Stories from Wednesday, January 17, 2018

January 15, 2018

January 15, 2018

The 2018 Buena Vista University Global Fellows will share experiences from their biological and cultural encounters. The students spent three weeks in Puerto Williams, Santiago, and Valparaiso, Chile which is at the Southernmost tip of the world, during the BVU Interim...

Storm Lake’s Witter Art Gallery is issuing an “Art Call Out,” searching for artwork by its namesake and Storm Lake native Ella Witter. The gallery hopes to locate any works that may be in private homes or collections, to show as part of its exhibit “Loving Ella,” in February...

A Raccoon River Community Meeting will be held Wednesday, January 17, at 7 p.m. at the Sac County Conservation Center in Hagge Park, Sac City. This is an opportunity for anyone interested in caring for the local area of the river to connect and possibly organize a local group to lead clean-up and maintenance operations...

The Storm Lake Bomgaars is clapping back at the cold weather with hot deals and events to bring in the new year. January 9 through January 15 marked their Customer Appreciation Week. Quite a few tables were set up with clearance items. For two of the days, free hot dogs and pop were served by the front entrance. While customers munched on their hot dog, they had the opportunity to sign up for a prize drawing...

The Shirley Sorbe Memorial Scholarship is open to any high school senior residing in Buena Vista County planning to attend a vocational school, college or university. Deadline for applying for the Shirley Sorbe Memorial Scholarship is March 15. Scholarship applications have been sent to guidance counselors at all area high schools. They can also be obtained by contacting Nelda Nelson at 712-732-5545 or by emailing [email protected] and an application form will be returned via email...

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach’s annual STEM Fest at Dordt College will begin accepting registrations on Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. The 2018 Spring STEM Fest will be held Saturday, Feb. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Dordt College in Sioux Center...

More than 2,286 graduates received degrees at the Iowa State University fall commencement. 



 Newell: Andrew Temple, Bachelor of Science, Materials Engineering, Cum Laude Spencer: Bradi Baschke, Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, Cum Laude...

The following student is named to Mount Mercy University’s Fall 2017 Dean’s List. Students with a semester grade point average of 3.60 or better, and who are graded (letter grade, not pass/fail) for six or more semester hours, are eligible for inclusion on the Dean’s List.
Storm Lake: Alexander Smith...

The following students recently graduated from Buena Vista University: Jose Salazar Arce, of Storm Lake, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. Yoseline Padilla, of Storm Lake, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology and criminal justice...

Four Sac County 4-H members learned how to make golden pepper jelly during Christmas break at the East Sac County Middle School. The youth learned the difference between a hot water bath and pressure canner, how to properly use the hot water bath, the names of the utensils when how water bathing and they followed the recipe to make a golden pepper jelly...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s High School Athletic Booster Club, in conjunction with the St. Mary’s Athletic Department, has created a Hall of Fame to recognize the accomplishments of past athletes and coaches. The initial induction ceremony will be held on February 9, 2018 at the half time of the St. Mary’s boys’ varsity game...

Week one was historic for Iowa’s first female governor, Kim Reynolds. It was exciting to listen to her vision for Iowa and set out her priorities. She emphasized the importance of small-town Iowa and rural values. Her speech also provides us with the groundwork for budget discussions going into the session...

The Second Session of the Eighty-Seventh General Assembly gaveled in at 10:00 on January 8, 2018. After the opening speeches by leaders from both parties, it was down to business, as this is scheduled to be a 100-day session. Committees met and organized in the afternoon, and the House Chamber was readied for the Tuesday morning Condition of the State address, which was delivered by Governor Kim Reynolds. ...

The 2018 session of the Iowa General Assembly gaveled in on Monday January 8 with the customary addresses by House leadership laying out goals for the session.  After a very successful 2017 session there is still work to be done.  Water quality and tax reform are at the top of the list of goals to be accomplished this session...

The tagline for the Liam Neeson Metro-North thriller “The Commuter” — “Lives are on the Line” — feels like a missed opportunity. I would have gone with: “The quiet car is about to get loud.” It’s been 10 years since Neeson’s unlikely reign as the movies’ best action hero began with “Taken” — the little Paris kidnapping that unlocked Neeson’s special set of skills. ...

Chris Shutters, a gifted songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, will perform Sunday, January 21, at Byron’s in Pomeroy. Showtime is 5 p.m. His blues-laced rock and roll originals showcase his innate ability to combine unmistakable soul with technical prowess...

The Storm Lake Public Library’s Great Directors Film Series concludes with a 1978 film directed by Michael Cimino and starring Christopher Walken and Robert DeNiro. The film will be shown Monday Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. Light snacks will be served. In March the library will launch a new film series called “Marvelous Movie Musicals.”...

Storm Lake folk/alternative duo Laura & Josh will perform at Witter Gallery’s Chocolate Masterpiece Extravaganza, Saturday, Feb. 17, 4-6 p.m. Tickets are $5 for Witter Gallery members and $10 for non-members. In addition to the lineup of chocolate confections, Josh Wentzel and Laura Bernhardt will perform from 4:30-5:30. The indie duo has been writing and performing music together since 2009 and have taken the stage at numerous events around the area...

ACCIDENTS On January 10, at approximately 4:40 p.m., at the intersection of 90 Ave. and W. Milwaukee Ave. in Storm Lake, a vehicle driven by Russell Boyle of Alta, was involved in an accident was a vehicle driven by Guillermo Hernandez of Storm Lake. The two vehicles collided causing total damages estimated at $18000. Hernandez was cited for Failure to Obey Stop Sign. Injuries were reported.

The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors is working its way through a proposed budget for fiscal 2019. While nothing is yet set in stone, the current proposal pencils in an employee raise of 3 percent, and tentatively offers funding to a number of outside agencies and programs. ...

King’s Pointe Waterpark and Resort will be hosting a Legislative Forum on Saturday. January 20 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Awaysis Ballroom. State Representative Gary Worthan, Representative Dane Huseman and State Senator Mark Segebart will discuss issues before the Legislator and answer questions fromt the public...

Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg will make their second public appearance in Storm Lake since taking office, as part of Reynolds’ “unleashing Opportunity” tour. They will be at the Hy-Vee store Thursday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The multi-week tour across the state is a follow-up to the theme she expressed in her first Condition of the State speech to begin the 2018 legislative session...

The Iowa School Report Card statistics show something of a mixed bag for the Alta-Aurelia school district. “Are we doing as well as we can and should? In some areas yes, in some we need a lot of work,” Superintendent of Schools Lynn Evans told the district boards at their monthly joint meeting...

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Storm Lake’s population was 10,600. City officials feel that count is far short of accurate, and as a result, the community has been losing out on certain forms of funding. As planning begins to gear up toward a 2020 Census, the city council and department heads began to talk strategy this week in hopes of getting a more complete count...

Three weeks ahead of the region’s Iowa Central Community College $25.5 million public bond referendum vote, ICCC officials released a conceptual drawing for an Industrial Training Center to be built in Storm Lake with some of the proceeds. The center is needed in Storm Lake, where some of the college’s oldest facilities are in use, said ICCC President Dan Kinney following a press conference Monday...

Melvin and Dorothy Ploeger will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Friday, January 26.

September 11, 1944 - January 15, 2018

The Buena Vista Regional Healthcare Foundation reports that a donation of more than $500,000 has been received by Buena Vista Regional Medical Center from the Estate of Naomi J. Robinson, who passed away in January of 2017. This gift was given by Miss Robinson in appreciation of the exceptional medical services provided by the BVRMC staff to the community. Rob Colerick, CEO of BVRMC, said the hospital is grateful for the generosity and will use the funds to continue serving local health needs...

The Storm Lake City Council unanimously approved a Little Library policy during Monday night’s meeting, despite a few concerns about how the contents will be monitored. A volunteer committee has been working for several months to establish the policy, which will allow small boxes on private property where people can donate and borrow books freely. Members of the committee brought an example of a Little Library to the council chambers...

Rally4Veterans has dreamed big since its 2015 founding in Laurens. What started as Vani Ahlers’ way to give back to Iowa veterans, has blossomed into a regional group. In 2015, Rally4Veterans set out to raise $10,000 to make a donation to the Fisher House, which provides military families a place to stay when their beloved servicemember is undergoing medical care. That goal was reached...

DES MOINES - The Turn Around’s GK Storm teams showed a notable first meet at Chow’s 15th Annual Winter Classic Invitational at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on January 13 and 14. Competing with over 1,500 gymnasts from 53 gyms and 10 states, the girls showcased their talent on the vault, bars, beam and floor. The results from each team (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum) are as follows:...

SLOAN - The Raptors had a decent day at the Western Valley Conference wrestling meet on Saturday, with all five wrestlers that were healthy earning a top five finish including one conference champion. “We wrestled very well on the day overall. We are starting to take what we practice each day and put it into practice. ...

GOWRIE - Saturday saw the 10 wrestling schools of the Twin Lakes Conference converge together for their conference tournament. The Alta-Aurelia grapplers finished in sixth place out of the 10 schools with 115 points and Sioux Central finished 10th with 30 points. Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Aryshire claimed first with Emmetsburg taking second and Southeast Valley third...

EVERLY - The St. Mary’s ladies got off to a bit of a slow start on Monday night against Clay Central-Everly, allowing the Mavs to seize the control early. The Panthers attempted to come back on a couple of occasions but fell short in a 49-42 decision...

EVERLY - The Panthers were able to pick up their second win of the year on Monday night against the Mavericks of Clay Central-Everly, running away with the game in a 76-31 victory. The presence of St. Mary’s senior Will Hurd allowed the Panthers to control the game from the start, the near seven footer misdirecting Maverick shots all game long. St. Mary’s had a nine point lead at the end of the first, 16-7...

January 16, 2018

July 7, 1922 - January 15, 2018