Stories from Friday, March 19, 2021

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that a popular aquarium product sold at some aquarium supply stores and pet stores in Iowa may contain zebra mussels, a highly invasive species that can cause severe damage to the food chain and infrastructure if released in lakes and rivers...

It’s a brisk, windy Wednesday in March, as the sun finally breaks through the afternoon sky – in spite of the crisp temperatures, Deanna Harrer keeps prepping her plants, and garden products, at Jones Nursery in Storm Lake. Surrounded by plants in one of the back nurseries, Deanna and her crew water, arrange, and nurture their product for the return of their customers, who will probably be eager to get their gardens in, after a brutal winter. ...

A Storm Lake man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported twice was sentenced this week to eight months in federal prison with no parole. Ramon Rodriguez-Perez, age 34, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and living in Storm Lake, received the prison term after a guilty plea on January 13, 2021, to one count of illegal reentry into the United States...

Iowa gas prices have risen 1 cent per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.79 gallon to start the week. Storm Lake pump prices were starting at $2.78 at many stations yesterday. Gas prices in Iowa are 33.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 74.3 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. Stations around the state range from $2.39-$3.29...

Storm Lake speech students received 15 I rankings (11 straight I’s and 4 mixed I’s) in the state individual speech competition, held virtually on Saturday. Fifteen of the school’s 18 competition entries this year advanced to State. “What makes today’s victories even sweeter, though, is how these young men and women stepped up and worked their tails off to keep our state contest running so smoothly. ...

Buena Vista University freshman Phoebe Flaskey recently helped Mike Christen position a calf for its birth at BVU’s new Agricultural Experiment Station on the north edge of Storm Lake. “It was wonderful to see Phoebe tackle a new challenge, one of the many experiences we can offer students here at the AES,” says Christen, Land Unit Manager for BVU’s Institute for Agriculture...

March 5, 1940 - March 13, 2021

November 4, 1949 - March 12, 2021

October 14, 1956 - March 12, 2021

Buena Vista County Emergency Management, the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA) have joined together to promote Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa...

STORM LAKE - Being back at home favored the BVU women’s tennis team Saturday, as they rolled to a 9-0 win over the University of Dubuque, a match that was re-scheduled all the way from the fall.  Even though the Beavers were without Rachel Brockney and Gabby Kardell, the rest of the team stepped up and filled each and every position with a victory as they pick up their fourth win of the year. ...

Buena Vista University’s football team is competing in spring scrimmages this year to get their players some game time due to not having a fall season caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. “We’re treating this spring as the continuation of our development,” said BVU football head coach Grant Mollring. “These games are scrimmages to help get our younger guys some reps and see how they perform at the college level, and to get them ready when August and September rolls around.”...

We all love sports, right? That’s why you’re here, reading this, and why I have this job, is because we enjoy sports. Everyone has their favorite sport as well, such as basketball, football or soccer, but there’s a facet of sports that has grown a lot in recent years that a lot of people may not know about, e-sports (electronic sports). For those who don’t know, e-sports is a form of sport competition using video games...

Newell-Fonda native and Buena Vista University alumni Jenna Lullmann takes on the role of being Storm Lake’s head softball coach. Lullmann played softball for Newell-Fonda and for four years at Buena Vista University. She also coached for Sioux Central high school before coming to Storm Lake...

STORM LAKE - The Buena Vista volleyball team returned to its home court after three straight on the road, and the Beavers got back on track in a big way on Wednesday night with a 3-0 sweep of visiting Simpson College by scores of 25-17, 25-17 and 25-16...

STORM LAKE - Buena Vista University’s senior guard Michael Demers highlights the list of American Rivers All-Conference recognition for the Beaver men’s basketball team by earning First Team accolades for the first time in his career. Freshman Zane Neubaum joined Demers as an all-conference selection after being voted to the Second Team...

STORM LAKE - Buena Vista University’s junior softball player Ashtyn Miller has been named this week’s American Rivers Conference Position Player of the Week. Miller helped the Beavers sweep a doubleheader at Greenville University on March 7 by going a combined 6-for-7 at the plate in the two games with a double, home run and scoring a pair of runs...

The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced today its major women’s basketball awards and the 17-member All-Conference team for the 2020-21 season. Simpson College senior forward Jenna Taylor (Sr., Creston, Iowa/Creston) has been named the American Rivers Most Valuable Player and picking up the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honors is sophomore guard Olivia Larsen (So., Fonda, Iowa/Newell-Fonda) of Buena Vista University. ...

A former Storm Lake resident charged with killing her 4-year-old son had recently contacted state child welfare officials to report that someone may have harmed the boy, according to the conneticut Department of Children and Families. Tiffany Farrauto, 33, of New London, was charged Sunday with murder and risk of injury to a minor after police said they responded to her home and she told them she strangled her son. ...

Buena Vista University announced spring 2021 Commencement plans to the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 this week. Last year’s graduates are invited to return, since no ceremony could be held for them a year ago due to COVID-19 concerns. Commencement will be held three weeks earlier than the typical BVU Memorial Day weekend celebration. ...

Former Storm Lake man Andres Guillen was sentenced in local district court Friday, and will serve up to 15 years in prison for Sexual Abuse Third Degree, as a habitual offender. Guillen, 41, will also have to register as a sex offender and after release will be on parole for the duration of his life. The State of Iowa was represented by Assistant Buena Vista County Attorney Ashley Herrig...

By DANA LARSEN Pilot-Tribune Editor The Storm Lake City Council this week approved a fiscal year 2021-22 budget that will allow a slight cut in property tax levy, a 7 percent reduction in outstanding debt, and a 3 percent pay increase for city employees...

The Storm Lake City Council this week tabled a proposed motion to end its agreement for management of the Storm Lake Marina with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, as hopes linger for negotiations. It is likely the situation will remain tabled, as the City is still in discussions and the DNR is willing to talk about the marina situation, City Manager Keri Navratil said...

Muni band returns for concerts in June and July, looks to Sesquicentennial

Fish population appears healthy in Storm Lake, and after a year’s absence, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will return to net walleye here this spring, collecting eggs to boost future stocking. However, the DNR is fielding numerous reports of dead fish in other lakes and ponds across Iowa as the ice cover disappears for another year. Kills are not uncommon on shallower lakes, especially when they freeze over early and a blanket of snow cover shuts off sunlight to aquatic plants that produce oxygen through photosynthesis.. ...

BVU grad/author helps new documentary chronicle famed Robber’s Cave