Stories from Monday, February 26, 2018

February 22, 2018

February 22, 2018

Recently, Iowa Department of Health allowed MedPharm Iowa to become the first licensed medical cannadiol manufacturer. By law MedPharm must offer the medical cannabis products by Dec. 1. Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, and Sen. David Johnson, I-Ocheyedan, both supported the Medical Cannabidiol Act which allows cannabis products to be grown and dispensed in Iowa as an oil for seriously ill patients. They also supported the law’s predecessor in 2014...

Cherokee County Ag Day 2018 was extra special for one local organization. In addition to celebrating Ag Day, Iowa State (ISU) University Extension and Outreach - Cherokee County also celebrated 100 Years of Extension in Cherokee County. John Lawrence, Interim Vice President for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, attended Ag Day and presented Extension Council members and staff with a commemorative plaque in celebration of 100 Years of Extension...

Floor debate picked up this week. Bills that survived the first funnel are now coming to the floor for further approval before being sent to the House for the next step. Bills passed by the House are moving to the Senate, working their way through committees, to be eligible for debate before we reach the second funnel date...

ACCIDENTS On February 22, at approximately 12:55 p.m., in the 700 block of Grand Ave. of Storm Lake, a vehicle driven by Jerry Paw of Storm Lake, was involved in an accident with a vehicle driven by Kevin Bergen of Storm Lake. The two vehicles collided causing total damages estimated at $2800. Paw was cited for Unsafe Backing.

Julie Beehler, of Spencer, delivered the most powerful address at Saturday morning’s Eggs and Issues session to three area state legislators when she made a heart-felt plea for more funding to address mental health concerns, especially in schools. “I really prepared myself through this week of listening to the tragedies in Parkland, Florida. ... I work in health care and I deal with mental health. We need more resources in that school, all schools in Iowa.”...

The Storm Lake Music Department will present their 56th Annual Parade of Bands Concert on Monday, March 5 beginning at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. The concert will feature music of Karl L. King. Students in grade 5-12 have been learning all about this famous composer who lived in Ft. ...

Spencer Hospital is offering a way for local residents to evaluate their general health outside of your annual physical. “We work very closely with the family practice physicians at Avera Medical Group Spencer,” said Susan Zulk, Spencer Hospital vice president of marketing and fund development...

A new, comprehensive analysis by the University of Iowa published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found previous diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder have underestimated the number of American children suffering with the disorder...

Trinity Foundation is accepting nursing scholarship applications for the 2018-19 academic year. Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic merit, leadership, citizenship and career objectives. Preference is given to qualified applicants from the eight counties (Buena Vista, Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Sac, Webster, and Wright) served by UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge...

• March 1- The New Tax Laws and You FREE Lunch and Learn, Speaker: Syverson Strege and Company, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. KEC • March 3- Childbirth Class, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. KEC • March 5- Watch Me Grow, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. • March 6- Sibling Class, 6:30 p.m. KEC • March 6- Storm Lake Community Blood Drive-LifeServe Blood Center, 12:30-6 p.m. KEC...

When a blood donor makes a lifesaving donation with LifeServe Blood Center, they’re not just receiving the immediate gratification of saving three local lives. LifeServe Blood Center blood donors earn online store points for each unit of blood donated. From t-shirts to hats, blankets and hoodies, LifeServers have plenty of gear to choose from in the online store. Points can also be donated back to LifeServe’s scholarship program...

With warm nostalgia for Beatrix Potter’s classic children’s tale, “Peter Rabbit ” director, producer and co-writer Will Gluck channels the author’s earnestness into a sweet film sure to delight young fans. Adults may find the plot predictable and the pacing a bit wanting, but the dynamic animation and beloved characters help compensate, as does the film’s cheeky self-awareness...

The Clay County Fair announces that Tesla will perform as part of the SRG Concert Series in the Grandstand at the 2018 Clay County Fair on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tesla formed in 1984 in Sacramento as City Kidd, and was renamed Tesla during the recording of their first album, 1986’s Mechanical Resonance, on the advice of their manager that City Kidd was not a great name (in addition, there was already another band going by that name) The band derived their name, certain album and song titles, and some song content from events relating to inventor and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. ...

Twelfth Night is a recording of a live cinema play that you cannot see anywhere else in the area. It is a tale of unrequited love – hilarious and heart-breaking. Two twins are separated in a shipwreck, and forced to fend for themselves in a strange land. The first twin, Viola, falls in love with Orsino, who dotes on OIivia, who falls for Viola but is idolised by Malvolio. Enter Sebastian, who is the spitting image of his twin sister.....

Storm Lake city officials will research the possibilities of a new “Opportunity Zones” program for Iowa. “Absolutely we would be interested,” City Manager Keri Navratil said. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office and the Iowa Economic Development Authority announced Friday an invitation for cities, counties and communities in eligible areas to apply to be considered for designation as Opportunity Zones...

On the evening of Thursday, February 22, at approximately 8:44 p.m., the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to 1726 East Milwaukee Avenue #10 in reference to a 911 call where a 7 year old boy had allegedly been left home alone. Upon arrival of police they made contact with the 7 year old child and learned that he and his 6 and 1 year old siblings had allegedly been left home alone for an extended period of time at which time he became concerned and called 911...

The STARS Mentoring program took center stage at the recent Storm Lake Board of Education meeting, as thee pairs of the longest-matched adults and students spoke about their experiences. Program Director Angie Woodford told the board that there are currently 105 mentor-mentee matches in the district schools, with a record 13 high school seniors soon to graduate out of the program. There are always young people on a waiting list for additional volunteers...

Keith and Jackie Frantum are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary on March 12. Send them a greeting to 8840 E. Sunland #127 Mesa, AZ 85208.

Storm Lake schools will repay a favor to Buena Vista University, in the form of opening its high school kitchen for BVU to use this summer to satisfy the events held on campus. With a $15 million project to renovate the Forum building at BVU getting underway after the current semester ends, the kitchen will be gutted and out of commission. BVU leaders approached the school district to ask if they could share one of the school kitchens...

The Mayor’s Committee on Parks, Trails and Urban Forestry hasn’t met since November of last year, but plans are to return the group to active status next month under new Storm Lake Mayor Mike Porsch. That will be just in time to work on a new recreation trail project that proposes to run a 10-foot concrete trail from a trailhead on C49 past The Reserves complex, down the 16th Street area to the high school area, according to City Manager Keri Navratil. ...

Construction of a new three-story Methodist Manor complex as part of a $15.5 project is progressing well this season. “Things are moving right along. You can really see it coming together now,” CEO Nick Landgraf says. Over winter, concentration has shifted to the interior of the structure. ...

A fund drive necessary to keep the Storm Lake neighborhood ministry program The Bridge operating has proven more than successful. A goal of $32,000 was needed, and $42,000 has been raised with some funds still trickling in. A banquet fundraiser was held last fall, raising only enough to sustain The Bridge through January. So this winter, a #savethebridge drive was mounted, with letters sent out to many area residents...

PELLA - Senior Garrett Rohlk broke his own school record during the weight throw on Saturday at the IIAC Championships and placed fourth overall while fellow senior Brennan Dostal also chipped in with a pair of top-5 finishes to help lead the Buena Vista men’s track and field team...

PELLA - Junior Brooke Runneberg saved her best jump of the year for her last, as she cleared 1.59m on her first attempt to win a three-way tiebreaker and claim the individual crown in the women’s high jump on Saturday afternoon at the Iowa Conference Indoor Championships, hosted by Central College inside of the H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse...

CORALVILLE – Three gymnasts from The Turn Around’s GK Storm gymnastics team competed at the Winter Wonderland meet in Coralville, Iowa on Feb. 16-18. Bronze Team gymnast Lea Johnson scored on 8.6 on vault for eighth place, 8.25 on bars, 9.3 on beam to tie for fifth and 9.3 on floor tying for third. She received a 35.45 all-around score placing her ninth in her age group...

A season ago under long time head coach Steve Eddie, the Buena Vista baseball team went 26-17 with a third place finish in the Iowa Conference. Some experience returns but the Beavers are also looking to replace some production in other areas, namely catcher...

CHEROKEE - For most of the night on Thursday, Newell-Fonda and South O’Brien went back and forth against one another, neither team finding too much of an advantage. However, the Mustangs went the final seven minutes of the game without a bucket, the Wolverines going on a 13-0 run to seize the 1A-District 2 championship, 55-46...

October 14, 1954 - February 14, 2018