Stories from Monday, April 30, 2018

April 28, 2018

Throughout this session we have had the sounds of construction as a constant undertone to the normal work that occurs here. Just prior to last year’s session it was determined that the brick work that supports the dome was deteriorating and was in dire need of replacement...

At Monday night’s meeting, the Cherokee School Board approved preliminary plans and cost estimates for the proposed elementary school addition to the Cherokee Middle School. The plans represent the chosen option formulated by the Facilities Review Committee charged with exploring options and making its recommendation to the School District, in conjunction with architects and District Administration...

Thirty local Cherokee County residents recently graduated from Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach’s six-week Developing Dynamic Leaders program. The program is designed to maximize the strengths and skills of current and future community leaders, and was taught by Jane Nolan Goeken, Community and Economic Development Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach...

With just some tweaking and touch-ups remaining, The City of Cherokee nears completion of the downtown Facade Project that provided facelifts to the facades of 14 participating buildings in the downtown area. The joint project, which included grant monies and contributed funds from the City, County, CIC, CAEDC and Chamber of Commerce, and involved building owners, will be closed out July 1. ...

DES MOINES (AP) — Rural Iowa communities are struggling with a housing shortage despite many areas facing long-term population declines. Developers are often wary of building in rural areas because of their declining population and significantly lower home values, the Des Moines Register reported ...

April 16, the BVU Human Behavior and the Social Environment social work class visited Upper Des Moines Opportunity as a way of learning how this organization contributes to the well-being of the community.  Ms. Maggie Reyes informed the class of various programs that UDMO provides to assist community members. ...

On Tuesday, April 17, several vocal students from Storm Lake Middle School attended the Northwest Iowa Choral Director’s Association 6th and 7th grade honor choir.  This year’s event was hosted by MOC-Floyd Valley in Orange City and featured guest directors Mrs. Lisa Ott from Nevada Elementary School and Mr. David Baxter from Pleasant Valley High School. ...

The Meeting Place in Galva was pleased to welcome Jane Hogue, owner of Prairie Pedlar Gardens in Odebolt. As part of the “Entertaining in the Garden” program on April 26, Jane shared creative ways to add focal points to a garden, backyard, on a patio or a deck...

This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Water temperature is around 40 degrees. Walleye - Fair: Throw twisters or fish minnows under a bobber from the state marina. ...

As he moves forward in a Republican primary with two other candidates for Secretary of Agriculture in Iowa, Secretary Mike Naig’s top areas of concern for agriculture include trade and the agricultural economy. “We’ve seen a couple of years of downward trend in farming income,” Naig said, with 2018 projections expected to continue that downward trend. ...

The Buena Vista County Parkinson’s Support Group will meet on Tuesday, May 8, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1614 W 5th Street, Storm Lake. The meeting is free and open to anyone interested in learning about Parkinson’s Disease or just want to touch base with others who have PD...

Northwest Iowa Autism Network is hosting its first event, the In It Together Autism Walk on Saturday, May 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Clay County Fairgrounds. Serving northwest Iowa since 2017, the Northwest Iowa Autism Network was formed by compassionate individuals working in the human services field who saw a need for additional resources for families receiving autism services. ...

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed her second executive order last week, creating a Children’s Mental Health Board and providing the first of many steps to establish a children’s mental health system in Iowa.  Last month, the governor signed comprehensive mental health reform into law. The bipartisan legislation builds on the state’s existing mental health system and provides all Iowans with access to the full array of mental health care they need, no matter where they live...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center’s Michele Kelly and Dawn Bach attended the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), a division of the American Hospital Association, Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. Michele currently serves as the President for Iowa’s chapter, called the Iowa Organization of Nurse Executives (IONE). ...

Live music is back at King’s Pointe in Storm Lake. Free concerts are planned on the outdoor deck, weather permitting, nearly every weekend through summer. Upcoming concerts include rock/country veteran Russ Lachney May 11, May 26 and August 31; and pop/country singer guitarist Jessica McClintock from Fort Dodge May 25, June 9 and Sept. 1...

Wynona & The Big Noise will be performing in Sioux City at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel on May 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $40. Respected by the millions of fans who are drawn to her music and undeniable talent, Wynonna’s rich and commanding voice has sold over 30-million albums worldwide spanning her remarkable 34-year career...

The public is invited to joing the students at Newell-Fonda for their first ever Fine Arts Gala. Help the students celebrate and support the fine arts at Newell-Fonda. Come enjoy the annual fine arts award presentations, the MS/HS Art show,  special student performances, and refreshments. ...

Buena Vista University held a discussion Thursday night led by Kathy Fritz, Buena Vista County’s court-appointed Special Advocacy coordinator, to help students understand their personal values, identify the challenges of LGBTQ youth and how to effectively advocate and make a welcoming environment for LGBTQ students on campus...

The Storm Lake City Council has requested a work session to be scheduled May 7 on the possibility of removing or replacing the city’s rental housing inspection program. The program, which started in 1998, works on a three year inspection cycle, meaning that all properties will be inspected at least once every three years...

The Buena Vista County Democrats held a forum on April 21 for candidates running for Iowa governor, Iowa secretary of state and the 4th U.S. House District of Iowa. The array of candidates had one common theme in mind: making Iowa blue again. Candidates present for governor included Ross Wilburn, Jackie Norris representing her husband John Norris, Dan McGuire representing his wife Andy McGuire, and Chris Hall representing Fred Hubbell. ...

Special education students at Storm Lake Elementary School will soon face the music thanks to a new grant for their teacher. Storm Lake Elementary teacher Carrie Barglof has won a grant from the Northwest Iowa Down Syndrome Association for her latest project to help her special education class...

April 29, 2018

IOWA CITY - The Buena Vista men’s golf team was in solid position for another strong score on Saturday during round two of the Iowa Conference Men’s Golf Championships, but the Beavers struggled a bit more on their back nine and finished with a 332 and dipped from seventh to ninth in the team standings...

DES MOINES - For the second time in a week the hammer throw record goes down for the Buena Vista men’s track and field team, and this time it was by Garrett Rohlk who chalked up a toss of 52.83 meters to place second overall. The previous mark set just last week at the Red Raider Open (51.35m) by Shelmund Mercalina, but Rohlk shattered that mark by over a full meter. ...

DES MOINES - The weather is heating up and so is the performance level for the Buena Vista women’s track and field team, as it recorded a handful of PR times while competing at the Grand View Classic on Friday. Cristyn Eischeid continues to post her personal best marks in the shot put. ...

INDIANOLA - The Buena Vista baseball team opened a three-game weekend series at Simpson College on Friday night, and it was the Storm taking advantage of nearly every opportunity offensively en route to a 10-2 victory over the Beavers. The Storm (5-26, 3-15 IIAC) pounded out 12 hits and scored in three of the first five innings, including three runs in the fifth to build an 8-2 lead. ...

WAVERLY - The Buena Vista softball team went into Saturday’s Iowa Conference doubleheader at Wartburg needing to sweep the Knight and then get some help if it was going to keep its conference tournament hopes alive, but after taking the opener 3-2, the Beavers were edged in the finale 7-5...

The Storm Lake Albatross rugby club has seen a bit of a downturn this year with fewer players joining up this season. So far the Albatross haven’t seen many chances to get out and play the game. Back in early April, they took part in the Wayne America tournament, which they have won in past years, but dropped both contests this season and were unable to play in another due to low player number...

CHEROKEE - The Storm Lake girls tennis team picked up their first win on the year Thursday night against the Cherokee Braves, 7-2. In singles action: Destiny Syhavong fell 10-1; Serena Chaiyawong won 10-7; Jenny Almanza won 10-4; Briana Soto won 10-5; Natalia Garza fell 10-6; and Kaying Van won 10-1...

STORM LAKE - It was a tough night for Storm Lake on Thursday as they narrowly lost to Cherokee, 5-4. “I really think that was a meet we should have won, but give credit to Cherokee for executing in crunch time,” Coach Sam Lipps said. In singles play, Damian Guanuajato, Jaylen Saenchanpheng and Kevin Lopez all picked up big wins. It was a 3-3 tie in singles play before going to doubles...

LAKE CITY - It was a strong Friday night for the Rebel girls track team as they were able to best a handful of other teams to win the Ross Samuelson meet with an overall score of 144. The Rebels had six first place finishes to help pace the way. Megan Ahrendson took first in the discus with a best throw of 100-06. ...

CARROLL - The Alta-Aurelia girls golf team faced quite a bit of competition on Saturday and managed to walk away with a second place finish. Kuemper won the invite with a score of 362 as the Warriors finished at 376. “I was really please with how the girls played today. We actually had a great day to play golf with little wind. It was kinda chilly getting started, however the sun was out and was very pleasant a few holes in,” Coach LeAnn Patton said...

STORM LAKE - The green and white boys were able to host their first home meet of the season on Thursday afternoon and walked away with a 182-209 win over the Cherokee Braves. SL’s Eric Masters led the way for the team with a score of 39 and could have had a better day but a double bogey on the last hole led to his score. Coach Steve Berry noted that Masters played well. Ethan James carded a 46, Ben Raveling 49, Tyler Dvergsten 49, Drew Binning 50 and Mark Eddie 56...

MARCUS - The Alta-Aurelia boys and girls track teams both competed at the Royal Coed Relays on Friday night and they walked way with a lot to smile about. The boys took first place with a score of 164 over five other teams as the girls tied for first with Unity Christian, both teams scoring a 174...

CHEROKEE - On a windy afternoon, the Storm Lake Tornadoes were unable to get the better of the Cherokee Braves at the Cherokee Country Club, the 25 mile per hour winds affecting some of the shots in a 246-267 defeat. The medalist spot went to Cherokee’s Paityn Hagbergwho shot a 56 as Storm Lake’s Haley Redenbaugh took the runner-up spot with a 58 on the par 38 course...

SIOUX CENTER - Just two days after bowing to Sioux Center at home in a 2-0 contest, the Storm Lake girls soccer team was able to learn from that game to pick up their first victory of the season on Thursday night, taking a 1-0 contest over Sioux Center...

STORM LAKE - Three teams competed in the Storm Lake Invitational on Thursday night, one of them being the hosting Tornadoes finishing six in both boys and girls, Newell-Fonda finishing seventh in both boys and girls and the St. Mary’s boys finishing eighth...

Sid and Janet Peterson of Albert City are pleased to announce the engagement of their son Luke to Elizabeth Housworth, daughter of Craig and Cathy Housworth of Woodbury, MN. Luke is a graduate of Sioux Central High School and Iowa State University and is employed at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis. ...