Stories from Friday, March 8, 2019

DES MOINES - MidAmerican Energy Company customers this past week have reported an uptick in threatening calls from imposters who pose as MidAmerican Energy employees and demand immediate payment for utility bills that they claim are past due. The callers threaten to shut off power unless the customer pays immediately by phone with a prepaid debit card. The call may appear legitimate because callers manipulate caller ID to display the MidAmerican Energy name along with a phone number...

DES MOINES - MidAmerican Energy Company customers this past week have reported an uptick in threatening calls from imposters who pose as MidAmerican Energy employees and demand immediate payment for utility bills that they claim are past due. The callers threaten to shut off power unless the customer pays immediately by phone with a prepaid debit card. The call may appear legitimate because callers manipulate caller ID to display the MidAmerican Energy name along with a phone number...

Payless ShoeSource on Sale Barn Road will be closing at the end of May. The shoe retailer started liquidation on Feb. 17 after the company filed for bankruptcy protection in preparation to close its 2,500 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Storm Lake’s store employs five staff members. Manager Suzette Hughes said they haven’t received word of any severance packages for displaced employees...

The old signage is still out, but El Chilango, Storm Lake’s first torteria, is in. The Mexican sandwich shop, opened by 2018 Storm Lake High School graduate Maria Morales, has taken over the old location of La Original across from Pizza Ranch. (La Original’s pupuseria has moved to the spot next to Curry Express, in the old shop of Little Vientiane.)...

On Saturday March 16 the Witter Gallery will be holding an Artist’s Reception for artist Robert D. Peterson from 1 - 2 p.m. Cedar Rapids artist, Robert D. Peterson covers a broad range of subjects and techniques. Landscapes, barns, lighthouses, violins, penguins, and international subjects are some of the his themes. Many intaglio printmaking techniques are used by Mr. Peterson, these include: etching, engraving, drypoint, mezzo-tint, woodcut, and wood engraving...

Given the president’s headline-grabbing propensity for serving up Big Macs, it seems like the ideal time to bulk up a winter weekend with flicks about fast food. You’ll put on the Freshman Fifteen just reading this. Bon appétit! 12. The Founder - The biopic of McDonald’s founder Ray Krok didn’t get much notice in theaters, but give it a chance. ...

The snow hasn’t melted yet, but The Bridge is already looking for candidates wanting to serve on 2019’s summer team. The non-profit community service organization is looking to bring in five to six volunteers to help with their numerous summer programs, serving students, immigrants and other target populations in town...

The Tornado Vocal Jazz received all Division I ratings at the Iowa High School Music Association’s Jazz Festival on February 4. Tornado Vocal Jazz also placed first at the Lewis and Clark Jazz Festival on Feb. 26 in Sioux City. This is their first year competing as a 4A Division school. ...

A senior at Storm Lake High School, Denisse Balandran is the daughter of Jeaneth Ibarra and under the direction of Joanne Tucker. She has participated in band, mariachi band, choir, jazz choir, speech, dance, and cheer during her high school years. Denisse has been accepted into the 2018 All-State Choir, the ICDA Northwest Iowa High School Honor Choir, the All-Iowa Honor Dance Team, All-State Speech, the Northwest Iowa Honor Band, and she portrayed “Motormouth Mabel” in their school’s production of “Hairspray” last fall. ...

A full-house crowd was on hand for the 57th Annual Parade of Bands by the Storm Lake Music Department, Tuesday at Storm Lake High School gym. The event is a unique opportunity for performers as young as fifth grade to share the stage with the high school concert band...

The Democratic caucus will be held Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m. in the basement of the County Courthouse. The monthly organizational meeting will follow the caucus.

Updates from the Storm Lake Police Department, the Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office and the Storm Lake Fire Department.

The Turn Around Dance and Gymnastics competitive dance team, TTA Lightning, opened their second dance competition season in Sheldon, on Saturday, February 23. TTA Lighting has three members this year, two of which are returning members of the team: Jamie Buddenhagen of Aurelia and Kielee Larson of Storm Lake. ...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s Middle School will be presenting The Brothers Grimm: Out of Order Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, both at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium/gymnasium. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children which are available at the door. ...

December 9, 1959 - March 1, 2019

February 3, 1924 - February 24, 2019

The weather plays a huge part in ice fishing and this year the weather faired well for several youth fisherman at the Ice Fishing Clinic that was held in February. About eight young anglers and parents attended this year’s Ice Fishing Clinic. A nice presentation was done by Ben Wallace, Iowa DNR Fisheries Biologist and Matt Mork, Iowa DNR Fisheries Technician. ...

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Most ice is 16-20 inches with 1-2 feet of snow. Avoid ice along pressure seams and near the big island. Few reports last week due to weather. Walleye - Fair: Use minnows and jigging spoons in the dredge cuts on the east side of the lake in about 8-12 feet of water and the west side in 6-10 feet of water. ...

The City of Storm Lake is preparing a grant application for a Community Development Block Grant from the State of Iowa. If approved, this would provide funding for a housing rehabilitation program within a designated neighborhood between North Lake A venue and North Russell Street, and East 13th Street and East Flindt Drive...

Spencer mother of four Tara Nighswonger was aware of the dangers of her children viewing inappropriate content on the internet, but she was shocked when 5-year-old daughter Ensley Bland told her a video she watched on YouTube had a section spliced into it which instructed her to act violently toward herself and others. The concerns over similar sections of video, known as the Momo Challenge, have recently alarmed parents over social media and around the world...

Storm Lake High School has 24 performers qualified to advance to State Individual Speech competition this weekend, the most in recent memory. Receiving ‘I’ ratings for SLHS are: Grant Gasner: Poetry -  “Rigged Game” Grant Gasner: Storytelling - “The Good Egg...

Concerns for spring flooding have been rising as fast as the snowbanks around the area. The snow pack on the ground currently equals about 4 inches of rising water, according to Iowa State Climatologist Justin Glisan. “We have to hope for a gentle warm-up, with just above freezing temperatures during the day and a re-freeze at night, to get rid of this snow gradually. ...

As the Iowa state legislature shows renewed interest in potentially reviving capital punishment, banned in Iowa since 1965, county attorneys put in their two cents. The renewed effort passed the Senate subcommittee last week as the legislature quickly approached the March 8 deadline. A similar bill passed a subcommittee last year but failed in the Iowa House...

UNI student from Storm Lake creates plan to extend local bike trail to 11 miles

A Storm Lake man pled guilty in federal court this week to receiving child pornography involving victims as young as infants or toddlers. James Gailey, 49, was convicted and will remain in custody until he is sentenced in federal district court. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a possible sentence of up to 20 years, along with a potential fine of $250,000, and a requirement for supervised release of at least five years following imprisonment. ...

When the final horn went off last Saturday night, the girls basketball season came to a close for the six area schools as the Newell-Fonda Mustangs brought home a 1A State Championship. As is the yearly tradition, the Pilot Tribune looked back at the season and thought long and hard about the All-Area girls teams as well as the player and coach of the year...