Stories from Monday, July 1, 2019

Mary Ruth (Hase) Stille, age 81, of Storm Lake, died Saturday, November 3, 2018 in Storm Lake. Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, July 12, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Alta. Burial will be in the Schaller Cemetery in Schaller. Visitation will take place prior to the service starting at 9:30 a.m. at the church. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

Nationally, during the 2017 July 4th holiday period (the most recent statistics available) 601 people died in motor vehicle crashes, or, an average of 134 per day. During that same time there were four fatalities on Iowa roads. That is certainly nothing to celebrate...

The Run for the Future sponsored by The Bridge of Storm Lake attracted a crowd for its various events up to the half-marathon June 22. The run raises funds and awareness for summer youth programs that serve elementary through college age students.

The Iowa Society of Questers Past Presidents held their spring meeting on June 22 at the Allee Mansion located just south of Newell on the Iowa State University Demonstration Fam. The group enjoyed a luncheon served by the Newell Historical Society (NHS) board members. A business meeting followed with 21 members present from all around the state of Iowa...

A massive crane towers above the Tyson Pork plant in Storm Lake, moving material for a construction project.

To mark America’s independence and do your part to save your fellow countrymen, why not create a new lifesaving tradition this July? Millions of Americans require blood transfusions each year. Every two seconds someone needs donated blood in order to survive! Lifesaving blood donations unfortunately always dip in the summer since blood donors are busy with vacations and outdoor fun. You can help bolster the blood supply for your community!...

Two Buena Vista Regional Medical Center employees were honored with the HeartSaver Hero Award by the American Heart Association (AHA). Sarah Naberhaus, Director of ER/Ambulance, and Dave Schmidt, Ambulance Manager, performed CPR on Dawn Bach this past January at an off-site managers meeting. Dawn is the Chief Clinical Officer...

Mary Beth Andrews, RN, MSN, COHN-S/CM is the recent recipient of a national award from the American Association of Occupational and Environmental Health Nurses. Andrews was recently recognized as the UL Environmental, Health and Safety award winner at the AAOHN national convention in Jacksonville, Florida. ...

The annual Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Young At Heart trip was held on June 18, 2019. 52 people enjoyed a ride on a chartered bus trip to Okoboji. Their day included tours of the Rock ‘n’ Roll and Maritime Museums, lunch at Yesterdays and a ride on the Queen II and enjoyed a Nutty Bar. This is what one attendee said about the day, “Best Young at Heart ever. Appreciate all the activities. Maritime museum, awesome meal and boat ride...

There’s nearly 1,700 miles of highway stretching between Orange County, California, and Dickinson County, Iowa, but it’s well worth The Trip. The five members of rock cover band The Trip will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. July 3 in Preservation Plaza as part of the Live at the Lakes concert series in Arnolds Park. Band member Erik Johnson said this will be The Trip’s first visit to the Lakes Area...

Tickets are still available for the Mollie B concert, set for Saturday, August 3 at the Storm Lake Knights of Columbus Hall. The event is a fundraiser for the Santa’s Castle holiday showplace in Storm Lake. Tickets can be reserved by calling Ron Hott, 712-299-4402. Admission will be capped at 250. The show begins at 7 p.m. and runs to 10:30...

Russ Lachney - Iowa’s “One Man Band” returns to Storm Lake in the Live at Regatta music series at Kings Pointe Resort, Saturday, July 12. Showtime is 6 p.m. The owner of Stringwinders Music in Algona, , Russ is a native of New Orleans, LA, greatly influenced by the rich musical culture of the city. ...

Americana musician - and sometimes political revolutionary - Grant Peeples will be on stage at Byron’s in Pomeroy, Saturday, July 6. Showtime is 8 p.m. Peeples, once a promising country music scene musician, abandoned Nashville for the more intimate audiences of the folk-roots music circuit across the country...

The Buena Vista Trails Advisory Council is happy to announce the completion of the first phase of sign installation on the BVTAC bike trails county-wide system.   The signs were purchased with a grant from the Buena Vista County Community Foundation. ...

In response to a nonpartisan government report confirming systemic problems in the reporting of seclusion and restraint in schools, U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) are pushing the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to immediately take action to ensure data is reported accurately...

The Rev. Duane C. Queen will celebrate his 50th ordination anniversary at the First Presbyterian Church, East 21st St., South Sioux City, NE on July 7, 2019 during the 9:30 a.m. worship service. The Rev. Duane Queen will deliver the sermon. The Rev. ...

An active shooter training drill was recently hosted by Iowa Central Community College. Police departments including Manson, Pomeroy, Lake City and Rockwell City took part, along with area sheriff’s deputies. ICCC’s William G. Smith Simulation Center provided the setting for the training, which included scenarios such as an office building terrorism event, a hostage standoff in a hospital, and a school shooting. ...

Authorities say a 50-year-old registered sex offender in Minnesota faces federal charges after being accused of traveling to Iowa to have sex with minors. Federal prosecutors for Iowa say Terrance Nordwall has been charged with attempted sex trafficking of children, attempted enticement of minors and traveling for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. He was charged in federal court in Cedar Rapids...

Traditionally, the 4th of July weekend is the busiest period on Iowa waters. Boating, paddling, fishing and swimming are even more popular with what are often the warmest temperatures of the year. When factoring in record rains this spring and many waterbodies at or above flood stage on top of increased use, it only makes sense to have a plan before you set out to make sure everybody stays safe...

For Kevin, Susan and Lily Rohan, allowing members of the LGBTQS Alliance Group to decorate the trees in front of their home in Spencer on Monday, June 17, with flags made of multicolored ribbons was more than just an act of support for friends and loved ones who identify as part of the LGBTQ community...

Forgive Kathy Kerkhoff for getting a tad emotional on the last Saturday in May at Buena Vista University. She was about to watch two of her children–her oldest and her youngest–walk through the Victory Arch on their way to a diploma. “This is such a big day for our family,” Kathy says as she leans close to husband Blane. “For us, it’s the end of an era.”...

“We have a beautiful new jetty this year. It’s an enhanced area for a safer shoot!” said Storm Lake Star Spangled Spectacular Fireworks Chair Orren Knoffloch of the long-awaited rebuilt Chautauqua Park jetty, site of the 2019 Star Spangled Spectacular Fourth of July fireworks shoot...

After 25 years and many frustrations, family from the Philippines is reunited in northwest Iowa Flor Johnsen of Laurens, an immigrant from the Philippines, wrote this first-hand account as her two brothers and nephews arrived in the U.S. this season...

At 8:09 a.m. on June 27 the Buena Vista County Communications Center received a report of an assault that occurred at a highway construction zone on Highway 71 near 570th Street. The caller reported that a motorist had exited his vehicle and assaulted one of the road construction workers...

Iowa Artists Workshop will host a special instructional opportunity from 1-4 p.m. July 13 at Iowa Central Community College in Storm Lake. Presenter Denice Peters, an Iowa native, raised on a farm near Le Mars and currently living in Denison, exhibits regionally and nationally in group and solo shows and galleries...

The Thursday editions of the Storm Lake Farmer’s Market kicked off last week with several vendors and a good turnout of shoppers. The array of offerings is expected to grow in the next few weeks, as weather had delayed some of the gardeners. There will be a market on the 4th of July, from 4-6 p.m. at the courthouse green...

The most recent heavy rain in Storm Lake left traffic navigating flooded Cayuga Street near the Storm Lake Public Library.

FONDA - The Newell-Fonda Mustang softball team knew what was at stake on Thursday night. A win would clinch an undefeated Twin Lakes Conference record and the TLC Championship for the 2019 season. Southeast Valley gave the Mustangs everything they could handle, and a little more, but Newell-Fonda rallied late to take a 4-3 decision...

LAKE VIEW/SLOAN - The Ridge View baseball team played a pair of games on Thursday and Friday nights. They took on East Sac County on Thursday night and managed to score six runs. However, they allowed 12 to the Raiders, bowing in a 12-6 contest. The Raptors got on the board with a run in the top of the first, but the Raiders scored twice to take a 2-1 advantage. RV plated two in the second, but four from ESC put them right back on top as they went to the third, 6-3...

STORM LAKE - Three hours and 27 minutes. That’s how long it took for the St. Mary’s Panthers and Alta-Aurelia Warriors to complete their game on Thursday night. Extra innings wasn’t the culprit but rather a total of 30 walks and 41 runs between the two teams. Alta-Aurelia overcame an early deficit to take a 28-13 score over the Panthers. The 30 combined walks was only five walks shy of tying the state record...

SPIRIT LAKE - The Storm Lake softball team hit the road on Friday night hoping to bring an end to a two game losing skid as they went against Spirit Lake in a Lakes Conference contest. Storm Lake wasn’t able to come away with the win, falling in an 8-6 game...

SPIRIT LAKE - The Storm Lake baseball team hit the road in Lakes Conference play on Friday night to take on the Spirit Lake Indians. The green and white battled all night but fell just shy of picking up the win, dropping a 5-4 contest. “We just didn’t do enough to win the game tonight. ...

PETERSON - Thursday night was a night of honor for the Sioux Central Rebel baseball team as they honored head coach Jeff Scharn before the game. Scharn, a coach for the last 35 years, is stepping down after the season. Despite the emotional pre-game, the Rebels were unable to hang on to an early lead against Kingsley-Pierson and fell in a 5-3 game...

STORM LAKE - The St. Mary’s baseball team on Friday night came close to getting their first win of the season as they welcomed in the Manson-NW Webster Cougars. Their late rally fell just shy of the mark as they dropped a 6-4 decision. Manson scored five runs in the top of the second to take control of the game. ...

ALTA - The Alta-Aurelia softball team gave it their best shot on Friday night against Woodbury Central. A late two run effort from Woodbury Central put the nail in the Warrior coffin as they dropped a 4-3 decision. “We hit well, but didn’t drive in runs at opportune times,” A-A Coach Dave Turnquist said. “Defense was solid and Abby (Kraemer) pitched well.”...

IDA GROVE/FONDA - The Newell-Fonda baseball team went to OA-BCIG on Thursday night and came away with a 9-6 setback against the Falcons. “We didn’t do enough little things right to deserve to win the game. We did enough at the plate, but didn’t play as aggressively in every phase as we needed to,” N-F Coach Bo Darrow said. “I thought (Bryce) Coppock threw well enough to get the win, but we didn’t provide enough support in other phases. We have to approach every pitch with the same focus.”...

PETERSON - It was a wild rally for the Rebel softball team on Thursday night against Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire Titans. Sioux Central came back for a 9-8 win. “The girls really stayed the course and played right to the end,” Rebel Coach Kasey Krager said. “We left way too many runners on throughout the night, but finally came through with some big hits in the bottom of the seventh.”...

SIOUX CITY - The Alta-Aurelia baseball team continued their long road trip on Friday night as they took on Sioux City West. The Warriors managed to take a 6-1 contest over West for their 13th win of the year. The Warriors scored once in the top of the second to open up the scoreboard. A-A plated another runner in the fifth and the sixth to take a 3-0 to the seventh. The Warriors doubled their lead with three more scores and held SCW to just a run in the bottom before getting the final out...

STORM LAKE - It was a warm, muggy Saturday but that didn’t stop four area teams from taking part in the Storm Lake Tornado Classic softball event. Storm Lake, Alta-Aurelia, Newell-Fonda and Ridge View all took part in games through the day. Storm Lake bowed in both of their contests, dropping an 11-1 decision against West Monona and then a 7-6 setback against River Valley...

Please join us Friday, July 5 from 1 to 3 at the Congregational Church, 310 E. 3rd Street, Newell, Iowa. All friends and family are invited to honor and remember Jim. Jim passed away November 3, 2018, in Missoula, Montana.