Local News

Storm Lake’s next downtown gathering spot could take shape in a small patch of green space — and the volunteers behind the idea want to make it happen without asking taxpayers to foot the bill. The Storm Lake Hometown Pride Committee outlined several potential community improvement projects during Monday evening’s city council meeting, including a pocket park downtown, a possible

Cherokee County supervisors are weighing changes to the rules for commercial wind turbines, including how close turbines can be built to homes and how much developers should pay to help cover the county’s costs. During its weekly meeting Tuesday morning at the county courthouse in Cherokee, the board approved an amended wind energy ordinance summary for publication and scheduled a

Pirate’s Pointe Mini Golf could be staying in private hands for years to come — but Storm Lake officials still have questions to resolve before a new lease can move forward. The Storm Lake City Council voted unanimously Monday night to set a public hearing on a proposed 15-year lease with Severson Properties LLC to operate, manage and maintain the

A family’s path from homelessness to a place of their own is offering a powerful example of what can happen when a community works together — and it’s the kind of change Thrive Iowa hopes to bring to more families in Buena Vista County. The initiative officially launched Monday at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, bringing together about 125

Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn is pitching new opportunities for family farms and young Iowans while defending his running mate amid questions about the candidate’s finances. About 70 people attended Lahn’s meet and greet Friday at the Cobblestone Ballroom and Events Center in Lakeside. The Belle Plaine farmer and businessman used his speech to outline his “Iowa First” agenda,

Patients’ experiences during a hospital stay have earned Buena Vista Regional Medical Center (BVRMC) national recognition. BVRMC is one of 250 hospitals nationwide to receive a five-star rating on a federal patient-experience measure, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. The Storm Lake hospital is one of nine in Iowa included on the list. The recognition is based on the Hospital Consumer

The City of Storm Lake has announced temporary changes to City Hall operating hours because of staffing issues over the next two weeks. According to the city, City Hall will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 19. From Oct. 20 through Oct. 30, City Hall will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. City administration

Odebolt wants to turn empty lots into new opportunities for local businesses — and help bring its Main Street back to life. The Odebolt Community Foundation is raising money to construct a new commercial building that could accommodate as many as seven businesses or office spaces. Foundation President Makenzee Reik says the idea came from people looking to open or