Stories from Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Iowa Great Lakes visitors will soon have a chance to chase down their chihuahuas and run after their retrievers at an area park. Volunteer efforts over the weekend have the Lakes Area Dog Park on the verge of completion, according to Amy Pas. She spearheaded the project three years ago and remains in a leadership role for the non-profit effort...

The sound of footsteps coming from the woods won't be made by Rev. Dr. Sarah Rohret's floppy shoes. As Sarabelle, she chooses a mid-morning parade route over an ominous trail at nightfall. "Scary clown" sightings have left areas of the country unsettled in 2016. Authorities have been called out to clown reports about 15 miles south of Rohret's Calvary Untied Methodist Church location in Arnolds Park...

Joshua Mandelkow will continue to be held on a $50,000 bond for his suspected role in the armed robbery of a rural northwest Iowa restaurant. The Lake Park man requested a bond reduction hearing in a court filing at the start of October. District Court Judge Nancy Whittenburg denied the request in a Oct. 4 ruling...

Representatives of the Iowa Great Lakes Area tourism industry had the opportunity to express their wants and needs with several state agencies last week. The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs held a "drop-in" meeting Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. Officials from the Iowa Arts Council, Iowa State Historical Society, Iowa Tourism Office, USDA, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Economic Development attended...

Iowa Great Lakes Area dog owners, along with their furry friends, will get a chance to stretch their legs this weekend. The University of Okoboji and Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce will hold the fifth annual Mutt Strut at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. All the proceeds from the event go to benefit the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa...

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...

The 2016-17 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been established to help qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay for a portion of their primary heating costs for the winter heating season. Application will be taken from Oct. ...

The Better Business and Bureau has announced that Motor Inn in Spirit Lake was approved and accepted for Better Business and Bureau accreditation. Better Business and Bureau accreditation is voluntary, and businesses must meet and maintain Better Business and Bureau standards. The Better Business and Bureau business review for Motor Inn can be found at bbb.org/iowa...

The Dickinson County Republican Headquarters, located at 2308 Enterprise Avenue and Highway 71, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday through Election Day on Nov. 8. Information on candidates, yard signs and get out the vote friends will be on hand to assist anyone who stops in...

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. ...

Come join Okoboji Christian Women's Connection on Sunday, Oct. 23, for an afternoon of whimsical fun, music, stories, tea and food at the Okoboji Conference grounds from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Gowns and tiaras are welcome but not required. Tea cups will be provided or you can bring one of your own for a chance to win a prize. ...

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...

The United Methodist Church in Lake Park will host a Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the church. Coffee will be served from 9-10:30 a.m. A meal will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The menu includes scalloped potatoes, calico beans, green beans, coleslaw, potato chips, dinner rolls, homemade pies and beverages. The cost of the meal is $9 for adults and $4 for children ages 6-12. Anyone five and under eat for free...

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 Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 1602 15th street in Spirit Lake. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. ...

A turkey dinner will be served from 5-7 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...

Republican women will have their traditional "Pancakes and Politics" meal at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the O'Farrell Sisters Restaurant. Iowa's National Committee woman, Tamara Scott, will speak at the event.

Okoboji Christian Women's Connection will have a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Okoboji Bible Conference Grounds in Arnolds Park. Bonnie Neisess will be the speaker with her talk "The Ultimate Treasure." Special feature will be Kelly Schatz from Hey, Good Cookies! Bill Lauritsen will provide music for the day. ...

Okoboji Ladies Night Out will have a catered dinner at the Okoboji Bible Conference at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18. Cost is $10. Bonnie Neisess from Milford will be the speaker for the evening with her talk "The Ultimate Treasure." Working woman and others that have responsibilities during the day but would like to get together with others for an inspirational evening are invited to attend...

A Italian buffet will be held from 4:30-6:30 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. ...

Join the Friends of Lakeside Lab in welcoming and meeting the two finalists for the executive director position at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory and Regents Resource Center (ILLRRC). Due to the recent retirement of Lakeside's Director Chet Rzonca, the ILLRRC is in the process of determining his replacement. ...

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. ...

The Dickinson County Taxpayers Association Board of Directors will hold a meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Arnolds Park City Hall. The featured speaker will be new Okoboji School District superintendent Todd Abrahamson. His discussion will center on the new superintendent's impressions of the Okoboji School District since has arrival earlier this summer. ...

The Milford Memorial Library will hold a bingo party after school on Thursday, Oct. 13, at the library. The event is open for preschool 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...

Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue urges all residents to know how old their smoke alarms are, and to replace them every 10 years. Does your home have a smoke alarm? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the answer is likely yes: NFPA research shows that most American homes have at least one. But do you know how old your smoke alarms are? If you're like most people, you're probably not so sure...

After the airing of Trump's interview with Billy Bush, Donald Trump commented that it was nothing but "locker room" banter and repeated it again in the second presidential debate. I was involved in four years of high school sports, four years of college sports and 61 years of various sporting programs, all of which included locker rooms and locker room banter...

Congratulations to The Force marching band on receiving a Division I "Superior" rating at State Marching Band Contest on Saturday, Oct. 8. The band received an overall score of 73.2, up from 68.7 last year. Additionally, the band placed 5th in Class 3A at the Dutchmen Field Championship that same day. ...

Election Day is just around the corner, and that means it's time to talk about voter registration. Each state has the authority to mandate its own requirements for registering to vote. Here are some facts about voter ID laws in Iowa to ensure you are prepared to cast your ballot on Election Day...

What is water pollution and how is the Iowa Great Lakes area being affected by it? Through researching and interviewing credible sources from the Iowa Great Lakes, students from Spirit Lake High School learned about the different types of pollution, how they're caused, and ways to help prevent or stop the pollution. With this being presented it is hoped to spread awareness about how pollution is happening and what can be done to change it...

Darren Albert Hasbrouck Jr, 30, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail on an outstanding warrant at 2:20 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Terrance Mersheak Harris, 23, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail on fourth-degree theft and failure to provide valid license charges at 11:43 a.m. Monday, Oct.3...

The clowns are coming and unfortunately they're not spreading joy and happiness, instead they're creating fear and panic. According to an article in International Business Times, the string of sightings across the United States, which were first documented on Aug. ...

Spencer Main Street is gearing up for the second annual ZombieWalk with proceeds benefiting The Shayla Bee Fund. Shayla Bee is funded to help responsible, working class families with a child in medical crisis. Founded in 2007 they have helped more than 110 families...

Naturalist Charles Vigdal will focus on the Orionids meteor shower at his next Star Trekking program at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji. The shower will peak that morning. "This is a minor meteor shower, but it's still good, because, hopefully, the weather will still be nice," Vigdal said. ...

Join GRIT Collaborative at the Pearson Lakes Art Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 for "Water: Our World," an exciting event of music and visual art. Water-inspired work will be presented from internationally renowned composers and visual artists, including Edna Cantoral Acosta, Reenie Charriere, Yotam Haber, Robert Fleisher, Teresa Leung, Joshua Marquez, J. Pouwels and Suzanne Sorkin...

Jeremy R. Johnston presents a solo percussion recital featuring works showcasing many trends in current composition for percussion at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Pearson Lakes Art Center's Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre. Tickets are $10. Presenting both technical prowess and musical sensitivity, Johnston performs his "Snapshots of Modern Percussion" program, featuring widely varied instruments and compositions found in contemporary percussion repertoire...

The Lake Park Public Library will be hosting a second book signing event for a familiar name in town. Bill Zahren will be on hand from 1-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21. Attendees can purchase an autographed copy of his recent book, "Paper Trail." From the book:...

Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) Hospice, Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home and Turner Jenness Funeral Home have teamed up to honor those who have passed away and those that are currently in hospice care by hosting a Walk/Run to Remember 5K event on Saturday, Oct. 22...

A group of Dickinson County citizens decided to take a stand against domestic violence and sexual abuse around two months ago. Some were victims themselves, others had friends or family who had suffered. But no matter their reasons, they were all united behind the same cause...

The Milford Memorial Library is hosting an after school craft party Thursday, Sept. 9, at the library. The theme this month is "Halloween Bingo." Join the library for stories and much more every Friday at 10 a.m. Betty Nabb, children's librarian, looks forward to sharing stories. No pre-registration is necessary. The theme this week is "Owls."...

Massage therapist Dale Wheeler will be at Iowa Lakes Community College on Nov. 5-6 to present a pair of eight-hour workshops for current licensed massage therapists. Wheeler is a licensed continuing education provider. He uses his combination of business knowledge and massage skills to teach and mentor massage therapists seeking business success. ...

Iowa Lakes Community College will host a cosmetology recertification course titled "It's All About That Hair" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Spirit Lake campus. Professional cosmetologist Stacy Besch will instruct the class. During this session, participants will learn the latest techniques in colors, cuts and styles using individuals from the audience as the makeover models...

The Buena Vista University (BVU) Board of Trustees has begun the search for a successor to President Fred Moore, who will step down following 22 years of leading the institution. It is anticipated that the next president will tentatively begin their duties on July 1, 2017...

Join us for story time every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Arnolds Park Library. All ages are welcome. We will enjoy new stories, as well as, some favorite classics. Be sure to stay for the book-themed craft after story time. Tuesday, Oct. 18: Books -- "Room on the Broom" by Julia Donaldson and "Spooky Wheels on the Bus" by J. Elizabeth Mills...

Jan. 4, 1928 -- Oct. 5, 2016 Joyce M. Fahlenkamp, 88, of Lake Park passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, at the Lake Park Care Center in Lake Park. Funeral services were Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 at the Lake Park United Methodist Church. Burial was at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Arrangements are under the direction of Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

The Iowa Great Lakes Knights of Columbus Council 5043 will hold its annual Soup and Pie Supper at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at the Expo Center, one block north of Hy-Vee in Spirit Lake. Proceeds go toward helping others in the community. The menu will feature five homemade soups -- vegetable beef soup, oyster stew, chicken noodle soup, chili and sauerkraut sausage soup -- as well as homemade pie for dessert. ...

The YMCA core values are youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Through a new partnership with Big Splash, Inc., the Bedell Family YMCA found a program that touches all three aspects at once. Big Splash promotes wellness, recreation, and personal achievement in students with special needs by providing adapted instructional swimming and aquatic therapy in a positive, supportive environment...

The Spencer Rotary Club has started collecting books for the 2016 Rotary Book Sale set for Wednesday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 6 at the Clay County Regional Events Center. The 25th annual book sale is expected to feature approximately 30,000 used books ranging from fictional classics to romance novels and nonfiction selections to rare first editions...

Innovative technology, ways to stay healthy this fall and winter and advice regarding Medicare coverage are just some of the topics that will be showcased at an upcoming health fair at Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH). The event, developed by LRH's Patient and Family Engagement Committee, will be held from 10 a.m. ...

Iowa food manufacturer and distributor Land Mark Products received the prestigious "Supplier of the Year" award from Kum & Go at the convenience store chain's annual meeting held Aug. 30. Kum & Go is regarded as one of the nation's premier convenience store brands with more than 400 locations in 11 states. Kum & Go is recognized as an innovator in providing exceptional food service, elevating the industry's standards of food quality and variety...

IGL Construction has invested in the development of 13 new homes at Pelican Ridge in Arnolds Park. These properties are part of IGL Construction's interest to bring housing to the local market. As part of the completion of the first of 13 homes being constructed this season at Pelican Ridge, IGL Construction is hosting an open house event from 4-6 p.m. ...