Stories from Monday, November 11, 2019

aul Feig’s “Last Christmas” looks every bit like your standard holiday romantic-comedy, but it has some surprises under its gauzy wrapping. Kate (Emilia Clarke) works in a year-round Christmas ornament shop in London where she must dress daily in a green elf costume. ...

The Nadas will be in concert November 27 to kick off the Roof Garden Fall & Winter Roof Garden Concert Series at Arnolds Park. The veteran recording group of of Ames and Des Moines offers a unique sound in rock/folk music on tunes such as “Goodnight Girl” and “Dancing Lucinda.”...

A jury has convicted a man of a hate crime and other counts for tearing down and burning an LGBTQ flag flying at a church in Ames. Television station KCCI reports that 30-year-old Adolfo Martinez was found guilty Wednesday of a hate crime, third-degree harassment and being a habitual offender...

By Joseph Hopper Special to The Pilot The future of Northwest Iowa Care Connections — the mental health region serving Clay, Osceola, Dickinson, Palo Alto and O’Brien counties — has a few question marks after O’Brien County approved a resolution notifying their intent to leave the region in late October. ...

A late harvest, wet grain and the fall chill have combined to multiply demand for propane in Iowa and other states, according to agriculture and propane industry officials. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig told The Des Moines Register that the demand on the supply system during the last week to 10 days has been tremendous...

The University of Northern Iowa’s president is forming a committee to address minority and other students’ allegations of systemic racism on the Cedar Falls campus — allegations widely shared in a social media campaign. President Mark Nook took responsibility in a recent letter to the university community for the school’s failure to adequately fulfill goals set by an ad hoc student group and backed by the student government...

An Iowa state board recommended recently that medical marijuana should be a prescription option for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and intellectual disability with aggression, but it rejected the drug for two other conditions petitioners had requested...

Tyson/Turkey Division donated $400.20 recently to Buena Vista Regional Medical Center’s A.W.A.R.E. The donation was a result of a bake sale held in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From left to right are: Mary Drey, Perla Barajas, Brenda Castaneda, Diane Porter, Lexanne Clapp, Danielle Schlenger and in back is Joe Rock, BVU student interning with Tyson. ...

Faced with a growing shortage of physicians, rural hospitals nationwide are using telemedicine to ensure consistent physician coverage, Trinity Regional Medical Center is the latest hospital to announce the launch of an innovative program leveraging technology through a partnership with Eagle Telemedicine for general inpatient care overnight...

The Iowa Natural Resources Commission is expected to discuss a restroom for Bel Air Beach when it meets November 14 in Des Moines. A pit latrine facility has been sought by area DNR personnel for the heavily used beach area, replacing a porta-pot that had been stationed there in the past...

Lots of friends, family and well-wishers turned out Thursday night at Our Place in Stom Lake to help with donations for the long medical journey, Twyla Kleen, has in store for her in the near future. Unfortunately, Twyla took a turn-for-the-worse medically the day before her benefit and was transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnosota...

The mayor approved the annual winter parking ban at the most recent city council meeting in Alta - but not happily. Mayor Al Clark said the proclamation is his least favorite task, and noted that early on, he had tried to get the policy changed. “We have to go by the ordinance unless the council changes it,” he noted...

Marsy’s Law for Iowa, a grassroots coalition committed to securing constitutional rights for Iowa crime victims, recently presented their Guardian of Victims’ Rights award to Sen. Zach Whiting, R-Spirit Lake, and Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, for their legislative efforts in helping advance crime victims’ rights...

Ralph G Herron passed away at the Dow Rummel Assisted living facility in Sioux Falls, SD on November 2. Ralph was born in Osceola, on June 23, 1921, the son of William and Ogal (Touet) Herron. He graduated from Osceola High school and attended Osceola Junior college and then started working for Gambles in Leavenworth, Kansas...

Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) reintroduced the Patents for Humanity Act of 2019. The bipartisan bill encourages and rewards the use of patented technology to address humanitarian needs. Patents for Humanity is the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) awards competition which recognizes innovators who use game-changing technology to meet global humanitarian challenges. ...

Main Street Fort Dodge is hosting Main Street Matters at 5:30 p.m. on November 12 at Bloomers on Central to discuss downtown security in the downtown. Main Street Fort Dodge will discuss safety in the downtown, various efforts underway, the city’s camera program, and the rejuvenation of the downtown business watch program...

Six students from the Storm Lake High School music program have attained the highest individual honor available to an Iowa high school musician by being selected as a member of the 2019 All-State Chorus or Band. The following is a list of the students selected from Storm Lake:...

Mark Clossey has the honor of being the new General Manager at King’s Pointe Resort in Storm Lake. He stated he is excited to be here and is looking forward to introducing some of his ideas towards making King’s Pointe the go-to place for events. Clossey has been here 30 days and already he has seen some areas within the resort that can be improved upon...

November is the month when blazing orange and camouflage attire is in vogue, as a number of hunting seasons are open for outdoor enthusiasts in Iowa. Iowa Department of Natural Resources conservation officer for Clay County Joe Yarkosky said hunters have already began flocking to public land...

J.D. Scholten sat in a metal chair facing the audience of the Albert City Town Hall meeting. At six foot, sit inches, he seemed to not fit in the chair meant for shorter people. This did not appear to bother him, being at eye level with his constituents. In fact, he seemed to relish it. He began the meeting by thanking everyone who came out on such a cold and snowy night to listen to his speech...

Young builders creating duplex for families in need, in record time A new partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the Storm Lake High School Building and Trades program has been a rousing success, as a duplex building project utilizing Habitat land and finances, and Storm Lake High School student labor, is moving forward beyond all expectations...

Ray Thompson was born in Spencer, living there until his family relocated to Everly where he graduated from high school. Before he would return to his family and the area where he was born and grew up, he would serve for two decades in the military, serving three of the most influential figures in 20th century United States history. Thompson joined the United States Navy in December 1960...