Stories from Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Local artists will soon be hanging their paintings and displaying their sculptures as they prepare to welcome art lovers into their studios for the upcoming 13th annual Artisans Road Trip. The self-guided tour will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, and from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9. People may explore several art exhibits that are spread out around the Iowa Great Lakes and the surrounding area...

Rex and Sue Wangler of Spirit Lake are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jaclyn, to Matthew Wicks, son of Steve and Mavis Wicks of Parkersburg. Jaclyn is a 2016 graduate of Oklahoma City University with a BPA in dance performance. Matthew is a 2016 graduate of the University of Iowa with a BA in cinema...

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has recognized the Iowa Avian Influenza Incident Management Team with the James A. Graham Award for Outstanding Service. NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories...

Iowa has had a wet start to summer and now a wet end to summer filling wetlands and marshes across the state and flooding crop fields in certain areas. Adding to the mix that local Iowa ducks had a good hatch this spring and these young ducks are now spread out and using newly flooded areas for food and cover...

Girl Scouts learn valuable leadership skills including financial literacy, goal setting and teamwork; and also, earn valuable funds for their troops when participating in the Girl Scout Fall Product Sale. The Fall Product Sale dates are Oct. 1-21. This sale offers high-quality nut and chocolate products from Ashdon Farms and magazine and photo books selections from QSP...

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) acknowledged Sen. Chuck Grassley with its "Guardian of Small Business" award for his outstanding support of America's small business owners. "Small business fuels our nation's economy and is the bedrock of job creation and growth," Grassley said. ...

Milford Commercial Club welcomes Handy Andy's Yard and Spraying Service to the Milford Community. Handy Andy's Yard and Spraying Service has been a local business for more than 40 years and is continuing the exceptional lawn care and spraying services with a new owner, Morgan Stockdale. ...

Practical Farmers of Iowa encourages farmers thinking of growing small grains in 2017 to consider applying for financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This funding could make it profitable for farmers to diversify their corn-soybean acres with oats and red clover, or wheat followed by a diverse cover crop mix...

Smart-Wave Solutions offers and installs "Smart" technology for homes or businesses and is a local dealer for Sonos and Klipsch audio entertainment. The business is open Tues-Friday 9-6, Sat 8-12, but available anytime by phone 712-338-6116. Area residents may visit the Solutions Center, 909 Okoboji Ave, downtown Milford, designed by Katie Sires Home and Design. ...

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced that approximately $350,000 in uncommitted funds are now available through the "Fueling Our Future 100" initiative. Interested retailers in Iowa can apply for cost share funding to assist with the purchase and installation of blender pumps and underground storage tank (UST) infrastructure for higher blends of ethanol...

On Sunday, Oct. 9, author Corrina Carter will visit the Iowa Lakes UU Fellowship at the Arrowwood Conference and Convention Center in Okoboji. She will discuss the ethical dimensions of anthropomorphic fiction, or literature that features feeling, thinking -- and even speaking -- animals...

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding Iowans to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites in the coming weeks. Late summer and early fall are the seasons of peak West Nile virus activity in the state. "During the summer months, packing bug spray is just part of the routine for outdoor activities," IDPH Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. ...

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University has awarded more than 2,250 scholarships to students in the 2016-12 academic year. Scholarships presented to area students by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University for the 2016-17 academic year include:...

The window to file the free application for federal student aid for the 2017-18 school year opens Saturday, Oct. 1, which is earlier than in past years. Iowa College Aid is reminding students and prospective students that the FAFSA is the gateway to financial aid for higher education...

Area libraries are sponsoring another paint night from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Arnolds Park Library. The event will offer an evening of painting, community and snacks. The library encourages people to register early due to only 30 spots being available. The cost for early registration is $7.50 and $15 the day of the event. Those interested can register at the Arnolds Park Public Library, Spirit Lake Public Library, and the Milford Memorial Library...

Spirit Lake Middle School and High School will present its grade 7-12 chorus concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at the Sami Bedell Center for Performing Arts. The concert will begin with the seventh- and eighth-grade treble clef chorus, followed by the bass clef chorus...

Spirit Lake Public Library's first session of "Legos at the Library" met in September with many young people happily immersed in building Lego creations. Many of the children began the session working individually but became collaborative partners, pooling Lego resources as they sorted through bricks and shared ideas...

July 24, 1939 -- Sept. 27, 2016 Alice Anna (Illg) Kollasch, 77, of Spirit Lake passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, at Lakes Regional Healthcare Center in Spirit Lake from complications of a stroke she suffered a week ago. A memorial mass for Alice was held on Friday, Sept. 30, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford...

Aug. 1, 1919 -- Sept. 24, 2016 Cleona Veronica Schmidt, 97, of Spencer, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the St. Luke Nursing Home in Spencer. A memorial Mass was held Saturday, Oct. 1, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford, with Father Tom Flanagan officiating...

Aug. 1, 1919 -- Sept. 24, 2016 Cleona Veronica Schmidt, 97, of Spencer, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the St. Luke Nursing Home in Spencer. A memorial Mass was held Saturday, Oct. 1, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford, with Father Tom Flanagan officiating...

Oct. 27, 1920 -- Sept. 29, 2016 Private graveside services for Mr. Dick Imhoff, 95, of Lake Park and formerly of Okoboji will be held at a later date. Albert (Dick) Wilber Imhoff, the son of Martena (Keller) and Henry Imhoff, was born Oct. 27, 1920 in Melvin. He attended country school in Melvin before serving his country in the United States Navy during World War II in the Aleutian Islands, the South Pacific and in Hawaii...

June 4, 1948 -- Sept. 29, 2016 James P Hagedorn, 68, of East Peoria, Illinois, passed away at 4:50 pm Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, at Unity Point Methodist Hospital. He was born June 4, 1948, in Davenport, the son of Kenneth and Mary Louise Dirks Hagedorn. He married Lynn Beach in 1968...

Sept. 25, 1942 -- Sept. 27, 2016 Services for Larry Brunsen, age 74, of Milford were held Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, at First Lutheran Church in Milford, Iowa. Burial was at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery, Spirit Lake. Larry Wayne Brunsen, the son of Herbert and Muriel (Bird) Brunsen, was born Sept. 25, 1942, in Woden. After attending grade school in Woden, Larry graduated from Corwith High School. Larry lived in Wesley before moving to Milford in 2003...

Feb. 25, 1922 -- Oct. 1, 2016 Oral Willis Wilson, 94, of Milford passed away on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, at the Spencer Hospital. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford with Father Tom Flanagan officiating...

Speaking to the local Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Vietnam veteran Mike Dalen of Estherville recalled the mortar shellings, the ambushes, the almost unbearable heat and the loss of friends during the Vietnam conflict, While telling of his experiences at the Estherville Public Library on Sept. 27, he showed a video and passed around photos of 1966-67 camps and conflict sites in various areas of Vietnam...

Forager, naturalist, fisherwoman, environmental educator, eclectic nature artist. You can use a lot of words to describe Spirit Lake resident Barbara Tagami, but maybe one of the best words to use is passionate. She is passionate about the outdoors, and she will display some of that passion in her nature art exhibit October-December at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji...

The Okoboji FFA Chapter uses a pumpkin patch as a class project and recently presented "Pumpkin Picking Daze." Area residents still have a chance to find the right size, shape and color for any of their decorating needs. People may venture out into the patch to find the perfect pumpkin or they may pick from hundreds on the hay rack. The pumpkin patch is located one mile west of the Catholic church in Milford...

Area residents are encouraged to register for the Mutt Strut by Thursday, Oct. 6 to ensure their shirt arrives by the day of the event. The public is invited to join the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 for the event hosted by the Person Lakes Art Center. ...

Iowa Lakes Community College will launch its Coffee House for new school year at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Estherville Student Center. The evening's performances will include handbells and vocal ensembles along with jazz band. Iowa Lakes music students and some community members will perform solos as well. Free coffee, lemonade and snacks will be served throughout the evening. Admission is free. For more information, call 712-362-8345 or email lkautz@iowalakes.edu...

Iowa Lakes Community College is hosting a class that discusses a variety of topics involving the stocks from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Spirit Lake campus. This course addresses how stocks may fit into an overall investment strategy. The seminar covers the differences between common and preferred stock, dividends, investment strategy and different ways to own stock. ...

Take a bus ride with Iowa Lakes and take part in the Boone Dinner Train Day trip on Friday, Oct. 21. Experience elegant dining on the rails as it was during the golden age of rail travel in the United States. Tour the railroad museum and then travel on an enhancing 2-hour-and-15-minute ride through the beautiful Des Moines River Valley, featuring historic 1950s passenger cars, while enjoying a delicious meal...

The family of Rev. Charles D. Gilbert invites the public to an open house in honor of his 50 years of pastoral ministry. The open house is from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park. Calvary United Methodist is the church where Gilbert was ordained in 1996...

A Bible study on 1 John meets at 1 p.m. every Thursday in the community room at the Arnolds Park City Hall. All are welcome to the non-denominational group of ladies who learn more about the Bible and get to know and pray for each other. For more information, call 712-330-0671...

Please join Iowa Lakes Community College celebrating 50 years of "Your Community, Your College!" The 50th anniversary celebration will be held the evening of Oct. 29 at the SERT Facility, which is located at 2421 7th Avenue South on the Estherville Campus. ...

A turkey dinner will be served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Calvary United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park. The meal will include mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, dressing, beans, corn, salads, cranberries, dinner roll, pie and beverage. The cost of the meal is $10 for adults and $4 for anyone under 12 years of age. Carry-out meals are also available. The event is open to the public...

The Milford Memorial Library will hold a bingo party after school on Thursday, Oct. 13, at the library. The event is open for pre-school through fourth grade students. The event is free of charge. Children are invited to attend the library's story time at 10 a.m. every Friday. Call 712-338-4643 for more information...

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dickinson County Office will host an aquatic, forest and right-of-way continuing instruction course for commercial pesticide applicators on Oct. 19 at 1602 15th street in Spirit Lake. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. ...

A Italian buffet will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at Smith Wellness Center on the Iowa Lakes Emmetsburg campus. Hotel and restaurant management students along with the Emmetsburg Student Senate will coordinate the event. Diners may feast on a variety of Italian dishes, including lasagna, cavatina and spaghetti, which can be enhanced with any of three sauces -- meat marinara, Alfredo or vegetarian. ...

It is a heart warming experience to move back home. Thank you to the board of directors and residents at Discovery House for the warm welcome back dinner and to each person who calls or I see who smiles and greets me, shakes my hand or offers a hug. It means more than words can express...

Q: Why are you co-sponsoring a bill to reform delivery of mental health services? A: Although we are making important strides in this country to end a stigma tied to mental illness, there is broad agreement that we still have work to do to close the gap between mental health illness and mental health services...

It can cost you money not to review your Medicare Part D drug coverage annually. In one hour a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselor can complete a review and let you know if you can save money and make sure you have access to the medications you need...

Dickinson County Endowment Fund awards 2016 grants 
The Dickinson County Endowment Fund has announced grants totaling $84,648 were distributed in support of 20 non-profit organizations serving Dickinson County. Awards were made during the annual grant celebration held at the Mini Wakan State Park Shelter on Big Spirit Lake...

Dickinson County Endowment Fund awards 2016 grants 
The Dickinson County Endowment Fund has announced grants totaling $84,648 were distributed in support of 20 non-profit organizations serving Dickinson County. Awards were made during the annual grant celebration held at the Mini Wakan State Park Shelter on Big Spirit Lake...

Heart disease is the nation's leading cause of death, and statistically affects nearly one out of three people in the United States. Symptoms are often very subtle, progress slowly, and can be as basic as shortness of breath and therefore easily be ignored...

Evertek, based in Everly, draws on a corporate history dating back to 1905, to serve rural customers with communications services. "When we saw the opportunity 30 years ago to help more customers in rural areas, our parent company United Farmers Telephone Company, formed Evertek," said Roxanne White, Evertek's CEO. "The goal was to buy and start using emerging licensed wireless technology to provide services to customers who could not get the services they needed."...

Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) is the first in the region to offer Mako partial knee replacement and Mako total hip replacement procedures, performed using the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System by Stryker. The Mako system is a surgeon-controlled robotic arm system that enables accurate alignment and placement of implants...

Members of the 2016 Okoboji homecoming court were announced at a special assembly Friday morning. Students selected were (from left) Tyler Grems and Liz Olson, Brandon Svoboda and Haley Bouse, Jeremiah Clay and Rylie Arrowood, Michael Allen and Hannah Robert and Matt Eckard and Lindsey Wittrock...

Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company announced on Friday that it has closed a transaction with The Coca-Cola Company for expanded territory distribution rights. The bottler has assumed territories in areas that surround distribution centers located in Spirit Lake as well as Mason City, Ames, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Ottumwa, plus the Quad Cities area in Illinois. Financial terms were not disclosed...

Denver Crumpton, 27, of Spencer, was charged with shoplifting and criminal mischief at 6:06 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 2200 17th Street in Spirit Lake. Alex John Jinkinson, 24, of Okoboji, was charged with swindling at 6:07 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 2200 17th Street in Spirit Lake...

Halloween will come a little early to the Iowa Great Lakes Area. The Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce will hold its fifth annual Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Roof Garden in Arnolds Park Amusement Park. The event will feature fall-themed activities and is free to the public...

The Bedell Family YMCA, Arnolds Park Amusement Park and Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce will make the Iowa Great Lakes Area glow in the dark this weekend. The three non-profit organizations will host the second annual UV Splash at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct 8. Proceeds from the event go to support programs at the YMCA, Arnolds Park Amusement Park and Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce...

Temporary signs are already set up in hallways at the Dickinson County Courthouse for residents who want to submit an early ballot for the Nov. 8 general election. Early voting began Thursday and continues through Monday, Nov. 7. Voting can be done through the mail or in person at the Dickinson County Auditor's Office...

A sandwich shop known for its "freaky fast" delivery has opened a second location in the Iowa Great Lakes. Joshua DeWall, a multi-location franchisee, operates the new Spirit Lake Jimmy John's, according to an announcement from corporate headquarters in Champaign, Illinois...