Letters to the Editor

On Monday, May 18, my wife, Connie and I went to the Walmart at Spirit Lake. Connie went into the store and I stayed in the van. It was 11:15 a.m. There was only one entrance open (west doors). The entrance is fenced off so one has to navigate that passage to enter the store. ...

LifeServe would like to thank those you came out on May 13 to give the gift of life during this time. Being in a middle of a global pandemic, Spirit Lake individuals knew how important it was to donate when you are well and healthy. Spirit Lake Community registered 47 donors, collected 53 lifesaving products, had three first time donors and saved over 159 lives! Once again, thank you. ...

We had another very successful Red Cross Blood Drive in Spirit Lake where we had registered 52 donors, received 45 units of blood (which was our goal), had eight donors of power red blood with only three deferrals. Due to this recent COVID-19 pandemic, the protocol for donating blood changed. ...

There is no question the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on Iowans. Most have been doing their part to slow the spread of the disease, whether that means staying home or stepping up. Iowa’s ethanol producers like Green Plains are no exception. When conventional supplies ran low, we donated ethanol for hand sanitizer production in Iowa and Nebraska...

The Good Neighbor Fund has provided an opportunity for our whole community to give generously to a wide variety of causes. The Lakes Area Hockey Association is so grateful for this year's Good Neighbor support as we further enhance our facility with much needed coin-operated locker facilities for those who utilize our facility...

Everyone should read and study carefully the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln (attached below). Then spend some time thinking about what Lincoln's words really mean. A lot of people in the past have sacrificed their lives for our country's ideals, and the most important is that all men and women are created equal, and have equal rights according to the Constitution...

  On behalf of The Humane Society of Northwest Iowa, we want to extend our sincerest gratitude to the Good Neighbor Fund for the generous contribution to the homeless animals residing with the Humane Society. Your very generous donation will surely have a significant impact as we will be using this to install emergency exit lighting as well as fulfill medical needs of our animals. ...

Hope Haven has recently received $8,193.12 from the Good Neighbor Fund of Spirit Lake and Okoboji. We are so thankful for their generous support of the renovation of our office building located in downtown Spirit Lake. The building was in great need of repair and restructure, and the renovation also honored the building’s history as a local firehouse, with some restoration to original architectural details. ...

My name is Marchetta Stillwell White. I live in Beeville, Texas. I am looking for any relatives of my parents Cecile Voigt and Benjamin Franklin (Frank) Stillwell. I am interested in finding more about my paternal family. I was born June 5, 1938, in Spirit Lake. ...

Last week in a Letter to the Editor, the author tried to make the case that for the last 40 years our country has been running amok. The writer listed the sins of the federal government as: "successive deregulations, massive tax cuts, unattended infrastructure, environmental deregulation, multiple war zones, unraveling of unions, assault of women's rights, gerrymandering voting rights, overbearing lobbyist influence, disregard for science, public education downfall, unsustainable wealth gap, rapid middle-class erosion, and recent 'government deconstruction' efforts." It is a wonder the country functioned at all considering all of these ills. ...

Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. (UDMO) would like to extend our appreciation and thanks for the monetary donation given to us for the Good Neighbor Fund, and also to our local people who support the Good Neighbor Fund. This donation is utilized in so many ways to assist UDMO consumers in need. your support is greatly appreciated...

I just received a generous check from the Good Neighbor Agency to support the Voluntary Action Center and its work with the Healthy Hometown and other food insecurity groups. It still overwhelms me when I think about how generous people in our community are...

The 1980 election year was highlighted by a campaign quote, "Government is not the solution; government is the problem." Today, 40 years later, after successive deregulations, massive tax cuts, unattended infrastructure, environmental degradation, multiple war zones, unraveling of unions, assault on women's rights, gerrymandering voting districts, overbearing lobbyist influence, disregard for science, public education downfall, unsustainable wealth gap, rapid middle-class erosion and recent "government deconstruction" efforts we now face the results.. ...

I am writing to address a comment that was made during the March 9 Milford Council Meeting by an Okoboji School District employee in regard to the city of Milford using eminent domain to take property from her family in the late 1990s. This comment came about because the Milford City Council had passed a resolution taking a formal position against the Okoboji School District Board of Education's action to use eminent domain to take private property...

I am homebound and have lots of leisure time these days. I just read a book that a friend gave me: "Answer the Call," written by Dr. Steve Meyer from Sioux City. He was the orthopedic surgeon who answered the call when a bus crashed in Tanzania, Africa, in 2017...

Each year the Iowa Great Lakes area enjoys the visit of thousands of tourists spending millions of dollars at Arnolds Park, in bars, restaurants, hotels, etc. This summer will be different. I expect we will see few if any tourists due to forced closures...

The last few weeks have been difficult for our country, state, and community. We have experienced a new virus spread throughout the world, enter the United States, travel to the Midwest, and make its way to our own county. Some of you may be returning home from winter locations or opening your summer homes. ...

The Operation Barnabas Committee of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake was planning to launch a suicide awareness/prevention program for veterans beginning on Memorial Day Weekend, however due to the increase in anxiety and stress attributed to the coronavirus they have decided to release parts of their initiative now under the title: "There's Hope There's Help"...

Last Monday evening (March 16) I attended the Okoboji School Board meeting that was moved to the elementary gym due to the COVID-19 virus concerns. A lawyer spoke to the school board that we could not hear, and a copy from this lawyer's office addressed to the board secretary was distributed to all during the open forum. It contained objections and explanation of objections with regard to the sale of the Okoboji Middle School...

I attended the public hearing on the sale of the Middle School last Monday night, March 16, 2020, followed by their regular meeting and, after reading the minutes published on the school website, I wondered if I had been at the same meeting. Oh, that’s right – the noise from the HVAC system in the OES gym was so loud that nearly all the conversation and dialogue of the meeting were drowned out...

Last week in a Letter to the Editor an author stated his opinion that President Trump was incompetent. Is that fact or fiction? When Democrats can't get the public to go along with their policies for more government, free health care, open borders and elimination of fossil fuel they resort to character assassination...

I am 96 years old and still concerned about my country! I would like to share some of my recent conversation I had with Iowa's U.S. Representative Steve King when he came to visit me. One of the first questions I asked him was, "Why is he running for Congress again?" He said he was born and raised in our district, he married his high school sweet heart, moved to the home where they have lived in for 48-plus years...

March is National Social Work Month. This month is a time to celebrate the workers who have dedicated their lives to serving the Iowa children and families who are so often overlooked by our society. They put in long hours doing some of the most difficult work in the state. ...

During my 28 years of corporate participation, both as an employee and management principal, I experienced and studied successful and unsuccessful leadership qualities for corporate entities and historical periods. Successful leadership qualities without question center on inspiration, honesty, fairness, truth and integrity. ...

The money earned from the 9th Annual Get Up and Bowl for Special Olympics will be shared among Spirit lake Park & Hope Haven North's Special Olympic Teams. Everyone involved had a wonderful day of bowling and bidding at the silent auction. The support the teams received from our community is unbelievable. Get Up and Bowl is a chance for businesses, families, and friends to come together and have fun while helping support our Special Olympics community!...

Your review of past miscarriages of justice by our government and their similarity to the actions of our current president should be seen by all Americans as another tragedy in the making. Since the days of the Emancipation Proclamation there has been a latent element of racism in small parts of our population. No president since then has supported this prejudice till the current holder of this office...

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...