Stories from Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Organizers usually have to wait until the end of March before a contest car gets pulled out of Smith's Bay and a $1,000 winner is announced. The 2017 Rotary car on West Lake Okoboji decided to take an early dip Thursday, Feb. 23. "We were hoping for about a month from now so we could sell more time tickets," Iowa Great Lakes Rotary representative Carey Wilkens lamented...

Mother focuses effort on enhancing flu awareness

Coleton Danil Henricksen, 19, of Dickens was charged with simple assault at 1:19 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 2702 Sunner Avenue in Spirit Lake. Steven Howard Shuberg, 69, of Spirit Lake was charged with driving under the influence and failure to obey a stop sign at 7:06 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the corner of 140th Street and Hill Ave. in Spirit Lake...

After 75 years and three generations, a battered and dented canteen is about to find its way home to the family of a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March. In 1942, the Bataan Peninsula was being overrun by Japanese troops, forcing a U.S. general to surrender in hopes of saving his trapped troops from slaughter. Some 75,000 Americans and Filipinos were forced to make the arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. Thousands of them perished under harsh treatment and intense heat...

The Board of Trustees at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake has named Dr. Joshua D. Merchant as its new president, succeeding Frederick V. Moore, who is stepping down from the position after 22 years. Merchant will assume the role of BVU president on July 1...

Cooperative Farmers Elevator (CFE) will be hosting a food drive from March 1-24. All of CFE’s locations throughout northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, and southeast South Dakota will be participating. Each night, 14,000 people go to bed hungry in CFE’s market territory. ...

Plan ahead for how much fun kids can have this summer at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji as registration for summer camps opens online March 1. Children ages 4-18 have the opportunity to get outside with a variety of summer camps offered this year...

Wade Weber of Spirit Lake has been named the new state program leader for 4-H Youth Development and head of Kansas State University’s 4-H Youth Development Department.
When he begins working in his new position on Monday, April 3, Weber will lead a program that provided educational activities to 77,620 young people across Kansas last year, aided by 10,999 adult and youth volunteers.
Weber holds a master’s degree in counseling and student development from Kansas State University and will return to Manhattan after leading 4-H youth development programs with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for the last seven years.
He also holds a graduate certificate from Kansas State University in academic advising and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Central College in Pella.
During his past seven years with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Weber’s innovative approach grew six county programs to a 10-year high in 4-H youth engagement, club membership and volunteerism.. ...

Ash Wednesday, March 1, marks the beginning of Lent. There will be a service of Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes at 7 p.m. at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Spirit Lake on Ash Wednesday. The service will be led by Beth Preston, postulant for the priesthood...

As Americans, we have much to be thankful for; freedom, prosperity and the ability to strive for whatever our dreams desire. In many countries, poverty and the danger of gang crime cause people to become desperate and to look at America as a place to better their lives for themselves and their children. ...

Every year, legislators at the Iowa Capitol debate the role civil servants should play in moving the state forward. Sometimes, as we’ve seen in the past few weeks, the issue of collective bargaining comes up in the conversation. And sometimes (again, as in the case of collective bargaining) public employees aren’t happy with the results. But whether Republicans or Democrats are in power, these discussions are ultimately linked to the state budget...

I received a very interesting email the other day from Tom Arends, a member of Milford American Legion Post #384. It really made me stop and reflect. All of us react to the playing of taps during the military rites at a funeral. I get chills and sometimes tears as the bugler plays those famous notes...

Longfellow’s eloquent line, Sail on, O’ Ship of State, certainly doesn’t fit the state of affairs today. These times are anything but smooth sailing. This is more like a road trip in an over-crowded vehicle with an unknown driver behind the wheel. Some see it as a shiny new Corvette with a savvy NASCAR driver. ...

This week, the buzz is about HF 316 – a bill that restructures DesMoines Water Works. So why is this a big deal for us in northwest Iowa? Well, three northwest Iowa counties were sued by Des Moines Water Works, causing a lot of questions to be raised about the entity and its structure...

A: The Constitution gives the U.S. Senate “advise and consent” authority for nominations made by the president to the federal bench. It is a vital element of our republic’s fundamental separation of powers that empowers each branch to keep check on the others and thwart overreach by any one branch of government. Last year, the unexpected death of Justice Antonin Scalia opened a seat on the Supreme Court in a presidential election year...

The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was an intellectual giant and a revered defender of the Constitution and the limited role of the judiciary in our Republic. His contributions to the court and to broader judicial philosophy will endure for years. Now, we’ll keep our word to the American people to consider a nominee by the new president...

Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) recently met with members of the Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The group was visiting the Capitol to talk with legislators about dietitians and nutritionists. Pictured are Melissa McLaughlin of Newton, Brooke Hershberger, Hannah Klotz and Katie Berns of Iowa City. Hannah Steenblock of Ames and Tina Bauermeister of Spirit Lake are also pictured with Rep. John Wills...

This week Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) met with members of the Clay County Trail Association and Okoboji Bike Club. The group was visiting the Capitol to talk with legislators about rider safety. Pictured here are Kurt Ball and Donna Ball of Dickens, Mary and Mark Fairchild of Greenville, Rep. John Wills of Spirit Lake as well as Kathy Renken and Dan Renken of Okoboji...

Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) met with Shelly Sindt of the Elderbridge Agency on Aging. Sindt of Fostoria was visiting the Capitol to talk with legislators about Area Agencies on Aging.

Local Veterinarian, Ross Dirks, showcased his Peregrine Falcon named Bogey at a recent meeting of Girl Scouts, Troop 10204.  "Falconry is one of the most ancient hunting sports," Dr. Dirks explained to the group. Dr. Dirks has been hunting with falcons for over 20 years and is the owner of the Dickinson County Animal Clinic. ...

Iowa Lottery players continue to win large prizes across the state.
Chris Taylor of Milford was the latest big instant-scratch game winner in Dickinson County during calendar year 2016, winning $100,000 in the Holiday Mega CW game with a ticket purchased at Dyno's in Milford.
Marian Powers of Arnolds Park was the county's latest and biggest lotto winner during the same period, winning $120,000 in the PICK 4 game with a ticket purchased at Forbes Liquor Locker in Spirit Lake...

In Yamato, Japan on Feb. 23, Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi Commanding Officer, Capt. John Bushey, from Spencer, participated in an interview with local Japanese radio station FM Yamato. During the interview, Bushey discussed the U.S. Navy’s relationship with the base’s host nation partners as well as various community engagement events between NAF Atsugi and the Japanese community, including the upcoming Spring Fest open base event...

This week Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) met with students who shadowed the Iowa House of Representatives legislative pages for the day. The students were visiting the Capitol to talk with legislators and learn about the legislative page opportunities available at the Capitol. Pictured here are Rep. Wills with Sunny Duffney and Tessa Reed of Spirit Lake...

Congratulations were extended to the members of the Spirit Lake High School Jazz Band for placing fifth at the NWIBA District Jazz Festival on Monday, Feb. 20 in Le Mars. The public is invited to come and hear the band at 7 p.m. Monday, March 13 at the Spirit Lake Jazz Show in the Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts...

An open meeting of the Milford Memorial Library board of trustees will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 1. A free computer class will be led by Jeff Cookinham after the meeting. The Milford Memorial Library adult craft series is back. Join MML director Beth Sorenson for "Recycled CD Sun Catchers" from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at the library. Registration for this event is required and the cost to participate is $2. Contact the library for more information...


Approximately 8,775 Iowa State University students have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the Fall Semester 2016 Dean's List. 
Students named to the Dean's List must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work. 
Area students listed include:...

Former Spirit Lake athlete Taylor Sieperda recently helped the Kansas women's swimming and diving team to a program-best finish at the Big 12 Championship in Austin, Texas. The Jayhawks earned a runner-up finish for the second year in a row, this time with a program-best 683.5 points...

It has been a long journey for Iowa Lakes Community College right-handed pitcher Joe Fitka. The 6-5, 230-pound product of Dimond High School out of Anchorage, Alaska, has come a long way to chase a dream of getting a college education and playing baseball at the collegiate level...

The Iowa Lakes men's and women's basketball teams dropped a pair of road games to Southwestern Community College on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Laker men fell 86-68 and the women lost 72-67. In the men's contest, the Lakers were led by Joe Binyoti with 17 points. Streeter McIlravy finished with 12. Kyle Beisch and Mitch Keller each had 10...

The Boji Mammoths hockey team won two of its final three games to end its inaugural season on a high note, besting Aberdeen in a pair before losing to Fremont in the season finale. The Mammoths beat Aberdeen 4-3 on Saturday, Feb. 18 and 4-1 on Sunday, Feb. 19, before losing 8-1 to Fremont on Saturday, Feb. 25...

Iowa Lakes men's basketball coach Troy Larson notched his 200th career win on Tuesday, Feb. 7 in a 77-74 win over Iowa Western Community College. Larson is in his 10th season as the Lakers' head coach.

There’s something about the months of February and March. It’s still winter, but we know that spring is moving ever closer! Each year we watch to see what will happen when Punxsutawney Phil, the nation’s resident weather groundhog, comes out of his den. Will he see his shadow or not?...

What a mild winter in the Midwest so far! Rain is falling, so today I’m thinking more about open water then I am ice-fishing. Yes, I know there will be some snows before spring arrives. However, I’m sure there are a couple more ice-fishing trips in my near future, but as I go through some new open water stuff that I received recently, I’m looking forward to the following...

Although winter can remind us that it’s not over ‘til it’s over, there are signs to watch for that let us know spring is just around the corner. Longer days, warmer sun, ice out, trees budding. These we subconsciously notice. But winter will shed her coat in other ways. Literally. ...

Recent warm weather conditions indicate spring might be a bit early this year, and for that reason, the Department of Natural Resources suggests finishing oak pruning by March 15. “The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to not prune any oak tree during its growing season,” says Tivon Feeley, DNR forest health program leader. “This is generally between the end of March and the start of October; however, this year, the growing season may be getting a head start.”...

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s 2017 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic presented by Federal Premium Ammunition concluded Sunday, Feb. 19, drawing a record-setting 30,462 supporters to the Minneapolis Convention Center. Planning has already commenced for the much-anticipated 2018 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic on Feb. 16-18 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which will coincide with the organization’s 35th anniversary...

Recreational fishing brings a myriad of economic benefits to communities throughout the U.S. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and Southwick Associates have released the 2017 update of Economic Contributions of Recreational Fishing: U.S. Congressional Districts, along with a new series of one-page infographics, which depict recreational fishing’s economic impact on all 435 Congressional districts and the 50 states...

Iowa Lakes softball player Blaney Markman signed her letter of intent to continue her athletic career at NAIA Waldorf University. Blaney will also continue her education in elementary education. “I am very happy that Blaney decided to continue her softball career at Waldorf. ...

The Iowa Lakes men’s soccer team has moved another sophomore player on to a top level collegiate program. Gustavo Nascimento – a 6-foot center-midfielder from Sao Paulo, Brazil – will continue with NCAA Division I program Hofstra University after two successful years at Iowa Lakes Community College...

Iowa Lakes Community College softball coach Katie Larson announced the signing of Jerica Walters to the 2017-2018 recruiting class. Jerica is the daughter of Heather Walters and played for the Sioux City North High School Stars. “We are excited that Jerica decided to continue her softball career at Iowa Lakes,” Larson said. “Jerica has an energy and love for the game that is infectious. You can tell she loves the game and enjoys every minute of her time on the field.”...