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Ramos
AgState mum on allegations Storm Lake City Councilwoman Maria Ramos is suing her former employer, AgState, and three individual employees on claims of racial discrimination, harassment and …
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SLPD cracks down on vet clinic 

Storm Lake police searched Lake Animal Hospital and arrested the clinic’s manager for allegedly forging a man’s signature in an attempt to make the police department pay to impound four …

On the lookout for ICE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement hasn’t come to Storm Lake, but the town is anxious. Following a confirmed ICE raid at an Omaha, Neb. meat production plant Tuesday mornings, rumors of …

Extradition for junkyard theft in Texas

An Alta man was extradited to Denton County, Texas, because he allegedly stole three vehicles from a junk yard in a suburb northwest of Dallas.  Buena Vista County District Court Judge Andy …

Judge rules Jennesses can comb through Holzhauer emails

A judge ruled that Robin and Tony Jenness of Marcus must have access to Dan Winchell’s emails.  Iowa Specialty Business Court Judge Michael Schilling ruled last Monday that the emails …

May stays with the “status-quo”

Below-average precipitation in the latter half of May resulted in slight degradation of drought conditions that had been largely stable earlier in the month thanks to the ample precipitation recorded …

Two Alta Main Street buildings damaged in one-car vehicle accident

Photo by Tom Lane Sr.

Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office reported to a one-vehicle accident on Main St. in Alta Friday, June 6. According to the report, Danny Peterson, 75, of Alta was traveling south on Main St. …

Sports
Wednesday’s baseball roundup
Ian Harrer’s walkoff single in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Newell-Fonda a 3-2 win over Alta-Aurelia on Wednesday at Fonda. Mason Hoberman walked to lead off the eighth. Trevor …
Wednesday’s softball roundup
Ellie Sievers had two hits, including a two-run home run, and allowed no hits pitching in relief to help Newell-Fonda beat Alta-Aurelia 7-3 in a Twin Lakes Conference game on Wednesday at Fonda. …
Alta-Aurelia drops baseball game to Akron-Westfield
Akron-Westfield scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to pull away as the Westerners beat Alta-Aurelia 12-2 in a nonconference game on Tuesday at Akron. Akron-Westfield scored two …
Ridge View uses 13-run inning to rout South O’Brien
Ridge View scored 13 runs in the top of the fifth inning to pull away from a close game as the Raptors defeated South O’Brien 19-5 in a nonconference game on Tuesday at Paullina. South …
St. Mary’s can’t recover from early deficit in loss to Ar-We-Va
Ar-We-Va jumped out to a 7-1 lead after the first. three innings and the Rockets went on to defeat Storm Lake St. Mary’s 10-1 in a nonconference game on Tuesday at Vail. The Rockets plated …
Opinion

Editorials: A state of martial law

Martial law was imposed last weekend on Los Angeles when President Trump ordered in the California National Guard to disband lawful protests over the deportation of Latino immigrants. The military …

The father of our country

We celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday. It’s a good day to also celebrate George Washington, who was the “Father of Our Country.” George did not have any children of his …
Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” focused on manners and goodness, two virtues sometimes forgotten today. Shortly before the novel was published, our Founding Fathers settled …
Iowa’s DOGE task force, a Governor Reynolds’ creation channeling the 2025 federal DOGE Department headed until recently by Elon Musk, last week discussed the possible consolidation of …
A lifetime ago, I worked at a small-town newspaper setting type, pasting up pages, covering city council and school board meetings, writing features and a column. It was great training for meeting …
In 1957 I was 12 years old. It was a beautiful summer night at the Little League ballpark, now named Jim Reese Field, next to East School. The lights were on. Fans lined the fence and filled the …
Family & Friends
Tonya and David Hinners with Erika, Brett and Brendon Peterson.
Tonya Hinners is a busy lady. Her day starts with a 5 a.m. daily devotional prayer time, treadmill time and Mass at St. Mary’s Church at 7 a.m. After that she gets ready to greet the children …
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Hugo Perez Loa reads aloud one of Carver's chapters from "Gay Poems for Red States" at the Storm Lake Public Library. Carver, always clad in rainbow glasses, joined via Zoom.
The 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and newly published author of “Gay Poems for Red States” performed and discussed his work to around 15 guests at the Storm Lake Public Library last …
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Wendl interacts with Matilda the raven. Her crows are able to say a few simple words but weren’t in the mood to cooperate this time of year because, as Wendl said, their wild instincts tell them they should be nesting.
Buena Vista County has been working to bring the marina at Storm Lake Marina back to life, and hosted their first event Friday – a Naturalist Lunchbox with Cassie Wendl, certified wildlife …
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The Young at Heart group at Silo Ridge Peony Farm.
The BVRMC Young at Heart day trip was held on June 4, 2025. Forty participants and BVRMC staff enjoyed a chartered bus ride to Milford. The day included a guided tour of the Silo Ridge Peony Farm, a …
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Drew and Lance Bellinghausen are seen with members of Caring Paws Rescue at Puff’s summer kickoff.

Puff’s and Paws

Puff’s Bar and Grill held its “Puff-icial” Summer Kickoff Friday with nearly 100 people in attendance.  Owners Lance and Drew Bellinghausen announced their support of …

50th anniversary

Lori and Dale Arends will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 19. Please join them to help celebrate at an open house at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell on Sunday, June 22 from …
Card showers
90 years young! Age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying you! Please help Gordon Haefner on his 90th birthday on June 24 with a card shower. Cards can be sent to 2387 Quail Ave., …
Marge Miller turns 80 years young on June 14! She will celebrate with her two sons, their wives and her grandchildren. Cards can reach her at: 1101 Ontario St. Unit F Storm Lake, IA 50588.
Ronald Hinners of Storm Lake turns 90 on July 1. An open house will be held at the Cobblestone on June 29 from 1-5 p.m. Ronald was the owner/operator of Ron’s Farm Service, retiring in 1998.
Marlin turns 90 on June 13. Let Marlin know you are thinking of him on this special day. Cards can reach him at: Marlin Weier, 204 W High St., Linn Grove, IA 51033
Obituaries
Michael Roberts
Michael Roberts, 72, of Clare passed away Sunday, June 8, 2025, at his home. He was born in Covington, Ky., and grew up in Storm Lake where he developed a lifelong appreciation for community, …
Timothy Cayler
Timothy Allen Cayler, 54, of Lake Lillian, Minn., passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2025. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 12, at Church of St. Mary in Willmar, …
Robert Kramer
Robert J. Kramer, 90, of Storm Lake, IA, died on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the Mayflower Community in Grinnell. A private family graveside service with military honors will be held at St. …
Harvey Buckendahl
Harvey Buckendahl, 79, of Storm Lake passed away peacefully at his home on May 30, 2025. Funeral services will take place Thursday, June 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Visitation will be held …
Rodney Petersen
Rodney Alen Petersen, 67, of Holstein, formerly of Alta, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will take place Thursday, June 5, at 10:30 a.m. at …