Stories from Friday, July 16, 2021

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) announced today that Senior Vice President and Entrepreneur-in-Residence Brian Dalziel is resigning from the organization effective at the end of the month. “We want to thank Brian for his 11 years at the Corridor,” said Debra Satern, Corridor Board Chair. ...

The most ambitious part of the pandemic stimulus package signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year is about to hit the bank accounts of millions of U.S. parents. Starting next week and ending in December, the vast majority of U.S. households with children will begin receiving monthly payments as a result of changes in that law expanding and reworking the federal child tax credit...

Sugar Bowl Gift Shop in Storm Lake hosted a Disney Princess event last weekend. Youngsters dressed in their own royal finery stopped by to have their pictures taken with the Disney-decked staff. The event coincided with the shop’s always-anticipated Hallmark holiday ornament preview. / Photos courtesy Sugar Bowl...

They are BACK! The roar of the Truck and Tractor Pulls will return for the 2021 Iowa State Fair along with monster trucks and a demolition derby. Right now, Elwell Family Park is under construction, but the Fair will be more than ready in 2021 to host the Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulls, Monster Truck Thunder and Domination Motorsports Demolition Derby in the new area to the west of the Grandstand on the northwest corner of the Fairgrounds. ...

Chicago modern electric blues artist Studebaker John returns to play Byron’s in Pomeroy, Sunday, July 18. Showtime is 5 p.m. Taking his stage name from an automobile he once owned, Sudebaker John Grimaldi is a product of the vibrant blues scene of Chicago’s West Side. ...

The Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge, is planning its 6th annual Good VineBrations Harvest festival for Saturday, Sept. 18. “We were so sad not to celebrate last year, so this year we are going big,” organizers say. Plans include a Grape Romp fun run/walk at11:30 a.m. ...

Due to rain on the Saturday evening of Buena Vista County Fair Week, the popular demolition derby event has been rescheduled for August 28 at the fairgrounds. Blairsburg, Iowa-based 448 Promotions will bring the smash-em-bash-em thrills to the grandstand...

Amber Norgaard will be in concert Friday, August 6 at InnSpiration Vines & Wines in Linn Grove. Amber grew up on an Iowa farm and had a calling to be of service to the world. After graduating Creighton University School of Nursing, she set off to do volunteer work as a community health nurse in the Dominican Republic and Oregon.  ...

Luth Dak, Storm Lake, surrendered himself at the police station Tuesday, after being charged in two July 4th assaults. Officers were called to the medical center emergency room around 2 a.m. on the 5th, where a male patient was being treated for facial injuries following as assault...

On July 12th, following a contested sentencing hearing, Josue Humberto Cortez, age 19 of Storm Lake, was sentenced in the Iowa District Court by the Honorable John M. Sandy for the crime of Burglary in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony. The Court granted Cortez a deferred judgment and placed him on probation to the Iowa Department of Corrections for a period of 4 years along with 40 hours of community service. The State sought the entry of a conviction due to the seriousness of the offense...

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. ...

Storm Lake United’s Ridiculous days event continues today and tomorrow. Stop by your favorite stores for ridiculous in-store deals, bargain blow-outs and sidewalk sales. Throughout Ridiculous Days, participating businesses will be decorated with colorful fish windsocks. Shop and then relax with a meal at one of the participating member restaurants...

The 2021 Sulphur Springs All-School Reunion will be Saturday, August 28th at the Storm Lake Pizza Ranch, 517 West Milwaukee. Social visiting will start at 4:30, we’ll go through the buffet line at 5:30, and a short program will follow. The cost of $11.45 is payable at the door...

Easy care raspberries are high in fiber and Vitamin C, making them a healthy snack as well as delicious in jams, jellies, and desserts. Enjoy the best flavor and reduce pest problems with proper harvesting and summer care. Pick raspberries when the fruit is firm but soft, deeply colored, and easily slides off the hard core. ...

If you are looking for some free entertainment for the kids, Naturalist Katie has you covered. Come out to South Cove between 1:00 - 3:00 PM on Tuesday, July 20th for an afternoon of fun activities. The naturalist will be on sight with all the supplies you need to go fishing as well as different activities and games to play. ...

Naturalist Lunch Box is back for summer 2021! Naturalist Lunch Box is held at 12 p.m. on selected Fridays in the summer at South Cove Park. Pack a lunch and join the fun. Naturalist Lunch Box is designed for all ages. The naturalist will present a short program on a selected topic and have hands on activities for younger audience members...

Julie Foley never set out to be a beekeeper by trade. The Storm Lake Farmer’s Market regular deals her Busy Bee honey and honey products, with 17 years of experience. She started raising bees as a way to add color to her garden on the family farm near Quimby, encouraging pollination of the garden and fruit trees. ...

June 14, 1927 - July 13, 2021

October 13, 1938 - July 13, 2021

June 19, 1928 - July 8, 2021

August 9, 1941 - July 10, 2021

June 12, 1928 - July 9, 2021

Iowa mental health, psychology and counseling groups said they were not consulted in the development of a $20 million school mental health partnership between the University of Iowa and the state. On June 23, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the creation of the Center for School Mental Health, a new set of resources funded with federal COVID-19 relief money. ...

A farm critter joins in the picnic at the Buena Vista County Fairgrounds, and was not left out - his family brought some lettuce to munch on while awaiting the bovine’s turn in the show ring. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen

Buena Vista University has named Sarah Fabian its new Director of Bands, a position that, for Fabian, continues a lifelong journey combining education and music. Fabian comes to BVU from Fairfax, Va., where, since 2019, she has worked as a graduate fellow at George Mason University as she finishes her Ph.D. ...

The Storm Lake Public Library has seen circulation numbers rise since opening its doors in June, but has not reached the pre-pandemic use level, according to Library director Elizabeth Huff. While the library is continuing to limit patrons to a percentage of capacity as a COVID-19 precaution (20 persons maximum including staff), attendance has not reached a level where anyone would have to be turned away...

The City of Storm Lake is planning to apply for two major grants that could boost improvement projects. The city council is expected to address the applications Monday. City Manager Keri Navratil said the city will seek FEMA and COVID-related community development block grants...

A few parks projects are moving forward in Storm Lake, while others are moving frustratingly slow. In early April, the city approved an agreement with the Kick It Forward organization to build a mini-pitch soccer complex on the site of the tennis courts in Chautauqua Park...

The #1-ranked Newell-Fonda softball team celebrated after escaping a bases-loaded last-inning jam to pull out a 1A Regional Final 1-0 win over Extra Elk Horn Kimballton Monday. The Mustangs punch their ticket to State for the 13th time in the past 17 seasons. The seniors have been to the big show all four years of their high school career. NF, 35-4, faces off with 20-5 #8 North Butler Monday in Fort Dodge. See today’s sports for full coverage. / Photo by Adam Dublinski...

“The people have been too scared to do anything for years and years. They have never been allowed to speak out or speak any political information. They have not been allowed to have a voice. Now they are not scared. They are fearless.”