Stories from Monday, August 20, 2018

ALTA - It was the final night for this year’s races at the Buena Vista Raceway this season as five champions were crowed in their respective classes. Seventy-three racers took part in the season’s final races. It was also kid’s appreciation night as they got to ride in the cars around the track...

Jan Knudtson, age 64, of rural Sioux Rapids, Iowa, died on August 14, 2018, at her home. A Celebration of Life Memorial Gathering will be held on Friday, August 17, 2018 from 4-6:00 p.m. at Inspiration Vines and Wines in rural Linn Grove, Iowa. Visitation will take place on Thursday, August 16, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. ...

Elizabeth S. Merten, age 73, of Storm Lake, Iowa died on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Celebration of Life services were held on August 17, 2018 at 2 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Elizabeth loved college football, in honor of that guest wore thier favorite Buena Vista University, Iowa State, Nebraska, or college team apparel. ...

August 27, 1945 - August 14, 2018

Headed into a third year of a teacher leadership program, the Storm Lake school district has gone from having six mentor teachers to float among the buildings to having three that are each assigned to a specific building and three others working in the district in general...

The Storm Lake Police and Fire Department responded to the 100 block of West 5th Street for a fuel spill Thursday afternoon. Witnesses told first responders that they observed one to two gallons of gasoline leak from a container on the back of a truck and due to rain run towards and into a storm drain near the intersection of West 5th Street and Michigan Street...

Children continue to flow into the Storm Lake Elementary system headed into the first day of school. By the end of last school year, numbers had reached 900 students. New principal Barb Lange said that current enrollment is 920, with new students continuing to arrive in the community...

Steffes Company in Milford played host to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley on Monday Aug. 6. The construction company was one of several stops Grassley said he was making in the region. Grassley said he values the visits as a way to connect with constituents and hear their concerns...

"The Queen II is basically one of a kind," Captain Lance Freed said. "I don't think there's another like it in the country." Freed is one of six captains -- the others being Rory Marra, Jim Jensen, Jim Danbaum, Mike Manly, Brian Bright and Bill Maas -- who turn the tiller from time to time aboard the Lakes Area's most well-known excursion boat. Freed has been on the roster of captains for 18 years, but the history of the Queen II extends well beyond his time -- to the original Queen, of course...

Methodist Manor's newest nursing home facility on the lake is making the final touches on its building, using the rest of August to finish construction. Construction is set for completion September 7, with resident move-in slated for September 14. Open house events are being planned starting this week...

As a decisive December public vote on funding nears, plans for a proposed new Early Childhood Center are being gradually pounded into shape. Representatives of the DLG Group architect firm recently met with the Storm Lake School Board to discuss progress and changes...

Storm Lake has been serving as a mentor for other cities struggling with rapid growth and diverse populations. But as the City Beautiful continues to set a shining example, will national politics put a dimmer on our progress?