Stories from Wednesday, August 15, 2012

A number of college students left the Iowa Great Lakes on Friday with a better understanding of how to get their business ideas off the ground. They wrapped up a week of business-related activities as part of the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute Aug. 5-10. Graduation ceremonies were held on Friday for the 32 students that attended Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, Buena Vista University and Iowa Lakes Community College...

A mission trip to the country of Mongolia proved to be an eye-opening experience for David Trucksess. While most people his age in the Iowa Great Lakes region were sitting at the beach or spending time out on the lake in early June, Trucksess was embarking on a two-week journey to Mongolia through Athletes in Action, which has a ministry presence in 191 countries worldwide...

Football season is officially here for a handful of 2012 Spirit Lake graduates with training camp getting under way this past week on a number of college campuses. Sawyer Harms began fall camp Saturday at Augustana College, a school he believes was a good fit for him both on the gridiron and academically...

Ammon Bennett, head men's soccer coach at Iowa Lakes Community College, has announced his 2012-13 men's soccer roster. The roster includes five returning players and 20 new athletes that will compete for the Lakers. "We are very pleased with the players coming in this fall and can't wait to begin practice on August 9th," said Bennett. ...

Iowa Lakes Community College head soccer coach Ammon Bennett has announced the new women's soccer team that well be set to compete for the 2012 season. The roster includes six returning players and 17 incoming freshmen. "We are really excited for the season to start as this group of players should be very competitive for us," he said. ...

Northwest Bank Lakes Market President Joe Conover on Wednesday, Aug. 8, confirmed plans to close one of the bank's six locations in the Iowa Great Lakes. The Northwest Bank location at 1807 Highway 71 North in Okoboji will close on Aug. 31, according to the bank executive...

A motion to put the Milford Airport's future in the hands of voters was rerouted Monday night at the Milford City Council meeting. Milford Council member Don Olsen is among a group of citizens who would like to see the airport disbanded. He thinks the city is losing money by allowing the airport to remain open...

Karl Rove, former advisor to George W. Bush is using casino owners, Koch brothers, and other billionaire money to restructure our government. The Tea Party and A.L.E.C. (which formed legislation such as "stand your ground" and voter registration aimed at keeping blacks and Latinos from voting) are financed by this group. ...

There is a lot of talk about a petition circulating that would combine the recorder's office into the auditor's office in Dickinson County. Whatever your thoughts about government, its size and cost, I hope you think carefully before signing this petition. In fact, I urge you not to sign this petition. Here are my reasons...

It was a perfect day for a trip to the fair. I had the chance on Friday to take my 3-year-old son Caiden to his first ever State Fair in Des Moines. While he was still reeling from a doctor's appointment earlier in the morning, I think he was still able to enjoy a majority of the day's festivities...

It was my great pleasure to serve northwest Iowa in the United States Congress from 1975 thru 1987. Although the district was predominately Republican, after my second election, I never had a close election, and always won by some 60 percent of the vote. ...

July 5, 1929 -- Aug. 6, 2012 Virginia Ruth Lubbers, the daughter of Orin and Mabel (Anderson) Groe, was born July 5, 1929 in Mason City. She graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1947, attended Drake University and the University of Iowa, graduating with a BSC degree in 1952...

Sept. 30, 1917 -- Aug. 8, 2012 Gladys B. Schmidt, age 94, of Spirit Lake, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake. She was born on Sept. 30, 1917, on the family farm in rural Dickinson County. Gladys graduated from North Superior High School and attended Iowa State University and Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. ...

Dec. 2, 1914 -- Aug. 4, 2012 Arleen Lillian Ott, daughter of Julius Wm. and Ella (Riessen) Schroeder, was born Dec. 2, 1914, on the family farm in Muscatine County. She was raised and received her early education, attending grade school in Blue Grass. She attended Central High School in Davenport, graduating in 1932. After high school she worked at Willey's Music & Radio Store as a secretary...

Restaurant owners Joe Cain and Jim Bird of Fort Dodge have sold the Mineral City Mill and Grill property in Arnolds Park. "We're not going to rebuild," Cain confirmed on Monday. Cain doesn't know what kind of building or business will go up at the location...