Business News

Two Iowa Renewable Fuels Association members sent the first donated shipment of Iowa ethanol and glycerin to the state of Iowa to be used by Iowa Prison Industries for the production of hand sanitizer during the national shortage. The donation is made by Iowa ethanol producer Absolute Energy and Iowa biodiesel producer Western Iowa Energy. ...

Hy-Vee, Inc. announced today that it will be temporarily suspending its return, refund and rain check policy until further notice. Beginning this week, March 24, Hy-Vee stores across its eight-state region will not accept returns or issue rain checks for its products. ...

Century Farms Distillery of Spencer and West O Beer of West Okoboji have joined together in hopes of helping local citizens combat the COVID-19 virus. According to public health authorities, washing hands frequently and using hand sanitizer can help families protect themselves from spreading the virus...

Hy-Vee, Inc. announces that due to evolving concerns regarding coronavirus (COVID-19), it is adapting the ways in which it serves customers to ensure they receive the products they need while keeping customers, employees and communities healthy and safe...

Tyson Foods, Inc., Storm Lake’s largest employer, has hired an outside service provider to accelerate the transformation of the company’s digital technology capabilities and reduce costs.  “The speed and scale of new technology presents a huge opportunity for us,” said Scott Spradley, chief technology officer for Tyson Foods. ...

MidAmerican Energy Company has announced steps the company is taking to protect its employees and customers from the coronavirus pandemic threat. “What’s most important throughout this global crisis, is that MidAmerican Energy will continue to keep the lights on and natural gas flowing to our customers,” Adam Wright, MidAmerican Energy president and CEO, said. ...

With the City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, declaring a state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19, the Central Plains Dairy Expo was canceled. The I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course has traditionally lead the Expo on Tuesday of Expo week. As one of the premiere dairy beef events in North America, it has been transitioned to a webinar for 2020 to minimize any possible exposure to the virus...

Iowa banks are doing their part to protect our communities in this time of social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. For some time, banks have been investing in technology to meet customers where they are — through online and mobile banking. Iowans can check account balances, transfer money and deposit checks without leaving their home...

Cherokee’s newest business, Whiskey Throttle Bar and Grill, is currently conducting a “soft opening” according to owners Rick, Jesse, Teri and Jeff Weaver. The new restaurant and bar, located on the north side of the Little Sioux Events Center on the city’s south side, continues to request patrons be patient as the business evolves and to call 225-9038 for reservations Tuesday thru Saturday. ...

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT) Workshops on April 2 at the ISU Extension and Outreach Clay County office in Spencer (110 W. 4th St.) and April 3 at the ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County office in Orange City (400 Central Ave. NW)...

Citizens 1st National Bank announces the addition of Kirsten Phillips as an agricultural/commercial lender. A 2015 graduate of Buena Vista University, Phillips obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in business with an emphasis in marketing and human resources. Most recently, she was a seed service advisor for Monsanto/Bayer Crop Science in Carroll, IA...

Women landowners, farmers and ag retailers have the opportunity to meet on March 17 to learn more about planning a successful herbicide program for the 2020 growing season through a distance-learning session of Agronomy in the Field. The Agronomy in the Field for Women Herbicide Planning program will be offered from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on March 17 at the ISU Extension and Outreach Cherokee County office located at 209 Centennial Drive in Cherokee...

Rembrandt Foods employees donated $500.00 to Buena Vista Regional Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehab Department to help them buy a new treadmill. During February, employees raised money through valentine promotions to support heart health for the region. Representing Rembrandt Foods is Amanda Doonan and Ann Sassman. Representing BVRMC’s Cardiac Rehab Department is Sarah Thompson, Kristi Bihrer, and Ali Svendsen. / Photo submitted...

The aviation program at Iowa Lakes Community College is meeting the increasing industry demand for pilots with flying colors. The airplane fleet is receiving a significant update courtesy of higher enrollment levels due to rising demand for pilots in the aviation industry...

Spencer Sports Cards & Comics held a grand opening Sunday. The new family-friendly shop at 313 Grand Avenue also features all kinds of non-sports-related cards, collector toys, games, Lego items and more. Hours are Wednesdays 106, Thursdays 1-7, Fridays 1-5, Saturdays 10-5 and Sundays 11-3...

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Buena Vista Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) are co-hosting a soil health and cover crops workshop called “Making Money with Soil Health”, to be held March 6 at 10 a.m. at Prairie Lakes AEA in Storm Lake...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s School will be giving away a $1,179 beautiful pendant in the Paxtons Chest of Chance fundraiser at the St. Mary’s Ball and Charity Auction “Secret Garden” on March 21. Paxtons version of the Secret Garden theme has a vine of 14 Karat yellow gold accented with .23 carat of sparkling diamonds in a beautiful pendant. The 2020 donation includes a 14 Karat yellow gold diamond cut wheat chain that adjusts up to 22 inches long—a gorgeous piece for any special occasion...

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) as a part of the Entrepreneurial Investment Awards program. The grant will support the Corridor in launching additional entrepreneurial development programming through videos, outreach and networking events. Corridor Senior Vice President Brian Dalziel envisioned the initiative, wrote the grant application and led the presentation to the review panel...

Sparked by the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™, Alliant Energy employees are coming together today to discuss diversity, equity, inclusion and unconscious bias. CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ aims to rally the business community to advance diversity and inclusion conversations. ...

Wednesday at King’s Pointe Resort Tyson Foods held a Storm Lake United Coffee to welcome their new Community Liaison, Cynthia Trujillo. HR Generalist Karina Mellado introduced her to everyone and invited her to say a few words. Cynthia, a long-time resident of Storm Lake, says she is honored to have earned the position and can’t wait to work with the community on behalf of Tyson Foods.” / Storm Lake United photo...

Iowa currently ranks third in the nation for total milking goats, with the inventory up three percent from January 2018 standing at 32,000 dairy goats and 217 licensed dairies. The Iowa State University Extension Dairy Team has recently completed a survey of the licensed goat dairies in Iowa and is processing the data; however, Fred Hall, dairy program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, said to start the conversations with dairy goat producers, the dairy team held its first program with concurrent programs in Orange City and Elkader on Dec. ...

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Buena Vista Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) are co-hosting a soil health and cover crops workshop called “Making Money with Soil Health”, to be held March 6 at 10 a.m. at Prairie Lakes AEA in Storm Lake...

Aimee Helmers recently received the Outstanding Contributor Award for Storm Lake McDonald’s restaurant and Hart2Hart Inc., determined by peers. The honor recognizes an employee who “leaves the world better than they found it, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves.” / Photo submitted...

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation announces the beginning of the 2020 Business Expansion & Strategic Trends (BEST) of Iowa interviews. BEST of Iowa is a strategic partnership between economic development organizations and utility companies throughout Iowa that provides a state-wide existing business strategy. The Corridor has conducted these interviews for 14 years...

Tyson is welcoming their new Community Liaison, Cynthia Trujillo, with a Storm Lake United Coffee at King’s Pointe. Everyone is welcome to join at King’s Pointe Resort on Wednesday, February 19, at 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach invites area residents to join them for a two-session retirement preparation workshop on Feb. 13 and Feb. 20. Participants can choose to attend sessions at Cherokee Regional Medical Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or at the ISU Extension and Outreach Cherokee County office from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m...

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach will host two soil fertility workshops to help ag producers interpret soil test results and determine fertilizer needs and recommendations. The first workshop will be held Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the ISU Extension and Outreach Sac County office location at 620 Park Street in Sac City. ...

HyVee stores around the region will no longer be available for the midnight munchies. Starting Monday, stores that had been open 24 hours a day were reduced to close overnight. Some of the stores had already moved away from 24 hour service. HyVee has 265 stores in Iowa and seven other states. Employment is not expected to change...

Storm Lake father-son duo Bruce and Kerry Edwards were among those honored as Maser Pork Producers during the 2020 Iowa Pork Congress. A Master Pork Producer award denotes an individual’s or family’s excellence in pork production, as measured by their pork production statistics, their commitment to We Care® principles, and their contribution to their community. ...

The Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency Board of Directors has selected Dr. Susie Meade as its next Chief Administrator. In her new role, Meade will support the agency’s 247 full and part-time employees who provide special education and school improvement services in 14 counties across north central Iowa. ...

The new Junk Rescued store will be opening next week at 516 Lake Avenue in Storm Lake. / Photo submitted

Storm Lake native Meredith Daley has been named as CEO of the Worthington Area YMCAs in Minnesota. She was most recently the Senior Aquatics Director at the Upper Main Line YMCA in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Daley’s past work history includes aquatics positions at Pennsylvania State University and Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey. ...

Kiley Miller, President & CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, has been awarded recertification by the International Economic Development Council (JEDC) through April 2021. Miller first achieved the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation in 2015. Recertification required that he fulfill demanding standards for continuing education and service to the profession...