Stories from Friday, November 8, 2019

MidAmerican Energy Company encourages customers struggling to pay their energy bills to seek assistance through state low-income home energy assistance programs. LIHEAP is a federally funded energy assistance program designed to help low-income families who need assistance paying their heating bills. ...

The Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will host its annual Dairy Directions Series Dec. 10 in Sac City and Dec. 11 in Pocahontas. The series will focus on replacement heifers, risk management, cooling dairy cows and updates on the dairy market outlook and ISU dairy herd...

State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is encouraging Iowans to review their retirement plans in celebration of National Save for Retirement Week. “I’m asking Iowans to challenge themselves to take action during National Save for Retirement Week to make sure they are on track for a secure retirement,” Fitzgerald stated...

UPS Store owner, Harry Schaller, opened the facility in April of 2018. He mentioned how he saw a need in Storm Lake and seized the opportunity and took advantage of it. On October 30, Schaller and his staff made the decision to host an open house at the store, located within the Citizens First National Bank on North Lake Avenue which he owns as well, just in time for the holidays...

Legendary American heroine that she is, there are certain things for which Harriet Tubman is overdue. One is her spot on U.S. currency: Google “Tubman” and ”$20” and “Trump.” Another is a major feature film based on her life: Google “Tubman” and “Hollywood” and “why so long?”...

Looking for a perfect stocking stuffer? Tickets are available for the remaining shows in the Community Education Storm Lake Performing Art Series. A special holiday show is coming up later this month, with four more shows in 2020 from February into May...

The Witter Gallery is excited to announce our new exhibition, On Camraderie and Conflict by Alx Dockter. Dockter received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Washington State University and currently lives in Washington. Her work has been displayed in California, Washington, Idaho, Texas, and Missouri, but this is her first time exhibiting in Iowa. Her exhibit will be on display in the Witter Gallery through the month of November...

The Storm Lake City Council held a public hearing this week on a proposed amendment to the industrial park urban renewal plan to allow Tyson Fresh Meats to construct a new feed mill facility near the Radio Road and Expansion Blvd. intersection. There were no objections...

Odor issues around the Casino Lift Station have been a concern to neighboring residents. Previously, the Storm Lake City Council approved a professional services agreement with Bolton & Menk to determine the cause and solution of the odor, with a biofiltration system as the recommended project. Grundman-Hicks, LLC for was awarded the bid in the amount of $184,106 for the project. This week the city council approved a change order adding almost $1,000 to the cost. ...

Storm Lake United business members and Storm Lake Public Safety invite you to help get the holidays glowing by gathering in unity for the first ever “CommUNITY Holiday Glow” event. The event takes place Friday, November 8th in downtown Storm Lake. Free glow sticks will be available while supplies last starting at 6 p.m. The holiday glow starts at 6:10 p.m. and the event will conclude shortly thereafter...

Truesdale may or may not have a new mayor. No one ran for the office in Tuesday’s election, where a whopping six votes were cast for the office. As of now, it appears that Danny Russell has been elected with five write-in votes, with the other write-in going to Mark Nielsen...

The Storm Lake City Council and city staff members met with public library staff, trustees and Friends of the Library board members Monday, on a recess from the city council meeting. Library leaders shared their needs, including roof repairs and lower shelving units. ...

Author Heather Gutel Torres, a previous Storm Lake resident, has a book scheduled to be released in 2020. Torres' book, however, will be unlike other books in that it is mainly about stinky feet and what to do with them. One may wonder why she is the authority on stinky feet, but there is more to this tale. Torres is a children's picture book author and this will be her debut children's book...

The community performance of the Messiah will take place on Sunday, December 8, 7 p.m., at the Storm Lake High School auditorium. Nearly 50 singers are involved in the production. George Frederic Handel’s Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742, and since has become a fixture of the holiday season for many amateur choirs, with its emotional and uplifting music, and rousing Hallelujah Chorus...

July 13, 1927 - November 3, 2019

March 29, 1929 - November 4, 2019

The Buena Vista County Historical Society will host its Veterans’ Day weekend soup fundraiser. The museum at 214 West 5th Street, Storm Lake, will serve a choice of chicken noodle, potato or chili soup, along with pie, ice cream and a drink, Sunday, Nov. 10, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m...

A pre-trial conference for Brent Alan Mack, 25, of Newell, was continued from October 28 in Sac County, until January 21, 2020. Mack has been charged with suspicion of crimes in Sac County for incidents that took place on or around August 19 of this year. That list of crimes included felony arson, burglary in the second degree, first degree criminal mischief, and trespass causing damage...

On Monday, Nov. 11, Hy-Vee will host its annual Veterans Day breakfasts with a complimentary meal for veterans and active-duty military members in recognition and thanks for their service. More than 90,000 meals are expected to be provided at Hy-Vee’s more than 265 Hy-Vee stores across its eight-state region...

Storm Lake High School will present its fall play, Cheaper By the Dozen, November 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium. Based on the real-life family of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, Cheaper by the Dozen is a classic dramatic comedy about a family of 14. ...

Over 30 adult 4-H volunteer leaders were recognized for dedicated service to the 4-H program in Buena Vista County at the annual Buena Vista County 4-H Awards Program held Sunday, November 3. Honored as the Buena Vista County 4-H Adult Volunteers of the Year were Dana and Mike Christen. ...

The public is invited to a reception for Storm Lake Public Safety Director Mark Prosser on Monday, Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1614 W 5th St in Storm Lake.   There will be performances from local folk dancers, remarks by Storm Lake community members and special guests. This event is hosted by SALUD Multicultural Health Coalition in honor of Chief Prosser’s advocacy work throughout his career and in recognition of the Keeper of the American Dream award he received from the National Immigration Forum in Washington. ...

The stage will soon be set for an uncommon evening at the Witter Gallery. A night dedicated to the Arts will feature performances from three women from the Storm Lake community. One of the performers is Storm Lake native Sheri Davenport, an award-winning filmmaker who will be showing one of her works entitled Swept Away. She is also the writer for a reader’s theater play starring Cindy Cone that will be performed at the Witter Gala on November 16th...

In the first of a series of “Let’s Talk About It” popup events at Buena Vista University this week, two newcomers in key helping positions were available to speak on issues of grief and loss. Manning the session were Julie Anderson, new director of counseling services, and the new campus chaplain, Randle Lewis...

Storm Lake High School Senior Christopher Boom has published a new book, working with a co-author who is a former Storm Lake student. Boom began working on the book, “Mark of Ascension,” with his friend Joseph Kim while they were both eighth-grade students at Storm Lake Middle School. Kim has since moved to New Jersey...

Human trafficking can happen anywhere. Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault hosted Ruth Buckels, of Youth Standing Strong, to speak to community members gathered inside the Grand Avenue Community Outreach in Spencer to raise awareness about human trafficking, specifically drawing from cases from within the state of Iowa...