Stories from Friday, November 12, 2021

Storm Lake United and Buena Vista Regional Medical Center partnered with local retailers for Sassy Saturdays in October. Shoppers who purchased a BVRMC P.i.n.k bracelet had access to specials deals and discounts from 28 local businesses. This year we raised $957.00 with all proceeds benefiting BVRMC P.i.n.k which helps women with financial barriers get free mammograms. ...

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation hosted its annual Business Recognition Luncheon on Friday at the Waterfront Grill and Event Center in Arnolds Park. Several regional businesses were recognized for their efforts. Corridor board members Kent Stensland, John Tatman and Mike Wodtke were also recognized for their service to the nonprofit. ...

As Veterans Day comes, and we honor those for their military service, I reflect on a few things. I’ve written columns regarding my family’s service, but never looked at the one piece of music that we play in so may ceremonies - the national anthem. The anthem itself seems to be a lightning rod at times, and a divining rod at other times. ...

The 2021 Storm Lake Farmers Market season closed with so many thanks to be given for its success. Thank you to Storm Lake United and the city of Storm Lake for their support in permitting us the use of Parking Lot C. Thank you to the businesses in that area whose parking was limited on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings...

Stakeholders in journalism, news, and the general welfare of a fact-based democracy have been beside themselves in recent weeks as a little-known bill that they hoped would slip its way into the broader Build Back Better plan was treated as little more than an expendable remnant...

Regular readers of this newspaper have often seen reports on trials in the local district court that end with wording about a defendant getting off with probation or a suspended sentence, though the county attorney’s office had recommended prison time...

“Witter Gallery is proud to present November’s exhibit, Intergenerational Threads, a collaboration between three artists and two generations. Stained glass works by Karen Hixon light up the gallery in a beautiful display of delicate color. Alongside her pieces are the works of her daughters and illustrators, Allison and Elizabeth Hixon. ...

There’s plenty of entertainment on tap at the Roof Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park this season. Here’s the lineup: The band is happy to welcome back former Miss South Dakota, Carol Nesbitt, and former KSFY Meteorologist, Shawn Cable on vocals...

Central Bank has generously updated Buena Vista Regional Medical Center’s Oncology & Infusion Center’s waiting room. Carrie Brown, local interior designer, came up with a design and plan to update the waiting area. Central Bank purchased chairs, artwork, and other décor...

Morgann Wells has dreamed about helping people feel better about themselves for a long time – she just had to find the right avenue to make it happen. The 2013 Alta High graduate came back to the area, after a potentially solid sales career in Des Moines, to find love, marriage, family, and something else. ...

Joe and Karen Wadsley of Odebolt will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on November 13. They were married at the Storm Lake United Methodist church. Their children will host an open house for them at a later date.

October was a busy month for the Newell - Fonda FFA. Between providing harvest meals, attending the Greenhand Fire-up, and attending the National FFA Convention, members were kept on their feet this past month. Newell-Fonda FFA provided meals for our farmers to show their appreciation for their hard work. ...

January 6, 1938 - November 1, 2021

A judge passed down a 50-year jail sentence this week for Gregg Eugene Winterfeld of Spirit Lake, who has twice been found guilty of murdering a Cleghorn man. The 71-year-old had been granted a retrial after being found guilty of second-degree murder in April. ...

The Buena Vista Patriots group will be hosting an open event with former Congressman Steve King, Sunday, Nov. 21 at King’s Pointe Resort’s Regatta Grille in Storm Lake. The event begins at 2 p.m. King will share his views on the current political environment, and those who attend will have an opportunity to purchase the former congressman’s new book, “Walking Through the Fire.”...

The application period for the City of Storm Lake’s Outside Agency Funding is now open. Applications can be picked up at City Hall or requested (and returned) via [email protected]. Please complete the entire application and return by 4 p.m. December 3, 2021. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered...

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host “On Their Own & Ok” Wednesday, Nov. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Cherokee. The program is open to 4th through 6th graders and covers concepts related to staying safe while home alone...

On Monday, November 8, at the Columbus Club Hall, funds were distributed to four different charities in Storm Lake as a part of the 2021 Drive for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities conducted by the Storm Lake Knights of Columbus. Imagine the Possibilities, Hope Haven, Storm Lake Special Education and Storm Lake Special Olympics each received distribution checks of $1,000. ...

Severe drought was vanquished from all parts of Iowa for the first time in more than a year thanks to widespread rainfall last month that made it one of the wettest Octobers on record. An average of about 5 inches of rain fell across the state, according to a water summary update from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources...

The Iowa Board of Regents launched its first free-speech survey on Tuesday, part of a multi-step plan to protect freedom of expression at the state’s public universities. The survey asks university staff and students to respond to a set of statements about free speech, ranking them from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” The survey ends on Dec. 1...

The Clay County Pheasants Forever Chapter conducted its fifth annual Ladies Hunt on Saturday. The event enjoyed a turnout of 50 ladies this year, which chapter member Paul Daniels said was the largest number of participants the event has ever welcomed. Bill and Debi Muller hosted the 2021 gathering on their property at 3820 225th Ave. in Spencer...

Tyson Foods is facing new challenges in its effort to dispose of lawsuits that accuse the company of failing to protect workers from injury and death caused by COVID-19. In the past few months, the U.S. Department of Justice has sided with Tyson workers on a key element of the case. Also, a federal judge in Texas has rejected the company’s claim that its actions were dictated by the federal government, and the U.S. Court of Appeals has questioned the logic underlying the company’s defense...

A 16-year-old Storm Lake student was arrested this week after supplying marijuana to a fellow student who then suffered a medical emergency. Police were called to the high school Monday morning, where a 15-year-old had reportedly suffered a medical incident after drug use. ...

State Representative Dennis Bush is on the move. The Cleghorn Republican announced this week that he will move to Cherokee in order to run in the new House District 5 following redistricting. The district includes much of western Buena Vista County including Alta, eastern Cherokee County, and all of O’Brien and Osceola counties...

All Ruth Whitmore wanted was to feel like a kid again, so she started the Storm Lake Candy Company. ”I just wanted to feel like I was walking into Mullen’s Diary again, and could get my double chocolate scoop sugar cone,” says Ruth. Raised in diary farm -centered Watertown, Wisconsin, Ruth’s family didn’t own a farm, but worked for local diary farms growing up. ...

Buena Vista County Naturalist Katie Struss and a few of the conservation staff had the unique opportunity to rescue an injured immature bald eagle that was struck by a car last week in Storm Lake. Naturalist Katie captured the raptor, checked it over and transported it to Kay Neuman at Saving Our Avian Resources Center. ...

“The kids have been super brave. Sometimes they get kind of teary, but when it’s all over, they say ‘Oh, that isn’t so bad.’” Buena Vista County Public Health Administrator Julie Sather reflected on the beginning of COVID-19 vaccinations for young children in the county. The first shots went into arms of about 20 kids at the county office Wednesday, with more scheduled for today...