Stories from Monday, July 15, 2019

Dakota Access oil pipeline opponents plan to request a hearing on a proposal to nearly double the pipeline’s capacity. The North Dakota Public Service Commission decided unanimously Wednesday to open the proposal up for public input. Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman, who represents the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said the tribe wants the pipeline shut down, but since there is a proposal to expand its capacity, “Someone needs to be accountable to make sure that’s safe and legal.”...

There are approximately 30 judicial mental health advocates who serve the 99 counties of Iowa. Clay County’s mental health advocate, Abby Wallin, initially served the needs of six counties including Clay, but now serves a total of eight, with her office located in the O’Brien County Courthouse...

Joanne and H Schar, Spencer, are July’s Artist of the Month for the Sanford Museum in Cherokee. The couple began collecting artifacts from Africa for the thirty years they spent in Africa while they served in the Peace Corps. They worked in many countries. Just to name a few are Zaire (the Congo), Madagascar, Kenya, and Burkina faso...

Nashville recording artist Shelby Lee Lowe will hit the stage at Buoys Bar & Grill at the Storm Lake Marina, July 27. Shelby Lee Lowe is a modern mountry artist heavily rooted in neo-tradition. Listeners can quickly hear echos of Bakersfield blended with contemporary lyrical styles and indie-rock influence. ...

Are you ready to soft rock? asks Pet Rock, an Omaha-based group that is fast developing a following around the midwest as something of a tribute band to the sights and sounds of 1970s music (minus the disco, they add). Pet Rock makes their first trip to Storm Lake as the third band in the Storm Lake United Lighthouse series of concerts this summer, offering up a free show on the Awaysis Park Great Lawn, Friday, July 19, 8-11 p.m. Everyone is invited...

With the heat index already reaching above 100 degrees this summer, leaving children or animals unattended in a vehicle can quickly become dangerous. Northwest Iowa has already experienced a tragedy in 2019 with the death of a Sioux City child after being found unconscious in a vehicle in above 90-degree weather two weeks ago...

Give blood with LifeServe Blood Center to save local hospital patients! LifeServe Blood Center is the sole provider of blood to more than 120 hospitals and medical centers across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. We don’t hold blood drives in an area unless we serve that county or city’s hospital. When you donate with LifeServe, you can feel good knowing you could be saving the life of someone you know!...

Lawmakers disappointed with the governor’s veto of a medical cannabis bill are calling for legislative leaders to convene an interim committee to study options for revising the state’s program. Sen. Joe Bolkcom and Rep. John Forbes, both Democrats, on Tuesday released a letter asking Republican leaders who control committee assignments to appoint a study committee to allow input from advocates, medical experts and others...

Locals gets wet and wild on a recent warm day at King’s pointe waterpark.

Jordan Hewett captured this photo, one of the many entries in the 4H exhibits at the Buena Vista County Fair that completed its annual run last week.

Plans for an apartment complex development in the area between Hy-Vee and the 10th Street Townhomes is on hold. The project by West Echo Development out of Cedar Falls is apparently waiting on tax credits from the Housing Workforce program, and now may not happen until next year, city officials said...

A mural project is being planned for Storm Lake. The potential artist has offered to paint the backstop wall in Chautauqua Park, with the city supplying the paint. The design must be approved by the city. Hopes are that other projects and artists in the city will be inspired, possibly including walls in the alleywalls downtown...

Twenty-five-year-old Jaci Hermstad continued her battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS, Thursday morning when she received her third infusion of Antisense Oligonecleotide, as known as ASO. Each treatment Jaci has received has increased by a factor with her latest infusion representing three times the amount of the original. ...

Twenty-two veterans on average commit suicide in the United States every day. Veteran Thomas Zurhellen walks an average of that many miles every day as he treks across the U.S. to raise awareness to veteran issues like suicide and homelessness. Starting from Portland, Oregon in April and heading for his home in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., he is traveling without a tent or plans for where to sleep, he seeks to experience some of the insecurity that many veterans without homes experience...

If you can’t make it to the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, why not let it come to Cherokee? That’s the idea behind the State Historical Society of Iowa’s “History on the Move” mobile museum, a bright blue, custom-built Winnebago that travels the state’s highways and back roads to share stories from the past...

Storm Lake Senior Housing (at 210 E. 13th St.) had their Resident Appreciation and Promotion Summer Picnic, Thursday, July 11 (They have a very short waiting list). They have just recently become a “Smoke-Free” Property.  BV County Pork Producers grilled pork burgers and brats for their celebration.  There was food and games to keep the day full of fun. ...

On the evening of Thursday July 11 at approximately 7:30 p.m. Storm Lake Police Officers were called to Mo’s bar on in regards to an intoxicated female subject who reportedly punched a window and was suffering from injuries.  On arrival officers made contact with a female identified as Amy Cooper, age 39 of Fonda.  Police allege that Cooper was suffering from minor lacerations and abrasions to her hands and legs.  Police allege that Cooper engaged in an argument in the 700 Block of Geneseo Street and allegedly punched a glass window there.  Cooper then walked to Mo’s bar at which time bar patrons observed her to have injuries and contacted police.  Police allege that Cooper showed signs of heavy alcohol intoxication.  Cooper was treated on scene by BVRMC paramedics for her injuries and refused further treatment.  Cooper was placed under arrest and charged with Public Intoxication, a simple misdemeanor and transported to the Buena Vista County Jail where she was booked and held on $300 bond.. ...

A classic Massey-Harris 44 tractor gleams in the parking lot of Fairway, advertising a raffle opportunity to take it home. The competition is helping to promote the annual Albert City Threshermen & Collectors Show. The drawing will be held Sunday, Aug. 11 at 4 p.m. Tickets for this fundraiser can be purchased for $5 each or 5 for $20. Get them from any board member or by calling the office at 712-843-2076. The show runs August 9-11 and features Massey equipment...

On the morning of Tuesday, July 9, at approximately 10 a.m. the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to 123 Superior Street in reference to check the interior of a rental home that was supposed to be vacant. Upon arrival of police they spoke with the landlord who alleged that the tenant was advised to move out of the home but appeared the home was still occupied...

Laurens native and Pilot-Tribune alum Dean Hopkins crossed an item off his bucket list on Friday, taking part in the Running of the Bulls during the Fiesta de San Fermin celebration in Pamplona, Spain. The event has been taking place since 1591. Hopkins said he not only completed the run safely, but managed to collect some dirt from the Plaza de Toro floor as a momento...

Efforts to repair the flood-battered Linn Grove Dam, and restore the Little Sioux River to its original channel, are getting underway. Divers explored under the dam last week, checking to see if erosion has undercut the landmark that dates to the 1870s. Local officials have not yet seen the report from the dive...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources does not plan to adopt more stringent beach water quality standards despite objections from at least one critic in the Iowa Great Lakes. Iowa Lakeside Laboratory Director Mary Skopec said the current testing threshold of 20 micrograms per liter of water for mycrocystin toxins may not be adequate to protect the most vulnerable beachgoers — children...

A soil testing company gathered samples late last week in Scout Park, a first step toward a proposed project to build a new joint university-community recreation center that would be located on a portion of the parkland. City officials had hoped to do the testing in early spring, as soon as the ground thawed. However, lingering rains kept the land soft, and created concerns that the heavy equipment used to drill the soil borings would damage the parkland...

STORM LAKE - It was the final regular season home game on Thursday night for the Storm Lake baseball team as they welcomed in MOC-Floyd Valley. The Tornadoes used an early lead to ward off a potential Dutch rally to take an 8-5 win. “We talk a lot about playing a complete game and being good from a hitting, pitching and defense stand point,” SL Coach Ben Seaman said. “Ethan (James) and Mark (Eddie) both pitched really well and we hit the ball well, but didn’t play good defense.”...

ONAWA - The Ridge View softball team went back to work on Friday night in the 1A-District 2 semifinals as they took on the Ar-We-Va Rockets. Ridge View only needed five innings to get past the Rockets, taking a 10-0 contest. “The coaches were happy with the win over a hot Ar-We-Va team,” RV Coach Scott Phelps said. “We came out very focused and played very relaxed. I was really happy with the way we hit the ball up and down the lineup and our defense was very solid.”...

FONDA - The Newell-Fonda softball team kept the win streak alive and got one game closer to the State tournament on Friday night in a 1A-Region 2 semifinal. The Mustangs took an 8-1 decision over the Exira-EHK Spartans to pick up their 17th win in a row...

Unexpected donations could suddenly provide the means to get two park projects underway in Storm Lake - a new dog park, and development of the vacant land set aside for Russell Street Park. Mayor Mike Porsch revealed the offers to the Mayor’s Committee on Parks, Trails and Urban Forestry, though the identity of both potential donors, for the time being, is not being made public...

ALTA - The first two innings proved to be the difference maker in the 2A-Region 4 semifinal contest between Alta-Aurelia and Woodbury Central. The Warriors jumped out to a large lead and played defense the rest of the way to take a 10-3 win to advance to the Regional final on Monday night...

REMSEN - The Ridge View baseball team hung around for the first couple of innings on Saturday night against George-Little Rock in 1A-District 2 quarterfinal play. But G-LR had better pitching on the night as they were able to end Ridge View’s year with a 7-2 setback...

PETERSON - The St. Mary’s Panthers and Sioux Central Rebels played each other for the third time this season. The first two times, the Rebels were able to get the better of the Panthers and Saturday night proved to be more of the same. Sioux Central took a 10-1 victory over St. Mary’s in 1A-District 3 play to end their season...

FONDA/PETERSON - The Newell-Fonda baseball team closed out the regular season on Thursday night against Twin Lakes Conference foe Pocahontas Area in a non-conference contest. The Mustangs had the hits but the runs didn’t come in a 9-3 loss to the Indians...

ALTA - The Alta-Aurelia Warriors held their regular season finale on Thursday night against the Spencer Tigers and came away licking their wounds in a 9-4 setback. Spencer got fired up early with three runs in the top of the third to take the early lead. ...

Both a young competitor and her show animal seem to enjoy the refreshing spray of the wash-down booth during a warm day at the Buena Vista County Fair.