Stories from Wednesday, November 9, 2016

The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the chair and co-chair of the 37th Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games scheduled for Jan. 26-29. Chair Greta Gruys is an Iowa Great Lakes Area native who returned to the area with her husband Nate to raise their three young children: Ilsa, Henrik and Petra...

Jarred Allen Snedker, 25, of Spirit Lake was charged with vandalism, domestic violence and harassment at 2:04 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at 1304 18th Street in Spirit Lake. Thomas Del Los Santos, 26, Montgomery, Texas, was charged with driving while under the influence and open container at 1:37 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at 1900 Highway 71 South in Spirit Lake...

October was the first month since June for below normal rainfall. Despite the drier month, stream flows remain high and groundwater conditions are predominantly good. Iowa heads now into the driest and most hydrologically stable four months of the year...

The South Dickinson County Community Fund Drive is in full swing. The mass mailing to residents of the south half of Dickinson County was on Oct. 11. This organization provides funding to the following non-profit organizations: Red Cross, Salvation Army, Iowa Arthritis Foundation, Children and Families of Iowa Foundation, Florence Crittenton...

The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that the trailers used by IGL Recycling, formerly known as The Lakes Area Fireworks Fund, are returning to service. Joe Feese of Spirit Lake is the new owner of the can recycling business and will continue with transportation of trailers from established drop off sites and separation of cans and bottles. IGL Recycling is proud to continue to employee several people through Echo Plus in Spirit Lake with can separation duties...

The Spirit Lake Music Department will be presenting The Wiz, an urban spinoff of the classic broadway show, The Wizard of Oz. In the production, Dorothy is whisked away to the urban wonderland of Oz. Upon her arrival, she encounters famous characters, such as the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Lion, and a Wizard who can help her get back home to Kansas. Live instrumentation performed by both professionals and Spirit Lake music students will bring songs from the famous musical to life...

The Iowa Lakes Community College Alumni & Friends Association is once again seeking nominations for the 24th annual Jim Hall Outstanding Alumni Award. This award is presented annually at spring commencement to prior graduates of Iowa Lakes who exemplify outstanding support for community, business, school, service clubs, etc...

Huzzah! Good tidings to you and yours! The Iowa Lakes Community College Music Department is proud to announce the 17th Annual Elizabethan Madrigal Feaste. This year's festivities will be held in a neighboring castle -- The VFW in Estherville -- on Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3, at half-past six in the evening...

Two music performances/dances at which veterans will be honored, and featuring popular rock music groups, will be held in central Iowa on Nov. 12-13. Called "Rock 4 Vets," the events are held annually by the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association (IRRMA) based in Arnolds Park. At each event, veterans and active duty personnel are admitted free...

For over 20 years Arts on Grand and Carey's Electronics have cooperated to present a series of foreign films for the general public. Mark Carey selects the films. The films are shown at 7 p.m. on Monday in the upstairs video room at Carey's Electronics store located at 220 Grand Avenue in Spencer. Some of the films are dubbed, but most of them are in the original language with subtitles. Free popcorn is provided and a donation for the movie is appreciated. This fall's films are as follows:...

The Northwest Iowa Concert Band, directed by Rich Nicklay, and the Northwest Iowa Jazz Band, directed by Scott Benjamin, will present their annual fall/holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at Roosevelt Auditorium in Estherville. Weather related postponement date will be the following evening, Nov. ...

Dickinson County Conservation's birding offerings have expanded this year as local birder Lee Schoenewe volunteered to lead excursions beyond the normal summer Birding on the Green programs. He wanted people to see the variety of birds that are seen at different times of the year in Dickinson County's varying habitats...

Only two years after the Dickinson County Conservation Board was established, it took on the care of a beautiful recreation area on the south side of Big Spirit Lake. The conservation board worked on an agreement with the State Conservation Commission for 25 years of management of Orleans Beach. ...

The Morning Users Group (MUG) meets Fridays at 9:30 a.m. in the Black Box Theater of the Sami Center at the Spirit Lake High School. This group of beginner and experienced computer users discusses the latest trends in computer technology and how to solve problems brought by the users. ...

Dickinson County Recorder Ann Ditsworth reminds owners of ATVs, ORVs, and Snowmobiles that it is time
to complete their annual registration renewals. Renewals completed prior to Dec. 31 will avoid a $5 penalty; 2017 Snowmobile trail permits are also available. Payments may be made via cash, check or credit card. Stop in to the recorder's office at the courthouse to complete your renewals today...

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. ...

Dress as a gangster or silent screen star! Come as a flapper or come as you are! Join the Iowa Lakes Community College Foundation, for "Crime and Punishment," a 1920s-themed murder mystery experience, to be held at "The Shores of Five Island" community center in Emmetsburg on Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11. Social begins at 6 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m...

Join Iowa Lakes Community College, on Friday, Dec. 2, in visiting an outdoor Christmas market. These markets are no longer just a German tradition; they have traveled all across the world. The unique cultural and educational experience, typical European-inspired food and drink, as well as diverse holiday entertainment, make Christkindlmarket Des Moines a family destination...

The Prairie Lakes Conference Planning Committee has announced Aug. 9-11 as the dates for the upcoming 2017 Prairie Lakes Conference. The Okoboji Blue Water Festival will follow the conference on Aug. 12. The Clean Water Week festivities be similar to last years activities. Stay tuned to www.plciowa.com to learn more in the coming months. The presentations from August 2016 can be found at this link: http://plciowa.com/conference/2016-confe......

Saint Joseph Catholic Church n Milford will host its annual harvest dinner featuring roast beef and ham from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, in the St. Joseph Parish Center. The entree will be prepared in house and the parish will be providing the rest of the fixings. ...

The Terril American Legion will host its feather party on Saturday, Nov. 19. There will be a pulled pork sandwich meal served from 5:30-7 p.m. Games start at 7 p.m. Play bingo for your Thanksgiving turkey. A raffle with cash prizes will also be on hand...

The Okoboji El Forastero Motorcycle Club (EFMC) will conduct its third-annual Thanksgiving food drive from 2 p.m. to close Saturday, Nov.19, at the EFMC clubhouse in Milford. The group requests nonperishable food items for admission to the event, which will feature food and entertainment. All food donations go to the local Upper Des Moines Opportunity food pantry. Additional information can be obtained by calling Todd at 507-360-4702 or Bill at 712-260-0030...

Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy (SPACE) Committee will host a reception from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at at Arts on Grand, 408 Grand Ave in Spencer. The celebration includes recognition of the first SPACE Public Art Award recipient, Jesse Bogenrief, and his art piece to be displayed at Abben Cancer Center. ...

Okoboji Christian Women's Connection will have its yearly silent auction with proceeds going to Stonecroft Ministries at a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Okoboji Bible Conference Grounds in Arnolds Park. Lori Mayer from St. Ansgar will be the speaker with her talk "Forgiveness, a Beautiful Gift." Ladies are asked to bring items for sale if possible and to come early to have a chance to look at other items brought. ...

Okoboji Ladies Night Out will have a catered dinner at the Okoboji Bible Conference at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at a cost of $10. Lori Mayer from St. Ansgar will be the speaker for the evening with her talk "Forgiveness, A Beautiful Gift." Working women and others that have responsibilities during the day but would like to get together with others for an inspirational evening are invited to attend. This will be the last meeting of the year for this group...

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst's (R-IA) regional directors will hold traveling office hours in November and December across all 99 counties in Iowa. 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, military affairs, passports, immigration issues, and other federal programs. Senator Ernst will not be at the traveling office hours...

Kate Mendenhall with the Iowa Great Lakes Love and Kindness project will present at the Iowa Lakes Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday, Nov 13. Mendenhall will speak about the ideas and progress of the project. Iowa Lakes Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets at Arrowwood Resort at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and the service at 11 a.m. An optional lunch buffet ($10) follows the service. Visitors are always welcome...

The Milford Memorial Library will hold a viewing of "Zootopia" at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at the library. Movie snacks will also be on hand. The event is free to the public. The library will hold public story time at 10 a.m. each Friday as well. For more information, call 712-338-4643...

IN THE IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR DICKINSON COUNTY NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, EQUITY NO. EQCV027631 PLAINTIFF ORIGINAL NOTICE vs. FOR PUBLICATION SHARON H. MARAS, PEOPLES NATURAL GAS COMPANY, PARTIES IN POSSESSION, SPOUSE OF SHARON H. MARAS, IF ANY, ALL OF THE UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ALL OF THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, SPOUSES, ASSIGNEES, GRANTEES, LEGATEES, DEVISEES AND BENEFICIARIES OF SHARON H. MARAS, DECEASED AND STATE OF IOWA, IOWA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND FINANCE,...

Back in December, I was assigned to cover a supplemental story when Donald Trump campaigned at the Clay County Regional Events Center. While the Spencer Daily Reporter team covered the speech, my assignment was to talk to some of the embedded Trump reporters about what life was like on the road with a candidate. Especially that candidate...