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Lahn: polls ‘manufactured’ for Democrats

Lahn took questions from audience members after his speech. Here he speaks with Erin Smith of Storm Lake.
With two weeks until mid-term elections, Lahn confident Iowa will stay red Zach Lahn told Buena Vista County Republicans to pay no heed to polls showing Iowa Republicans lagging behind Democrats …

City mum on renegotiating with Dorsey & Whitney after judge finds lawyers' rates unreasonable

The City of Storm Lake is refusing to answer whether it will renegotiate its rates with a law firm that billed county taxpayers at rates a district court judge found unreasonably high—by as much as …
A helicopter delivered the game ball to Sioux Rapids Friday night just in time for the Sioux Central Rebels’ game against Sibley-Ocheyedan. “We were in contact with someone from Mason City …
Tre Fisher of Farnhamville and Aiden Kirk of Arizona relax in the massage chairs.
Mid terms — the academic kind — loomed heavily at Buena Vista University Monday morning, and what better way to de-stress than at an oxygen bar set up in front of the library. “Dam Good …
The winners of the costume contest took home a crisp $100 bill. They are (at far right) Ken and Carolyn Dolezal from Lincoln, Neb. Other contenders, from left: Dale Buckendahl, Tim Westemeyer, Cindy Smith, Kathy Hulse, Becky Johnson, Stephanie Krauth and Polly Wolterman.
Dancing and dining German-style was the order of the day – and night – at Oktoberfest, which attracted 300 people to the Cobblestone Saturday. The free event is sponsored by generous donors.
The church is in the background in this view looking west.

Lofty steeple has a new home – on the ground

The steeple from St. Mark Lutheran Church is now upright again, this time firmly secured to a concrete pad on the ground east of the church. For years the 50-foot-tall steeple would creak when …

Alta receives $20,000 grant to study housing needs

The City of Alta is one of five Iowa towns to receive grants of $20,000 for Rural Housing Readiness Assessment from the the Iowa Economic Development Authority. A total of $385,000 in Empower …

Buena Vista University Alumna invests in future of Schaller Memorial Chapel

For Rosalie Pierce-Rhodes ’76, Schaller Memorial Chapel is more than a place for musical performances. It is where a once-quiet student found her voice, developed confidence, and formed friendships …

DNR to eliminate invasive fish at Spring Lake in Cherokee County

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources   has scheduled a chemical renovation for Spring Lake in Cherokee on Oct. 26. The project aims to restore the lake’s ecological health by eradicating …

Pirate’s Pointe public hearing

The Storm lake City Council has set a public hearing on a proposed land lease to new owner/operators for Pirate’s Pointe Mini Golf Course Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. in city hall council chambers. The …

Ándale set to open at former Buffalo Ridge Café

This mural, by Storm Lake artist Luciano Tarin, greets customers when they enter the front door. At left is owner Raul Gutierrez. The Aztec warrior gives a nod to the local high school sports teams.
Even “white people know how to say Ándale,” says Raul Gutierrez. That’s one of the reasons he   chose the name – which means “hurry up!” – for his new Mexican restaurant and bar …

UNI partners with Storm Lake Schools to prepare future teachers

UNI staff and students gathered for a debriefing session on Wednesday at the high school. Seated in front, left to right: Mariana Garcia, Nyvaeh, Emma Kacer. Middle row, left to right: Magdalena Marceleno Vasquez, Emma Seefeldt, Dr. Aliza Fones (Associate Professor of TESOL/Applied Linguistics), Britann Metille, Janae Wilkening. Standing, left to right: Olivia Whitaker, Timothy Flaig III, Mickala Wonick, Ilse Hooper, Cody Boozell (Adjunct Faculty), Sullivan Reck, Edwin Lozano, Cristina Garza Aguilar, Mara Caylor, Olivia Walley.

Education students from the University of Northern Iowa were in town this past week for the sixth year in a row to shadow Storm Lake teachers. UNI Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and TESOL …

Thrive launch celebrates collaboration, achievements so far

The gathering included educators, non-profit organizations, health care professionals, social service agencies, community members and others. Speaking is Janée Harvey, Division Director of Family Well-Being and Protection, HHS.

The official launch of Thrive Iowa of Buena Vista County attracted over 100 educators, non-profit organizations, health care professionals, social service and government agencies, religious leaders …

No Kings rally in Storm Lake

About 50 people from as far away as Milford rallied along Flindt Drive Saturday morning to protest the authoritarian practices of President Donald Trump. They carried signs encouraging people to vote …
Sports
Storm Lake sees volleyball season ended by Le Mars in regionals
Storm Lake began Class 4A postseason play with a matchup against Le Mars on Tuesday and the Tornadoes saw their season come to an end after a three-set loss at Le Mars. Scores were 25-15, 25-20, …
BVU drops volleyball match to Nebraska Wesleyan
The Buena Vista volleyball team had a rematch of its American Rivers Conference opener on Tuesday at Nebraska Wesleyan, but it was the   Prairie Wolves who rallied late in each of the first two …
Sioux Central rallies to defeat Pocahontas Area in regional volleyball match
Sioux Central rallied from a 2-1 deficit by winning the last two sets to defeat Pocahontas Area in the first round of the Class 2A regional tournament on Monday at Pocahontas. Scores were 25-20, …
Longest winning streak in BVU volleyball program history comes to an end
The longest winning streak in Buena Vista program history and the nation this season is over. The Beavers put their unbeaten season record (17-0) on the line as it went up against No. 17 …
Ridge View dominates MVAOCOU to clinch No. 2 seed in district
Ridge View scored 26 unanswered points after the first quarter as the Raptors clinched second place in the district after a 33-6 win over MVAOCOU on Friday at Holstein. Ridge View, now 5-3, will …

Spencer scores 28 unanswered points in second quarter to beat SL

Spencer scored 28 unanswered points in the second quarter to pull away as the Tigers went on to defeat Storm Lake 42-7 in a Class 4A district game on Friday at Spencer. Spencer opened up the …

Riceville running game too much for Newell-Fonda in season finale

Riceville scored three touchdowns in the first quarter to take control and scored four more touchdowns in the second quarter to pull away as the Wildcats defeated Newell-Fonda 68-20 in an 8-man game …

Alta-Aurelia can’t slow down Hinton in regular season finale loss

Hinton scored four touchdowns in the first quarter to take control and then added three more touchdowns in the second quarter to pull away as the Blackhawks defeated Alta-Aurelia 61-20 in a Class 1A …

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: Iowa has always invested in students. Now it includes every student.

Educating every Iowa child benefits all of Iowa. Public or private, all schools in Iowa share this mission to promote the common good. Funding isn’t for schools. It’s for students. By …

What Trump is actually doing

Here’s a scenario I want you to think about. We can all see how much our President is enamored by Russia’s President Putin. He also seems to have a fondness for China’s leader as well. So, …
Modern election cycles easily dissolve into narrative noise, fueled by media echo chambers, superficial viral sound bites, controversial attack ads and candidate outrage. But beneath the headline …
In 2021, my daughter was diagnosed with a grade 3 astrocytoma, a serious form of brain cancer. No mother is prepared to hear that her child has brain cancer. My daughter was a 32 year old mother …
Last week, both President Trump and Governor Reynolds issued orders permitting the use of dyed diesel fuel on roadways. There are differences in the orders and how they apply here in Iowa versus …
The most recent National Cancer Institute State Cancer Profiles (2018-2022) reported that Kentucky had the highest age-adjusted cancer rate (519.0/100,000) and that Iowa had the second highest cancer …
Family & Friends

Reception was where else? The Ken-A-Bob

The bride and groom go first at the sumptuous buffet at the popular Ken-A-Bob, which closed in the 90s.
Thanks to Ray Flohr, Albert City-Truesdale graduate now living in Indiana, who provided these photos of the wedding of Connie Naughton and Mike Mahoney taken by his parents. Shots at the …
St. Peter Lutheran Church of Newell LWML (ladies group) partnered with Fareway to provide a truckload of pork loins, potatoes, canned veggies and fruits for the Newell Food Pantry on Oct. 20. From …
Volunteers from all around the community joined for the City of Storm Lake’s Volunteer Appreciation Reception at King's Pointe Resort last Thursday. The event featured students from the Storm Lake …
“A Place to Call Home,” a film series, will take place three upcoming weeks at Storm Lake Public Library. This series consists of films that tell both inspiring and heartrending stories of …
Storm Lake Fall Fling
Storm Lake was the site of the 2026 Iowa Questers Fall Fling on Oct. 9-10. Questers is an international organization dedicated to keeping history alive through preservation, education and the funding …
Albert City Fire Department’s annual Omelet Breakfast
Looking for a delicious brunch Sunday, Nov. 1? Let the Albert City Fire & Rescue do the cooking for you. They will serve omelets and biscuits and gravy from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Carry out available. …
Lake View Speaker Series welcomes Dr. David Gallo
The fourth season of the Lake View Speaker Series begins Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. with Dr. David Gallo of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. After his presentation, Dr. Gallo will sign …
My Favorite Recipe

Try FFA advisor’s Dr. Pepper brownies

Buena Vista University graduate Jessica Tuttle of Cherokee enjoys teaching high school ag at St. Mary’s High School and working as FFA (Future Farmers of America) advisor. A 2022 graduate of …

Where was the Lake View Room?

This neon sign once hung at the Cobblestone and the peeling paint is a good reminder of what the whole place looked like before it was renovated by owners Jen Hustedt and Natalie Schumann. Jerry …

Five selected for Opus

Front row from left: Andrew Du, Isabella Buckner and Emmett Stansberry. Back: Deeo Xiong and Keagan Mills.

Five Storm Lake Middle School and one Storm Lake High School freshman were selected for participation in the 40th annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. Over 3,000 students were nominated by their …

Thank you to Joni Boese for sending this weird vegetable picture. Readers, we welcome your submissions.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Contestants in the Catrina and Catrin contest at last year’s Dia de los Muertos event.

Dia de los Muertos set for Oct. 31

The public is invited to the second annual Dia de los Muertos community celebration at VeSo Coffee Shop Oct. 31 from 2-4 p.m. With the theme “Honoring our loved ones. Celebrating life,” …
Selekto Show will entertain with a mix of cumbia, bachata, salsa, merengue and rock en español.

Musica, juegos, rifas, danzas — it’s Fiesta Latina

Get ready for Fiesta Latina on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 12-6 p.m. at Storm Lake Middle School. This year’s lineup will be bigger than ever with new live music and performers, a selection of …

SLHS play in the works

Mark your calendars for the Storm Lake High School fall play. “Blithe Spirit” comes to Storm Lake auditorium Nov. 13-14, at 7 p.m. In this comic production, a novelist named Charles …
Obituaries
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 & …
Roberta Nixon Waddell
Roberta Nixon Waddell, 70, of Sioux Rapids passed away on Oct. 13, 2026, at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s in Sioux City. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, from 5-7 p.m. at …
Karen Lalone
Karen Francis (Makowski) Lalone passed on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, on a spectacular autumn morning that beheld a bright sun, blue sky, golden trees and the first sparkling frost upon the earth’s …