Stories from Friday, February 19, 2021

While extreme weather conditions are expected to continue across the country throughout the week, MidAmerican Energy’s natural gas and electric delivery systems are well positioned to serve its customers through the duration of the cold snap. High demand for energy has strained the electric supply in some portions of the regional electric grid, including those in parts of Missouri, Nebraska and even areas in Iowa not served by MidAmerican. ...

By Perry Beeman Iowa Capital Dispatch What Gov. Kim Reynolds saw as a chance to expand Iowa’s nation-leading biofuels industry has turned into a high-octane political fight among some of the most powerful interest groups in the state. Reynolds is proposing to require ethanol and biodiesel at all convenience stores and other retailer fuel outlets. ...

A Touch of Brass returns to Wayne State College Sunday, Feb. 28 with a performance honoring nostalgia, pioneer settlers, and all things brass. The 2 p.m. concert in Ramsey Theatre is free and open to the public and will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream, go to www.wsc.edu/watch-live. If patrons are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home and watch the livestream...

Visitors can experience a little of the Emerald Isle in northwest Iowa as the Browns Century Theater in LeMars features a new series of shows in March - A Celtic Music Celebration. The two-hour shows will be fast-paced with fiddle jigs and reels, along with vocal harmonies on favorites like “Danny Boy,” “You Raise Me Up,” “Amazing Grace,” “Lord of The Dance” and more...

There’s a tiny oasis on the west coast of Florida where the men wear Tommy Bahama from head to toe and women of a certain age stroll around poolside in tube tops and full jewelry. It’s a “middle-age Nirvana” where crabs talk and you can eat veal-stuffed manatee while wearing your evening culottes and sip tropical drinks served in a mini-aquarium...

Metal legends Quiet Riot have been rebooked to appear at the Roof Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park, Saturday, April 24. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. The concert was rescheduled from last year due to COVID-19 concerns...

Only a few requests were made for funding from the Storm Lake City Council for the coming fiscal year, and the council this week agree to fully fund them all in the budget now being completed. Upper Des Moines Opportunity charitable agency asked and will receive $8,000, compared to $7,000 for the current fiscal year...

Iowa gas prices have risen three cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.41 to begin this week. Storm Lake pump prices at most stations were at $2.49 early this week - higher than Des Moines or Omaha metro areas. Gas prices in Iowa are 9.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 14.1 cents per gallon higher than a year ago...

Two Storm Lake High School teachers have become STEM Innovator ® certified, giving them the tools and knowledge to effectively infuse innovation and entrepreneurship in their classrooms. Through the certification, teachers Leah Rekow and Will Swanson are more equipped than ever to engage students in solving authentic, community-driven and real-world problems by working in teams and collaborating with community partners. ...

You are invited to participate in the community-wide effort to provide scholarships for our graduating Class of 2021 seniors with a tax-deductible donation. Last year, members of the Storm Lake Dollars for Scholars Chapter of Scholarship America were pleased to announce the names of the 70 high school seniors who had been awarded scholarships totaling $50,275...

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health is hosting the Big Snow Showdown, a winter wellness event and Snowman Building Contest, on Saturday, February 20 from 9-11 AM on the west lawn of the Spencer Hospital. In addition to the snowman building contest, there will be free resources, prizes, and fun for all ages...

June 26, 1937 - February 13, 2021

Parents would need to provide written consent for elementary school students to discuss gender identity at school under a bill moving through the Iowa Senate. Senate File 167 would prohibit Iowa elementary schools from teaching about gender identity, defined as the “gender-related identity of a person, regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth,” without the written consent of a parent or guardian. ...

Time is flying by as we end the fifth week of the 89th General Assembly of Iowa. Bills Passed Unanimously This Week: SF253, a bill for an act relating to sexual abuse, SF240 relating to custodial trusts, SF239 related to causes of actions following the death of a person, SF235 related to denial and contest of probate claims, HF235 related to charges on consumer credit transactions, and HF232 related to disorderly conduct all passed through the Senate without opposition...

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a family farmer and strong advocate for renewable energy, this week sent a letter to White House Climate Czar Gina McCarthy, inviting her to visit Iowa and learn about the state’s continued leadership in renewable fuel production and overall sustainable energy strategy. Grassley’s request comes after McCarthy made what the senator felt were disparaging comments about Middle America in a recent interview...

STORM LAKE - Ron Peterson ‘80 will have many thoughts during his induction into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, minutes before the Grand March that opens the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena...

INDIANOLA - The Buena Vista women’s basketball team jumped out to an early 13-point lead at No. 13 Simpson College on Wednesday night, but the Storm eventually caught fire from long range and the Beavers’ upset bid fell just short with a 79-68 loss inside Cowles Fieldhouse...

The Iowa State Wrestling Tournament got underway Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, with three area wrestlers qualifying to compete. • Chris Ferguson of Sioux Central won his opening match with a second-period pin in 3:45 over Bryce Shaha of Mount Ayr, advancing to the quarterfinal...

SIOUX CENTRAL - The Sioux Central Rebels won their first game in the substate tournament, defeating the Pocahontas Area Indians, 62-51 on Wednesday, bringing them to 12-10 overall. The Rebels pulled out to an early 18-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Indians fired back ending the half at 31-30 in Sioux Central’s favor. ...

STORM LAKE - The Storm Lake Tornadoes lost to the Sioux City East Black Raiders, 87-52 on Tuesday, dropping them to 10-9 overall. The Black Raiders started off strong with at 18-7 lead at the end of the first and 39-15 lead at the half. The Tornadoes rallied at the start of the second half and closed the gap at the end of the third, being down 55-36, but the Black Raiders scored 32 points in the fourth to the Tornadoes’ 16 to seal the deal...

HOLSTEIN - The Ridge View Raptors took down the Missouri Valley Big Reds with a 59-27 win in the first round of substate, pushing them to 16-6 and into the second tournament round. The Raptors held the reins the entire game leading at the end of the half 30-12. They opened the second half strong scoring 21 points and another 8 in the fourth while the Big Reds only put up 15...

NEWELL - In the first round of substate the Newell-Fonda Mustangs beat the MMCRU Royals, 84-52, pushing them to 16-5 overall and to the second round of the tournament. The Mustangs rocketed into the lead, ending the first quarter at 30-13 and gave the Royals no chances to catch up, ending the half at 52-23 and the third at 78-37 before backing off in the fourth...

Mustangs score 100 points in Regional NEWELL - The Newell-Fonda Mustangs reminded everyone why they’re the defending state champions on Tuesday when they defeated the St. Edmond Gaels, 100-17, bringing them to 21-1 and to the semifinals of the 1A region 2 tournament...

The City of Storm Lake may be hiring its own in-house economic development leader, replacing Storm Lake United in those duties. SLU would continue its efforts in chamber of commerce-type activities, concentrating on retail development, tourism, marketing and event planning...

The North Raccoon Watershed Coalition plans to purchase a rural Storm Lake site a preserve to help clean water flowing toward Outlet Creek, the first and largest of four projects planned in the creek area. According to Kara Elbert of Northwest Iowa Planning and Development, the site of almost 25 acres is near Highway 7, just east of the Buena Vista County Landfill...

Last week, 526 people in Buena Vista County received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 111 received their final booster shot. In a report to county supervisors, new county Public Health Administrator Julie Sather called the process “a good week,” and said 300 more prime doses of vaccine were expected to arrive this week...

Since the Witter Gallery is still closed to visitors, they’re bringing art to the streets with their “Flash Art” series, a collection of public art pieces that anyone in the community can see while doing everyday tasks like stopping by the Storm Lake Bakery for donuts, picking up a warm drink at Coffee Tree, or now, paying their water bill!...

The Storm Lake City Council voted this week to terminate negotiations with prospective new operators for the Storm Lake Marina, although city officials said they are committed to offering essential services at the site this summer. City employees will likely staff the marina for this coming season to maintain public access for such services as slip rental and courtesy docks. Whether services like food can be continued remains to be determined...

The city park site at the corner of Russell and 5th streets will be developed this spring, and named Kiwanis Park, in honor of the Storm Lake civic clubs that took on the project. “We are excited to make this vision a reality,” Carl Turner, representing the Kiwanians, said as he presented a plan to the city council this week. Plans are in place to move ahead with installation of a playground this spring, with other possible amenities such as a small picnic shelter set out for the future...