Stories from Monday, May 13, 2019

Toss and turn, punch the pillow, stare at the ceiling, toss some more. Sound familiar? More than two-thirds of Americans struggle with sleep problems at least once a week, according to a 2016 Consumer Reports survey. Lack of proper sleep can be debilitating in the short run, and it can cause serious health problems over time...

More than 120 supporters of the March of Dimes gathered in East Leach Park and walked across downtown Spencer to Grand Avenue Community Outreach Saturday morning to raise awareness and funds benefiting families and children with birth defects, those born prematurely and to support advances in infant morality rates...

Gabriel Elsden, a student at St. Mary’s, Storm Lake, was recognized by Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg for outstanding academic achievement at the 17th Annual Governor’s Scholar Recognition Ceremony April 28 at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines...

K.J. (Jim) Ayers was called to the Lord on May 8. He passed away at Guthrie Center, Iowa’s New Homestead Nursing Home. Kenneth James Ayers was born on Dec 19, 1932 in Nunn, CO, the son of Ralph & Pauline Ayers. He graduated from Iliff High School (Colorado) in 1950. He was employed by Mt. States Telephone Co. in Cheyenne, WY as an Engineering Draftsman until he was drafted into the US Navy during the Korean conflict in 1953...

Joleen Bachman, 83, was born on July 1, 1935, to Gladys “Bunny” (Holt) and Jack Clapper of Auburn, IA. She married Ed Bachman in 1952, and together they created a family with nine children. Following their divorce, Joleen started her college career. ...

On May 14 Rita Knights will be celebrating her 97th birthday. Cards for her card shower can be sent to Methodist Manor room 280.

The Feel Better Committee of the local Wellmark Healthy Hometown anticipates a number of city councils will vote in the next month or so whether to adopt a nicotine free policy for their respective municipalities. The committee has been encouraging cities to adopt a nicotine free policy in public spaces, particularly parks. The change would prohibit the use of not only cigarettes and chewing tobacco as outlined in the state code, but also all forms of electronic smoking, such as vaping...

The second cohort of Buena Vista University Education for Service Scholars has been named. These 10 students, all Buena Vista County students, will serve as Iowa College AmeriCorps volunteers within the county as they strive to build on valuable personal, leadership, and professional skills while strengthening their communities in the process. ...

Storm Lake Community School District recently had 26 students from middle and high school attend the state competition for National History Day. This year’s theme was “Triumph and Tragedy in History.” Including all 50 states, Central America, Guam, China, Singapore and Puerto Rico, more than a half million students and over 30,000 teachers participate in history day research each year. ...

More than a week has passed since local GOP leadership from all 39 counties of Iowa’s 4th Congressional District unanimously approved a resolution to draft a letter to House GOP leadership requesting U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, be reinstated to his House committee assignments he was removed from earlier this year. King responded to the gesture from the Republican District Executive Committee, saying “It sent a good message.”...

The 2nd Annual Bike-N-Bite will be held in Dickinson County on June 8th with more stops, more eats and two routes - fun for the whole family. The ride starts at the fairgrounds in Spirit Lake (just north of HyVee) with registration from 8-9 a.m. The Lakes Area Farmer’s Market is open and will have bites to try. ...

The 2019 Cherokee PRCA Rodeo will be celebrating its 53rd year, with three nights of professional rodeo action at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds, May 30th through June 1st. Barnes PRCA Rodeo, based in Peterson, was instrumental in bringing the rodeo to Cherokee in the 1960s, and has been managing the event throughout its history. Today Marty Barnes owns and manages all aspects of the rodeo event and livestock, with his eldest son Westin and other family members...

Sammy Hagar and his current backing group, The Circle, which includes his old Van Halen band mate Michael Anthony on bass, guitarist Vic Johnson of The Bus Boys (and longtime Waboritas band member) along with drummer Jason Bonham, son of the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham, have been on tour for a month. Their final performance will be at Shellabration in Fort Dodge at Rogers Sports Complex, June 8. Tickets are still available...

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Fishing has been productive; recent cold weather and rains may slow the action temporarily, but expect the bite to pick back up once water temperatures warm up throughout the next week. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie fishing is usually best around the middle of May. ...

An accident investigation is ongoing regarding a Wednesday afternoon incident where a Clay Central-Everly school bus slid into a ditch. A news release provided by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office stated at approximately 4:23 p.m. Wednesday Dean Stein, 55, of Fostoria, was driving the 2019 Thomas school bus eastbound in the 1200 block of 280th Street when the muddy road conditions caused the bus to lose traction and enter the south ditch. ...

They are women, workers and vital members of our community. But central to all their identities is their journey as an immigrant. They are all these things at all times—they don’t have the luxury of compartmentalizing immigration as part of their identity...

“We couldn’t be happier,” with the new relationship between Buena Vista University and Lake Creek Country Club, said club President Mike Wilson, telling the crowd that the partnership has been a fitting adaptation to help Lake Creek excel in its circumstances and environment...

Preliminary conversations are taking place about expanding the NAMI of Northwest Iowa program into Buena Vista and Cherokee counties. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a nonprofit advocacy group originally founded by family members of people diagnosed with mental illness. There are now over 1,00 affiliates nationally, working toward education, services and funding for mental health programs...

A new drug offers hope, but will SL native Jaci Hermstad be given access in time? Donations and media attention are ramping up for a young woman from Storm Lake who is battling for her life against an aggressive form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS Lou Gehrig Disease)...