defense got back after it on Tuesday night against the Rebels, holding the Sioux Central ball club to 39 points in a 55-39 victory. Alta-Aurelia led by eight, 18-10 after the first quarter and build on their lead in the second by holding Sioux Central to six points, taking a 33-16 advantage to the locker room. ...

POCAHONTAS - It appeared for the second straight game that the Mustang girls were in for a dog fight as Pocahontas Area was giving them all they could handle in the first half. Newell-Fonda made the adjustments at intermission and came away with a 75-47 win...

OCAHONTAS - The Newell-Fonda boys basketball team dropped their third straight contest to open the season, falling against the PAC Indians, 74-52, and never held the lead through the game. Newell-Fonda’s offense played well in the first half, but trailed by five at the end of the first, 18-13 and at halftime, 37-30. ...

CARROLL - The Storm Lake boys swim team competed a three way meet on Tuesday night against Spencer and Carroll. Storm Lake fell to Spencer, 71-16 and bowed to Carroll as well. SL junior Waylon Stark picked up a first place finish and had a personal best time in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 1:06. SL coach Roger Peterson stated he also had a strong leg in the three relays. Junior Cole Keenan competed well in the 50 free, 100 free and in the 200 free relay and 400 free relay...

STORM LAKE - The Panthers battled all night but just didn’t have the firepower to keep pace with Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Aryshire, bowing 64-33. The Titans built an early 11 point lead after the first quarter as they lead 16-5. The Panthers scored nine points in the second, but gave up 21 to go to the locker room down, 37-14. ...

STORM LAKE - St. Mary’s got off to a great start in the first few minutes of their game against Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Aryshire on Tuesday night but quickly lost control of the contest enroute to a 64-39 defeat. The Panthers started off leading in the first quarter, 11-5, but the Titans went on a 15-0 run to take control of the contest. ...

STORM LAKE - Storm Lake got close a few times in the fourth quarter against Emmetsburg, getting within a point once, but were unable to get over the hump, dropping a 54-46 decision. The E-Hawks controlled the game out of the gate, making a handful of three pointers in the first half to built a small lead, 13-8 over Storm Lake, after the first quarter. The green and white showed life in the second, cutting into the deficit to head to intermission down by three, 23-20...

STORM LAKE - It was a game of momentum on Tuesday night at the Tornado Fieldhouse but ultimately, the green and white kept momentum on their side to knock off Emmetsburg, 50-44. The E-Hawks started quickly with the first four points of the contest, but the Tornadoes answered and answered swiftly with an 11-0 run to take a seven point lead which they would hold for the rest of the night. ...

December 8, 2017