Stories from Friday, July 20, 2018

A residential fire last week "totaled" the kitchen at 213 NW 1st Street, said Kirk "Bubba" Reetz, Fire Chief of Alta Fire Department. "It's going to take a lot of work," he said. No estimates have been made for insurance on the monetary value of the damage, but the house is reportedly not habitable. The Smith family that lived there has moved to a different living situation...

After much brouhaha over a recreational vehicle parking violation, Alta's Planning & Zoning Commission met Wednesday evening to reaffirm most of its members' existing stance: that city councilor Wes Bunjes' pontoon was in violation of code, despite what mayor Al Clark and code enforcer Matt Hess said to the contrary...

Trepson Montessori Preschool wants to help more middle-class kids get a quality, personalized head start in life. Recently, the preschool was admitted to participate in a state scholarship program due to its quality. "I need some eligible families to apply or we could lose the state scholarship," director Trevina Jefferson said...

Patrick J. Dahm, age 70, of Early, Iowa died Saturday, July 14, 2018 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

Nancy Steward, age 58, of Storm Lake, Iowa died Sunday, July 15, 2018 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Memorial services will take place Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. at the Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will be in the Storm Lake Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

Joanne C. Boger, age 87, of Storm Lake, Iowa died on Monday, July 16, 2018 at her home in Storm Lake. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in the Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Thursday, July 19, 2018 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake...

The Twin Lakes Conference All-Conference teams have been released following the final two teams seeing their season come to an end. Alta-Aurelia won the conference this season, Newell-Fonda tied for second, Sioux Central was seventh and St. Mary’s tied for eighth for the Pilot-Tribune area teams...

BANCROFT — No. 1-ranked and defending state champion Newman Catholic from Mason City wasted little time claiming their 22nd overall and 11th straight trip to the state tournament Tuesday night, racking up 16 runs in the first inning against Sioux Central in substate play...

A scam is targeting area immigrants, according to Marie Sennett, an attorney in Storm Lake who specializes in immigration law. "Someone calls saying they are from ICE or Immigration or Homeland Security and that your immigration status is in jeopardy. Then they say if you provide them with 'x' amount of dollars via credit card or debit card, the problem will be solved," she explained...

ORANGE CITY - It was almost a tale of two different games on Tuesday night in the 2A-Substate 1 finals between the Alta-Aurelia Warriors and West Sioux Falcons. The first three innings saw the pitchers combine to allow one hit, the rest of the game was a completely different one, the batters beginning to figure out the pitching. Behind senior Alex Snyder on the mound, the Warriors did a bit more than West Sioux and took a 5-2 victory to claim their first trip to State since the 2012 season...

A Storm Lake native and missionary caught in a political firestorm in the Republic of the Philippines since February, has been released and has returned home safely. The release came after an emotional campaign from Methodists around the world over recent weeks...

Twenty-seven Buena Vista University students - and the whole BVU football team - were honored at the 2018 Governor's Volunteer Awards ceremony held this week on the BVU campus. Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg attended the event, and more than 65 individuals and organizations from northwest Iowa received awards at the ceremony in Storm Lake, which was one of five awards programs being held across Iowa this summer...

Four men have been charged with robbery and kidnapping after a victim was forced at gunpoint to drive two men to Albert City, where the suspects allegedly robbed the victim and another person. The robbery was reported at 120 Flower Street in Albert City on the evening of May 9. Sheriff and State Patrol officers responded, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation joined in a lengthy investigation...

From a quiet Facebook support group to a national awareness blitz, a group of mothers are setting their grief aside to bolster research.

Diirge, 3, rides her scooter in the driveway of her family's new home, a project of Habitat for Humanity's. She politely requested more pictures be taken of her during the home dedication on Saturday--and required her approval of each one after they were taken. This girl's going places...