Stories from Friday, March 13, 2020

Prior to the beginning of the session, House Republicans met several times to decide our priorities and set the agenda for the 2020 session. Two of the primary focuses that came from those meetings were: how do we grow the workforce in Iowa and the lack of affordable child care. These issues are integral to one another, especially in rural areas...

Week nine of the session is over, which means we are right at 60 days completed with 40 to go. This was another busy week as we are passing around 15 bills per day. Next Friday will be the last funnel, so I hope floor debate will slow and we can focus on the budget. As the weather warms up, people are ready to finish up here and go home. Golf courses are starting to open, and there are plenty of robins around, so I guess it is time to finish the State budget and wrap things up...

Women landowners, farmers and ag retailers have the opportunity to meet on March 17 to learn more about planning a successful herbicide program for the 2020 growing season through a distance-learning session of Agronomy in the Field. The Agronomy in the Field for Women Herbicide Planning program will be offered from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on March 17 at the ISU Extension and Outreach Cherokee County office located at 209 Centennial Drive in Cherokee...

Citizens 1st National Bank announces the addition of Kirsten Phillips as an agricultural/commercial lender. A 2015 graduate of Buena Vista University, Phillips obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in business with an emphasis in marketing and human resources. Most recently, she was a seed service advisor for Monsanto/Bayer Crop Science in Carroll, IA...

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT) Workshops on April 2 at the ISU Extension and Outreach Clay County office in Spencer (110 W. 4th St.) and April 3 at the ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County office in Orange City (400 Central Ave. NW)...

Cherokee’s newest business, Whiskey Throttle Bar and Grill, is currently conducting a “soft opening” according to owners Rick, Jesse, Teri and Jeff Weaver. The new restaurant and bar, located on the north side of the Little Sioux Events Center on the city’s south side, continues to request patrons be patient as the business evolves and to call 225-9038 for reservations Tuesday thru Saturday. ...

The gallery’s first class of the month is perfect for children or creative animal lovers of any age. Attendees will create a fun collage of their favorite animal. Their collage could be inspired by your pet, a cool animal them saw at the zoo, or an animal you wish you had as a pet. ...

“It’s looking to be another awesome hit from our young performers.” - Director Jolene Schaefer

In a special meeting, the Storm Lake Board of Education has switched companies for the approaching middle school re-roofing project. The original company was hesitant to take the existing roof off completely, down to the insulation, as the district wanted, to ensure that the building will be protected from future leaking...

The public is invited to a Meet the Mayor event with Storm Lake Mayor Mike Porsch to discuss this year’s Storm Lake Proud campaign and how the community can work together for a cleaner environment. Police and Community Service officers will also be on had to answer questions and provide feedback on problem areas in Storm Lake...

Kickback continues this week in response to a Buena Vista University proposal to eliminate programs for five majors, including theatre, music and chemistry programs. A petition was launched on the website change.org after the announcement last Friday, calling for a boycott of donations to the university if it carries through with the eliminations...

A tentative plan to open the former Boji Bay swimming pools and splash pad for public use will be moving forward now that the Milford City Council has agreed to contribute $20,000 to the facility’s operation. The Bedell Family YMCA is expected to oversee operation of the outdoor pools, and property owner Tim Kinnetz said his Kinnetz Family Foundation will provide a grant of up to $100,000 for operations. ...

Jennifer Drinkwater is scouring Iowa and Mississippi for stories about “what’s good” in the world. These interviews – and the artwork inspired by the interviewees’ words – are the “What’s Good Project,” which documents people’s perspectives on the positives in their communities...

Iran Carlos eyed travel opportunities available at Buena Vista University when she was a student at Belmond-Klemme High School, narrowing her college choice. BVU touted its plethora of study abroad and experiential learning programs which piqued her interest...

If you are heading out to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration this year, make sure you have more than just the luck o’ the Irish on your side. This holiday, March 17 is one of the biggest drinking nights of the year and this, unfortunately, means more impaired drivers on the roads. ...

The 19th annual Storm Lake Father-Daughter Dance was held on Saturday, March 7 at Storm Lake Elementary School. Sponsored by the Storm Lake Rotary Club, the event is an evening for fathers, father figures and their daughters of all ages to spend a memorable evening together. A large crowd was on hand, with attendees coming from as far as Correctionville. /Photos courtesy Debbie Klatt...

Iowa’s three public universities announced Wednesday they would shift to only online classes beginning March 23 in an effort to keep students and faculty safe from the new coronavirus. The University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa said they would only offer online classes after students return from next week’s spring break. The online courses would continue for at least two weeks, with officials reassessing the situation during the week of March 30...

The 3rd annual GRIT Cultural Conference was hosted on Friday, February 28 by Buena Vista University in partnership with ISU Extension and Outreach and Northwestern College. The GRIT event is designed to encourage youth from underrepresented populations to visit and take part in activities on a college campus. ...

Buena Vista University announced Thursday night that it will extend spring break for one wek, through March 29, in hopes of preventing a potential spread of the coronavirus. It will suspend all of its international travel programs for spring break The university is also restricting all personal travel by students, faculty and staff to level two and three travel notice nations based on recommendations from the CDC. ...

A local trial for a Newell man who is facing a pair of arson charges as well as a sexual abuse allegation has been moved from this week. Brent Mack, age 25, had been arrested three times on separate alleged crimes within five months in late 2019. Mack’s arson trial in Buena Vista County is now set for May 19, and currently a separate trial for lascivious acts with a child, second-degree sexual abuse, and indecent contact is scheduled for the same date in the county. ...

Buena Vista University senior Guy Tannenbaum has anchored, produced, and directed newscasts during his time as a digital media major on the Storm Lake campus. He’s traveled to the NCAA Division III National Baseball Tournament to broadcast the games of a team upon which he participated. ...

It may be the first boat on the lake this year, but it spent plenty of time in the lake beforehand. Crews with Okoboji Underwater Recovery Specialists worked for at least seven hours Saturday to pull a vintage boat from about 48 feet of water in Haywards Bay on West Lake Okoboji. ...

Firefighters needed, volunteers encouraged to apply

With the conclusion of the 2019-20 girls basketball season for the six area girls teams, the Pilot Tribune honors the best of the best following an exciting year that saw Newell-Fonda win their second straight 1A Championship, this one in thrilling fashion. Without further ado, here are the All-Area girls team honorees, Player of the Year and Coach of the Year...