Stories from Monday, May 7, 2018

  O’Brien County Conservation is planning a great line-up of events to celebrate the annual multi-county Wings and Wetlands Festival.  Each year several northwest Iowa counties cooperate to celebrate the return of spring to Northwest Iowa.  All of the events in O’Brien County will take place on Saturday, May 12 this year...

The Spencer Police Department arrested 37-year-old Daniel Alan Lopez after attempting to serve him with an arrest warrant in front of his residence at 22 W. First St. Lopez refused to stop for officers and fled back inside his residence. Law enforcement pursued Lopez who secured his home in an attempt to avoid apprehension. Officers forcibly entered Lopez’s residence where they found the suspect hiding. Lopez was taken into custody without further incident...

This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Walleye - Fair: Try along the north shore near Chautauqua Park, the east shoreline and the state marina. ...

Dealing with elder abuse and exploitation is part of Elderbridge Elder Rights Specialist Nancy Ketcham’s job. Many of her cases, since joining the agency more than three years ago, have involved a senior being financially exploited or emotionally abused by a family member...

A dinner was held on May 3 to celebrate the official kick off of the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum renovation at Buena Vista University. Construction is scheduled to start later this month, with a tentative completion date of December 2018.  ...

TRAFFIC VIOLATION On the evening of Wednesday, May 2, at approximately 9:20 p.m. a Storm Lake Police Officer stopped a vehicle in the 1200 block of Lake Avenue for a traffic violation. Upon contacting the driver, identified as Anthony Hernandez-Salazar, age 28 of Lakeside, police learned that the driver was wanted out of Woodbury County, on a warrant charging him with probation violation reference OWI 3rd Offense. In addition police allege his driving privileges had been barred in Iowa...

The situation continues to unfold regarding a proposal by a Johnston, Iowa developer to transform the former Wilson School building into a 24-unit housing complex, providing the City participates with funding along the way, which it has indicated it is willing to do...

Seventy students from across the state took top honors at the National History Day in Iowa contest on Monday, earning a trip to the National History Day national contest at the University of Maryland in June to compete for scholarships and prizes. National History Day is a year-long academic enrichment program that challenges students to research, develop and present papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites and performances about historical issues, ideas, people and events related to an annual theme. ...

LAURENS - A $1 million fund drive is underway toward a new pool in Laurens. To date, over $300,000 has been raised. The Earl Mackie Memorial Swimming Pool was constructed in 1955-56 and has been an important part of the Laurens summer recreational program...

DES MOINES (AP) — The Latest on the Iowa governor’s decision to sign a six-week abortion ban (all times local) at 3:10 p.m. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a six-week abortion ban into law, marking the strictest abortion regulation in the nation. The Republican governor signed the bill on Friday in her formal office at the state Capitol. But the measure is expected to quickly face a court challenge...

You don’t have to be sick to visit your primary care physician. Being proactive and working with your doctor to create a preventive care plan can help you live a healthier life and maybe even reduce your health care costs. Preventive care plans simply start with routine checkups and screenings. In fact, many health plans pay for most or all of these types of preventive care services...

The 14th annual Life Saver donor appreciation dinner was held April 25 at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. This event is held to thank those who have contributed to the annual Life Saver fund drive. Eighty-five Life Saver donors were in attendance. Again this year, the goal was met providing over $93,000 for a special project for the BVRMC OB department...

New research offers compelling evidence that media violence affects aggressive behavior. This first-of-its-kind study, led by Craig Anderson, a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Iowa State University, confirms six decades of research showing the effect is the same, regardless of culture...

Witter Gallery Summer Art Camp is targeted for children who not only enjoy creating art, but also have interest in learning about famous artists from the past and present. Our Summer Art Camp program is offered in the months of June, July, and August...

Nashville native Thomas Rhett has risen to the top fast winning 2017 Male Vocalist of the Year, playing sold out tours, topping charts with debut singles and albums, and welcoming home a new baby girl. Featured in 2013 as a free stage act, Rhett along with opener, up and comer, Danielle Bradbery, hit the Grandstand this year on Wednesday, August 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 11, at 10 a.m...

Spring has finally come to northwest Iowa and Arts on Grand is full of springtime flowers and kites and more from the Spencer preschools. What fun it is to encourage all these “Little Leonardos” by showcasing their work. This exhibit runs until May 18...

For rodeo fans, it’s time to saddle up for the 52nd Annual Cherokee PRCA Rodeo, to be held May 31 - June 2. The event features seven PRCA and WPRA events. Come early to enjoy western vendors, petting zoo, pony rides, concession stands, beer garden and different contestants each night. Save money by purchasing your tickets in advance, at www.cherokeerodeo.com/tickets...

The venture investment arm of meat giant Tyson Foods is continuing to push into alternative methods of meat production. Tyson has recently announced a $2.2 million seed investment into Israeli startup Future Meat Technologies, led by Tyson. Tyson, one of the world’s largest food producers, is also Storm Lake’s largest employer...

To much pomp and circumstance, after nearly a year of service, Buena Vista University’s new president, Dr. Josh Merchant, was inaugurated in an official ceremony Friday afternoon. Merchant, the third president at BVU in 45 years, articulated his vision of diversity, inclusivity, investment and authenticity. Merchant’s vision of the future for Buena Vista University is one where the private institution is “an institutional destination, not a second choice.”...

A disastrous fire in their building hasn’t kept the Cornerstone for Life agency down for long. The pro-life pregnancy resource center has opened in a new temporary location, 902 Flindt Drive, across from Storm Lake High School, until its former office can be repaired...

Memorial Day traditionally marks the beginning of boating season in Storm Lake and the Iowa Great Lakes region, but some boaters get a head start hitting the lake as soon as the ice clears. “Especially at the beginning of the season, everybody is so excited to get out on the water,” Iowa DNR conservation officer Joe Yarkosky said. ...

Iowa State associate professor of landscape architecture Bambi Yost is leading a national effort to assess safety and risk on school playgrounds - but not, perhaps, in the way you might think. Yost says today’s American playgrounds may actually be too safe and therefore not providing the lessons about risk-taking and consequences that were found in past generations’ play spaces...

Alliant Energy is increasing its base natural gas rate in Iowa for the first time in five years. Terry Kouba, vice president of operations, and John Boston, director of gas planning and services, spoke with the Pilot-Tribune about their May 2 proposal filing with the Iowa Utilities Board, which will raise the typical residential natural gas bill by about 15 percent...

DES MOINES, (AP) — Republican lawmakers have given preliminary approval to prohibiting Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding for sex education. GOP-led legislative committees approved budget legislation Thursday that would add disqualifying language for federal grants aimed at sexual health education to Iowa youth...

STORM LAKE - The bats came to life in a big way for Buena Vista to open up its three-game weekend series against Wartburg, as the Beavers chalked up six extra-base hits which helped lead to nine unanswered runs, en route to a big 11-5 victory over the Knights to clinch the sixth and final Iowa Conference Tournament berth...

WAVERLY - The Buena Vista men’s golf team came up just short of landing its first all-conference performer in eight years, but it did post its lowest total at the event, as it concluded this year’s championship on Saturday afternoon at Prairie Links Golf Course...

The time of year is upon the 3-6th grade students in Storm Lake to take part in the Little Tornado Relays on Wednesday, May 9, starting at 12:30 p.m. The events are slated to end around 3 p.m. In case of rain, the make up day is set for May 14 with the same starting and end times...

SLOAN - After a rain soaked Thursday night, the Alta-Aurelia track teams were able to get back at it on Friday night at the Rebel Relays. The A-A girls cruised to a first place finish with 157 points, the second place team only scoring 91. The Warrior boys took third with 98 points and Ridge View boys sixth with 49 points...

May 7, 2018

POCAHONTAS - The Twin Lakes Conference track meet got under way on Tuesday night only to see the rain come in during the middle of the event. They attempted to restart it on Thursday night, only to, once again, have the weather play a role in shutting down the event. The decision was made to cancel the rest of the meet with no conference champions crowned or any team winners this year...

SPIRIT LAKE - While most of the other track meets were getting canceled on Thursday night due to the rain, the Lakes Conference soldiered on as Storm Lake ran in the rain, and standing water. The girls finished seventh with 40 points and the boys fifth with 34.5 points. The Spencer girls took the girls meet and Spirit Lake the boys...