Stories from Thursday, March 2, 2017

Quad County Corn Processors, a 14.5 million bushel corn processing biorefinery in Galva, recently donated $250 to the Buena Vista County 4-H Youth Council. The donation will help defray the annual participation cost of each individual 4-H member in Buena Vista County...

WALL LAKE — Cookies Food Products is celebrating its 40th Anniversary as one of the largest regional sauce manufacturers in the country. This March will mark 40 years with Speed “The Sauceman” Herrig at the helm, considered by many to be the granddaddy of Midwest barbecue sauce-makers...

October 27, 1952 - February 26, 2017

In the past couple of weeks, high temperatures have been well above average with dew-point temperatures above grain temperatures. This can cause grain bins to act like solar collectors on the south side, causing currents to move inside bins. The southwest side heats up, causing the air to rise and dry the grain. ...

Sunrise Pointe Golf Course will be holding a Season Pass Open House on Saturday, March 11th from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Sunrise Pointe Clubhouse. Those interested in purchasing a season pass for the 2017 golf season are encouraged to stop by and sign up...

Celebration of Iowa: Agriculture Art Award offers $5,600 in prizes

Coltin Kramer received a gold in Job Inteview; Sam Patrick received a Silver and is an alternate in Ag Sales; Becca Mandernack received a Silver in Creed Speaking; Brittany Linke, Syndey Tauber and Grace Jesse received a gold in Chapter Programing; Melanie Monrenz received a Gold in Ag Broadcasting...

Cherokee rallies from 15 down against Crestwood to advance DES MOINES - The Braves were down by as many as 15 points on Tuesday afternoon against Crestwood but used a strong fourth quarter to rally and advance to the 3A semifinals, 70-61. Cherokee and Crestwood had a wild, back and forth first quarter that saw Crestwood jump out to an early 11-3 lead. ...

The All-Lakes Conference selections have been announced and Storm Lake has placed seven on the various All-Lakes teams. Logan Brown earned All-Lakes Academic Team honors this season, Bradley Brown, the lone State qualifier for the Tornadoes, and Andy Rodriguez were both named as honorable mentions, and Jorge Sandoval was named to the second team...

Another season of girls basketball has ripped through the area with the teams falling just short of making it to State. The five area teams suffered difficult losses yet had thrilling victories. All of the teams had a number of good players and it is time to honor these players with the Pilot Tribune All-Area teams, coach of the year and player of the year...

“The Together Again Concert” featuring Okobojians John Moore, Jessica Schable, Heath Huberg, Drew Duncan, Andrew Ryker will be Saturday, March 11, 2 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Milford. “The Arts of St. Joseph,” host for the event, announced the date change due to a performance date conflict. ...

Iowa Public Television announced today the premiere of “The Eagles of Decorah.” The documentary will premiere Wednesday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. It will also air Saturday, March 11 at 8 a.m. “The Eagles of Decorah” takes a captivating look into the private lives of bald eagles, featuring the world famous Decorah Eagles. ...

“Give Light,” a first grade informance, will be held March 7, at 7 p.m. at the Storm Lake Elementary Gym. Over 180 students taught by Mrs. Becky Brown, Mrs. San Juanita Chamul, Mrs. Vicki Flink, Mrs. Missy Jenness, Mrs. Erin Nelson, Mr. Nate Reichter, Mrs. ...

King’s Pointe Resort will be hosting the 4th Annual Pointe of Elegance Bridal Showcase from 1 – 3 p.m. in the AWAYSIS Ballroom on Sunday, March 5. Brides will have the opportunity to explore all of the elements of putting together their fairy tale wedding...

Students selected to head to State competition

Ultimate annual property tax payments exceed $2.4 million

The recent study by the Mexican government released on Feb. 9 found the monarch butterfly population wintering in Mexico dropped by 27 percent this year, returning its population to historically low levels. Roughly 40 percent of all butterflies that overwinter in Mexico are estimated to come from the Midwest, and Iowa is at the center. ...

Ice fishing has ended. Most lakes in western Iowa are ice free. Any remaining ice is unsafe. Here is a look at the DNR Fishing Report. Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Any remaining ice is unsafe for travel. After ice out is a good time to catch catfish from shore using stink bait and cut bait...

Bald Eagles have very been active in the area in the past few weeks. The warm weather has increased the activity in the Little Sioux River Valley. Other raptors are also on the move. All of this raptor activity comes just in time for the annual Bald Eagle Watch on Saturday, March 4 at the Prairie Heritage Center...

Gov. Terry E. Branstad announced appointments this week to fill Iowa’s boards and commissions. Appointees’ term begins on May 1, 2017, and are subject to Senate confirmation. Among them is Craig Francisco, Storm Lake, one of three to serve on the state Economic Development Authority. Francisco is an executive with VT Industries...

The 100 Great Iowa Nurses program announced its 2017 honorees Wednesday. Nurses selected for this honor represent many sectors of health care, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and school and office nurses. The exemplary nurses are selected based on their concern for humanity, their contribution to the community and to the nursing profession, their leadership and mentoring...

On the eve of March Madness, one of the busiest times for sports gambling, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the local Compass Pointe Behavior Health Center shared this information on how families can address problem betting.

It’s a busy afternoon in the office of Newell-Fonda nurse Stacey Tiefenthaler, as pre-schoolers through elementary kids walk in to get some hurts fixed, and a little TLC, too. “I’ve got a cut,” says one little girl, as she shows Stacey her finger.” Let me see, kiddo. ...

The Bridge of Storm Lake lost, and found, its hopes to continue the Cultivate Training Garden youth program in rapid-fire order. The local ministry reported that it had been notified that the owners of the five-acre plot behind the Seneca Center who had graciously allowed the program to use the land for gardens, needed to sell it...

Cookies - and a respectful dialogue - are secret weapons to push Iowa Legislature for ‘common sense’ policies

The Affordable Care Act has made good-quality health insurance available to thousands of Iowans who could not otherwise afford coverage. The benefits have been felt statewide, including in rural communities. In fact, according to a recent report for the Iowa Fiscal Partnership, Iowa’s rural counties saw an even greater decline in the share of uninsured residents - falling from 9 percent to 5 percent - than metropolitan counties did from 2013 to 2015...

You’ve all seen the pictures, you’ve all read the stories about that bridge in Paris — the one where lovers would clamp padlocks on the railings to symbolize their love. What putting a lock on a bridge has to do with love escapes me. Why not throw a hot dog over a tennis court to symbolize your love? Or shave off one eyebrow? Or hammer a nail into a grapefruit? It would make about as much sense as the padlock idea, which makes you wonder what 13-year-old came up with it in the first place...

I’d never thought that number 11 would have great impact on my entire life, but it has! Especially the 11th of March. And to no less extent, number 29 affects my life deeply as well. On March 11, 1924, God Blessed the world with a new son to the Lynches in Larchwood, Iowa. This baby boy grew up and brought love, care and humility to the world, and to all the parishes that he served as a priest – his name was Father Daniel Lynch...