Stories from Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Sept. 12, 1938 – April 6, 2017 Wesley John Burgin, 78, of Milford passed away Thursday, April 6, 2017, at the Hawkeye Care Center in Milford. A private graveside service will be held Saturday, April 15, at the Milford Cemetery. The Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake is in charge of arrangements...

Oct. 24, 1928 – April 7, 2017 Ronald A. Schwenneker, 88, of Spirit Lake passed away on Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Hawkeye Care Center in Spirit Lake. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 13, 2017, at the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church with Rev. ...

May 29, 1931 – April 2, 2017 Barbara Ann (Burger) Harms went to be with her lord and savior on April 2, 2017. She was born May 29, 1931 in Hartley. A memorial service was held April 5 at United Methodist Church in Sun Lakes, Arizona. She was baptized at a Lutheran Church in Belgrade, Minnesota and confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly, where her grandfather had served as pastor...

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are high, but not high enough yet to be classified as type 2 diabetes. Most people with prediabetes don’t know they have it; in fact, more than 1 in 3 adul Iowans have prediabetes, which means they are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), people with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for heart disease, stroke and serious diabetes-related complications...

For many people understanding Medicare and related health insurance can be confusing and overwhelming. Where do I start? What are my options? Am I making the right decision? What will it cost me? Is there help if I can’t afford my insurance? I’m still working – do I have to sign up for Medicare?...

As the number of Iowa farmers using cover crops continues to grow, it’s important to help make sure these farmers have a successful experience. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on April 7 shared a number of spring management tips for farmers new to growing cover crops. ...

April is National Safe Digging Month and as weather in Iowa continues to become more ideal for outdoor projects, Black Hills Energy is emphasizing the company’s top priority – safety – by providing important guidelines for safe digging. "Call Before You Dig" by contacting Iowa One-Call at 811 or schedule online at www.iowaonecall.com. ...

The Iowa Navy Commodores sailed in to welcome Dr. Joe Toale at Pas and Toale Dentistry in Milford. Dr. Randy Pas joined the practice in 1994. The clinic then became Powers and Pas Dentistry. After Dr. Powers retired, Toale bought into the practice and the clinic was renamed...

Mike Chozen is pleased to welcome his new associate, April (Johnson) Bosma to the practice of law in Iowa. April was born and raised in Spirit Lake. After graduating from Spirit Lake High School, she attended the University of Northern Iowa where she received her bachelor’s degree with a major in economics and a minor in Spanish...

Integrity Real Estate is happy to announce Nate Schmidt as another addition to their professional staff. Nate is proud to have been born and raised in Spencer. Some of his best memories to date are of growing up in Spencer and the summers at Okoboji at the family cabin. After graduating from Spencer High School, Nate went on to Iowa State University where he received his bachelor’s of science in business management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and strategy...

The Okoboji Queen Chapter of Questers International recently received a $1,543 grant from its state organization to further help in the renovation of the O’Brien County Baker School #5, which moved to the Prairie Arts Council Historical Park at Sheldon. The grant check was presented to member Ruth Ann VanDonslear of Milford by Lee Hamil, State Preservation and Renovation Chairman, at the Questers State convention in Davenport. Coincidentally, VanDonslear attended the Baker School as a youngster...

Theresa Umscheid of Iowa Lakes Community College, has been hired as the new statewide director of the Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC). The ICCOC is comprised of seven Iowa community colleges. Umscheid has been serving as interim director of the ICCOC since April 8, 2016, and officially assumed the role of director on April 1...

Many alumni from Harris-Lake Park have gone into the military because of their family history, to further their education, for their love of country or for an opportunity to see different parts of the world. Deni Peters graduated from Harris-Lake Park in 2010. ...

Bills are making their way to the governor. And two of them in particular, had House District 2 written all over them. Last Thursday, Governor Branstad signed HF 289. This bill allows the Clay and Carroll County Treasurer's office to issue drivers licenses. Prior to this, 81 county treasurers were issuing licenses. With the Governor's autograph and an immediate effective date, our county treasurer may issue drivers licenses...

Spirit Lake, IA – Patients at Lakes Regional Healthcare will soon benefit from access to the latest computed tomography (CT) diagnostic technology made possible through a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Rural Healthcare Program...

Kenneth Jacob Wohlfarth, age 23, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 10:38 a.m. on Monday, April 10 on court order for violation of probation. Bond was set at $5,000. Dustin James Vanmaasdam, age 29, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 11:14 a.m. on Monday, April 10 and is being held for another agency. No bond was set...

The late night, annual walleye collection is underway at Rathbun Lake, Storm Lake, Clear Lake and the Iowa Great Lakes. Crews with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau have been setting gillnets at night looking for walleyes ready to spawn...

The children’s theatre company through the Spencer Community Theatre announces its two fully-mounted productions and summer camp schedules. The Deegan Children’s Theatre is excited to announce its 2017 summer season productions and camps, which include “The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee” (July 13th – 16th) and “Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon Kids” (August 10th – 13th). Ten week-long theatre camps for children will begin at the Spencer Community Theatre (SCT) starting on June 1...

Ciera Fergen, a junior arts management student from Spirit Lake, recently performed alongside the Buena Vista University (BVU) Concert Choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City over spring break on March 26. "The experience provided students the well-deserved opportunity to showcase their hard work and talent on an internationally recognized stage," Dr. Merrin Guice, assistant professor of music and director of vocal music at BVU, said...

Charley Whittenburg, CEO at Arnolds Park Amusement Park, announced the Live at the Lake concert series lineup. The lineup features 17 free nights of entertainment over a 14-week period. All shows will be held at Preservation Plaza on the shores of West Lake Okoboji...

Dickinson County CARES (Community Advocates Ready to Empower Survivors) has been hard at work organizing a fantastic family carnival to raise funds to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The CARES’ volunteers will hold their carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Dickinson County Expo Building in Spirit Lake. All proceeds from the event will be given to the Family Crisis Center (FCC) and the Center Against Abuse and Sexual Abuse (CAASA)...

What happens when the original lead vocalists from three of the biggest country bands of all time come together on one stage? The answer is The Frontmen of Country. Collectively, the three stars, Larry Stewart of Restless Heart, Ritchie McDonald of Lonestar, and Tim Rushlow formally of Little Texas will take the U.S. Cellular Grandstand stage at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, as part of the 2017 Clay County Fair...

“We were messy little critters.” Environmental education coordinator Bryanna Kuhlman’s memories of her childhood spent outdoors in Menomonie, Wisconsin, have shaped her into who she is today. “We had forts in trees; we would catch frogs in retention ponds,” Kuhlman said. “I had my red bucket full of worms.”...

Founded in 1965, the Pearson Lakes Art Center has focused on broadening horizons through the arts for more than 50 years.  For more information or to become a member, please contact the Art Center at 712-332-7013, by emailinfo@lakesart.org, or visit the website at www.lakesart.org...

There's a sure sign that the Iowa Legislature is winding down and the sure sign is that joint budget targets were announced yesterday. The agreed-to budget plan spends less next year than we are spending this current year. Currently, the state is slated to spend nearly $7.26 billion for the fiscal year that ends June 30 of this year...

The Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis welcomed six new members to its group Thursday. "We feel privileged to add these people to our club and realize that with more hands, we can provide more service to our community,” Kiwanis President John Hight said. Pictured (Back row): New member Tyran Adams, new member Bill Neiderheiser, new member Daren Diers, sponsor Blain Andera (Front row) sponsor Dustin Pohlman, new member Angela Kofoot, new member Zachary Myer and sponsor Susan Vandyke. Not pictured: new members Scott Berglund and Jonna Garrett.. ...

The Okoboji jazz band once again enjoyed a high finish at the Iowa Jazz Championships. This year's competition was held Tuesday April 4 on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames. This was Okoboji's 24th consecutive appearance at IJC, an invitation-only competition, which brings together the top 15 Iowa jazz bands in each class. This year, Okoboji placed third in the state of Iowa...

For 1994 Spirit Lake graduate Justin Shaw, the game of foosball is not confined to the walls of an arcade or the game room of a local pub. What is a hobby for most has become a passion for Shaw – he participated in the World Cup of Table Soccer in Turin, Italy two years ago...

Students from all over the world have flocked to the Okoboji area over the past several years, as part of the J1 Program. Students fill seasonal positions at all types of Okoboji area businesses through the program. Many in the community think of the program as a work program. In reality, it is a cultural exchange program, with a work component, under the U.S. Department of State...

The sights, sounds and smells Arnolds Park Amusement Park will soon herald the arrival of summer vacation. This week, however, the nearby Arnolds Park Pavilion was filled with the sights and sounds of commerce. Approximately 25 businesses partnered with the Okoboji school system on Thursday for the first annual Okoboji Student Job Fair. ...

The children of Milford were running along the sidewalks, backpacks bobbing, after finishing school on a warm Thursday afternoon. Some were headed home, while others ducked into the Milford Memorial Library to meet Hank the therapy dog. The Milford Memorial Library held a party Thursday for local readers to get acquainted with Hank and his owner Caroline Perkins. ...

Dickinson County Board of Supervisors March 28th, 2017 9:30 A.M. Present are Supervisors Paul Johnson, Mardi Allen, Vice-Chairperson Pam Jordan and Chairperson William Leupold. Supervisor Tim Fairchild was absent. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present...

April 21, 1925 – March 7, 2017 Nickolas John Vos, 91, was reunited with his late wife and love of his life Jennie on March 7, 2017. Visitation will be held at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford on Friday April 21 from 5-7 including a Masonic service. ...