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Water main break on Highway 7 and 110

A water main break was reported near the intersection of Highway 7 and 110.  A statement the City of Storm Lake issued on Saturday afternoon reported that the break occurred on the north …

Ready, set to grow

It has been just over a year since the Ready, Set, Grow daycare center faced major uncertainties when a boiler failure in the Alta-Aurelia Administrative Building led to severe flooding. The water damage …
Dr. Robert and Ruth Whitmore of Storm Lake are selling their 510 Lake Ave. business, Storm Lake Candy Co. “We are transferring the business because of family obligations,” Ruth …
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Tyson boss says workers are documented

Small growth  in pork, minor losses in turkey don’t muddy first quarter  performance; says all employees working at their packing plants are “legally authorized to do so.”

Reported crime in SL decreases 4%

Decrease in drug-related arrests, increase in calls for service . Three complaints of officer misconduct “exonerated,” “unfounded”.

Couple arrested for methamphetamine possession

A Storm Lake couple was arrested on Thursday for having eight grams of methamphetamine packaged for sale during a search of their shared residence last September.  Gloria Pellejero Lucas, …

Tariffs on Canada, Mexico loom

President Donald Trump’s tariffs on two of the United States’ top trading partners were reversed on Tuesday, a relief for farmers in Iowa. On Saturday, the President signed executive …
An unfinalized draft of the new facility’s design accompanied Olhausen’s statement Wednesday. The new athletic complex will offer a gymnasium, wrestling room and weight room, in addition to extra space to allow for training and batting cages.
Alta-Aurelia Superintendent Denny Olhausen shared a first look of the new athletic facility in a statement to district and community members Wednesday. Last month, the school board held a public …
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Quad County Corn Processors is shut down indefinitely, as the ethanol plant’s board of directors is exploring a sale. Quad County CEO Delayne Johnson told the Storm Lake Times Pilot …
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Editor's note
Art Cullen, editor and publisher, said that the move had been considered for some time. Threats of tariffs on Canadian newsprint prompted the decision. Tariffs could increase printing costs by more than 20%. The tariff was suspended for 30 days, but Cullen said the handwriting was already on the wall.
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More local news
Sickness causes 10% of absenteeism in schools countywide
Flu and other respiratory illnesses are keeping school children at home and sending people to the doctor’s office. Laurens-Marathon School District dismissed classes early on Monday and …
Winchell without a lawyer again
Another lawyer wants to part ways with Dan Winchell.  Sam Marks of Des Moines asked judges in Buena Vista and Cherokee County district courts to approve his withdrawal from representing …
Storm Lake Supt. Stacey Cole: ‘Get in the arena’ or shut up
Supt. Cole on Facebook: ‘It’s been an awful week’. After Oneida Street standoff, superintendent excoriates critics of SLPD, husband Chris Cole
In first place, from left: Ben Stansberry, Nate Sotebeer, Leah Rekow, Mark Shea, Laura Stansberry, Belinda Shea, Linda and Rod Saurer. TIMES PILOT photos by DOLORES CULLEN
SL School Foundation Trivia Night
A record $60,900 for Storm Lake School Foundation raised. …and answers to: What do Red Wings fans throw on the ice for good luck?  On what show did Susan die from licking wedding invitations laced with toxic glue? 
Sports
More Local Sports
Alta-Aurelia's Sleezer to play football at Sioux Falls
Alta-Aurelia senior Gavin Sleezer signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to play football at the University of Sioux Falls, which is an NCAA Division II school. Pictured with Gavin are his dad Dana …
Alta-Aurelia defeated in team regional dual match
Jaxson Page and Hayden Garlow each won their match by pin, but it wasn’t enough as 11th-ranked Denver defeated 15th-ranked Alta-Aurelia 50-26 in a Class 1A team regional dual meet on Tuesday at …
Ridge View boys suffer first loss of season in WVC tournament
Unbeaten Ridge View survived an upset scare in the first round of the Western Valley Conference tournament, but the Raptors couldn’t do it in the second round. Lawton-Bronson handed Ridge …
Sioux Central boys start fast to beat Twin Lakes rival St. Mary’s
Sioux Central jumped out to a 29-6 lead after the first quarter and the Rebels never looked back as they defeated Storm Lake St. Mary’s 72-20 in a Twin Lakes Conference game on Tuesday at Sioux …
Newell-Fonda boys make 13 threes in win over GTRA
Newell-Fonda made 13 shots from 3-point arc and outscored GTRA 19-14 in the fourth quarter to take control as the Mustangs got past the Titans 74-67 in a Twin Lakes Conference game on Tuesday at …
Opinion

Editorials: Starving food aid

We grow wistful for the days of Republican Senate Leader Bob Dole of Kansas working with Democratic Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota to promote school nutrition and international feeding programs …

The cost of tariffs to Iowa

Republicans campaign that they’re the pro business party that wants to get rid of regulations hindering the free flow of commerce. Actions by President Trump during the past two weeks have …
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird again tried to put herself in the national spotlight last week as leader of a group of Republican attorneys general who fixed their sights on Costco over the …
This is the end of Week Three of the 45/47 regime, although is it his regime? It seems more like a takeover by a South African who’s bent on world domination, whose ego is even bigger and more …
Last week was the third week of the legislative session, and the work definitely kicked up as we had a full week of subcommittees scheduled. On Monday, we started the week with the Rally for …
John Cullen’s Jan. 31, 2025, piece about diminishing interest in community service clubs notes that GenXers and Millennials are often void of service motivations. We cannot overlook the …
Family & Friends

Remembering the historic Sioux Rapids flood

Author Helene Viall, right, with her daughter Aimee Viall, who provided her graphic design skills for the production of the book.
Even the tiniest details about the historic flood that overwhelmed Sioux Rapids last summer are now saved for posterity in the book “The Sioux Rapids Flood June 22, 2024” Helene …
St. Mary’s Ball and Auction Chairs David and Melissa Iehl, in collaboration with St. Mary’s School, proudly unveil the Fund-A-Cause initiative for the 2025 Ball and Auction, scheduled for …
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Raul Rebello

High praise for mom and Bailey Hauswirth

“I'm Mexican and American; my mom, Ariana Gutierrez, is from Mexico and my dad, Raul Rebollo, is from California,” says Raul Rebollo who was born in Tijuana, Mexico. He has two older …

Practicing Medicine in Antarctica with Dr. Jon Ahrendsen

Join Buena Vista University on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. in room 126 at the Estelle Siebens Science Center for a fascinating talk with Dr. Jon Ahrendsen as he shares his experience practicing …

Ridge View High School first semester honor roll

Seniors 4.0:   Lea Johnson, Emma Mentzer, Xaria Rojas, Lauren Schmitt, Jack Todd, Lillian Whitmer. 3.99-3.5:   Brody Bisenius, Sydney Blackmore, Jayden Bradley, Kyle Burk, …
Sioux Central first graders at the hospital tour.

Spencer Hospital hosts Teddy Bear Clinic for Sioux Central Elementary first graders

Spencer Hospital welcomed first grade students from Sioux Central Community School District for a special Teddy Bear Clinic and hospital tour. Designed to create a positive and engaging experience, …

College summer job leads Hansen to meat manager at Storm Lake Hy-Vee

Jared Hansen went to Buena Visa Vista University.

New Hy-Vee meat department manager Jared Hansen of Storm Lake began his position last spring. He has worked at Hy-Vee for a total of five years. Jared was born in South Korea; he was adopted …

Obituaries
Gwendolyn Lange
Gwendolyn Mae Lange, 95, of Alta, formerly of Fonda, died Feb. 4, 2025, at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Funeral services will take place Saturday, Feb. 8, at 10:30 a.m. at …
Ronald Neulieb
Funeral services for Ronald Neulieb, 89, of Alta will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia, with Pastor Merritt Demski officiating. Burial will follow …
Phyllis Hustedt
Phyllis J. Hustedt, 94, of Galva passed away Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, at Methodist Manor Retirement Community of Storm Lake. A funeral service will be held Friday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. at St. …
Andrew Foster
Andrew Joseph Foster, 60, died at his home in New Braunfels, Texas, on Jan. 12, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, March 14, in Gruene, Texas at Gruene Hall from 4-7 p.m. A separate …
Karna Jackson
Karna Jackson, 79, of Spencer died Jan. 26, 2025, in Webb. Funeral services will take place Friday, Jan. 31, at 10:30 a.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer. Burial will be in Newell …