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It was Spectacular!

A Spectacular celebration

Breezes off the lake made temperatures comfortable last Friday and unfurled the many flags flying in Storm Lake for the annual Star Spangled Spectacular.  “The Spectacular was a huge …

Front row, from left: BV County Fair Little Miss Runner Up Ivy Nieland, Little Mister Braxton Lussman and 2025 Little Miss Sawyer  Millard. Back: BV County Fair Princess  Isabelle Landgraf, King Alex Placencia and Queen Magdalene Dahlhauser. The fair runs through Sunday with a midway carnival, 4-H shows, grandstand shows and much more. TIMES PILOT photo by Megan Molseed

The fairest of the fair
Ashley WolfTornabane appeared with her family in the Star Spangled Spectacular parade in Storm Lake on July 4

Ashley WolfTornabane of Storm Lake is running for U.S. House

SLPD increases security fees 33%

The Storm Lake Police Department has increased security fees by 33%.  With an estimated $3,200 price tag for police personnel, Storm Lake United threatened to cancel Miracle on Lake …

BVU’s URMED Program Prepares Future Doctors to Serve Rural Iowa

Now in its 16th year, this immersive internship gives future medical professionals firsthand experience in rural healthcare settings across northwest Iowa.
Lynn Evans

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 …

SLPD erroneously tickets teen for cell phone use

Under new law, police can only issue warnings for first six months A Storm Lake police officer mistakenly issued a ticket to a 17-year-old under Iowa’s new hands-free cell phone law, which …

Army pulls plugs on ROTC at BVU

Little notice leaves university scrambling The U.S. Army will no longer operate their Reserve Office Training Corps program at Buena Vista University starting this fall. In a letter …
The Raccoon River weaves past downtown Des Moines, Iowa, in June. One of the primary drinking water sources for the region, the river has high nitrate levels that have led to water restrictions for some 600,000 customers. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Ag fertilizer runoff likely will force more drinking water restrictions

For nearly a month, hundreds of thousands of Iowans have not been allowed to water their lawns — even though there’s no drought. Local authorities previously asked the public to refrain from washing cars and filling pools. And some cities turned off splash pads in the height of summer heat.

Citizens settles with Jennesses

Another pair of former shareholders of the defunct Holzhauer Motors of Cherokee settled with Citizens First National Bank of Storm Lake.  The Storm Lake bank dismissed its claims against …

Trump Administration deals potentially ‘devastating’ blow to SLCSD

Administration withholding $7 billion from schools. Storm Lake received $5.7 million last year.

Glen Taylor Family Farms gives back to BV

Ambulance staff with Buena Vista County Regional Medical Center stand beside a new ambulance made possible through a donation from the Taylor Family Farms Foundation and gifts to the Buena Vista Regional Healthcare Foundation. From left: Laura Degner, paramedic, Robert Shontz, ambulance manager, and Michelle Ronfeldt, paramedic. Photo courtesy of Katie Schwint, BVRMC executive director of community development.

Funds from former Timberwolves owner contribute to new ambulance, rescue boat, X-Ray machine.

E-editions

Storm Lake Times Pilot 7-11-25

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Ad Guide 7-8-25

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Sand: TIF lawsuit might have been necessary
Democrats’ last best hope in Iowa
Sand visits Storm Lake during 21-town tour

2025 Buena Vista County Fair

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Sports
St. Mary’s beats Boyer Valley for first regional tourney win in 12 years
Storm Lake collect 25 hits in twin-bill sweep of Sioux City West
Storm Lake can’t recover from early deficit in loss to MOC-FV
Regional softball scores/pairings
CLASS 1A REGION 3 GAMES MONDAY at Irwin IKM-Manning 10, River Valley 2 at Moville Woodbury Central 15, Siouxland Christian 0 at Coon Rapids Ar-We-Va 13, Coon …
District baseball scores/pairings
CLASS 1A GAMES LAST SATURDAY DISTRICT 1, SUBSTATE 1 at Cherokee Trinity Christian 4, Harris-Lake Park 3 at Kingsley Woodbury Central 13, Westwood 0 Kingsley-Pierson …
Ridge View edged by Pocahontas Area in district semifinals, 4-3
Ridge View scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough as Pocahontas Area held off the Raptors 4-3 to win a Class 2A district semifinal game on Tuesday at Orange …
Newell-Fonda upsets CAM in district semifinal game
After not winning a single road game during the regular season, Newell-Fonda has now won two in a row in the postseason. The Mustangs held off a late rally by CAM (Anita) to upset the Spartans …
Sioux Central ousted by Spirit Lake in district semifinals
After spotting Sioux Central a 4-0 lead, Spirit Lake scored 16 unanswered runs to pull away as the Indians ended the Rebels’ season with a 16-6 win in a Class 2A district semifinal game on …
Opinion

Editorials: Trump’s mixed signals

President Trump came to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on July 3 ostensibly to set the stage for celebrating the USA’s 250th anniversary next July 4. Trump indicated that the Iowa …

First front page of The Storm Lake Times, June 29, 1990.

Celebrating newspapers and independence

Last week we celebrated not only the Fourth of July but also the 35th anniversary of The Storm Lake Times. Our first edition came out just before the Fourth in 1990, and featured the upcoming …

More opinion

When my daughter and I traveled to Italy in 2007, our guide told us that Italy had one of Europe’s lowest birth rates. Wait, what? Historically, Italy has been a very Catholic country — …
Rick Morain
Memory is a tricky thing for older folks. Sometimes we can remember specific people, places and events from decades earlier, while at the same time we can’t remember much about yesterday or …
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
The photo of Poncho drew me to this story.  I was raised with two female German shepherds who were my sisters. When I started my family, we adopted mixed-breed dogs from shelters. Once …
Sen. Lynn Evans
Reflecting on a very productive 2025 session of the 91st Iowa General Assembly, we accomplished a great deal! nnThis edition of the newsletter highlights some important legislation passed this year …
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Family & Friends

Star Spangled Spectacular 2025

From left: Charlie, Briggs, Collins, Jovi and Nell Morris smiled for the camera on The Steps at Sunset Park, which had been appropriately decorated for the occasion.
Front from left: Laura Degner, paramedic; Sarah Naberhaus, director of ER/ambulance; Michele Ronfeldt, paramedic; Teresa Bernal, RN. Back: Blake Luy, RN/house supervisor; Dr. Garrett Feddersen and Robert Shontz, ambulance manager.
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to …
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Marilyn Tamm-Schmitt’s photos are on display at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center.
Marilyn Tamm-Schmitt was raised in eastern Iowa and grew up with a love of nature and animals. Summer days were spent biking through the Iowa countryside, down dirt roads and along riverbeds, always …
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From left: Andrew Hartnett, deputy insurance commissioner; Al Perales, attorney general’s office; detective Randy Weflen; and Jessica McGrath, senior financial exploitation investigator.
The Department of Insurance and Financial Services and the American Association of Retired Persons held an informative program at King’s Pointe for seniors on how to avoid being scammed. …
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Patricia Hampton guides visitors through the music room. Pianist Candy Clough played “The Nantasket Beach Waltz” composed by James and Mary Allison Harker’s daughter Sibyl.
The 150th anniversary open house drew over 70 visitors to the historic Harker House Saturday afternoon, guided by the board of directors – Roger Redig, Justin Yarosevich, Carla Otto, Sue …
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Trinity Vacation Bible school
Trinity Lutheran Church, 491 W. Second St. in Alta, will have Vacation Bible School Monday to Thursday, July 14-17 from 9 a.m. to noon.   This is for four-year-olds through sixth grade. …
Extremely grateful to all donors
The 2025 Star Spangled Spectacular, with a theme of “Celebrate Freedom, Feel the Vibe in 2025!” is still accepting donations as bills from various vendors continue to come in after the …
Area students on dean’s list
University of Iowa President’s List Jet Chanchom and John Heitman of Storm Lake. Alexis Pingel and Alaina Westphal of Aurelia.   Dean’s List Chelsea …

Celebrating 74 years of Schaller Pop Corn Days

Sarai Cervantes was crowned 2025 Schaller Pop Corn Days Queen. Cervantes is the daughter of Rosario Cervantes and Elias Rangel. She is a junior at Ridge View High School and is involved in speech, theatre, girls wrestling, musical, band, student senate and football cheerleading. Her hobbies include singing, photography, playing the piano and listening to music.

Schaller Pop Corn Days is celebrating its 74th year with the theme “Fairytales Come Alive at Schaller Pop Corn Days 2025.” As always, there will be free popcorn. McDermott Family Shows …

Raquel Nelson urges people, “Don’t be like me. I do not recommend handling wildlife to everyone.” She successfully captured a sick fox kit on the Aurelia golf course last …
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 …
Storm Lake McDonald’s hosted a family friendly Grimace Tour event Tuesday afternoon with games, prizes, music balloon twisting and photos with Grimace. Hannah and Rachel Peterson of Early are …
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 …

Snaps from our readers

Obituaries
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 …
Ruth Schmidt
Ruth Ann Schmidt, 87, of Schaller died July 7, 2025, at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove. Funeral services will take place Monday, July 14, at 11 a.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in …
Donald Skou
Donald “Donnie” Wayne Skou, 64, of Marathon died July 6, 2025, at UnityPoint St. Luke's in Sioux City. Memorial services will take place Saturday, July 12, at 2 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen …
Delores Glienke
Mrs. Delores Ruth Glienke (Otto), 93, previously of Miami Springs, Fla., entered her eternal rest at her residence in Flowery Branch, Ga., on April 21, 2025.   Delores, the oldest of three …

More obituaries

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