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Murder in rural Cherokee

Storm whips through SL

“It was a bad Friday for me,” said Jas Singh, a Tyson truck driver from Indianapolis, on Friday morning after assessing storm damage to his vehicle.  Sing parked his …

Estimated price tag for Historical Museum damage: $30K

Expensive damage from Friday’s storm will put the Buena Vista County Historical Museum in a financial bind, says Lucille Fitszenry, president of the BV County Historical Society. “This is …
Volunteers assist GoServ Global workers clearing branches Saturday.
Cleanup continues
In the storm's wake
It wasn’t a tornado
E-editions

Storm Lake Times Pilot 4-18-25

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BV County man sentenced for illegal U.S. entry

A Storm Lake man who’s been deported from the U.S. three times was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for illegal reentry over a year after he was arrested for cocaine possession in Buena Vista County.

Governor issues disaster proclamation for BV County

Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista, Fremont, Page, and Plymouth Counties in response to severe weather that occurred on April 17, 2025.

State education funding may put pressure on local schools

Sen. Lynn Evans speaks at the Legislative Forum Saturday in Storm Lake. TIMES PILOT photos by MADELINE COMBS

Senate approved 2% SSA rate, awaiting governor’s signature

Joseph Smith trial to begin tomorrow

AG Bird promised to lock up Smith during campaign.

Ad Guide 4-22-25

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Spring Sports

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Left to right: Bottom row – Tyler Pierre Louis, Brayden Bohnenkamp, Kaiden Schroeder, Landon Brown, & Audie Poeckes 2nd row - Caiden Cave, Ivy Hanson, Kinsley Reuter, Jhett Anderson, Jakson Kelly, Roni Etter. 3rd row: Myles Miller, Tysen Cedar, Aidon Brady, Amelia Tuttle, Kailyn Stone Frericks, Micah Matgen, Oliver Schuttpelz, Nolan Matgen, Jayce Klein. Back row – Gavin Schnoor, Sopia Nilles-Howard, Evan Heidesch, & Bennett Klein Not Pictured – McKinley Angerman & Nora Gengler
Bantam League Bowlers end 2024-2025 season Over two
Girls Division 1st Place – Nora Gengler - 354 2nd Place – Kailyn Arens - 301 Boys Division 1st Place – Evan Heidesch - 362 2nd Place – Gavin Schnoor - …
March precipitation calms area drought conditions
For the first time since December 2024, precipitation levels across the state were above average throughout the month of March. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources latest water …
Welcome,  Delight Donuts
Delight Donuts opened Thursday morning at Shoppes on Lake Plaza. The location at 1515 Lake Ave. is the northern portion of the former Dollar Tree store. The owners of the strip mall, Khim & …
City calls for SL library to cut hours amid budget constraints
Storm Lake Public Library Director Elizabeth Huff believes that the library will survive the recent cuts as mandated by the city. Earlier this month, Staff Accountant Tyler Gibbins presented the …

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Sports
Storm Lake boys netters defeated by Spirit Lake-Okoboji
Harder, Wolf, Chanthapangna qualify for Drake Relays
Storm Lake girls take fifth in Spencer Relays
Launderville, distance medley relay lead Alta-Aurelia boys in Manson Invite
Jacob Launderville won an individual event and Alta-Aurelia was victorious in one relay event to highlight area performances in the Manson Northwest Webster Relays last Thursday. Southeast …
Sioux Central girls run away with South O’Brien Relays title
Sioux Central finished first in 14 of the 19 events as the Rebels cruised to the team title in the South O’Brien Relays last Thursday. Sioux Central scored 208 points in the meet. In …
Sioux Central boys finish third in South O’Brien Invite
Lucas Wernimont and Leighton Sippel each won an individual event to help Sioux Central place third in the South O’Brien Relays last Thursday. MMCRU won the meet with 192 points. Sioux …
Newell-Fonda boys golfers edge Emmetsburg by one stroke, girls fall
Every shot mattered when Newell-Fonda and Emmetsburg got together for a Twin Lakes Conference boys dual golf meet last Thursday in Emmetsburg. Why? Because Newell-Fonda won by one shot. The …
BVU begins baseball series with Simpson in dominant fashion
Buena Vista began its three-game baseball series with Simpson last Saturday with a commanding doubleheader sweep of the Storm by scores of 11-1 and 11-4. BVU led 2-1 after three innings of the …
Opinion

Give an award to Buena Vista, not a boot in the rear

With colleges under full frontal assault, whiskey purveyor and Beaver great Keith Kerkhoff regaled the Storm Lake United annual banquet with tales of facing legendary Football Coach Jim Hershberger …

Editorials: Change at the top

Iowa could return to its moderate good sense with Gov. Kim Reynolds retired. For nearly a decade, Reynolds presided over declining school test scores, banning books in schools, shaming of gays, …

More opinion

With the bankruptcy of Holzhauer auto dealerships in Storm Lake and Cherokee, it seems unlikely that the Ford brand will reappear in The City Beautiful, ending more than a century of Blue Oval sales …
A constitutional showdown taking shape in southern Iowa’s Decatur County could put taxpayers on the hook financially to defend the county’s efforts to silence a critic of public officials …
“There is none so blind as he who will not see.” — Singer Ray Stevens, “Everything is Beautiful” You hear stories about how a young female had no idea she was …
Rick Morain
It’s called “collective punishment” when an entire group or community is sanctioned for an act of one member, or a few of them. It’s a form of bullying. The punished group …
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Family & Friends

Barbie approves

Halley Lee, right, with, at left, her niece Abbey Metzger, Abbey’s daughter Ruby of St. Charles, Minn. and Halley’s sister Amy Fordyce of Prole.
Here’s a “then and now story” shared by Storm Lake native Halley (Krebs) Lee: “My sister and I grew in Storm Lake in the 1960s and 70s. In 1976 our dad built us a Barbie …
“Look what I found!”
Buena Vista University hosted its first “Easter Extravaganza” last Saturday as a way to bring all members of the community together. BVU Chaplain Melanie Hauser masterminded the event and …
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Swaddling Clothes volunteers at St. John Lutheran Church include, front row from left: Laurie Gaffney, Deb Matasovsky, Linda Zabloudil and Dianne Johnson. Back: Jan Magnussen, Denise Betts, Pastor Bruce Lesemann, Jim Zabloudil, Jerry Johnson, Melodie Khamphasouk, Emily Khamphasouk, Linda Faulk and Harlan Matasovsky. 
St. John Lutheran Church in Storm Lake has established a ministry to provide infant and children’s clothing free of charge to the community on a monthly basis. “The number of …
Read more.
Buena Vista County Pork Producers Jon Hoberman and Youth Ambassador Mason Hoberman at Storm Lake Middle School helped students guess how many popcorn kernels were in the jar at the All Iowa Meal last week.

Iowa Growers and Producers celebrated at SL Schools’ All Iowa Meal

Last week, students at Storm Lake Community School District enjoyed meals made entirely with products supplied by Iowa growers and producers. The All Iowa Meal was served at all schools for both …
From left: Randy Carrillo, Haley McAndrews and Lee Shiney at Carrillo’s current exhibition at The Old Fashioned in Denison.

Introducing the West Iowa Art Tour

Here’s your opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at studios of local artists on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Featuring 11 artists in six different locations, the very first …
Two Lovers Point.

Display by Micronesian artist at BVRMC

Artwork by Lissette Yamase, a self-taught artist from Chuuk and Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, is on display at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. Although she lives in the FSM, she …
“Animals in Fancy Clothes” by Julia Renkly.

What’s your Why?

‘What’s Your Why?,’ Buena Vista University’s 2025 Senior Art Show, is on display through May 1 at BVU Art Gallery.  ‘Humans are Animals in Fancy Clothes’ …
My Favorite Recipes
Grace Weiland with her dogs Daisy and Diesel.

BVRMC physical therapist shares favorite recipes

“I like the variety of my job,” commented Grace Weiland, physical therapist at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. “I work with children, people with neurological conditions such …

Ridge View prom royalty

Congratulations to this year's prom royalty at Ridge View Raptors. Queen Gabi Mason and King Jack Todd are backed up by Mya Henningson, Lauren Schmitt, Addi Voge, Lillian Whitmer, Carson Harriman, …
Presenting the donation to Library Director Elizabeth Huff, left, are Citizens First National Bank employees Julie Mooney and Pam Wilken.

Library receives George Schaller Memorial Donation

Employees of Citizens First National Bank presented a $1,500 donation to the Storm Lake Public Library in memory of George H. Schaller, the bank’s long-time Chairman of the Board. Schaller, an …

St. Mary’s honor choir

St. Mary's will participate in the ICDA sixth grade honor choir in Orange City on April 22. Students have learned four pieces of music and will join over 200 students from across Northwest Iowa in an …

Storm Lake Class of 1975 reunion

SLHS 50th Class Reunion is set for the weekend of Sept. 5-6. On Friday, Sept. 5 will be an informal gathering at Puff’s. Saturday’s events will include golf, a tour of the high …

Obituaries
Leland Galvin
Funeral Services for Leland C. Galvin, 88, of Aurelia will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta with Pastor Jane Johnston officiating. Visitation will be …
Dennis Warner
Dennis E. Warner, 74, of Alta died April 18, 2025, at Accura Healthcare of Cherokee. Celebration of Life services will take place Saturday, April 26, at 11 a.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral …
Sheila Klein
Sheila Alice (Jenson) Klein was born July 16, 1927, on the family farm in Providence Township in Buena Vista County, two and a half miles northwest of Newell. She was the daughter of Walter DeWitt …
Steven Schaefer
Steven M. Schaefer, 82, of Schaller passed away at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.  Memorial services will take place Saturday, April 26, at 10:30 a.m. at First …
Richard Petersen
Richard Petersen of Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Irwin and Aurelia, died March 11, 2025, at Sanford / USD Medical Center, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 74. Richard Lee Petersen was born on …

More obituaries

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