Stories from Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Sioux Rapids P.E.O. Chapter GJ announces to area women post-secondary students that applications are being accepted for $300 and $500 scholarships to be awarded in February. To be eligible for a scholarship. The applicant must be from, or living in, the Buena Vista or Clay County area, must have completed one year of post-secondary education and currently be enrolled in a college, university, community college or vo-tech school. All applications must be postmarked by January 15, 2018...

Not all college students and young adults want to be sexually active, but talking with a partner about the decision to abstain or delay is difficult. A new Iowa State University study looks at how students initiate these conversations and the strategies they use to explain their decision...

The Sioux Central School District STEM Club was recently awarded matching grants from Alceco, a farmer-owned cooperative, and the Land O’Lakes Foundation. The organization was awarded a total of $300, which will be used to cover the cost of the after school STEM program, so students can attend for free. ...

St. Mary’s School in Storm Lake was recently awarded matching grants from Alceco, a farmer-owned cooperative, and the Land O’Lakes Foundation. The organization was awarded a total of $300, which will be used toward the cost of purchasing new computers for the school, with the goal of increasing students’ access to technology and advance the STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, Math) curriculum...

Storm Lake Middle School had three teams and 27 students travel to Sioux City, to compete in the Middle School Mock Trial. Mock trial is a program designed to introduce students to our legal system by providing a challenging, academic competition. The program offers students an opportunity for personal growth and achievement, emphasizing the importance of research, presentation, and teamwork...

Ah yes, time for the ‘best of’ lists to come out from hiding – rest assured that there will be more lists in the coming weeks than all the tea in China (another saying from my old man, and everybody else’s, really). I have written about recommended music and books in my literary tenure so far, but I have a bit of a hankering to go back on some music listening that has gotten me through the past year...

• December 21: Santa is visiting. 5-7 p.m. • December 23: Santa is visiting. 3-5 p.m. • December 13: Turning My Story into History, Session 4: Cherokee Public Library, 3-5 p.m. The Museum will be closed for the holidays on December 24, 25, 26, and January 1...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s High School National Honor Society members coordinated the 2017 St. Mary’s Parish Advent Angel Tree thanks to assistance with the Thrivent Action Team. This is the third year the students have spearheaded the parish service project...

Every day of the year hundreds of gallons of gasoline are pumped into vehicles from Cherokee County. Out of town. Why? Because Cherokee is and has been for years known for its high gas prices compared to surrounding towns. The issue has festerd locally for more than 50 years and finally, City Hall and the current administration are trying to do something about it by seeking answers to an age-old question that has forced hundreds of local motorists to go out of town for their gas, and also their dining, shopping and entertainmment while there.. ...

WALL LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Western Iowa authorities say a 17-year-old boy has died in a farm accident. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday that first responders were dispatched around 12:45 p.m. Saturday to the farm northwest of Wall Lake. They found Ethan Nissen in the cab of a farm machine that had rolled over. He was pronounced dead at the scene...

During the weekend of Friday, December 15, through Sunday, December 17, the Storm Lake Police Department conducted tobacco sales compliance checks as part of their partnership with the I-PLEDGE Program sponsored by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division...

FIRE ALARM On the afternoon of Friday, December 15, at approximately 3:16 p.m. the Storm Lake Fire Department responded to the Storm Lake Middle School in reference to an automated fire alarm. Upon arrival of fire fighters it was determined that the alarm was caused by a system malfunction...

On the evening of Friday, December 15, at approximately 10:07 p.m. a Storm Lake Police Officer while on patrol observed an occupied vehicle parked in Scout Park. Upon checking the vehicle police allege that two passengers fled from the vehicle on foot into Scout Park as police approached the vehicle...

Frank Klahs II of Rembrandt recently won re-election to the Buena Vista County FSA Committee. Klahs will serve another three year term representing Local Administrative Area #1 which includes: Brooke, Barnes, Lee, Poland, Scott and Lincoln Townships...

Iowa’s only independent lawmaker plans to run for re-election in a rural, conservative district as a “no-party” candidate and if he wins, he’d be the first state senator unaffiliated with the two major political parties to do so in more than 90 years...

The gavel sounded in late September for the sale of a Lakes Area landmark business — but the investor behind a multi-million dollar check remains a mystery. The winning bidder made The Inn at Okoboji purchase late Friday and the keys were turned over to the new owners — Whitecap LLC...

The Newell Public Library has been awarded the Pilcrow Foundation Grant for Children’s Books. The library will hold an open house on Monday, January 8 from 6-7 p.m. with refreshments to celebrate. All books for children and juniors will be on display and available for checkout. ...

On Monday, December 18, Norman Prather brought the annual Christmas message. In his message, he talked about the elephant in the room at many family Christmas celebrations. The elephant being an empty chair or place at the table due to the loss of a long time partner or parent. ...

The Daily Apple owner, Amanda Tate, will be the featured speaker at an educational program at The Meeting Place in Galva on Tuesday, January 16 at 6:30 pm. During the one-hour program entitled “A Healthy You in the New Year,” Amanda will share her expertise on using the top ten essential oils, simple ways to detox after the holidays, boosting energy levels, taming emotions during the winter months, and much more. ...

Shayla Bee made a donation of $2,500 to the Sarah and Mike Frederick family to assist with Lane Frederick’s recovery following an altercation at Spencer High School which led to his hospitalization on Oct. 19. The Fredericks became Shayla Bee’s 138th family...

The new Industrial Training Center at Iowa Lakes Community College was unveiled Thursday as area residents joined college officials at the campus in Spirit Lake Thursday. The makeover was initiated when college officials listened to area business leaders and identified ways in which the college could serve them better...

The City of Storm Lake issued a reminder this week that fireworks will not be permitted in the city over the New Year’s holiday, although they have been legalized at the state level. Violators of the fireworks ban can be cited with a simple misdemeanor and a fine of up to $500. ...

The winners have been announced in the First Annual Holiday Lighting Contest sponsored by Habitat for Humanity: Commercial: Methodist Manor, Residential Traditional: Jacquie and Kyle Drey at 204 E. 2nd, Residential Griswold: Mike and Diane Overmohle at 501 East 10th...

Two new fire trucks will be coming Storm Lake’s way, at a cost of over $660,000. The Storm Lake City Council approved the purchases Monday. Public Safety Director Mark Prosser said that a pumper truck will replace a 1981 model, with a bid of $486,477. A smaller, quick attack truck for use with ditch or field fires or support roles will replace a 1986 model, with a low bid of $174,860. The bids fell below the estimates of $500,000 and $200,000...

Three “outside agencies” approached the Storm Lake City Council with funding requests for the coming fiscal year Monday. Jim Kennedy, representing the historical society, asked for $2,950, after seeking $2,000 a year ago and receiving nothing. “We still managed to make it through the year,” he said...

Some fees for Sunrise Pointe Golf Course will be increased for the coming year, while the city plans to hold the line on local daily admission prices for county residents at King’s Pointe Waterpark. Under a proposal from new King’s Pointe General Manager Jason Bjerk the waterpark family season pass would increase from $240-$275, the single season pass would go up $25 to $150, the holiday season pass discount would be eliminated, and swim lessons would rise from $30 to $40. ...

A new general manager has taken over the reins at city-owned King’s Pointe resort in Storm Lake. Jason Bjerk began work two weeks ago with the resort’s management company Omega, replacing a former leader who resigned abruptly after a short time in the position...

For a parent, could there be anything more devastating than hearing the diagnosis, “there is no cure?” “It’s completely devastating. At first you don’t believe it; it must be some kind of a mistake. Then you think, ‘What do I do, I don’t know what to do,” says Caitlin Klingborg of Early...

LAWTON - The high school archery season kicked off this past weekend across the state of Iowa, and the battle for northwest Iowa started with some very impressive scores. Students from Lawton-Bronson, MMC-RU, Ridge View, and Sergeant Bluff-Luton gathered on Saturday to begin their archery season and quests for state...

HOLSTEIN - It was a long day for five teams at the Ridge View dual tournament on Saturday as Alta-Aurelia and Ridge View’s grapplers went hard on the mats. South Central Calhoun went 4-0 on the day to win the overall meet with the Warriors right behind them at 3-1 for second place. Ridge View went 1-3, and picked up their first dual win of the season...

CHEROKEE - The Sioux Central grapplers took part in the Paul Fuhram Invitational on Saturday and came away a third place finish at 106, fourth place finish at 126 and sixth place at 132. “At our seeding meeting, all of our wrestlers had a good draw in the first round but we did not capitalize on it. We kept wrestling hard the next few rounds and improved a few things that we struggled with in our first round matches,” Rebel coach Will Thomsen said...

IDA GROVE - Newell-Fonda and OA-BCIG engaged in a back and forth battle on Monday night. In the end, Newell-Fonda used a huge fourth frame to propel themselves past the Falcons, 69-62. The Mustangs started off Monday night in the best possible way, going on an 18-1 run to open a big lead against the Falcons. ...

IDA GROVE - The Newell-Fonda girls kept their early season win streak alive on Monday night against the OA-BCIG Falcons, taking an 87-58 decision for their eighth win of the year. Junior Olivia Larsen set a new school record in the contest with 13 steals, breaking the old record of 10 which was held by Susan Kies...

Gary and Annette Devereaux of Fonda are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Amanda, to Andy Hoverson, son of Brian and Wendy Hoverson of Baldwin, WI. Amanda is a graduate of Newell-Fonda high school and Iowa State University and is employed as a Registered Dietitian with Hy-Vee in West Des Moines. ...