News

Alta Municipal Utilities and Albert City received multi-million loans from the state for sewer treatment improvements and water source improvements.

The Iowa Finance Authority and Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced Monday Albert City received $2.8 million for sewer treatment improvements and Alta Municipal Utilities received $1.35 million for water source improvements. The loans are financed through the state revolving loan fund for water quality initiatives.

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sioux Rapids will close after the final mass on Sunday, Aug. 27 and parishioners are being invited to register at St. Mary’s in Storm Lake.

The St. Joseph Church building has been sold to Sliefert Funeral Homes to be used for visitations, services and luncheons, said Tim Smith of Sliefert Funeral Homes. It will replace the  building at 403 Fourth St. in Sioux Rapids currently in use by the funeral home.

On July 1, Schurz Communications, the parent company of Long Lines Inc., completed the acquisition of Vast Broadband network facilities and customers in northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota.

“Combining Vast Broadband systems into Long Lines Broadband extensive operations will offer new products and services to residents and businesses,” said Brian Lynch, vice president of broadband for Schurz Communications. “We see great opportunities to grow the business in (North Sioux City, S.D. and Storm Lake).”

Storm Lake Police announced three arrests Thursday in connection with an inter-agency drug investigation.

At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Storm Lake Police Department Tactical Entry Team supported by the Buena Vista County Emergency Response Team and Sac County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit executed a search warrant at 1102 W. Fifth St. The search warrant was seeking illegal drugs.

Co-workers in fight arrested

Police arrested two visitors at the Lighthouse Inn Sunday after determining they were involved in a fight at Puff’s the previous night. 

At 2:28 a.m. Sunday, the Storm Lake Police Department was dispatched to Puff’s bar in reference to an assault. Officers were unable to locate the reporting party or the suspects involved after dispatch. 

At 9:54 a.m., the reporting party, identified as 46-year-old Jason Lee Kubly of Clarinda, called police and advised he was at the Lighthouse Inn.

Here’s a retirement plan most of us haven’t considered – traveling around the country working on homes for Habitat for Humanity.

Storm Lake is enjoying a caravan of Care-A-Vanners this week and next. They are siding one of our Habitat homes on 13th St. and installing windows. About 6,000 Care-A-Vanners travel around the US in an RV, stopping to sight-see or perhaps camp for a couple of weeks and helping to build houses while they’re at it.

Court Report

Buena Vista County

Theft charge dismissed against Newell man

Buena Vista County Magistrate Judge Josh Walsh dismissed a theft charge against Newell resident Isaak Unger the day after he paid his grocery bill.

Stanton re-elected president of Iowa Fire Chiefs Assn.

25 Years Ago

Stacy Laven, the first woman to play organized baseball in Storm Lake, is hitting .500 in the Storm Lake Baseball Association this summer. The Drake softball/basketball player is a 1991 St. Mary’s High School graduate.

44 students from Taiwan arrived in Storm Lake on Monday to begin a three-week study of English through the local school system.

50 Years Ago

Grocery store prices:

Cantaloupes, 4 large ones, $1.00

Up to 800 could come down in next decade

Many could be saved with treatment, but it is costly

BY TOM CULLEN

Storm Lake City Manager Keri Navratil said staff will cut 21 ash trees by the end of the year and develop a plan to treat or cut 794 more aged trees over the next 10 years.

Court rules racial tests of petit pools are inadequate

BY TOM CULLEN

Buena Vista County Attorney Dave Patton believes the state must invest in a program that ensures jury pools reflect their communities, as the Iowa Supreme Court vacated a conviction of a black Waterloo man convicted by an all-white jury.