Stories from Friday, October 22, 2021

Six band students have been selected to participate in the 54th annual Northwest Iowa Junior High/Middle School Honor Bands Festival. On Saturday, October 16, over 300 seventh and eighth grade band students from 35 Northwest Iowa schools auditioned for a position in two honor bands. Approximately 190 students were chosen. These selected students will perform a concert at Storm Lake High School, Saturday, November 6. Selected from Storm Lake Middle School are:...

The Bomgaars Ladies Night is set for Sunday, October 24, 2021 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Shoppers will receive 20% off regular priced merchandise, some restrictions apply. 5% of total sales will be donated to area cancer centers, including Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. In 2020, Bomgaars donated over $65,000.00 to 94 locations...

Now that we are elbow-deep in the pumpkin guts of October, I’m starting to feel the holiday season kick-off excitement. It has captured my imagination ever since I was a young lad overdosing on Brach’s Mellowcreme Pumpkins and memorizing the Sears Holiday Wish Book when I should’ve been diagramming sentences or deciphering the dark sorcery of fractions...

I hear about the rising cost of prescription drugs at nearly every one of my town hall meetings. Three years ago, I began a bipartisan effort to lower prescription drug costs. Following Finance Committee hearings, a mark-up and bipartisan negotiations, Senator Wyden and I introduced the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act. The bill caps yearly out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors at $3,100...

Today, the Governor proved once again that she doesn’t care about Iowans living with disabilities. She promised that privatizing Medicaid would accomplish three goals – stabilize the Medicaid budget, provide better health outcomes for patients and save taxpayer money. It’s clear from the Auditor’s report that this is not the case at all...

You might be surprised to learn that the upcoming city-school election may have a bigger impact on your daily life than who is elected president, senator, or governor. While races for those higher offices receive greater attention, the locally elected officials play a more direct and immediate role in your community...

Not shedding tears here over Jon Gruden. He’s a closet racist, sexist and homophobe, if his leaked email is to be believed, and I haven’t heard him denying it. There’s no defending it. Nor does he particularly need our angst. Various sources put his net worth at around $30 million, and he will apparently get to negotiate severence pay of something up to the $40 million remaining on his contract, despite resigning in shame. ...

Buena Vista University (BVU) will host Simon Estes’ 99 Counties Root & Wings Tour at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 21 in Schaller Memorial Chapel. The free afternoon concert features Simon Estes, the BVU Concert Choir, and Buena Vista County high school choirs...

Transparency is a key issue for the Storm Lake City Council, member Kevin McKinney suggested at a recent council meeting. McKinney was concerned that the 5 p.m. meeting time, although common for cities around the region, might prevent some people from being able to attend. He suggested moving the “hear the public” portion of the meeting from the beginning of the meeting to the end, to allow people who wish to address the council more time to get to the meetings...

Brews and Boos will be Saturday, October 23, 7:30 p.m., hosted by Jones Nursery. This adult Halloween spooktacular in the greenhouse features Iowa native traditional country music recording artist Eli Alger. Eli’s newest single, Rednexico, debuted in September...

We’ve all come to better appreciate health and medicine in the past 18 months. And we all know that a great movie is good for what ails you. Today’s list features doctors, hospitals and illnesses. Take two of these and call me in the morning. 12. The Doctor (1991) - When a self-centered doctor is diagnosed with cancer, he becomes better able to understand his patients and appreciate a life outside his career. ...

Assistant Buena Vista County Attorney Ashley Herrig will be recognized with the Iowa County Attorneys Association Staff Attorney Award of Merit.  The award is meant to “recognize and reward experienced staff attorneys who have earned distinguished records of accomplishment, dedication and service to the Association, their communities, and to the public.” She will receive the award next month at the County Attorney Conference in Des Moines. ...

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center is hosting a safe and fun trick or treat event for children, Sunday October 31, 2-4 p.m. Stay in your car and drive up to the BVRMC main entrance for a treat hosted by ER and ambulance staff. Please enter the main entrance driveway off of Northwestern Drive and continue through and around the Main Entrance...

Witter Gallery is holding another Witter After Hours on Friday, October 29. A collection of local musicians will be playing in a piano bar style atmosphere. Festive Fall Musicale is a relaxed environment with a grand piano to create a nostalgic bar setting with light snacks. Guests attending Witter After Hours are invited to bring their own favorite drinks! Alcoholic drinks are permitted during the performance...

A project to build a mini-pitch soccer field in Storm Lake’s Chautauqua Park is behind schedule, but still alive. In April, the Storm Lake City Council agreed to a proposal by non-profit organization Kick It Forward to build the soccer facility on the site formerly used for tennis courts in the park. The agreement called for the pitch to be completed this year, with an option for either the city or Kick It Forward to back out of the deal if the funds hadn’t been raised by September 1...

October 27, 1952 - October 15, 2021

Buena Vista University crowned its 2021 Homecoming royalty during Coronation on Oct. 15. Michael Demers of Storm Lake was named to Homecoming court. Demers is a senior majoring in educational studies. The Homecoming court was made up of 10 seniors, with the royalty winners being chosen by the student body. ...

Drivers are advised to stay alert as they travel Iowa’s roadsides over the coming weeks. Autumn deer behavior, crop harvest and peak travel times for motorists combine to hike the risk of vehicle-deer collisions in Iowa. From the middle of October until the third week of November, Iowa bucks become more active in the pursuit of does during the breeding season. ...

Everlee Lynn Oglesby was born at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls on June 15, 2021. She weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and measured 20.5 inches in length. She is the daughter of Brian and Amy Oglesby of Crooks, SD. Her maternal grandparents are John and Ronda Rinehart of Sioux Falls, SD and paternal grandparent is Sharon Frederick of Spencer, Iowa. ...

Holly and Jesse Munger, of Waterloo, Iowa, formerly of Waverly, and Storm Lake, announce the birth of their daughter, Maizie Jean, born October 4th, at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. Maizie weighed 7 lb-11 oz, and was 20.5 inches long. Her favorite hobbies are sleeping, and eating. Grandparents are Jill, and the late Steve Kwikkel, Waterloo, Allyson Munger of Schaller, and Leonard and Kelly Munger of Sibley. . / Photo submitted...

Storm Lake artist Tonya Archer’s work will be featured in the art wall exhibit this season at Buena Vista Regional Medical center. Tonya has lived in Storm Lake for almost 18 years. She is married to Dr. Dave Archer. They have seven sons, five daughters-in-law, and two granddaughters...

Iowa politicians rallied around Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn on Tuesday after he received a series of racist, threatening messages from an anonymous sender. “At some point, we have to say enough is enough,” Wilburn told reporters Tuesday. “My hope is that my coming forward and making this report will get others to step forward and say this is unacceptable. This is not our state, this is not our country.”...

Spencer, Sioux Rapids, Spirit Lake, Okoboji, Ida Grove among those to be tested

Future teachers studying teaching English to students of other languages (TESOL) at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) have a new opportunity for their field experience: working with emergent bilingual students in the Storm Lake Community School District (SLCSD)...

STORM LAKE - Battling both the storms during the day and the Simpson Storm at night, Buena Vista University men's soccer fell short in a low scoring match at home. Despite a great defensive effort by the Beavers, Simpsons’ two second half goals were too much to overcome in the 2-0 loss Wednesday night...

STORM LAKE - Simpson College beat Buena Vista University in their final home appearance. Simpson took the wind out of the sails early with a goal in the first minute, and never looked back with the 8-0 win over Buena Vista. Although percentage wise the Beavers put 75 percent of their shots on goal, it was Simpson who would make good on more of their attempts getting eight to the net...

Four teams remain and four teams are on the road this week as Storm Lake heads to Spencer for their final game of the season, Newell-Fonda travels to Janesville for the first game of the postseason, Alta-Aurelia travels to face Class A #1-ranked Britt, West Hancock, and Ridge View travels to take on Treynor...

LEMARS - Storm Lake sophomore Luiz Martinez and senior Tyler Moon qualified for the State Cross Country Meet with their top 10 performances at the State qualifier meet on Wednesday evening in LeMars. Martinez finished in fourth place with a time of 17:02.38 and Moon placed eighth at 17:16.32. Senior Matt Lenzmeier finished third for the Tornadoes in 42nd place at 18:40.27, freshman Adrian Zeledon-Pena came in 61st at 19:53.37 and senior Dylan Sliefert finished in 63rd at 19:56.49...

SPENCER - The Storm Lake volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss to Spencer on Tuesday evening to end their season. The Tigers took all three sets rather quickly with a 25-8 win in the first set, a 25-11 win in the second and a 25-9 win in the third to complete the three set sweep...

STORM LAKE - The Storm Lake St. Mary’s volleyball team had a rough 3-0 loss to South O’Brien to end their season at home on Monday in the Class 1A Region 1 tournament. The Panthers got out to an early lead and led 10-3 at one point before the Wolverines pulled it back to tie it at 14-14 before going on to a 25-17 win in the first set...

SIOUX RAPIDS - The Sioux Central volleyball team had a dramatic end to their season with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn at home in the first round of the Class 2A Region 1 tournament on Monday evening. Every point was fought for in the first set before HMS took it 25-23, but the Rebels retaliated with a 25-20 win in the second set and a 25-15 win the third to take a 2-1 lead. ...

ALTA - The Alta-Aurelia volleyball team had an amazing comeback but a heartbreaking end in a 3-2 loss to East Sac County at home on Wednesday that ended their season. The first set started off close but the Raiders pulled out to a 19-11 lead. The Warriors pulled it back but still dropped the set 25-20. The second set fell away from the Warriors quickly, 25-16...

NEWELL - The Class 1A #7-ranked Newell-Fonda volleyball team fought for a 3-0 win over St. Edmond to move on to the semifinal round of the Class 1A Region 4 tournament at home on Wednesday evening. The first set was a battle throughout but the Mustangs pulled through to take the set 25-22. After that it got easier for the Mustangs and they took a 25-18 win in the second and 25-16 win in the third to complete the sweep...

SCHALLER - The Class 2A #13-ranked Ridge View volleyball team moved on to the semifinal round of the Class 2A Region 1 volleyball tournament with a 3-0 win one Lawton-Bronson on Wednesday evening. The Raptors dominated the first set with a 25-10 win before the Eagles fought back a bit in the remaining two sets. The Raptors defense held strong and the offense continued firing shots though to take the second set 25-16 and the third 25-13...

Storm Lake schools enrollment has decreased by 35 students from last year, though the district expects its overall trend of growth to continue. Iowa school districts submit their enrollment numbers to the state Department of Education on October 1. The number is used to calculate the amount of school funding aid received from the state. Because open enrollment into the district increased by 14 this school year, the district funding will only decline 20 students’ worth...

Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Planning We are eagerly awaiting approval from the CDC regarding Pfizer for children ages 5-11 years old. In anticipation of approval when the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meets on November 2 and 3. There are approximately 28 million children between the ages of 5-11 years old in the United States which included 283,153 children in Iowa. ...

Rezoning of a 440-acre site to make way for a proposed $35 million Platinum Crush soybean processing plant between Storm Lake and Alta was passed unanimously by the Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors Tuesday. Two more readings will be needed to finalize the change...

An anonymous benefactor has given Buena Vista University more than $830,000 to be used to help economically-disadvantaged students from the Midwest reduce student loans throughout the next four years. This landmark Inspiring Achievement Grant could impact as many as 320 BVU students, or 80 per year, allowing them to earn their bachelor’s degree with less student debt...

Mandy Reese, age 41, is a busy mom of three and Radiology Tech at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, who now also carries the title breast cancer survivor. In 2020, Mandy received her annual mammogram reminder from BVRMC. She decided it was time to get her mammogram scheduled, especially since she worked in the same department...

“It’s all about brainstorming, right?” With that introduction, landscape architect Casey Byers launches into a plan to turn 220 acres of unloved former dredge spoil site into an outdoor recreation haven, complete with youth sports fields, a dog park, hiking/biking trails, outdoor classrooms, open-air shelters, a nature playscape for children and restored prairie area. ...

Storm Lake 7, Spencer 42 Alta-Aurelia 7, West Hancock 43 Newell-Fonda 63, Janesville 8 Ridge View 14, Treynor 0

New inclusive playground equipment and other items for the Storm Lake Elementary School were dedicated this week in memory of Twyla Kleen, longtime school nurse. The dedication took place on Twyla’s birthday. The equipment includes musical flowers sculptures, and a swing bench and shade that will be installed soon...