Stories from Monday, June 24, 2019

Feeling stressed at work? If so, you’re not alone. A recent Gallup Poll revealed that 55 percent of Americans said they experienced stress “a lot” during the day, up from 46 percent in 2006. In the workplace, stress can affect your attitude, relationships with your colleagues and affect your work performance. ...

1- Watch Me Grow, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. OB Department 2- Storm Lake Community Blood Drive-LifeServe Blood Center, 12:30-6 p.m. Main Entrance 2- Sibling Class, 6:30 p.m. KEC 4- Young at Heart- NO MEETING 8- Caregiver’s Support Group, 12 p.m. KEC 9- Breastfeeding Class, 6 p.m. KEC...

More than 100 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, and millions are addicted to opioids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched Remove the Risk, an education and outreach campaign to raise awareness about the serious risks of keeping unused prescription opioids in the home and to provide information about safe disposal of these drugs. ...

Local residents from Buena Vista and Clay County can join together with the American Cancer Society to raise funds and awareness in an effort to free the world from the pain and suffering of cancer by participating at the Relay For Life of Clay County. The Relay will begin at 4 p.m. at the Clay County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 29th...

After a full two weeks of collecting donations, the 2019 Star Spangled Spectacular, with a theme of “Coming Home,” has crossed the halfway point in raising $30,000. Josh Newhouse, fundraising chair for Star Spangled Spectacular, said many donors have increased their donations over last year, and several first-time donors sent in their contributions this week...

Join in a fun evening of sipping wine and slushes at The Meeting Place in Galva on Wednesday, July 17, at 6 pm Brenda Cronin, owner of Spirits, Stogies & Stuff will be on hand to talk about “all things Rose’ wine”! During the one-hour program, Brenda will talk about different varieties of Rose’ wines, share Rose’ wines from foreign countries, we will do some blind taste testing, and participants will also taste test some fun summer slushes that are easy to make...

At the Iowa Questers International State Day in Mason City the local Okoboji Queen Chapter #1489 received a grant to finance the framing of Roof Garden posters and signed celebrity contracts that had been purchased last year with a Questers International Grant. Karmon Amsler, Okoboji Queen treasurer, was in Mason City to accept the $2820 grant which combined with $800 from the local chapter was given to Historic Arnolds Park Incorporated CEO Jeff Vierkant...

Clay County Heritage Center’s newest exhibit, “Conflict, Tension and Prosperity: The Cold War Experience” opened on Tuesday and will be featured in the downtown Spencer museum until Dec. 21. Providing a number of local stories and perspectives from the early part of the Cold War, it is the first of a two-part exhibit. ...

Historic Arnolds Park Inc. on June 14 announced the addition of The Queen II Legends Cruises — with the first taking place Wednesday June 19. More specialty cruises have been added to the schedule for the 2019 season. These special cruises all focus on the history of the Iowa Great Lakes area. The first event featured Jim Koenig and Lloyd Cunningham, discussing two historical boat accidents that happened on Lake Okoboji...

Buoys Bar and Grill at Storm Lake Marina is serving up a Fourth of July Bash, July 3, with the Adam Keith Band. One of Iowa’s up and coming country artists, Adam Keith was raised in the small town of Onslow. At the age of 19, he began performing, from bars in the city, to college parties and everywhere in between. ...

Pinocchio’s cast invites you to enjoy their humorous performance of the classic story that is flavored with fun sayings and costumes from the 1980’s. This unique cast is filled with local talented students: Cassie Hinshaw, Laura Clark, Carter Lambert, Gwen Gehrke, and Liam Knudtson (not pictured). ...

The Buena Vista Rifle & Pistol Club’s request for a stop sign at the intersection of 580th Street and 110th Avenue in Washington was approved Tuesday after club members made their case before Supervisors. Club members, who meet at the property adjacent to the intersection, reported a lot of close calls for car accidents as traffic speeds over the crest of the hill before their driveway near the intersection. ...

Western Iowa Congressman Steve King continues his assault on the New York Times, asking supporters this week to take an online poll: “Do you believe me, or the liberal fake news media?” he asks. King cites an interview in the Times that resulted in him being removed from all committee posts in the House, saying the “phony hit piece ... deliberately took my words out of context to smear me, and you, and our district and our state, and most of all, to destroy the patriotic values you and I share.”...

Visitors at the Storm Lake Public Library had a chance to cool down with the Super Cold program Wednesday, put on by the Grout Museum. Kids even had a chance to experiment with liquid nitrogen.

This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report...

As much as we love fireworks displays, drifting smoke can cause breathing problems for some. “If your family or friends suffer from asthma or respiratory difficulties, it’s important for them to stay upwind, a safe distance from fireworks smoke,” says Brian Hutchins, DNR air quality supervisor. “The elderly and children are also vulnerable to higher levels of smoke.”...

Geese parents lead a massive brood of young birds on a cruise across a retention pond at Sunrise Park.

Tonia Henning spends the summer before her senior year at Buena Vista University diving into the world of sea cucumbers. “I’m seeing if they can grow in water from an aquaculture system,” says Henning, a biology major from New Ulm, Minn.  Henning serves as an intern at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, which is part of Florida Atlantic University. ...

Lake Animal Hospital is working overtime to address the backlog of care needed for 33 dogs and 21 cats that came to their care in May following rescue from a hoarder’s home. So far, only five have been adopted. “All they want is love,” said Lori Nehring, manager of the hospital. “Some of them act like they’ve never been held.”...

Storm Lake Police have arrested a local teenager after he reportedly disseminated intimate video footage of himself and his ex-girlfriend, that he had shot earlier without her knowledge or consent. Police were alerted to a harassment situation Wednesday. ...

Every two seconds, someone’s identity is stolen. By the time you finish reading this lede, about five identities will have been stolen. What’s worse is that identity theft is only one of many fraudulent practices and scams out there that can target anyone, particularly senior citizens and retirees...

When Angieleen Olpet arrived in Storm Lake in 2007, there were four Micronesian households in the area. Today, she says, there are more than 200. “We are so blessed that you are trying to reach out and embrace us,” she said of the acceptance the immigrants have found in Storm Lake...

Crystal Sawvell, from Fonda, captured this image Thursday. “When I saw that sun setting, I knew there was no other way to capture it without having the lake in the picture as well,” said Crystal, originally from the Storm Lake area

FONDA/GRANVILLE - The Newell-Fonda Mustangs welcomed in the Sioux Central Rebels on Thursday night in a Twin Lakes Conference battle. The Mustangs dropped a close 11-9 decision against the Rebels. “This was really the tale of two different games. They won the first half and we won the second,” N-F Coach Bo Darrow said. “Unfortunately, we came up too little, too late.”...

HOLSTEIN/MOVILLE - The Ridge View baseball team played Woodbury Central in consecutive nights on Thursday and Friday. The Raptors dropped a 7-3 decision Thursday night. “This was a well-play, fast paced ball game. Both teams played well,” RV Coach Shannon Tesch said...

RUTHVEN/MADRID - The Alta-Aurelia Warrior baseball team was able to bounce back on Thursday night with a 4-1 victory over the Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire Titans. “It was a fun game. The guys played really well,” A-A Coach Ryan Burkhart said. “We never got that big hit all night to break it open, but we stayed positive and Preston (McCoy) threw really well for us to keep us ahead all night.”...

BATTLE CREEK/CARROLL - The Storm Lake softball team continued their busy schedule on Thursday night with a road trip to OA-BCIG. The green and white got out early and used it to take an 11-3 contest over the Falcons. “A nice bounce back night for us, but one we should have been out of early,” SL Coach Mel Fisher said. “We need to find ways in to finish games. Going home early would have been nice during this long stretch of road games.”...

TERRIL - The Alta-Aurelia softball team was done in by one big inning from Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire on Friday night. The Titans took a 10-6 decision against the Warriors. “Tough night all around. We’ll need to regroup and keep learning,” A-A Coach Dave Turnquist said. “GTRA had more energy and played well.”...

GALVA/MOVILLE - Thursday and Friday night saw the Ridge View softball team play Woodbury Central in back to back nights. Thursday was the home stand for the Raptors as they took a 10-6 win over WC. “The coaches were happy with the 10 runs scored and the good defense we played,” RV Coach Scott Phelps said. “If we do that on a consistent basis we always have a chance to come away with a victory.”...

FONDA/SPENCER - It was a busy three day stretch for the Newell-Fonda Mustangs that began with a Twin Lakes Conference game against Sioux Central on Thursday night. The Mustangs made quick work of the Rebels, 13-1 in three innings. “We came out of the gate with high energy and scored each inning,” N-F Coach Courtney Darrow said. “It was great to get a conference win on Senior Night. Our four seniors have dedicated a lot of time and have been great leaders on this team.”...

ALTA - Despite the muggy and breezy Saturday, the Alta-Aurelia Warriors hosted a softball tournament that featured Storm Lake, Ridge View and River Valley. The Raptors were able to best Storm Lake and Alta-Aurelia to bring home the top spot as A-A took the runner up spot. Storm Lake bowed in both of their contests...