Stories from Friday, December 20, 2019

Food Bank of Iowa announced today a $150,000 grant from Tyson Foods. The funds from this grant were used to support a transportation and equipment package including a new refrigerated truck that will allow the organization to expand their programing and distribution efforts along with equipment for the distribution center...

Will feedlot owners see increased profits in 2020? No one knows exactly where beef industry prices and feedlot profits will settle in coming months. However, feedlot managers may improve their bottom line in the coming year by taking safety to the next level and help reduce workmen’s compensation rates...

By now, we shouldn’t be too surprised by this cultural contradiction known as Adam Sandler. It’s obvious that Sandler, the actor, is capable of extraordinary range — not in the traditional, Meryl Streep sense, but a range of incredibly good (“Punch-Drunk Love”) to painfully bad (the horrendous “Jack and Jill”) and incredibly good again, as in “Uncut Gems,” a frenetic, compulsively watchable, exhausting and exhilarating collaboration with Josh and Benny Safdie...

The weekend of Jan. 4 will a big one for local tabletop gamers. Now in its second year, Lakes Area Game Fest 2020 is expected to be even bigger and better than before. The convention is being organized by Lakes Area Board Gamers. “We asked for feedback after our first year from all of the attendees as well as our vendors and exhibitors, and we had one exhibitor who said that he had been to hundreds of conventions and as far as the first year went, we were five years ahead,” Lakes Area Board Gamers co-founder Joe Weber said. ...

St. Mary’s students put on a K-8 Christmas concert this week. The kids performed a variety of songs and the 5, 6th and 7th/8th grade bands played, all directed by Mrs. Strom. / Photo courtesy Ralna McVinua

The Storm Lake Community Education Performing Arts Series resumes Saturday, February 15 with comedian Kenny Ahern and his show “To Laugh is to Live.” Showtime is 7:30 p.m. at Storm Lake High School Auditorium. Tickets are available now at Community Education, or call 732-5711 for information...

Tyson Foods would receive a five-year, 15 percent tax break for construction of a new feed mill under a proposed agreement with the City of Storm Lake. The city has set a January 6 public hearing on the issue before making a final determination. The tax rebate would not exceed $250,000. ...

The Storm Lake City Council has set a public hearing for January 6 on a school district request to rezone the land where a new Early Elementary school building is planned. Currently zoned as Reserve District (typical for agland that has been annexed into a city but not yet developed), the land would become IN-2 (instructional facilities district). An adjacent parcel would also be rezoned to prevent “spot zoning” or an island in the zoning map. ...

St. Mary’s High School students helped out younger local children at an annual tradition, Santa’s Secret Shop, where children can shop for inexpensive gifts for a loved one, get help with wrapping, and prepare for a happy holiday. This years SSS events were held at Our Place multicultural center. / Photos by Joseph Hopper...

Anyone who lives in Iowa probably understands the importance of corn in the state. What some don't realize is how the weather and timing can make or break a crop yield and money in the bank for the farmer. One local farmer in Buena Vista County, who also serves as the Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors Chairman, Paul Merten, explains some of the issues he faces on a yearly basis with his farm...

Even the staff at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center get a bit playful at the holiday season. After Bandage the Elf fell off his gingerbread house and suffered an injury, he was rushed to the emergency room to be patched up, with the process documented on the center’s Facebook page for young viewers to follow. We’re told this elf is in great hands and will be on his feet again in no time, perched in his usual place to greet children. / BVRMC photo...

Effective January 1, 2020, the Buena Vista County Treasurer’s Office will require customers to provide a bill of sale when transferring titles to motor vehicles between private parties. A bill of sale or purchase agreement is already required for vehicles purchased from a dealership...

The upcoming holidays are meant for celebrating and spending time with family. It is also the season when most home accidents tend to happen. While people are busy keeping relatives happy and enjoying the holiday spirit, mishaps in the household and kitchen can become more common...

Logan Merten of Storm Lake St. Mary’s high school is a finalist in The Iowa State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division “Know Your Constitution” Project. One hundred finalists were selected from the more than 1,000 students across the State of Iowa who participated in the “Know Your Constitution” Project. ...

The Buena Vista County Fair Board made its annual request for funding from the county board of supervisors this week. “We want to be able to provide for improvements, entertainment, and a good event for everyone,” said fair board President Dana Christen. Funds will be used first and foremost for improvements to the fairgrounds buildings...

The Storm Lake City Council has awarded a contract for nearly $1 million to create a wetland preserve east of the city wastewater treatment facility. The project will be similar to the engineered wetland that the city recently developed near Little Storm Lake, but covering a larger area of just over 30 acres. ...

While the Iowa Legislature’s session does’t start until after the holidays, work has been underway for some time to pave the way toward some bipartisan steps forward. “I don’t know what to expect, to be downright honest,” veteran lawmaker Gary Worthan of Storm Lake says. The 2019 session saw the political chasm bridged somewhat, but with a presidential election year looming, all bets are off...

Grace Lutheran Preschool’s 3-year-old class presented its own live nativity scene at the church Thursday. Stuffed animals and a baby doll as Jesus rounded out a happy scene filled with angels, shepherds, wise men, and pint-sized Mary and Joseph. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

Storm Lake Police and Fire departments were called to the intersection of Highway 7 and Abner Bell Road Wednesday morning shortly after 8 a.m. for a two-vehicle collision. Responding units were advised that a child had been ejected from a vehicle and a second person was trapped in a vehicle...

SIOUX RAPIDS - It was getting a little close on Tuesday night as the St. Mary’s Panthers girls basketball team did everything they could to claw back into the game. The red hot Sioux Central Rebels were able to answer with a run of their own in the fourth quarter to pull away for good, taking a 63-43 contest over the Panthers...

ONAWA - Through the first half on Tuesday night, the Ridge View boys were hanging with West Monona and looking like they could potentially get their second win of the year. However, basketball is a two half sport, and the second half proved to be the undoing for the Raptors against West Monona as they dropped a 67-48 contest...

SPIRIT LAKE - The Storm Lake boys were looking to get their third win and a good road victory in the Lakes Conference on Tuesday night against Spirit Lake. The Indians had other ideas and used a key run in the first half to down the Tornadoes, 70-53...

SPIRIT LAKE - The Storm Lake girls have no girls on the team over six feet tall, and they had a huge task on Tuesday night against Spirit Lake that boasts a handful of girls over that height. The green and white were unable to stop the Indians in the paint and that led to a 63-26 setback for their six straight loss...

SIOUX RAPIDS - St. Mary’s boys basketball coach Kennedy Drey was unhappy with his team’s rebounding effort on Tuesday night against Sioux Central. The Panthers allowed 15 offensive rebounds, giving the Rebels chance after chance in a 60-37 decision, their third straight win...