Stories from Friday, May 3, 2019

Storm Lake United will host a Business After Hours from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, May 6, at the Buena Vista University Golf Course at Lake Creek. The event, which features hors d’oeuvres and drinks, will allow the public the chance to meet Joe Powell, BVU’s new full-time golf coach who will also serve as clubhouse manager at the 18-hole course north of Highway 7 west of Storm Lake. Powell will introduce himself and share details of his background in the golf world at 5:30 p.m...

Expertease, the full-service salon with 24 years of experience in Storm Lake, has relocated from Lake Ave to East Lakeshore Drive. The building formerly occupied by Posh Boutique (which has since moved to Lake Ave,) is Expertease’s new home across from King’s Pointe. ...

100+ Men Who Care selected the St. Mary’s Booster Kyle Drey Hoop Fund as the next recipient of a charitable cash infusion, donating $3,200 Wednesday to the fund that will be used to make basketball more inclusive for smaller children. The late Kyle Drey, a revered St. Mary’s basketball player, was killed in June 2018 when the agricultural sprayer he was driving was hit by a train at a rural railroad crossing. Drey was 33...

The season championships of the Outlaw Truck & Tractor Pullers Association, which will include the return of the popular Pro Stocks class, will serve as the grand finale in the Sleep Number Grandstand at the 2019 Clay County Fair. The finals will include two sessions on Sunday, Sept. 15, beginning at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m...

With only 95 days until the Iowa State Fair, there’s a lot to be excited for, including an array of free entertainment acts. From classic rock, comedy and ’90’s hits, from hip-hop, to Christian, jazz, blues, pop and country, “Nothing Compares” to the line up at the 2019 Iowa State Fair. ...

Pass the popcorn, the summer movie season is here and all the spectacle and air-conditioned respite it offers audiences. Summer at the movies has long been synonymous with blockbusters and franchises that are easy to spend a few hours with. For the most part, 2019 is no different...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s School is happy to report that the school once again has achieved a perfect score on the Iowa Assessment standardized exams – a rare feat for a school of any size. St. Mary’s High School freshmen students achieved 100 percent proficiency level in reading where the state average is 83 percent. The St. Mary’s eighth grade students achieved 94 percent proficiency in reading where the state average is 75 percent proficiency...

Storm Lake native Andrew Kirpilani and his fiance Sandie Holmes have made news after uncovering a unique painting on the floorboards of their home in the south side of Des Moines. Kirpilani and Holmes bought the house after moving back to Iowa a year ago after a stint in Tennessee. ...

Students, faculty, and staff from Buena Vista University took part in BVU’s 106th annual Buenafication Day on April 30. Classes were not scheduled, allowing members of the campus community to volunteer their time to spruce up campus, help people in need, and complete projects on properties of local public and non-profit organizations. At left, cleaning Scout Park. At right, bagging food for the neady. / Photos from BVU...

“Beautiful” says it all, as in the work at top by Kao Chee Xiong, one of hundreds of pieces featured in the annual Storm Lake High School student art show, held in the auxiliary gym last Friday and Saturday. Visitors wandered among the displays of drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture and ceramics. Daniele Renteria earned Best of Show honors. / Pilot photos by Dana Larsen...

Jim and Amy Meyer of Alta are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Shelby Meyer of Aurelia to Roman Redig, son of Roger and Pat Redig of Aurelia. Shelby is a 2010 graduate of Alta High School and 2012 graduate of Iowa Lakes Community College with an Associate of Science Degree in Agricultural Production. She is currently employed at Alta- Aurelia Community School District as a paraeducator in kindergarten in Aurelia...

Book Babies will be held at the Storm Lake Public Library on Saturday, May 4, at 10:30 a.m. This is a special story time for little ones under 36 months of age. The program begins with a puppet theater greeting, then progresses to story board rhymes, songs and finger-plays. The toddler craft will be a play dough figure...

The May meeting of the Buena View Federated garden Club will be on May 7th at 5:30. we will be meeting at the butterfly garden, locatedat Frank Starr Park. bring a chair and something to drink. light refreshments will be provided. Tim Humes will be presenting information on butterflies and pollinators. everyone of every age and every garden knowlege level is invited. in case of rain will meet at 114 East Third Street, Storm Lake. questions? [email protected]...

A-Tisket, A-Tasket – Storm Lake United wants you to win a Mother’s Day Basket! Storm Lake United’s annual Mother’s Day contest is back again for 2019 My Picture-Perfect Mom begins May 1st and runs through next Wednesday, May 8th. The grand prize is a one-night stay at King’s Pointe Resort and free brunch at Regatta. To participate, just upload a favorite photo of your Picture Perfect Mom to Facebook or Instagram and hashtag it #mypictureperfectmom...

From Sunday, April 14 through Tuesday, April 16, members of the Ridge View FFA chapter attended the State FFA Conference in Ames, Iowa. While at the convention, several students received phenomenal awards and recognitions. Receiving their Iowa Degrees were Russell Brummer, Connor Pickhinke, Rayann Volkert, and Katlyn Wiese. ...

On May 1 at approximately 11:13 a.m., at the intersection of Hudson St. and E. 4th St. in Storm Lake, a vehicle driven by Ignacio Alonzo Negrete Ocampo of Storm Lake, was involved in an accident with a vehicle driven by Eufemio Vazquez-Velazquez of Lakeside. The two vehicles collided causing total damages estimated at $9500. Negrete Ocampo was cited for Failure to Obey Stop Sign, Failure to Provide Proof of Finical Liability, and Driving While License Denied or Revoked...

September 21, 1974 - April 27, 2019

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is mulling key decisions on several divisive bills that have been approved by the Legislature. Among the issues to be decided are sports betting, limiting duties of the attorney general, prohibiting the use of Medicaid funding to pay for sex-reassignment surgery, and outlawing the use of government funds for sex education courses offered by Planned Parenthood...

Buena Vista County along with other Counties that have a flood disaster declaration have been awarded funds to help Private Well Owners affected by the flood, test and treat the well. If your well has been affected by floodwaters or high water tables because of the flooding, the Environmental Health Office can test your well for bacteria and nitrates and include arsenic at no cost. ...

The Buena Vista County Historical Society has debuted its 2019 exhibit, celebrating the history of Main Streets in Storm Lake and the other communities of the county, inclining this charming scene. The exhibit is open to the public Tuesday-Friday 12-4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Water temperatures are in the mid 50’s. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers have picked up crappie in the marina using crawlers and minnows fished under a bobber. White Bass - Fair: Use crawlers and twisters. Walleye - Fair: Some are having luck from shore in the marina and along the north and east shores with twisters, leeches and minnows. ...

Newly-elected State Auditor Rob Sand is dishing up PIE around Iowa—Public Innovations and Efficiencies. The new auditor, who defeated incumbent Republican Mary Mosiman in November, says the effort to save taxpayers money and increase efficiency should be as popular as the tasty treat...

Local paranormal investigation team goes looking for spooks - in a ‘haunted house’

Operations, state now better equipped to respond; African swine fever threat looms

“It’s exciting to see kids proud of being bilingual as an advantage, not as something to overcome. It’s a mind shift.”

SPIRIT LAKE - Despite a three hour delay due some of the courts being wet on Wednesday, the Storm Lake boys along with the five others Lakes Conference schools were able to get the conference tournament done. The green and white took fourth place and netted an All-Conference selection...

STORM LAKE - The Storm Lake girls took part in the Lakes Conference girls tennis tournament on Wednesday. The green and white battled hard and came away with a fifth place finish in the six team league. Spencer claimed first, Spirit Lake second and Estherville-Lincoln Central third...

SPENCER - Despite the rain, cold and wind, Storm Lake boys golf was able to get nine holes in on Tuesday night. The green and white played against Spencer and Western Christian. Storm Lake scored a 174 for second as Spencer won the meet with a 149. Storm Lake finishes third in the Lakes Conference for duals...

SPENCER - For around the first 25 minutes on Tuesday night, the game was going fine for the Storm Lake girls soccer team as they took on Spencer. However, after a couple of goals, it began to not only rain from the sky but on the field as the Tigers bested the Tornadoes, 10-0...

STORM LAKE - The Storm Lake boys soccer team not only had to battle the cold, wet rain on Tuesday night but also their heated rival in the Spencer Tigers. The two teams battled back and forth but three second half goals from SL senior Jose Martinez lifted Storm Lake to a 3-0 victory...

Storm Lake Police have cracked a drug trafficking operation, seizing 70 pounds of marijuana, over four pounds of crystal meth, "magic mushrooms" and illegal weapons including assault rifles. Thursday, police along with the local tactical entry team and sheriff's department SERT team support, executed a search warrant at 1005 East 9th Street. There, they seized four pounds of what the believe to be methamphetamine and a 2012 Infinity...