Letters to the Editor

  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 this past Tuesday, May 14 to help the blood center keep units on hand for hospital patients across the tristate area. Several donors showed their support for saving local lives by donating blood...

Our agency was pleasantly surprised by a donation we received from the Good Neighbor Fund of the Okoboji and Spirit Lake Territories. We want to openly express our thanks to everyone who may have donated to such a cause. Centers Against Abuse & Sexual Assault (CAASA) provides services to sexual assault/abuse survivors by offering 24 hour crisis intervention services, crisis counseling services, transportation services, information and referral services, legal and personal advocacy, mentoring, and other additional services for victims of abuse. ...

Does $1,320 an inch sound about right? That is what the letter from Stephanie Sohn, the assessor informed me a month ago. Up 20% from last year. Since I was 10 years old, I dreamed of having a home on West Okoboji Lake. I am one of the lucky ones whose dream came true. But that dream is becoming more impossible each year as many owners are being displaced from the market by wealthy buyers who line up at realtors' offices with suitcases full of cash...

The YMCA of the Okobojis would like to recognize and thank the Good Neighbor Fund for the donation given to the Y, which impacts both the Bedell Family YMCA and Camp Foster YMCA. The Bedell Family YMCA received funding to assist in the purchase of new AED machines for our three facilities and, additionally, some of the funds will help offset the costs to the Y for hosting North Area Special Olympics events for the state of Iowa. ...

Dickinson County is blessed with the best natural resources in the State of Iowa. Our 10 natural lakes are a magnet that draws people from a 200 mile radius and beyond. We are fortunate so many people want to visit the Iowa Great Lakes – with the result – many want to buy property here. Recently lakeshore property has been selling at higher prices...

We, at Discovery House, would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the residents of Dickinson County who contributed so generously to the Good Neighbor Fund, and to our non-profit organization this year. Recently, we had a new roof put on Discovery House, so part of this year’s donation, in addition to some private donations, will help to complete that project...

The American Red Cross Serving Greater Iowa would like to thank everyone in the Iowa Great Lakes Region who donated to the Good Neighbor Fund this year. The American Red Cross has had a presence in Iowa since 1916, focusing on disaster relief, health and safety preparedness, blood service, international service and supporting the armed forces. ...

Thank you to the Good Neighbor Fund of the Okoboji and Spirit Lake territory and all of the community members who donated to the Good Neighbor Fund this past year and made it possible for Hope Haven, Inc. to receive such a great donation. The funds we received this year will go toward assisting our clients with purchasing RIDES passes and transportation tickets...

Cherish Center would like to recognize and send sincere thanks to The Good Neighbor Fund for the recent donation. This gift has a significant impact on the individuals we serve. The gift assists with the operational and program needs of Cherish House as well as has an impact on our ability to carry out the additional ministries of mentoring and parent/family educational opportunities...

Residents of Spirit Lake have many community assets to be thankful for. For a city of our size, we share benefits usually found only in larger ones. Fortunately, tourism contributes for the cost of some of these assets. However, some assets remain for our citizenry to fund...

In a "Letter to the Editor" last week, the writer worried about who President Trump has selected for his cabinet. Rather than worrying about personal changes in the administration, I believe we should focus on the president's results. Our economy is doing better than it has for decades. High employment numbers and the stock market have reached record highs. The United States is now the world's number one fossil fuel producer...

A pardon by the president was promised if the newly appointed acting Secretary of Homeland Security Keven McAleenan was charged with breaking the law by following President Trump's orders on border security. This followed the dismissal of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen because Trump felt she was not tough enough and disagreed with the family separation policy. ...

Why is anyone obsessed with whether President Trump changed the FBI plans to build a new FBI headquarters in downtown Washington? If President Trump did anything illegal I am sure the 93% of Democratic federal workers in Washington and the national news media would immediately let us know. The national news media (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, PBS, AP, WP, and NYT) have made 93% of their news stories negative about President Trump...

I was 16-year-old senior in high school in 1941. Franklin Roosevelt was president. I took a government class that year — I took it seriously. I learned that Roosevelt has started the Social Security program, which is still a good thing. He was also responsible fore the WPA, the CCCs and other programs that made bums out of people. And, I believed he helped manipulate us into World War II...

A recent letter to the editor brought up excellent questions about climate change and global warming. The author asserted that "global warming" was renamed to "global climate change" because "when the climate did not heat fast enough ... any change in climate will provide proof we are in imminent danger."...

  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 this past Tuesday, March 12, to help the blood center in a very high need time during the colder season. Several donors stepped up by saving lives...

On Sunday, March 3, the 8th annual "Get Up and Bowl for Special Olympics" was held. Mother Nature did not cooperate on Sunday, Feb. 24, but everyone came together and made our fundraiser another HUGE success. We continue to be very blessed with the overwhelming cooperation and support we receive from our area businesses, friends, and families. ...

During the past year thousands of Americans have died needlessly. In the age group 0-19 years, 47 children were shot every day in America, in murders, assaults, suicides unintentional shootings or police interventions. Each day, eight of them died. This past year 17,207 children were shot in murders, assaults, suicides, unintentional shootings or police interventions and 2,737 of them died of gun violence...

We are living in historic, profoundly future shaping times. 2020 promises to be a year overloaded with pre-election conflicts, lawsuits, and overwhelming digital mis-information. I am concerned at the direction we are going. I am convinced that the outcome of this 2020 election will affect the future for my children and grandchildren...

In late January, the Trump Administration’s Department of Veterans Affairs announced an historic collaboration that could help curb the epidemic of veterans’ suicide. By partnering with the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Administration is taking important steps to promote responsible gun ownership best practices and safe firearm storage...

Iowa politics are pointing toward concentrating power in Des Moines. The proposal to reorganize judiciary selection, giving the legislature a larger role, is bigger than a "partisan power grab," and the argument that having legislators instead of lawyers select commission members would protect the rights of voters is only a small piece of the puzzle...

During President Trump's campaign for the presidency, he made promises. His promise that Mexico would pay for a border wall was probably one of the most significant promises. His inability to accomplish this has just caused a 35 day shutdown of our government and very visible agony for 800,000 federal employees. ...

My husband and I recently returned from volunteering at the border in Nogales, Arizona. We had the opportunity to meet with judges, law enforcement, immigration and defense lawyers, migrants and asylum seekers. It was an eye opening and sobering experience...

In a Letter to the Editor earlier this month, the writer forecasted an end to human life based on global climate change. As might be expected there is no exact timetable. No exact cause is given, but it must be the humans. It used to be called global warming, but when the planet didn't heat up fast enough the phenomenon was renamed "global climate change," so any change in the climate will provide proof we are in eminent danger...

If something is not done soon there will be no human life on this planet. According to Stephen Hawking, world famous scientist, we are at a "tipping point" with climate change. Meaning if we go beyond this point, we will not return. Hawking also said there will no longer be human life on this planet in about 100 years due to overpopulation and climate change, if nuclear war doesn't take care of the population first. ...

Sometimes people in positions of political power lose perspective in relation to the common man and woman. Take the example of recent comments from U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross displaying his bemusement at the necessity for furloughed federal workers to feed themselves and their families...

On behalf of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce, and Okoboji Tourism, we would like to thank so many for making our 39th Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games another success for our business community...

Letter to the Editor: I am writing in response to the recent letter from Paul Johnson in the recent Dickinson County News. In his letter Mr. Johnson laments the present state of politics and government in the USA. We need to consider what has brought us to this point...

To assert the issue of executive privilege, newly arrived White House Counsel Pat Cipollone hired 17 lawyers to defend this issue. By law the cost of lawyers hired for issues dealing with campaigns, the presidency, conspiracy and obstruction will be covered by U.S. taxpayers. If they are asked to do anything illegal they must refuse. A number of lawyers have already left the administration for undisclosed reasons...

  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 this past Tuesday, Jan. 8, to help the blood center in a very high need time around the holidays. Several donors stepped up by saving lives. LifeServe Blood Center was able to collect 26 units of blood saving up to 78 local lives...

For the past 16 years, while serving as a Dickinson County Supervisor, I have read countless numbers of Letters to the Editor. During all that time, I made a personal decision to never write a similar letter. Times have changed. I am no longer a county supervisor. Any letters I write for publication now will reflect my own personal thoughts and will not reflect those of a county office...

As I come to the end of my last term as a Dickinson County Supervisor, I am compelled to send out my thanks to everyone for giving me the honor to be one of your supervisors. It has been a quick 16 years and I want to say I really have loved every minute. ...

The serial writer of "Letters to The Editor" seems to believe Donald Trump was in a conspiracy with the Russians to steal the 2016 election based on his Letter to the Editor titled "How Far will Mueller take this?" There was some Russian involvement, but it was by the other political party...

I just gave Rashida Tlaib (freshman congresswoman from Michigan) a piece of my mind. In my world, strong criticism is fine. I give it, and I'll take it when it's due me and people are kind enough to provide it. Strong criticism should be tolerated and dealt with...

As the Mueller investigation continues, President Trump has stated numerous times: "There is no Collusion!" He is probably correct. Legally, there is no crime defined as collusion. As Special Counsel Mueller continues his years-long investigation, the apparent crimes being pursued are obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit crimes against the United States of America...

A serial writer of "Letters to The Editor" continues to suffer with comments made by President Trump. I suspect the writer's annoyance has more to do with President Trump's policies than comments made months or years ago. The negative thinking about President Trump is fueled by the national news media (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, AP, WP and NYP). ...

I look forward to a year in which estimates of the state's financial savings under Medicaid privatization do not triple and then increase again, while still at less than 75 percent of Governor Branstad's original estimated yearly savings. I look forward to a year in which a majority of Iowans are not of the opinion that our current governor has not addressed significant problems with Medicaid privatization...

I have received many comments about my numerous letters to the editor. A few deriding my opinions and demanding that I stop writing, but surprisingly, in this dominantly conservative district, many more applauding them and encouraging me to continue writing...

In a recent Dickinson County News Letter to the Editor titled "He Holds the World Record" the writer continues his suffering with "Trump Derangement Syndrome." It is hard to tell if his suffering is because the writer doesn't agree with Trump's political philosophy or he doesn’t know the facts...

In not quite two years, public statements checked by fact checkers found over 6,000 untruths, i.e. lies. Unfortunately, the person telling the lies and holding the record is the President of the United States. How are U.S. citizens to know where our president is leading us? How can international leaders know what the positions of the United States are when they cannot believe what the president says?...