Stories from Wednesday, November 14, 2018

By DANA LARSEN Pilot-Tribune Editor The Bridge of Storm Lake held its annual fall banquet Saturday night, filling the new ballroom at Buena Vista University Forum, and detailing a period of transition for the neighborhood-based ministry. “I believe we are here for a reason,” said master of ceremonies Jaymie Bral. “The kids in our community need a place to go so desperately. They need guidance.”...

On November 9, at approximately 2:31 a.m., at the intersection of N. Seneca St. and Milwaukee Ave. in Storm Lake, a vehicle driven by Khin Pweh Soulin of Storm Lake, struck a utility Pole owned by MidAmerican Energy of Storm Lake. Total damages were estimated at $2050...

Robert L. Martinez, age 72, of Albert City, Iowa died on Tuesday, November 6, at his home in Albert City.  Visitation was held on Thursday, November 8, from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City. Funeral Mass was on Tuesday, November 13, at 10 a.m. ...

Nels ParrinRitola, age 71, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa died November 8, at his home in Sioux Rapids.  Memorial services will take place Friday, November 16, at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place Thursday, November 15, from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements...

Norbert Huseman, age 85, of Galva, Iowa died Saturday, November 10, in Ida Grove, Iowa.  Funeral services will be held Friday, November 16, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Galva. Burial will be in the church cemetery in rural Galva with full military rites. Visitation will take place Thursday, November 15, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. all at the church in Galva. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. ...

Maxine L. Dettmann, age 87, of Newell, Iowa passed away on October 27, at the UnityPoint Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, November 17, from 1 - 3 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell. Burial will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery in Auburn, Iowa. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements...

On Monday, November 12, Rick Peterson made a presentation on the overcrowding at the elementary and middle schools and the efforts the school board is making to alleviate the crowding by building an early childhood education center. He urged people to vote in favor of the Bond Issue on December 11 reminding members that we had benefitted because those ahead of us had made the effort to build the schools that we attended. ...

The Bridge of Storm Lake held its annual fall banquet Saturday night, filling the new ballroom at Buena Vista University Forum, and detailing a period of transition for the neighborhood-based ministry. “I believe we are here for a reason,” said master of ceremonies Jaymie Bral. “The kids in our community need a place to go so desperately. They need guidance.”...

Helen Bosley was on hand at Hoffman’s Flower & Candle Shop Sunday for her 46th year as part of the downtown Open House, a traditional beginning to the holiday season in the city. This year, she was assisted by her great-granddaughter, Kennedy Miller, Storm Lake. ...

For the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, Buena Vista University hosted a Veterans Day concert Sunday night, complete with a color guard of young soldiers, and local veterans performing readings ranging from “In Flander’s Field” to “Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points” document to end the conflict, between the emotional songs by the BVU choir. Veterans Karin Strohmyer, Daniel Strohmyer, Bob Marlow and Adrian Swanson were part of the event, with many more in the audience...

Newell-Fonda Community School District celebrated the school’s reading milestone of 18,749 books this year, giving parents a chance to peek in on the progress their kids make every day in class. New shenanigans like “wax museum” and “book tasting” instill in kids the value of reading in novel ways each year...

Creamy mac ‘n’ cheese, pulled pork and French fried onions slathered in tangy Cookies barbecue sauce… in a burrito? You’re darn tootin’, and it will be served for lunch at Storm Lake High School this Thursday! Dubbed the “Cowboy ‘Rito,” this unique creation was conceived by the culinary team at Lunchtime Solutions, a North Sioux City, SD-based K-12 food service management company that serves 48 school districts across the Midwest. ...

The Storm Lake Fire Department took possession of two new fire vehicles on Monday, November 12. The fire department acquired a new general purpose pumper truck and a new quick attack fire truck. These truck replace fire vehicles that are 37 years old (general purpose pumper truck) and 32 years old (quick attack)...

A Storm Lake man was arrested Sunday morning after his alleged unwelcome sexual advances resulted in a skirmish with a victim being struck in the head with a beer bottle. The same suspect is accused of attempting to kick a police officer in the head later in the incident...

Methodist Manor began demolition of its old facilities Tuesday, starting with the “C” wing. Wings B and D will also be demolished. Wing A, to the right of B, will be renovated for Ready, Set, GROW! preschool to expand into Storm Lake, serving as a corridor connecting the new facility with Methodist Manor’s commercial kitchen...

Every Who down in Whoville gets a new Grinch this season. Why, you may ask? The idea defies reason. Does the classic need help from a hot Cumberbatch? Or is this strange union a bizarre mismatch? The Grinch is the story you learned as an infant, starring a Christmas-hating heel and his doggie assistant. The fuzzy green villain hopes to make holiday gloom. Just like a wicked witch, but without the broom. He targets presents intended for tots. Oh, how horrific is this nasty crackpot...

The Texas Gypsies are next up in the current season of performances at Rosemary Clausen Center in Holstein. The Texas Gypsies are a collection of well-seasoned Grammy Award winners who have supported many top jazz, swing and pop performers in their time, including the Blues Brothers, Barbara Mandrell, Paul McCartney, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett. ...

King’s Pointe in Storm Lake will ring in the New Year with a holiday themed murder mystery dinner show New Year’s Eve - “A Dickens of a Killing.” Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $49 plus tax per person, including admission, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight. Hotel accommodations are available...

Legendary guitarist Bobby Messano will be in concert at Byron’s in Pomeroy, Sunday, November 18, 5 - 9 p.m. Contemporary blues songwriter and performer Messano has released eight solo CDs, placed songs in many TV and cable shows and played on over 50 major label and indie albums. ...

Austin Crew began a new chapter in the book that is the Spencer High School graduate’s life recently. He moved into the dorms at his beloved Iowa State University to begin his first year of college, ready for a new journey — the next step in a life which completed the first chapter with one heck of a punctuation mark. And it was a chapter which would impact all of his family...

As a part of an institutional culture of continuous improvement, BVU is reorganizing its academic programs into four schools. This change will take effect next academic year (2019-2020). The Harold Walter Siebens School of Business and the School of Education remain relatively unchanged. ...

Buena Vista County Supervisors changed the County Attorney position from part time to full time, after considering the case that their County Attorney-elect made for the change Tuesday. Part time county attorneys are becoming a thing of the past due to increased case loads, which could make operations in Buena Vista County unsustainable, said current Assistant County Attorney Paul Allen...

Alliant Energy is proposing to build a $6-8 million facility on city-owned Storm Lake land near the municipal golf course, at Highway 7 and Radio Road. The proposed sale price for a 9.9 acre site is $120,000. Additional land at the site would be available for later development. ...

The condition of the Chautauqua Park lakefront is raising some concern for members of the Storm Lake Mayor’s Committee on Parks, Trails and urban Forestry. The wooden rail guards along Chautauqua Park Road, to protect against vehicles plunging down the embankment, have deteriorated and in some cases collapsed, according to committee member Mike Thompson...

A Storm Lake man has been arrested after he allegedly strangled a female victim into unconsciousness in the early morning hours Sunday. Police were called to a residence on Superior Street, and found suspect Roberto Gonzalez, 26, still on the scene. An adult female told officers that Gonzalez had returned home from work and an argument erupted at which time Gonzalez alleged began choking the victim. The victim later regained consciousness and called for assistance...

District 2’s new supervisor, Kelly Snyder, says he’s excited to hit the ground running in January for Buena Vista County. The Republican coasted to victory in the county’s only contested seat, in what ended up being a three-way race. Incumbent Supervisor Dale Arends ran as an independent after failing to clinch the County GOP’s nomination in June’s low-turnout primary. Steven O’Bannon of Sioux Rapids ran as a Democrat, getting added to the ticket in August, late in the campaign season...

Santa’s Castle readies for Thanksgiving Day debut with new features, classic traditions Keep your “happy holidays,” Santa’s Castle curator Ron Stevenson says, we’re bringing “Merry Christmas” back. In fact, children will be challenged to shout out “Merry Christmas to All!” as they climb on Santa’s Lap this year, as part of a fun game for their visit. And if buying a stuffed animal, a “Merry Christmas” greeting is good for a dollar off...