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It has risen

The tank of Storm Lake’s new water tower at 228 Mae St. is now in place. Last Friday afternoon the bowl was raised slowly by internal cables, taking a few hours to reach the top of its …
For the third time this year, the Storm Lake City Council denied financial support to one of the city’s most established certified daycare centers.  Ready Set Grow Learning Center …
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Earthwork has begun on the third and final phase of Storm Lake Early Elementary School. The new wing will house pre-k students who currently attend East Early Childhood school on East Fifth Street, …
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Bienemann back at BVU

Buena Vista University is pleased to announce the return of Jared Bienemann as the new Chief Development Officer for the Office of Advancement. “Jared’s genuine connection …

Casey’s sues over Marcus roundabout project

Casey’s General Stores sued the Iowa Department of Transportation, the City of Marcus and Cherokee County, alleging that an eminent proceeding that was held in connection with the Marcus roundabout project deprived it of over $200,000 from …

Odebolt nursing home demands arbitration in Gunderson lawsuit

The owners of an Odebolt nursing home who are facing a lawsuit from a Battle Creek woman who fell down a flight of concrete stairs last July have demanded the case be moved to arbitration in Des …

Evans drops congressional bid, will seek re-election to Iowa Senate

State Senator Lynn Evans announced Tuesday that he will not be entering the race for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District seat. Instead, the Aurelia Republican says he will seek re-election to his …

Nebraska teen arrested for stealing personal items at waterpark

A teenage girl from Nebraska was charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing around $3,500 worth of personal items from patrons at King’s Pointe Waterpark on Tuesday.  Around …

Judge gives Harley Davidson building back to Farmers

A judge granted Farmers State Bank of Marcus the authority to sell the former Harley Davidson building on North Second Street via sheriff sale.  Cherokee County District Court Judge Shayne …
in the news

BV County Community Foundation distributes $67,736

Classes at Witter Gallery have become so popular that finding space to store all the art materials is difficult. A $5,000 from the BV County Community Foundation will help pay for shelving and storage in the area in the above photo where the supplies are stacked.

The spring round of funding from Buena Vista County Community Foundation amounted to $67,736. The foundation funds local non-profits and governmental and public school agencies. Included are the …

Ribbon cutting next Tuesday Wells Ag Supply of rural Fonda has announced the launch of Top Soil , a new division based in Storm Lake focused on providing whole-farm agronomic consulting. Wells …
Statewide rainfall during the month of June exceeded expected averages and carried over into July. According to the latest water summary update published by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on July 10, drought and dryness remained practically unchanged until …
One person is dead and four others were injured after a car collided with a semi-truck Monday morning just south of Peterson. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Coree Keller, 42, of Popejoy was …

Rain doesn’t dampen fun at BV County Fair

Above: 2025 Little Miss Sawyer Millard adjusts her tiara. At right is runner up Ivy Nieland.
“The rain affected a couple of our grandstand events which was not ideal, but the other events went off great!” Said Buena Vista County Fair Board Co-president Dana Christen after the …

74th annual Schaller Pop Corn Days

Kiddie Parade winners Layton, Wesley, Eden and Sadie Smith, plus Collins Schwanz were featured in the parade.
For a town with popcorn on its street signs, Pop Corn Days are the highlight of the year. Schaller’s annual celebration brought lots of people to town to enjoy the parade, an impressive lineup …
Sports
Newell-Fonda players head all-Twin Lakes baseball first team
The Twin Lakes Conference all-conference teams were announced, and three members of Newell-Fonda were selected to the first team. Pitcher Max Carlson, catcher Mason Hoberman and infielder Andrew …
Four Ridge View players make Western Valley Conference softball team
The Western Valley Conference announced its all-conference softball team, and four Ridge View players were recognized. Emma Mentzer and Cora Tesch were voted to the first team by the …
Five Ridge View players make Western Valley Conference baseball team
The Western Valley Conference announced its all-conference baseball team, and five Ridge View players were recognized. Kinnick Jensen and Blake Myrtue were voted to the first team by the …
State softball pairings
CLASS 1A GAMES NEXT TUESDAY Wayne (Corydon) (25-2) vs. Highland (17-9), 4:45 p.m. Riverside (24-3) vs. Newell-Fonda   (24-11), 5:15 p.m. Clarksville (28-4) vs. Mason City …
State baseball pairings
AT CARROLL CLASS 1A GAMES NEXT MONDAY Remsen St. Mary’s (23-1) vs. Hillcrest Academy (17-7), 11 a.m. Martensdale-St. Marys (30-5) vs. Kee (Lansing) (32-10), 1:30 p.m. …
Opinion

Editorials: Toxic water, no worries

Central Iowa is under mandatory water conservation orders because of high nitrate levels in the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers, the primary drinking water sources for Des Moines and its suburbs. A …

No skin in the game

I never went to business school. I was a glorified English major in college. But I feel I’ve earned a PhD in economics running this small business for the past 35 years. My business …
One longtime truism of journalism is “Names make news.”  That shorthand stems from the fact people better understand the significance and context of news when they learn about …
The state of Iowa in 2013 approved its “Nutrient Reduction Strategy” for reducing nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into the state’s streams and rivers, and eventually downstream into …
Having received a monthly ad magazine from a grocery chain out of Colorado, I was intrigued by an article they included in the July edition. The title of the one page article was “Fighting …
Recently Jared Kushner ( JK) and his wife, Ivanka Trump acquired the island Sazan from Albania and plan to spend $1.4 billion developing it into a resort. Imagine the president paying a visit: …
Family & Friends

Wise family shares favorite recipes

From left: Trent, Corinne, Ann, Brian, Emma and Cole holding Louis.
Storm Lake Clinic Administrator for UnityPoint, Ann Wise, has worked for UnityPoint for a total of 27 years and in a leadership role for 13 of those years. “I started here as a nurse for …
From left: Emly, Ryan and Abby Arends work together on their family business, As Good As Gluten. Here is their booth at the Storm Lake farmers market. Abby makes and sells Rice Krispie bars, which are naturally gluten free. However, don’t buy them from the store because they contain gluten.
Amly Arends of Newell has perfected gluten- free recipes for her family. Now she’s sharing her baked goods at the Storm Lake Farmers Market with those with Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance or …
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100 People Who Care Sac County steering committee member Karen Van Meeveren, front row third from right, hands members' donations to Gail Eischeid, ESC Food Pantry manager.
100 People Who Care Sac County awarded another charity/non-profit serving the area with thousands of dollars. On July 13, the organization voted to give their collective contributions to the ESC Food …
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Sugar Bowl hosts Keepsake Ornament Premiere

Front row from left: Liz Smith and Holly Schipper. Back: Alex Montes, Cindy Rodrigo, Jessica Zafra-Coronel and Brittny Brunning.

The Sugar Bowl Gift Shop held its Keepsake Ornament Premiere event on July 12 and 13 with a Shark Party, complete with 200 new ornaments, treats, games and a photo booth. “We chose the …

Happy 60th wedding anniversary to Tom and Doris Rice of Storm Lake on July 18. Join us for a card shower honoring Tom and Doris as they celebrate this milestone, please send cards to: 6416 120th …
Donna Erickson turns 90 on July 22. Her family will host a party for her on July 19 from 4-7 p.m. at “The Shop”, 2171 450th St., Marathon. Come share some of your favorite memories …
ENTERTAINMENT

Fun and food in Early

Be sure to patronize food and drink vendors in Early this weekend. Noy’s Kitchen will serve Friday from 5-8 p.m. Lucky Wife Wine Slushies will begin serving at 10 a.m. Saturday and Mexilao will begin serving at 10:45 a.m. Walking tacos will be under the tent Saturday evening, served by Early FOCUS.
Mid-July means time for Early Crossroads Days. Featured this weekend are two days of entertainment for the family. Friday kicks off with a bags tournament, Bingo, new this year is a kids parade and …

Hillbillies ahead

Storm Lake native and fiddler Joe Cullen comes back to the area with the band Mountain Sprout, performing Friday, Aug. 1, at Byron’s in Pomeroy. The vocal and acoustic band from Eureka Springs, …

Peacock Painting Class

A peacock painting class will be held on Friday, July 25, at 4 p.m. at Witter Gallery. Cost is $20 per person and includes all materials. Whether you’re a professional Picasso or a …

Calling all young talent

The Bill Riley Talent Search will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9, as part of the Albert City Threshermen & Collectors Show, which runs Aug. 8-10.  Contestants in both “Sprouts” …

‘Art in the Air’

“The Red Baron” came to town.

A display of photography by Storm Lake pilot Larry Fritz is on display at Witter Gallery through July. Fritz’s work spans several decades.

BV County Conservation events

July Nature Sprouts Nature Sprouts is for children ages 2 to 5 years. It will be held once a month, May through October, at Storm Lake Marina. Each month will be a new theme and we will have …

Obituaries
Linda Tilton
Linda Ann (Wolff) Tilton, 74, of Winterset passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 10, 2025, surrounded by love, at Kavanaugh Hospice House in Des Moines. Born on Aug. 1, 1950, in …
Marsha Mailliard
Marsha Mary Mailliard, 87, died June 19, 2025, in West Des Moines. Marsha was born in Linn Grove to Mary Vivian (Dorn) and Irving A. Hanson. Marsha was the youngest of six, and loved growing up on …
Gordon Andersen
Gordon R. Andersen, 87, of Alta died July 8, 2025, at Heartland Care Center in Marcus. Funeral services will take place Saturday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Oakdale Evangelical Free Church in …
Barbara Konradi
Barbara I. Konradi, 68, of Storm Lake passed away in the early evening of July 9, 2025, peacefully at home in her husband’s arms after a long and courageous battle with a recurring illness. …
Rose Blair
Rose Arlene (Lewis) Faine Blair ascended to her heavenly home on Feb. 11, 2025, in Cedar Rapids. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, July 25, from 4-7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral …