Stories from Friday, July 9, 2021

As more Iowans return to in-person work environments after a year of the pandemic, more businesses plan to offer partially at-home options for employees who want them. Hybrid working alternatives are a popular reality for businesses in the newest phase of the novel coronavirus pandemic, said Kevin Crowley, commercial manager at NAI Iowa Realty. While some companies want to return to their offices, he said some employees are not ready to return...

Matt and Abby Stauter opened their new venture, Tavern 119, July 1 in Fonda. The renovated site offers a full bar, food (including a full menu on Friday and Saturday nights) and party service. / Photos: Facebook

Sanford Museum in Cherokee has a unique new exhibit. The Kaela’s Picks Exhibit is a set of objects that that Sanford’s intern, Kaela Horan, found interesting. Here is what Kaela says: “When I started my internship, I was told that I would have to design an exhibit and I had so many different thoughts and themes going through my mind on what to curate. ...

One of the most popular events at last year’s fair was the demolition derby. Blairsburg, Iowa-based 448 Promotions will bring the smash-em-bash-em thrills back for 2021 - one of four remaining county fairs in Iowa to host the points battles this season. The points chase wraps up back in the area Sept. 5 with the Labor Day celebration derby in Fonda...

The month of June saw 3.31 inches of rain in Iowa, almost two inches less than normal. The lower than normal rainfall, combined with warmer than normal temperatures, resulted in an expansion of drought conditions across the state. Severe drought now covers nearly 38 percent of the state, up from less than 8 percent at the beginning of June. ...

Mayor Mike Porsch thanked city workers for “an awesome” job preparing the parks system for the Star Spangled Spectacular celebration and cleaning up afterward, and thanked Public Safety employees for their efforts maintaining safety. He also cited the work of the Spectacular committee and Commodores Michael and Tony Pertzborn, noting the many obstacles that had to be overcome in the past year under COVID. ...

The Storm Lake City Council is hiring an engineering firm to prepare the city’s first Infrastructure Management Plan. The city has traditionally been “reactionary” in its infrastructure projects - responding after a situation can no longer be ignored. ...

On July 2, 2021 at 9:35 p.m., the Buena Vista County Communications Center received a report of a motor vehicle accident in the 900 mile of 630th street The caller reported that there was an accident involving multiple motorcycles with subjects lying in the roadway...

You can’t have ball games without popcorn and the other treats that go with the games of summer, and this concession stand crew keep the crowds happy Wednesday night while the Tornado boys were sewing up their Lakes Conference Championship season. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

September 8, 1936 - February 1, 2021

December 22, 1941 - July 1, 2021

The Iowa Geological Survey (IGS) at the University of Iowa invites the public to a discussion regarding plans to map the geological features of the Outlet Creek Watershed and the area surrounding Storm Lake. The meeting will take place from 1-4 pm on Thursday, July 8,2021, at the Storm Lake Area Education Agency office:...

Now is the time to plan and plant vegetables for a bountiful fall harvest. Planting now extends the harvest season for greater yield without expanding the garden. Start by looking for vacant spaces in the vegetable garden. Fill areas that were not planted this spring or replant rows of quick maturing vegetables like lettuce, spinach, radishes, and beets that have already been harvested. Expand your search to other vacant spaces in flowerbeds, mixed borders, and containers...

The 3rd annual Barnyard to Blue Ribbon Bike Ride at the Buena Vista County Fair has added a companion event - a new 5K run. Registration for both July 10 events begins at 10 a.m. at the fairgrounds, with the ride and run kicking off at 11. The bike ride is approximately 23 miles. Cost for the bike ride or the run is $20, and participants can still register on the day of the ride. For questions on either event, contact Jake Schable at 712-299-1061 or see the fair’s web or Facebook page...

Summer is the prime season for outdoor barbecuing in Iowa. However, staggering meat prices are adding extra dollar signs to the popular Midwest pastime. The price of pork rose 2.6% in April — 4.8% higher than a year prior — and as of late May, cow beef and veal prices were up 3.3% from a year ago, The Washington Post reported...

Less than two months after the first case was identified in the state, the delta variant has become the most common strain of COVID-19 in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health found that the delta variant, which was first identified in India, represented 53% of the variants in Iowa during the final week of June...

A Storm Lake man has been sentenced to a term of up to 10 years in prison after being convicted in the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl he had reportedly connected with through social media site Snapchat. The abuse took place at homes in Storm Lake in December. Mendoza Munoz was arrested shortly after the abuse was reported in early January...

Buena Vista University has decided to fill in the pool serving Finkbine Natatorium on campus. In its place, the area will be repurposed as a multipurpose court to benefit more BVU students and student-athletes. “While this is a difficult decision to close the pool, it is the best option for our current and future students as we seek to breathe new life into this area of Siebens Fieldhouse,” said Suzette Radke, BVU Vice President for Finance and Administration. ...

The Buena Vista University Board of Trustees recently approved three additions to the board membership. These additions, each of whom was approved unanimously, include: Julie Quirin, a 1987 graduate of Buena Vista University; Mike Naig, a 2000 graduate of BVU; and...

The folks in brown don’t just deliver packages to our door. Sometimes they deliver vital aid in an emergency. For Dan Groen, who delivers for UPS from the Spencer center, a typical mid-June afternoon route put him, as he put it, “in the right place at the right time,” to help a rural Ashton family...

The Buena Vista County Fair crowned Queen Karley Mills, Little Miss Emri Sievers. and Little Mister Gunner Lockwood Thursday night at the Grandstand. Also shown are Miss Congeniality Sierra Hill, Queen runner-up Lydia Thams, Little Miss runner-up London Ingold and Little Mister runner-up Calvin Bean. ...

Patience pays off. Years ago, representatives of the Iowa Economic Development Authority were invited to take a walking tour of downtown Alta, to advise the city on areas with potential. The Roxy Theatre was noted at the time as a resource that needed attention...