Stories from Monday, March 16, 2020

The decision was made by the American Rivers Conference on Friday to suspend the 2020 spring sports season due to COVID-19 and their attempt to curve the outbreak of the virus. The A-R-C issued the following statement to the public: “Based on the advice received from state, federal, and other public health authorities, with the priority being focusing on the health and well-being of our campus communities, it is with unprecedented sadness the Presidents Council concluded that all conference competition will be canceled, effective Friday, March 13, 2020, for the remainder of the spring season. ...

The Storm Lake Community School District announced preventive measures over the weekend to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Under the district emergency operations plan, the district is limiting non-essential adults in the schools, and canceling large gatherings for the short term. ...

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Saturday that COVID-19 has entered a new stage in Iowa with a first case of a Dallas County resident testing positive who did not contract the virus from a known source such as  an out-of-state trip. Iowa has had 18 people test positive for the highly infectious disease caused by coronavirus. All other cases were linked to out-of-state travel...

Regarding the upcoming County Conventions on March 21, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Mark Smith released the following statement: “Today, the Iowa Democratic Party is announcing it will postpone County Conventions to a future date to be determined. After extensive consultation with County Chairs, the State Central Committee, party leaders, and public health officials, we have come to the determination that the spreading coronavirus poses a risk that outweighs a temporary delay in moving the caucus-to-convention process forward.. ...

Newell-Fonda school finances seem headed in a positive direction, according to an audit report released Friday. The district revenues for the past fiscal year totaled $8.1 million, a 2.6 percent increase from the prior year. Expenses for operations were $7.7 million, a 1.3 percent decrease...

The East Early Childhood Preschool held a Dr. Seuss party last week. They enjoyed having Nurse Amanda read a poem and demonstrate Dr. Seuss exercises. They enjoyed listening to the book “What Pet Should I Get?” while animals were drawn, and then they voted on which one they would want. ...

The entertainment industry prepared Thursday for an unprecedented shutdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, canceling upcoming movies, suspending all Broadway performances and scuttling concert tours until it’s safe to welcome crowds back. To accommodate calls for social distancing, Hollywood moved to pause the normal hum of TV productions and the bustle of red-carpet movie premieres. ...

The Spencer Performing Arts Coalition announces The Ulysses Quartet at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28. The Ulysses Quartet is sponsored by Winther, Stave & Co. Founded in the summer of 2015, the group won first prize in the 2018 Schoenfeld International String Competition and the grand prize and gold medal in the senior string division of the 2016 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. ...

Arnolds Park Amusement Park has announced acts for its concert series at the Roof Garden Ballroom. On tap is an eclectic collection of bands that run the gamut from metal to country, rap to big band sound. Doors open for each show at 6:30 p.m., with the shows starting at 7:30. Ticket prices increase $5 on the days of the shows...

LifeServe Blood Center, the sole supplier of blood products to more than 120 hospitals in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, is urging healthy, eligible blood donors to continue donating blood to maintain an adequate blood supply in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak...

Spencer Hospital has again been recognized as one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States, earning the designation for the fifth consecutive year. As such, Spencer Hospital is the only mid-sized Iowa hospital - to have earned this distinction every year it has been awarded...

Employees of Storm Lake Tyson Foods Turkey Division presented a check to Buena Vista Regional Medical Center to go toward the purchase of a new treadmill for cardiac rehabilitation patients. During the month of February, National Heart Health month, a bake sale was held, employees purchased Valentine gift baskets, and management matched the amount raised by the employees. ...

Linda J. Clark, age 51, of Early, Iowa died March 10, in Sioux City. Funeral Mass took place Saturday, March 14, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early. Burial will be in the Lake City Cemetery. Visitation took place Friday, March 13, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller with a rosary. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller is in charge of the arrangements...

Tyson Foods, has announced the creation of the Coalition for Global Protein, a multi-stakeholder initiative to advance the future of sustainable protein. To mark the launch of the Coalition, Tyson Foods convened leaders from the global protein industry, which includes all forms of protein, as well as academia, non-governmental organizations and financial institutions in January at Davos, Switzerland, alongside the 50th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. ...

The search is underway for candidates to compete for the title of Clay County Fair queen. The winner, to be crowned Sunday, May 3, will reign over this year’s Clay County Fair and will also compete for the state fair queen title. Females between the ages of 16 and 21 by Aug. ...

Iowa Central Community College will close its classrooms including those in Storm Lake March 25, moving to online studies only through April 3. Current plans are to restore classes on Monday, April 6. “Iowa Central has been preparing for the impact of the COVID-19 for several weeks. ...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center has placed immediate restrictions on visitations for the health and safety of everyone due to the severity of flu and concerns of the 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  While no Coronavirus cases have been reported in Buena Vista County, BVRMC would like to take proactive measures to keep both patients and staff safe...

The filing period is underway for county offices to be determined on the 2020 ballot. The Buena Vista County sheriff and auditor terms are ending. Sheriff Kory Elston told the Pilot-Tribune he plans to run again, and Auditor Sue Lloyd has already filed her nomination papers, according to county election officials...

A Storm Lake man has been arrested in a stabbing incident Friday. Police were called to the medical center emergency room shortly before 2:30 a.m. where a 22-year-old male victim was being treated for a stab wound to the chest. Officers and detectives determined that an altercation had occurred between two men at a residence located at 419 Irving Street, resulting in the victim being stabbed with a large knife. Several witnesses to the incident had arrived to the hospital with the wounded man...

The threat of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, is forcing educators across the country to think about what they’ll do if they have to close their schools for weeks or even months at a time. State and federal agencies have advised schools to create online learning plans to minimize the disruption to student learning...

The first Eggs and Issues legislative forum to take place inside the new Spencer City Council Chambers was concise in both topics and panelists. Reps. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, and John Wills, R-Spirit Lake, were joined by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig to answer audience questions before narrowing to two once Jones was forced to depart early...

The Storm Lake High School Drum Line gave a spirited surprise performance during the annual Parade of Bands event at the high school gym.

Kristina Goth, a Cherokee County 4Her, has taken the concept of service to another level - taking her from the familiar little town of Marcus to the streets of L.A.’s “Skid Row.” The Iowa 4-H Foundation presented its annual honors recently at the 5th Annual Iowa 4-H Legacy Awards Gala in Des Moines. Goth received the state’s Contributing Youth honor...