Stories from Monday, October 14, 2019

A former workers’ compensation attorney for a Tyson Foods meatpacking division sued the company for wrongful termination, accusing company officials of making anti-gay slurs, filing false information in workers’ compensation cases, and sex and age discrimination...

Currently embroiled in multiple legal cases, Southside Grill and owner Chris Burg are again the defendants in a legal case related to Burg’s gentlemen’s steakhouse in south Spencer. Stephanie Sims has filed a petition at law and jury demand in relation to the double fatality accident which claimed the life of her son, Tephonte Smith, claiming the service of alcohol by Southside Grill to the driver of the vehicle Smith was riding with, Alfonso Maldonado, was a proximate cause to Maldonado’s intoxication and killed Smith as a result.. ...

A half-dozen faces from Dickinson County were among the 140 veterans who boarded a plane Sept. 21 in Fort Dodge to visit the nation’s capitol. The veterans-only trip was part of the Brushy Creek Honor Flight — an organization which carries veterans of WWII through the Vietnam Era to Washington D.C. in order to see the memorials and monuments erected in their honor. Brushy Creek is one of Iowa’s handful of hubs within the 45-state network of Honor Flights...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s School is happy to announce that Dr. John and Lindsay Armstrong will be co-chairing the March 21, 2020 St. Mary’s Ball and Charity Auction with Dr. Seth and Deanna Harrer. John is a general surgery specialist in Storm Lake and Lindsay, a 2004 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, is a stay at home mom. They have three children - Will, Blair and Quinn...

The Hard Rock Resort in Sioux City hosts its Nightmare on 3rd Street Halloweena Party, October 18 in the Anthem hall. The party begins at 8 p.m. with doors open at 7. Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors: 7 p.m. This year’s celebration includes favorite 80’s and 90’s music covered by The Breakfast Club and Nerdvana as well as a chance to win $2,000 in prizes in the costume contes...

Derik Nelson & Family will be the opening act in the 2019/20 schedule at the Rosemary Clausen Center for the Performing Arts in Holstein. The show is Saturday, November 9, starting at 7:30 p.m. Call 712-368-4849 or see rosemaryclausencenter.com online for ticket availability...

The Goo Goo Dolls will perform November 2 at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City. Tickets are on sale now from $29.50-$89.50. Showtime is 8 p.m. Formed in Buffalo, NY during 1986 by John Rzeznik and Robby Takac, Goo Goo Dolls quietly broke records, contributed a string of staples to the American songbook, connected to millions of fans, and indelibly impacted popular music for three-plus decades. ...

The words “inspired by real events” are some of the first you see on screen in ”Lucy in the Sky.” But that loose tie to reality becomes more of a noose than a help for the story that director Noah Hawley is trying to tell. Hawley and screenwriters Elliott DiGuiseppi and Brian C. ...

Last month’s closing of the obstetrics unit at the Marshalltown hospital was only the most recent in Iowa’s rural communities, which has forced some expectant mothers to skimp on prenatal care and undergo frantic trips when labor commences. Since 2000, 34 of Iowa’s 118 community hospitals have closed their birthing units, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. There have been two so far this year, down from eight closures last year — the most in a single year...

Storm Lake United and local retailers coordinated Sassy Saturday on September 28. Shoppers who purchased a pink bracelet had access to deals and discounts with local retailers. Proceeds benefit BVRMC P.I.N.K. which helps women with financial barriers get free mammograms. BVRMC employees Joan Kurtz and Linda Carlsen accept a check for $603.54 from Storm Lake United’s Lee Dutfield...

On Oct. 4, Dr. Brea Schmidt, of Spencer, (pictured with her family) accepted the 2019 Children’s Champion Award for Iowa. Schmidt, who practices in Spencer, has also been awarded the 2019 Head Start Region VII Children’s Champion award.

The Children’s Cancer Connection recently received a $10,000 grant from Variety-the Children’s Charity to support one of their programs for children and their families. Children’s Cancer Connection is a nonprofit organization that serves Iowa by providing recreation, education, and support to children and families that are facing childhood cancer. ...

A huge latch-hook version of the Leonardo da Vinci classic graces the wall outside the family center at the Storm Lake United Methodist Church. The project created in 1987 by Garlan “Carp” Carpenter took 648 hours to complete the 93,312 stitches. The art was donated to the church by Carp’s daughters Karen, Gayle and Audrey in memory of their parents and brother...

Veteran Storm Lake chainsaw carver Jeff Klatt displays some unusual creations, including a delicately-balanced wind vane with a ball carved inside a solid box, and a whimsical “tongue” made into the form of a bench.

Charles Higgins, age 95 of Early, passed away on Wednesday, October 9, at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, Charles Frank Higgins Jr. was born on February 14, 1924 to parents Charles and Linnie (Horrel) Higgins in Sac City. ...

Funeral services for Gordon Fett were held Saturday, October 12, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia with Pastor Derek Evans officiating. Burial was in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery at Hanover. Visitation was Oct. 11 at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia...

The local CAASA (Centers Against Abuse & Sexual Assault) created a display at the Buena Vista University Forum to raise awareness to the issues of domestic violence, using cutouts and dated cards to represent actual victims of violence.

A Storm Lake man has been arrested after allegedly threatening to kill several people, including children, in their sleep. Police were called Thursday evening to a residence in the 400 block of Superior Street, for a reported disturbance and an individual making death threats...

“We should feel pretty lucky,” local Iowa State Extension Ag Specialist Kris Kohl says of the harvest season now underway in northwest Iowa. “Considering where we started, coming in with a close to average yield is going to be about the best we could have hoped for,” he says...

Some may have noticed while driving down West Milwaukee the construction going on at United Community Health Center. This is the result of the expansion of the health center. United Community Health Center CEO, Rich Gehrig, says it is an addition that has been a long time coming and, as a result of the growth the facility has had in recent years, a project that was needed badly...

LINN GROVE - Many people dream of the idea of becoming an entrepreneur – the idea of being your own boss, working for yourself, and watching a vision come to life, is a tempting one. But the reality of running a business separates the serious ones who can get in the dirt, and do the work, from the ones who are just dreamers. ...

“Fag King!” they yelled from the windows of the frat house next door. “Fag King!” The was part of the topsy-turvy life Zachary Rus experienced in his student years at Simpson College, often facing taunts walking across the campus, but also finding great support from unexpected allies...

A new teen department is taking shape at the Storm Lake Public Library, with furnishings including lounges and a round swivel seat purchased by the Friends of the Library volunteer group. Additional innovative seating is on order, and a cafe-style tall table and chairs is planned. The library also hopes to place a large entertainment screen in the area. Shown is FOL Treasurer Wendy Ewalt trying out the new arrivals Friday...

They called it “Operation Enduring Freedom.” The freedom part is certainly up for debate, but “enduring” in on the money. The 18th anniversary of the U.S. military’s invasion of Afghanistan has just past, with scarcely any notice amid the fuss of Syria and presidential campaigning...