Stories from Friday, September 6, 2019

July 1, 1936 - August 25, 2019

Gov. Kim Reynolds, joined by business and education leaders, announced this week opportunities now available through the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning, a virtual space that connects students and employers through shared projects that enable students to learn through real-world professional experiences...

Fall cover crop seeding, cover crop funding and seeding covers into standing crops are some of the highlights of an Aug. 27 field day at Iowa State University’s Allee Demonstration Farm. Lyle Rossiter, Allee Demonstration Farm superintendent, will begin the program by reviewing the growing season and discussing cover crop research at the farm...

MidAmerican Energy has announced its plans to erect fast-charging stations for electric vehicles in more than a dozen Iowa cities. The Des Moines-based energy company says it plans to build the publicly-accessible stations, with two charging plugs per station, in 15 urban and rural communities. A DC fast-charger, also called a “Level 3” charger, can generally charge an electric vehicle in 20 to 45 minutes...

Construction is well under way on a new fuel filling station at the Storm Lake Hy-Vee store. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen

The Clay County Fair filled out its prime time Grandstand lineup with an “American Idol” winner, a Beatles tribute band and a contemporary Christian standard-bearer in 2019. Concert attendees are encouraged to note Grandstand guest services changes for the upcoming fair. ...

Storm Lake United has offered Buena Vista County a chainsaw sculpture from the recent Wood, Wine & Blues carving competition. Lee Duttfield said that the carvings created during the event are currently in Sunrise Park, but SLU hopes to distribute them more widely in the community, and promote self-guided tours for visitors to see them as the collection continues to grow...

Buena Vista County officials will begin requiring a bill of sale to register newly-obtained vehicles, starting January 1. The documentation is needed to verify ownership and price for private transactions, treasurer’s officials told county supervisors this week...

A man accused of helping a new volunteer firefighter set fire to a corncrib in western Iowa so that he could be first to respond has pleaded not guilty. Sac County District Court records say 18-year-old Alexander Lilly, Newell, entered the written pleas Friday to charges of arson, burglary, criminal mischief and trespass causing damage. His trial in Sac City is scheduled to begin Dec. 10...

The date has been set for a unique local event - the 3rd Official Storm Lake Taco Tour. A small church group originally started the tour as a way to celebrate Storm Lake’s diversity - in people and tastes. It then grew into a fun public event to determine the coveted honor of the best taco...

Join former state restoration painter, Rosa Snyder, as she divulges untold stories and reveals hidden treasures of Iowa’s most recognized landmark. The Sanford Museum in Cherokee will host “Glimpses of Iowa’s Capitol,” Saturday, Sept. 14, 7:30-9 p.m. Admission is free...

Join the naturalist to get up close and personal with monarch butterflies. Everyone will get an opportunity to tag a monarch. Tagging monarchs is part of an ongoing research project with the University of Kansas to track migrating monarchs. We will also discuss the decline of monarch butterflies and what you can do to help!...

The children of Ron and Jerene (Meseck) Neir happily announce their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Ron and Jerene were married on September 6, 1969 in Charter Oak. They have been blessed with two daughters. Children: Tina (Eric) Royer and Jennifer (Ryan) Royer. Grandchildren: Andy, Max, Ben, Daniel, Lizzie and Katie. Ron and Jerene Reside in Storm Lake. /Photo submitted...

A bridal shower will be held for Sarah Schacherer, bride elect of Brody Lichtenberg, (son of Eldon & Donna Lichtenberg) on Saturday, September 14th from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Paul Luthenan Church Fellowship Hall, 405 Division Street in Alta.

Youngsters took part in free games and contests Labor Day weekend for the Santa’s Castle fundraiser event in Chautauqua Park. Gettig a bean bag in the clowns mouth was good for a prize. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen

1946 - August 25, 2019

September 16, 1926 - September 3, 2019

Residents of the Storm Lake Community School District will vote on a bond issue Tuesday, September 10. On election day, all voters must cast their ballots at the Buena Vista County Courthouse, located at 215 E. 5th St. in Storm Lake. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. No other precincts will be open...

As the time for filing for local Council positions has opened, soon election signs may be dotting the Storm Lake. Remember, signs cannot not be placed on public right of way. Also, signs cannot be placed on private property without permission. In a neighborhood, the public right of way is generally the area between the sidewalk and the curb. Please be respectful when initially placing signs and courteous by removing them in a timely manner, city officials asked this week...

For the first time in a year, there are areas of Iowa where groundwater conditions are beginning to show stress, according to the latest Water Summary Update. “For the third month in a row, Iowa received below normal rainfall. After such a wet start to the year, the below normal rainfall has pushed more than half of the state into abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources...

Updates from the Storm Lake Police Department, the Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office and the Storm Lake Fire Department.

The Clay County Board of Supervisors met with Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Executive Director Ted Kourousis and Clay County Conservation Director Will Horsley regarding the final phase of the Iowa Great Lakes Trail project, continuing from the bike trail’s completed second phase which stretches north of Spencer into Clay County. The project’s main purpose is to link the Spencer trail system with Fostoria and the Dickinson County trail system...

The Spencer Community School District has suffered a second bout of costly vandalism after a Suburban owned by the district had its windows destroyed last week near the high school. Spencer Superintendent Terry Hemann said the incident has led to increased security by the district...

Storm Lake Farmer’s Market director and participant Linda Patterson draws a crowd with her fruit bread loafs. The markets are now bursting with fall fare, and will continue Thursdays 4-6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon on the courthouse green, through October 12. / Photo by Dana Larsen...

The Storm Lake City Council has approved railroad crossing surface repairs for Cayuga Street and the two crossings on Oneida. The City has been seeking the agreement with the Canadian National Railroad since at least 2015. The DOT will pay 80 percent of the costs of the improvements. ...

The Storm Lake City Council took several actions this week to refinance some outstanding sewer and water debts, which will collectively save the City just over a million dollars over the life of the bonds. Interest rates that have been 3.3 percent will be reduced to around 1.7 percent, and in some cases, the debts will be retired one or two years earlier than they otherwise would have been...

Under a variety of circumstances, more than the usual number of downtown business locations are vacant, soon-to-be-vacated, for sale, or for rent this season. A dozen spaces are in those circumstances on Lake Avenue downtown or the adjacent blocks of Railroad Street, including a former hair salon, a studio, a dance club, a small former restaurant site, the two storefronts that once housed Maurice’s, and a Latino-themed shop. ...

The U.S. Census Bureau is in need of workers in the area to canvass addresses in advance of the 2020 Census effort. Storm Lake city officials met recently with a partnership specialist of the Census Bureau to begin strategizing for next year’s count...

The annual Labor Day weekend celebration in Fonda featured a parade, dunk tank, demo derby and other events, but the rodeo is always a fan favorite. At top, a cowboy fights a losing battle in the bull riding. Below, a youngster needs a rescue from a rodeo clown in the children’s mutton bustin’. / Photos by Scott Kilbride...

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds joined Buena Vista University President Joshua Merchant in announcing that Don Lamberti, founder and longtime chairman/CEO of Casey’s General Stores, Inc., has provided a $2.9-million gift to establish The Donald F. and Charlene K. Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship at BVU...

SIOUX CITY - The Storm Lake girls swim team went west on Tuesday night for a pentathlon that saw Sioux City Metro, Spencer and Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln also compete. No official team score was kept during the meet. “Tonight’s meet format was different than normal with shorter distances and limited events,” SL Coach Lindsay Brown said. “The idea behind this meet is to let coaches see what they’ve got and let the girls experience a meet in a low pressure situation.”...

FORT DODGE - It was the first time the Storm Lake volleyball team hit the road this year on Tuesday night when they went about an hour east to take on the St. Edmond Gaels. The green and white managed to take the first set but lost the next three, dropping a 3-1 match. The set scores were: 25-23, 13-25, 21-25 and 14-25...

KINGSLEY - The Ridge View volleyball team played in a close first set but began to take off in the second and third sets for a three set sweep over Kingsley-Pierson. The set scores were: 25-21, 25-13 and 25-11. “We had a great first conference match. Solid way to start in the Western Valley,” RV Coach Monica Brandhorst said. “Better overall night than a week ago from Emma Vohs and Hanna Blackmore as both front row and back as our outsides.”...

SPIRIT LAKE - It was the second meet of the season on Tuesday night for the Storm Lake cross country team as they went to the Spirit Lake Invitational. The green and white boys took fourth place, while the girls were unable to field a team score due to some illness holding runners out...

SIOUX RAPIDS - The Sioux Central volleyball team looked to be coasting on Tuesday night when they welcomed in the Pocahontas Area Indians. The Indians had other ideas, rallying to force a fifth set, but the Rebels ended up taking the final set for a 3-2 win. The set scores were: 25-16, 25-16, 21-25, 23-25 and 15-6...

STORM LAKE - It was the start of another season for the St. Mary’s volleyball team as they welcomed in Emmetsburg. It was the first time head coach Marissa Promes stood on the sidelines for the Panthers and she watched her girls start slow, but begin to build some confidence despite the three set loss to the E-Hawks. The set scores were: 10-25, 16-25 and 19-25...