Stories from Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Parker Preul shows a high school wrestler around Buena Vista University. The BVU senior shares information about class sizes, the ease with which one can move around campus, and the friendliness and dedication of professors, coaches, and staff members...

MOVILLE - There is something about tournaments for the Ridge View girls in the past couple of years where they have managed to spring upsets. Monday night saw the Raptor ladies take down the top seed in the Western Valley Conference, the no. 10 team in 1A, Woodbury Central, 53-37...

NEWELL - The top rated team in 1A, the Newell-Fonda girls, had no real trouble on Tuesday night when they welcomed in Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire. A quick start for the Mustangs led to an 81-38 victory as they remained unbeaten. The Mustangs jumped out to a 26 point lead after the first quarter and made it a 33 point margin at halftime, 57-24. Newell-Fonda continued to pour in the points and outscored the Titans 24-14 in the second half...

STORM LAKE - It was a rough Monday night for the St. Mary’s boys basketball team as they took on Remsen St. Mary’s, who was ranked seventh in the latest AP Poll. The Hawks out rebounded the Panthers and took a 54-15 contest. “I was talking to their coach before, and it seemed like they got a good chance to get back at State. ...

STORM LAKE - For the first near six minutes on Monday night, it appeared as if the St. Mary’s girls might not score the entire first quarter, but their shots began to fall against Remsen St. Mary’s from there on. The Panthers were able to take a 52-45 decision over the Hawks...

STORM LAKE - Tuesday night was a Twin Lakes Conference tilt as the St. Mary’s Panthers welcomed in the Sioux Central Rebels. The Rebels were unkind visitors and got a sweep over the Panthers, taking the girls and boys contests. The Rebel girls were able to take down the Panthers, 66-44. ...

Dennis H. Olson, age 79, of Albert City, died on Thursday, January 30, at his home in rural Albert City, Iowa. Funeral Services was held on Tuesday, February 4,at 11 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Albert City. Burial will be in the Fairfield Township Cemetery in Albert City. Visitation took place on Monday, February 3, from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements...

On January 28, Douglas Mark Pomrenke’s gentle soul rose up from his wheel-chair bound (earthly) body and walked hand-in-hand with Jesus Christ and an escort of angels through heaven’s gates. It was a magnificent homecoming. A “race well run.” Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, February 4, at 10:30 a.m. ...

Two new Storm Lake Police patrol officers were sworn in by Mayor Mike Porsch Monday - Officer Mitchell Fritz and Officer Dulce Escalona. Both officers will begin their service to the Storm Lake community and start receiving training immediately while they prepare to attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in the coming months...

The online reservation system for the Sunrise Campgrounds opened up on Tuesday, February 4, Campers can start to book their stays for the 2020 season online at www.campingfriend.com/sunrisecampgrounds including stays for the three biggest camping weekends of the year; Memorial Day, July 3-7th, and Labor Day weekend...

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the O’Brien County Conservation Board is holding a family friendly presentation entitled “We LOVE Animals.” Bring your family to the Prairie Heritage Center to enjoy fascinating facts about animal pairs. “We LOVE Animals” will be held on Thursday, February 13 beginning at 6:30 p.m...

Join the O’Brien County Naturalist for the next event in the “What’s UP” series. In February, participants will be taking a look at the full moon. Come to the Prairie Heritage Center on Monday, February 10 at 6:30 p.m. to enjoy a tromp through the snow in the light of the full moon. It is amazing how bright the landscape looks!...

Storm Lake United is excited to announce the arrival of Share the Love, a sales promotion that will run through February 16th and features numerous prizes as well as a downtown Chocolate Walk on February 8th! During the promotion period, shoppers can register at each participating business for a chance to win the following prizes:...

Several area students have been named to the Iowa Central Community College President’s List for the Fall 2019 semester. Honorees must have a 4.0 (straight A) grade point average with at least six semester hours of academic credits. Local honorees include:...

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced recently the opportunity for two Iowa high school seniors to receive full scholarships to attend the 2020 National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp) this summer in West Virginia. The students will exchange ideas with scientists and other professionals from the academic, corporate and government worlds during the nearly month-long experience...

St. Mary’s Preschool Teacher receives the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation Grant Storm Lake St. Mary’s Preschool teacher, Mrs. Kreutz, has been selected to receive an Agriculture Literacy Foundation Grant. The grant is designed to initiate new projects or expand existing projects that promote agriculture literacy at St. Mary’s Catholic School...

State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald is excited to announce the Iowa income tax deduction has increased for those saving with College Savings Iowa. “Account owners who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct the first $3,439 they contribute per beneficiary account from their state taxable income in 2020,” Fitzgerald said. “This tax deduction is a great way to save for others while keeping more money in your pocket.”...

St. Mary’s Ellie Bacon put on a one girl show during halftime of a reent game.

Iowa Central Community College hosted news photographer Brendan Hoffman recently on his “War in Ukraine” exhibit. Hoffman has worked on assignment in more than 20 countries for National Geographic Magazine, The New York Times, TIME, Getty Images, The Washington Post, Newsweek, NPR, Al Jazeera, USA Today and others. ...

The Storm Lake School District issued a statement Tuesday evening about a threat incident. “This morning, a student was overheard making troubling comments during the bus ride to school. Another student, who heard what was said, reported it immediately to district administration. Per district protocol, we immediately alerted local police. The Storm Lake Police Department is now investigating,” the district reported...

Don’t give love a bad name. Hairball returns to northwest Ioway for one night of rock & roll at the Tyson Events Center on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14. Tickets are on sale now online at TysonCenter.com, by calling 712-279-4850, or by visiting Primebank Box Office. Tickets are $27.50...

“A House Divided - A Visit with President Abraham Lincoln,” will be performed by actor-historian Lance V. Mack Saturday, February 15 at the Fonda Arts Center. The show begins at 2 p.m., and will also feature a Civil War reenactor group, and Connie Dallenbach at the piano...

A new northwest Iowa Iowa band full of talented musicians with a powerhouse of a female vocalist at the helm, will be playing at Dejabrew in Spencer, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. This group spans the genres of pop, rock, blues and funk and has been gaining a following with shows around the Arnolds Park area including numerous appearances at The Beach Club...

A big summer area concert has just been announced - Boz Scaggs and JD McPherson in a free Live at the Lake show during the Okoboji Blue Water Festival Saturday, August 8. This premier clean water event in Iowa this summer will culminate with a prestigious musical act on stage...

There’s a scene early on in the new film “Gretel & Hansel” when the two title characters accidentally scarf down psychedelic mushrooms in a forest and it produces one very strong feeling in the audience: jealousy. Oh, if only we could all also be high for the rest of this. If only there was something that could make bearable another hour or so of this art-film horror. Forget the popcorn, just give us ’shrooms, man...

THE BACKGROUND In the mid-1850’s the land that is now Buena Vista County was unsettled land that was a combination of virgin prairie and swampland. It was a prime attraction for hunters and trappers who thrived, and the notoriety of the land began attracting immigrants (both domestic and foreign) who were looking for free land and new lives. Families came by wagon and began to settle on the southern prairie...

Cameron Shuck, a 30-year-old homeless man, was charged with nine counts of sex offender registration violation Tuesday, after he allegedly failed to report a new address of residence to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for multiple days after being trespassed from his current registered location at 2424 480th St. on Jan. 12...

The Iowa Legislature is a lot like a baseball game; hours of boredom, punctuated by seconds of great excitement. We had great excitement this week on Wednesday when hundreds of FFA members visited the capitol. This group is from IKM-Manning. There were also groups from CAM, East Sac, and Alta-Aurelia Schools. They were a great bunch. I enjoyed showing them around and talking politics. The Audubon school superintendent also came to talk about school funding for next year...

An arrest has been made in an investigation of an attempted murder incident on a local stretch of highway. Just after midnight Sunday, the Buena Vista County Communications Center received a call from a subject driving on Highway 3 near 60th Avenue reporting that their pickup has been shot at by a suspect in a following car. The initial broadcast indicated the rear and side windows of the truck had been shot out...

Most of the outside agencies that requested money from the City of Storm Lake will be funded, though in most cases at a level below what they had requested. The council decided on the anticipated funding levels in a work session following Monday’s council meeting...

Many see winter as a season to mimic bears, hibernating until the Mother Earth thaws. During January Interim at Buena Vista University, several students channeled their inner polar explorer in following Dr. Samuel McMillan, visiting assistant professor of English, who directed a course connecting texts from across the globe to adventures in ice and snow...

Bernie Sanders carried the night in dramatic fashion at Buena Vista County’s first-ever bilingual satellite caucus Monday. A crowd of 105 turned out to pack the small Better Day Cafe in downtown Storm Lake, perhaps 90 percent of them Latino voters...