Stories from Friday, October 30, 2020

Iowa trappers can expect to find good numbers of furbearers available statewide when the season begins on November 7. “Our coyote numbers remain strong with a stable to slightly decreasing population,” said Vince Evelsizer, furbearer biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources...

Iowa-based electric utility MidAmerican Energy has idled nearly four dozen power-generating wind turbines after huge blades broke off of two turbines in recent weeks. MidAmerican has paused the use of 46 turbines it has identified as having similar blades, which are about 177 feet long and weigh 18,000 pounds, the Des Moines Register reported...

Some folks, when they usually open a business, bring something of a vision, and a backstory that’s involved, and interesting. For Robbie Kudla, owner and operator of the newly opened Aspen Leaf Cafe and Coffee House in Pocahontas, there is a story behind her new business which has, as they say in basketball, a deep bench. ...

The acclaimed animator behind such powerful figures as Ariel, Aladdin, Tarzan and Rapunzel has a new heroine and she’s going further than any of his creations — the moon. Twelve-year-old Fei Fei builds a handmade rocket to blast into outer space in the new Netflix movie musical “Over the Moon,” the first animated film backed by a major Hollywood studio to feature an entirely Asian cast...

One of America’s hottest comics, Jo Koy has come a long way from his modest beginnings at a Las Vegas coffee house. As one of today’s vastly growing stand-up comedians, Koy sells-out comedy clubs and theaters across the nation with his infectious, explosive energy onstage. The comedian pulls inspiration from his family, specifically his son, that inspires humor across all boundaries...

Well-traveled troubadour Grant Peeples will be in concert November 21 at Byron’s in Pomeroy. Showtime is 8 p.m. Peeples has made 10 studio records, including his latest, 2018’s Settling Scores Vol. II. His shows are a roiling mix of funny stuff and not-funny stuff.  He doesn’t do a lot of lo-ooove songs.   When appropriate... ...

Area favorite the Browns will debut their holiday show Joy to the World, November 18 at their theater in LeMars. Showtime is 1:30 p.m. This will be the 6th Annual Christmas show for the family. A visit to see this high energy, family-friendly event is quickly becoming a Christmas tradition in the Siouxland area. ...

Deputy Meyer and his K-9 partner Petey last week re-certified with the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) in narcotics detection. Sgt. Meyer and K-9 Petey had the second fastest time in vehicle searches and awarded the second place trophy...

An area man was airlifted to hospital last weekend after reportedly eating about an ounce of methamphetamine when the car he was riding in was pulled over on a routine equipment violation by a Sac County deputy. After receiving permission to search the car, the deputy asked passenger Cristian Garrett of Rockwell City to step out, and found Garrett was acting irrationally and talking about dying. ...

The Storm Lake Police Department was called to 227 Oneida Street Saturday evening on a report of several subjects entering a home and assaulting occupants. Officers detained several people and found multiple occupants of the home to have sustained injuries. One male victim was transported by ambulance to Buena Vista Regional Medical Center for treatment of serious facial injuries, and two female victims with minor injuries were also treated on scene...

U.S. Air Force Reserve 1st Lt. Ben Stone carries a proud piece of his past with him around the world as he co-pilots KC-135s, the giant aerial refueling crafts. Stone carries a BVU tennis cap with him, a tangible reminder of his playing days for the Beavers...

April 16, 1925 - October 18, 2020

Storm Lake issued safety recommendations for Halloween trick-or-treating behavior in a proclamation read by Mayor Mike Porsch during a city council meeting earlier. “In this unplanned, pandemic time in our community, the City is offering recommendations to ensure Halloween will be as safe and fun as possible,” Porsch says...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce it has been named a 2020 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey. The Guardian of Excellence Award recognizes top-performing health care organizations that have achieved the 95th percentile or above for performance in Patient Experience...

Shop local and avoid the crowds for unique and memorable holiday gifts, clothing, jewelry, décor, and more during Storm Lake United’s Holiday Open House, Friday, November 6th through Monday, November 9th. This annual event is a chance for shoppers to preview new holiday products at local businesses...

Recently, the City of Storm passed on third reading an ordinance amending Chapter 3-1 of Title III of the city code related to Garbage Storage and Collection to revise requirements relating to the collection of garbage and its storage out of doors. It is the intent of the amendment to add clarity to the ordinance to ensure garbage is handled and stored in a manner that prevents blowing and scattering through the community...

Among the many Cherokee area people mourning the recent passing of former Cherokee physician Dr. Tom Gary are a peloton of Cherokee Trails boosters and avid bicyclists who enjoy the great outdoors as did Dr. Gary. Dr. Gary was an avid bicyclist and enjoyed riding bicycle trails in many locations across the country, often hauling his bicycle in his airplane that he piloted often for business and pleasure...

Elections officials in Iowa are worried about the state’s rising number of coronavirus cases, saying that any illnesses or absences among key workers and volunteers could hinder their services through Election Day. The week before the election, Iowa is reporting a new high 7-day average of about 1,300 daily infections, record numbers of hospitalizations and a surge in deaths...

In honor of our local veterans, Endgrain Workshop in Storm Lake has teamed up with Buena Vista County Veterans Affairs to raise funds for local veterans and give away a POW/MIA wooden flag created by Levi Boyd, owner of Endgrain Workshop. The flag give away is hosted on Endgrain Workshop’s Facebook account - www.facebook.com/endgrainworkshop. There you will find the rules to the give away. The winner of the flag will be drawn on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th live on Facebook. ...

For nearly 20 years, Steve King stood at the helm of Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, drawing national media attention and the condemnation of Democrats who argued voters should elect a less controversial leader to represent northwest Iowa. Then, in a rare move, King was ousted this year by Republican primary challenger Randy Feenstra...

A Newell man accused of setting arson fires while serving as an area volunteer fireman, as well as sexual abuse of a child, was sentenced this week to up to 24 years in prison. The sentence was the maximum possible under a plea agreement. Brent Mack, 26, was sentenced in district court for Arson in the Second Degree, Lascivious Acts with a Child and two counts of Indecent Contact with a Child - sentenced to 10 years for each felony and two years for each misdemeanor. ...

Buena Vista County saw its early voting record fall, long before election day. As of Tuesday, the county had received 4,205 absentee and early in-person ballots, compared to the previous record of 3,251 in 2016. The ballots have been pouring in at a steady rate of over 100 per day, according to Commissioner of Elections Sue Lloyd...

“We are very angry, we are very discouraged, we are very disappointed. I hope all that energy and all that anger will make us come out and cast a vote, and I hope that will make a difference.” So says Maria Ramos, a member of the panel for a virtual Latino Voting Forum for Storm Lake, held just days before the November 3 election...

Newly-minted President of Buena Vista University Dr. Brian Lenzmeier had no ambitions to lead a university when he came to Storm Lake 17 years ago to teach biology. Nor did he foresee being thrust into the role of interim president just as a global pandemic had broken out that changed the way education would be delivered...

Within the bone-colored concrete block that is forming a new school for Storm Lake’s youngest learners, there is more than a little green waiting to sprout. From its earliest creative stages, nature played a role in the design for the innovative $19 million structure, says Andrew Van Leeuwin, principal architect with DLR Group...