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Sherri Nelsen of UDMO oversees the Adopt-A-Family program.

Adopt-A-Family makes Christmas merry for families and seniors

Upper Des Moines Opportunity’s Adopt-A-Family program is well underway, with over half of the families and all of the seniors already adopted. The program matches generous individuals, …

Deck the courthouse

This year it’s the drainage department’s turn to decorate. Lending their personal touch are BV County Drainage Engineer Brian Blomme, right, and his assistant Eric Younginger, left. They …
Bike Iowa’s Scott Sumpter (left) talks with Larry Godfredson (Lakeshore Larry) during the tour Monday morning.

Iowa Bicycle Coalition visits Lakeshore Cyclery as part of week-long tour

Lakeshore Cyclery in Storm Lake hosted the Iowa Bicycle Coalition as part of its 2024 Iowa Bike Shop Tour Monday.  This stop is part of the Coalition’s 2024 Bike Shop Tour, a …
Kyle and John Bartz of Storm Lake make adjustments in the train room. John uses a grabber to  get the steam engine going when it hit a “dead spot” on the track.

Father/son duo keeps the trains running on time

New additions to the train room at Santa’s Castle will delight visitors this season, and thanks to train man Kyle Bartz and his son John, everything was on track for opening day last Thursday. Bartz is in his third year at …
The Daily Apple is located prominently at bank corners.

Wanted: New owner for Daily Apple

Daily Apple, at 526 Lake Ave. will close unless someone steps forward to take over the business, announced owner Amanda Walljasper-Tate Sunday, Dec. 1. Since then, Walljasper-Tate has had a few …

TIF lawsuit moves to Emmet County

The City of Storm Lake’s lawsuit against Buena Vista County for the misappropriation of over $5 million in tax-increment financing revenues has been moved to Emmet County.  Buena …

In The News

McKeon takes aim at The Retail Coach

On the heels of another retailer closing shop on Lake Avenue, Councilwoman Meg McKeon asked for a work session with the Storm Lake City Council to evaluate its $27,000 annual contract with an Austin, …

SL Council narrowly approves pigeon ordinance

Councilman Kevin McKinney fears Storm Lake could become overwhelmed with flocks of pigeons, as a slim majority of the city council approved an ordinance that could allow homing up to 100 pigeons in …

Memorial Road finished, Kwik Star soon to follow

The repaving project on Memorial Road is officially completed, meeting the Thanksgiving completion date despite missing the contractual “substantial completion” date of Oct. 1. …

County will continue marina management, transfer still pending

The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors extended the county’s temporary management agreement with Storm Lake Marina for another year — or until the marina is formally transferred from …

No parking on Northwestern Drive and Memorial Road

The Storm Lake City Council initiated the process to designate Northwestern Drive and Memorial Road as no parking throughout the year.  Public Services Supervisor Brandon Ripke told the …

SL Council narrowly approves pigeon ordinance

Councilman Kevin McKinney fears Storm Lake could become overwhelmed with flocks of pigeons, as a slim majority of the city council approved an ordinance that could allow homing up to 100 pigeons in …

More local news
From left, Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny; Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner; House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, and House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst spoke about the upcoming 2025 session at the Greater Des Moines Partnership state legislative breakfast at Stoney Creek Hotel in Johnston Dec. 3, 2024.
Property tax legislation expected in 2025 session, legislative leaders say
Iowans should expect to see further property tax law changes brought up in the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers said Tuesday at the Greater Des Moines Partnership legislative leadership breakfast. …
Moving to Lake Avenue
New tenants at 518 Lake Ave., the former Better Day Cafe, moved in over the weekend. The Moose Lodge will occupy the space for several months until a more permanent location is ready. Here Josh …
Hello winter
The City Beautiful woke up to a blanket of fluffy white snow Monday morning. TIMES PILOT photo by DOLORES CULLEN
James Debourgh
Man sentenced to 55 years in prison for stabbing
James Debourgh, a 71-year-old transient, homeless man, was convicted and sentenced in the Iowa District Court for Sac County for first degree burglary, willful injury and going armed with intent …
Sports
More Local Sports
Boys golf, girls tennis moving to fall sports season beginning in 2025-26 school year
The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control met during its annual retreat Aug. 9-10 to review 2023-24 reports and approve items ahead of the 2024-25 school year. IHSAA and …
St. Mary’s girls can’t recover from slow start in loss to West Monona
West Monona jumped out to a 19-point lead after the first quarter and the Spartans used a 22-9 spurt in the third quarter to extend it to over 30 as they spoiled Storm Lake St. Mary’s season …
Storm Lake boys emphatically beat Sioux City North
Storm Lake put together a 22-10 run in the final 5 minutes of the first half to take control and the Tornadoes were never threatened after that as they opened their season with an emphatic 85-43 win …
Storm Lake girls make 11 threes in 71-30 win over Sioux City North
Storm Lake made 11 shots from beyond the 3-point arc as the Tornadoes won their second straight game after a 71-30 triumph over Sioux City North Tuesday in Sioux City. Avery DeHaan made six …
Sioux Central boys use big second half to beat Estherville
Sioux Central outscored Estherville Lincoln Central   22-11 in the third quarter to take control as the Rebels went on to defeat the Midgets 55-46 in a nonconference game on Tuesday night in …
Opinion

Editorials: Settle, move on

We should take some measure of hopeful relief that the City of Storm Lake and Buena Vista County have started talking about a settlement of their lawsuit over distribution of tax increment financing. …

It’s time to look forward

After winter gave me a good hard slap on the face this week, with the promise of more to come, I decided I’d find things to look forward to. First of all, there’s football. This …
Many people would rather get their teeth drilled than discuss economics. If you are one of them, dial up your dentist, because today’s topic probably will make you uncomfortable. Some …
You tell me that law is above freedom of utterance. And I reply that you can have no wise laws nor free entertainment of wise laws unless …
Zionists believe that Donald Trump is “good for Israel.” Trump has loose lips and an unhinged mind, signaling no difference between Biden and Trump. They're as George Galloway declares, …
Remember how they told you over and over that everyone is equal under the law? Not true. Donald Trump should be in jail but instead is about to reoccupy the White House. His sentence on 34 felony …
Family & Friends

Panthers pitch in for Operation Christmas Child

Panthers pitch in for Operation Christmas Child successful Operation Christmas Child service project this year by packing 181 shoebox gifts for children in need around the world. This is the 17th …
The Selleck family, from left: Jeff, Janet, Jim and Julie.
For the last three and a half years, Janet Puff, from Redondo Beach, Calif., has visited Storm Lake for two or three months at a time to help her dad, Jim Selleck, who’s 91. Janet is a 1980 …
Read more.
Cracked Reeds is coming to Fonda Arts Center, bringing us an afternoon dedicated to the Christmas season. This is a saxophone ensemble from Humboldt, having performed earlier this year at the arts …
Read more.
Pet of the Week

Baloo

Baloo is coming up on one year at Lake Animal Hospital and he could use some help finding his new home, says LAH Stray Director Hannah Neumann. This lab mix is about four years old. …

‘I was one of the early Senders’

With all the publicity about The Senders, that legendary band that played for the grand reopening of the Cobblestone Ballroom, we heard from Dan Peterson of Athens, Ga., played with the group from …

Rhodes novel predicts the future

Welcome to “Writers and Writing,” a monthly column by Michael Tidemann of Estherville. Thanks to Mr. Tidemann for sharing his book reviews with Storm Lake Times Pilot readers. The …

Card shower

Please help us wish Arlene Waggie of Newell a happy 90th birthday on Dec. 17. We would love to have friends shower her with cards to celebrate her special day. Her address is Box 421, Newell, IA …
Obituaries
Donald Harjes
Donald Paul Harjes, 92, of Victoria, Texas, formerly of Storm Lake, passed away Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, at his home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, at Grace Lutheran Church in …
Donald Caboth
Funeral services for Donald C. Caboth, 93, of Alta will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alta, with Pastor Bradley Ketcham officiating. Visitation will be …
William Purvis
William “Bill” Purvis, 80, of Early passed away Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, at Loring Hospital in Sac City. William Allen Purvis was born June 27, 1944, to parents Charles and Mae Hoie …
Josephine Grienke
Private graveside services for Josephine (Jo) Grienke, 86, of Alta, will be held at a later date. There will be no visitation. Inurnment will take place at Elk Township Cemetery, rural Alta. Redig …
E. Mary Cole
E. Mary Cole, 102, of Schaller, died Nov. 27, 2024, at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 3, at United Methodist Church in Schaller. Burial was in …