Stories from Sunday, September 5, 2021

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held in Spencer on Sunday, Sept. 19, and participants have the option to walk from home or join us at East Leech Park beginning at 12:30 p.m. On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with Promise Garden flowers which signify solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers – purple, yellow, blue and orange – represent the different reasons why people walk to end this disease...

The manner in which people abuse opioid drugs evolved in 2020, but the basic issues surrounding abuse of these pain relievers remain the same. Dr. Tina Christine L. Chasek, LIMHP, LADC, LPC, University of Nebraska-Kearney Associate Professor/Department of Counseling and School Psychology, says information recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides a snapshot of current U. S. opioid abuse...

The Invest in Rural Iowa Scholarship Program at Buena Vista University is a $5,000 per year scholarship reserved for students who hail from a 19-county region of Northwest Iowa, have high academic records, and actively participated in their high school organizations and in serving their communities.The following local students were awarded the Invest in Rural Iowa Scholarship:...

The Kiwanis Kar Show in Storm Lake brought out scores of shiny showpieces for Labor Day weekend, but one of the most intriguing was a tiny ride showing its age and patina, consigned to the back row. It was lovingly described by its owner as “the ugliest thing here.”...

Storm Lake’s largest employer, Tyson Foods, has announced that it will strengthen the benefits it offers fully vaccinated U.S. frontline team members. Effective January 1, fully vaccinated team members can begin earning up to 20 hours of paid sick leave per year. New hires will also receive one week of vacation after six months of employment...

Dr. Garrett Feddersen and Dr. Kyle Glienke were selected as 2021 Iowa Hospital Association Hospital Heroes. Buena Vista Regional Medical Center nominated the doctors for leading the Emergency Services and Medical-Surgical Departments through the pandemic. ...

By JOCELYN NOVECK Pilot Movie Reviews Their love declared, their fairytale kiss accomplished, Cinderella has an urgent request for her Prince. Can she get a lift to her business meeting? And so, as princes are wont to do, he scoops his new love off her feet to carry her to his horse. But, like, she’s in a rush. “No, I can walk, it’s faster,” she chirps. “But thanks!”...

Memorable collections, canned goods, dried foods and oven products will all fill a portion of the Creative Living Center at the 2021 Clay County Fair, Sept. 11-19. A recent tradition at the fair, the Signe Kim Lauridsen-Jones’ Memorable Collections Contest will have cash prizes totaling $1,000. ...

The Storm Lake Tornado Marching Band put on an impressive show during the first home football game of the year, with a medley of superhero tunes.

Ruth M. Bean, age 102, of Albert City, Iowa died August 19, 2021 at Pleasant View Home in Albert City. Funeral Services weree Friday, September 3, 2021 at the Evangelical Free Church in Albert City, Iowa. Burial was at the Fairfield Township Cemetery in Albert City. Visitation was be Thursday, September 2, at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of arrangements...

John Nicholas “Nick” Ackerman, age 71, of Storm Lake, passed away peacefully September 3, 2021 at his home in Storm Lake, Iowa after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Visitation was Sunday, September 5, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of arrangements...

Area residents have a chance to become a Red Cross volunteer as a DAT responder.  DAT (Disaster Action Team) responders are Red Cross volunteers that are contacted to assist with fire calls and local disasters. These Red Cross responders help get information about the scene and speak with those impacted to provide immediate assistance and create a case to get health services and follow-up communication from the Red Cross...

A shortage of ammunition is likely to drive up prices for hunters and sport shooters through at least part of next year, industry observers say.  National reports have indicated that prices are up 30% for some types of ammo. Some prices have quadrupled from pre-pandemic levels, Forbes reported. ...

For the first time in 23 years, the Diocese of Sioux City is welcoming a new monsignor to the northwest Iowa Catholic community. Bishop Walker Nickless received confirmation from the Vatican that Father Edward Girres, retired priest and rector of the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, has been given the title of monsignor, and “is worthy of the pontifical honor of Chaplain to His Holiness.”...

The Storm Lake Moose Riders are sponsoring a new ride to raise funds for Freedom Quilts organization. The Fonda based effort was founded to make memorial quilts for those lost in the 9/11 attacks, and continues its work, presenting quilts to families who have lost a loved one serving in the military...

Fairgoers to the 2021 Clay County Fair will have 31 new foods to enjoy during their visit Sept. 11-19, including five that have been named as finalists for the fifth edition of the “The World’s Greatest County Fair Food” Contest. “In our visitor surveys, fairgoers tell us one of the top reasons they attend the Fair is for the food,” fair manager Jeremy Parsons said. “This list of unique new foods will only add to our reputation as a nine-day foodie festival.”...

The Storm Lake High School Music Department’s annual Beach Party made a comeback this year. A cloudburst drove the event inside Thursday evening, but a crowd turned out for the beach burger meal, games, crafts, face painting, cotton candy, coastal tunes and perennial favorites - limbo and hula hoop contests. The good-times event kicks off a new school year and serves as a fundraiser for the music programs...

Newell-Fonda football players and coaches ran the Fonda Sesquicentennial 5K Saturday - hours after putting up 75 points on the gridiron Friday night. The team ran in honor of Carson Chase. The Newell-Fonda fifth grader passed away in 2015 after a courageous nine-month battle with cancer that inspired a Carson Strong movement that lives on today among his classmates and community. The run raises funds for nonprofit causes...

Santa Claus is coming’ (back) to town. After a year lost to the pandemic, the Santa’s Castle Board of Directors has decided to reopen the holiday showcase. “We’re sure planning on it. Obviously if there were a situation like last year where the health situation required everything to be shut down we wouldn’t have a choice, but it things stay the direction they are now, we’ll be opening,” board president Ron Hott says...

A nationally renowned photographer and Buena Vista University alum returns to campus this fall to work with students and the Storm Lake community as an Artist in Residence. Andre Wagner, a 2010 BVU graduate, will reside in Storm Lake while educating and working with BVU students for four weeks starting in mid-September. ...

Storm Lake High School has chosen its Homecoming Court for this week’s festivities. They are (from left): Joey Chanthavisouk, Gracelin Dahlhauser, Sam Dvergsten, Seng Yang, Simone Trocio, Riley Youngstedt, Yeeshai Vildalia, Amyah Boyd, Sam Smlight, Ilana Haas, Reuch Malou, Morgan Sievert. A pep assembly and coronation is set for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., the homecoming parade is Friday at 2:30, and the Tornadoes take on MOC-FV Friday night at 7 in the homecoming football game...

Local health officials expect the rollout of COVID-19 booster shots to get underway as scheduled later this month, although top federal health advisors are reportedly warning the White House to scale back its plans. Currently, only those with immune compromised conditions are eligible, according to Buena Vista County Pubic Health Director Julie Sather. ...

The future of the Storm Lake Marina remains murky. Left in the hands of the Department of Natural Resources in a stalemate with the city earlier this year, the DNR isn’t talking. “We don’t know where it stands. There has been very little communication from the DNR yet. It’s really disappointing - we need to get something figured out,” Mayor Mike Porsch told the Pilot-Tribune...