Stories from Wednesday, July 31, 2019

The Storm Lake Police Department announces that 24 block parties have been scheduled throughout the city for the 2019 National Night Out Event scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, August 6. Once again this year the Storm Lake Police Department joined by the Storm Lake Fire Department and Buena Vista County Paramedics will be visiting the block parties and sharing information as well as answering questions and networking with community members...

Memorial services for Albert R. Engdahl, 94, of Aurelia, will be 12 (noon) Saturday, August 3, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee with Pastor Jean Morse officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Aurelia. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia is in charge of arrangements...

Mari Susan Becker, 63, a resident of Portland passed away on July 23, at her home. A memorial mass is planned for 11 a.m. August 17th at St Clare Catholic Church in SW Portland Mari was born on June 22, 1956 in Storm Lake, Iowa. She was the oldest of six children born to Dean and Mary Estelle (Pickens) Cole. ...

Elaine E. Kennedy, 89, Omaha, NE, formerly of Storm Lake, passed Sunday, July 21, after a brief hospice at home. She passed peacefully after a valiant and optimistic effort dealing with numerous health issues during her lifetime. Mrs. Kennedy, formerly Elaine Olberding, was born at home on a farm with a midwife, on October 1, 1929 at Arcadia, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Victoria (Dora Nees) Olberding. ...

Hope Haven recently received a $2,375 grant from Iowa Lakes Electric Members Charitable Foundation’s “Operation Round Up” grant. The grant will provide a sensory lounger at Hope Haven’s Faith, Hope & Charity (FHC) division in Storm Lake, IA. Some children served at FHC often deal with sensory issues that disrupt the way they respond to sensations, which severely impact their daily activities and quality of life. ...

Matthew Lake and Leslie Murphy would like to announce their engagement. Leslie graduated from Newell-Fonda in 2010 and she is currently attending Iowa Central for Agricultural Technology. Matthew graduated from Denison High School in 2008. He is the Operation Superintendent for Landus in Yetter. They plan to be married on August 24th, 2019 at the Hausbarn in Manning. /Photo submitted...

School districts throughout the U.S. are struggling to find school bus drivers, a challenge that has worsened with low unemployment and a strong economy. The problem has become so severe that some districts are offering sign-up bonuses for new drivers, while others rely on mechanics, custodians and other school employees to fill the gap. For parents and students, the shortage can mean longer waits for a ride to school and more crowded buses...

High school and current college students will once again have the opportunity to win Upper Iowa University tuition awards and free classes during the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. To enter the respective drawings, students are encouraged to visit the University’s information booth during the August 8-18 event...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s preK-12 School’s registration “Panther Fair” will be held Wednesday, August 7 from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. in the parish center at 300 E. Third Street in the parish hall. Parents with students who will be attending classes for the 2019-20 school year should attend this come and go event. New and interested parents should also attend...

Nothing but smiles from BV’s first-year Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling graduate students. They had an exciting residency week ahead of them.

Briana Roberts, AC of Pierce, White, & Liberty Halls, has traveled to more than 17 countries. Briana encourages students to take advantage of traveling opportunities at BVU. “Expanding what you learn here, globally, is what I try to encourage and excite students about.”...

Dr. Dan Kinney of Iowa Central Community College was officially awarded the IACCT (Iowa Association of Community College Trustees) 2019 Iowa Outstanding Chief Administrator Award last week in Council Bluffs.

The Pearson Lakes Art Center proudly announces this year’s Art in the Park, which will be conducted from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, on Preservation Plaza in Arnolds Park. This event, overlooking the beautiful West Lake Okoboji and next to Arnolds Park Amusement Park, is a juried show featuring handcrafted work of artists from throughout the Midwest and nation. ...

Blues/swing/Americana artist Patrick Recob has spent most of his musical career honing his craft as a bassist performing with a stellar list of who’s who of national act blues artists. He has stepped into the forefront with the release of his critically acclaimed album, PERPETUAL LUAU bringing his blues for the new millennium on the road with high energy performances that are deeply dedicated to traditional blues and a side of his own original material. ...

The Storm Lake United Lighthouse Concert Series has pepped up the park with down-home country, alternative contemporary, and classic rock and roll shows, all free to everyone on the lakefront Great Lawn at Awaysis Park. Wrapping up the first-time series is the worldly sound of Parranderos Latin Combo, taking the stage August 9, 8-11 p.m...

Iowa gas prices have fallen 6.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.55/gallon to start the week. Gas prices in Iowa are 1.6 cents per gallon lower than a month ago, 18.1 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. Storm Lake pumps were mostly at $2.65 for super unleaded. Although traditionally well below state average, local gas has been above the norm for the past three weeks. The lowest prices Monday were at Murphy USA at $2.54, and Yesway at $2.61...

Sen. Chuck Grassley will hold town meetings in Sac County on August 5 and Cherokee County on August 6 as a part of his annual 99 county meetings. “Representative government is a two-way street. You can’t have representative government without dialogue between elected officials and the people we represent. I appreciate the opportunity to hold town meetings, answer questions and take comments from Iowans,” Grassley said...

Sioux Rapids held its first Sweet Corn Eating Contest as park of the Tall Corn Days community celebration over the weekend. Competitors had to eat seven ears of corn and whoever finished first was the winner. A tiebreaker was held for second place with the person eating one ear the fastest earning the honor. ...

Milford Fire Chief Jim Carpenter is officially back on the job after the Milford City Council meeting on July 22. The council members unanimously opted to retain the city’s longtime fire chief after a sometimes contentious month of discussion. “It’s a big relief to the department and to the town,” Carpenter said. “We’ll do the best we can.”...

The annual Classic and Wooden Boat Rendezvous was held Saturday at Arnolds Park. The Iowa Great Lakes Antique and Classic Boat Society has sponsored the boat show for several years. A boat parade is held in the afternoon. Forty-two boat owners had pre-registered crafts this year. ...

Members of the Storm Lake Water Advisory Board would welcome a larger role in the environmental efforts of the community. Periodic meetings of such a board is a requirement of the city’s permit status as a sensitive lakefront community, though the group doesn’t meet often. The meetings primarily consist of an update to the board about commercial development projects and how they will address storm water flow...

By Dale Wegner The Sac Sun One act of kindness kept growing as the Sac County 4-Hers stepped up to the Bonus Auction on Saturday, July 27, at the Sac County Fair. At the outset of this year’s Sac County Fair, it was announced that a new capital project to replace the show ring and beef/sheep barn would be started. ...

Chad Husman, of Stalcup Ag Service in Storm Lake recently reported on crop season progress in Northwest Iowa. “Weather troubles in this area started in late March when heavy snow cover combined with rain and rapid warming caused extensive flooding. The worst hit areas were southwest of our region in Nebraska, but the Big Sioux and Little Sioux Rivers in NW Iowa also had major flooding. These were the same areas that flooded multiple times last year,” said Husman...

An idea created by 7-year-old local girl Ryan McVinua has resulted in a campaign to help Storm Lake’s animal hospital, and you can help by ordering an original t-shirt. “It all started out of the blue one day. We were driving through Storm Lake and my daughter, Ryan said, ‘I came up with a saying I want people to remember’,” Ryan’s mom Ralna said. “She then tells me it is, ‘Always have fun, always adventure, always explore.’”...

In Iowa, sports are about community just as much as they are about competition. Susan Kies, 2019 IGHSAU Softball Hall of Fame inductee, has embodied that mentality since she began her career at Newell-Fonda High School in 2006. “Once we reached eighth grade, we were given the option of going to high school softball or staying in the major league, and I chose to go to high school softball where I started varsity my eighth grade year,” Kies said...

The 97th Northwest Amateur Golf Tournament in Spencer, Iowa is just a couple of days away. The NW Am has been held at the Spencer Golf and Country Club since 1921. It was the 2nd golf tournament ever played in Iowa, with the Iowa Amateur being first. ...

Buena Vista University stadium hosted the DCI Shoreline Classic, a Drum Corps International Tour event, Monday night. Six of the country’s best marching bands performed and competed for the crowd, one week ahead of the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis. Musicians for the River City Rhythm from Minneapolis were enthusiastic performers. See Friday’s Pilot for more photo coverage...

Last week the the Iowa Girls Coaching Association released the 1A through 5A All-District teams. The Pilot-Tribune area saw seven players earn a spot on one of the All-District squads, and one of the coaches earned Coach of the Year honors. In 1A-Northwest District: Newell-Fonda saw three players pick up the honor as Ella Larsen, Olivia Larsen and Bailey Sievers were all named to the team. ...