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Allete to start repowering Storm Lake windfarms by 2028

A representative with Allete Clean Energy told the Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors the company plans to start generating wind from its Storm Lake windfarms by 2028.  Jim Moran, …
Jones Nursery held its annual Pumpkin Patch and Petting Zoo Sunday with part of the proceeds benefiting Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. Here Henry Roer of Peterson catches up with a shop cat.
Rowyn Nielsen and Lawton Harris will perform live Saturday in downtown Alta.
Alta Hometown Days returns this weekend, Oct. 3-4, with a full lineup of activities, entertainment and opportunities for the community to come together and celebrate Alta. The event was created …
Dale and Kim Carver dance to music by the Senders.
A series of connections brought together a senior candidate for Buena Vista County Supervisor, his well traveled rock ’n roll school mate and a leader in the Storm Lake Latino community. The …
Witter Gallery board member Jerry Johnson with first place winner Orren Knoffloch who made cherry-smoked brisket with red-hot honey barbecue sauce.
The Witter Gallery’s Art-Bee-Que fundraiser on Saturday was a community success with live painting, live music, and just enough food to feed a full house at the Sunrise Pointe Golf Course …
JB McKibben

Pedal pull placer

JB McKibben, son of Matt and Katie McKibben of Linn Grove and a first grader at Sioux Central, recently competed against some of the best young pedal pullers in the nation at the National Pedal Pull …

Merrill looks to move powder coating to Flindt Drive

President says EPA, state have already signed off After an April fire at the former Gull Wing prompted Merrill Manufacturing to relocate its powder coating facility adjacent to its headquarters …

Enrollment at BVU slips 6%

Highest-ranked private university for social mobility Buena Vista University’s enrollment dipped by 120 students this year, or 6%.  A statement the university issued on Monday …

Alta Park Board greenlights polarizing library fundraising sign

The Alta Park Board and Library Board of Trustees reached an agreement on a hot-button debate over a fundraising advertisement. The debate over whether or not to permit a sign tracking the …

BVU Homecoming

Buena Vista University Homecoming happens this weekend with a variety of events open to the public. Go Beavers!   Friday, Oct. 2 11 a.m.-1 p.m. BUFORD’S BIRTHDAY BASH. Mack …

The Storm Lake Room

In a panoramic photo, Jerry Johnson interviews Helen Beneke in the Storm Lake Room last Sunday.
A new room opened up at the Cobblestone Ballroom & Event Center earlier this year. nnIt was originally a dining room off the fabled “Mermaid Room” with an impressive block fireplace, a wall …
Police and Courts
Tina Hansen of Storm Lake submitted this security camera photo of a person checking to see if her car door was locked at 2:18 a.m. Saturday.

‘Unauthorized alien’ arrested for string of vehicle thefts, burglaries in Storm Lake, Alta

Held without bail, other suspects involved A Storm Lake man was arrested for stealing or attempting to steal five vehicles last Saturday from residences in Storm Lake and Alta.  Derek …

Ramos dismisses employment discrimination lawsuit against AgState

Maria Ramos dismissed her employment discrimination lawsuit against AgState.  Megan Flynn, a West Des Moines attorney representing Ramos, dismissed all claims against AgState, the …

Ivarson Estate seeks more civil charges against CRMC

An attorney representing the estate of a deceased Marcus farmer is seeking to amend their lawsuit against Cherokee Regional Medical Center, citing recently held depositions that yielded "new theories of negligence" against the hospital in …

Alta Class of ’71 holds 55 year reunion

The Alta class of 1971 held its 55 year class reunion on Sept. 19 at Lake Creek Country Club. Twenty-two members of the graduating class of 57 members attended the event. The evening began with …

Sports
Really good opponent, subpar play bad recipe for success for Ridge View
West Lyon, ranked No. 2 in Class 1A, scored 14 unanswered points in the first quarter and followed it up with 21 unanswered in the second period to build a 35-0 halftime lead as the Wildcats went on …
Sioux Central downs HMS for second straight win
Max Wittmaack rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns to help Sioux Central to its second win in a row after a 29-12 triumph over HMS in a Class A District 1 game on Friday at Hartley. Sioux …
Alta-Aurelia can’t recover from early deficit in setback to Lawton-Bronson
Lawton-Bronson scored 20 unanswered points in the first quarter to take control and then another 20 unanswered in the second quarter to pull away as the Eagles defeated Alta-Aurelia 53-14 in a …
Werninont places first to help Sioux Central boys take second at Pocahontas Invitational
Lucos Wernimont was the overall winner to help Sioux Central to a runner-up finish in the Pocahontas Area Invitational on Saturday. Southeast Valley won the meet with 66 points. Sioux Central …
Ridge View trio helps girls team finish third at Pocahontas Invitational
Destiny Chavez, Eve Hustedt and Avery Lundt all finished in the top 20 overall to help Ridge View to a third-place finish in the Pocahontas Area Invitational on Saturday. Humboldt won the team …

BVU women shut out Spurgeon College in soccer

The Buena Vista women’s soccer team came out strong against visiting Spurgeon College on Saturday en route to a 5-0 homecoming win at J. Leslie Rollins Stadium. Brynn Pfeffer had a …

No. 1 Western Christian defeats Storm Lake

Western Christian showed why it is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A as the Wolfpack handed Storm Lake a Siouxland Conference setback on Thursday at Hull. Scores were 25-3, 25-14, 25-9. Kielee …

Sioux Central pushes TLC front-runner East Sac County to five sets

Sioux Central had Twin Lakes Conference front-runner East Sac County on the ropes. After dropping the first set, the Rebels won the next two sets in tight fashion to take control before the …

Opinion

Iowa weather and politics are extreme

Crazy extremes. You drive through fog and drizzle — Dude, slow down! Sister, turn your headlights on! — to slop through mud at the Iowa Lakeside Lab on West Lake Okoboji. How long have we been …

Editorials: Vote for moderation

It should surprise nobody that we urge you to vote for Democratic candidates in the November elections. Republicans have done much damage to Iowa with one-party rule over the last decade. Support …
Watching all the political ads on TV these days, you can tell which candidates are getting desperate. They’re the ones who are still freaked out about girls and boys playing on the same sports …
If you’re over 40, you might remember an iconic 30-second commercial produced in 1992 by the Beef Industry Council and Beef Board. It opened with a burst of fiddles playing an excerpt of Aaron …
The school field trip tragedy last week at Lake Macbride State Park again demonstrated the adage that a rumor can travel halfway around the globe while the truth is still putting on its shoes. …
We’re now only about five weeks out from Election Day 2026. Iowa voters may cast their ballots at their county auditor’s office starting Wednesday, Oct. 14, about two weeks from now. If …
Family & Friends
My Favorite Recipe

Zwagerman shares pork chop recipe so good it will ‘make you crazy’

Joan Zwagerman with Hank.
Joan Zwagerman is this week's featured cook. She is the   archivist at Buena Vista University and says that she “has the best job,” meaning the best job for her skills and interests. A …
From left: Linda Ricklefs, senior branch office administrator; Shelley Flaherty, senior branch office administrator; Alex Girres, financial advisor; Travis Anderson, financial advisor; and Amanda Kollasch, senior branch office administrator.
Join Edward Jones for open house ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m. at 716 Lake Ave. in Storm Lake. You’re invited to celebrate the grand opening of the new Edward Jones office. While …
Sioux Central Volleyball turned its gym pink Tuesday night for its annual Pink Out match, continuing a tradition that has become about much more than volleyball. Through a silent auction …
St. Mary's High School students experienced a Pilgrimage Day in conjunction with sophomores from Carroll Kuemper High School. The pilgrimage took them to The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in …

Meet Malisa Sihachak

I was born in California, but my family moved to Storm Lake when I was in grade school, and this community has been home ever since. I’m a proud graduate of Storm Lake High School and went on to …

P.E.O. scholarships available

Sioux Rapids P.E.O. Chapter GJ announces that applications are being accepted from area post-secondary women students for scholarships of $500 to be awarded in November 2026.   We have moved our …

Upcoming Blood Drives

Thank you for confirming your 2026 blood drive dates. St. Mark Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 12:30-5:30 p.m. United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on Friday, …

100 People Who Care Sac County

The fourth 2026 meeting of 100 People Who Care Sac County will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11 at United Methodist Church in Early, 402 Hickory St. All Sac County residents are welcome to join …

Blessing of the animals

The public is invited to Lakeside Presbyterian Church for the Blessing of the Animals Sunday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. on the church lawn.

A shirt for every kid

Storm Lake Elementary School Assistant Principal Mel Fisher arranged for every student at the school to have a Tornado T-shirt in time for homecoming. "I reached out to alumni, Tornado supporters, …

Sasquash

Karen Ames purchased seeds for Butternut Sasquash Squash in spring, but didn’t anticipate they would get as big as Big Foot. Well, the biggest in the patch weighs 20 pounds, unusual enough to …

Shelley Glienke of Alta can be counted on to send photos of the weirdest vegetables. Please send yours to dcullen@stormlake.com. Glienke’s pumpkin patch opens Saturday, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and …
Don’t miss the St. Mary’s Fall Bazaar and Bake Sale this Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Parish Center. Check out the local vendors, coffee bar by Grand Central, pumpkins and gourds, the …
Arlene Betz Grienke will host a coffee at the Aurelia Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 9-11 a.m. to celebrate her 100th birthday. No gifts, please. Cards can be sent to 705 W 7th St., Room …
Please join us to celebrate Mavis Aronson’s 100th birthday. An open house will be held for her on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 2-4 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albert City. No gifts, please.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Obituaries
Alice Speers
Alice M. Speers, 92, of Storm Lake died Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, at WEL-Life in Alta. Funeral Mass will take place Thursday, Oct. 8, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. …
Keith Struss
Keith Robert Struss, 66, of Albert City died Sept. 20, 2026, at Cherokee Specialty Care. Memorial services will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, at 11 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in …
Lynn McClatchey
Lynn McClatchey, 70, of Linn Grove passed away at her home in Ankeny on Sept. 29, 2026. Lynn was born on June 4, 1956, in Belmond to Herman and Ruth Groen. She spent her life giving of herself …
Joyce Robbins
Joyce R. Robbins, 90, of Alta passed away on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Accura Healthcare of Aurelia. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 10:30 a.m. with a visitation …
Therese Simoneau
Therese M. Simoneau, 77, of Clifton, Ill., passed away Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at Riverside Hospital in Kankakee. She was born on Aug. 29, 1949, in Watseka, Ill., to Adlore and Veronica Dwyer …