Stories from Friday, June 22, 2018

Excessive rains over the last few days are causing wastewater to runoff from some cities and livestock facilities in northwest and north central Iowa. "So far, cities are able to meet the demand for safe drinking water," said Ken Hessenius, area Department of Natural Resources director. "So there is no cause for alarm."...

Iowa women's group spearheads a new conversation on meeting the Storm Lake need.

It appears that a second phase to complete a proposed Early Childhood Center building for the Storm Lake School District will have to wait until at least 2026, even if a bond issue vote in December is successful. A first phase of the building is estimated to cost nearly $20 million, which would provide space for preschool programs only. ...

After problems with fireworks from last year, numerous towns in Iowa have banned firework use within city limits, including the city of Storm Lake. But, firework sales are still booming. The firework business does not seem to be going anywhere, and is only growing with to popular demand. ...

"Mind your manners," you might have been told as a kid. But if you're settling in to a brand new country, what exactly are those manners supposed to be? This is a problem that teacher Sandra Duque's class at Storm Lake Middle School solves. Duque teaches her English Language Learner students in fifth to eighth grade, who have been in the United States anywhere from a month to two years, not only the language, but the customs of English speakers. This includes food and table manners...

Four Alta-Aurelia High School students will represent their school district in the Iowa Ambassadors of Music's upcoming tour of Europe. Carly Drenth (Bb clarinet), Colton Henkel (percussion), Kirk Langner (baritone) and Matthew Edwards (percussion) will tour England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Liechtenstein. The 2018 tour, continuing a 30 year biennial tradition, will take a 200-member band and 150-member choir comprised of members from across Iowa...

The Alta and Aurelia school boards took care of its regular business Tuesday night while preparing for its official transition and honored retirees who have served the district. New hires for the 2018-19 school include TJ Schaefer for high school social studies, Dan DeGroot for high school science, and Paula Dicks for Alta Elementary. All three hires are veteran teachers with experience in Iowa...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center's Fitness and Health Center's personal fitness coach, Paola Michel, visited the Alta Community Library last Monday to teach two Latin dances. Michel has been working at the BVRMC Fitness and Health Center for nine years, but she has had an abundant amount of dance experience before working as a fitness coach in Storm Lake. ...

MONONA - The game between the Ridge View and West Monona baseball teams on Tuesday night came down to who could make the last play. The Raptors, up by a run in the bottom of the seventh were unable to make that play, bowing 5-4 to the Spartans. Ridge View got on the board first in the top of the first with a run. ...

MONONA - Going to the bottom of the seventh, Ridge View’s ladies held a lead over West Monona. However, they were unable to ward off the rally bid in the Western Valley Conference game, falling in a 7-6 heartbreaker on Tuesday night. West Monona got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the third. ...

ALTA - In a game that was started on June 11 was finished on Tuesday night between the Alta-Aurelia and South Central Calhoun baseball teams. The Warriors were able to rally in the last three and a half innings to play to take a 3-2 contest to get their 13th win and eighth in the Twin Lakes Conference...

ALGONA - After a rough first three innings on Tuesday night, Storm Lake began to turn it around against the Algona Bulldogs, outscoring them 16-1 in the final few frames for a 16-4 victory, their 11th of the season. The Bulldogs broke a scoreless game in the bottom of the second with a run and then added two more in the bottom of the third. Storm Lake came back to tie in the top of the fourth with three runs, the two teams scoring once in the top of the fifth to make it a 4-4 contest...

STORM LAKE - The hits were hard to come by on Tuesday night for both Storm Lake and Grattinger-Terril/Ruthven-Aryshire’s ladies. There were a combined eight hits on the night, but Storm Lake made a handful more plays than their opponents did to take a 5-2 victory, their seventh of the year...

The Iowa Utilities Board and representatives from Interstate Power and Light Company (known locally as Alliant Energy) met Monday evening at King's Pointe to hear concerns from locals about its proposal to increase natural gas rates, filed May 2, and install smart meters. It was one of six meetings held by the IUB around the state in the process of determining whether to approve Alliant's permanent annual revenue increase request of $19.8 million, or 8.4 percent...