Stories from Monday, December 11, 2017

March 30, 1927 - December 6, 2017

Okay, we all know the beautiful old carols are part of the spirit of the holidays, but you can’t “Silent Night” 24 hours a day, thus an array of rock and pop Christmas songs over the years will aid you to find the spirit. Hold on there - I’m not going to inflict upon you Madonna, Beiber, Wham or the horrors of having “A Wonderful Christmas Time” stuck in your skull until July. Here are the Top 12 that are actually worth listening to, and all can be found free on YouTube:...

The Harlem Globetrotters, known for their one-of-a-kind family entertainment, will bring their 2018 World Tour to the Tyson Events Center on April 5th at 7 p.m. to take on their long-time adversaries the Washington Generals. The Globetrotters will face a revamped Washington Generals team which recently launched a more competitive profile, making an appearance in The Basketball Tournament over the summer. ...

Sioux Falls-based Matt D and the Profaine Saints will pay a visit to Byron’s in Pomeroy, Sunday, Dec. 17. Showtime is 5-7 p.m. The root rockers refer to their brand of music as “Hard Luck Americana.” The band offers nine heartfelt tracks on their newest album, “The Mercy Road.”...

President Trump gave the order in late October to declare the country’s opioid crisis a public health emergency. The Iowa State Association of Counties recently called for cohesive support from the 99 counties regarding a class action lawsuit the organization hopes will address financial issues associated with the epidemic...

The opiate crisis is continuing to get worse in the United States and is now being considered a “syndemic,” after graduating from being an epidemic. A syndemic is when two or three other epidemics start playing off of each other. Right now, besides the opiate epidemic, there is also the benzodiazepine epidemic and the methamphetamine epidemic as well. ...

As the population ages, more and more older adults and their families are faced with the challenges of “downsizing”: usually a move from the traditional family home into a smaller single level home, smaller condo or an independent living community. To help Spencer’s Adult Community (55+) and their families accomplish this life transition with the most ease, local real estate agent Holly Brink of Northwest Iowa Realty provided the free seminar “Downsizing Made Easy” at The Spencer Public Library located at 21 E 3rd St, Spencer.. ...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Medicaid program will provide some patients with coverage under an old state-run system rather than the current privatized setup involving insurance companies. The Des Moines Register reported Monday the Iowa Department of Human Services will resume direct oversight of benefits for roughly 10,000 Medicaid members who tried to switch coverage to the private insurance company Amerigroup. Amerigroup said recently it wasn’t adding new patients...

One hour of time during this busy holiday season will give the lifesaving gift of more time to hospital patients.

Giving blood only takes one hour and can save up to three local lives! Blood donors must be at least 16, weigh at least 120 pounds, and be in general good health. 

Give a gift straight from the heart this holiday season. Make the lifesaving gift at a blood drive in your community...

Damian Jackson, 22 years old, of Grimes, was sentenced in Buena Vista County District Court to a term of incarceration not to exceed five years in prison following several probation violations. In July, 2016, Jackson received a deferred judgment after pleading guilty to the charge of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Marijuana, a Class D Felony. ...

When Todd Kooinga, of Orange City, was laid off from Diamond Vogel Paint, he worried about his next step. After a year of unsuccessfully searching for a job on his own, Kooinga went to Elderbridge for assistance in locating a new employer. “It helped me quite a bit. ...

Buena Vista University’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Ken Converse, will retire at the end of this month, according to a report by the student newspaper, The Tack. Converse has served the university since 1995, first as Director of Development, then promoted to vice president in 2000,...

Native Nicole Boyle, PT, DPT will be in Galva to show you how to make delicious and nutritious garden salads that can be stored and transported in environmentally friendly glass jars! The public is invited to gather at The Meeting Place in Galva at 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 21. If your New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier by increasing your fruits and vegetables, this program would be a great way to kick off the New Year!...

U.S. Air Force National Guard Airman 1st Class Monicka N. Hill graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills...

ACCIDENTS On December 7 at approximately 3:10 p.m., at the intersection of N Seneca St. and E 13th St. in Storm Lake, a vehicle driven by Jacob Funk of Storm Lake, was involved in an accident with a vehicle driven by Semret Aman of Storm Lake. The two vehicles collided causing total damages estimated at $4000. Aman was cited for Failure to Obey Stop Sign...

This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report...

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two years after Iowa and Nebraska raised their gas taxes, both states are seeing a flurry of new roadway projects at a time when national infrastructure efforts have stalled. The extra revenue has allowed state and local officials to move forward quickly on overdue bridge repairs and plans for major highway projects...

By DANA LARSEN A Pilot-Tribune Editor Voters in Buena Vista and eight other counties will go to the polls Feb. 6, asked to approve a $25.5 million general obligation bond issue to pay for improvements for Iowa Central Community College. The issue would include $2.5 million for improvements to the Storm Lake ICCC campus, including a new roof, security measures, utilities upgrades to allow for developing technology, and desired career training expansions...

Many people in our area don’t give lyme disease a second thought because they think there are no ticks in this area that carry the disease. As Shannon McGuire of Holstein learned, this is not the case. Even though she more than likely picked up the tick in Minnesota, infected ticks are now reported in most states...

Will anything ever be done with the Cobblestone Ballroom? The Iowa Rock N Roll Hall of Fame landmark has sat empty since the mid-1980s, under out-of-state ownership, and various efforts to save it have come and gone. “It’s a great piece of history, but unfortunately, I think that building may have outlived its useful life,” says Steve Brashears, a member of the Lakeside City Council. The ballroom is located within Lakeside City Limits...

Christian Quintero, age 28 of Storm Lake, plead guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class D Felony, and was sentenced on November 20, in Buena Vista County District Court. Pursuant to the plea agreement and recommendations by the Iowa Department of Corrections following a presentence investigation, District Judge John P. ...

Here are the most recent donations to the Pilot-Tribune Mr. Goodfellow fund, which provides warm winter clothing for children in need: • Ann Grundmeier, $75 • Carol Grundmeier, $100 • Storm Lake Cosmopolitan Club, $40 • Roy and Michelle Grant, $100 • Arty and Kevin Janos, $25...

STORM LAKE - It was the Lakes Conference opener and rivalry night for the green and white as the Tigers of Spencer came to the Tornado Fieldhouse. The Tornadoes led wire to wire on Friday night, coming away with a 63-46 victory. The green and white came out of the gate fired up, scoring 19 first quarter points to take a seven point lead, 19-12, after the first quarter. ...

STORM LAKE - The Storm Lake girls were in another nail biter on Friday night, this time against their rival Spencer, as the two teams were tied with two minutes left in the ball game. A pair of three pointers from the Tigers swung the momentum in their favor, the Tornadoes bowing, 63-57...

STORM LAKE - Friday night held excitement for the Panthers and their fans, as the girls picked up their first varsity basketball win since February 9, 2016, as they knocked off West Bend-Mallard, 37-31. Their last varsity win was also against the Wolverines...

STORM LAKE - The comeback bid fell short on Friday night for the St. Mary’s boys basketball team as they dropped a 45-42 decision to West Bend-Mallard. Both teams battled back and forth in the first quarter as the Wolverines took a 10-9 lead at the end of the frame, and never gave that advantage up for the rest of the night. WBM had a six point cushion at intermission, 23-17...

STORM LAKE - It was the first home wrestling meet of the year for the green and white grapplers and they did not disappointed their fans, picking up two dual wins against the LeMars Bulldogs and the Spencer Tigers. They bested the Bulldogs in a tight dual, 38-36, and beat the Tigers a bit more comfortably, 42-29...

MOVILLE - The Raptor wrestling team competed in a pair of duals on Thursday night and walked away with a pair of losses against Woodbury Central and Lawton-Bronson. Ridge View fell 76-0 against the Wildcats and then 30-21 to the Eagles. “Woodbury Central has a good team. A lot of guys that have been wrestling together for a while,” RV coach Caleb Christensen said. “We just didn’t match up well tonight. I feel like they were the aggressors and we were a bit passive on our feet.”...

EMMETSBURG - The Warrior grapplers took to the road on Thursday night for a pair of duals and came away with two losses on the night against Emmetsburg and Cherokee. They fell 57-24 against the Braves and 57-24 against the E-Hawks. “Guys came out of the gate a little slow, but did have some solid performances.  Nick won both matches by fall and set the example.  Also finishing the night 2-0 were Tyler Peterson and Alex DeRoos, a very good night for two freshmen. ...

ALTA - Both Alta-Aurelia and Pocahontas Area left it all on the court Friday night, the two titans of the Twin Lakes Conference battling it out on the hardwood. There can only be one winner as the Warriors narrowly fell to the Indians, 66-63. Two of the top teams in the TLC duked it out in the first quarter with AA holding a slim advantage, 15-13, after the opening period. PAC bested the Warriors in the second frame, outscoring them by six to take a 32-28 lead to intermission...

MOVILLE - Saturday kicked off a three game road trip for the Warriors of Alta-Aurelia as they rebounded from their Friday night loss with a win over Woodbury Central, 57-43 despite not having their full roster available. Alta-Aurelia started off hot in the opening stanza, putting up nine more points than the hosts to take a 16-7 advantage to the second frame. The two teams played evenly in the second as AA took a 27-17 lead to the locker room...

NEWELL - The seventh best team in 1A, Newell-Fonda, got off to another slow start on Friday night against East Sac County but was able to use a high octane second half to get a 64-46 win under their belts. The Mustangs held a one point advantage after the first quarter, 14-13 against the Raiders, but were able to extend their advantage to eight at halftime, 32-24. ...

By CRAIG SHULTZ Sports Editor NEWELL - Newell-Fonda snapped their early season three game skid on Friday night against East Sac County, walking away with a tight 61-58 victory over the Raiders. The Mustangs outplayed the Raiders in the first quarter, taking a three point lead to the second, 15-12. ...

STORM LAKE - Senior Thomas Wisecup matched a career-high with 24 points while David Jeffries followed with 17, but it was UW-La Crosse overcoming a slow start to hold on and edge Buena Vista on Saturday night at Siebens Fieldhouse, 84-80. The Beavers jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first four minutes of the contest before they went cold from the field, missing six straight attempts as UW-La Crosse went on a 12-2 spurt of its own to tie things at 14-14 with 9:00 left in the half. ...

STORM LAKE - The Buena Vista wrestling team closed out the calendar year on Saturday afternoon with a convincing 41-9 non-conference home victory over St. Olaf College inside of Siebens Fieldhouse. Nate Vento put the Beavers in front right from the opening match with his wild 20-11 major decision at 125 pounds. ...

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Klint Carlson scored 24 points, Spencer Haldeman added 10, including a key 3-pointer with 25 seconds left, to help Northern Iowa beat UT Arlington 62-58 on Thursday night. Northern Iowa (7-2) led 59-52 with three minutes remaining before Kaelon Wilson and Kevin Hervey each made a 3-pointer to pull the Mavericks to 59-58 with 50 seconds left. Haldeman answered with a 3, and Hervey missed two 3-point attempts to end it...

SIOUX RAPIDS - One bad quarter made all the different for the Rebels on Friday night as they dropped a 62-54 decision to the Manson-NW Webster Cougars. The Rebels had a one point lead after the first quarter, 13-12, and a two point lead going to the locker room, 30-28. ...