Stories from Friday, February 5, 2021

The SOS thrift store in Storm Lake has added more hours. The store will now be open Mondays 1-5 p.m., Wednesdays 1-7, Thursdays 5-7, Fridays 12-4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 1.m.-4 p.m. As always, all profits from the store go to St. Mary’s School programs. SOS is run solely by volunteers, and new volunteers are always appreciated...

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation and Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission announce a microgrant program available to businesses in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. The Corridor COVID-19 Business Recovery Grant is a competitive grant program that assists regional businesses and industry with recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce...

For the fifth consecutive year, Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein, ranks No. 1 on Fortune magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies in the Food Production category...

A Tyson Project Food Delivery took place Wednesday, with 25,000 pounds of Tyson product delivered to The Bridge in Storm Lake, where a storage freezer is available. The project started a year ago, providing food donations for Tyson team members, local food pantries, and distributions directly to the public in need, with the help of local agencies like the Storm Lake Police and Firefighters. ...

Newell-Fonda drama staff Mrs. Schubert and Mrs. Rosado are excited to announce the cast of the 2021 Spring Play. This year Newell-Fonda will be putting on the stage version of the beloved comedy/drama M*A*S*H*. Based on the novel, movie and long-running television show, the staff of a Korean War field hospital use humor and highjinks to keep their sanity in the face of the horror of war...

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson has announced his retirement after five decades and named a manager for his estate. A press release issued Wednesday said that the 84-year-old actor and singer actually retired last year and his son, John, stepped in to oversee his father’s business, including special projects and his record label KK Records. ...

Mario DeLaPaz, age 36 of Storm Lake, was sentenced this week to a prison term not to exceed 10 years on a felony Sexual Abuse Third Degree charge. The sentence was handed down in Iowa District Court, after DeLaPaz entered a guilty plea on January 25...

Storm Lake city officials thanked outgoing Iowa Lakes Corridor CEO Kiley Miller, as Miller gave his final report to the city council this week, departing for a new position with Trees Forever. Miller said it has been “an honor and a privilege” to serve the community. “I genuinely love Storm Lake, it has been one of my favorite places to work in,” said the development leader...

Leslie Huntington will be inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December 2021, an honor stamping a storybook coaching career in which the 1992 Buena Vista University graduate has earned an NCAA Division III National Championship (2008) amid 499 victories, and counting, during a 20-year tenure at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire...

Storm Lake High School Art students, Zuliema Martinez and Jack Huss received Scholastic Art Awards. Scholastic Art and Awards recognize student achievement in the visual and literary arts in 28 categories, including architecture, painting, flash fiction, poetry, printmaking, fashion design, expanded projects, and more. ...

More than 7,400 undergraduate students at the University of Iowa were named to the dean’s list for the 2020 fall semester. Sami Damanhoury of Storm Lake, IA [College: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Primary Area of Study: Informatics] Amanda Davis of Schaller, IA [College: University College; Primary Area of Study: Bachelor of Applied Studies]...

St. Mary’s first grade teacher, Ms. Allie Wagoner was recognized with a McTeacher of the Month award on Monday afternoon from the Storm Lake McDonald’s. Ms. Wagoner received a beautiful plaque, $100 to use for school supplies, and a certificate for free McCafe beverages for a year...

As Iowan’s head out on frozen water to their “go to” spot, the Iowa Department of Natural Resource (DNR) reminds everyone to beware of ice conditions and check ice thickness often. Ice conditions change constantly and its thickness can vary across the lake. Rocks, trees, docks or other things that poke through the ice will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable. Trust your instincts – if the ice does not look right, don’t go out...

February 12, 1944 - February 2, 2021

October 19, 1957 - January 31, 2021

August 26, 1917 - January 30, 2021

The third week of the legislative session included the first floor debate of the year. I’m not on the Education Committee, but I took an extensive interest in the two education bills debated Thursday. Back to School There are over 300 school districts in Iowa. ...

Long-time U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley on Wednesday said he may decide in a few weeks whether to seek another term in 2022. Grassley, 87, would be 95 at the end of what would be his eighth term. A Republican, he is Iowa’s senior senator. A reporter on Grassley’s weekly Iowa media call asked Grassley how close he was to making his decision, and what factors are in play. ...

Iowa’s three public colleges lost more than $208 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic, university presidents told lawmakers Wednesday. Presidents of the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa met Wednesday with the House Education Appropriations subcommittee to make budget recommendations for fiscal year 2022. All three presidents reported significant losses due to the ongoing pandemic...

A wanted Storm Lake man faces a litany of new charges after leading Storm Lake Police on a chase around the lake and eventually crashing into a patrol car. Tuesday morning, an officer pulled over a vehicle on Flindt Drive on a traffic stop. The driver, 24-year-old Jonathan Negrete, was wanted in Buena Vista County after failing to appear in court in a Domestic Abuse Assault case...

The City of Storm Lake, the DNR, and a pair of prospective new operators, continue to hash out the future of the Storm Lake Marina amid frustrating delays. After a lengthy closed session in the midst of a council meeting this week, the council tabled a decision on a contract with the prospective operators - Storm Lake businesspersons Tom Fitzpatrick and Andy Goettsch...

County marks 4,000th COVID case, 35 deaths

The Storm Lake City Council unanimously approved a new tourism marketing campaign during a meeting this week, despite reservations over Storm Lake United’s online resources being able to effectively drive traffic. After a lengthy discussion, the city will contract with Kaleidoscope Marketing, spending about $6,600 a month - or almost $40,000 for the minimum six-month period...

During a special meeting this week, the Storm Lake Board of Education voted to formally move out of the hybrid plan that the district has used through the school year for the high school - with students spending half days with in-person education in the building and half-days online...

District would prefer to ‘follow the science,’ but will roll up sleeves to comply with new requirement