Stories from Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Area law enforcement officials are noticing a declining trend in qualified applicants for entry level officer positions. The police departments of Spencer, Spirit Lake, Okoboji, Arnolds Park, Lake Park, Armstrong and Emmetsburg — along with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office — form the Lakes Area Law Enforcement Testing Cooperative comma establishes a list of qualified applicants for area law enforcement positions vacant at present or in the future...

On the evening of Saturday, February 16, at approximately 9:20 p.m. the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to the Emergency Room at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival of police they met with staff who directed police to a patient who allegedly was being treated in the ER and became disruptive entering the commons area, yelling and causing a disturbance...

Patricia Jo Carter, age 88, of Sioux Rapids, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 13, at the St. Luke’s Lutheran Home in Spencer. Private family services will be held at a later date. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements. ...

Wally was preceded in death by his wife Norma and is survived by his sister, Joy (Bill) Plath; son, Doug (Diane) Boysen of Omaha, NE; daughters, Christi (Richard) Sharpe of Scottsdale, AZ, Carrie (Kevin) Quinn of Goodyear, AZ; grandchildren, Liz Boysen, Jessica (Kevin) Andersen, Zachary Quinn and Kelsey Quinn; great granddaughters, Evie and Elsie Andersen...

Ruth C. Rebhuhn, age 86, of Albert City, died on February 15, at the Pleasant View Home in Albert City.  Funeral services were held on Wednesday, February 20, at 2 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in rural Albert City. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, February 19, from 5 p.m. ...

Carol Jean Libolt, 73, of Rockwell City and formerly of Cherokee, passed away at the Mary Greeley Hospital in Ames on February 14, from complications of surgery. A visitation will be held Saturday, February 23 from 1-5 P.M. at Lampe Funeral Home in Lake City with a prayer service at 4 P.M. Inurnment will be at a later date...

Buena Vista University The following students have been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2018 semester: • Erin Gerke, of Newell • Colby Snyder, Storm Lake • Isabel Haas, Storm Lake • Sophia Roland, Storm Lake • Emily Kenny, Schaller • Ashton Peterson, Alta...

The Buena Vista University Concert Choir this week was named a semifinalist in the prestigious American Prize national nonprofit competition in the performing arts, the only Iowa choir tabbed for the honor. Judges examined 25 minutes of recordings of the choir throughout 2017 and 2018, segments of nine concerts directed by Dr. ...

Buena Vista University digital media students won 38 media awards at the 2019 Iowa College Media Association (ICMA) conference on Thursday in Des Moines. In addition to eight first-place awards across categories in online media, television, and radio, the BVU digital media program earned ICMA’s First Amendment Award, and KBVU 97.5 “The Edge” was recognized as Radio Station of the Year...

A treat table at Witter Gallery is weighed down with a dozen different forms of treats for the Chocolate Extravaganza fundraiser held last weekend.

Alternative rockers Puddle of Mudd, along with Saliva and Trapt, will be performing Friday, April 12, at the Hard Rock Resort in Sioux City. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at $35 for general admission, via tickets.hardrockcasinosiouxcity.com...

Amelia White will appear in Pomeroy, IA on Sunday, March 10, at Byron’s with Lachlan Bryan. If there were an East Nashville Music Hall of Fame, Amelia Whitewould already be in it. The now-famous scene was in its formative days when White arrived from Boston in the early 2000s and became a fixture at the Family Wash. ...

It became clear to artist Deborah Burow when she was in second grade that “it was all about art for me.” Burow has extended the whimsical view of life she discovered as a child into her work which will be displayed as part of her “Soul, Happy Art,” exhibit at Arts on Grand starting on Tuesday, Feb. 19...

Storm Lake Police were called to the Middle School Friday morning, where it was alleged that a 12 year old female student had engaged in a pattern of harassment and physical abuse on another student. Police say the girl assaulted the victim on two separate occasions on Thursday, February 14, and also reportedly sent a threatening message to the victim on social media...

Western Iowa Congressman Steve King says that 200 “pro-family leaders” have written to House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy pressuring him “to do the right thing” and reinstate King’s committee assignments. According to a Sioux City Journal report, King also at a recent Rock Rapids appearance asked supporters to pray for McCarthy to reverse his decision on King’s committee posts, saying that the California Republican needed to “separate his ego from this issue.”...

A Storm Lake woman has been arrested after allegedly hiding drug paraphernalia in a body cavity. Police were called to the 400 block of East Lakeshore Drive Sunday night for a suspicious vehicle. Officers arriving in the area stopped the car several blocks away. The driver, Everardo Manriquez-Mendoza, age 24 of Storm Lake was taken into custody for driving with a barred license...

As temperatures plummet outside, Buena Vista University has been searching for fun fitness options indoors. Students are trying out a modern version of the old-time lumberjack skill, with sometimes frustrating results. Tyler Prescott and Emma Bloom go flying as they try to hone their skills...

SIOUX CITY — Federal prosecutors for Iowa say a contractor who put workers at risk of exposure to asbestos has been sentenced to two years’ probation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa says 61-year-old Steven Weaver, of Algona, was sentenced Wednesday in Sioux City’s federal courthouse after pleading guilty in October to one count of violating clean air work practice standards...

The Buena Vista County Democrats caucus has been rescheduled to Saturday, February 23, 1-3 p.m., at the Buena Vista County Courthouse, lower level. The Democrats will fill Central Committee vacancies, discuss plans for 2019 and the 2020 caucuses, discuss how the caucus rules might change, and submit policy proposals. Someone may also register as a voter at this event. The caucus had been scheduled for Feb. 7, but was canceled due to weather...

A 24-year-old inmate in the Clay County Jail allegedly threatened to flee and then acted on his threat before being subdued and returned to a cell without injury Tuesday afternoon. The incident resulted in new charges against the inmate including attempted escape from custody and interference with official acts...

Joshua Nelson of Moville pulled in a rare catch on Storm Lake last week, a six-inch albino channel catfish. He referred to it as a “unicorn” in social media posts. “I just never caught one before. I didn’t know what to think honestly… my two buddies were very surprised also,” Nelson told the USA Today website “For The Win.”...

Several U.S senators, including Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, met with Senior Adviser to the President Ivanka Trump on Wednesday to create a path forward on enacting paid family leave legislation. “Today we had a productive conversation about paid family leave policy focused on the bipartisan desire to find a solution that supports American workers and families. ...

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Ice conditions on Storm Lake are improving, but are still variable. Most areas of the lake have 15-18 inches of ice. Avoid ice along pressure seams, in the middle of the lake near the big island, and any other off-colored ice. ...

Brad Strader, Executive Director of the Buena Vista Regional Healthcare Foundation, is retiring after nearly two decades with the organization.  Brad’s last day will be July 17, 2019 which will also mark his 19 year anniversary with BVRMC.  “We can’t all be doctors and nurses, but we can all support our community hospital. It’s been my honor to be a part of a great organization,” says Brad. “I’m grateful to the generous people that have supported BVRMC during my time here.”...

Former Storm Lake Police officer Adam Fields has been released from the hospital after the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s deputy’s was struck by a semi truck while conducting a traffic stop near Council Bluffs. Fields, 31, suffered lower body injuries early Saturday morning in the incident on I-29. Fields has pulled over a vehicle on the shoulder of I-29 with his emergency lights activated, according to the Iowa State Patrol...

The Buena Vista County Historical Society is beginning to prepare for its 2019 main exhibit, “Past Main Street Businesses.” The museum is hoping for loaned historical items from Storm Lake businesses. Anyone who has items for consideration may contact the museum office at 732-4955 or bring them to the museum...

The Newell-Fonda student section traveled to Ida Grove on Monday night for the 1A-Region eight final. They led a hawaiian beach theme.

The Newell-Fonda players and coaches pose after their win on Monday night. They are going back to state for the second straight year. See today’s sports for full details.

Team Storm Lake PD is on pace to reach its goal of logging 565 miles running, biking or walking during the month of February, raising funds for the GallantFew program while raising awareness to the needs of transitioning military veterans. “We started taking part in Run Ranger Run a few years ago,” says Storm Lake Police Assistant Chief Chris Cole, captain for the team. ...

Storm Lake City officials agreed to revise downtown snow policies after this winter, following concerns expressed by a landlord during Monday’s council meeting. Candy Clough has approached the council multiple times on behalf of those renting living quarters above the downtown businesses, saying that during snow emergencies they are forced to park blocks away from their homes - in some cases walking through storm conditions with small children in tow or toting bags of groceries...

Several 2019 public events were green-lighted by the Storm Lake City Council this week, including the new Lighthouse Summer Concert Series and a new Storm Lake Multicultural Festival, both proposed by Storm Lake United. The free concerts will be held Saturday, May 25; Saturday, June 22; Friday, July 19; and Saturday, August 17 in the Awaysis Park and Great Lawn area...