Stories from Monday, November 5, 2018

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center is now offering hospice care bags thanks to the Auxiliary and some compassionate care givers. Hospice is a term for specialized care for those patients facing a life-limiting illness. Those caring for hospice patients address physical and emotional needs...

The successor to Wellmark Insurance’s Blue Zones project is still finding its feet northwest Iowa.. A group of approximately 20 people met Oct. 18 at Lakes Regional Healthcare to discuss the insurance company’s new initiative — Healthy Hometown. The group included community figures involved in local government, health services and educational organizations...

Following President Trump’s announcement of a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, state-level farm experts and local producers were positive of the direction of the yet-to-be finalized plans...

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension of Cherokee County and the MMCRU FFA Chapter invite area residents to join them for a holiday wreath making workshop on Nov. 26 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Church basement located within the Marcus Fairgrounds...

The community is invited to the Annual St. John Lutheran Pancake Supper to be held Sunday evening, November 11, at the church located at 402 Lake Avenue, Storm Lake. Serving will be from 5 – 7 p.m. The menu features all-you-can-eat pancakes and syrup served with sausages, applesauce and drink. It is a real meal deal at $5.00 a person; children 5 and under are free. Proceeds from the event support Gospel outreach and youth activities. The church is handicapped-accessible...

The Storm Lake Police Department in its ongoing efforts to maintain good community relations and as a part of its community outreach initiatives has scheduled another year of Coffee With a Cop Events. Coffee With a Cop is a national program designed to bring citizens and law enforcement together at different times and in different places in order to create and enhance community relations and provide for a forum for questions, concerns and conversation. ...

On October 15, 2018, the Storm Lake City Council declared a vacancy on the City Council. Pursuant to Iowa Code, the City Council intends to fill the vacancy by appointment by the remaining members of the Council. Applications for the vacancy on the City Council will be taken through November 14, 2018. ...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s School invites the public to St. Mary’s for their Annual Veterans Day program Monday, November 12 at 2:15 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Military veterans of peacetime and any conflict are welcome to come and join us to be honored as our guests. Veterans may contact the school office at 712-732-4166 or [email protected] if they plan to come, but walk-ins are always welcome. The public is always welcome to attend this ceremony to honor our local heroes...

On the afternoon of Thursday, November 1, at approximately 1:25 p.m. a Storm Lake Police Officer stopped a vehicle in the 500 block of East 5th Street for a traffic violation. Upon contacting the driver identified as Dan Whitlow, age 27 of Storm Lake, it was determined that his license was allegedly revoked...

The “Storm Lake Fall & Craft Vendor Show” will be this Saturday, November 10, 10 a.m. at Columbus Hall 1507 E Lakeshore Drive in Storm Lake. Many Crafters and Vendors will be there along with a lunch and BVRMC Bake Sale to raise money for A.W.A.R.E. There will also have a chance to win one of many door prizes at the event. All are welcome to ths free event hosted by Chalkville Creations...

The Buena Vista University concert choir will present a special Veteran’s Day concert celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the WWI Armistice, Sunday, November 11, 7:30 p.m. at Schaller Chapel in Storm Lake. Everyone is welcome.

“Mannhiem Steamroller Christmas” by Chip Davis has been America’s favorite holiday tradition for over 30 years. Grammy Award winner Chip Davis has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics along with a selection of compositions from Chip’s groundbreaking Fresh Aire series which introduced the distinctive Mannheim sound to all of America. ...

Local music fans can kick off their holiday celebration in Emmy-winning style, with the next show in the Community Education Performing Arts Series. Tonic Sol Fa is a ground breaking a capella ensemble, in constant development since their formation two decades ago. TSF stands as one of the leading forces in the world of vocal music with award- winning arrangements and multi-million selling compositions...

Once upon a time, in the County of Buena Vista, there existed fifteen villages (Juniata, Leverette, Blaine, Mayview, Menati, West Scott, Hires Grove, Elkton, Racine, Northam, Orland, Peach, Plum, Sayre, and Hanover). All have died and disappeared as “ghost towns”, save one (article: Dec. ...

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday released its findings about the cause of a March 2017 train derailment near Graettinger. The NTSB’s summary said a broken rail caused 20 cars to leave the track as the train crossed Jack Creek east of the Emmet County city. The train was carrying undenatured ethanol from the Green Plains ethanol plant in Superior. The fuel ignited after the train left the rails. The NTSB said an estimated 322,000 gallons of the ethanol was released...

Associated Press — Republican congressman Steve King is rejecting accusations that he’s associated with an Austrian white supremacist group. Those claims have prompted condemnation from within his own party just days before Tuesday’s election. During a forum with Iowa business leaders Thursday, the eight-term Iowa congressman said a Washington Post story this month wrongly characterized his August meeting in Austria as being with the far-right Freedom Party, a group with Nazi ties...

A collection of hunting skulls adorn a residence on the river at Sioux Rapids, a flag waving from an eye socket.

Soon enough, the children will be crafting snowmen on the playgrounds of our area communities. Except for the one who will stay inside at his or her desk, without a warm coat to go outside for recess. Kids will be tossing snowballs - except for the ones who stand at the wall and watch, because they don’t have mittens, boots or snow pants...

For some, it’s the camaraderie. For others, it’s the feeling of learning a new skill. But for all the kids in Special Olympics, it’s how they feel when they’re able to do things that every other student in their schools can do. “It helps them see that while they’re different, they’re the same,” said Jenny Taylor, special ed teacher at Storm Lake Middle School. “It gives our kids a chance to be as any other kid.” Most Special Olympics athletes start getting involved at the middle school level...

Local voter interest is running high. “We’ve been busy, very busy,” Buena Vista County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Sue Lloyd said Friday. “As of today we have 2,312 early ballots in, and all of our voting booths are full.” Registered Republicans led the absentee voting as of the end of the week, with 1,018 ballots returned, to 834 for Democrats, four for Libertarian, and 461 with no party preference...

The Storm Lake Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously Thursday evening to change zoning on a 38-acre parcel of city land, in hopes of easing the way to commercial development of the property. The site, just east of the golf course of the Lakeside Blacktop, was formerly an agribusiness. ...

Despite some vocal citizens opposed to Storm Lake School District’s $29 million bond up for a vote in December, school leaders are confident that the space need will motivate voters. With about 930 students, the Elementary School is “bursting at the seams,” Superintendent Stacey Cole told attendees Tuesday night in the music room that has been repurposed to hold regular classes. ...

There is an urgent need for families to provide safe, temporary homes for teens in Iowa’s foster care system. Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) Foster Care and Adoption recruits and supports foster and adoptive families in 30 counties in western Iowa including Buena Vista. At this very moment, 55 children in western Iowa between ages 10 and 18 are waiting for a foster family. In the meantime, they are forced to stay in shelters due to the shortage of foster families and homes available...

The Storm Lake Police Department is asking the community's assistance in locating a missing woman. Thoeuy Leanna Kim, age 48, walked away from a residence in the 100 block of Irving Street at approximately 5:50 p.m. yesterday and did not return. Family members told police that Kim has a history of similar actions when she lived in California. She has only resided in Storm Lake for a few weeks...

The Storm Lake Police Department is asking the community's assistance in locating a missing woman. Thoeuy Leanna Kim, age 48, walked away from a residence in the 100 block of Irving Street at approximately 5:50 p.m. yesterday and did not return. Family members told police that Kim has a history of similar actions when she lived in California. She has only resided in Storm Lake for a few weeks...

The Storm Lake Police Department is asking the community's assistance in locating a missing woman. Thoeuy Leanna Kim, age 48, walked away from a residence in the 100 block of Irving Street at approximately 5:50 p.m. yesterday and did not return. Family members told police that Kim has a history of similar actions when she lived in California. She has only resided in Storm Lake for a few weeks...

The Storm Lake Police Department is asking the community’s assistance in locating a missing woman. Thoeuy Leanna Kim, age 48, walked away from a residence in the 100 block of Irving Street at approximately 5:50 p.m. yesterday and did not return. Family members told police that Kim has a history of similar actions when she lived in California. She has only resided in Storm Lake for a few weeks...

The Storm Lake Police Department is asking the community’s assistance in locating a missing adult, female. Thoeuy Leanna Kim, age 48 of Storm Lake walked away from a residence in the 100 block of Irving Street at approximately 5:50 p.m. yesterday and had not returned. Family members report to police that Kim has a history of similar actions when she lived in California. She’s only resided in Storm Lake for a few weeks...