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Jury: Josie Smith a sexually violent predator

After three days of trial and less than an hour of deliberation, a Buena Vista County jury agreed to indefinitely confine Josie Smith to the Cherokee Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders. 
Crime scene investigators arrive at the rural Cherokee residence Tuesday where the alleged murder of Christopher Wheeler took place. Inset: Suspect Richard Hammond. CHRONICLE TIMES photo by ERIN RYDGREN

Murder in rural Cherokee

A Cherokee man was arrested for murdering a Sutherland man who was working on a pickup in rural Cherokee.  Richard Hammond, 66, was booked into Cherokee County Jail without bond around noon …

Cherokee man charged with vehicular homicide for Highway 3 crash

A Cherokee man was arrested and charged vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal collision near the Buena Vista-Cherokee line.  Jorge Ortega, 28, was booked into the Buena Vista County …

SLCSD teacher claims dept. of ed elimination puts students at risk

supt. Cole claims little district impact Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, says that the recent dismantling of the federal Department of Education won’t affect small school districts, but …

SL in ‘dire’ housing need

Storm Lake desperately needs housing across the board, according to a city-commissioned consultant.  Matt Mullins, a vice president with Maxfield Research & Consulting of Golden Valley, …

CCUSO clinical director retires

The Cherokee Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders is seeking another clinical director, its fourth in six years.  The State of Iowa posted an opening for CCUSO’s clinical director …

BVU welcoming TV exec and bank CEO to speak at commencement

Courtney Kemp Anders and Kevin Pernick.

Two Buena Vista University alumni are scheduled to address both undergraduate and graduate students at the upcoming commencement ceremonies. The university announced Monday that Courtney Kemp …

Hometown Pride sponsoring neighborhood volunteer project

Storm Lake Hometown Pride is partnering with Storm Lake Proud Week for a new Storm Lake Proud Neighborhood Challenge to foster volunteerism throughout the community. According to a press release …

E-editions

Storm Lake Times Pilot 4-25-25

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Weathering the storm

Ad Guide 4-29-25

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Volunteers assist GoServ Global workers clearing branches Saturday.
Cleanup continues
In the storm's wake
Storm whips through SL
Estimated price tag for Historical Museum damage: $30K
Meanwhile in Alta…
More local news
City working on damaged traffic signals
An electrical contractor is expected to begin repairs of storm-damaged traffic signals in Storm Lake today.  The City of Storm Lake announced that repairs will be done at the intersection …
Jury deliberating Josie Smith verdict
A Buena Vista County jury is deliberating whether Josie Smith should be indefinitely committed to the Cherokee Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders.
Joseph ‘Josie’ Smith trial begins
A Buena Vista County jury heard Josie Smith’s pleas to be spared confinement at the Cherokee Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders, as Attorney General Brenna Bird is carrying out a promise …
Holzhauer Ford sheriff sale rescheduled
A sheriff sale of the building that used to house the defunct Holzhauer Ford in Cherokee was rescheduled to June.  A notice Sheriff Derek Scott posted on Monday shows the sheriff sale of …

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Sports
Harder sixth in long jump, 10th in 100 at Drake Relays
Iowa coach McCollum comes home to meet with Storm Lake’s Coon
Newell-Fonda girls hold off Alta-Aurelia to win Mustang Relays
Harder sixth in long jump at Drake Relays
Storm Lake’s Mackenzie Harder finished sixth in the long jump at the 115th annual Drake Relays last Thursday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. Harder’s best leap was 17 feet, 6.25 …
Sioux Central girls cruise to title in Estherville Invitational
Hadley Ayers won two individual events, Marley Madsen and Sage Weber each won one, and four relay teams were victorious as Sioux Central cruised to the team title in the Estherville Invitational last …
SL boys finish third in Pocahontas Relays
Garbieno Weno, Joel Ramirez-Parra, Alex Ortega and Brandyn Azurdia each won an individual event and one relay event was victorious as Storm Lake placed third in Class A at the Pocahontas Area Relays …
Sioux Central boys run away with title in Estherville Invitational
Ethyn Wilson, Jack Christian, Owen Mills and Michael Buettner each captured first place in an individual event and four relay events were also victorious to help Sioux Central cruise to the team …
St. Mary’s girls take fifth in HMS Relays
Kielee Larson won the shot put to highlight Storm Lake St. Mary’s performance in the HMS Relays last Friday. Akron-Westfield won the meet with 126 points. St. Mary’s was fifth with …
Opinion

Trump is on his way to losing Iowa

We’re nigh onto 100 days since Donald Trump swore on the Bible, and he already has done enough political damage to give an opening to the downtrodden opposition in Iowa. Stocks and pension …

Editorials: A stormy night

It sounded like the roof was going to rip off at 1 a.m. Friday. Ferocious straight-line winds knocked out power to some 6,000 households in Buena Vista County. When daylight broke we could see the …

More opinion

Everything in this photo was destroyed by a tornado five minutes after this photo was taken in Algona on June 28, 1979. Note the person running for safety in the lower left. The person survived, but two people died and 34 were injured along with extensive property damage.
Mary and I missed last Friday’s straight-line wind storm that caused considerable damage in Storm Lake. We were on our way to our daughter and son-in-law’s home in northwest Indiana for …
As we approach the second anniversary of a tragedy that shocked the people of Davenport and brought national attention to the issue of building safety, government secrecy continues to cloud public …
Time was, you settled down, got married, had kids. Many women were told that that was the natural order of things, with mothers staying in the home to raise their children. The only problem was …
The Storm Lake Times Pilot welcomes your opinions. Letters to the Editor must include the writer’s name, address and telephone number. Mail: P.O. Box 487 Storm Lake, IA 50588-0487 E-mail: times@stormlake.com
Interesting that the anti-DEI Republicans have voted in favor of HF 516, which mandates that 80% of applicants accepted to dental and medical programs at the University of Iowa be Iowa residents or …
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Family & Friends
Storm Lake Prom

Enchanted forest

From left: Taylor Brown, Kiannah Coon, Sophia Flores, Lillie Hoffman, Emma Dierking, Hannah Taylor and Angelina Singkhuymkhong. Times Pilot photos by John Cullen
Storm Lake High School held its Prom on April 26.
From the 2023 live broadcast, from left: Joe Kelly, Sheila Drummer, Andrea Frantz and Art Cullen.
Storm Lakers will have a front-row seat to public radio in action when Brett Hayworth, reporter and host of “What’s the Frequency” on KWIT/Siouxland Public Media, broadcasts live …
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Benson answers the phone.
Benson Foell, son of Jeff and Amanda Foell, had the honor of serving as “Principal for the Day” April 17 at St. Mary’s. He spent the day with Elementary principal Kate Swanson …
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At the celebration of the Easter Vigil at St. Mary’s Saturday night, new members of the Church were welcomed through the Sacraments of Initiation. Congratulations and welcome to the newest …
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City partners with Recycle Center to offer Citywide Clean-Up opportunity

The City of Storm Lake is offering residents an affordable clean-up opportunity as part of this spring’s Storm Lake Proud Week. Residents may purchase a ticket in advance for the day of …

Benefit for Tom Aronson

Tom Aronson of Albert City recently had a brain tumor removed and the family has incurred significant expenses as a result.   Tom has been a lifelong farmer in the Albert City area and has had a …

AgState donates to Aurelia Fire Department

AgState recently donated $2,500 to the Aurelia Fire Department to support the construction of their new building. The generous contribution highlights AgState’s commitment to supporting local …

A friend of Byron’s

Friends of Byron’s chairman Dave Hearn of Fort Dodge, left, greets Rosalie Pierce-Rhodes of California and Byron Stuart at the Pomeroy bar Sunday. Pierce-Rhodes was instrumental in raising over …
Plant sale on May 2
Buena Vista County Master Gardeners will be having a plant sale on May 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Buena Vista County Extension Office, 701 Seneca Street, Storm Lake, IA. The Master …
Graduation Already
Saturday, May 3 BVU Graduation: 9 a.m. Baccalaureate Ceremony in Schaller Memorial Chapel. 10:30 a.m. Master’s Degree Commencement Ceremony in Siebens Fieldhouse. 2 p.m. Bachelor’s …
VBS Road Trip
Get ready to travel:   plans are being made to go on a Bible road trip with headquarters at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rembrandt.   Four Linn Grove, Rembrandt, and rural Alta churches …
My Favorite Recipe

Andersons join ‘Puppy Jake’ program to help veterans

Nick and Heather Anderson

Heather and Nick Anderson of Grimes love dogs, so much so that they have joined the “Puppy Jake” program, training and raising dogs to help veterans. “It’s our life …

Senior Spotlight

Future Hawkeye hopes to become a lawyer

Emma Dierking, born in Spartanburg, S.C., is the eldest child of Erika and Jason. She has a 16-year-old brother named Cooper. She was four weeks old when her family moved to Storm Lake.   …

Storm Lake Class of 1975 reunion

SLHS 50th Class Reunion is set for the weekend of Sept. 5-6. On Friday, Sept. 5 will be an informal gathering at Puff’s. Saturday’s events will include golf, a tour of the high …

WAVE

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Obituaries
Paul Ripley
Paul R. Ripley, 89, of Alta died April 28, 2025, at UnityPoint in Sioux City. Funeral services will take place Saturday, May 3, at 11 a.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta. …
Betty Kolpin
Funeral services for Betty L. Kolpin, 94, of Aurelia will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at St. John’s Church, rural Peterson, with Lay Pastor David Orthman officiating. …
Arthur Imming
Arthur Imming, 94, of Fonda died Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral Mass will take place Monday, May 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good …
Tom Prchal
Tom A. Prchal, 95, of Storm Lake died Friday, April 25, 2025, at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral Mass will take place Friday, May 2, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's …
Rebecca Rassler
Rebecca Elizabeth Rassler, 74, of Rembrandt died Saturday, April 26, 2025, at her home. Funeral services will take place Tuesday, April 29, at 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. …

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