Stories from Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Aug. 3, 1995 -- March 26, 2016 Brittany Andersen, age 20, of Milford and Arnolds Park died on March 26, 2016, at Avera McKenna Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota due to complications of influenza A. A memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday March 30, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Milford. Visitation was Tuesday night at the church...

Dec. 19, 1923 -- March 23, 2016 Jack H. Bedell, age 92, of Spirit Lake, passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. He was born on Dec. 19, 1923, in Spirit Lake, to Walter and Virginia (Price) Bedell. Jack was united in marriage to Marcia Dowden on May 29, 1943, in Minneapolis. They were married 72 years, before Marcia passed away on Nov. 6, 2015...

April 28, 1942 -- March 20, 2016 A funeral service for Jean Carpenter, age 73, of Milford, was held Thursday, March 24, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Burial was at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. Jean Charlotte Carpenter, the daughter of Pete and Eileen (Kness) Forbes, was born April 28, 1942, in Harris. After graduating from high school, she completed beauty school...

July 23, 1926 -- Nov. 18, 2015 John (Jack) William Nichols was born in Estherville, Iowa, July 23, 1926 and left us Nov 18, 2015 in the comfort of his home. Jack served and survived as a gunner in the Navy during WWII on the USS Hancock which was attacked by a kamikaze pilot. During his years of service, he earned seven battle stars before he was 19 years old...

An annual campaign is underway to help area youth choose tae kwon do over texting and soccer over Snapchat. The Bedell YMCA kicked-off its Strong Kids Campaign earlier this month. It is hoping to raise $150,000 to help support its youth programs. "This is our annual campaign, which is really a scholarship campaign," Norm Johnson, YMCA of the Okobojis CEO, said. ...

July 20, 1971 -- March 26, 2016 A funeral service for Shane Duhn, age 44, of Milford, was held Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. 

Shane Martin Duhn, the son of Bob Sheley and Jody Burley Sporrer, was born July 20, 1971 in Spirit Lake, Iowa. He graduated from Spirit Lake High School...

May 19, 1948 -- March 22, 2016 A memorial service for Steve Thorn, age 67, of Lake Park, was held Monday, March 28, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Park. Stephen Lynn Thorn, the son of Virgil and Dorothy (Hitchen) Thorn, was born May 19, 1948, in Lake Park. After graduating from Harris-Lake Park High School, he graduated from Larson's School of Cosmetology...

Jan. 1, 1921 -- March 25, 2016 Sheila Alberta Hall Bowers was born on Jan. 1, 1921, in London, England, to Mary Kathleen Higgins and Albert Desjenetais Hall. A twin sister, Dorothy, and brother, Patrick, preceded her. Sheila grew up in bustling London in Highgate neighborhood and was close with her mother and siblings. ...

The Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation Annual Grant Awards event was held on Sunday, March 6, at the Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Emmetsburg. Iowa Lakes was the proud recipient of funding for an Emmetsburg campus generator, the Emmetsburg Campus Library carpeting and Wellness Center exercise machines...

Congratulations to the winners of the Milford Memorial Library coloring contest and congratulations to Nathan Hinshaw for winning the drawing for the spring egg hunt! Thank you to everyone who participated. Community Game Night is happening from 6-8 p.m. ...

Iowa Lakes Community College Student Senators invite the public to join in their sixth annual Soles4Souls shoe drive. Soles4Souls is an outreach project that benefits both disabled and underprivileged individuals. Soles4Souls has provided shoes to over 22 million individuals in more than 127 countries across the globe...

Buena Vista University (BVU) ROTC Cadet Brandy Fowler, a senior public administration and political science major from Spirit Lake, was selected to attend the 2016 George C. Marshall Awards and Leadership Conference. The event was held Feb. 22-24 in in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas...

Nearly 30 students from Iowa Lakes Community College will be competing in ten different categories at the statewide SkillsUSA contest in central Iowa on April 29. The competition is open to high school and college students enrolled in technical, skilled and service occupations. Students from Iowa Lakes Community College include:...

In 1973, a murder case rocked northwestern Iowa when the bodies of four teenagers were discovered in the Gitchie Manitou State Park in Lyon County. The Spirit Lake Public Library will host two events focusing on these murders. At 2 p.m. Thursday, April 7, Jim Ladegaard will present his program about the murders...

There's a saying posted on the wall in the Student Achievement Center on the Estherville campus that offers a good perspective of attending college. "Education is not preparation for life. Education is life itself." Like many others, Jacob Hansen didn't know where life would take him when he was studying at Iowa Lakes. The 2008 graduate came to Iowa Lakes to study wind energy and turbine technology...

MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy are teaming up to fight back against scams. Phone billing scams targeting utility customers continue to be a daily battle for the utilities, resulting in money lost for several customers. Since the beginning of the year, customers have reported more than 400 fraudulent calls to the two utilities. The scammers are targeting all customer bases; however, small businesses and Spanish-speaking customers seem to be the most frequent targets...

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on Feb. 23 announced the State Soil Conservation Committee Research and Demonstration Fund has assistance available for research, education or demonstration projects focused on reducing non-point pollution. Funds are available to collaborative teams of scientists, farmers, institutions, soil and water conservation districts and educators...

(((PLEASE BOLD QUESTION AND THE A))) Mental health assistance available by phone Northwest Iowa Care Connections, a Mental Health and Disability Services Region covering, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola and Palo Alto counties, contracts with Foundation 2 in Cedar Rapids for 24/7 confidential phone crisis assistance at 1-844-345-4569...

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Dickinson County is offering a food safety training for food service managers on Tuesday, May 10, at the ISU Extension office in Spirit Lake. "Certification in ServSafe meets the Iowa Food Code requirements to have a certified food protection manager in all establishments," said Renee Sweers, class instructor and ISU Extension and Outreach Nutrition and Health Specialist. ...

GriefShare is a grief support and education group designed for anyone suffering from grief because of the death of a parent, child, spouse, friend or relative. The loss can be recent or sometime in the past. The 13-week program begins Monday, April 11, with weekly videos on topics relating to grief and loss. The videos focus on topics such as how relationships change in and through grief, what is normal in grief, challenges and effects of grief, and practical ways to handle grief...

Spirit Lake Cub Scout Pack 168 held its annual Pinewood Derby race on March 12. This years top racers include: Kyler Hagedorn, Ian Munson, Kaleb Lee and Noah Lee. Best of Show was Nicholas Frangenberg. Watch for Scouts in local neighborhood distributing flyers for the upcoming annual Scouting for Food drive. The group will be collecting non-perishable food items April 9 between 8 a.m. and noon from front door steps. All food donations stay local...

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced 13 urban conservation water quality initiative demonstration projects have been selected to receive $978,149 in funding. The list includes the city of Arnolds Park, which will receive a $100,000 grant for its Monument Drive pervious paver system...

U.S. Cellular will continue its Community Connections program for the second consecutive year to support local youth organizations. Last year, the company sponsored more than 700 school groups and youth sports teams through a partnership with Pear, an online platform that connects local brands with local community needs. Academic and athletic groups in grades K-12 can sign up at www.pearup.com/uscellular to receive sponsorship from the company to go toward group needs...

On March 19, the Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis held their annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Bedell Family YMCA. Due to the weather the event was held indoors. This did not dampen the enthusiasm of the kids. There were three specially marked eggs for each age group to win bigger prizes...

The Spirit Lake Elementary K-Kids donated $300 to the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa on Feb. 24. The K-Kids is a Kiwanis-sponsored, student-led club for elementary students to learn about leadership, volunteering, and giving back to your community and school. ...

Margaret Irene McCollough Genschmer was born in Webster City on April 11, 1916. She graduated from Webster City High School in 1937 and attended AIB in Des Moines. In September 1937 she boarded a train to California to look for a job, taking a long trip across Canada. She stopped along the way to see the sites and visit friends and family. She arrived in late October in Glendale where she met her future husband...

Jay Norwood Darling, better known as Ding, saw the landscape in Iowa change through his lifetime, from wild places full of life to those spoiled by humankind pushing westward. Seeing the desecration of the land he loved inspired the famed political cartoonist to educate about conservation issues throughout his career...

Country singer Jimmy Wayne, best known as an award-winning country music singer with hits "Paper Angels" and "I Love You This Much," will share his personal comeback story while performing at Seasons Center for Behavioral Health's annual fundraiser Saturday, April 30, at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer...

In 2012 a group of friends in New York City came together to form a conductor-less string ensemble that was truly collaborative and self-operated. Shattered Glass has performed a repertoire ranging from J.S. Bach and W.A. Mozart to Krzysztof Penderecki and crossover projects with Grammy-nominated hip-hop artists...

Dust off your reel, check your line and kick off the 2016 walleye season in the Iowa Great Lakes during the 34th Annual Great Walleye Weekend, May 7-8. This two-day fishing tournament witnesses close to 2,000 anglers converging upon the Iowa Great Lakes to see if they can catch one of the specially tagged walleye...

The Dickinson County Secondary Road Department is now under contract with Cedar Valley Corporation of Cedar Falls for the paving of 255th Avenue on the east side of Spirit Lake. This road is also known as county road M56, or the High Crossing road. The project will commence at the south intersection with Highway 9 and terminate at the 140th Street intersection 1.1 miles to the north...

Campers may start reserving their spots for the Fourth of July weekend on April 1 of this year. People can make reservations for sites three months ahead of their first night's stay. "Electric sites go quickly," Todd Coffelt, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau, said. "And some sites will already be reserved by campers arriving prior to the holiday weekend."...

Larry Lago, County Executive Director of the Dickinson/Emmet County Farm Service Agency, is reminding area residents about USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The CRP is a voluntary program that contracts with area land owners and agricultural producers so producers have an alternative to farming environmentally-sensitive agricultural land...

Dickinson County Conservation Board's integrated roadside vegetation management program will be conducting prescribed burns in county road rights-of-way during the next few months. Prescribed burns are a resource management tool utilized to discourage the growth of weeds and woody vegetation while promoting the growth of desired native vegetation in roadside prairie sites. ...

The office of U.S. Joni Ernst (R-IA) on March 11 announced upcoming traveling office hours across Iowa for the month of April. The schedule includes a Dickinson County stop, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, April 1, at Arnolds Park City Hall. Representatives from Senator Ernst's office will be available in counties throughout the state to assist Iowans with problems or questions about eligibility involving issues like Social Security, veterans benefits, or military affairs, passports, immigration issues and other federal programs.. ...

As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Charles Grassley stands at the center of the battle over President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee. The powerful Iowa Republican has joined with others in his party and refused to hold confirmation hearings...

Recently, Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) welcomed Carl Hartson, of Waterloo, Chet Verschoor, of Rock Rapids, Shelly McCarty, of Lester, and Luke Donnenwerth of Spirit Lake, to the Iowa House of Representatives. The group was visiting the Capitol to talk to legislators during Iowa Bankers' Day on the Hill...

This week, Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) welcomed Mary Petersen (Spirit Lake), Dennis Heimdal (Milford), Lee Sorenson (Spirit Lake), and Kiley Roth (Spirit Lake) to the Iowa House of Representatives. The group was visiting the Capitol to talk to legislators about protecting the state's natural resources during Research Enhancement and Protection Day, or REAP, on the Hill...

Please join Lauren Wickham at The Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts at the Spirit Lake High School for her senior recital on at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 17. She will be performing several vocal and piano selections from Broadway to classical pieces. She will be accompanied by Jessica Schable, her voice teacher at Jessica Schable Voice Studio in Milford. She has been studying music with Jessica for five years...

Q: If I am waiting to turn left or go straight at an intersection without a turning lane, is it legal for someone to pull up beside me to make a right turn? A: This is an excellent question and one that is very relevant. You see this situation occur frequently at the bottom of an exit ramp or in small towns where city streets intersect with primary highways. ...

Forty-one days late -- an explanation of that point follows -- the Iowa Senate on Wednesday finally let school districts know that preK-12 budgets can now be set. The House followed later in the day and the bill has been sent to the governor for his signature...

I am happy to report we sent a bill on education funding to the governor. A joint conference committee agreed to provide an increase of 2.25 percent to K-12 schools, totaling $153 million. This week, both the House and Senate passed the bill. Education continues to remain a priority. With an additional $153 million going to schools this budget year, K-12 education is receiving a great share of the state's new available revenue...

According to the Arthritis Foundation, 46 million Americans live with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms. Arthritis symptoms limit everyday activities such as dressing, bathing and cooking for more than 7 million Americans. Half of those Americans with arthritis aren't aware of options that are now available to help alleviate their symptoms. ...

The recent passing of former First Lady Nancy Reagan generated new attention to her leadership in the battle against drug abuse in America. Over the years much debate has ensued over her role in the "war on drugs" and whether or not true progress was made on her watch and thereafter...

Anyone who has a credit history or plans to establish one should have an interest in what appears on their credit report. Your credit report includes information about your identity, detailed credit history, and other information about you, including court judgments. Your credit report can affect your ability to get a credit card or loan, how much interest you pay, your insurance rates, and can even impact where you can live and work...

On a Friday when most Iowans were celebrating this team's or that team's victory in the NCAA basketball tournament, I was celebrating a come-from-behind victory for the people of Iowa. The victory didn't come at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. It came at 1111 E. Court Ave., where the Iowa Supreme Court sits...

Q: Why is an "all-of-the-above" energy policy good for the economy and national security? A: The United States has entered a new era of domestic energy production that is setting the stage for energy independence. Thanks to remarkable innovation and investment, American businesses and entrepreneurs are driving job creation and economic growth by tapping into natural resources to produce more energy than ever before right here in the United States...

An interesting interpretation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution has come forth from Bill Kerstring: Please read the First Amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."...

Dance enthusiast of all abilities are encouraged to come and dance on stage at the Pearson Lakes Art Center at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1. A ballroom dance class is being offered for dancers and non-dancers alike. In anticipation of Cinco de Mayo, the class will learn some easy salsa dance steps. ...

Minneapolis' Mixed Blood Theatre's production of Theory of Mind will be performed at the Iowa Lakes Community College Emmetsburg Campus auditoriumat 1 p.m. Friday, April 8. The play presents a portrait of a young man with Asperger's syndrome. Theory of Mind was written by Ken LaZebnik, a veteran Mixed Blood company member whose writing credits include: Touched by an Angel and the Mixed Blood-produced plays "Calvinisms," "League of Nations," "Vestibular Sense" and "On the Spectrum," the latter two also autism-themed. ...

Iowa Lakes will offer a "Make Room for Pollinators" workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 2, at the Emmet County Nature Center at 2303 450th Ave. in Wallingford. Pollinators are one of the most important natural resources. The workshop will help attendees attract bees, birds, insects, and bats to their property. ...

The Spirit Lake area Diabetic Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, April 4. The program will be "Ordering Wisely from the Restaurant Menu." Menus have been gathered from local restaurants for discussion lending to wise choices for the diabetic. ...

Everyone at some time or another comes in contact with individuals that are hard to deal with, or difficult to have an effective discussion with. "Working with You is Killing Me" is a program that will explore the tools and techniques anyone can use to have those difficult discussions effectively and to enhance his/her relationships with even the most problematic people. After this program, participants should be able to:...

For the 100th year season finale celebration of the Sioux City Symphony, the Iowa Lakes Community College Chamber Choir will join forces with the choirs of Briar Cliff University, Morningside College, Northwestern College, University of South Dakota, Western Iowa Tech Community College, the Sioux County Oratorio, and the Siouxland Master Chorale to perform Beethoven's 9th Symphony. ...

The Iowa Lakes softball team traveled to Cedar Rapids on Friday to take on the third-ranked Kirkwood Eagles. The Lakers dropped both games with scores of 4-0 and 11-3. In game one, both teams remained scoreless until the fourth inning. The Eagles scored all four runs in the fourth on two hits and one Laker error. ...

City of Spirit Lake and City of Orleans residents will be able to use the green waste site during the following hours: Saturdays 9 a.m. -- 5 p.m., Sundays 1-5 p.m., Tuesdays 3-7 p.m. and Thursdays 3-7 p.m. The site will be staffed by an attendant and residents will need to present their drivers' license to the attendant to verify residence. ...

The Iowa Lakes baseball team split the final two games of its series in Creston against SWCC, winning the first game of the doubleheader 10-0 via mercy rule and losing 7-3 in game two. The Laker bats were hot in the first game, as Trent Brosdahl (Spirit Lake), went 3 for 4 with two home runs, Dominic Berlin (Eau Claire, Wisconsin), went 3 for 3 with two doubles, Francisco Ogando (Lebanon, Pennsylvania), went 3 for 4, and Edward Benitez-Restrepo (Maple, Ontario), went 2 for 3...

The Spirit Lake Park girls track team wrapped its indoor season Monday at the Ruth Marske Invitational on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. The Indians earned four top-8 finishes on the day. "It was a very competitive but good meet overall for our girls," SLP track coach Tim Heinitz said. ...

A pair of school records fell and many more were challenged Monday, as the Spirit Lake boys track team looked to be in midseason form at an indoor meet hosted by South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. The Indians placed fourth overall with 71 points, trailing champion Sioux Falls Lincoln (115), Watertown (108) and Sioux Falls Roosevelt (72)...

Chances are, an armed intruder will never storm into a Dickinson County workplace with the intent of doing harm. But what if the unthinkable happens? Spirit Lake Police Chief Jeff Hanson believes it's best to be prepared "We always train for fire drills and tornado drills, and unfortunately, in this day and age, this is something we need train for just because of people's actions and things that have taken place across the country," he said...

Growing up in small town Iowa, Mary Petersen had always had a love for science and education. Now, she hopes to blend those two passions as the new naturalist for the Dickinson County Conservation Board. "My youngest girl is going to preschool next year, so I knew I wanted to start looking for jobs," Petersen said. ...

Three years ago, State Rep. John Wills and some Dickinson County conservation groups wanted to do something to help improve water quality in the area. Those early Clean Water Summits have set the stage for Prairie Lakes Conference Aug. 11-12 at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Okoboji...

Funeral services were held Tuesday for a World War II veteran, active volunteer and former Dickinson County Attorney. Jack Bedell passed away Wednesday, March 23, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, according to the family. He was 92 years old...

A sandwich shop known for its "freaky fast" delivery is expanding in the Iowa Great Lakes. Franchise co-owner Deb Kohlhaase confirmed on Tuesday that Jimmy John's will open a newly-constructed location along Highway 9 near Fareway in Spirit Lake. Kristel and Josh DeWall are part of the ownership group, along with Kohlhaase and husband Dave...

Stephen Wayne Putnam, 54, of Walled Lake, Mich. was charged with driving under influence and unsafe backing on the highway at 8:02 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at 1611 Hill Avenue in Spirit Lake. Andrew Jay Scott, 39, of Spirit Lake was charged with driving under the influence and an open container violation at 11:16 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at 3600 Stover in Spirit Lake...