Stories from Friday, March 29, 2019

Storm Lake’s Fareway is learning a new name after 20 years, after “Bryan” became synonymous with the store’s word for “manager.” The store welcomes their new manager, Jason Williams from Greenfield, who has been with the company for seven years. Former manager Bryan Baumhover transferred to his hometown’s store in Carroll this week after 40 years with the company. ...

Plains Area Mental Health, Inc. is pleased to announce that Jessica Hudspeth, MSN, PMHNP-BC has joined our group of professionals to provide services in the Cherokee, Ida Grove, Storm Lake and Carroll offices of Plains Area Mental Health. Jessica received her Master of Science in Nursing in Psychiatry from The University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. ...

Valentina’s Meat Market, the specialty grocer that bring tastes from around the world to one place, has moved. The move to 111 East 6th Street across from City Hall, previously occupied by BV Stationery and Printing, about doubles the space they have, taking their possibilities from a warm bodega to an inclusive supermarket...

The Cherokee Symphony will present the Young Artists Concert Sunday, April 14, at the Cherokee Community Center at 4 p.m. The 50-member Cherokee Symphony is under the direction of Ted Hallberg, LeMars, and will open the concert with Soon Hee Newbold’s American Landscape. Earlier this year, three outstanding young soloists were selected after auditioning and will be featured and accompanied by the Symphony...

Two shows remain in the current season of the Storm Lake Community Education Performing Arts Series. Tickets are available now for Stage and Screen With Gary Arbuthnot, April 26. Showtime is 7:30 at the high school auditorium. International virtuoso Gary Arbuthnot presents a show that will thrill and delight all audiences. ...

The location for the Farmers Bill of Rights rally in Storm Lake Saturday has been changed from Frank Starr Park to Storm Lake High School. The rally will begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at noon. Scheduled speakers include presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren; John Boyd, founder of the National Black Farmers Association; Family Farm Action board member Wes Shoemyer; and Chris Peterson, an Iowa hog farmer and board member of the Organization of Competitive Markets. ...

Five Storm Lake High School freshmen were invited by the State Historical Museum of Iowa to participate in the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of Tinker vs. Des Moines Independent School District, a decision which reinforced First Amendment rights for students. ...

The Buena Vista County Historical Society will be presenting a program on the Orphan Train movement. Lori Vicker, from Spirit Lake, will present “Remembering the Orphans,” a visual presentation of life for the children rescued from the city streets of New York and shipped west by train for a new future with families in rural Midwestern communities...

Today is Pioneer Lawmaker’s Day at the Capitol. Pioneer Lawmakers are those who have reached the 20th anniversary of their first election to the Iowa House or Senate. Many former legislators will return for the ceremony in the House chamber this afternoon and other scheduled activities around the Capitol. ...

Next Friday is the second funnel so both chambers were busy this week moving legislation through the process. With the weather finally starting to warm a bit, everyone is itching to finish the session and return home. That could happen in another month...

Some additional positions will be added in the Storm Lake schools to respond to student needs. During the March school board meeting, the board approved adding a K-F Talented and Gifted teacher. Superintendent Stacey Cole said the district has been hearing the need for additional support for upper-end students from both staff and parents. With the addition, the district will have three educators dedicated to Talented and Gifted programs covering the various K-12 grade levels...

Wednesday, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Washington-based Food & Water Watch filed a lawsuit against the State of Iowa claiming that the state has violated its obligation to protect the Raccoon River for the use and benefit of all Iowans...

The Hy-Noon Kiwanis food distribution was held Wednesday. The events serve nearly 200 needy families with goods provided by the Food Bank of Iowa. Food was handed out assembly-line style by Kiwanians and about 25 volunteers from the community, to the grateful recipients. ...

County roads are getting better slowly but surely in Buena Vista, a county that fared comparatively well to other neighbors included in a 56-county federal emergency declaration across western Iowa. Gravel roads are still soft, but now usable, said County Engineer Bret Wilkinson, as Secondary Roads Department crews took down the last of the road closure barriers and signs earlier this week after they were exhausted to cover the county...

The top goals for the Storm Lake City Council moving ahead will be: 1. An accurate 2020 Census count. 2. Encouraging housing development. 3. Developing community pride 4. Improving aging infrastructure 5. Enhancing marketing of the community The council took part in a strategic planning session Wednesday night, culminating with the council members and mayor casting their votes for top goals from a lengthy list of wants that they had compiled during the discussion...

Melanie Morenz of Newell, was one of more than 1,700 current University of Iowa students who recently collaborated to raise almost $3 million in financial support for the UI Stead Family Children's Hospital as participants in the 25th annual UI Dance Marathon...

The Freedom Quilts program based in Fonda will be holding its annual ceremony to honor military families. This year’s Heroes event will recognize five heroes and their families. Families are coming from as far as Florida and Illinois to take part. The event will be held at the Freedom Quilts Shop, 13637 550th Street, Fonda, April 13. The event begins at 1:30 p.m. and families will arrive at 2 p.m...

After a failed bond vote on their last plan, Superintendent Stacey Cole has revealed the details of four new options for Storm Lake Community School District’s Early Childhood Education Center. The options range in total cost from $25.8 million to $38.6 million, with a range of levy increases from $1.63 to $2.88 per $1,000 property evaluation...