Storm Lake Times

My father had a unique sense of direction and geography. With GPS systems still 20-30 years into the future, dad could drive during one long day from Dalhart, Texas, to Storm Lake (which he did in 1975) or Newton, N.C., to Storm Lake (which he did in 1986) and never need to look at a map. He just innately knew what roads to take. Where to merge. Where to turn.

For the first time in Tornado sports history, five pairs of siblings are on the same team. Five of the seven varsity softball players have sisters in JV. The pairs include Cole and Emma Richardson; Zoe and Kamryn McCoy; Avery and Reagan DeHaan; Abby and Macy Bodholdt; and Olivia and Paisley Speers.

Back in the days of yore, after we moved to Storm Lake from Ute in the early 1950s and I don't quite remember how old I was, I found myself perusing our Sears-Roebuck catalog, turning a page and finding a much desired two-wheeled vehicle. For as long as I can remember, I had ridden my bike, delivering papers, running errands, going to school at St. Mary's and just plain riding in fun on the streets, sidewalks and alleys of The City Beautiful. I had often thought about getting a Cushman motor scooter to replace my bike but they were way too expensive for what I earned as a paperboy or mowing yards.

The Storm Lake City Council renewed its Citywide Cleanup program for 2026-27 after residents disposed of 57 tons of household trash during the event.

Back in January 2017, as Barack Obama was wrapping up his second term as President and preparing to hand the office over to Donald Trump, I wrote a column about why I was going to miss him.

A new creature has appeared on the Kiwanis Walking Path on the east edge of Aurelia.

The Aurelia Fire Department’s seven-year dream of a new home was finally realized last Thursday. Equipment was moved across the street to new fire station at 101 Myrtle St. “There are still …

Our region is attracting attention from renewable energy developers and opposition from suspicious neighbors. Cherokee County is trying to assemble an ordinance governing solar arrays and battery storage in the face of a request to develop such a facility on a couple hundred acres near Aurelia, combined with livestock grazing. The fire departments are eager to develop safety plans and training.

Normally we Cullens try to stay out of the news, but last week we made a little of it ourselves when a big thunderstorm ripped apart an ash tree in our front yard. Mary and I were pictured with the downed tree in last Friday's Times Pilot. We weren't alone; there was a lot of damage elsewhere in Storm Lake and around Buena Vista County. A house on Shoreway Road took a hit to its roof from a large tree nearby.

Kingsley-Pierson scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning and the Panthers went on to edge Ridge View 4-3 in the Western Valley Conference tournament on Thursday at Galva.