Stories from Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Nothing like a little Hawkeye State pride. While our state may be far removed from the glitz of Hollywood, plenty of Iowans have made their mark on the silver screen. There are hundreds of flicks with Iowa actors to choose from (including three former Storm Lakers earning mention.) Here’s our best of the best:...

Clay County Heritage is excited to announce their Soiree en Blanc Fundraiser commences on Saturday, August 21st at 6 PM. As per tradition, the location of the event is a surprise until the participants are notified 30 minutes before the event. “Soiree en Blanc” means “Dinner in White” in French, so guests are asked to don a white outfit, bring their table, chairs, food, and drink, and enjoy a lovely evening pop-up dinner...

Iowa State University scientists are finding evidence that obesity alters mammals’ reproductive systems in a variety of ways, including undermining natural abilities to resist and recover from exposures to chemical toxins. “It has been known for some time that obese women tend to have issues with fertility and related problems, such as earlier onset of both puberty and altered timing of menopause,” said Aileen Keating, professor of animal science and director of the Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program at Iowa State. ...

A Saturday rainout didn’t derail the Buena Vista County Fair’s fitness events. The third annual Barnyard to Blue Ribbon bike ride was held on Sunday, with Lakeshore Cyclery providing support. A new 5K run event was added this year. Lakeshore Cyclery also hosted its annual B4 ride out of Storm Lake last weekend...

By KATIE AKIN Iowa Capital Dispatch In a preview of the 2024 presidential election, several big-name Republicans on Friday touted pro-life, anti-“critical race theory” policies to win over a group of Iowa Christian conservatives.  The Family Leader, an Iowa-based religious advocacy group, held Friday’s event. ...

Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst say the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is dangerous and could lead to Taliban control. President Joe Biden announced in April that he would withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 attack. In an address last week, Biden said that the U.S. had succeeded in its initial mission to combat terrorism after the attack and should not stay in the country to “nation-build.”...

Iowa saw a nearly 20% increase in drug overdose deaths in the past year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistic System reported 419 cases of drug overdoses in the state in 2020, compared to 350 reported in 2019. In the United States overall, there was a 29.6% increase...

By DANA LARSEN Pilot-Tribune Editor The Rural School Advocates of Iowa program is asking school boards to share their priorities for lobbying of lawmakers. The Storm Lake Board of Education discussed its needs last week, feeling that top priorities would include better provisions for mental health services for students, and full funding of preschool. Currently preschool per-pupil funding is weighted at only half that of a K-12 student...

Sac County was among 10 counties in the state included in a disaster proclamation issued by Gov. Kim Reynolds Friday after severe weather on June 24 and July 14. Sac was the only area county included. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program. ...

The Storm Lake United Methodist Church B.L.E.S.S. (Bless and Love Everyone School Supplies) program is preparing for its sixth annual School Supply Giveaway. The public service project gives away 350-500 backpack bags with supplies each year. This year, a call-ahead system will be used to reserve bags, with a drive-through pickup distribution...

The 9th annual Storm Lake Hy Noon Kiwanis Storm the Lake Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon will be held Saturday, August 21, at the Awaysis park near King’s Pointe Resort. The swim portion of the sanctioned triathlon will be a 1/2 mile swim in the bay area; the bike portion will be a 12 mile ride around the lake; the run portion will be a 5K run along the lake from Awaysis Park to near the dam site. The Duathlon will be a one mile run along the lake and then a 12 mile ride around the lake and finish with a 5K run along the lake.. ...

Darcy Reese, age 52, of Fort Dodge, and formerly of Storm Lake, Iowa passed on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge. A 28 day battle with Covid ended and left her with peace. Memorial Services took place Saturday, July 17, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

Marguerite “Rita” Knights, age 99, of Storm Lake, Iowa died July 14, 2021, at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake, Iowa. Funeral Services was Saturday, July 17, 2021 at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa. Burial will be at the Cedar Cemetery in Fonda, Iowa. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on July 17, 2021. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of arrangements...

Lake Avenue in downtown Storm Lake was busy with shoppers Saturday for the final day of the Ridiculous Days event. Many of the merchants set up sidewalk displays and tents for the bargain hunters.

Storm Lake students who skip school will no longer be eligible to attend school events, thanks to new technology in the school district’ ID card system. Students receive ID cards that admit them to sports, arts and other school events free. But in the past, it had been difficult to pick students who had not attended school that day from the crowds at events. If they were caught, students would sometimes claim that they were given permission by some staff member...

By DANA LARSEN Pilot-Tribune Editor Nomination papers are now available for the upcoming November elections, where city council and school board members will be chosen across the area. Papers can be picked up from city clerk/school district offices, the county auditor’s office, or downloaded from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office website...

The Storm Lake Public Library Board of Trustees plans to call for a reduction in the board, on the November general election ballot. If approved by voters, the board would go from the current nine-member arrangement to seven. The board considered a reduction to five, but chose the less severe cut...

“The heavens are smiling.” Nearly a year after the loss of Patti Ehlers, family and friends took up the cause she had championed. Patti’s Riders 4 Thrivers crushed its goals and raised over $14,000 for Project Pink’d - the nonprofit serving the needs of breast cancer patients in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska...

When school begins this fall in Storm Lake, all classes and grades will return to their normal buildings, following the many adjustments necessary under COVID-19 measures in 2020-21. “We plan to be as normal as possible,” Superintendent Stacey Cole told the Pilot-Tribune. Masks use will be left up to families...

CHEROKEE - The Newell-Fonda baseball team struggled to get the bats going or find the strike zone in a 0-11 loss to 1A #3-ranked Remsen St. Mary’s in the Class 1A Substate 1 final on Tuesday. Trey Jungers was stranded after reaching when he struck out but the catcher missed the ball in the top of the first. ...

FORT DODGE - The Alta-Aurelia baseball team fell to 2A #2-ranked and two time defending State Champion Van Meter 0-11 in the Class 2A Substate 2 finals, Tuesday. Van Meter junior Ganon Archer pitched a no-hitter against the Warriors. Alta-Aurelia senior Trey Engelmann reached on an error and took second on a passed ball in the first but was left on base before the Bulldogs scored twice in the first from a two run homer and ran two more across in the second. ...