Storm Lake Times

Featured Stories

Massops plan home plat for Bel Air area south of Storm Lake

April 22, 2021

A planned community development consisting of single-family home lots, townhomes and twin villas has been proposed for the Bel Air Beach area near Lakeside. The children of Marlene Massop — Dr. Doug Massop of Des Moines, Karen Keenan of Storm Lake and Rachael Kies of...

City cancels marina pact with Iowa DNR

April 22, 2021

The Storm Lake City Council on Monday terminated a 25-year marina operating agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on Monday, but delayed the effective date until the end of October in hopes of negotiation. Mayor Mike Porsch told The Storm Lake Times that...

New business coming to Lake Avenue

April 20, 2021

Dr. Bob Whitmore has purchased the former Frame ‘n’ Art building at 510 Lake Ave. in downtown Storm Lake. Pictured in the center, Whitmore, along with Angie and Nick Snyder, remove the roof portion of the building’s facade late Monday afternoon. Whitmore’s wife Ruth plans...

Blessing the bikers

April 15, 2021

“May God bless you and keep you safe on this bike. May you encounter the risen Lord in your travels.” It’s part of the “Blessing of the Bikes,” coming up May 1 at 10:30 a.m. on the grounds of Hope Church on the west edge...

News

Pocahontas grapples with century-old jail

State inspectors want to see upgrades

| April 23, 2021

Pocahontas County Sheriff Steve Nelson is empaneling a committee that will gather the community’s feelings on replacing the existing jail on the top floor of the Pocahontas County Courthouse, which is over 100 years old. Nelson asked the board of supervisors at a meeting last...

SL grad rate drops as many students can’t meet Iowa Core rules

English language learners, special ed students impacted

| April 22, 2021

Storm Lake School District’s five-year graduation rate fell three percentage points because the State of Iowa’s Common Core curriculum has tightened graduating requirements for special education students and accelerated proficiency standards for English Language Learners. Supt. Stacey Cole told the school board on Wednesday the...

Fire guts Storm Lake family’s home, possessions

| April 22, 2021

Sabrina Mendoza said she “just started crying” when she saw the condition of her bedroom after a fire ravaged her family’s house Tuesday afternoon. “It was just unbelievable.” The Storm Lake Fire Department was dispatched to the home at 30 South Windsor Circle — directly...

Dr. Crippin announces end of practice

| April 22, 2021

Dr. David Crippin announced he will end his practice at UnityPoint Clinic in Storm Lake effective May 12. Crippin was hired at the clinic in 1988. He was named Buena Vista County’s medical examiner in 1995. He’s regarded as the county’s busiest doctor with a...

Sports

Schekirke nets 150th win as SL soccer coach

| April 23, 2021

Brian Munoz scored two goals and had three assists, helping Ben Schekirke win his 150th career game as a head coach as No. 3-ranked Storm Lake beat MOC-Floyd Valley 5-1 on Monday night at Tornado Stadium. The Tornadoes (6-0) scored three goals in the first...

Former Newell-Fonda prep Larsen shines in two sports at BVU

| April 23, 2021

The news that Olivia Larsen earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for the American Rivers Conference in women’s basketball this season came as a bit of a surprise. To Olivia Larsen, at least. “I didn’t know the American Rivers Conference had a Defensive Player...

BVU’s Larsen, Demers earn all-region second team basketball honors

| April 23, 2021

The 2020-21 D3hoops.com all-region basketball teams were announced on Wednesday and Buena Vista University had a pair of individuals recognized. Sophomore guard Olivia Larsen and senior guard Michael Demers were each named to the all-West Region second teams, respectively. It was the first such honor...

Former SLHS athletic administrative assistant receives award from IHSADA

| April 23, 2021

Former Storm Lake High School secretary LaVerne Grigsby received an award recently from the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association. Grisgby, who was an athletic administrative assistant at SLHS for 32 years, received Emerita status for 2020-21. Emerita was established to recognize and honor those...

Fourth grade team wins tournament

| April 23, 2021

The Storm Lake fourth grade boys basketball team traveled to Okoboji March 27 to play in the fifth and final tournament of their season. The team beat Okoboji, George-Little Rock and Jackson County (Minn.) to capture the tournament championship. Team members pictured from left to...

Opinion

Editorial: Summer of discontent

Art Cullen | The Storm Lake Times | April 23, 2021

The Storm Lake City Council had little choice Monday but to proceed with ending its contract in October with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for operation and maintenance of...

Dick Dale, the pride of Algona

John Cullen | The Storm Lake Times | April 23, 2021

Anyone over the age of 60 probably spent every Saturday night with their parents watching Lawrence Welk on TV. He was on the air continuously for more than 31 years...

Charter schools must have sunshine, too

Randy Evans | Iowa Freedom of Information Council | April 23, 2021

The 2021 session of the Iowa Legislature will end in a few weeks, and one big issue moving toward a final vote would make charter schools easier to create as...

Turning a corner in life

Art Cullen | The Storm Lake Times | April 21, 2021

A couple big things happened in my small world last week: I applied for Social Security benefits on the cusp of 64 years, and The Storm Lake Times broke even...

Editorial: Preparing for growth

Art Cullen | The Storm Lake Times | April 21, 2021

The Storm Lake School Board is wise to start looking at expanding its early childhood facility now, even before the first phase is complete. Even after the new school opens...

Obituaries

William Stock

Jen Olson | April 23, 2021

William Joseph “Bill” Stock, 76, of Urbandale, died at his home on April 8, surrounded by his loving family. Bill, the son of the late Everett and Cyrilla (Flood) Stock,...

Linda Chada

Jen Olson | April 20, 2021

Linda Chada, 72, of Albert City died on Friday, April 16, 2021 at her home. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 22, at 1 p.m. at Sliefert Funeral...

Arlene Vilas

Jen Olson | April 20, 2021

Arlene Francis Vilas, 98 of Storm Lake passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake, after a short battle with cancer....

Charles Olsen

Jen Olson | April 20, 2021

Charles “Doc” Olsen, 83, of Storm Lake died Friday, April 16, 2021 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Graveside services were Monday, April 19, at Buena Vista Memorial...

Kenneth Hach

Jen Olson | April 13, 2021

Kenneth R. Hach, 77, of Alta died on Monday, April 12, 2021 at his home. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 17, at 3 p.m. at Summit Evangelical...

Family & Friends

Lake trail inspires lighthouse

“To imagine what you will do with a seven-foot tall structure is one thing – but to have the beast in front of you makes one question one’s skills for sure,” says Karen Hixon of Storm Lake. The retired Storm Lake Middle School science teacher...

‘Thank You to Storm Lake’ emphasizes community

The Storm Lake community was the focus of a “Thank You” celebration on Wednesday from Iowa’s pig farmers for the support shown to those who work in bringing food from farm to table. At an event at King’s Pointe Resort, Marathon pig farmers Mike and...

Storm Lake canning factory was a pivotal business

This is the title, taken from the Buena Vistan, a monthly magazine published at Newell and mailed to every boxholder in BV County. The October 1954 issue tells the following story: Iowa leads the nation in corn production and BV County sweet corn helped to...