Stories from Tuesday, March 30, 2021

A new Multiple Sclerosis self-support group is being formed, based out of Holstein.  It is aptly named the 51025 MS Support Group. Meetings will be quarterly, in the months of January, April, July, and October, the second Sunday of each month, at 2 p.m...

Save lives this spring by donating blood with LifeServe Blood Center. Giving a pint of blood in under an hour can impact three lives. Spring into action and join LifeServe at their upcoming blood drive. To help ensure the safety of blood donors and team members during this COVID-19 pandemic, LifeServe is enforcing several precautionary measures. ...

Bomgaars held a Ladies’ Shopping Night on October 25 where 5 percent of sales went back to programs to help ladies fighting cancer. Ron Thompson and Cindy Mortiz from the Storm Lake Bomgaars present Katie Schwint with Buena Vista Regional Medical Center a check for $1642.95...

We had another successful clinic this past week at King’s Pointe. Again, it is awesome to see all of the people come out that are interested in getting vaccinated. We were able to fill all of our open timeslots. We also completed booster doses at multiple schools last week...

Week ten of this legislative session is now behind us. Twenty-two bills were considered and passed in the Senate mostly with bipartisan support. The Senate debated several bills to remove barriers to work, reward work and investment, and create a tax and regulatory environment conducive to creating new career opportunities in Iowa. And then there’s the one bill that I can’t get out of my head. I’m still shaking my head in disgust...

The husband of Vice President Kamala Harris toured a Des Moines food bank last week as the Biden administration continued its effort to promote the recently passed $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. Doug Emhoff, accompanied by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Rep. Cindy Axne, an Iowa Democrat, toured the Food Bank of Iowa...

In the opening moments of the HBO documentary “Tina,” Tina Turner doesn’t just command the stage as she’s belting out “Ask Me How I Feel” for a giant stadium of fans. With heels stomping and her hair waving, she owns the stage to such a degree that you half expect bank lenders to materialize by the footlights to sign over the deed...

With less than 140 days until the 2021 Iowa State Fair, country artists Cole Swindell and Dustin Lynch complete the star studded 11-day Grandstand line up announcements. Co-headlining on Monday, August 16, they join other country, Christian, pop, rock, and classic rock acts already announced...

The Stone Pier Summer Concert Series will return this season, with four shows recently announced. This popular free concert series brings musicians from across the country to Lake View, to play on the historic Stone Pier Stage alongside beautiful Black Hawk Lake...

The City of Storm Lake is soliciting proposals from individuals or businesses interested in operating concessionaire services at the Storm Lake Marina this summer. The deadline for applications is April 5. The contract would run May 15-October 31. The City is hoping to appoint a food and beverage operator who would also sell convenience store items out of the Marina building, including alcohol drink sales. ...

After a year of unprecedented challenges, Iowa Learning Farms and Water Rocks! will once again make Conservation Station trailers available for a full season across Iowa, April through September 2021. The trailers are being updated and prepared to offer demonstrations of conservation and agricultural practices that contribute to improving water quality and conservation of Iowa’s important natural resources...

Buena Vista University was named to Phi Theta Kappa’s 2021 Transfer Honor Roll, recognizing excellence in the development and support of innovative transfer paths for community college students. Savannah Davis, a junior from Council Bluffs, believes the honor is merited. She should know; Davis transferred to BVU in August...

Country music artist and songwriter Brad Morgan is set to perform at the Star Spangled Spectacular at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 3 at the Sunset Park Band Shell. The Manning native currently resides in Nashville while continuing to build on his success in Iowa and throughout the Midwest. ...

Buena Vista County’s COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped in the past week. In the seven days ending Sunday, the county had 13 positive tests and a positivity rate of 2 percent, down from 22 new cases and a rate of 4 percent the week before. One additional COVID-19-related death had been reported in BV in the past week, increasing the total toll to 39 since the pandemic began...

Storm Lake Community Schools is among 13 Iowa school districts selected as partners in applying for a GEAR UP grant to begin this fall, Iowa College Aid announced Friday. GEAR UP is a federal program to increase college and career access and readiness for low-income, minority, and first-generation students. If Iowa receives the grant, it will be the state’s third...

Unemployment in Buena Vista County is on a slow rise, but remains below the state and national averages. The county jobless rate stands at 3.3 percent in the most recent figures available from Iowa Workforce Development, up from 2.5 percent a year earlier. ...

A Storm Lake man was jailed Friday, after a drunk driving hit-and-run accident near Storm Lake High School where he reportedly struck and injured a 15-year-old girl who was walking to school. Juan Rodriguez Parra, 27, faces eight charges including second offense Operating While Intoxicated, two counts of Child Endangerment, Causing Serious Injury With a Vehicle, Leaving the Scene of a Serious Injury Accident, Carrying Weapons While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Obey Traffic Signs.. ...

The Iowa House passed a bill Thursday to create new pathways for charter schools, in a contentious late-night 55-40 vote. House File 813 confirms that school districts can form charter schools by establishing a new school, creating a charter within an existing school or converting an existing school to charter status...

Graveside services for John Pearson, 85, of Aurelia, will be held Wednesday, March 31, at 11 a.m. at the Amherst Cemetery at Marcus, with Pastor Tim Jones officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday at the First Congregational Church in Aurelia from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with the family present. The Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia is in charge of arrangements...

Ingeborg Davis, age 76, of Schaller, died on Monday, March 22, at her home. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 31, from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller. Burial will take place at a later date in the Galva Township East Cemetery. In honor of Inge’s generous nature, all memorials given will be donated to her favorite charity, Heifer International. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller is in charge of the arrangements...

Governor Kim Reynolds recently announced that COVID-19 impacted renters and homeowners will be able to apply for assistance with rent and mortgage payments through two assistance programs that launched Monday. “Even though Iowa is well on its way to recovery from the pandemic, too many Iowans continue to feel its impact through financial hardship,” said Gov. ...

It may not feel like boating season yet, but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), along with boating safety advocates nationwide, are urging boaters to KeepYourEdge by enrolling in a boating education course this spring. “Education is the key to having a safe and enjoyable day on the water, and spring is the perfect time to take a course before the summer boating season begins,” said Susan Stocker, boating law administrator and education coordinator for the Iowa DNR...

Cody Berens came to Buena Vista University intent on studying business education. But something happened on the way to his bachelor’s degree. “The ag program at BVU just took off,” says Berens. “The opportunities in agriculture were more suitable for me.”...