Stories from Thursday, January 26, 2017

The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) reminds low to moderate income Iowans, the elderly and those with disabilities that they can get free tax preparation services at sites throughout the state. Funding for this initiative comes from a three-year grant through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Grant Program. VITA is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiative designed to promote and support free tax preparation service for the underserved, in both urban and non-urban locations...

The IMT Group, a leading provider of personal and commercial insurance products in the Midwest, recently announced its list of 2017 Gem Agencies, distinguished Colburn & Elk as one of the qualifying recipients. The IMT Group is proud to recognize Colburn & Elk as one of the highest performing IMT and Wadena Insurance agencies in its six state territory (Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin). ...

When the staff at IGL TeleConnect heard local Bob Doran of Everly was diagnosed with liver and pancreatic cancer, they quickly put their minds together to find a fun way to help raise money for he and his family. Through a flurry of text messages over the weekend, the team decided they would use the already developed Polar Plunge during Winter Games at the Iowa Great Lakes to help bring their idea to life! Once CEO Josh Nelson got wind of the idea, he decided to match the funds the staff raises up to $5,000 if received prior to their jump.. ...

Wanted On the evening of Monday, January 23, at approximately 7:20 p.m. a Storm Lake police officer stopped a vehicle in the 800 block of Lake Avenue for a traffic violation. Upon contacting the driver, identified as Heather McDaniel, age 39 of Schaller, it was learned that she was wanted by the SLPD on a warrant charging her with Theft 5th Degree (simple misdemeanor)...

A Northwest Iowa grandmother recently received a disturbing phone call. “The caller told her, ‘You don’t know me, but your granddaughter is in jail in Michigan and needs money wired immediately,” noted Carol Ehlers, a human sciences specialist in family finance with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach...

July 25, 1928 - January 20, 2017

December 6, 1942 - January 23, 2017

“Throughout the past year, I said that no matter who won the election, we would move the process forward with the new President’s nominee. And that’s what we’ll do. The consultation today with President Trump, Vice President Pence, Leader McConnell, Senator Schumer and Ranking Member Feinstein was necessary and a step in the right direction. ...

The Cherokee County Extension Council met recently, conducting their organizational meeting and first regular meeting of the year. Officers were elected and are as follows: • Chair: David Whited • Vice-Chair: Chuck Clark • Secretary: Donna Amundson • Treasurer: Sara Husman...

The Cherokee County Conservation Board invites women to take the opportunity to socialize, enjoy the outdoors, learn something new, and have fun at Martins Access February 10-11. Join them on Friday evening and stay overnight in one of our modern cabins. Can’t stay the night? You can join them for the day on Saturday morning...

What do you say when a friend tells you they are having trouble with their marriage or thinking about getting a divorce? Do you feel confident in your ability to help? If you don’t you’re not alone. Research shows that many friends want to be helpful but don’t know what to do or say...

Marjorie Miller was honored on Wednesday, January 18, by Buena Vista Chapter DAR for her 100th birthday. The gathering was held in the Solarium at Methodist Manor. The group had fun reminiscing about the many activities Marjorie was a part of during her 40 year membership in the local DAR chapter. ...

Saint Paul, MN-based Mary Cutrufello has been hailed as a Texas honky-tonk heroine, a fiery Midwestern roots-rocker, and a powerhouse acoustic performer in her more than 20 years in the music business. Connecticut-raised and Yale-educated, she’s made records showcasing all of those facets of her identity as her musical journey has taken her from the East Coast to Houston and now to Minnesota...

Many Lakes Area musicians and fans are mourning the death of music icon Tommy Allsup at the age of 85. Scheduled to spend four days in Clear Lake the first week in February, the Branson, Missouri resident died from complications of a blood clot and pneumonia on Jan. 11 at a hospital in Springfield, Missouri...

One of the most widely acclaimed and honored entertainers in history, Wayne Newton, is scheduled to perform two shows Saturday, May 6, Anthem at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City. Show times are 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Mr. Las Vegas is back with “Wayne Newton: Up Close and Personal,” a show unlike any he has ever done before, boasting a compilation of all of Newton’s extraordinary talents...

Buena Vista University is welcoming four candidates the first week of Spring semester 2017 to meet and answer questions from students, faculty, and staff. Thirty-nine individuals applied for the position. BVU Board members and the twelve member search committee narrowed down the applicants to seven...

Speech Showcase is January 30

The Clay County Conservation Office and Spencer Municipal Utilities collaborated on the rescue of a falcon from a downtown rooftop Thursday morning. Clay County Conservation Director Dan Heissel said he received a phone call alerting him to the potential problem...

This week, a team from Iowa State University is participating in a five-day design competition at the Walt Disney Imagineering campus in Glendale, California. The group created a hypothetical installation for the Iowa State central campus, near the Campanille...

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Storm Lake Elementary 2nd grade held a Celebration of Heroes. They decided they would like to honor our city’s heroes: the Sheriff’s Department, EMTs, firefighters and Storm Lake Police. The event opened with a musical tribute sung by the entire second grade. ...

The Storm Lake office of the Department of Natural Resources has now closed. After the downtown site lost its lease, the decision was made to shut down the local program. All of the environmental response will now come out of the Spencer office, which covers a 16-county region...

Dakota Access pipeline protest group Bold Iowa bashed action taken by President Trump Tuesday to expedite completion of the controversial pipeline, as well as re-start the Keystone Pipeline. Trump’s executive order will allow work to resume immediately to complete the Dakota Access line, “subject to terms and conditions to be negotiated by us,” Trump said without elaboration...

Storm Lake is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse towns in Iowa. Our small community is filled with an abundance of immigration stories. Jalloh Abubakarr, 35, has a story that is truly unique. He is from a small West African country, Sierra Leone. Despite the tragedy and difficulty he faced, he made it to Iowa, married, and is currently working on his dissertation for a doctorate degree...

What is the root of racism, the cause of conflict, the answer to anger? As we transition from our nation’s first black president and the dream of a post-racial America to a man elected by supporters that include Confederate battle flag-wavers, I need to reflect on my own journey to help myself deal with it all...

Nora wants to go south. She’s afraid that one day she’ll slip on the snow and break her wrist in three places. Not a winter goes by that someone she knows doesn’t break something. She’s also afraid Del will have a heart attack shoveling the sidewalk. ...

Rebels allow rally, pull out win in overtime SIOUX RAPIDS - Sioux Central earned their third win of the season but not without some trials and tribulations on Monday night. The Rebels had a seven point lead going into the final frame, saw it evaporate, but managed to beat Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in overtime, 55-51...

Raptors pull away in the second half thanks to D MAPLETON - It was a tie game at halftime on Monday night between Ridge View and Maple Valley-Anthon Oto, but a strong second half propelled the Raptors to a 43-30 victory. Both teams were sitting at 15 apiece at intermission when the Raptor defense took over and held MVAO to six points in the third quarter as they themselves built a six point lead going into the fourth frame...

Storm Lake wrestling head coach Ben Seaman was recently named the Northwest Iowa 3A Coach of the Year for his efforts teaching the young men of Storm Lake on the mat. “It means a lot,” Seaman said. “It’s an honor. A lot of coaches and officials look up to the winners and it means our program is matching the best.”...

Jack and Dorothy Mernin celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary Monday, January 23. The couple was marring in Sioux City in 1947. When asked how they did it, Dorothy says, “A lot of love, faith, patience and good health.” The couple spent the first part of their marriage on the home place that was homesteaded by Jack’s father. ...