Stories from Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Black Bottom Saints, a retelling of the glory days of Detroit, is a step back to when Motor City – and Motown – were not just household words but the powerhouses of the nation’s auto and music industries. Detroit-born author Alice Randall, author of Rebel Yell and the smash country hit “An American Girl” recorded by Patricia Yearwood, presents a cast of characters – some famous and some not – who helped create Detroit’s golden age...

The Live at the Lakes concert series rolls on with The Rolling Stoners, the Minneapolis-based rock band inspired by the music of the Rolling Stones era. The tribute band plans a three-hour all-ages show, Saturday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m. on the outdoor stage at Preservation Plaza at Arnolds Park...

The 2021 Star Spangled Spectacular will be hosting several favorite vendors at Artist’s Alley and a variety of food vendors July 3-4. Maggie Martinez, Artist’s Alley organizer, says Sunset Park will welcome many returning artists and vendors to Artist’s Alley:...

There’s one thing that’s unmistakeable about the Justin Elliot Band. They have as much fun at every show as their crowd does. “We were raised on rock ’n’ roll and country music. When we get on a stage, we’re pumped up and ready to get rowdy - we’re not the kind of band that stands still in front of a microphone. ...

The Medical/Surgical Department at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake, Iowa, has received an Honorable Mention Award from the American Nurse Journal for the 2021 All-Pro Nursing Team Awards. This award recognizes the dedication, commitment, patient advocacy, and clinical expertise of all nurses...

Two-thirds of Iowans are confident the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to decline, a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found, even as vaccination rates hover below 50%. The Iowa Poll, conducted in mid-June by Selzer & Co., found that 66% of Iowans are confident that COVID-19 will continue to wane in the state. Over a quarter of respondents, 28%, said they remain worried that there will be a new surge in coronavirus cases or deaths...

The City of Storm Lake has provided riders of the two taxi services in town (Storm Lake Cab and RIDES) with $1 off coupons that can be used to directly reduce the cost of one-way rides within the city limits of Storm Lake. During fiscal year 2020-2021, tickets were picked up and $529.00 were submitted for reimbursement. In the FY 2021-2022 budget the City has allocated 3,000 discounted tickets for the program...

The Storm Lake City Council is leaning toward a change in residency requirements to help fill out the Airport Commission. In the past, the city has limited membership on boards and commissions to residents inside city limits, but it has become increasingly hard to keep positions filled and achieve quorums at meetings...

Buena Vista University (BVU) and Midwest Christian Services, of rural Peterson, have entered into a Strategic Partnership that will benefit both organizations as they strive to build up the people and the areas in which they serve. Under the agreement, Midwest Christian Services employees, as well as their spouses and dependents, may receive grant funding to lower the overall cost of education while enrolled in classes at BVU’s Storm Lake campus. ...

Phoebe Elizabeth Feis of Lakeside has been named to the Dean’s List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the spring semester of the 2020-21 academic year. Feis, a junior majoring in political science, was named to the Dean’s List for the College of Arts and Sciences...

The Buena Vista County Soil & Water Conservation District rewarded their poster contest winners with a bird’s eye view of Buena Vista County. For the past 42 years the poster contest has been held in area schools. This year two of the parents were actual plane ride winners themselves, CJ Bean, father of Kooper and Carrie “Demers” Schmidt, Mother of Bethany...

January 4, 1928 - June 21, 2021

Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04), an original cosponsor of the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021, released the following statement after the Senate unanimously approved the measure: “Our veterans deserve the best care and attention, including when it comes to treating unseen wounds. That is why I am pleased both the House and Senate have passed this important legislation, which will help provide reliable mental health services for veterans in rural areas...

As much as we love fireworks displays, drifting smoke can cause breathing problems for some and drought conditions may pose additional risks this year. Dry conditions and the threat of fires may cause some towns to take extra precautions with fireworks displays. Whether attending a display or celebrating in your backyard, keep these four safety tips in mind...

Spencer Mayor Kevin Robinson was accompanied to his monthly Facebook press conference on Wednesday afternoon by Calvin Burrows to address pulling the “free speech zones” proposal Spencer’s City Council had discussed implementing. The zones were first proposed during last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Though the proposal was initially planned for discussion during a Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday, the meeting was cancelled in favor of Wednesday’s press conference...

A federal freeze on most evictions that was enacted last year is scheduled to expire July 31, after the Biden administration extended the date by a month. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, has been the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. Many of them lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic and have fallen months behind on their rent...

Judy Christensen learned early on in life, that being of service to others was an honorable, and worthy vocation to pursue – in fact, it’s been somewhat of a life’s calling. The Buffalo, New York native, now in her late 60’s, was transplanted to the Midwest years ago, but learned the lessons of service, while growing up. ...

State officials ordered Bridges Bay Resort in Arnolds Park to close its pools after the near-drowning of a 2-year-old boy prompted an investigation, which found the pools lacked adequate lifeguard supervision. An emergency closure order from the Iowa Department of Public Health said the resort failed to report the near-drowning as required. ...

Carnival isn’t a job, it’s a family tradition. Midwest Rides, out of Elk River, Minn. will bring the midway to the Buena Vista County Fair July 8-12 - the company’s first time at the Alta grounds. Finding a carnival is increasingly difficult to do, fair organizers say. They went to the Tulip Festival in Orange City to give this one the once over, and were impressed with the operation. They hope to build an ongoing relationship with a midway provider to ensure an attraction for years to come...

In Focus / A Series