Stories from Friday, July 19, 2019

As part of Tyson Foods’ (NYSE: TSN) commitment to support its plant communities, the company announced today it will fund $1 million in DonorsChoose.org projects for 46 school districts in 37 Tyson communities. The investment will bring much-needed resources to schools in Tyson communities and introduce teachers to a source of potential support for future projects...

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host 12 educational Farmland Leasing and Value Meetings for agricultural landowners and tenants throughout Northwest Iowa. The meetings are intended for current and prospective tenants and landlords and are held across the state. ...

Blue Yarn Carrie Classon Black Rose Writing ISBN 978-1-68433-226-7 Just imagine. You’re in a high-stress job in Lagos, Nigeria, when you learn that your husband wants a divorce. Not only that, at the same time, your employer gives notice that your position has been terminated...

Blues singer/guitarist Samantha Fish will be in concert August 3 in the Live at the Lake series at the Preservation Plaza in Arnolds Park. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. After launching her recording career in 2009, Samantha Fish quickly established herself as a rising star in the contemporary blues world. ...

Planning is well underway for Wood, Wine & Blues, to be held August 16 - 18 in Storm Lake’s Sunset Park. Wood, Wine & Blues consists of a three day chainsaw carving competition with up to six chainsaw artists from across the country. During this competition, guests are invited to vote on their favorite carving during the People’s Choice Contest sponsored by Vetter Equipment...

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers cited dozens of paddlers on July 6 for no life jackets on board their kayaks. The 300 plus paddlers, most in kayaks, some in inner tubes, were floating from the Puckerbrush Access to the Booneville Access on the Raccoon River. ...

Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa is declining to directly answer whether he thinks President Donald Trump’s comments toward four minority women in the U.S. House were racist. Asked by reporters Wednesday about Trump’s comments, Grassley repeated earlier remarks in which he called for civility among elected officials...

Authorities say a man died after a tractor rolled over and trapped him underneath it in northwest Iowa. Deputies were sent to the scene after someone called 911 around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office says the man had been raking hay in a ditch about 3 miles northeast of Sibley. It appears the tractor’s left front wheel went into a culvert, causing it to roll...

The Storm Lake United Methodist Church will hold its 4th annual school supplies giveaway, Saturday, August 3, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the church, 211 East 3rd Street. The student must be present to claim supplies. Supplies are limited and will be given on a first-come, first-served basis...

By Loren G. Flaugh Pilot Tribune Staff After a 23-year wind farm construction hiatus, work on a 2nd Cherokee County wind farm has begun despite this spring’s cooler, wetter weather patterns. Developed by San Diego based EDF Renewables, the 200 megawatt (MW) Glaciers Edge Wind Project north of Marcus is scheduled to be on line by the end of this year...

It has been well documented that bicycle riding can greatly improve the symptoms experienced by those who suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Not only Parkinson’s, but many other conditions can be helped by the use of a custom bike. There are custom two wheel, conventional three wheel, three wheel recumbent and even four wheel tandem bikes...

It’s almost that time of year again! If you’re planning on visiting the Iowa State Fair, be sure to check out our new booth! Snap a photo and enter to win some awesome BVU prizes. Don’t forget to mention you’re an alum for a special gift. Help us spread the word by telling your friends and family to stop by the new Buena Vista University booth! We hope to see you there...

February 3, 1984 - July 10, 2019

February 24, 1947 - July 20, 2019

March 7, 1926 - July 14, 2019

October 4, 1951 - July 15, 2019

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

Supporters of Santa’s Castle set up in Chautauqua Park to host a recent edition of the Taste of Storm Lake. The Thursday community meals serve as fundraisers for local non-profit efforts all summer. / Photo by Dana Larsen

The Dickinson County Conservation Board voted Wednesday, July 10, to keep clubs swinging and balls flying at Brooks Golf. The board released a statement saying it plans to send out a request for proposal regarding the management of the course. The vote comes after last month’s open forum, where the board heard public opinion as to whether the course should remain open or be converted to prairie reserve. Many comments at the June meeting were in support of continued golf operations...

Spencer will have to wait until May of 2020 to make a second attempt at attaining its “Iowa Great Place” redesignation through the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Spencer first received an Iowa Great Place designation 11 years ago, however the program was rebooted requiring cities to redesignate before qualifying for funds available through the program on a cyclical basis...

Clay Central-Everly assistant superintendent, Jeff Scharn, and superintendent, Scott Williamson officially took over leadership of the district on July 1. As the district transitions to an elementary only system with the beginning of the 2019-20 school year, the administrators are working to assess the immediate and long-needs of the district and introducing themselves to the communities...

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday that a total of 23 Iowa school districts including Storm Lake will be able to bolster their computer science teacher workforce, due to a state appropriation of $500,000. Storm Lake schools will receive over $57,000 for teacher professional development in science and technology...

Storm Lake man Jose Ramirez-Gonzalez has been acquitted of allegations of sexually abusing a 6-year-old girl, in a three-day Buena Vista County trial that ended in a hung jury on Friday. That result led to District Judge Don Courtney declaring a mistrial. ...

By Paul Struck Special to the Pilot After more than two months of rumors and a strategic “corporate” hesitancy to release pertinent information, Iowa Food Group has finally completed the transaction to sell the Cherokee meat processing plant to Lopez Foods, a highly reputable national company steeped in the meat processing industry and a major supplier of McDonald’s food products...

A design for a Storm Lake Middle School gym project was approved by the school board Wednesday night. The $6.5 million project will not depend on the outcome of the Early Childhood Center vote in September, and will be built with SAVE sales tax funds. Work is to begin next April, weather permitting, in hopes of completion by the end of the year...

After a potentially disastrous start to the growing season in northwest Iowa, plenty of hot, sunny weather and timely showers have helped a late crop recover. Spirits have risen on the local farms nearly as fast as the corn stalks have stretched for the sky. ...

The Lakes Conference All-Conference baseball teams have recently been announced at the Storm Lake Tornadoes had a total of seven players on from first team, second team and honorable mention. Four Tornadoes were named to the first team this season: sophomore pitcher Mark Eddie, senior utility Ethan James, senior outfielder Andrew Price and sophomore catcher Ben Raveling...

The All-Lakes Conference teams are out for the season and four of the Storm Lake softball players have been named to the first or second team. Junior Skylar Cole was named as one of the three first team pitchers. Cole, in the 12 conference games, had a 5-7 record with a 2.63 ERA. She allowed just a .215 opponents batting average and her 128 strikeouts led the conference by 46. Cole also pitched the most innings with 80. Cole’s bat saw her get 16 hits in conference play including three home runs...

HUMBOLDT/DENISON - The Storm Lake Tornadoes concluded the regular season on Tuesday and Wednesday nights with a couple of road contests. The green and white came back licking their wounds after a pair of losses to end out the regular season. Storm Lake fell to Humboldt on Tuesday night, dropping an 8-4 decision against the Wildcats...

HINTON - The Alta-Aurelia Warriors, by head coach Ryan Burkhart’s own admission, didn’t know they were going against the team with the best ERA in the state on Tuesday night. The Warriors jumped out early against the MVAOCOU Rams, who’s ERA was 1.18 as a team coming into the 2A-District 16 semifinal, and took an 8-5 game to advance to Saturday night’s final against Hinton...

STORM LAKE – A group chat for the entire Buena Vista University baseball team often dives into discussion of the 2019 season, a campaign that reached its conclusion in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. “We always talk about it,” says Devon Van Houten, a junior to-be. “It’s almost like we can’t believe it happened.”...