Letters to the Editor

This past week the Senate acquitted President Trump of impeachment charges by holding a sham trial without calling any witnesses or producing any documents. The Trump team stated his actions were proper because they were made "in the public interest." Mr. ...

The Christian right makes up a significant share of the Republican Party, claiming that they share the same values. Feb. 5, in a speech to the Senate prior to the impeachment vote, Sen. Romney stated that being profoundly religious, he could not violate the oath he took to be a fair and impartial juror in the impeachment trial and that the overwhelming facts of President Trump’s obstruction of justice necessitate a guilty vote in the trial. ...

Last week the serial anti-Trump letter writer called the three-week Senate trial a "sham impeachment trial." The only reason the Democrats called it a "sham impeachment trial" is that the Democrats did not receive the only verdict they thought was appropriate — "guilty." When the House impeachment inquiry began in September, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it must be bi-partisan. ...

Spirit Lake you did it! What an amazing response to the American Red Cross blood drive on Jan. 27. I don’t know if it was the new location at the Senior Center in Spirit Lake or just the generously of the citizens of this fine city, but the blood drive was a huge success. We began an hour earlier than usual, beginning at noon, and the turnout was steady all afternoon...

Every two seconds, someone, somewhere needs blood. During the winter months the need for blood is constant, however, poor weather conditions can make it challenging for donors to give blood. In an effort to boost the blood supply during the winter months, January has been designated as National Blood Donor Month to encourage donors to give blood. Just one unit of blood can help save the lives of up to three hospital patients...

Since I was very young, how boys/men treat girls/women has been important to me. My views have influenced and been influenced by the work I do as a pastor. And so it is a delight for me to go to basketball games at Spirit Lake High School to witness, our girls coaches, Naet Hoaglund and Nic Meendering, teach, lead, and mentor their players with respect...

Governor Reynolds announced she will push for a 1 cent increase in the sales tax. While water quality and mental health care are viable issues, using the revenue to lower income taxes is not. Most working Americans sped the majority, if not all, of their paycheck on taxable goods and services. ...

Wow! Incredible! Amazing! FUN! These are just a few words to describe the 40th Annual Winter Games right here in our area and all thanks to the hard work and efforts of the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber and their staff – Blain, Kiley and Cari. They are an incredible organization along with the many entities that support the sponsorship of this group. Thank you to each of you but mostly to:...

Congratulations to the Iowa Hawkeyes for their tremendous Holiday Bowl win over their PAC-12 foe the USC Trojans. The Hawkeyes were dominant in nearly every phase of the game, while competing on a level playing field with one of the country's blue blood programs. The Hawkeyes demonstrated that, all else being equal, the most skilled and hardworking competitors will succeed...

Do you want to have more meaning in your life? Do you want to do something that is satisfying and of great service to your community? Then deliver meals to shut-ins during your lunch break! We are currently experiencing a shortage of drivers in the Milford area and need your assistance. This is a great opportunity for businesses to add us to your employee volunteer program and for local churches to fulfill their community driven ministries...

Last week the serial anti-Trump letter writer dredged up 10-year-old rumors attacking President Trump's character. It seems that Democrats are the masters of personal attack rather than explaining why his policies are ineffective. If it is difficult to attack the policies, then digging up dirt on the person is the only recourse remaining...

In 2005, Donald Trump founded a privately owned for profit operation known as Trump University: aka Trump Wealth Institute. It operated till 2010 then being cited for false advertising, high pressure sales and having little educational value. Thousands of students paid up to $35,000 for worthless sessions. It was never university accredited. In 2013 Trump was fined $25 million for fraudulent practices which he refused to pay until 2016 as he was then a candidate for the U.S. presidency...

Teaching me the importance of setting a good example, a.k.a. "practicing what I preach" was a big deal to my mother. "What you do, speaks so loudly, that the world can't hear what you say" seemed to be Mom's answer to every excuse and rationalization I ever gave her for my poor behavior...

To the younger generation, Berkley Bedell was our very active U. S. Congressman and activist Democrat after leaving Congress having suffered a bout with Lyme disease. However, to the older generation, there is much more for us to remember him for. His importance to our community before his time in Congress needs to be told...

Traditionally the Republican Party stood for national security, constitutional adherence, fiscal restraint, limited regulation, law and order and family values. It is distressing to see these principles totally abandoned in support of President Trump who shares nothing in common with party beliefs. ...

Roger R. Patocka (Citizens Climate Lobby Iowa Great Lakes Co-chair) has decided my letter on climate change would benefit from some factual information to dispel its misinformation." True? In the immortal words of POTUS #42, I suppose it "depends on what the meaning of the word is is!" ...

Two weeks ago, the serial anti-Trump letter writer commented correctly that "for hundreds of years and many wars, American soldiers have dealt lethally in combat against our enemies. Sadly, there have been instances when a few misguided warriors have committed crimes against non-belligerents, which in order to maintain discipline, military justice demanded punishment for the offending soldiers."...

From the Lakes Regional Healthcare volunteers and Meals on Wheels of Dickinson County, we would like to thank the community for supporting our 30th annual Tree of Love. While the inclement weather brought our attendance down from previous years, our tree lighting ceremony was still so enjoyable. ...

Berkley was a true friend for 44 years. Berkley embodied in every way, both public and private, the essence of a good and decent and caring person. We sat side by side for 10 years on the House Agriculture Committee, and no one fought harder or cared more for the wellbeing of farm and rural families. He raised the specter of global warming long before it became widely acknowledged...

For hundreds of years and many wars, American soldiers have dealt lethally in combat against our enemies. Sadly, there have been instances when a few misguided warriors have committed crimes against non-belligerents, which in order to maintain discipline, military justice demanded punishment for the offending soldiers...

Last week the serial anti-Trump letter writer postulated that this time they have the goods on President Trump to impeach him. The Democrats have wanted to remove Trump from office ever since he was elected. First it was the Russian puppet hoax. When they couldn't get the job done by themselves, they called for a special prosecutor to launch a two-year $40 million investigation staffed by Democratic attorneys and FBI investigators. ...

What should we think when the October National Geographic tells us the last northern white male rhinoceros has died? The dogma of grinding the rhino's horn into dust, then boiling the dust in water for a cure of impotence, has caused the wholesale slaughter of the rhinos — based upon a lie...

The Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce its holiday promotion for 2019. Join us on the Spirit Lake Local-Motive this holiday season for your chance to enter our weekly and grand prize drawings. Look Local First this holiday season and get your chance to win in our over $2,000 in prizes...

A direct translation is "something for something." In the international political world it means "I'll do this - if you do that." U.S. Federal law prohibits a foreign national from directly or indirectly making a contribution or donation of money or other things of value in connection with a U.S. ...

For all the cat and dog lovers out there, working at an animal shelter looks like a dream job. It appears to be a job filled with dog walks, cuddly cats, and meeting great people who want to adopt a new furry friend. While that is part of the job, the not so glamorous parts are there too...

In honor of Veterans Day, I share the story of Sgt. Henry Boeck, a Civil War veteran and my great-grandfather. Heinrich Otto (Henry) Boeck (1839-1925) immigrated to the United States from Germany when he was 17-years-old and settled in Davenport. He enlisted with the Union Army in 1861 at the age of 22 and served four years with the Iowa 2nd Cavalry. ...

Last week the serial anti-Trump letter writer carried Trump derangement syndrome to new heights. The title of the Letter to the Editor was "Can an Immigrant Be a Loyal American?" I don't believe President Trump ever posed such a question. How can you pose a question of loyalty without defining the person in question? This shows the depths that the anti-Trump partisans will go to smear our President...

We had another successful Red Cross Blood Drive on Oct. 21. We registered 31 donors, collected 29 pints of blood and recruited three first-time donors. We also had to defer several for various reasons. We began an hour earlier at noon and no one had to wait over a few minutes to donate...

It would seem to Trump and his allies this is not possible. Their latest immigrant attack was against Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a decorated, Purple Heart awarded war hero. Born in Kiev, then part of the Soviet Union, whose Jewish family was forced to flee and relocate in America when he was 3 years old...

As the November 5th election approaches, we are reminded that good decisions are based on truthful information. It is in this spirit that we share the following information with you regarding the two issues pertaining to the Okoboji Community School District...

We all have opinions on the right way to get things done. That is a given. This ad in the Lakes News Shopper and Dickinson County News this week has a lot of questions and answers on the sale of the Okoboji Middle School in Arnolds Park. Is it right? Do WE ALL have ALL the facts? Sometimes I think we rely too much on social media for our information...

The Oct. 22 Letter to the Editor concerning greenhouse gases and the "climate change crowd" would benefit from some factual research to dispel its misinformation. I suggest that readers review James Boulter's Iowa Public Policy Report, "An Uncertain Future: The Outlook for Iowa Communities and flooding as our climate changes" which was published in September...

Last week the serial anti-Trump letter writer tried to make the case that Republicans were deserting President Trump. That is the big Democratic dream that Republicans will desert our president. The national news media continues to feed this pipe dream that Republicans will desert President Trump. The reality is that for more than a year 90 percent of Republicans have continued to support President Trump...

The Dickinson County Republican Central Committee met at the Spirit Lake Library Monday, Oct. 21. The most important item on the agenda was the caucuses to be held on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, by Republicans and Democrats in our country. Voters at those caucuses will elect delegates to the county convention, the on to district and state conventions...

Jane Shuttleworth in her letter (climate action) completely ignores some quite critical aspects of the debate. She assumes, without any facts, that man's increasing use of fossil fuels is causing the changes in our weather patterns because CO2, methane and other "greenhouse" (GH) gases are increasing in our atmosphere. It is true they are rising — have been for a long time...

Trump stated, “If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey.” 
Days after Trump announced the U.S. troop withdrawal, he was informed by Turkey’s leadership that they were preparing to invade Syria and attack the Kurds. ...

While rummaging through files the other day, I discovered some old newspapers that had been preserved by me and by my parents. These particular newpapers reflected events of significant historical importance. While the papers are yellowed, the print remains readable and surprisingly current in relation to these days in which we live...

Last week the serial anti-Trump letter writer tried to present a distorted view of the Ukraine impeachment effort. The first "whistleblower" did not have firsthand knowledge of what was said on the telephone call between President Trump and Ukraine President Zelensky. ...

The board of directors and members of the East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation (EOLIC) were saddened to learn of the passing of one of our founding members, Dr. Al Klein. His signature was on our articles of incorporation in 1968 and he and his wife Sheila remained members in good standing to this day...

I appreciate the recent letter to the editor asking "who is listening?" written in response to the millions of youth worldwide that called for climate action during the Sept. 20 Youth Climate Strike. It is tempting to paint a dismal picture of climate denial among our leaders, but as a youth told me at recent Citizens Climate Lobby meeting: "There are good things happening! It just gets drowned out in social media frenzies. We need to pay better attention."...

A majority of Americans now say they favor action to impeach President Trump. Though there are many actions by Trump that qualify for action against him, the latest and most serious is his request of a favor of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his leading presidential opponent and offering the help of Rudy Giuliani and Attorney General Barr. ...

Team WAVE and the City of Arnolds Park would like to thank everyone who participated in our Adopt-A-Flowerbed program. Some of you have been part of our Adopt-A-Bed program for several years. Helping us keep our landscaped areas of the city clean and beautiful for everyone to enjoy is no easy task, and we thank you for your part in that. ...

On Sept. 20, 2019, millions of young people around the world marched to make their voice heard. They said: "We want a future!" World scientists unite in saying the world as we know it will be in peril if we continue to pour pollution into the space surrounding our planet. ...

Last week the serial anti-Trump letter writer tried to find a new way to make President Trump look bad. Fortunately, the Trump hating crowd is running out of new ideas. First, we had two years of Trump is guilty of Russian collaborator. When the Mueller Report debunked that theory it was necessary to think up new ideas. ...

Who controls your property tax bill? The county assessor does NOT determine your bill. Members of your city council, the county board of supervisors and school boards have the largest impact on your final bill when they set their budgets. Property taxes are complicated, but the basic formula is simple: assessed value multiplied by rate equals your bill. ...

My name is Kacey Krieger, and I am a part of Spirit Lake High School's Student Council. I am reaching out in hope of informing the community about our 2019 homecoming events! This year our homecoming week is Monday, Sept. 30 through Friday, Oct. 4. Our theme is "Home Sweet Homecoming."...

  For over 15 years, Spirit Lake and surrounding communities have been supporting the local blood bank, LifeServe Blood Center, at the community blood drives coordinated by John Guthrie. The blood drive was held Tuesday, Sept. 10, to help the blood center keep units on hand for hospital patients across the tri-state area. ...

President Trump stated: "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and not lose any voters." Amid daily gaffs, false statements, praise of foreign dictators while alienating allies, and imposition of tariffs that cost Americans millions of dollars, his supporters march lock step to defend him...

Please support Spirit Lake Schools on their desire to extend the Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) in the upcoming special election. The passage of this RPS does not increase property taxes! What the RPS does allow is for the Spirit Lake Schools to receive one cent sales tax money based on enrollment — which has been used for computers, building upgrades and much more since 2012...

1. Voting "yes" will not increase your property taxes. 2. Voting "yes" allows our district an additional 20 years of access to the nearly $1 million/year we are already generating. 3. Voting "yes" will now allow our district to fund safety and security needs to better secure our entrances, etc. (No one will ever regret making it harder for an active shooter to enter a building.)...