Storm Lake Times

Featured Stories

Lakes Conference set to lose another member

February 13, 2021

And then there were five. A news release from Storm Lake Schools Supt. Stacey Cole has announced that Western Christian (Hull) will depart the Lakes Conference following the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year. The upcoming defection makes the Wolfpack the fourth member since 2010...

SL Trivia Night raises $27,000 for school foundation

February 12, 2021

The Storm Lake School District Foundation’s Trivia Night last Saturday was virtually flawless, meaning the challenge of holding this annual favorite online went off without a glitch and $27,000 was raised. This year’s total was short of the $35,000 raised last year, but as organizer...

Buena Vista County vaccine allotment starts to rise

February 10, 2021

As Buena Vista County’s vaccination rate continues to lag its neighbors, BV Public Health Director Julie Sather does not envision the county having enough vaccine supplies for a mass vaccination clinic in the near future. Sather said on Monday the agency will increase its...

A foundation for local journalism

February 10, 2021

We’re excited to report that the Western Iowa Journalism Foundation has been approved for nonprofit status by the Internal Revenue Service, and can receive tax-deductible contributions to support independent community journalism. The foundation is the brainchild of Doug Burns, whose family has owned the Carroll...

Storm Lake poised to become a city of lighthouses

February 10, 2021

The City of Storm Lake, in conjunction with the Storm Lake High School Art Department, are seeking Buena Vista County artists to design and paint 10 fiberglass lighthouses that will be placed around town. Last year project organizers and SLHS art teachers Jessica Huss and...

Tyson lawsuits expected to drag on for years

February 3, 2021

A lawsuit over the death of Michael Everhard of Fonda, a Tyson employee who died from COVID-19, might not reach a courtroom until 2023 or later, according to attorneys involved with initial lawsuits against meatpacking plants. Willis Hamilton, a Storm Lake attorney representing Everhard’s...

RAGBRAI to rest in Sac City, not Storm Lake

February 3, 2021

Storm Lake will not serve as an overnight stop for the 2021 installment of RAGBRAI, but the massive cycling event will still pass through the area. Instead, thousands of riders are now expected to roll through Aurelia, Alta, Schaller and Early on the ride’s first...

News

COVID-19 pandemic puts a damper on local crime

Storm Lake's rate drops 26% — biggest ever

| February 12, 2021

Storm Lake’s crime rate marked its biggest drop in recorded history last year due to the ripple effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The Storm Lake Police Department’s annual report states that the city’s crime rate, as measured by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Index, was...

BV County raises pay 2.5%, sheriff gets 4% bump

Supervisors want workers to ‘get ahead’

| February 12, 2021

The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors approved a 2.5% raise for all employees except the sheriff’s office, which received a 4% hike to remain competitive with other law enforcement agencies. Board Chairman Kelly Snyder said the county supervisors approved the raises on Tuesday to reward...

Matt Doebel named SLHS principal

BVU alum started as art teacher

| February 12, 2021

Storm Lake Community School District has named Matt Doebel as the next high school principal, starting in July. A 38-year-old Clear Lake native and Buena Vista University alumnus, Doebel started as an elementary art teacher with the district in 2006. He was later promoted to...

BV County issues $1M in bonds for Linn Grove dam

| February 12, 2021

The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors issued $1 million in general obligation debt on Tuesday to restore the Linn Grove Dam as functional infrastructure once again. Board Chairman Kelly Snyder said the issuance should “more than cover” the county’s share of the dam restoration....

Sports

Lakes Conference set to lose another member

| February 13, 2021

N-F turns up intensity on ‘D’ to pull away from Sioux Central

| February 12, 2021

Newell-Fonda turned up the intensity on defense, which created more opportunities for its offense. The Mustangs, ranked No. 2 in Class 1A, scored 49 points in the second half to pull away and hand Sioux Central an 81-45 setback on Tuesday at Sioux Rapids. Newell-Fonda...

Demers’ layup in final seconds helps Buena Vista men beat Coe, 72-71

| February 12, 2021

Buena Vista scored the game’s first 14 points, led by 16 at the break, and then scored the game’s final basket in the final 10 seconds to escape Coe 72-71 on Wednesday night. BVU controlled the game early on, quickly going up 14-0 and holding...

Sioux City West holds off Tornado boys for 58-56 win

| February 12, 2021

Keenan Hegna’s 3-pointer with 51 seconds left gave Sioux City West the lead for good as the Wolverines held on to defeat Storm Lake 58-56 in a nonconference game on Monday at West. Hegna also made two free throws and Keavian Hayes added one free...

SM girls beat cold shooting Ridge View

| February 12, 2021

Storm Lake St. Mary’s jumped out to a 16-3 lead after the first quarter and the Class 1A No. 14-ranked Panthers were able to maintain that lead throughout the game as they defeated Class 2A No. 15-ranked Ridge View 43-27 in a nonconference game on...

Opinion

Editorial: Better sailing ahead

Art Cullen | The Storm Lake Times | February 12, 2021

Through this recent spate of dread we have tried to keep the chin up and pray for a better day. It has come. Sure, we have a few days more...

Raiders of the lost vaccine

John Cullen | The Storm Lake Times | February 12, 2021

I feel a little like Indiana Jones in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” We’ve both been searching for an elusive prize. His was the Ark of the Covenant. Mine is...

The best way to start is to start

Alan Guebert | February 12, 2021

Forty years ago, two editors at Successful Farming magazine, Gene Johnston and Dean Houghton, won most major ag journalism awards with a story titled “Who will kill the hogs?” The...

A foundation for local journalism

Art Cullen | The Storm Lake Times | February 10, 2021

Editorial: A complete Iowa failure

Art Cullen | The Storm Lake Times | February 10, 2021

Gov. Kim Reynolds’s decision to throw open the saloon doors by lifting mask and social-distancing mandates when Iowa ranks dead-last in inoculations is appalling but not surprising. This has been...

Obituaries

Gwendolyn Henrich

Jen Olson | February 12, 2021

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Henrich, 86 of Newell died on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 at Good Samaritan Society in Newell. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m....

Alfred Greene

Jen Olson | February 12, 2021

Alfred Greene, 93, passed peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 at Prestonwood Nursing Home in Plano, Texas. Al was born in Galva on June 28, 1927. After graduating from Storm...

Constance Sorbe

Jen Olson | February 12, 2021

Constance “Connie” Sorbe, 85, of Quimby, formerly of Alta, died on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021 at the Manilla Manor in Manilla. Private burial will take place in the Memorial Park...

Jack Herzog

Jen Olson | February 8, 2021

Jack Herzog, 87, of Lakeside died Friday, Feb. 5, 2021 at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will take place Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 10:30 a.m. at...

Barbara Main Lopez

Jen Olson | February 8, 2021

Barbara Main Lopez, 85, died on Dec. 3, 2020, at her home in Whittier, Calif., after a long bout with cancer. Barbara was born Nov. 16, 1935, in Omaha, to...

Family & Friends

SL Trivia Night raises $27,000 for school foundation

Semi-naked cakes, natural grasses grace rustic weddings

Vendors optimistic for a healthy wedding season

Last Sunday’s Bridal Show in downtown Storm Lake was a sign of good things to come: the prospect of a summer where Covid might be less of a threat and gathering for weddings (fingers crossed) will be safer. Over a dozen brides-to-be attended – not...

Win this diamond necklace in Chest of Chance grab bag

Paxtons Jewelry is pleased to once again donate to the St. Mary’s Virtual Ball and Charity Auction on March 6 – A Starry Night. The prize this year is a striking diamond necklace in trendy 14K rose gold. The necklace has one-carat total weight of...