Stories from Monday, September 13, 2021

St. John Lutheran Church, 402 Lake Avenue in Storm Lake will host a concert presented by Dave Anderson and Roger Walck on Tuesday evening, September 21, at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Dave and Roger’s music is a blend of contemporary, gospel, hymns, and lots of old-time Sunday School songs. The audience will be invited to sing along but, as Dave says, “so long as it’s the same song.”...

Public season tickets for the Rosemary Clausen Center’s 2021-2022 Entertainment Series are on sale. Season ticket holders from the last time they were together have had the opportunity to renew their seats, and the Clausen Center in Holstein, Iowa is now reaching out to those who might want season tickets for the first time. Those who order tickets now will have reordering priority for future seasons...

Clay County Heritage is excited to announce an event called “An Evening with Teddy Roosevelt” that will be held on Saturday, October 9th at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer. Theodore Roosevelt reprisor Joe Wiegand will bring the Rough Rider President to life for one night only thanks to the generous sponsorship from David and Jane Kruse of Commstock. ...

Nationally-known vocalist Kat Perkins is scheduled to bring her holiday show, North Country Christmas, to the Storm Lake High School Auditorium in Storm Lake, Saturday, Dec. 4. Tickets are $20 in advance (available from the Community Education office/732-8711) or $25 at the door...

A national environmental group has developed a clickable map that describes some of Iowa’s most pressing pollution problems in fine detail. The Environmental Working Group’s “water atlas” shows what Iowans have long known in a broad sense — the state is awash in manure and commercial fertilizers...

Iowa will use federal coronavirus relief funds to pay for a $3.7 million national ad campaign that promotes the state as a destination for visitors and workers, an agency spokeswoman said Thursday. The 30-second ad is part of a larger “This Is Iowa” promotional campaign and will air on cable television, online on social media sites and through streaming services, said Staci Hupp Ballard, spokeswoman for Iowa Economic Development Authority. ...

Mutton Bustin’ is a popular part of the rodeo during Fonda’s Labor Day celebration - with an especially enthusiastic turnout this year for the town’s Sesquicentennial party. This youngster hangs on for dear life.

Storm Lake St. Mary’s School received a $2500 grant from Thrivent to use for a worthwhile cause for the school. Steve Frank, a member of the Thrivent Board of the Iowa Region said grants were given to several parochial schools in the region to help support them in light of financial difficulties brought on by the pandemic. ...

Affordability and the chance to experience changing seasons brought Victoria Hodge from Southern California to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake four years ago. Hodge, who graduated from BVU in May, began her career at the end of July, working as a special education teacher at Emory Academy of Global Leadership & Empowerment in San Diego. She works with children in grades K-6, making sure they’re getting everything they need as they grow and advance...

The Storm Lake School District Foundation held a ribbon cutting along with Storm Lake United Friday for its new donor wall, located in the auditorium/gym entry of the high school. The effort to recognize supporters of the school system has been in the works for nearly four years. ...

President Joe Biden announced a new COVID-19 mitigation approach on Thursday that requires about 100 million Americans to be vaccinated or routinely tested. Under the plan, health care workers and all federal workers and contractors must be vaccinated. Companies with more than 100 employees must require vaccination or weekly testing...

Reagan Fritz of Pocahontas, IA was one of 88 University of Iowa Doctor of Pharmacy students who recited the Oath of the Pharmacist and were officially welcomed into the profession and college during the College of Pharmacy’s annual White Coat Ceremony...

The Buena Vista Regional Medical Center’s 14th annual 5K walk/run is coming up Saturday, Sept. 18. The event starts at 8 a.m., with a kids fun run at 8:45. The 5K begins and ends at the hospital in Storm Lake, and runs along a portion of the scenic lakefront. Proceeds support the needs of those in cancer treatment at BVRMC. For more information, or to make a donation, see https://runsignup.com/Race/IA/StormLake/BVRMCAWARE5K...

Leanna M. Nixon, age 80 of Storm Lake, died September 8, at her home surrounded by her family in Storm Lake. Funeral services were Monday, September 13, a.m. at the Church of New Beginnings in Storm Lake, Iowa. Burial was at Buena Vista Memorial Park. Visitation was held Sunday, September 12, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of arrangements...

Reality TV often features contestants demonstrating skills as they live in the woods, race through an obstacle course, or compete in challenges on an island. However, in the reality of everyday living, financial literacy skills are far more important for survival...

Some of the community’s top young readers were celebrated recently with prizes from the Storm Lake Public Library summer reading program wrap-up. Top, Finley Schreiber, age 4 (pictured with his brother), sons of Shannon and Daniel Schreiber. Above, Jacob Mills is the son of Pamela and Steve Mills. / Contributed...

Newell-Fonda’s 2021 Homecoming King and Queen, Mickey Morenz and Emily Mercer. / Photo by Scott Kilbride

“Salvadorian-American writer, spoken word performer, slam poet and Storm Lake native Matthew N. Marroquin held a book signing for his book of poetry Guanaco Binge at the Witter Gallery. Guanaco Binge is a book of poems that speaks of and to the experiences of his migrant parents as they `made their way through turmoil and struggle to make their way from El Salvador to America. ...

Spirit was overflowing in Storm Lake! Images from the Storm Lake Homecoming coronation, parade and game day. / Pilot photos by Dana Larsen

By DANA LARSEN Pilot-Tribune Editor About 380 Buena Vista County resident are unemployed and looking for work, according to the latest figures released by Iowa Workforce Development. The county stood at 3.2 percent jobless at the end of July, down from 3.7 percent a month earlier, but well above the year’s low mark of 2.9 percent in April. ...

The Clay County Board of Supervisors recently met with civil engineer Evan Del Val from ISG, a design and engineering firm, to discuss hiring the organization to inspect two potential carbon dioxide pipelines coming through the county. The $4.5 billion project and its 1,200 miles of proposed pipeline, run west and north of Buena Vista County, passing also through area counties Cherokee, Ida, O’Brien and Palo Alto...

Deep inside a $3.5 trillion spending “reconciliation” plan is a resolution that could have a dramatic impact for Storm Lake’s immigrant population. It calls for a path to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals residents - or “Dreamers” - as well as for immigrants who are essential workers, farm workers, and those who are currently in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status...

High Five Fridays have become a tradition at Storm Lake Elementary School, with staff and guests greeting children for a great school day. Participants in Friday’s Storm Lake Homecoming Parade tuned the event into a giant five-fest. See more Homecoming photos, 4B. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

An 1800s circuit rider preacher on horseback greeted parishioners and guests Sunday on the sidewalk in front of Storm Lake United Methodist Church. In the early years of Storm Lake, such traveling ministers served the area communities. The church was celebrating its 150th (plus one) anniversary in the community. A special service, meal, tours, meet and greet with former pastors, a quilt show and exhibits of historical items made for a memorable occasion. / Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...