Stories from Friday, April 3, 2020

Century Farms Distillery of Spencer and West O Beer of West Okoboji have joined together in hopes of helping local citizens combat the COVID-19 virus. According to public health authorities, washing hands frequently and using hand sanitizer can help families protect themselves from spreading the virus...

Iowa grocers hope a temporary reprieve from accepting empty beverage cans and bottles from customers will become permanent, the head of their association acknowledged. But in case that doesn’t happen, grocers and convenience stores in the Iowa Grocery Industry Association also have petitioned the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to change how the so-called bottle bill is enforced. ...

Let’s flip the script a bit. Instead of our usual themed list of best-evers, let’s weather the quarantine with the best films that included actors from Iowa. A little Hawkeye State pride, if you will. There are hundreds to choose from (including three former Storm Lakers earning mention). Here’s our best of the best...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center has placed immediate restrictions on visitations for the health and safety of everyone due to concerns of the 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Starting Wednesday, April 1, no visitors for inpatients in our Medical/Surgical or First Embrace Obstetrics Departments are allowed at BVRMC...

One activity that wasn’t canceled by COVID-19 concerns is the Buena Vista University Golf Course at Lake Creek. The season there kicked off as scheduled this week. Tuesday afternoon, a course representative said that eight to 10 people were on the course at a time...

The Storm Lake Early Elementary Center construction project took a step forward this week as the school board approved the bond sale to finance the project with Pennsylvania-based brokerage firm Janney Montgomery Scott, with interest costs less than anticipated...

Recreational use of the trails throughout Storm Lake is still being allowed, according to city officials. However, they note in a statement this week that practicing social distancing is still important to protect against spread of COVID-19 when using the outdoor facilities...

The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors added another restriction to courthouse access this week. The courthouse has been locked, with essential personnel and occasionally a visitor with pressing business allowed in. Moving forward, anyone who enters the building including employees are required to have their temperature taken, and those with a fever cannot enter...

December 27, 1952 - March 28, 2020

January 28, 1935 - March 22, 2020

Consumers who are purchasing meat products from grocery stores or directly from a meat processor can be confident in the safety of the product, according to Terry Houser, associate professor and extension meat specialist with Iowa State University. Citing information from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, Houser said there has been no data indicating that the current COVID-19 pandemic can be transferred from food or packaging...

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, this week is calling for stringent oversight of federal programs administering more than $2 trillion in coronavirus relief – the largest aid package in U.S. history. “All across our country, people are hurting. ...

The Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed Tuesday a first Clay County resident tested positive for COVID-19. The individual, an adult female in the age range of 18 to 40, is recovering in isolation at her Clay County home. “With community spread of COVID-19 first confirmed in Iowa mid-March, we anticipated it was a matter of time before one or more cases would be confirmed in northwest Iowa,” commented Dr. ...

In a major milestone for Iowa’s hemp program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the state’s production plan, which will allow farmers to plant and produce the crop. Starting this year, Iowa farmers will be allowed to grow up to 40 acres of hemp with THC levels of 0.3% or less, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Hemp crops produce a fiber that can be made into textiles, paper and rope, while hemp grains can be made into seed oil and protein powder...

The Storm Lake City Council unanimously passed a Storm Lake Business Relief program in a special meeting by conference call Tuesday. With many businesses closing or suffering losses due to COVID-19 concerns, city officials said they wanted to act quickly to assist during uncertain times...

Not everyone is following the regulations for social distancing. A large party in Alta last weekend, for example, raised the ire of local residents. A gathering in downtown Storm Lake was masked with windows covered. Law enforcement officials have been relying on voluntary measures, urging people to protect themselves and others by avoiding gatherings of 10 or more, but it is unclear how much legal bite they have to enforce such a rule...

With schools ordered closed through April 30, Storm Lake School District is asking its students to stay home and practice social distancing. Locks and yellow tape have been placed on some facilities to keep students out. “To say that we get a complaint or two about our kids not isolating would be an understatement. ...

3D printers have become such a staple of life, with the possibilities for item reproduction gaining ground. 3D printers go beyond just making toys, and novelty items, with houses being produced through intricate programming. Now, with a medical community needing product to help combat on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, 3D makers, and creators, are being asked to step up, however they can. ...

As Buena Vista County Democrats chairperson, Jim Eliason said he tried to convince people to run for the local District 11 Iowa House of Representatives seat against Storm Lake Republican incumbent Gary Worthan. With less than a week to go before the ballot deadline, he decided to do it himself...

The 30-year tradition of Iowa DNR spring walleye spawn netting on Storm Lake is not taking place this year, due to concerns about COVID-19. “In all other years, we’ve had crews that travel to help us out with the netting and brood stock collection. Out of concern for the safety of our people, this year we are only operating with local crews. Since we don’t have staff based our of the field station at Storm Lake, we can’t net there,” explains Jay Rudacille, DNR fish culture supervisor...

Iowa Central Community College students will not return to campus this semester. Due to the spread of COVID-19 concerns, a decision was made last weekend to finish the spring semester via virtual classes, and very likely, to conduct most of the summer semester virtually as well...

Justine Miller, age 36, of Storm Lake, died peacefully in Jesus’ arms on Sunday, March 22, at Wilderness Park in Lincoln, Nebraska. Memorial services will be held at a later date. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...