Stories from Friday, April 6, 2018

August 20, 1930 - April 1, 2018

Superintendent Lynn Evans of the Alta-Aurelia Community School District announced that the elementary school principal and curriculum coordinator for the district, Kurt Hannah, will be resigning, effective the end of his contract this summer. A special school board meeting is planned for early Friday morning in the superintendent’s office to approve the resignation...

The Storm Lake City Council has taken the rare action of setting a public hearing to remove two members of the Library Board. Nathan Deters and Tyrone Sims have not attended any of the monthly meetings of the board since the start of 2017, and attempts to contact them to obtain letters of resignation have produced no response, officials say. City policy dictates that a person may be removed from a board or commission after failing to attend three or more meetings...

Storm Lake city officials have decided to bring back The Hungry Herd. The goats were brought in two years ago to graze areas overgrown with problem vegetation. This coming season, 40 adult goats will be provided to clean up areas of the lakeshore. Goats would be segmented into to small sections of the terrain using fencing, and moved as an area is adequately cleared...

As the session winds down, there are only a few more major policy bills left to debate, and it is questionable whether all of them will make it to the floor. It is time to start throwing some of this stuff overboard so we can concentrate on the state budget and maybe tax reform. We are scheduled to adjourn on April 17 but it would appear that will be a difficult target to hit...

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, a lifelong family farmer and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement regarding China’s second wave of tariffs targeting U.S. commodities, including soybeans, which were announced in retaliation to the Administration’s tariffs on Chinese products...

Three local veterans have kept the history of World War II through the Vietnam War from fading to obscurity in the minds of local families. Their collection of about 20 military vehicles, located in a warehouse in Albert City, has been kept in pristine, working condition to bring to life the memories of millions of veterans...

Alta City Council met Monday evening to review the much anticipated presentation of the Westview Revitalization Plan. The Westview Revitalization Plan, presented by union organizer Jesse Case and Pastor Renata Jimenez of Summit Evangelical Free Church, articulated the goals of Westview Trailer Park in addition to the responsibilities of residents, the owner and the city...

An Alta-Aurelia FFA “Donkey Basketball” fundraiser will be held Tuesday, April 17, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the old high school gym. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door (preschoolers free), and can be purchased from any FFA member or at the school office...

The students of Alta-Aurelia (Aurelia building) which houses the junior high and Aurelia elementary participated in their 21st Annual Jump Rope for Heart event on March 28.  The students in grades 3rd through 8th grade formed teams and packed the gym, most trying for best participation, costume, attitude and all around fun. Not solely just for fun, the students raised over $4,300 for the American Heart Association.  ...

A variety of items were addressed on the Alta City Council’s agenda Monday night, from permanent stop signs and a firearms resolution to a liquor license and a Trails Committee update. The resolution that created the Pedestrian Trails and Safe Routes to School Committee was reviewed, reaffirming that the committee was indeed still in operation, and had not been dissolved by the City Council or mayor as rumored. ...

The following students were selected to compete in the Twin Lakes Conference Art Show, held Tuesday, March 20 at ICCC in Fort Dodge, Alicia Turnquist was awarded third place in pastels for her piece titled “Aww.” Grace Meier got first place with her pastel piece “Enchanted Forest.” Hope DeRoos recieved Best of Show in 3D for her ceramic “Stoneware Vase” and Vanessa Gonzales was awarded Best of Show for her 2D charcoal drawing titled “Does Anybody Care.” ...

Since 2005, the S.O.S. Thrift Store (which stands for “Support Our Schools”) has been keeping St. Mary’s Catholic School open by saving customers in Storm Lake money on every day items. From a business perspective, SOS has rare achievements for a retail store of its size. ...

As the date for corn planting approaches, farmers who planted cover crops last fall need to prepare to terminate that growth and apply the right amount of nitrogen at corn planting to ensure the best corn yields. Research by Practical Farmers of Iowa has found that killing the cover crop two to three weeks before corn planting – the common timeframe on most Iowa farms – combined with an effective fertilizer strategy can maintain corn yields while saving farmers money...

Steve Sampson is a gifted speaker, writer and effective minister who has provided thought-provoking insights to the Body of Christ about the ministry of the Holy spirit. Characterized as a Christian Bob Newhart, his unique wit combines candor and transparency while refreshing the souls of the believer. His heart is to bring the miraculous power of God into today’s church...

Ever noticed the multicolored growth on trees, rocks, headstones and fence posts?  These colorful organisms are lichens.  Anyone who loves the outdoors is probably aware of them as orange, yellow, or gray patches on trees and rocks. Lichens can be seen nearly everywhere, but they often go unnoticed. ...

The ISUEO Sac County 4-H program is looking for scrap metal to be used for our Bucket of Junk projects. The Bucket of Junk project allows the 4-H’ers to create something new out of old scrap metal by welding the materials together and entering them into the fair. ...

The Buena Vista County Soil & Water Conservation District is honored to present Thomas Demers with the $1500 Dr. T.E. Shea Conservation Memorial Scholarship. The Soil & Water Conservation District along with the Shea family recognize outstanding high school seniors who plan to study agriculture or natural resources at a two or four-year college or university...

Guest speaker Dale Arends, Chairperson of Buena Vista Supervisors spoke to us on Tuesday. He discussed various issues. Property taxes: These taxes are due now. The next asking next spring will be about the same rate $10 per $1,000. There is around $9 million in tax income from last year. New secondary road facility: Currently county equipment is housed in a building on Hudson Street. Hudson is a street not zoned in a residential area. ...

The Alta Fire and Rescue Department has released a report on the busy first quarter of 2018. The department fielded 50 calls from January through March, for a total of 446 hours on scene. The department also took part in seven local training events and many outside training opportunities, for a total of 2,603 on-duty hours. ...

Great Lakes Airlines, a regional airline that connected Spencer to destinations across the United States from 1981-2001, suspended its passenger flight service indefinitely March 26. “You hate to see guys lose their jobs and that is what is happening,” said Vernon Mickelson, chairman of the committee for the board of directors for Great Lakes Airlines. ...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents has proposed raising tuition at the state’s three public universities by an average 3.5 percent, but the plan would give much higher increases to thousands of students. Iowa State University officials seek to expand the practice of charging different tuition rates for certain majors, such as science, technology, engineering, business and math. ...

After a long, cold winter and cool and wet spring so far, paddlers are ready to put an end to their “cabin fever.” The fluctuation in air temperatures have made the warming of water temperatures a much slower process, and it take several weeks before rivers and lakes are at the ideal temperature for water recreation...

October 14, 1918 - March 31, 2018

On the afternoon of Wednesday, April 4, at approximately 12:27 p.m. a Storm Lake Police Officer while on patrol observed a window broken out at a residence located at 424 Superior Street. The officer investigated the broken window and upon approaching the residence observed that the bay window had allegedly been broken out with a broom stick. The officer looked in the home and reportedly observed an adult, female intruder in the residence bleeding from lacerations to her hands...

DES MOINES, (AP) — Iowa lawmakers have approved a bill that bans so-called sanctuary cities by withholding state funds from local governments that don’t comply with immigration laws. The Republican-controlled Iowa Senate voted 28-18 along party lines Wednesday night for the measure. It follows a 55-45 vote Tuesday in the GOP-led state House, where one Democrat voted for the bill and five Republicans voted against it...

TRAFFIC VIOLATION On the evening of Tuesday, April 3, at approximately 11 p.m. a Storm Lake Police Officer stopped a vehicle in the 800 block of West 5th Street for a traffic violation.

Buena Vista County will offer a “Last Chance” Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for private pesticide applicators on April 12 and 13 at 9 a.m. at the Buena Vista County Extension Office in Storm Lake. This program is shown in cooperation with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP)...

On Good Friday, 14 of the Sac County 4-H Council members went on a team building experience to the Greatest Escape in Sioux City. The group split into two teams girls vs. boys to tackle a room and try to escape their room in an hour. The girls were successful with several minutes left while the boys did not escape. The group enjoyed lunch and then returned back to Sac County early that afternoon. Thank you to our drivers John Weber and Tracy Pickhinke...

The Sioux City Orpheum Theater will be the site of a never before seen production of West Side Story on April 21 and 22. Thirty two professional actors from across the country will share the stage with the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra. The collaboration between the actors and a full orchestra on stage is a feat that has never been attempted by any major orchestra in the world. ...

The Storm Lake Public Library will host the second film in its Marvelous Movie Musicals series on Monday, April 9, beginning at 1 p.m. This month’s selection is a biographical musical starring James Cagney as George M. Cohan, who was also know as “the man who owned Broadway.” Released in 1942 this classic musical features well known songs such as “Give My Regards to Broadway” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Light snacks will be served...

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City announced today that rock bands Counting Crows and +LIVE+ will be performing at Battery Park on Saturday, September 15. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6 :30 p.m. This adds to the list of nine other shows previously announced. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 6 at 10 a.m. at www.hardrockcasinosiouxcity.com or at the Rock Shop. Battery Park is open to all ages...

The “Party in the Pasture” returns to rural Cherokee this summer, August 3 and 4, with country music, camping and outdoor fun. Early-bird festival ticket sales began Friday. The lineup has just been announced. Early bird weekend passes are $55 or $125 for VIP. Camping is available...

Three local students have been honored as winners of the 2018 “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. Sixty-seven 7th graders in Storm Lake took part this year in the contest sponsored by the Iowa League of Cities. The Storm Lake City Council passed a resolution this week to congratulate the students. Mayor Mike Porsch joked that he now knows where to go for advice...

For veteran Storm Lake state legislator Gary Worthan, the immigration enforcement bill passed by the Iowa House this week left him “the most conflicted” he has ever been in his political role. The bill which would withhold state funds from local governments that resist immigration laws passed 55-45, opposed by all but one Democrat, and supported by all but five Republicans...

Iowa is set to become the latest Republican-led state to target so-called sanctuary cities by withholding money from local governments that don’t comply with federal immigration laws, even though the plan could lead to court challenges...

Some may not imagine the face of Jessica Skelton when they think of what a missionary looks like. The co-director of The Bridge, a neighborhood ministry in Storm Lake, moved into a trailer at Vista Estates Mobile Home Park, behind Pizza Ranch, in November. Not out of necessity, but out of a desire to get closer to the kids and families she cares about. She does not expect the people she reaches to come to her. She goes to them...

The GK Storm Gymnastics team will be sending two gymnasts to Regionals in Cedar Rapids to represent the competitive gymnastics team from Storm Lake. Top gymnasts from seven states will be competing for a spot on the podium. For a GK Storm gymnast to qualify for Regionals, they must reach an All Around score of 36 at two or more sanctioned meets in one season and be a Silver level or higher. ...

STORM LAKE - The third ranked team in 2A, Storm Lake, began their 2018 season on Thursday night hosting the Humboldt Wildcats. The green and white struck fast and struck hard against the visitors enroute to an 11-1 victory, the game ending with nearly nine minutes left on the game clock...

March 24, 2018

June 14, 1938 - March 25, 2018