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Massop Legacy Park dedicated

Family, supporters and friends attended the ribbon cutting and dedication held Oct. 29 for Massop Legacy Park. Marlene Massop is seated and her daughters Karen Keenan and Rachael Kies Ennis are behind her. Third from left is Doug Massop beside his wife Katie.
A 3.8 acre donation of land directly south of the outlet dam in Lakeside has been donated by John and Marlene Massop to Buena Vista County to become Massop Legacy Park. A ribbon cutting and …
A gofundme account has been organized to help Kaylee Nachtigal’s family. Go to gofundme.com and search “Support for Kaylee Nachtigal’s Family.” A goal of $12,000. The support raised through this fundraiser will help cover Kaylee’s funeral costs and give her family the time and space they need to grieve without the added weight of financial stress.
A Dickens woman died and others were injured from a collision on Highway 110’s curve near the Storm Lake Airport two days ago. A statement Sheriff Kory Elston issued on Wednesday morning …

Early voting over 1,900

Buena Vista County Election Deputy Karla Ahrendsen reports over 1,900 absentee ballots had been requested, mailed out or voted in person at the auditors office, 317 E. Fifth Street, as of Wednesday …
Mike Frantz walked door to door on Kelvin Road last Sunday.
“My name is Mike Frantz. I’m running for Iowa state senate and I’m here to introduce myself to you…” …
Emcee Charles Hernandez points to the winner, Chanthavy Phimsen, who took home $100. At right is contest organizer Dalia Rivera Andrade of Raices Student Organization at Buena Vista University.
“Whoever drinks or throws up is out,” announced emcee Charles Hernandez ominously. He conducted Sunday’s hot pepper eating competition at Storm Lake Middle School, in its first year as part of …
Aztec Dancers from Omeyocan Dance Company perform in the gym.
Fiesta Latina brought bright colors, lively music and flavors to savor at Storm Lake Middle School last Sunday afternoon. The event is sponsored by Raices Student Organization at Buena Vista …

Republicans stump at Nutra Tech

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-New Hartford, his wife Barbara and Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Dubuque, pose for a photo after a rally at Nutra Tech on Tuesday afternoon. Hinson is vying to be Iowa's junior senator …
The bins will be customized to specifically meet the specific guidelines of the program. Colors will also be changed and logos added.

BV recycling center to install battery collection bins county-wide

Buena Vista County Solid Waste & Recycle Center was the recipient of a $9,900 grand from the Buena Vista County Community Foundation which is being matched by the Solid Waste Agency and member …

Avian influenza rears its head in Sac County

Avian influenza struck a turkey barn in Sac County.  The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reported on Wednesday afternoon that a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza …

Storm Lake Marina gets no takers

Not a single vendor submitted a proposal to run the Storm Lake Marina.  Conservation Director Greg Johnson told the board of supervisors on Tuesday that no vendor submitted a proposal to …
The Sioux Rapids Historical Association received a grant to create a directory for Lone Tree Cemetery.
The Sioux Central Wrestling Club received the largest grant in the Fall 2026 cycle of awards announced by Buena Vista County Community Foundation Sunday. Sioux Central Wrestling Club will match …
Aric Loew, Special Ed teacher, flings some eggs into the mess.

Bombs away!

SPLAT has “come back,” the celebration by Newell-Fonda PK-8th graders upon reaching their Positive Behavior Intervention Support goal for the quarter. Students get tickets for positive behavior …

Chills & Thrills

Mild weather brought together hundreds of costumed kids and parents to trick-or-treat up and down Lake Avenue. Storm Lake United organizes the annual affair.
Police and Courts

Online sex sting yields arrest of Spirit Lake man

Online sex sting yields arrest of Spirit Lake man A Spirit Lake man was arrested for allegedly soliciting sex with a 14-year-old girl.  Greg Wiederin, 62, was booked into the Buena …

Estate asks for contempt hearing against CRMC, UnityPoint

The Estate of a deceased Marcus farmer requested a hearing to show whether UnityPoint Health and Cherokee Regional Medical Center …

Sports
BVU women’s wrestling excited to showcase talent as it heads into fourth season
Now in its fourth season of competition, the Buena Vista women’s wrestling team continues to strengthen the overall quality it puts out on the mat, and a lot of that work has come outside of the …
BVU women picked to finish third in ARC basketball preseason coaches poll
The 2026 American Rivers Conference women’s basketball season is right around the corner and action should be exciting in the league. Wartburg was selected as the preseason favorite to claim …
Alta-Aurelia players headline list of selections to Twin Lakes volleyball team
Six players from conference champion Alta-Aurelia were voted to the Twin Lakes Conference volleyball team, it was released. Macy Droegmilller and Allie Stites were voted to the first team. They …
Central pulls away immediately after halftime to beat BVU
  more within the first 2 minutes of the second half and went on to defeat Buena Vista 56-21 on Saturday at Pella. BVU went 75 yards in eight plays on the game’s opening drive as Carson …
BVU sweeps Wartburg in volleyball for first time in 18 years
Buena Vista returned to American Rivers Conference action on Saturday at Wartburg and went on to roll to its first sweep over the Knights since 2008 with set wins by scores of   25-16, 25-19, …

BVU cruises to non-league volleyball win over Carleton College

Charley Hernandez turned in her 12th double-double of the season with a match-high 15 kills to go along with 11 digs to help lead Buena Vista to a non-conference road win at Carleton College on …

Meyer becomes first three-time cross country state qualifier in Newell-Fonda history

Danika Meyer became the first three-time cross country state qualifier in Newell-Fonda school history after the junior finished in the top 10 overall at a Class 1A state qualifying meet on Thursday …

Sioux Central volleyball season ended by No. 12 Lake Mills

Sioux Central had its volleyball season come to an end as the Rebels were defeated by 12th-ranked Lake Mills in a Class 2A regional quarterfinal match on Wednesday at Lake Mills. Scores were …

Opinion
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

Letters to the Editor: A different perspective please

Throughout the past few months, if not years, the Storm Lake Times Pilot has criticized the county on the lawsuit between the City of Storm Lake and Buena Vista County concerning tax increment …

Subscriptions for everything

Remember the good old days when you bought something and it was actually yours? You bought computer programs and you could use it basically forever, or at least until your needs changed. Now, it …
My mom warned, if the Fuller Brush man comes knocking, lock the door. Back then, fast-talking Fuller Brush salesman literally would stick a foot in the door to make a sale. Mom knew once …
I recently returned from the third agriculture and soil health conference I’ve attended and/or presented at this year. I cannot get the painfully expressed words of a fellow presenter out of my …
What to do about Iowa’s rising cancer crisis? “Funding cancer research” is often the response from elected leaders of our state and from most candidates running for public office. The …
A number of years ago (2021 to be exact), I wrote an opinion which Art Cullen published in The Storm Lake Times, titled “All the News.” As a writer of opinion for the Charleston Gazette-Mail …
Family & Friends

Dominican restaurant opens Saturday

Lady is seated on the couch with her family, from left: her father, Leonardo; her sister Ebelenny, her mother Ana, her brother Leonardo and her sister Seline.
Lady M Sazon, Iowa’s first Dominican restaurant is ready to open this Saturday at 805 Flindt Dr., Suite 3 in Storm Lake. So says Lady Marte, whose thorough search of the internet turned up zero …
Storm Lake STARS Mentoring Program met with the Storm Lake School Board to share updates and gratitude for their continued support. A couple mentor/mentee match-ups shared their experience in the …
Representing Storm Lake Middle School are, from left: David Corona and Emmett Stansberry, French horn; Neha Patel, oboe; Makenna Mills, percussion; Ciamary Tarin, Trombone; Nidhi Patel, bassoon; Yami Orellana-Hernandez and Liza Bumstead, Clarinet (not pictured).
Eight of the eleven Storm Lake seventh grade band students who auditioned were selected to perform in the the 52nd Annual Northwest Iowa Middle School Honor Band Festival. These students earned …
St. Mary's students will take part in the ICDA 7/8 Honor Choir held at Storm Lake High School on Nov. 3. Students have learned music at school and will join over 200 other students for a concert that …
My Favorite Recipe

Pepanyan family shares favorite Armenian recipes

Marine and Vahe Pepanyan with Daniel and Ana.

Marine Pepanyan is a busy lady. This summer she was swimming coach for kids from six-years-old to 18 for the Storm Lake swim team; she now teaches Multi Language Learners (MLL) to grades nine through …

The Legend of Callejon Dick Davis

Subscriber Dick Davis is a benefactor of the arts in Storm Lake, responsible in part for mosaic murals throughout town and seven bronze sculptures of children.

The Panteon, Zacatlan’s cemetery, glowed in candlelight and was golden and aromatic being festooned in marigolds. Families seated themselves near graves which they had cleaned and cleared of weeds. …

‘Playful’ otters

These cute river otters faced off with the camera at a pond near Brook Creek between Linn Grove and Alta. “The otters and beaver show up now and then,” said resident Ila Galvin, “We try to …

Tattooing teachers to support Rebel NASA trip

Large tattoos for Wendy Meyers.

Every year Sara Riedemann, the high school math teacher at Sioux Central, takes her AP calculus and AP precalculus seniors to a NASA competition in Texas. But there’s a cost to it. Each of the …

Members of the Storm Lake and area communities have the opportunity to meet Jane Olson, author of “World Citizen: Journeys of a Humanitarian,” as she offers insight and inspirational accounts …
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Obituaries
Darwin Schmidt
A private family graveside service for Darwin “Butch” D. Schmidt, 88, of Fairmont, Minn., formerly of Early, will be held in Union Cemetery in Early. Darwin passed away Sunday, Oct. 25, …
Caryl Dukes
Caryl Maxine Dukes, 87, was received into Heaven Saturday evening, Oct. 24, 2026. She took her last earthly breath at Brio in Johnston, after spending her final days surrounded by the love of many …
Janet Pedersen
Janet “Jan” Pedersen, 85, of Anthem, Ariz., and formerly of Newell, passed away peacefully at her home on Aug. 29, 2026. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 10:30 a.m. at …
Danny Ohlson
Danny Loy Ohlson passed away on Sept. 3, 2026, in Iowa City. He lived a life of curiosity, learning and adventure with the love of family and friends. Danny was born Feb. 16, 1947, in Cherokee, to …
Patricia Harskamp
Patricia Harskamp, 88, of Storm Lake died Oct. 17, 2026, at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Memorial services will take place Thursday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. at Fratzke & …