Stories from Friday, May 29, 2020

Buena Vista County saw a drastic leap in confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus this week, in one day’s time going from the ninth-highest rate per capita in the state to the first, with 702 cases to date by Thursday afternoon. State officials confirmed an outbreak at the Storm Lake Tyson pork plant, with more than 20 percent of employees testing positive...

The Storm Lake Swim Team youth program has been cancelled for the 2020 summer season. “We feel that it is in the best interest of participants and community members to not participate in an organized swim conference,” Community Education Director Joe Kucera said. “Community Education and King’s Pointe will be working together to provide some summer swim camps and clinics when the time is appropriate.”...

The Bridge of Storm Lake is hosting its 8th Annual Run for Our Future as a Virtual Run, June 20th, to help raise funds for its Youth Programs. The run features a 5k, 10k, or Half-Marathon and all participants receive a t-shirt, handmade medal, race bib, and swag bag of goodies!...

Noah Bardwell’s internship experiences serve as testimonials for the liberal arts experience. He worked in software engineering at Farm Bureau in West Des Moines for one internship. For the other, he handled audio production at First Baptist Church in downtown Dallas, Texas...

Al Capone lived out his final years on a grand estate in Palm Island, Florida, with his wife, Mae, by his side and grandchildren running around the property. It sounds like a pretty nice end for the notorious Chicago gangster, until you realize that he spent those post Alcatraz years suffering from declining health, dementia and the long-term effects of a syphilis infection from when he was just a teenager that went untreated. ...

The O’Brien County Conservation Board is looking forward to hosting guided/self-guided experiences at our parks this summer. Public programming will be taking on a new look this summer. Join the naturalist for a different kind of outdoor fun. The first event will be “Basic Birds.” It will be held at Mill Creek Park on Tuesday, June 2 from 8:00 until 10:30 a.m. ...

Since so many patriotic parades have been cancelled due COVID-19, Sisters Stacie and Carrie Stoelting have organized a virtual parade to honor our heroes instead. Carrie and Stacie started an online initiative called Mission Impossible: Honor Heroes 2020. Now through July 4th, they are encouraging anyone with a loved one who served or is serving in the military to send them a picture to post on their website in an “online parade of pictures,” in lieu of real parades this year...

Congressman Steve King admits that recent poll results are “quite scary,” saying they show him in a virtual tie with primary opponent Randy Feenstra. “We are now in a dead heat and the election is just one week away,” King said Tuesday. “This is the greatest challenge of my political life, plain and simple. Big government cronies have funneled loads of cash into my opponent’s campaign because they know he will support their anti-constitutional agenda,” King said in a message to supporters. ...

Sac County sheriff’s office is investigating an ATV accident that occurred during the early morning hours of Monday, May 18 that claimed the life of 17-year old Ryan Mykle Stephens of Sac City. Stephens was a passenger on the back of an ATV that was being operated by 21-year old Kele Leon Robinson of Sac City sometime around 2:30 a.m. They were driving on the road leading into lower Hagge Park in Sac County when Robinson lost control and struck a tree...

Dr. Shawn Stone, Professor of Physics and Computer Science, was named the 34th recipient of the George Wythe Award, Buena Vista University’s highest honor for excellence in teaching, during the University’s Employee Recognition Celebration, shown by video, on Friday, May 22...

June 16, 1936 - May 26, 2020

Although the Buena Vista County Museum is currently not open to the general public, work continues on the Annual Exhibit for 2020/21. This exhibit focuses on honoring the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and first responders such as police and fire fighters in our county and their history. The title of the Annual Display is: “Public Defenders.”...

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is launching a disposal assistance program to help pork producers who are unable to harvest pigs due to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions...

Fawning season is here which means car deer collisions will likely tick up and calls to conservation groups about abandoned fawns will begin. Iowa’s peak fawning season stretches from middle May to middle June, followed by a second and much smaller peak fawning season in July. Fawning season is preceded by yearling bucks being disbursed by the does as she prepares to deliver this year’s fawns...

Marian Riner, Buena Vista University Assistant Professor of Social Work, Director of Field Education, left, presented a check recently to Jenny Ahlers, Sexual Abuse Victim Advocate of CAASA (Center Against Abuse and Sexual Assault). The donation came from BVU’s Student Association of Social Workers. ...

For Iowa Central Community College’s 53rd Commencement, instead of walking across the stage at Decker Auditorium, students donned their caps and gowns online for the college’s first Virtual Graduation Commencement Ceremony due to the ongoing pandemic. On May 22nd, the event was broadcasted on Iowa Central’s YouTube (IowaCentralCC) and Facebook (@IowaCentral) pages...

Brian Lenzmeier has been appointed Interim President of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, replacing Joshua Merchant, who recently resigned. The Pilot-Tribune invited Dr. Lenzmeier to share his thoughts with the community. Articles from BVU leadership will continue.

U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has reportedly disputed claims made by fellow Republican Steve King, during a May 11 candidate forum in Spencer. In closing remarks, King said the party leader would advocate on behalf of the western Iowa congressman before the Steering Committee to get his committee assignments back. The seats were stripped after controversial King comments were published in the New York Times...

Buena Vista County has set a courthouse reopening date for June 8, by appointment only, despite some concerns from department heads about worker safety. Supervisors approved the date on a split 3-2 vote. Access will be by the east ramp door only, and the public will be escorted in and out individually. Asking them to sign waivers was discussed, but not included...

Fridley Theaters, including the Vista III in Storm Lake, will reopen on Friday. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds allowed theaters across the state to open as of last Friday, but with only a few days’ notice, Fridley, Iowa’s only locally-owned chain, was not prepared to safely open all of its locations...

The plan for a day care center to be located in a former Methodist Manor wing has faded away in the face of repeated issues with the structure. Leaders of the Ready Set GROW! day care agency say they will move forward to find another location, either in the form of an existing facility or a site to build on...

Maryeau Vesta (Lomas) Carver, 90 of Apple Valley, MN (Formally of Storm Lake and Cresco) died at her residence of natural causes on May 25. She was born March 12, 1930 in Cresco, Iowa to Baird and Mary Lomas. She graduated from Crestwood High School and later attended the University of Northern Iowa. ...