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Holzhauer closes shop

Holzhauer Motors and its two Ford franchisees have asked to convert its bankruptcy case under a different chapter because the dealership is “administratively insolvent.”  The …

City’s TIF lawsuit survives for a second time

The City of Storm Lake’s lawsuit over $5 million in misappropriated tax-increment revenue was allowed to survive for a second time.  The Iowa Supreme Court dismissed Buena Vista …

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

Viva! 74 LatinX educators in SL District

A group of Storm Lake Latino teachers, front row, from left: Joanna Chavez De Leon, Daniel Lopez, Lorena Singh, Maria Zaragoza. Back: Yoanna Rosas, San Juanita Chamul, Haydee Torres, Rebeca Fajardo, Yesenia Fajardo, Yadira Munoz, Sandra Duque, Karina Salazar, Anna Negrete. Not pictured: Moises De La Cruz, Osvaldo De Paz, Wilmer Flores, Iris Hernandez, Brian Gomez, Veronica Espana, Cindy Hernandez, Vanessa Ventura.
“Diversity has grown a lot here,” said San Juanita Chamul, a Storm Lake first grade teacher who began as a teaching assistant with the district in 2000 and has seen the change in faculty …

Iowa Central Storm Lake facility hosting grand opening Sept. 26

Iowa Central’s new Storm Lake Learning Center welcomed students in August.

Iowa Central Community College will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 3:30 p.m. for the newly completed Storm Lake Learning Center. According to an …

Police & Courts: Five years in prison for Chloe Lane riot participation

A Storm Lake man was sentenced to five years in prison for participating in an alleged 20-person riot in Chloe Lane in July.  Buena Vista County District Court Judge Shayne Mayer convicted …

Hondo’s to reopen Monday

On June 24, Hondo points to where the water level rose on the east side of his building. A new door has been ordered to replace the damaged one.

Hondo’s Sales and Service in Sioux Rapids will officially reopen for business Sept. 23 after having suffered a $300,000-$400,000 loss in product, building and labor as a result of the flood …

What, no homecoming dance?

At the pep rally last Friday are, homecoming candidates, from left: Emmanuel Negrete, Patricio Hernandez and Iker Gomez, with SLHS Principal Matt Doebel.

“Clip Those Claws!” is the theme of Storm Lake High School Homecoming week, coming up next week, Sept. 23-27. But in a change from decades-long traditions, no homecoming dance will be …

City animal ordinances approved

The Storm Lake City Council fast-tracked approval of the final update to the city’s animal ordinances.  Since the early summer, the city has drafted, debated and ratified codes on …

SL pigeon racers push back on proposed city ordinance

Javier Granela and Blanca Vazquez of 516 Seneca St. keep dozens of racing pigeons in their backyard. Granela constructed the loft himself and releases the birds twice a day.

For nearly five years, Blanca Vazquez and Javier Granela of 516 Seneca St. have cared for dozens of racing pigeons housed in an enclosed loft in their backyard. Granela, who learned to race pigeons …

SL City Council denies residential noise variance

The Storm Lake City Council denied a noise variance request for a resident who wanted to sing at home with an amplified karaoke machine two to three times a week. Several council members said they …

DNR: Storm Lake clarity is stable, zebra mussels at bay

Storm Lake was cloudier this year and its zebra mussel population is believed to have decreased for a third straight year, according to a lake biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural …

More local news
Warriors on parade
Angel Barajas and Nora Peterson were crowned Alta-Aurelia homecoming king and queen before Thursday's volleyball match and celebrated in the homecoming parade on Friday, Sept. 13.
BV Co. Supervisors push Buffalo Ridge Estates forward
The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the rezoning of the proposed Buffalo Ridge Estates subdivision north of Storm Lake on 560th Street.  The board’s …
Five years in prison for racist attack
A Storm Lake man was sentenced to five years in prison for punching a man in the throat because he was white.  Buena Vista County District Court Judge Shayne Mayer sentenced Jermaine Ford, …
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 …
Week 4 preview: Ridge View hosts No. 8 Hinton
The district opener could be one of the toughest challenges Ridge View has this season. The Raptors host one of the district favorites in No. 8-ranked Hinton on Friday night. Ridge View coach Brian …
Week 4 preview: Newell-Fonda welcomes Harris-Lake Park
Nathan Baron wants to see two things out of his football team tonight. The Newell-Fonda coach wants his squad to be the more aggressive team and the more physical team when it hosts Harris-Lake …
Week 4 preview: Alta-Aurelia travels to Sibley-Ocheyedan
Alta-Aurelia will be looking to get in the win column when the Warriors travel to Sibley tonight to take on Sibley-Ocheyedan. Alta-Aurelia coach Chris Reinert shared his thoughts on the …
Week 4 preview: Sioux Central hosts Eagle Grove
Sioux Central will begin district play and celebrate homecoming when the Rebels take on Eagle Grove tonight in Sioux Rapids. The Eagles are 0-3 and have been outscored 159-22 this season. …
Opinion

Editorials: We need a winner

Cedar Rapids Gazette columnist Mike Hlas caught up with retired Hawkeye Coach Lisa Bluder and asked what she intends to do. What more could she do? She helped elevate women’s basketball to …

Medicine and politics

We were in Rochester a week ago. I had to have a little tuneup at Mayo Clinic. We hadn’t been there for about a year, and we marveled at how much the city has grown since then, thanks to …
As American grocery buyers await a Federal Trade Commission verdict on Kroger’s two-year-old, $24.6 billion bid to buy competitor Albertsons, the European Commission took just 35 days to give …
The economic challenges facing the ag sector right now cannot be overstated. With net farm income expected to drop by nearly 23% this year, it’s more important than ever to explore new markets …
Political winds shifted rapidly over the past two months. The Des Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll on Sunday reported that Democrat Kamala Harris trails Republican Donald Trump 47-43% among likely Iowa …
The debate camera zoomed in and cropped around Donald Trump’s jowels, angry eyes and puckered lips: “They’re eating the dogs! They’re eating the cats!” Later, at a …
Family & Friends

In memory of TJ Schaefer

The Alta-Aurelia FCA organized the TJ Schaefer Memorial Walk/run set for Monday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m., after the home cross country meet at the Alta Municipal Golf Course, 601 E. 6th St. Entry fee …

74th anniversary

Janice and Dale Sorenson of Alta celebrate their 74th anniversary on Sept. 24.

Alta class of 1974 50th reunion

The 50th class reunion of Alta High School was held at the Alta Golf and Country Club Sept. 14 with 40 classmates attending. A social hour was held with dinner following. An amazing video program of …

Eagle Scout service project

Emma Wilkinson built and donated a table and benches to the Hanover Historical Society for her Eagle Scout service project. They were donated during the annual Hanover Festival. Emma is a member of …

Community State Bank of Sioux Rapids donates for flood relief

Community State Bank of Sioux Rapids has donated $50,000 to Sioux Rapids 2000 for flood relief in their community. Sioux Rapids was hit hard with the flood and many businesses were damaged or lost …

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Walk to End Alzheimer’s is coming up Oct. 5 at Buena Vista University’s Peterson Field. Registration takes place from 8:30-9:30 a.m.   Opening ceremonies are at 9:30 a.m. and the …

Ukrainian soldier grateful to Storm Lake community

David Motlich, the Ukrainian soldier undergoing rehabilitation for injuries sustained in Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine, is grateful for the financial assistance he has received through the …

My Favorite Recipes

Lampe shares her Wel-Life recipes

“I love my job,” commented Christine Lampe of Fonda, head of the culinary department at Wel-Life Assisted Living in Alta. “It’s a great place to work; I have an amazing staff …

Iveys return home to Storm Lake

Dr. Bobby Ivey, Mary Rose and their children –– (Mary) Bloom, two and a half years old and Augie, six months old –– moved back to Storm Lake the middle of June. Dr. Ivey is a …
Obituaries
Lois Statz
Lois Jeanne Statz, 97, of Storm Lake died Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Funeral services will take place Thursday, Sept. 26, at 10:30 a.m. at …
Barbara Seiler
Surrounded by her loving family, Barbara Seiler, affectionately known as Barb, peacefully passed away Sept. 13, 2024. Her final moments reflected the deep love she gave throughout her life, leaving a …
Robert Jesse
Robert A. Jesse, 91, of Alta died Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Memorial services will take place Friday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at St. John Lutheran …
Maxine Huseman
Maxine “Mickey” Huseman, 104, of Storm Lake, formerly of Alta, passed away peacefully Sept. 8, 2024 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Memorial services will take …
Janis Teague
Janis Audrey (Spooner) Teague, 90, of Topeka, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. She was born Oct. 28, 1933, in Storm Lake, the daughter of Floyd and Helen (Matson) Spooner. She was the …