Stories from Friday, March 15, 2019

Jan Worthan an American Family Insurance agency owner in Storm Lake , has been recognized for providing an outstanding customer experience under the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification Program. “An extraordinary customer experience is a top priority at American Family and our agency owners are a critical part of accomplishing that,” said Ann Hamilton, American Family Insurance customer experience vice president. ...

Zachary A. Ruroden has been awarded a National Title Professional (NTP) designation from the American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance industry. Formally acknowledged with his NTP designation on Jan. 1, 2019, Ruroden joins 97 other leaders from across the United States who also have devoted their careers and themselves to the land title industry...

Lisa Funk, owner of the Storm Lake Bakery. will open a new bakery and cafe in Cherokee in the street level of the renovated Lewis Hotel at 231 W. Main St. The name of the new shop is the Main Street Bakery & Cafe. The hours will be Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m...

From Figaro to Frank…Forgettaboutit!!! Nationally-known singing act The Jersey Tenors will be coming to the Storm Lake Community Education Performing Art Series. The concert March 23 will be held at the Storm Lake High School auditorium, and tickets are available through the Community Ed office. Call 732-5711 for information...

Midwest Christian rockers Skillet is joining a big show at the Tyson Center in Sioux City, March 27, 6:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now starting at $35. Breaking Benjamin, Underoath and Fight the Fury round out the show. Skillet has cemented its place as one of the 21st century’s most successful rock bands. ...

Walmart has stepped up again this year to support “Iowa Rocks Talent” youth music competition. The 21 and under statewide series provides professional development of young musicians while encouraging participation in music outside of school. Regional events take place in Okoboji (March 21), Mason City (April 27), Shenandoah (May 4), Des Moines (June 1) and Dubuque (virtually in April). Finals are Aug. 31 at the Roof Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park...

=f there is one thing that’s true of most of the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s that they have life and spirit to spare. It’s a kind of an intoxicating joy that dares even the most comic book-apathetic to get onboard and delight in the spectacle, and it usually comes down to the characters. You might not care about whatever Earth-threatening foe is at large this time, but you care about Captain America, Black Panther and Black Widow and enjoy spending a few hours with them...

Congressman Steve King continues to take unusual steps in preparing for a primary battle for his Fourth District seat. Last weekend. King launched an online petition, railing against “swamp-dweller D.C. lobbyists” that he said are supporting one of his three opponents for a primary that King terms “RINO” - that is, Republican In Name Only...

Buena Vista University and Lake Creek Country Club have announced a marketing partnership involving the University’s purchase of naming rights to the Country Club for ten years. It will be renamed Buena Vista University Golf Course at Lake Creek Country Club, effective immediately...

The Lakeside Presbyterian Quilting Circle donated quilts to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center’s Oncology & Infusion Center for patients fighting cancer. The group makes quilts throughout the year for various causes. Kay MacDonald from the Lakeside Presbyterian Quilting Circle, center, delivered the quilts to BVRMC’s Robin Koster, Emily Wright, Marcy Glienke, and Linda Hinkeldey.. /Photo submitted...

To Bryan Baumhover, Fareway has been more than a job or a grocery store. For 40 years, Fareway has been a way of life. From Carroll to Clear Lake, Fort Dodge, Belmond, Le Mars and Storm Lake, Baumhover has called a lot of places home. But after 20 years as manager of Storm Lake’s location, Carroll is calling him home for the first time since 1986—and it’s a bittersweet moment...

An Iowa artist and native of Chin is the featured artist at Sanford museum in Cherokee this month. Tingting Shao Beck is a professional artist and owner of Sunflower Fine Art studio in Waukee. She graduated from the College of Art at Xi’am University in China in 1991, majoring in industrial design. Her academic work includes extensive work in fine art and her graduation art project was recognized by the Xi’an Artist Association with “The Outstanding Young Artist Award.”...

The Buena Vista County Democratic caucus will be held on Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. in the basement of the County Courthouse. The monthly organizational meeting will follow the caucus.

Don’t be drained by those who aren’t giving back to your community. LifeServe Blood Center is the sole provider of blood to more than 120 hospitals in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota! If we don’t work with a community’s hospital or medical center, we don’t collect blood there. LifeServe is all about giving locally to save local lives...

Clay County Heritage is seeking items to display in its next exhibit, Conflict, Tension, and Prosperity: The Cold War Experience, opening June 18. If you lived through the Cold War (mid-1940s until early 1990s) and have a unique item, photograph, document, piece of clothing, or story you would like to share with the public, you are encouraged to call the Heritage Center at 712-262-3304 anytime Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. ...

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and former Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) called on the Department of Healtb and Human Services inspector general to investigate reports of sexual abuse against unaccompanied minors in HHS facilities...

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

A national campaign is encouraging boaters to Spring Aboard by enrolling in a boater education course before the kickoff to the boating season. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) works with BoaterExam and Boat-Ed to offer online boater education courses and during Spring Aboard campaign week March 17-23, these companies will be offering 50 percent off the price of their on-line course. Use the code SpringAboard19 to receive the discount...

As data breach incidents proliferate, a new AARP survey finds that that an alarming number of Iowa residents have failed to take the basic precautions against identity fraud. In response, AARP/Iowa and the AARP Fraud Watch Network today launched a campaign to raise awareness of identity theft risks and educate consumers on how to enhance the safety of their personal information...

November 17, 1925 - March 8, 2019

After the last two weeks of non-stop committee activity the focus shifts this week to floor action.  With the first funnel past, the bills that are still active now need two more actions to remain alive.  A bill now must pass through the floor of the originating chamber, and then pass through a policy committee in the opposite chamber in order to stay viable through the second funnel...

More than 40 inches of snow fell in parts of northern Iowa in February, while temperatures fell as low as 20 degrees below zero, according to the latest DNR Water Summary Update. Streamflow was returning to normal levels until the recent March rain and snowmelt. Soil moisture is high, and frost remains in the ground across the state...

There was a lot of tension inside the State Capitol this week and it was not because of any legislation. It was because of heavy rain and melting snow which has rivers and streams all over the state overflowing. Most of the rain fell in Western and Northwestern Iowa, so lawmakers from our area were on the phone frequently throughout Wednesday checking on conditions back home. ...

Storm Lake is seeing the impact of snow melt and rain on still-frozen ground, including this mini-lake developing Thursday in Sunrise Park, while many homeowners began to deal with seeping water. Conditions were even more serious in the rural areas, where some roads were closed and areas washed out, to the point where the county ran out of warning signs amid the flooding Wednesday. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

Following extensive snow pack accumulation and sudden melting with added rain, roads crews in Buena Vista County and across Iowa are struggling to keep up. Highway M23 north of Highway 3 is closed, with more hard surface road closures to potentially come if the situation further sours. M27 was hit hard and fast, and is being watched for damage...

A labor of love encompassing 3.5 years, thousands of miles in travel, and dozens of students comes to fruition as Buena Vista University premieres a documentary March 28 in Anderson Auditorium on campus. A second screening in southern California follows on March 30...

Police have uncovered a meth operation hidden in a Storm Lake business warehouse. Officers were called to the CW&T business at 1509 Richland early Wednesday morning on a report that possible drug paraphernalia had been located by the business’ staff in a warehouse area...

After much anticipation, Buena Vista County opened its new $3 million Secondary Roads Department building on Radio Road. The 28,000-square-foot space has 17 doors, with 10,500 sq. ft. for the mechanics shop and 14,500 for equipment storage. It’s about double their old space on Hudson Street, said County Engineer Bret Wilkinson, with new in-floor heat as well as innovative hanging heaters that burn up all their used oil, which will now be emptied into a 2,000 gallon red tank instead of being hauled away.. ...

Buena Vista County’s unemployment rate has risen slightly in recent months, but remains the lowest in the region at 2.4 percent - or about 260 people currently jobless and looking for work. In the surrounding area, Clay County (including Spencer) has the highest rate at 4.6 percent jobless; followed by Sac (Sac City) at 3.9 percent; Calhoun (Rockwell City) at 3.3 percent; Palo Alto (Emmetsburg), Ida (Ida Grove) and Cherokee at 3.2 percent each; O’Brien (Primghar) at 2.9 and Pocahontas at 2.8...

STORM LAKE - It was the first time that the green and white track teams got to compete against someone other than themselves on Tuesday night at the Lakes Conference indoor track meet hosted by Buena Vista University. There were no official team scores kept through the meet...