Letters to the Editor

Homecoming 2018 is right around the corner, and the Student Advisory Council is excited to announce that this year's homecoming begins Monday, Oct. 1, and festivities will cease on Saturday, Oct. 6. The council has been discussing the themes, dress up days and activities that surround homecoming prior to the start of the 2018-19 school year...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled "Trump: Protect my friends, punish my enemies" the writer agonizes over things that President Trump says. If you don’t like what President Trump says, turn the channel, turn the page or stop listening. It is like the old expression "it will feel better when you stop beating your head against the wall."...

I listened and watched the ethanol plant rep demonstrate how cleanly alcohol burns. Our conversation shifted to swapping shared memories of farm chores and concluded that our respective career paths were definitely influenced by our childhood experiences on our parents' farms...

After extensive investigation, the D.O.J listing numerous offenses by Representatives Chris Collins (R - New York) and Duncan Hunter (R - California) — avid Trump supporters, indicted them for insider trading and improper use of $250,000 of campaign funds for personal use. In a surprising response about the upcoming November elections President Trump said, "Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good Job Jeff."...

On a beautiful spring day in northwest Iowa almost 2 1/2 years ago, many of you felt like I sucker-punched you in the stomach.  I am so very sorry for what I have done. I hurt you. I betrayed your trust. I lied to you. I offended you. I accept full responsibility for all of my sin. I alone am to blame. There is no justification for my actions. I accept the consequences of what I did and grieve the pain I have caused. ...

Young Molly Tibbetts is dead. Brutally murdered, stabbed to death repeatedly, by an individual who was in our country under a false identity, illegally. The premise that this is just one of those things that happen, that domestic violence and murder occurs all the time within naturalized citizens in the United States is one of the most specious arguments I have ever heard...

We do our best to celebrate Labor Day by not working … but we celebrate in honor of those who do. As with Memorial Day, it's much too easy to forget why we have set aside time to pay our respects and just play instead. Let's not do that. Labor builds America. ...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled “Once again, he missed the invite list” the writer begins with a lament that President Trump did not receive an invitation to some functions. The implication seems to be that how many party invitations a President receives is a reflection of how well he is doing in his job. Looks like another way to measure “Trump Derangement Syndrome”...

  The end of the summer season has arrived, but we can still remember the laughter of children enjoying inflatable attractions at Florence Park and the sound of feet hitting the pavement during the Pioneer Days run. We saw the dedication of a new park. Firetrucks and floats from throughout the region gave us unforgettable sights and sounds. Milford honored two of its finest residents as part of the annual parade. ...

On Saturday, Aug. 25, our country lost a national hero, revered by millions of Americans – Senator John McCain. President Trump disagrees. In a televised interview in July of 2015 he said: "He is not a hero, I like heroes that were not captured." McCain's plane was shot down during a raid on North Vietnam and McCain was captured. ...

What if: • China doesn't bow to American tariff pressure? For the Chinese, bowing indicates respect. • The Renewable Fuel Standard keeps being undermined by waivers? • After a $12 billion bailout, farmers need more help from programs defunded because of the $12 billion? What if more family farms fold?...

I am writing to commend Gov. Kim Reynolds on the great job she is doing as governor of Iowa. She worked her way up. She was a county treasurer, state senator from her district, she was our lieutenant governor and now she is our governor. She was mentored by one of Iowa's best governors, Terry Branstad, who is now U.S. Ambassador to China. She even went back to college to learn more about governing...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled "Emma Lazarus Words on Immigration," the writer begins with the Emma Lazarus poem on the State of Liberty, but then descends into complaints that President Trump does not follow international or United Nations law. I could be mistaken, but I thought the United States was sovereign nation that controls its own destiny...

On behalf of the American Red Cross, we wish to express our deep appreciation and say "thank you" to every donor, volunteer and support person who participated in the Aug. 16 blood drive in Spirit Lake. A special thanks go to Grace Lutheran Church for providing a wonderful place for this to happen...

The Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club would like to thank everyone who helped make our second annual Boji Brew Fest event a great success. It took place the afternoon of Aug. 4 at the Arnolds Park Central Park shelter house. Thank you to the members of PEO, Chapter PA, who volunteered along with our club members to make set up, ticket sales and tear down run smoothly. Also, thank you for recruiting your spouses to help!...

Both of America’s major political parties have problems with elitism and self-interested politicians. American politics are dogged by extremism that encourages personal attacks and discourages debate. Money corrupts government's ability to represent the people. Negativity thrives...

The plaque on the Stature of Liberty reads: Give me your tired, your poor Your huddled masses, yearning to be free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled "A check on Our Values" the writer begins with the statement "Republican conservatism used to center on: free trade, family values, fiscal conservatism, limited government and strong international leadership." I believe they still do...

There is no "one size fits all" when it come to the issue of local control. One can argue back and forth about municipalities and their traffic cameras or whether local sheriffs should be able to provide information about the status of gun permits. One can argue that it shouldn't be necessary for the state to grant school districts funding flexibility before they can hire security personnel. One can argue that the state ought not prevent local governments from setting their own minimum wage...

To the editor, The mayor and city council of Arnolds Park wish to publicly support and applaud the work of Imagine Great Lakes. It has been a very positive experience working with them as they plan the beautification work that will benefit the entire Lakes Region in the years ahead. They have kept us fully informed as they begin to implement their exciting positive ideas. We look forward to working with them in the future...

WATER QUALITY, has been a priority in Dickinson County going back as early as 1900. The first Okoboji Protective Association bulletin in the early 1900s, reported concerns about water quality of local lakes. The priority for the protection of water quality has been consistent for almost 120 years, if not more. ...

The lake road along the east side of West Okoboji Lake, from Monarch Cove on the north to the site of the former Inn on the south, is a three-mile stretch of narrow, two-lane pavement marked by several sharp curves and blind hills. It's a road where large vehicles associated with delivery, services and construction are often parked in clusters along the roadsides blocking almost an entire lane, sometimes for hours at a time...

I support bipartisanship. I dislike extremism. I write to support the position of the man I am running against. At the Dickinson County supervisors meeting on July 24, the Republican representative to the Iowa House District #1, John H. Wills, confirmed his intention to make a request of Governor Reynolds. I support his intent...

Not many high school athletes get the opportunity to end their careers with a win. I was lucky enough to do just that. We had a great season, ending with a record of 29-8 and fifth overall in class 3A. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Spirit Lake community for being such a big part of my years in softball. ...

Republican conservatism used to center on free trade, family values, fiscal conservatism, limited government and strong international leadership. These are admirable values that I totally agree with. It's hard to see these values embraced by our Republican conservative administration today...

Much has been made recently, as it should be, of Iowa’s 2018 U.S. News and World Report’s No. 1 overall ranking as a state. While there is much to celebrate, an overall good quality of life should not keep us from looking at and dealing with challenge points — the bad...

Our government should be smart, efficient, fiscally sound, non-intrusive when possible and regulatory where appropriate. It should be seen as a boon, not a burden, to "we the people" who comprise it. America's economic system is built on individual free enterprise. Much of our economic and social strength is based in healthy, fair competition. On the other hand, an overdriven model of privatization can take our greatest strength too far and make it a weakness...

On June 30, 2018, hundreds of thousands of people from Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. to the Highway 71 bridge in Arnolds Park joined protesters in all 50 states to show their objection to the "zero tolerance" policy implemented by the Trump administration. ...

In a recent letter to the editor titled “How Bad Must It Get?” the writer criticizes the President for a myriad of faults — one recent, while the rest are a rehash of old news. This "Trump Derangement Syndrome" begins with an investigation by the former New York Attorney General. ...

In the final hours of its 2018 session, the Iowa legislature passed a ban on taxpayer-funded paid advertisements in political campaigns. That ban took effect on July 1 and prohibits lawmakers from using taxpayer-funded resources to promote their written names or likenesses in newspapers and elsewhere for paid advertising in a campaign. The prohibitions under the new law exempt "common and frequent constituent correspondence."...

Pardon my anger … but who (passed the Iowa fireworks law)! I'm sorry if this was you Gov. Branstad, but, last night in my neighborhood … guys were setting off BOMBS of some type and it sounded (and I felt like) it was a war zone and we were getting bombed on — like Iraq or somewhere! I couldn't even hear my TV, and hot ashes were falling on houses and on canvas gazebos, not to mention my dogs were in panic over this, and I thought one of them was going to have a heart attack!...

In the last six months, we have been inundated with views concerning the flag and patriotism. I would like to offer several additional comments. Many of us like to display the flag as a sign of our patriotism and pride in our country during this week of celebration of the independence of our country. I heartily encourage these displays, but let's do it right. I see many instances of poor flag etiquette every year. The most common is displaying the flag at night...

The New York attorney general has filed a lawsuit against President Trump and the Trump Foundation for engaging in "repeated and willful self-dealing transactions to benefit Mr. Trump's personal and business interests." New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood cites a pattern of persistent illegal conduct over more than a decade by the foundation. The investigation revealed that the Trump Foundation was little more than a checkbook for Trump's own interests...

In a recent letter to the editor titled “Trump on the World Stage” the writer criticizes the President for not doing what the writer thinks President Trump should have done at world meetings. The members of NATO do not pay into NATO at the agreed rate of 2 percent of their GDP. ...

After watching cars line up like little tin soldiers on Highway 71 by Minervas 30 deep, I felt the need to write this letter. On busy weekends it takes people 2-3 cycles of the light to get through. Using both lanes and allowing cars to merge, everyone gets through faster...

On behalf of Spenser's Underground Youth Ministry Board of Directors, I would like to thank the Good Neighbor Fund for its generosity in donating to our ministry. Without help from the Good Neighbor Fund and other organizations and private donors, Spenser's Underground could not provide the valuable service to local teens. ...

OK, the primaries are over, we have our 2018 candidates. Let's not just sit back and say I’m going to vote "party." I watched the debates and I listened! The right people won in both parties. Now we have to choose the "right" persons to win the election. I urge all voters to watch, listen, pray and then vote in November. The right people will win. Iowa will still be the No. 1 state in the nation...

Iowa's soil and water are two elements of a larger ecological system. My opinion as a retired applied scientist is that public policy addressing the system should be based on adequate consideration of all elements in it — and the relationships between them...

Arriving late for the G7 meeting, President Trump followed the G7 members walking to the meeting site. Not walking with them, but following, riding in a golf cart. During the meeting, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada strongly suggested, with the agreement of the other members, that Trump reconsider his position on the Iran agreement, but to no avail. ...

The Okoboji Summer Theatre season started on June 12 with the musical, Godspell. It’s not too late to buy tickets for the rest of the season, so call the box office at 712-332-7773 to make reservations, or stop by the theatre on Highway 71. The students are settled into Okoboji and at the welcome picnic received welcome bags. ...

First of all I would like to congratulate my opponent, Ann Ditsworth, on her win in the primary for Dickinson County Recorder. If re-elected, I hope you will serve that position with a renewed sense of purpose. To the 756 people who cast their ballot in my favor, I am humbled by your support. ...

The Voluntary Action Center of the Iowa Great Lakes would like to give a big thank you to the Good Neighbor Fund and all who help support it for their generous donation and continued support. This donation helps support our local Meals on Wheels program, a program that is crucial for our local homebound neighbors...

Every day is a different kind of exciting at Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, but we couldn’t keep that excitement going year after year without support from dedicated community organizations like the Good Neighbor Fund of Okoboji and Spirit Lake and the people of Dickinson County who donate time and money to funding Good Neighbor agencies...

Being something of a conservationist, I keep old paper and use the back side for scratch. When I turned over one such piece the day after Memorial Day, I found a 2007 writing from my work as a government terrorism consultant and commentator on American culture...

Memory issues. Dementia. Alzheimer's. A person's view changes when a loved one has signs or symptoms. It can be an inward struggle of denial, guilt or embarrassment that no one realizes until it happens in your family. It is a difficult disease to understand or explain and so many (including myself) try ignoring the problem, explaining it away and never talking about it...

In his April column for the Dickinson County News, state representative John Wills shared his thoughts on the U.S. Constitution's bill of rights, writing, "I understand these rights were not given to us by our government, but instead they were given to us by our God."...

Steve Kerr, coach of the NBA Golden State Warriors told it as it is. President Trump called the new policy to fine the team owners if players kneel "good" for the NFL and even went on to say of any player who kneels, "maybe you shouldn’t be in the country."...

We would like to thank everyone in our community who donated to the Good Neighbor Fund. The funds that were granted to us helped make several facility improvements at the Boji Bay Ice Arena. We improved building security, installed a vent cover to keep the wind and rain from damaging the insulation, and installed centralized mailboxes to improve communication...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled "The Right And Practice To Dissent" the writer continues his diatribes against President Trump. By my count these diatribes have been going for more than a year. Most of his material seems to be recycled from liberal blogs or the national news media. ...

The YMCA of the Okobojis would like to recognize and thank the Good Neighbor Fund for the funding given to the Y that impacts both the Bedell Family YMCA and Camp Foster. The Bedell Family YMCA received funding to assist in the purchase of new CPR mannequins for our aquatic center to be used to train lifeguards and re-certify those who hold CPR certificates. ...