Stories from Tuesday, May 25, 2021

We missed so much last year including LIVE FREE entertainment at the Iowa State Fair. From classic rock, indie, comedy, ‘90s, pop, hip-hop, Christian, jazz, blues, and country, the free stages at the Fair this year will be hopping with new up-and-comers sprinkled in with some of your tried and true fair favorites. ...

Gov. Kim Reynolds reiterated her claim Wednesday that President Joe Biden is responsible for a humanitarian crisis on the nation’s southern border, while stating again that Iowa is in no position to accept any of the children “put in harm’s way.” An estimated 19,000 migrant children unaccompanied by their legal guardians entered the United States in March — the largest such influx in U.S. ...

The 50th Anniversary Albert City Threshermen and Collectors Show - delayed by one year - will take place August 13, 14, 15 and it will be packed with activities and exhibits celebrating the history of family farming. This show will host the Iowa International Harvester Collectors with a huge collection of related tractors and machinery. ...

A Test and Tune session is planned at Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, May 26 weather and conditions permitting. The event is open for racers in IMCA modified, IMCA Northern SportMod, IMCA stock car, hobby stocks and sport compact classes to get some experience on the dirt oval at Alta...

A Clay County man has won a $30,000 lottery prize. Lance Winther, of Spencer, won the 86th top prize in the Iowa Lottery’s “Bonus Crossword” scratch game. He purchased his winning ticket at Car-Go Express, 1804 Highway Blvd., in Spencer, and claimed his prize Tuesday at the lottery’s Storm Lake regional office. ...

Motorcycles rumbled through Spencer Thursday morning, lining the streets outside Warner Funeral Home before riding ahead of a funeral procession for 31-year-old Alex Michael Leewright, of Spencer, from the service at the funeral home to his final resting place...

A group of appreciative citizens carried a special banner to Storm Lake, St. Mary’s and Buena Vista University education locations on Friday. “The Storm Lake community sends a huge shout-out to all employees of Storm Lake Community School District, St. ...

If you are between the ages of 6 -15 and enjoy fishing come on out to Gustafson Lake - Gabrielson Park on Saturday, June 5th for the annual Buena Vista County Conservation fishing derby. There will be two age divisions: 6 -10 years of age and 11 -15 years of age. ...

As the school year wraps up, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach reminds parents to register their child(ren) for the upcoming summer youth camps and programs. Youth do not need to be 4-H members or Clover Kids to participate in these events...

The Ridge View High School Industrial Tech Students traveled to SE Polk High School on May 14th to have their projects compete against other students throughout the state. Ridge View qualified 21 projects to state and came home with 15 medal winners which was the most ever. The students worked hard all year on their projects...

Following U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) EUA approval on May 10, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) adopted CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that endorsed the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and its use in 12- through 15-year-old adolescents. ...

VeteranAddiction.org has advised friends and relatives of veterans to keep a close eye on them for signs of deteriorating mental health and substance use following a year of social isolation that can have lasting effects. For many veterans who have spent years trying to overcome trauma they’ve experienced, the coronavirus pandemic has been particularly challenging. ...

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) Water temperatures are in the low 60’s. Water clarity is good. Black Crappie - Fair: Try a tube jig or a jig and small minnow under a bobber near shore. Yellow Perch - Fair: Look for perch along shore using minnows fished on a jig. ...

Robert “Bob” Ellrich, age 97, of Newell, Iowa died May 19, at the Newell Good Samaritan Center in Newell. Private graveside services took place Friday, May 21, at the Newell Cemetery in Newell. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements...

The Engelmann family has achieved a rare record - three generations medaling in the same distance at the Iowa State Track Meet. Trey Engelmann of Alta-Aurelia finished eighth in the 800 this weekend. His dad Bryant was state champion in the same event in 1993, and grandfather Bruce ran the 800 as anchor of the distance medley for fourth place a generation before...

Storm Lake High School’s auxiliary gym was bursting with creativity as the annual student art show seized the space in the final days of the school year. Perhaps the hardest-hitting piece was one of the smallest. She looks as if she is about to talk to you from hand-painted lips, and she has a lot to say. ...

Planning is underway for the Parade of Nations, a colorful part of the annual July 4th Star Spangled Spectacular celebration. SALUD multicultural organization in Storm Lake is leading the effort to register people to represent the various countries represented in the Storm Lake population, as a popular part of the holiday parade...

Fourteen years after being elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, Gary Worthan is as passionate about the job as ever. “This session was rewarding past my most vivid imagination,” the Storm Lake Republican told the Pilot-Tribune after the legislature wrapped up its three-week-overtime session last week. “There was no way I would have anticipated being able to pass the budgets I passed on the floor Tuesday night. This was the year we got her done.”...

Nothing was “the usual” for the class of 2021, including its final moments. As society creeps out from under pandemic, graduation moved to the Buena Vista University football field, under a gleaming sun Sunday afternoon. Superintendent Stacey Cole thanked the university for welcoming the high school in. She cited an “incredibly difficult journey,” for the class as well as applauding Storm Lake as a unique community marked by empathy for neighbors...