Latest news with #Wintersteen
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wedding Planner Hired a Witch from Etsy to Ward Off Bad Weather. Then It Rained the Whole Day (Exclusive)
Wedding planner Sarah Wintersteen hired an Etsy witch to cast the "perfect wedding spell" for her clients' outdoor wedding after there was a "tropical cyclone warning" in their area "[We] were not relying on an Etsy witch to fix our problems but if there was even a 0.0001% chance it was going to work, I was willing to spend $9 to try!" Wintersteen tells PEOPLE Even though "it was pouring" all day, the spell still "worked" because "everyone just decided to embrace the rain"A wedding planner playfully blamed an Etsy witch for bad weather on her clients' big day. A few days before Robyn Kincade and Blake Panarisi's May 31 wedding at Flora Farms in San José del Cabo, Mexico, it became clear that a tropical storm was headed their way. The couple's wedding planner Sarah Wintersteen, owner of Sistered States, began taking precautionary measures for the completely outdoor venue, suggesting that the pair get a tent. However, the manager of Flora Farms noted that "rain in Cabo is so rare" and that after 18 years of working at the venue, she's only seen it rain on a wedding day four times. So, the day before their wedding, the bride and groom decided to not get a tent. "I quoted the tent to the couple, and they decided to take their chances and hope that the storm would weaken or move courses," Wintersteen tells PEOPLE. With a "tropical cyclone warning" in the area, Wintersteen didn't want to risk the couple and their 160 guests getting drenched by heavy rain all day, so she decided to take measures into her own hands. "As a planner, I was working with all the vendors on the best course of action," Wintersteen explains. "I had seen some other people online mention hiring an Etsy witch to make rain go away on their wedding day so I figured, why not?" Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Wintersteen had never hired an Etsy which before, but found one on the online marketplace who charged just $9 after searching "wedding weather witch." "It was completely for fun and for the plot — we already have multiple rain plans in place and were not relying on an Etsy witch to fix our problems but if there was even a 0.0001% chance it was going to work, I was willing to spend $9 to try!" Wintersteen says. Because the witch needed the bride's birthdate, Wintersteen made sure to get the couple's permission before hiring them. "I purchased the 'perfect wedding spell' so technically not a weather spell, but the spell promised that the couple would have a 'perfect wedding day,' " Wintersteen says. "The page said they cast spells within 24 hours of receiving the order and I received confirmation from the Etsy page that our 'spell had been cast.' " Kincade and Panarisi were admittedly "a little stressed about the rain" in the days leading up to their wedding, but after they decided against the tent "a lot of the stress went away." "We all decided that we were going to embrace whatever was going to happen!" Wintersteen shares. Around 10 a.m. on the wedding day, it started to rain and "did not let up all day." "The ceremony started at 5:30 p.m. and the reception ended at 11p.m. — it rained the entire time!" Wintersteen recalls. She continues, "Guests arrived with umbrellas for the ceremony, but there was almost no use — it was pouring. I think after the ceremony, the bride and groom and their guests pretty much gave up on staying dry or looking a certain way." A few days after the wedding, Wintersteen posted clips of the poor weather at the venue on TikTok, writing in an onscreen text overlay, "When I paid an Etsy witch for no rain on the wedding day and it down-poured all day." She posted her viral video, in which she had to wring out water from her dress, to the trending audio that goes, "That was rude. That was pretty f------ rude." "There goes my $9," she added in the caption. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Even though Wintersteen was jokingly blaming the witch for the rain, the weather didn't ruin the wedding at all. "Everyone just decided to embrace the rain!" Wintersteen says. "We even moved some of the tables out of the bar/barn for guests to dance in after dinner, but they all still decided to dance in the rain for HOURS! I would guess for a lot of guests, it has been years since they had the opportunity to just dance in the rain, so that is what they did!" If anything, the witch's spell worked exactly as promised. Wintersteen says, "Even though it still rained on the wedding day, the witch did promise a 'perfect wedding' and after the wedding was over, the couple did say that they wouldn't change a thing — so it looks like it worked!" Read the original article on People
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Regional Water issues mandatory water rationing, water sources below capacity
AVOCA, Iowa — Regional Water issued a Level Red water restriction advisory just days after issuing a boil advisory across several southwest Iowa counties. Regional Water, based in Avoca, Iowa, issued the boil advisory on May 10. Regional Water has service connections across Shelby, and portions of Pottawattamie, Harrison, Audubon, and Cass Counties. This does not include the Urban Bluffs area. The advisory was placed due to depressurization in their water towers, causing a risk of bacteria. Residents were encouraged to use boiled water or bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, and food preparation. ISU President Wintersteen retires after 40 years with the school On Wednesday, Pottawattamie County notified residents that the Regional Water Rural Water Association (RWRWA) had issued a Level Red advisory for those served by the Avoca Treatment Plant. This is an escalation, as a yellow alert was placed by RWRWA on April 18, 2025. Pottawattamie County says more than half of Avoca residents were without water service on Wednesday and says additional outages are likely. The advisory was put in place due to continued drought conditions and below-average rainfall. Water sources are operating at less than 60% capacity according to Pottawattamie County. Effective immediately, the following restrictions are in place: No outdoor watering of lawns, gardens, or landscapes. No washing of vehicles, driveways, sidewalks, or buildings. No filling or refilling of swimming pools, hot tubs, or ornamental fountains. Restaurants may only serve water upon request. Lodging facilities must offer guests the option to reuse linens and towels. All leaks must be repaired within 48 hours of detection. Water use for construction purposes is restricted to essential activities only. Residents in the area are also encouraged to take shorter showers, turn off taps while brushing teeth and only run the dishwasher and washing machines with full loads. Neither the boil advisory nor the mandatory water rationing has an expected end date. To learn more about the boil advisory, water restriction, or ongoing outages, contact the RWRWA office at 712-343-2413. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen to retire
DES MOINES, Iowa — The president of Iowa State University, Wendy Wintersteen, is planning to retire at the beginning of next year. The announcement was made on Friday morning. Wintersteen will retire in January of 2026. Her latest contract had been set to expire at the end of June in 2026. In the news release posted to Iowa State's website, Wintersteen said, 'I am fortunate to have served Iowa State University in many roles over the past 46 years, and it's been a fascinating journey. I am truly proud of Iowa State's extraordinary faculty and staff for their remarkable performance these past years. Perhaps most of all, I will miss the amazing energy, talent and potential of our Iowa State students.' Iowa Board of Regents President Sherry Bates praised President Wintersteen's steady guidance over the years. 'Under President Wintersteen's leadership, Iowa State's reputation has soared, particularly in research growth, student outcomes and an emphasis on innovation. With her steady guidance, Iowa State has met and overcome many external challenges, including a derecho, an international pandemic and more. The state of Iowa has been blessed to have an accomplished leader like Wendy Wintersteen leading this great land-grant university,' said Bates. Wintersteen was named president of the university in October of 2017 after a six-month nationwide search. She was the first woman named to head Iowa State when she became the university's 16th president. She succeeded Steven Leath, who was Iowa State's president from 2012 to 2017 and left to take the same job at Auburn University. Wintersteen was the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State before taking on the job of president. She has a Ph. D. in Entomology from Iowa State and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in crop protection at Kansas State University. Judge OKs Iowa limits on K-6 gender identity, sexual orientation teaching but not elective programs Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen to retire Bacoon Ride to go on with slight detour due to trail bridge fire Can you create 166,000 outfits out of 50 items? Iowan shares how he did it in new 'anti-fashion' magazine Governor's bill tackling doctor shortage passes House and Senate Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
