Stories from Friday, December 6, 2019

Over the past four decades, people have picked up their bait and fueled up their boat at the south end of Iowa Highway 86 near Milford. But that’s about to change, according to Steve Pflueger, owner of Oh Shucks Bait, Tackle and Convenience Store. He plans to close up shop and retire at the end of the week...

Lakota Christen, Storm Lake, is a new junior member of the American Angus Association®, reports Mark McCully, CEO of the national organization with headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo. Junior members of the Association are eligible to register cattle in the American Angus Association, participate in programs conducted by the National Junior Angus Association and take part in Association-sponsored shows and other national and regional events...

Popular a cappella group Tonic Sol-fa will be in concert at the Roof Garden in Arnolds Park, Sunday, December 22, 2-5 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. Tickets are on presale for $25, the price increases to $30 the day of the show. Tonic Sol-fa is an Emmy award-winning vocal ensemble headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, with multiple PBS specials, original music and over 2,000,000 albums sold...

We are just out of the Thanksgiving holiday, but looking at what to get for Christmas presents for folks in your life, seems to have started the holiday shopping season back in October. As always, giving music, via vinyl, CD, or download, is always a good go-to. So here are some left-of-center choices, new and old, that can perk up not just for someone special in your life, but your own...

On December 18 the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host a Public Meeting to present preliminary floodplain maps to Buena Vista County citizens. The meeting will be held at the Buena Vista County Courthouse, second floor courtroom, located 215 E 5th St in Storm Lake from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m...

The two most famous turkeys in Iowa are Storm Lake natives. The birds that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds pardoned in the recent longstanding tradition ceremony at Terrace Hill - were raised at the Tyson Ponderosa farm at Storm Lake, Iowa. Eric Messenbrink, farm manager for the operation, raised and groomed Benjamin and Franklin for this special event...

(Facts & Fables From The Buena Vista County Historical Society & Museum)

November 3, 1926 - December 3, 2019

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. “Several days of unfavorable weather conditions kept many farmers out of the fields last week,” said Secretary Naig. “With corn and some soybeans still standing, this is the latest harvest since 2009, and farmers are anxious to finish up.”...

The 50th class reunion was held recently for the former Linn Grove-Peterson school, at InnSpiration Winery. The men: (front, left to right) John Brostad, Randy Sennert, Don Feekes, Carl Grover, Ron Sennert. Back, Mike Cleveland, Bruce Rusk, Mike Mueller, teacher and 1969 football coach Richard Christie, teacher and 1969 baseball and boys basketball coach Bob Miller. ...

The local PEO Chapter has donated $720 to the Pilot-Tribune’s Mr. Goodfellow fund, which provides warm winter clothing for area children in need. The philanthropic organization works in a number of ways to help women achieve their highest aspirations. / Pilot photo by Katrina Chanthavisouk...

A Sioux City man has pleaded guilty in what authorities have called a human trafficking case in which a teenage Guatemalan girl was raped. The Sioux City Journal reports that 38-year-old Cristobal Francisco-Nicolas pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to a smuggling count and unlawful possession of identification documents. In exchange, a third smuggling count will be dropped...

The Arnolds Park City Council met in special session Nov. 20 to discuss a potential purchase of the Okoboji Middle School building. Council member John Adams said he had been approached by a handful of residents with the idea. The property’s next owners will have to emerge from a public bidding process — a Nov. ...

The Cherokee Fire Department and City Police were summoned to a motor vehicle fire about 11:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day in the State Savings Bank parking lot. The vehicle was a total loss as flames and large plumes of smoke billowed as firefighters courageously neared the scene to douse the fire and keep it from spreading to the bank and other nearby structures. The vehicle owner was identified as Robert William Templeman from Mayer, MN. / Photo by Beth Hanner...

“Blended learning” is gaining a foothold at Storm Lake High School this academic year. The hybrid courses combine in-class, online and independent study, and are designed to help prepare students for college studies that are increasingly taking place online...

In a recent video message, western Iowa Congressman Steve King continues to attack the impeachment hearings against President Donald Trump. King said Democrats have a “slim, slim rationale” to prove that Trump “had a motive in his head which they’ve assigned to him,” in claims that the president was seeking a political advantage over Democrat candidate Joe Biden...

Forty-one families or individuals are currently waiting to be chosen in the annual Adopt-A-Family for Christmas program. The Pilot-Tribune and Upper Des Moines Opportunity co-sponsor the program each year, matching generous individuals, families, businesses, clubs, classrooms and church groups with needy local families to provide the Christmas experience they might otherwise not have. ...

The Clay County Heritage Center has new items on display in its curio case which belonged to a Spencer-born airman who happened to be flying to Pearl Harbor as it was being attacked on Dec. 7, 1941. The items on display belonged to the late Robert “Bob” Barnard, who flew 67 missions in the Pacific theater during the World War II and would later chronicle the experiences of fellow Pearl Harbor survivors from his home state. ...

Prosser feels 3 ‘common-sense’ steps could be a start in combatting violence

HAWARDEN - It was one of the first meets of the year for the Ridge View and Alta-Aurelia wrestling teams as they took on a host of other schools on Tuesday night. Ridge View went 1-2 on the night, beating A-A but fell to Bishop Heelan and West Sioux. The Warriors went 0-3 on the night, falling to Bishop Heelan, RV and West Sioux...

SIOUX RAPIDS - Tuesday night was the home opener for the Sioux Central girls basketball team as they welcomed in Estherville-Lincoln Central. The Rebels were able to make a few more plays throughout the game to take down the Midgets, 52-44. “I was very pleased with how all the girls played,” Rebel Coach Kasey Krager said. “We got into a little bit of foul trouble early and we had girls off the bench that contributed in many different ways.”...

SIOUX RAPIDS - For three quarters, it was pretty close between the Sioux Central and Esterville-Lincoln Central boys basketball teams. However, those final eight minutes proved to be an ugly time for the Rebels as they ended up dropping a 28-point decision, 66-38...

HULL - The first quarter was not all that kind to the Newell-Fonda boys basketball team on Tuesday night as they took on the Western Christian Wolfpack. WC thought they were going to be in for an easy night, but the Mustangs showed grit and determination in the first game for head coach Chad Buchholz as they took a 56-52 decision to kick the year off with a win...

HULL - It was the first game of the 2019 season for the defending 1A State Champions as Newell-Fonda hit the road to take on the Western Christian Wolfpack. In what was described as a “scrappy game” by head coach Dick Jungers, the Mustangs added to their on-going win streak with a 62-52 victory...

STORM LAKE - For the first eight minutes on Tuesday night, it looked as if the Storm Lake girls were headed to another big loss. However, the green and white showed grit and resolve against Sioux City North, battling back from a 17 point deficit, but ultimately fell in defeat, 70-59...

STORM LAKE - To say that the game on Tuesday night between Storm Lake and Sioux City North boys basketball teams was a wild affair might be an understatement. The two teams got up and down the floor all night, making big shot after big shot, but it came down to free throws and composure and the green and white were able to handle both in an 82-78 win...