Stories from Tuesday, June 9, 2020

A CN Railroad replacement project will begin June 15 in Storm Lake, removing and replacing the railroad crossing on Highway 110 at the intersection of Highway 7. During the project, closure will occur at the intersection and traffic will be detoured on a route utilizing Hyland Drive and Northwestern Drive in the city limits.  In the past, this route has worked well for a short-term closure...

A small army of Iowa National Guard personnel turned out to volunteer in the latest Kiwanis food distribution event held in Storm Lake on Wednesday, as recipients’ cars stretched from the site at the former Sears store back to the AEA parking lot. The events serve up to 300 needy families, and are held on the last Wednesday of each month...

As summer begins and the need for blood rises, LifeServe Blood Center is asking community members to book an appointment to give blood at an upcoming area blood drive. To help ensure the safety of blood donors and team members during this COVID-19 pandemic, LifeServe is enforcing several precautionary measures. ...

After a testy debate, the Iowa Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that critics said will leave many Iowans in pain, with poorly treated autism and maybe with lost unemployment benefits.  Senators traded barbs with so much force that Senate President Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines, had to stop the action several times to calm tempers and enforce rules of decorum. ...

Barbara L. Bloom, age 73, of Albert City, Iowa died Sunday, May 31, at Pleasant View Home in Albert City. Private family services took place Friday, June 5, 2020 at the Evangelical Church in Albert City. Burial will be in the Fairfield Township Cemetery. Public memorial services will be held at a later date. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements...

Gretchen Patterson, age 91, of Linn Grove, died on Wednesday, June 3, at her home in Linn Grove. Public Graveside Services were held on Monday, June 8, at at the Barnes Township Cemetery in Linn Grove. There will be a memorial service at a later date as well. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Trinity Lutheran Church in Linn Grove, Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp, or a charity of your choice. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

Wendell Ewoldt, age 91, of Alta, died on Tuesday, June 2, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Drive in Funeral services took place Saturday, June 6, at 1 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Hanover. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

The Storm Lake Youth Baseball Association Annual BBQ Fundraiser has been rescheduled from the June 6th date to July 4th. This event wouldn’t be possible each year without the support of our Storm Lake volunteer firemen, Tyson Pork, Tyson Poultry, Garbage Hauling, AMVETS, Villager, Storm Lake Bakery, Aurelia Lumber, and Nelson’s Premix...

Bishop Walker Nickless has authorized the opening of certain churches for private prayer in the diocese starting June 15. This is the first opening of church buildings since the bishop declared the suspension of public Masses and parish gatherings effective March 16 due to the coronavirus outbreak. The opening is optional and at the discretion of the pastors of the diocese...

The second annual Buena Vista County Fair Barnyard to Blue Ribbon Bike Ride is planned for July 11. Registration is from 10-11 a.m. with the noncompetitive ride to leave the fairgrounds at 11. Cost is $20 per rider ($5 fair gate admission), including a tank top shirt and koozie. ...

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. Come out to Mill Creek Park to learn about “Migration Mysteries.” This event will be held on Tuesday, June 9 from 3 until 5 p.m. Learn a bit about some animal migration champions. Then try your luck or skill as a bird on a migratory journey...

The 2019 film “Just Mercy,” which chronicles courtroom struggles against racial injustice and mass incarceration, will be made free on digital platforms throughout June in the wake of George Floyd’s death, Warner Bros. said Tuesday. In the film, Michael B. ...

The Abu Bekr Shrine Circus, a tradition in northwest Iowa for 70 years, has been rescheduled due to COVID-19 concerns. The circus will now appear October 23-35 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City. Shows will be Friday, October 23 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, October 24 at 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, October 25 at 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m...

Each year, Buena Vista University celebrates students with the Student Recognition Celebration. This event symbolizes BVU’s pride for student achievements and honors those who have shown leadership and academic excellence. Local students who were recognized include:...

As a child and young man, Dr. James Hampton resided in 17 places for at least one year. That’s the reality—and perhaps the benefit—of having a military father who also worked for the U.S. State Department. “Moving that often emphasized the importance of family and an excitement about different people and cultures, but it also created an appetite for a center to my life,” he says...

After recessing on March 16th due to the spreading covid pandemic the Legislature reconvened on June 3rd to a whole new set of challenges. Not only does the budget picture look entirely different than it did on March 16th, our entire state is facing paradigm changes of a magnitude never seen in our lifetime. ...

The Iowa National Guard is assisting with site demolition work for Storm Lake High School’s courtyard conservation project. Over the past several weeks, the National Guard has been helping run the COVID-19 TestIowa site outside the school. Guard members have offered to assist with additional tasks, and the courtyard project emerged as a great opportunity for collaboration...

By Linh Ta Iowa Capital Dispatch A key priority for Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is moving forward. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-4 to pass a constitutional amendment automatically restoring voting rights to felons who have served their sentences. For the last two years, Reynolds has highlighted the amendment as a priority for her administration, as Iowa remains one of the few states in the country that still requires felon voting rights to be restored on a case-by-case basis...

Hunger remains an issue for many struggling families in the Storm Lake area - in the heart of the richest food production region in the world. Charitable distributions serve hundreds before running out of supplies. Food banks fall short to meet soaring demand from people suddenly out of source due to coronavirus. Meanwhile, some farmers have to euthanize hogs, dump milk or bury spoiling produce as buyers are idled...

For nine minutes, they knelt together in the thick, cool grass of the city park as the sun began to sink toward the horizon behind them. They were black, white, Latino. Natives and newcomers, young and old, wealthy and poor. Some wore t-shirts calling for equal rights - “I can’t breathe,” one proclaimed. Many carried handmade signs: “Your fight is my fight.” Some wore police uniforms...