Stories from Monday, July 8, 2019

On the morning of Thursday, July 4, at approximately 1:13 a.m. a Storm Lake Police Officer while on patrol observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the 300 block of Superior Street occupied by three people. Police made contact with the occupants and allege they could detect the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Police located a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle which was seized and subsequently impounded the vehicle pending application for a search warrant...

On the evening of Thursday, July 4, at approximately 10:12pm the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to the Awaysis Park Beach in the 1400 block of East Lakeshore Drive in reference to a fight in progress. Upon arrival of patrol units and units assigned to event security in the park they detained one person who appeared to have been involved in an altercation. ...

Clusters of invasive zebra mussels cling to rocks from the water at a dock on Casino Beach Road, an area that showed no infestation as of last fall. The species was first identified in the lake last summer. They can interrupt the aquatic food chain and contribute to algae bloom, and DNR officials say there is no way to get rid of them...

Duane C. Devine, age 84, of New Hampton, formerly of Algona, passed away on Friday, June 28, at his home in New Hampton, Iowa. A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, at United Methodist Church in New Hampton with Pastor Dave Byrd officiating. Private family burial will take place at a later date...

Employees from the Storm Lake Monsanto site recommended Storm Lake St. Mary’s to receive a $5,000 grant from the Bayer Fund. Funds from the grant will be used to purchase raw materials for the school’s Then Feed Just One service project to feed the hungry in Honduras. This is the fourth year the school has received the Bayer Grant...

A trio of young duffers emerge from the mysterious pirate’s cave while playing mini golf in Storm Lake.

Happy Birthday to Eleanor Anderson who will be turning 100. An open house party will be held at the Aurelia community center July 14 from 1:30 - to 3:30 p.m.. All are welcome to celebrate her legacy. / Photo Submitted

More people in Colorado and across the country are gaining access to well-being programs that encourage workers and consumers to adopt healthier lifestyles and, ideally, help curb health care costs. According to a recent study, 87% of employers are committed to workplace well-being efforts, and nearly three-quarters (73%) offer a program...

For over 15 years, Storm Lake and surrounding communities have been supporting the local blood bank, LifeServe Blood Center, at the community blood drives coordinated by Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. The blood drive was held this past Tuesday, July 2nd to help the blood center keep units on hand for hospital patients across the tri-state area. ...

South Dakota-based Sanford Health and Iowa’s UnityPoint Health have announced plans to merge in an agreement that would create a sprawling health system in the Upper Great Plains and Midwest. The two providers announced their plans Friday. The Argus Leader reports if the merger is approved by regulators, it could be finalized by year’s end...

On Monday, June 24, over 100 graduates of Iowa Central Community College’s Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs gathered in Decker Auditorium, at the Fort Dodge campus, to be honored during the college’s annual Nursing Pinning Ceremony. ...

At the July 1st Alta City Council meeting, council members discussed the Library Board’s having exceeded its budget at the end of the fiscal year. Andrea Hogrefe with the Library Board said they are over budget by $1,318.95. “Almost all of it’s in the salaries,” she said. ...

In William Walters’ career in education, he transitioned from teaching special education and coaching a variety of sports to leading school districts. His new position as superintendent of Alta-Aurelia schools began on July 1st. The school district consists of an elementary school and a high school, both located in Alta, and a middle school in Aurelia...

Recently, Alta-Aurelia boosters brought a box of receipts collected over the school year to HyVee, to cash in to the Cash 4 Students program. Shown are Lynette Hansen, Marie Michelson and Pam Henderson with HyVee’s Sue Stevicks. For every $150 in receipts, HyVee donates $1 to a participating school. ...

Northwest Iowa native Rochelle Riser returns to the area for a night of live music at the Wine Bar and Art Gallery in Arnolds Park Thursday, August 8. Showtime is 8 p.m. The Nashville-based singer/songwriter, has been compared to prolific women in their craft such as Stevie Nicks, Norah Jones, and Gillian Welch. “With clear, songbird vocals, Rochelle’s music is a refreshing combination of organic sounds and heart-tugging melodies,” critics say...

Iowa rock ’n’ roll legends The Expressions return to Buoys Bar and Grill at Storm Lake Marina for a second concert this season, on July 20. Founded in 1967 and is still playing today, the current lineup has been together since 1985 and has performed at more than 1500 gigs...

FAME the Musical hits the stage at Spencer Community Theatre, July 11-14, with a cast that includes Storm Lake’s Bethany Larson. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with an afternoon matinee Sunday at 2 pm.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for students. For ticket info, see tickets.vendini.com...

There is a new persona to the BVC Historical Society. There is a long anticipated concept that has finally been achieved. Perhaps it is the legacy of our recently deceased president, Jim Kennedy; or the result of the vision and dedication of the Society officers and board members; or enthusiastic volunteers; or grants and gifts. ...

The Buena Vista County Historical Society has been having great visits of several groups stopping in to observe and tour the ‘Main Street” displays, the Illinois Central Railroad room, Barn area, and Main Street displays rooms. Several Old Bradford Pioneer Village Museum, Nashua, Iowa volunteers visited including some very young people, one as young as about 9 years old (who I understand started by the age 5). ...

An Iowa woman has filed a lawsuit alleging that a physician assistant engaged in a sexual relationship with her while treating her for mental health problems. The lawsuit alleges that physician assistant Mervin Casey IV of Fort Dodge sexually exploited the patient and mishandled prescription drugs...

On Monday, July 1, Buena Vista University (BVU) announced two new BVU scholarship opportunities for students with parents or guardians employed at Tyson Foods. Tyson Foods’ Storm Lake plant currently offers $1,000 in scholarship aid for employees’ children attending to apply to BVU. ...

The waterslides tower was shut down for a day last week at King’s Pointe, where a massive crane was brought in to help perform maintenance on the sky-high attractions.

By DANA LARSEN Pilot Tribune Staff Three Storm Lake natives addressed the crowd during the Star Spangled Spectacular patriotic ceremony July 4th. Jane Andrews Erickson, daughter of a Navy veteran and wife of a retired Air Force officer, shared her thoughts on American freedoms, as seen through the eyes of those in other countries she has visited as leader of Kiwanis International. ...

ALTA - Wednesday night was one of the biggest nights of the year at the Buena Vista Raceway with the Kyle Suter Memorial race. David Smith out of Lake City managed to win the race and the $1500 purse. In the Plowboy’s Smoked Meats sport compacts: 1. Kaytee Devries of Spencer; 2. Jay Devries of Spencer; 3. Danny Vanderveen of Sioux City...

FONDA - Friday night was one of those nights for the Newell-Fonda and Remsen St. Mary’s baseball teams where something just clicks in a single inning. The Mustangs were able to outscore the Hawks in the third inning to take a 4-1 win. All of the run production came in that third inning...

As a 12-year-old in Ottawa, Canada, Dan Hoy remembers watching the Apollo 11 moon landing 50 years ago this month, impressed primarily with the opportunity to stay up past bedtime. He soon became a serious space geek, however, and after a long career with Pioneer Hy-Bred International that transplanted him to Iowa, in retirement he has rekindled that enthusiasm. ...

STORM LAKE - It was a battle for the green and white baseball team on Friday night as South Central Calhoun rolled into town. Storm Lake twice built up a lead, saw it disappear once, but hung on the second time for a 7-5 victory. The green and white struck in the first three innings, picking up a run in all three frames for a 3-0 advantage going into the fourth. However, SCC managed to tie it up with a three run effort in the fourth...

A Storm Lake 19-year-old was rescued and hospitalized after flipping the car he was driving on West Milwaukee Avenue shortly before 1 a.m. on the morning following the 4th of July. He now faces multiple charges. Storm Lake Police and firefighters responded to 516 West Milwaukee after a report of an accident victim trapped inside an overturned Ford Edge in a business driveway...

STORM LAKE - Errors have been the thorn in the side for the Storm Lake softball team all season and continued to be on Friday night as they hosted Sioux Center. Despite five errors, the green and white managed to overcome their mental mistakes by picking up a 4-3 win over the Warriors...

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is a supporter of President Trump, but not of his tariff policies. “People who trade, don’t war,” he stressed during a visit to Merrill Manufacturing in Storm Lake last week. “The president likes tariffs,” he said in response to a question from an employee who deals in international marketing, but noted that tariffs during the World War II era had “shut down the world.”...

STORM LAKE - Despite the rainy conditions on Thursday morning, 85 people braved the elements to take part in the 4th of July tradition in Storm Lake, the Bike & Run. This year the overall winners were Sam Wensink and Sarah Wensink from Sioux Center. They managed to take first place overall with a time of 51 minutes and 10 seconds. Coming in second overall was Matthew Smith and Yvonne Smith from Sioux Falls after finishing in 56 minutes and 19 seconds...

Pete Buttigieg was the focus of attention as he took part in the Storm Lake Star Spangled Spectacular parade Thursday morning. At the start of the parade, supporters along the curbs were chanting, “Mayor Pete, Mayor Pete,” and by the end, “President Pete!”...