Stories from Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Storm Lake Middle School presented an epic Spring Concert recently to close the school year, featuring the 7th and 8th grade band, jazz band, choirs and orchestra for a total of 14 pieces performed in one evening. The school will be offering summer instrumental lessons, a summer strings camp complete with a concert in July, and a marching band camp for students coming into 7th or 8th grades...

Four local graduating seniors have received $1,500 scholarships through the Discovery Scholarship program sponsored by the Flint Hills Resources Arthur ethanol plant. The Discovery Scholarship recognizes outstanding achievement both inside and outside the classroom. Scholarship winners are selected based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership, entrepreneurial skills and their intent to pursue careers in STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – or agriculture...

The Buena Vista University Concert Choir has been named a finalist in the prestigious American Prize national nonprofit competition in the performing arts, the only Iowa choir to earn the acclaim this year. “It’s an extreme honor for us,” says Dr. Merrin Guice, BVU’s director of vocal studies. “With this advancement to the position of finalist, we are joining some very big-time ensembles.”...

The 2019 DAR Good Citizens from six area schools are proudly announced by Buena Vista Chapter. Anna Tiefenthaler of Newell-Fonda, Rachel Kenny of Ridge View, Ben Hargens of Sioux Central, Kylee Lange of Storm Lake, and Alondra Melendez of St Mary’s were selected by their local schools. ...

Buena Vista University Commencement was held Saturday. Students made the march to the fieldhouse, top. Above, some of the creative mortarboard decor celebrating the students achievements, and in one case (center) bemoaning student debt.

On the morning of Thursday, May 23, at approximately 9 a.m. the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to the Storm Lake Wal-Mart Store in reference to a domestic assault. Upon arrival of police they met with the reporting party who alleged that the father of her children physically assaulted her during an argument and then took her vehicle and departed from the parking lot without her permission...

Nellie Meyer, age 94, of Sioux Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, May 21, at the St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 28, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids. Burial will be in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place on Monday, May 27, from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements...

Boy Scout troop 104, together with members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and American Legion will be conducting a flag retirement ceremony Sunday, June 2 at 1. Worn American flags will be respectfully burned in the ceremonial fire pit located in Scout Park, at the south end of Terrence St. More than 300 flags will be retired...

An impromptu social media effort blossomed into a full-scale car show in Storm Lake Saturday, which quickly became known as “Storm Lake Area Street Crew.” Over 50 vehicles were on hand in the Ace Hardware parking lot, from tuners to lifted off-roaders to high-performance motorcycles - even this youngster got into the act. The response was so great, organizers hope to do a show perhaps monthly. Watch the Street Crew’s Facebook page for announcements...

he B. V. Co. Historical Society enjoyed a great group of young people and their adult friends on Wednesday afternoon, from the Midwest Christian Services which is part of Sioux Central School district. Mr. Steven Posey along with several adults joined us right after lunch, and toured the museum. ...

On May 17, Delta Dental of Iowa’s break room transformed into a meal packaging facility. The tables were lined up, the hairnets and food safety gloves were in place and employees were hard at work packaging 20,000 meals for Meals from the Heartland. The company’s Giving Back and Bringing Smiles to Iowans project includes three components: give, provide, and volunteer...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center has implemented the new Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) training program through contributions given in memory of Judy Sievers, who passed away in August, 2016. Judy was a long-time resident of the Albert City and Storm Lake areas, and was a member of the Buena Vista Regional Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Oncology patients benefit from the caring and kindness of Sherry Allen and her daughter Audrey Wiley. Sherry, an oncology breast cancer survivor takes pleasure in giving back to others going through cancer treatments. ...

The Sac County Fair board is sad to announce that this year’s Chuckwagon Race will be the last for the popular event. The show will be July 6 at 6 p.m. Bring the whole family for a wild evening of fun as cowboys display their skills handling stripped down wagons and galloping horses. ...

Arnolds Park Amusement Park officially opened Saturday for the 2019 season. The Iowa icon will be open daily starting Friday, May 24. The park has seen many changes over the past few years. Park goers this weekend will see a new ride being installed. ...

Enjoy a leisurely float down the Little Sioux River while stopping at various sandbars along the way. Megan Stroh Messerole, the Sanford Museum’s Archeologist, will be sharing her expertise about local history and helping identify potential artifacts that adventurers may find along the way...

Tickets are available now for Buena Vista Community Theatre’s “Shrek the Musical”. Come celebrate with all your favorite characters including Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Pinocchio and Lord Farquaad. This show is family friendly and is a delight for all ages, organizers promise “a laugh out loud extravaganza.” Call Carol at the Box Office (732-4157) to reserve your tickets...

Tyson awarded a $20,000 grant to the Trepson Foundation Friday. Half of the grant will be used for the Day of the Child Multicultural Event in September, and half will be used for efforts to expand childcare facilities with the Trepson Foundation, pooled with matching city, county and state funds...

On the evening of Sunday, May 26, at approximately 11 p.m. the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to 706 Geneseo Street #5 in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival of police they met with Karon Ritchie, age 57 and Larnel Brown, age 52 both of Storm Lake. ...

The Daughters of the American Revolution began awarding medals to ROTC students in 1967 in recognition of the importance of ROTC in preparing trained officers for service in the Armed Forces. Medals are awarded to cadets of outstanding ability and achievement in high school, junior college, college, or university ROTC programs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. ...

Scenes from the Memorial Day ceremony Monday at Storm Lake High School. Scouting youngsters lead the Pledge of Allegiance, A Touch of Broadway performs, veterans in the crowd with their memories.

DES MOINES - Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has vetoed a bill that would have lifted a cap on the potency of medical marijuana products available in the state. Reynolds vetoed the bill Friday afternoon, saying the state must proceed cautiously in any expansion of its medical marijuana program. Reynolds says she could support future more limited effort to increase the potency of products...

Freshly-minted Storm Lake High School grad Paola Salcedo Garcia is congratulated by sisters Esmeralda and Jade moments after receiving her diploma during tye recent graduation.

By RUSS MITCHELL Special to The Pilot OKOBOJI — The founder of Templeton Rye hopes another mix of Iowa geography and distilled spirits will be the cocktail for success. Foundry Distilling Co. owner Scott Bush on Thursday launched Okoboji Vodka at a Pearson Lakes Art Center event in Okoboji. He describes his brand of vodka as “100% corn, pot-distilled and gluten free.”...

“Not a pinpoint of light showed from those hundreds of ships as they surged on through the right toward their destiny, carrying across the ageless and indifferent sea, tens of thousands of young men of new professions, fighting for… for… well, at least for each other.”...

By ELIJAH DECIOUS Pilot-Tribune Staff Just two and a half years since she received her Bachelor’s degree—at age 57—Governor Kim Reynolds urged 570 Buena Vista University graduates Saturday to remember that it’s never too late. Like most of the graduates present, Reynolds started college immediately after high school. It wasn’t until several children and grandchildren later that she actually finished...

This 10-part series, a collaborative effort of the newspapers of Rust Publishing, NWIA, examines the myriad issues surrounding the mental health care crisis in Iowa. Reporters and editors from the Spencer Daily Reporter, Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune and Dickinson County News have contributed to the report...

PETERSON - It was a thrilling finish to the first game of the year for the Sioux Central softball team. The Rebels played host to Harris-Lake Park and came away with a 5-4 walk-off win in seven innings. H-LP got the scoring started early with a one run top of the first. The next five innings didn’t see much in the way of offense for either team. Harris-Lake Park took a big three run top of the sixth to move their advantage to 4-0...

NEWELL/KINGSLEY - The fifth best team in 1A, Newell-Fonda, played host to Humboldt on Friday night and saw how powerful the 3A school was as the Wildcats took a 10-2 score. “Humboldt is a great team that does the little things right and came out firing in the first and never let off the gas,” N-F Coach Courtney Darrow said. “We need to continue to get better at putting the ball into play. Defensively we have some things to clean up.”...

NEWTON - The rain last week impacted the Boys State golf tournament in a way that hasn’t been seen since the early ‘90s. All three classes cancelled the second day of the State meet on Friday, leaving it as a one round tournament. For the Newell-Fonda boys, they finished in fifth place in 1A, and were more than disappointed at not having the chance to move up the rankings...

ALTA/KINGSLEY - The Alta-Aurelia Warrior softball team got their season underway on Thursday night as they played host to West Bend-Mallard. The Warriors were able to cruise to an 11-1 win in six innings over the Wolverines. “Abby (Kraemer) pitched a great game and had awesome control. ...

EVERLY - The second game of the season for the St. Mary’s softball team was a nail biter on Thursday night. The Panthers traveled north to take on the Clay Central-Everly Mavericks and the two teams went down to the final out. The seventh inning Panther rally fell short as they dropped a 3-2 contest...

CARROLL - The difficult and frustrating season for the Storm Lake girls soccer team came to an end on Thursday night as they were shut down by the Carroll Tigers, 1-0, in substate play. “We did not play well. We have a tendency to play the level we are playing against, and Carroll was not controlled and did not play possession. ...

PETERSON - The Storm Lake baseball team went a little north for a pair of games on Saturday and came back home with two victories for their efforts. The Tornadoes were able to best Westwood and then Sioux Central to get their second and third wins this season...

STORM LAKE - The Tornado softball team got back on the field on Friday night as they welcomed in the Generals of Sibley-Ocheyedan. Storm Lake showed patience at the plate, had timely hits and junior pitcher Skylar Cole kept S-O from getting on base as the green and white took a 10-0 contest in five innings...

STORM LAKE - The past few games of the season have seen the Storm Lake boys soccer team be a second half team, putting a little more stress and worry on the green and white coaches and fans. On Saturday night in the 2A Substate 1 finals, Storm Lake played a balanced game against Sergeant Bluff-Luton, taking a 4-1 contest to punch their ticket back to the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines...