Stories from Wednesday, March 28, 2018

September 9, 1924 - March 24, 2018

Weeks seem to be flying by. We finished the bulk of our work for this week on Wednesday after a long debate on the amendment to the Iowa Constitution simliar to the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. We also passed a new mental health bill, HF2456. This bill sets a plan for regions to follow to provide mental health services...

U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management Subcommittee, and Joni Ernst (R-IA) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney seeking clarity on Trump Administration officials’ compliance with federal travel spending policies. ...

Clay County citizens may see the completion of the Iowa Great Lakes Trail Project’s second phase as early as late 2018. Representatives from McClure Engineering held an informational meeting prior to Monday night’s Spencer City Council meeting, during which they updated local leaders on the status of the project...

On March 22 at approximately 3:33 p.m., at the intersection of Lake Ave and 10th St in Storm Lake, a vehicle driven by Kelsie Arch of Storm Lake was involved in an accident with another vehicle driven by Jimmy Phongsavanh of Storm Lake. The two vehicles collided causing total damages estimated at $3,000.

WANTED On the morning of Friday, March 23, at approximately 9:25 a.m. the Storm Lake Police Department responded to 504 Seneca Street in reference to locating a wanted person. Upon arrival of police they located and arrested Pisau Pretrick, age 27 of Storm Lake who was wanted out of Buena Vista County on a warrant charging him with Contempt of Court reference Failure to Pay Fines. Pretrick was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail and held without bond.

Attorney General Tom Miller joined a bipartisan coalition of 37 state and territory attorneys general today in sending a letter demanding answers from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the company’s business practices and privacy protections. “I am concerned about Facebook’s privacy policies and how they may have harmed Iowans,” Attorney General Miller said...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s, Early Sacred Heart and Schaller St. Joseph has announced the schedules for the Sacred Triduum, which are the most unique and wonderful liturgies of the year. All are welcome to attend the Masses and services listed, which are the high point of the Catholic Church’s liturgical year noting the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ...

Alta Community Library’s movie night was held on Monday, March 19.  The movie “Ferdinand” kept the children captivated as they watched the movie. Ferdinand is a young bull who escapes from a training camp in rural Spain after his father never returns from a showdown with a matador. ...

On Saturday, March 17 the Alta Community Library hosted a Come and Go - Color & Coffee for Adults. It was a fun and relaxing morning. All the participants received door prizes. The next Color & Coffee for Adults will be Saturday, April 28.

Easter is just around the corner, and the O’Brien County Conservation Board will again be holding an egg hunt with a technological twist. The event returns to the activity lineup due to the tremendous past success. Join the naturalist on Wednesday, March 28 at 5:30 p.m. for a “Different Kind of Egg Hunt.” This year the event will be held at Mill Creek Park, near Paullina.  Meet near the lodge. ...

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach will host an adult sewing workshop on Saturday, April 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach office located at 209 Centennial Drive in Cherokee. Participants will be learning the basics of sewing while crafting a “10 minute table runner.” Those interested are asked to bring one yard of printed fabric, ½ a yard of coordinating fabric, two coordinating decorative buttons, matching thread, a seam ripper, scissors and pins. ...

The Storm Lake schools have accumulated obsolete equipment that needs to be disposed of. The district will advertise the items, and if they cannot be sold, most will be trashed. The highest-dollar item is an older John Deere who wheel-drive tractor and loader that has seldom been used. Minimum bid is $11,500. Unlike other items, it will be retained if not sold...

City grants developers $90,000 for rehab project At the March 20 Cherokee City Council meeting, an attorney representing two Storm Lake men in the process of purchasing the downtown Lewis Hotel, updated the council on his clients’ efforts to obtain title to and rehabilitate the Lewis Hotel building at 231 W. Main St...

On the morning of Monday, March 26, at approximately 8:30 a.m. the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to the Storm Lake High School in reference to a truancy incident. Upon arrival police met with school staff who alleged that a male voice called into the school and provided excused absences for two students identified as a 16 year old female and a 17 year old female both of Storm Lake...

Storm Lake Police report a person wanted by the SLPD in connection with a home invasion has been arrested. Denzel Scott, age 22 of Fort Dodge, surrendered himself at the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Department on warrants issued by the SLPD in November of 2017 charging him with Burglary 2nd Degree (class B felony)...

I must confess that I forgot to wear green for St. Patrick’s Day, and thus, have a metaphorical pinch coming. Thought I would make it up by making the latest edition of Dana’s Dozen all about the Irish. The field is amazingly deep, full of historical epics, twisting thrillers and witty comedies. Here are my picks for the best movies ever with a bit of Emerald Isle brogue...

Stone Temple Pilots with Camp Howard will be performing at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Sioux City on May 15 at 8 p.m. Stone Temple Pilots are no strangers to change. Unpredictably has shaped the Grammy®-winning group since it emerged as one of the best-selling bands of the 1990s...

Best Artwork of Show • Erin Strohmyer, School: Sioux Central, Title: Untitled Best 2D Artwork of Show • Vanessa Gonzalez, School: Alta-Aurelia, Title: Does Anybody Care Best 3D Artwork of Show • Hope DeRoos, School: Alta-Aurelia, Title: Stoneware Vase...

A special meeting for 2018-2019 kindergarten students and their parents is scheduled for April 12 and 13 at Storm Lake Elementary School. Three sessions will be held for this parent/child event. One session will be held on Thursday, April 12 at 6 p.m. ...

Storm Lake Middle School recently participated in the Spirit Lake Regional Competition for National History Day at Buena Vista University. The theme for this year was “Conflict and Compromise in History.” For the 24 TAG students who were involved, it was a fascinating experience...

Buena Vista University has selected Dr. Brian Lenzmeier as its provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.    Lenzmeier joined BVU in 2003 as a professor of biology. In addition to this role, Lenzmeier has held several admirable leadership roles at BVU. ...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s High School inducted nine new members into their National Honor Society chapter last week. Juniors Gabe Elsden, Jordan Hewett, Cole Keenan, Vivian Keenan, Lizzie Lenhart, Alondra Melendez, Alex Merten, Kendall Snyder and Addie Young were all inducted after a school Mass and joined the seniors who were existing members. A reception for the members and their families was held in the attached parish center...

National Walkout Day in recognition of gun violence victims saw no troubles for the Storm Lake schools. At the middle school, the staff wanted to offer a positive alternative, Principal Jay Slight says. They promoted a “Walk Up” effort where students were encouraged to look for classmates who may be lonely, alone at lunch, or in need of a friend, and go to them. It didn’t stop the walkout, as some 30 students chose to leave...

The Pilot-Tribune wishes to correct an inadvertent error. In a story about Craig Lang titled “Soil, water and jobs among top concerns for Secretary of Agriculture candidate” published Monday, March 26, there was a factual error. The article stated that Bill Northey was awaiting U.S. Senate confirmation for a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture...

Storm Lake High School will host Diversity Day on March 28. In recent years, the International Club has organized the event every other school year. “We like to celebrate all the neat and unique students in our school. This event allows us to learn about their stories and where they have come from, and to appreciate all the diversity we have in out community and school,” counselor Sandy Mouw said of the events. ...

Incumbent candidate for the 4th District Congressional seat Steve King faced a challenge to his nomination petition. The King challenge was examined and rejected. The State Objection Panel, comprised of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, State Auditor Mary Mosiman and Attorney General Tom Miller, convened Tuesday to review the challenge to King as well as several other challenges, including one for Governor Kim Reynold’s nomination. ...

Attempts to sell the idled Storm Lake dredge have so far been frustrated. The bidding deadline has passed with no bids received, City Manager Keri Navratil told the Lake Improvement Commission Monday. However, one call did come in from a party in Illinois who is interested in coming to see the boat...

On March 20, the community of Varina received the 2018 Keep Iowa Beautiful Robert D. Ray Award of Excellence for its aggressive efforts in making the community a stronger and better place to live and work. In a special award ceremony in the Governor’s Office at the State Capitol, Governor Kim Reynolds presented the award which is sponsored annually by Keep Iowa Beautiful...

At their Buena Vista County convention Saturday, state party chairperson Troy Price urged the locals to “take BV back to blue,” but admitted that the party hasn’t done well reaching rural communities in recent years. It has been hard times since the election losses of 2016. ...

A “Jack of Hearts” benefit is being planned for baby Jack Palmer April 22 at the Fonda Fire Station, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jack is the son of Fonda native and 2002 Newell-Fonda graduate Chuck Palmer and wife Tiffany. Jack was born with a rare congenital heart defect and is being treated at Children’s Hospital in St. ...

SIOUX CITY – The Arena, an 80,000 square foot sports complex being constructed in the heart of Siouxland, has officially announced Dustin Cooper as Executive Director. Dustin Cooper was a multi-sport standout at Sioux City East High School. Earning All-State, All-Conference, and All-Metro honors for the Black Raider basketball team, while also running track and quarterbacking the East football team. ...

DECORAH - Buena Vista junior Porter Sartor hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning, and three Buena Vista pitchers combined on a two-hitter, as the Beavers wrapped up a series win at Luther to start Iowa Conference play with a 3-1 win over the Norse on Sunday afternoon...

For the past four years Storm Lake senior Kevin Duque has been involved in a plethora of sports with the Tornadoes. Ranging from football, basketball and soccer, Duque has been part of the charge that has helped to reshape the culture in Storm Lake athletics during his tenure with the green and white...

March 27, 2018

March 27, 2018