Stories from Monday, November 4, 2013

"The ultimate goal is to enrich and enhance learning, accelerate progress, increase productivity, build a better-prepared and more diverse workforce and create a passion for lifelong learning and achievement that will enable many more students to discover and develop their full potential and lead to rewarding and fulfilling careers and lifestyles,"...

College - whether it be a two-year technical school or a four-year school - is on the minds of more students at an earlier age these days. Thanks to classes in high school, and even middle school, students are seeing how they can benefit from continuing their education and are also seeing that college is a possibility...

Students from Storm Lake High School Band and Vocal departments were chosen Saturday through statewide auditions for the 2013 All-State Music Festival. The festival will be held Nov. 21-23 at Iowa State University, with the final concert being at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 in Hilton Coliseum...

Holli Safley, 7/8 instrumental music instructor at Storm Lake Middle School, received the Jay Wicker Distinguished Service Award at the NWIBA Junior High Honor Band Festival Nov. 2. The award is presented annually to a Northwest Iowa band director who is chosen by their peers for outstanding service to the advancement of Middle School instrumental music education. ...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chuck Grassley encourages Iowa middle school and high school students to participate in the 2013 Making Democracy Work Student Essay Contest sponsored by the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. The contest is open to students from around the country and is split into two divisions. Students in grades 6-8 will participate in a junior division contest, and students in grades 9-12 will participate in the senior division contest...

High school Platinum Honor Roll Freshmen - Megan McDaniel Sophomores - Marie Hardt, Mackenzie Laven Juniors - Kyle Bessaw Seniors - Renae Drey, Ferdinand Schneider, Rachel, Todd Gold Honor Roll Freshmen - Rachel Brungardt, Emily Heitman, Kaitlyn Lenhart, Jessica Sandhoff, Leighton Young...

The Storm Lake Rotary Club would like to congratulate the October Students of the Month. Pictured with Rotary President, Jennifer Hecht, are Philip Bond from SLHS, son of Allan and Lucy Bond and Rachel Todd from St. Mary's, daughter of Mike and Patti Todd...

The cream of Iowa's cross country crop descended on Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge Saturday to determine this year's state champion runners. Storm Lake's Fernando Ramos, Ridge View's Jason Kenny and Alta-Aurelia's boys team all made it to the statewide competition, running in the 3A, 2A and 1A races respectively...

The Pilot Tribune staff entertained their Partners in Excellence partners, second grade at St. Mary's, this week with halloween activities.

The Newell-Fonda Mustangs were riding high, heading into their Regional semifinal match with Harris-Lake Park Friday night in Lake Park. They were coming off an impressive four set victory over Storm Lake St. Mary's in the quarterfinals that gave their coach, Marilyn Murra, reason to say, "It they play well, we can go all the way."...

PAULLINA - The normally overwhelming dual-threat offense of Ridge View was held in check by a potent South O'Brien defense Monday night in the second round of state playoffs, 27-14, as the Wolverines clawed their way on to the quarterfinals. S. O'Brien didn't take long to draw first blood, as senior quarterback Bret Puhrmann dashed around the left side and sailed 63 yards untouched into the end zone less than two minutes into the contest. ...

On a chilly November evening in Newell, Mustang quarterback Gabe Podraza caught absolute fire, reaching pay dirt three times on the ground and three through the air to lead Newell-Fonda past Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire and into the quarterfinal round of the eight-man playoffs...