Stories from Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Northwest Bank presented a check for $1,000 to benefit the Okoboji Backpack Ministry program. Staff members at the bank encouraged the community to give to the Backpack Program by offering to match funds up to $1,000. They called participation from community members and businesses to help raise funds and donate food items "incredible," adding, "our goal of raising over $1,000 was met."...

Iowa Lakes Community College has been named to the "2016 Military Friendly Schools" list by Victory Media Inc., the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. This award is given to colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America's military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus and after graduation...

Commercial manure applicators should plan to attend the Commercial Manure Applicator training program scheduled for from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will conduct the required three-hour training workshop at that time. ...

This January, make a 2016 New Year's resolution that really matters. A Spirit Lake community blood drive will take place from 1-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5 at Dickinson County Community Building (1602 15th Street). Someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds, but less than 10 percent of the population donates annually. Make a resolution to become a volunteer blood donor and ensure blood is on hospital shelves when it's needed -- which is always...

Christmas is a family celebration. It was from the very beginning. When Joseph heard the angel's voice in a dream, he knew that he could trust Mary. She was devoted to him and he to her. And they committed themselves to care for the baby that she was carrying. Christmas is a celebration not only of God's love, but of human love as well. Why? Because it is a family celebration...

Don Mills Nov. 14, 1945 -- Dec. 25, 2015 Don Mills, age 70, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Okoboji, passed away Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, at Hawkeye Care Center in Spirit Lake. He was born on Nov. 14, 1945, in Spencer to Donald Sr. and Wanda (Birchard) Mills...

Nov. 8, 1942 - Dec. 26, 2015 Funeral services will be held for James L. "Jim" Baschke will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. The Rev. William Schreiber will officiate. A 1 p.m. interment will take place Thursday at Fairview Cemetery near Langdon following the lunch at the church...

Sept. 29, 1930 -- Dec. 21, 2015 Funeral services were held Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, for Lorraine Blair of Spencer and formerly of Spirit Lake. The Rev. John Syvertson officiated. Interment was at North Lawn Memorial Park in Spencer. Lorraine Anna Blair, the daughter of Emil and Rose (Sievers) Boettcher, was born Sept. ...

May 27, 1936 -- Dec. 17, 2015 Graveside services for Jean McKnight, age 79, of Spirit Lake, will be held at a later date. Jean Joann McKnight, age 79, entered into God's Holy Kingdom on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was born May 27, 1936 to John and Johannah (Knuth) McKnight at Jackson, Minnesota...

Aug. 13, 1918 -- Dec. 22, 2015 A funeral service for Edna Reynolds, age 97, of Milford was held Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer. Interment was at North Lawn Memorial Park in Spencer. Edna, the daughter of Ann (Pohl) and Will Bendlin, was born in Manson on Aug. 13, 1918. She was baptized and confirmed a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, later known as First English Lutheran Church in Spencer. She attended school in Langdon and Spencer...

Feb. 16, 1930 -- Dec. 20, 2015 A funeral service for Don Hamann, age 85, of Harris, was held Monday, Dec. 28, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Park. Burial was at Silver Lake Cemetery. Donald "Don" Hamann was the son of Louis and Alva (Wiese) Hamann. He was born Feb. 16, 1930 on a farm near Round Lake, Minnesota where he was raised and graduated from high school. Don enlisted into the United States Army in 1951...

RISE Ministries, the organization behind the Christian music festival RiseFest, is pleased to make the largest artist announcement in its 11-year history. Returning to RiseFest 2016 are Mandisa and Matt Maher. Making their RiseFest debuts are highly requested and anticipated Crowder and Chris Tomlin...

The monthly Hike the Wild program will continue in 2016, held 9:30 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month. Just meet at the Dickinson County Nature Center and caravan to public areas throughout the county. Events begin at 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted:...

As 2015 wrapped up, the Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees met Tuesday afternoon and learned more about how online classes are shaping higher education to make it more accessible to everyone. Executive Dean of Instruction and Development Scott Stokes introduced Theresa Umscheid, Director of Distance and Global Education, who addressed the value of online education...

The Day Habilitation group at Echo Plus, a division of Hope Haven in Spirit Lake, wanted to give back to the community this holiday season. The group discussed ideas of ways they could give and they chose to adopt a family from the Upper Des Moines Opportunity for Christmas. ...

Calling all student artists in kindergarten through grade 12 -- the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting entries for the 2016 Iowa Federal Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) art contest. In entering the JDS contest, students learn about waterfowl and their habitat, and then create an image of an eligible North American waterfowl species. This contest can be entered by school groups, informal groups, or the student may enter individually...

This holiday season, you can give a precious gift that will help save lives, and a gift that will bring joy to a child's life. Give blood through Jan. 9 and redeem your reward points at the LifeServe Blood Center Online Store for teddy bears and other gifts for participating local hospitals...

The 13th annual Artisans Road Trip (A.R.T.) is looking for artists for the coming year. The deadline for applications is Friday, Jan. 15. All disciplines and mediums are accepted -- painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, jewelry, fabric, wood, photography, pottery, and more...