Stories from Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The Milford Police Department filed a threat of terrorism charge against a teenager who was removed from school last week for posting threats on social media. The juvenile in question was taken from the high school before the start of classes Wednesday, March 15. He was transferred to juvenile court services on the Class D felony charge.

Former Spencer pastor Kevin Grimes appears to be taking steps toward a plea agreement stemming from a 2016 sexual misconduct investigation. District Court Judge Nancy Whittenburg on Tuesday, March 7, set a 10 a.m. plea hearing Monday, May 15, at the Clay County Courthouse for Grimes. The judge also ordered the Department of Corrections to prepare a pre-plea investigation report for the possible sentencing process...

The Dickinson County News is pleased to announce the addition of Seth Boyes as a full-time staff writer in Spirit Lake. Boyes was a staff writer at the Spencer Daily Reporter for just shy of a year. He was a general assignment reporter during his time in Spencer, including coverage of city and county government...

The mid-day legislative forum Saturday drew questions from a standing-room only crowd in Spirit Lake. U.S. Rep. Steve King, state Sen. David Johnson and state Reps. Megan Jones and John Wills participated in the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber-sponsored event. ...

Taking their lead from a regional call to action, Spencer residents Denise Loring and Linda Hoberg DeLaughter used social media to spread the word about an organized protest event targeting all of Iowa’s 4th District U.S. Rep. Steve King’s offices in Spencer, Ames, Fort Dodge, Mason City and Sioux City Saturday beginning at 1 p.m...

On March 25, 1967, Stub Johnson, Leo Gray, and Wayne Nielsen created The Pony Express Riders of Iowa. They each rode a 100 mile loop starting and ending in Spencer, collecting money to be donated to the Iowa Easter Seals. Over the years, the Pony Express has expanded to include the whole state of Iowa, raising over $10 million for Camp Sunnyside...

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has highlighted the continued biosecurity efforts by Iowa turkey, egg and broiler farmers and the preparations undertaken on the state and federal level following the confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Tennessee and low pathogenicity avian influenza in Tennessee and Wisconsin in the past week...

The North Wind Region of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) will be meeting at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory March 17-19. The regional conference is open to the public. The bipartisan group has over 55,000 members nationwide and lobbies elected officials to adopt a carbon fee and dividend policy to combat the detrimental effects of burning fossil fuels thus transitioning to clean and renewable energy sources...

Abby Goodlaxson, of Okoboji will be honored as the Central District High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators at its 132nd National Convention & Expo. The event began Tueday in Boston and continues through March 18...

The South Dickinson Community Fund board of directors would like to express their thanks to the residents of South Dickinson County who made it possible for the board to distribute additional funds received after the 2016 fund drive in the amount of $1,660...

Bobbi Jo Schroeder, age 38, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail on a warrant at 5:44 p.m. Saturday Feb. 26. Craig Wendel Ammerman, age 35, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail for violation of parole at 3:07 p.m. Wednesday March 1. Margaret Anne Zeman, age 54, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail on a warrant at 6:11 p.m. Friday, March 10...

The OPERA Iowa Educational Touring Troupe, an educational program of Des Moines Metro Opera, hit the road for its 31st annual tour recently. The group will perform John Davies’ "Jack & the Beanstalk" for elementary schools in Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri...

The smell of grilled salmon wafted through the trees off West Lake Okoboji. Small black noses twitched and mouths watered as four small raccoons peered over the limbs of a tree to see who was cooking such deliciousness. It was at that exact moment that David Curry, 61 of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, clicked the shutter button, capturing an adorable photo of the four raccoon youngsters in the tree. ...

The University of Okoboji Corvette Club continues with the 20th year of their annual gift to the Okoboji Foundation from “Vettes in the Park” summer event. This $1,500 gift is dedicated to the memory of Corvette Club members who passed away in 2016...

The Okoboji Summer Theatre will make a pre-summer appearance at the Pearson Lakes Art Center's Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre. The fun-filled evening of songs come from the big band era, Broadway musicals, and classic jazz. Join in the celebration 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, to kick off the 60th anniversary of Stephens College at Okoboji Summer Theatre...

I don't know about you but the older I get (yes, I am 'old') the harder it is for my body to adjust to the time changes twice a year. We are now in daylight savings time. In my opinion, this is one of the most idiotic things we have to do each year. Last Saturday night we turned out clocks ahead and lost that precious hour of sleep. And we won't get it back until November!!!...

This year’s legislative town halls in Spencer and the Lakes are now in the books, and a very good year it has been. My thanks go to the citizens of Clay and Dickinson counties and surrounding area. You came out in unprecedented numbers to engage in the democratic process that is the foundation of our representative republic...

For the past few weeks, our 4th District Congressional Representative, Steve King, has been heavily featured in the national news. His distractions regarding people in general have been a distraction, and, frankly, a blemish on the people of Iowa he supposedly represents. So, what is it that Steve King does to represent the needs of his constituents in Iowa? The answer to this is very little...

Last Saturday morning was the third (and final) “eggs and issues” in City Hall, and we were blessed with the presence of our own congressman — the honorable Steve King — in addition to representatives Megan Jones and John Wills and former Republican Senator, David Johnson. Two things were quite apparent — the crowd has become quite unrepresentative of voters in northwest Iowa, and the metamorphosis of David Johnson is just about complete...

Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all! There are times in one’s life where we must consider the finer points in life. These seven words weigh heavily on me after another week of disruptive protests and angry rhetoric. These seven words are something nearly every one of us learns as children because they come from our Pledge of Allegiance.  I don’t think a single word in our “Pledge” is there by mistake. So, let’s look at these words this week...

Pursuant to Iowa Code, the Iowa Hospital Association is required to collect the health data that hospitals collect from their patients for the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). The two entities have a memorandum of understanding or MOU (a contract, basically) to accomplish this...

Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) recently met with members of the Palo Alto County Conservation Board. The group was visiting the Capitol to talk with legislators as a part of County Day on the Hill. Pictured are Wills, Howard Paul of Spirit Lake, Marry Barrick of Ruthven and Jon Kruse of Storm Lake...

The Iowa Lakes Community College nursing class that will be graduating in July held a movie matinee on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Riviera Theatre in Emmetsburg. The movie of choice was "Trolls." Admission to the event was toiletry products, which were donated to Upper Des Moines Opportunity (UDMO)...

The Spirit Lake Elementary School K-Kids club raised $300 by decorating, packaging and selling Valentine’s Day cookies as their fundraising project. The funds were used to help the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa. The K-Kids, a Kiwanis-sponsored club, consists of fourth graders, student-led, and provides members with the opportunity to perform service, build character, and develop leadership skills...

The Milford Commercial Club welcomes Scott Berglund from Lakes Cement Leveling to the Milford Community. He says repairing sunken and uneven concrete can be easy, clean and half the price of replacing existing concrete. Berglund can be reached at (712)330-9027, for the use of polyurethane for concrete lifting and leveling. ...

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health is hosting the Third Annual "END IT! for Autumn Rally" in support of Child Abuse Prevention Month. The event will be held at 10 a.m. on April 7 at the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office in Orange City. Northwest Iowa law enforcement, DHS offices, county attorneys, County Board of Supervisors, area senators and representatives have all been invited to participate. ...

The US Postal Service and US Postal Inspection Service has fraud prevention information for you during consumer protection week and any time of the year. The week helps consumers by providing information, materials, and services to improve their ability to protect themselves and loved ones from fraud...

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on March 7 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...

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be an additional 1,500 new cases of colon cancer diagnosed in Iowa this year among people mostly 50 years old and older. Approximately 600 will die from the disease. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month...

If you are in third or fourth grade and you like to create with your hands and use your brain, the Constructors Club is for you! We’ll have fun while constructing something different each month. Come to the library at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, and prepare to construct boats. Don’t forget to bring your thinking cap. There is no cost and all materials are provided by the library...

Student Senators have been selected for the Emmetsburg campus of Iowa Lakes Community College for the 2016-2017 school year. Those students include: President Emily Heeren, Paullina; Vice-President Zach Pedersen, Milford; and Secretary Jocelyn Waterbury, Livermore. Senators include: Nathan Naber, Spencer; Adam Sundleaf, Elk Point, South Dakota.; and Leigh Chinn, Spencer...

Iowa Lakes Community College Foundation recently announced a new scholarship available for students starting in the 2017-18 academic year, Four Palo Alto County students will be selected to receive the $500 Invenergy wind technician scholarship. Students must be enrolled full-time in the wind energy turbine and technology program to be considered...

Mallory Luers of Milford has been named to the deans' list at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the fall semester of the 2016-17 academic year. Luers, a junior pre speech-language pathology major, was named to the dean's list for the College of Education and Human Sciences. ...

July 13, 1925 – March 11, 2017 A mass of Christian Burial for Verlyn Crosby “Jip” Jipson will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 17, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Burial will be at the Lone Tree Cemetery in Everly. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 p.m. ...

Aug. 25, 1928 – March 5, 2017 A funeral service for Ruth Lindsey, 88 of Arnolds Park was held Friday, March 10, at Calvary United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park. Burial will be at Spirit Lake Memorial Gardens.
Ruth Elaine Lindsey was born on Aug. ...

Nov. 4. 1931 – Feb. 28, 2017 Joan Marlyn Thon was born on Nov. 4, 1931, at home in Armstrong, the daughter of William and Ada (Culbertson) Yackle. After the passing of her parents, she lived with her sister, Irene, and graduated from Armstrong High School in 1949. She joined the United States Air Force in February of 1950 and married Nathan Kingsley Thon, Jr. on February 21, 1952 at Parks Air Force base in Pleasanton, California...

May 25, 1929 – March 8, 2017 Harold “Butch” Momsen passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 8, 2017 at Hawkeye Care Center in Spirit Lake.  Harold had resided at Hawkeye since shortly after his wife’s death in August 2015, in order to be closer to his daughter Laurie. ...

Jan. 30, 1937 - March 7, 2017 A Mass of Christian Burial for Charles McCabe, 80, of Milford, was held Saturday, March 11, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in Milford.    Charles Michael McCabe, the son of Matthew and Elizabeth (Lucey) McCabe, was born Jan. 30, 1937, in Boyden. ...

July 18, 1950 – March 7, 2017 Charles M. Manly III, 66, of Spirit Lake and formerly of Grinnell, died March 7, 2017, at the Hawkeye Care Center in Spirit Lake, due to complications of multiple sclerosis. A reception gathering in celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at the Buckley Hall Dining Room of the Mayflower Community in Grinnell...

Dickinson County boys basketball teams combined to go 38-51 overall this past season with just one of the four teams finishing over .500 for the season. For their efforts, several athletes earned postseason recognition from their respective conferences...

The Iowa Lakes men's basketball team ended their season with a 1-1 showing in the Regional Tournament. On Tuesday, March 7, the Lakers moved to 22-8 on the season with a 89-56 win over Iowa Central. The Lakers were led by Dennis Joiner with 18 points. Jaylon Tapplar added 16. Streeter Mcilravy had 15, and Kyle Beisch had 13...

The Lakers fall on the road at DMACC in the first round of the Regional Tournament, 63-53. The Lakers were led by Lauryn Smith with 16 points, Mia Wassink added 9 points, and Gabriella Garcia added 8 points.  “The kids played their heart out tonight," Iowa Lakes coach Ashley Martin said. "I am extremely proud of this team and all they have accomplished. It’s always tough to see a season come to an end, but the team can hold their heads high and be proud of all their efforts and hard work!”...

The Bedell Barracuda swimmers who competed at the state meet in Marshalltown include: (front, from left) Noah Rice, Ray Kaiser, Alex Profit; (middle) Brynn Ness, Kazmyr Menough, Brooklyn Ferguson, Audrey Farrar; (back) Mya Miller, Callie Taylor, Nick Phomsouvanh, Erikka Duhn and Haley Harms. Not pictured are Griffin Kasperbauer, Ella Kasperbauer, Ella Stoll, Kaleb Johnson and Jordyn Sorenson...

Stunned! Twice, that is! That’s the word I first felt on Monday, March 6 as I watched the wind totally destroy the ice on the Okoboji chain of lakes. By Tuesday, East Okoboji was totally open, and I would say West Okoboji was over 80 percent ice-free. By Wednesday, March 8 nothing was left except for a few remnants of floating ice. Now, Big Spirit was a little more stubborn, but it soon gave in, too...

For the most part, ice-fishing came to an early end this year. That means that open water fishing will have an early start: In fact, throughout the Midwest, some anglers are already enjoying open water fishing. They’re on rivers, and they’re fishing for walleyes...

This is the time of year that high school seniors spend a lot of time filling out post secondary scholarship applications. Area seniors who are planning on going into programs featuring environmental studies, fish and wildlife are encouraged to apply for a $500 Jim McDonnell Scholarship sponsored by the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club (IGLFC). ...

Sometimes in late winter, we are looking for a good escape. If you can’t travel physically, you can choose a good book that helps you “travel” in other ways. One of my favorite books is Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac. Aldo Leopold, well-known conservationist and writer, was born in Burlington, Iowa in 1887. As a young boy, he grew up fishing, hunting and hiking along the Mississippi River. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in forestry from Yale, and began his career with the US Forest Service in Arizona and New Mexico. Later, he taught game management at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. . ...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) State Forest Nursery is promoting butterfly and songbird habitat with its March Butterfly and Bird seedling packet. “This packet consists of four shrub and one tree species selected for their potential to attract butterflies and songbirds to your property,” says State Forester Paul Tauke. ...

Following a career year, Simpson women's basketball player Noreen Morrow earned a spot on the All-Iowa Conference First Team for the 2016-17 season, as announced by the league office late last week. A 6-2 junior from Lake Park, Iowa, Morrow led the Storm in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The inside force led the Iowa Conference in rebounding, finished third in scoring and was second in field goal percentage (54.1)...

An Iowa Lakes Community College soccer player will advance to play at Division II powerhouse program at Colorado Mesa University. Freddy Fragozo, midfielder, appeared in 16 games – starting 15 of those. He registered 10 goals in his sophomore season and he had six assists...