Stories from Tuesday, September 22, 2020

St. Mary’s PTP is hosting a virtual 5K Halloween Hustle Walk or Run. All proceeds from the shirt sales will go towards the purchase of two new water refill stations in the school. Shirt orders are due by Oct. 2nd. Wear your Halloween Hustle tee, complete your 5K anytime and anywhere between the dates of Oct. ...

The true test of great plot development is the mystery. Karen Dionne does a masterful job of creating a mystery with plenty of twists and turns in The Wicked Sister recently released by Putnam. Dionne, who lives in suburban Detroit, chose Upper Peninsula Michigan for the setting for her story that pits Rachel, who has been voluntarily confined to an asylum after witnessing the deaths of her parents Peter and Jenny, against her sister Diana, a beautiful but sinister psychopath who has been afflicted with antisocial behavior since birth. ...

Unique vocal group LadyBirds will be in concert Friday, October 23 at the Brown’s Theater in LeMars. Tickets are on sale now. Showtime is 7 p.m. All shows are at half capacity to encourage safe distance. Inspired by the World War II-era sweethearts, The Andrews Sisters, the Iowa trio will sing their way into your hearts. With three-part harmony and swing-style choreography, they will have you singing along to the best of the 1940s...

The Storm Lake school district continues to operate at a deficit in special education. Costs for the program in the past year totaled almost $6 million, exceeding revenue by over $646,000 - even with $1.9 million in tuition payments coming from other school districts that send their special education students to Storm Lake schools...

US Senator Robert Byrd said, “Study the Constitution . . . with the knowledge that as strong and enduring as our Constitution has been, it is nevertheless a fragile, almost intangible thing that cannot survive without the dedication and constant support of citizens.”...

Buena Vista University is ranked No. 3 in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Value Schools Among Regional Universities in the Midwest. The ranking among 70 Midwest Universities is 29 spots ahead of the closest Iowa institution in this category. “Being one of the Best Value Schools Among Regional Universities in the Midwest—and to top the list in Iowa—is a testament to the work we continue to do in making the quality education at Buena Vista University affordable for our students,” says BVU Interim President Dr. ...

Iowa Donor Network is proud to announce that Logan’s Law helped grow Iowa’s organ donor registry by 2,900 people in its first year. Logan’s Law allows people to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors when obtaining a hunting, fishing, or fur harvester license through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR registry, which was developed in partnership with Iowa Donor Network, launched in September of 2019...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Auxiliary is offering three $500.00 scholarship opportunities for those looking to pursue education in a health related field. Application deadline is March 31,2021, and winners will be awarded in April. Three categories are offered. Criteria for applicants are as follows:...

With the coronavirus pandemic causing chaos, instability, economic stress and panic, most people have had to adjust to a new kind of lifestyle. For many, this means living with a heightened fear of public spaces due to fear of contracting the virus. In addition to the fact that many have lost their health insurance, is it possible that Iowans have been self-treating their medical conditions to avoid seeing a medical professional in person?...

The Storm Lake Knights of Columbus have begun their annual Drive for Persons With Intellectual Disabilities. John Murray representing the KC’s and drive honorary chairperson Brian Lenzmeier explain that all funds collected will be distributed to local programs including Hope Haven (formerly Faith, Hope & Charity), Storm Lake Special Olympics and Storm Lake Special Education. ...

Wendy Pearson, age 60, of Spirit Lake, died on Tuesday, September 15, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD after a three and half month battle with leukemia. The George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, SD is in charge of arrangements. Due to COVID-19 issues, a formal gathering of family and friends has been curtailed. Memorials maybe left to the discretion of the family...

Cheryl Carlson, age 71, of Storm Lake, Iowa died Tuesday, September 15, at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Funeral services took place Friday, September 18, at Faith Bible Christian Outreach Center in Storm Lake. Visitation took Thursday, September 17, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial was in the Storm Lake Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

Dennis L. Spooner, age 69, of Storm Lake, died on Thursday, September 10, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Memorial services will be held at a later date. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

Private graveside services for Eleanor Anderson, 101, of Aurelia, were held Saturday, September 19, 2020, at the Afton Township Cemetery, with Pastor Karen Berg officiating. There will be no visitation. The Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia is in charge of arrangements...

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 10 Iowa counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Buena Vista, Hamilton, Harrison, Ida, Madison, Monona, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie and Story counties who suffered losses caused recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans...

The state would increase spending on lake restorations, water trails and park improvements as part of a proposed 2021-22 budget approved by a second state panel Tuesday. The governor-appointed Environmental Protection Commission approved the $100.1 million proposal. The budget would increase spending $2.3 million, or about 2.3%, from the current year’s budget...

A coincidence in timing means two of Clay County’s rural fire departments are now sporting new additions to their firefighting fleets this week. The Fostoria Fire and Rescue squad gathered at their headquarters on Thursday to get their first look at the department’s new tanker which will play a key role in fighting fire for years to come. ...

The federal government said Friday that it will give farmers an additional $14 billion to compensate them for the difficulties they have experienced selling their crops, milk and meat because of the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released details of its plan that it said will provide “financial assistance that gives producers the ability to absorb increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.”...

The Diocese of Sioux City is restarting the 40 Days for Life pro-life campaign by encouraging prayer, fasting and a peaceful vigil to end abortion. The event will run Sept. 23 through Nov. 1 at 4409 Stone Avenue near the Sioux City Planned Parenthood clinic from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The restart is due to the partial June 2020 reopening of the Planned Parenthood clinic...

The number of swimming advisories for algae toxins has dropped from a year ago, even though the state used a tougher standard, Iowa Department of Natural Resources records show. But the more prevalent fecal bacteria problems at state-park beaches led to a near-doubling of advisories for E. coli. High levels of that fecal bacteria typically mean the presence of organisms that can cause infections, intestinal illnesses or worse...

When the Storm Lake Public Library and Iowa PBS offered a new family and community learning session based on Molly of Denali back in March, 2020, available seats filled up fast. The first two weeks of the program went off without a hitch. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck Iowa...

The Storm Lake Board of Education expressed appreciation for its staff - as well as the community - for cooperation in a school year that began under the threat of COVID-19. The district has had “a handful” of positive cases of the virus among students, and as of Friday, had nine staff members quarantined at home after testing positive...

Storm Lake’s SOS Store has been back in operation, with a new manager, and wants everyone to know. The mainstay repurpose/thriftshop has become a staple for bargain hunters in the City Beautiful, providing patrons with quality donated items, such as clothing, toys, kitchen items, bikes, beds, and more. Despite challenges under a pandemic, the nonprofit continues to move forward, since re-opening this past July...

Despite obstacles set during a pandemic, Buena Vista University’s fall enrollment increased 2.5 percent to 1,863 students, according to census figures released by the University this week. Total enrollment is comprised of full- and part-time undergraduate students on BVU’s Storm Lake campus, as well as students receiving online and hybrid instruction through BVU and its community college partners across Iowa. ...

Framework has sprung up almost overnight at the former Sunset Bay condominiums site adjacent to Storm Lake’s municipal golf course, after 13 years of drama and broken efforts by past owners. Taking shape is a 51-unit building to feature a mix of upscale condos and rentals, with a second similar structure planned later to increase the total to 117 homes...