Stories from Friday, November 5, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives. Work is no exception. For nearly every employee and employer, work life has changed. COVID Recovery Iowa has staff who are conducting support sessions to help navigate the workplace in the months ahead...

Buena Vista University and Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative (ILEC) have formed a Strategic Partnership, providing education benefits to their workforce while strengthening communities both entities serve. This partnership allows for employees of ILEC, as well as eligible family members of full-time employees, to receive grant funding to lower the overall cost of education while enrolled in classes at BVU’s Storm Lake campus. ...

Helping to mark American Clean Power Week, MidAmerican Energy is taking the final steps to flip the switch at the company’s first utility-scale solar energy project, located in Waterloo. This ushers in a new era for MidAmerican’s renewable portfolio – and for its customers – since the Waterloo solar project and others coming online later this year will expand the company’s renewable energy mix in Iowa...

From Nov. 26-28, local residents will be able to purchase King’s Pointe season waterpark passes at a discounted Black Friday rate. Individual passes will be $100 (compared to the usual $150), family passes will be $225 (instead of $275), and children added on to an adult pass will be $25 (instead of $50.)...

Not surprisingly, Democrats across the country got walloped in this week’s off-year election. Wanna know why? Put aside the staid, predictable analysis offered by paid political pundits and read Talk Radio’s America: How an industry took over a political party that took over the United States, by Brian Rosenwald...

Recently I spoke at a Storm Lake City Council meeting on the subject of pedestrian safety. This is a major issue that needs to be properly addressed to ensure the well-being and safety of our residents and visitors. Currently a proposed plan to remove traffic lights is already causing dangerous conditions...

I just got back from a road trip out west to hear about the passing of former Iowa Representative Neal Smith. Growing up, Neal was a venerable institution in Iowa politics for 36 years, bringing in a spirit of working on issues between the two major Iowa political parties. ...

I’m not complaining, but after 23 years of column writing, it becomes increasingly challenging to find new angles for recurring events such as Mother’s Day or Memorial Day. So, when it came time to write about Veterans Day (again), I sought inspiration by calling a dear friend who served as a track mechanic during the Vietnam War...

A new event, Character Jam - Live Music For Scouting, will be on Saturday, November 13 at The Marquee in Sioux City. The show features performances by rock/R&B; veterans Emily Johnson & Friends, AM Radio & Maddie Layne. Big Daddy of 99.5 Classic Rock will serve as emcee. All proceeds benefit local chapters of Boy Scouts of America. Register to attend, or make a donation, at mac-bsa.org/characterjam...

Iowa-based country singer/songwriter Cody Hicks has announced that he will perform at the next Buena Vista County Fair, his first appearance at the event. Cody promises a “homegrown country music show.” “We believe that without a doubt some of the best country music being written and performed today is coming from indie artists like Cody Hicks,” a Nashville Buckle review said of the Montezuma native. ...

Fort Dodge’s own Salty View Acoustic Review will be in concert tonight, Nov. 5 at ShinyTop Brewing in Fort Dodge. Showtime is 7 p.m. If you can’t get to that show, never fear, Salty Top returns to ShinyTop Wed., Nov. 24, and plays a New Year’s Eve concert there as well...

The Witter Gallery Christmas wreath silent auction fundraiser has kicked off. Visit the gallery to see a wide variety of creative wreaths, or see the gallery’s Facebook page for more information. Bids will be accepted through Dec. 3. The gallery will also host a Holiday Wreath Workshop November 20, 1-2 p.m. - a great chance to learn how to make your own original wreath. Cost is $20, or $15 for Witter Gallery members. Call 732-3400 or email [email protected] to register...

Storm Lake United is proud to present “Dummy Talk – The Comedy Ventriloquism of Marc Rubben”. Marc will be performing live at Lake Avenue Lounge on Saturday, November 13th at 8:00 p.m. as part of SLU’s annual Holiday Open House. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this free event...

Buena Vista County leaders continue to plug away for solutions to provide funding help to several non-profit organizations, after the state cracked down on counties donating to outside agencies. The county has been able to continue its funding to several organizations by qualifying them as economic development, historical societies, or contracted services, all of which are still allowed by the state...

A state public defender will be coming to Buena Vista County - but not to the courthouse. In early October, state public defender’s office officials came to the county with plans to make it one of up to 10 sites in the state to get a public defender in a new program, and asked for an officer site. The sites were chosen based on the number of criminal cases vs. the number of available lawyers...

Community Partners of Storm Lake will be welcoming its Pacific Island residents to a community meeting on Sunday November 14 at 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church of Storm Lake. Pacific Islander residents of Storm Lake include Micronesian, Marshallese, and Polynesian families. Many family members work in the processing plants, customer service roles, and learn in the local schools...

State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald’s office is hard at work this Veteran’s Day season getting the word out about the lost and forgotten war memorabilia turned over to the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. “Unclaimed property doesn’t just refer to forgotten savings accounts and uncashed checks,” said Fitzgerald. “My office also safeguards items found in safe deposit boxes. Right now, we are in possession of medals, dog tags, documents, honorable discharge papers and photos of soldiers and veterans.”...

Please wish Robert and Barbara (Netsch) Ansorge a very Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary on November 7th, 2021. Bob and Barb were married in Spirit Lake, Iowa at Immanuel Lutheran Church by the Rev. Max Ansorge, Bob’s father. Bob owns Buntrock-Salie Photography and is partially retired. ...

The Storm Lake Music Department is currently holding their Annual Fruit/Cheese Fundraiser, going through November 12th. SLHS Music students are reaching out to everyone in our community to support performance opportunities and educational experiences for music students at Storm Lake Community Schools...

Tuesday, at approximately 2:33 p.m., Clay County Dispatch received multiple calls of an active shooter at Maxwell Food Equipment in Spencer. Law enforcement arrived on scene and determined that the calls were fraudulent and Maxwell’s had fallen victim to a “Swatting call.” Swatting is false reporting an emergency to public safety by a person for the intent of getting a “SWAT Team” response to a location where no emergency exists. ...

An investigation of a stabbing complaint in Royal landed a Spencer man in Clay County Jail for attempted murder after he allegedly fled the scene of the incident in late October. At approximately 4:11 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 24, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a stabbing in progress at 307 Grove St. ...

Fall is a great time to catch fish in Iowa’s rivers. A unique angling challenge is hidden around every bend. “You are never far from one of Iowa’s many rivers,” said Greg Gelwicks, Iowa DNR interior rivers research biologist. “Fall is a great time to give them a try.”...

Seven Storm Lake Middle School students were recently selected for participation in the thirty-fifth annual Iowa Opus Honor Choir Festival. Over 2,200 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs. Selections were made by means of a recorded audition. ...

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) The courtesy dock at the Bel-Air boat ramp has been removed for the season. Courtesy docks at the ramp in the DNR marina will remain in place throughout the season. Water temperature is around 50 degrees. Most of the lake is free of vegetation. ...

As labor shortages plague the trucking industry and supply chain issues continue to impact Americans across the country, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are calling for more Americans to be eligible to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. Ernst and Grassley are urging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to lower the age of eligibility from 21 to 18...

Storm Lake resident Andriette Wickstrom pleaded with the city council this week to stop plans to remove the stoplights at the intersection of Lake Avenue and 7th Street, near the Walgreens store downtown. She felt that people may not be aware of the plan, and simply think the lights are broken and waiting for repairs. The city has covered the lights with bags, the last step in decommissioning them before the stoplights would be removed...

Iowa voters went to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in local elections: city councils, school boards and other county-level business. But Tuesday also marked a major milestone in the march toward the 2022 election, which could have significant consequences for the balance of the U.S. House and Senate...

State Representative Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids) announced her decision to seek re-election to the Iowa House of Representatives. Jones will run to represent the new House District 6, which includes Southern Clay County and most of Buena Vista County...

The Buena Vista University football team is on a hot streak, having won their last three games. They will look to extend that to four when they travel to take on 6-2, 4-2 in the American Rivers Conference, Coe College tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Kohawks are also on a three game winning streak, having beat Loras College 27-20 three weeks ago, Luther College 63-7 two weeks ago, and the University of Dubuque 34-27 last week. ...

The Buena Vista University football team rallied late to top visiting Wartburg College, 24-20, this past Saturday afternoon. For their performances, multiple players have landed weekly honors at both the conference and national levels. On Monday afternoon, sophomore quarterback Brandon Kyles was named the American Rivers Conference Football Offensive Performer of the Week while junior placekicker Ramon Garcia was voted the Special Teams Performer of the Week...

This area was stacked with talented teams in volleyball this year, topped by Newell-Fonda and Ridge View, who were both ranked at some point in the season, and both made it to their respective regional final matches. It’s a shame we never got to see them face each other. Every team had great athletes and put on a good show this year. Choosing which team to place each spiker was difficult but here we go...

A Storm Lake man has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for Lascivious Acts With a Child. Marvin Roberto Calderon-Coronado, age 46 was sentenced Nov. 1 in Iowa District Court by the Judge John M. Sandy. On September 31, Calderon-Coronado entered an Alford plea (pleading guilty but not admitting guilt) to the felony charge. He will also have to register as a sex offender and be on parole for the duration of his life...

The Centers for Disease Control announced this week that, effective immediately, they recommend the Pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine series for everyone ages 5 years and older, under Emergency Use Authorization. COVID-19 vaccines does not affect timing for other vaccinations.. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) estimates there are approximately 284,000 Iowans in this age group newly eligible for vaccine...

Think you’ve got a big job? Consider the Storm Lake snow removal crews. When winter dumps on The City Beautiful, they’ve got 105 lane miles to clear overnight, and 14 miles of emergency routes that must be tended on the hour, all day long when necessary...

The Storm Lake City Council plans to amend a development agreement for The Breeze condominiums, currently under construction on Sunrise Park Road adjacent to the municipal golf course. An original agreement was approved in 2016 as the property was purchased for $300,000, after a previous developer “walked away” from the project and did a lot of damage to the site, City Manager Keri Navratil said...

Storm Lake Mayor Mike Porsch shared a proclamation this week honoring Fire Chief Mike Jones, who will be stepping down after 35 years of service to the community. Jones joined the department in October 1986 as a firefighter, and later progressed to lieutenant and assistant chief before being named chief in 2001. ...

“It is not only farmers who want this. I’ve talked to a lot of people in the communities. I’ve gotten a lot of email… the city councils want this, the mayors want this. I believe it can be a successful venture for the county.” - BV Supervisors chair Kelly Snyder

Storm Lake Elementary School celebrated Dia de los Muertos this week with a massive ofrenda created in the school lobby by the Spanish Department. All of the classes are learning about the offerings that make up the ofrenda from the Spanish teachers. The tradition originated in the Aztec culture, and incorporates traditions from Europe and Mesoamerica. The home altars are created in memory of loved ones who have passed away, for the celebration Nov. 2 and 3. /Pilot photo by Dana Larsen...

Two new Storm Lake City Council members were elected Tuesday, and one new member of the school board. County communities saw only one race for mayor, with the incumbent prevailing in Alta. A few races around the county remain to be determined by write-in ballots, with election officials still reviewing those yesterday...