Stories from Monday, November 26, 2018

On the evening of Monday, November 19, at approximately 10:39 p.m. a Storm Lake Police officer stopped a vehicle in the 100 block of West 5th Street for a traffic violation. Upon contacting the driver identified as Carl Coleman, age 19 of St. Louis, MO, police allege they detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Police located a small amount of marijuana in Coleman’s possession at which time he was arrested...

Jeffrey Dean Nyren, age 50, of Omaha, Nebraska and formerly of Storm Lake and Albert City, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, November 18, at CHI Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, comforted by his daughters. A Celebration of Life Service was held on Saturday, November 24, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will take place at a later date. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. ...

Floyd Westbay, age 80, of Newell died on Monday, November 19, at the Pomeroy Care Center in Pomeroy. Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 24 at the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell. Burial was in the Newell Cemetery. Visitation took place on Friday, November 23, from 4 -8 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

Long-time radiation oncologist Dr. Donald Nordstrom has announced his plans to retire at the end of 2018, concluding 20 years of caring for patients at Abben Cancer Center of Spencer Hospital. In addition to his direct patient care activities covering two decades, Dr. Nordstrom was instrumental in initial planning activities when Abben Cancer Center services were initiated in 1997...

12/2- Bomgaars Ladies’ Night, Portions of proceeds to Oncology, 5-8 p.m. 12/3- Watch Me Grow, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. OB Dept. 12/4- Collective Goods/Books R Fun Auxiliary Fundraiser, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. KEC 12/4- Storm Lake Community Blood Drive-LifeServe Blood Center, 12:30-6 p.m. Main Entrance...

Storm Lake Community Schools nurse Twyla Kleen was recently honored with the Excellence in Pediatric School Health Award at the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards. Local school leaders accompanies her to Omaha for the presentation.

According to preliminary data from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), the number of deaths involving opioids from January to August of 2018 has fallen 35 percent from 2017. So far, 89 opioid-related deaths have occurred during the first eight months of this year, compared to 137 during the same time period last year...

The Auxiliary Gift Shop at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center is stocked and decorated for the holidays. BVRMC thanks all its volunteers for their time ordering, displaying and selling merchandise to benefit our hospital.

Ann and Carol’s open house will be on Saturday December 1, 1 - 3 p.m. and Sunday December 2, 1 - 3 p.m.

Major Andrew Lingenfelter, the son of Cherokee residents Burt and Kim Lingenfelter was recently promoted from Captain to Major by the United States Air Force in ceremonies held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Major Andrew J. Lingenfelter, was joined by a large family contingent to celebrate the significant military promotion in ceremonies held Oct. 5. Lingenfelter’s mother, Kim, is the Superintendent of Cherokee Schools...

The Newell American Legion 74th annual soup dinner will be Sat. Dec. 8, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. at the Allee building in Newell. They will be serving chili, oyster stew, and chicken noodle soup. Freewill offerings will go to the Legion scholarship fund. and can be made to:...

Summit Church of Alta is pleased to host the band Cloverton on Thursday, December 6 as part of “A Hallelujah Christmas Tour.” The tour is sponsored by Compassion International and will also feature national touring artist Dan Bremnes. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. performance. The event is free and a love offering will be taken...

Cherokee Superintendent Kim Lingenfelter (center) holding grandson Grayson Abbenhaus, poses with several family members to celebrate her son, Andrew’s recent promotion from Captain to Major in the United States Air Force. Ceremonies were conducted on Oct. ...

Would you like to meet a talking dog? A real dog that thinks “speak” means “speak your mind”? Then have Todd Oliver introduce you to his canine comedy partner, Irving the Talking Dog! Comedian Oliver is the next act in the Storm Lake Community Education 2018-19 Performance Series. The show is Saturday, February 16, 7:30 p.m. at Storm Lake High School auditorium. For ticket information, contact the Community Ed office...

The restored historic Holstein State Theatre will host the Polar Express Pajama Party, Sunday, December 9, 1-3 p.m. Ticket information will be shared soon, watch the theater’s website and Facebook page for details. Join in a wintry adventure aboard The Polar Express, where pajamas are encouraged and hot cocoa is mandatory! The main attraction will feature a showing of the popular holiday adventure classic: a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express. ...

Next in the series of Swim Up Movies at King’s Pointe Indoor Waterpark is “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” - the 2000 live action version starring funnyman Jim Carrey and based on the classic Dr. Seuss tale. Showtime is Sunday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. Admission to the waterpark includes the movie...

Country music icon Dwight Yoakam is coming to northwest Iowa, with one show Friday, January 18, 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City. Country radio listeners will know the artist for signature hits including “Ain’t That Lonely Yet,” “Streets of Bakersfield,” “Honky Tonk Man,” “Guitars, Cadillacs,” “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere,” and “Fast As You.”...

This is the time of year to think about the generosity of spirit! The O’Brien County Conservation Board has an event planned which will do just that. Come to the Prairie Heritage Center for an event called the “Giving Tree.” Listen to a classic tale that combines a giving spirit with nature. ...

On Nov. 5, Buena Vista University’s student organization Teachers Inc. and members of BVU’s Kappa Delta Pi honor society hosted an event entitled, “Dory and the Dean,” to discuss the positive impact therapy dogs have on youth. The event was named in honor of Dory, a therapy dog who visits the Storm Lake Middle School and interacts with students several times each week.   ...

District Court Judge Carl Petersen on Friday sentenced a Milford woman to 20 years in prison for causing a fatal traffic crash in Osceola County. Ann Marie Vanderpool received her sentence following an Oct. 3 plea agreement with prosecutors. Evidence suggests she had a blood alcohol of 0.145 when her eastbound 2012 Chevrolet Captiva crossed the centerline and collided with a Toyota Camry driven by 48-year-old Spirit Lake businessman Travis Mier...

A January trial has been scheduled for a 28-year-old man accused of killing two brothers who lived in Fort Dodge. Webster County court records say Tanner King, of Fort Dodge, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder. ...

By DANA LARSEN Pilot-Tribune Editor In its second week, the Adopt-A-Family for Christmas project has seen 117 families adopted. The Pilot-Tribune and Upper Des Moines Opportunity co-sponsor the program each year, matching generous individuals, families, businesses, clubs, classrooms and church groups with needy local families to provide the Christmas experience they might otherwise not have...

A sleigh to go with a new lifesize Santa carving proved popular with children at the season opening for Santa’s Castle Thanksgiving Day.

Raven Rose finds the best attribute for ghost hunters is patience People sometimes approach Storm Lake’s resident ghost hunter Cynthia Gerodias and begin their story with, “You’re gonna think I’m crazy…” She smiles and replies, “I’ll bet you’re gonna think I’m crazier.”...

Inspired by the national cancer awareness “No Shave November” campaign, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Iowa has modeled a program to encourage farmers to practice no till methods as they complete the fall harvest. While no till methods have been in use locally for decades, the campaign represents an attempt to increase awareness of the practice and its potential to help maintain soil health through improved efficiency...

With a new Congressional composition and more pragmatic tones coming from right-of-center circles, Director of Public Safety Mark Prosser says Storm Lake has reason to hold onto hope for change on immigration policies that impact the town disproportionately...

Buena Vista County Habitat for Humanity is running behind on fundraising, but with the help of a grant, is still on track for its 2019 project - building the first duplex in the program’s history. So far $20,600 has been raised toward a 2018 fund goal of $45,000. “Even though we’re a bit behind where we’d like to be, we’re still in better shape than we’ve been, and we’re very grateful for that,” said Director Misty Sanderson...

Patti Lange of Storm Lake captured this colorful image of a sunset on the newly-frozen lake.

The Buena Vista University Rock Ensemble 1, comprised of talented BVU students, will present their fall concert Wednesday, Nov. 28, performing a variety of selections in rock, pop and blues genres, with several featured soloists. The show begins at 8 p.m. in Anderson Auditorium at BVU, and admission is free...

Times are changing in education, finds Storm Lake High School Principal Beau Ruleaux. During a recent visit with local students to the Grand View University, Ruleaux was surprised to find that students there are given scholarships for video game play...