Stories from Tuesday, March 13, 2018

From a parade in Emmetsburg to a nature program close to home, area organizations have plans in place to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick’s Day is all about the green. Although environmental education coordinator Bryanna Kuhlman might have a different spin on it than most during the St. Patty’s Pajama Party 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji...

Nov. 26, 1940 — March 5, 2018 Wendell Wayne Wilson, 77, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, March 5, 2018 at Greenville (South Carolina) Memorial Hospital. Born Nov. 26, 1940 in Spencer, he was a son of the late Wayne Lester and Neva Darlene Myrick Wilson. Wendell earned his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and attended North Carolina State University for graduate studies...

Oct. 22, 1926 — March 8, 2018 Alvira Jean Wenck Braesch was born in Glidden to Daniel J. and Katherine Wenck on Oct. 22, 1926. She attended school in Sioux Rapids and graduated with the class of 1943. Alvira was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Storm Lake and married Arvid O. Braesch of Albert City on Aug. 15, 1943. After her marriage to Arvid, they became members of St. John Lutheran Church of Albert City where she was still an active member...

July 21, 1929 — March 12, 2018 A funeral service for Beverly Rush, 88, of Lake Park, was held Monday, March 12, 2018, at United Methodist Church in Lake Park. Burial was at Silver Lake Cemetery. Beverly Anita (Hanson) Rush was born July 21, 1929 to W.I. ...

May 27, 1936 — Feb. 27, 2018 Dale R. Wilson, age 81, of Newell died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 in Casa Grande, Arizona. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Newell. Burial will be in the Newell Cemetery. Visitation was Wednesday, March 7, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements...

Aug. 28, 1950 — Feb. 20, 2018 Joyce Deanne Bush Whalen, 67, died on Feb. 20, 2018, at her home in Kissimmee, Florida. Joyce was born Aug. 28, 1950, in Windom, Minnesota to Hertha (Timm) and Addis Bush. She grew up in Lake Park and graduated from Harris-Lake Park in 1968...

Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire (G-T/R-A) is one of six Iowa school districts selected to participate in a case study as part of the evaluation of the Iowa  Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) system. The American Institutes for Research is conducting these case studies to more closely examine Teacher Leadership and Compensation implementation and its impact on student achievement. ...

Milford Memorial Library’s Story Time will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, March 16, for children of all ages. The theme will be focused on leprechauns in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Kids will be able to enjoy the exciting story entitled "How to Catch a Leprechaun" and then make a shamrock. There is no pre-registration, and no cost to join this weekly fun...

Students looking to mix things up should look no further than Iowa Lakes Community College’s 3D modeling course, commonly known as "Blender." Mark Rosenberg, assistant professor and coordinator of the graphic design program, teaches the class — officially titled 3D Modeling and Character Design. He sees the importance of 3D in various forms of media...

Reps. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake), Ted Gassman (R-Scarville) and Mike Sexton (R-Rockwell City) recently welcomed Iowa Lakes Community College to the Iowa House of Representatives. The group was visiting the Capitol to talk with legislators during Community College Day on the Hill. Visiting Iowa Lakes officials were Jolene Rogers of Ringsted, Val Newhouse of Emmetsburg and Julie Williams of Spencer. (Photo submitted)...

Occasionally a student comes to Iowa Lakes Community College unsure of what program or career path is right for them. Fortunately, with more than 100 programs and areas of study, the college gives them plenty of opportunities to find their fit. Students may start in one program, but decide another is the best option and change majors...

Rembrandt Foods, a producer and processor of eggs, wanted its employees to have the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally — and Iowa Lakes Community College has provided some of the resources needed to reach that goal. "We care for the chickens, collect the eggs and process them into products for our customers such as restaurants, hotels and hospitals or ingredients for commercial food production," said Merle Mack, Rembrandt's senior manager in training and organizational management. ...

Iowa Lakes Community College Student Senators invite the public to join in their seventh Soles4Souls shoe drive. Soles4Souls is an outreach project that benefits both disabled and underprivileged individuals. Soles4Souls has provided shoes to over 30 million individuals in more than 127 countries across the globe...

Applications for the Dickinson SWCD Foundation conservation or agricultural scholarship will be accepted until Thursday, March 1. This scholarship, for graduating Dickinson County high school seniors, is to be used for the first year of education on the college or vocational school level. ...

Drs. Pas & Toale Dental are excited to join the Milford Commercial Club. The owners look forward to providing excellent family dental care to Milford and the surrounding area. The location is south of Farmers Savings Bank at 1004 21st Street. Call at 712-338-2449 to set up a visit. ...

On March 8th, President Angie Vos presented a check for $250 to Chuck Wetzeler for a student to attend Boy's State. (Photo submitted)

The Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis inducted nine new members on March 1. With the wide spectrum of new members comes new ideas, strength and opportunities to volunteer and support the community.bWe are excited to welcome these new members and add their talents to the Noon Kiwanis. ...

HF 2442 takes a proactive approach to reducing and catching concussions. Dr. Rick Wilkerson came to me a few years ago about a concussion bill. I am proud to say after many years of conversations, amendments and bill drafts, we were able to get a bi-partisan bill built...

As a young real estate mogul, he added to an empire stared by his father. His success, however, was marred by his practice of not paying his employees and subcontractors. U.S. banks refused to lend him money due to his history of not repaying loans, leading to his practice of using foreign services as a revenue source...

By now, you have heard about the state's No. 1 ranking in the nation, given by the US News & World Report. What a great honor to have been named by this prestigious organization as the top-ranked state in the nation. As soon as the ranking was released, I started hearing negativity from those who oppose the direction that our state is moving...

Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association and Pearson Lakes Art Center have come together to offer youth in and around the Iowa Great Lake educational opportunities in music. "Iowa Rocks Talent," a statewide competition for musicians under 21, encourages participation in music outside of school. Opportunities for professional development will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji...

The Pearson Lakes Art Center is pleased to announce that the Open Jam is coming back to the PLAC. The art center is partnering with the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association for this event, where musicians are invited to bring their instruments and voices, and sign up to perform with house band, Sly James and the New City Council. ...

The Clay County Fair has announced that Lee Brice will perform as part of the SRG Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. in the grandstand at the 2018 Clay County Fair Saturday, Sept. 8. Two-time County Music Association, Academy of Country Music and Grammy Song of the Year nominee Lee Brice will take listeners to church, school, home and out on a Saturday night. ...

One of America’s favorite holidays, St. Patrick’s Day, is March 17, and Iowa officers continually see a spike in drunk-driving crashes on this date every year. In order to make Iowa roads safer all across the state, drivers will notice heightened traffic enforcement March 14-17. Law enforcement officers will especially be watching for drunk drivers and vehicle occupants not wearing a seat belt...

It may still be cold outside, but it’s time to stop pruning oak trees to prevent the spread of oak wilt. "The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to not prune any oak tree between the end of March and the start of October," Tivon Feeley, coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ forest health program said...

Paramedics at Lakes Regional Healthcare recently received their critical care paramedics endorsement. This endorsement will allow them to provide even more specialized care that will specifically benefit patients in critical condition. According to Lakes Regional Healthcare Mobile Intensive Care Services Supervisor Chris Yungbluth, the endorsement will allow paramedics to operate enhanced ventilators to provide more precise adjustments to patients’ breathing, oxygenation, and ventilation needs...

  A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty Friday, March 9, in federal court in Sioux City. Mark Jenkins of Sanborn was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine...

Authorities say 49-year-old Donald Delgado of Lake Park failed several field sobriety tests after being pulled over for a traffic violation just before 3 a.m. Sunday, March 4. A Clay County deputy stopped Delgado in the 4300 block of Highway 71 that morning and found the driver had been drinking. ...

Arnolds Park resident and Dickinson County Public Health registered nurse Julie Kliegl was recently selected as one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses of 2018. This award recognizes nurses that have made a meaningful and lasting contribution to humanity and the nursing profession and are viewed as a mentor to others...

This week, Rep. John Wills, R-Spirit Lake, welcomed Spirit Lake resident Don Breuker of Breuker Financial Strategies to the Iowa House of Representatives. Breuker was visiting the Capitol to talk with legislators during the Financial Advisors of Iowa Legislative Day...

A national campaign is encouraging boaters to "Spring Aboard" by enrolling in a boater education course before the kickoff to the boating season. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) works with BoaterExam and Boat-Ed to offer online boater education courses and during Spring Aboard campaign week March 18-24, these companies will be offering 50 percent off the price of their on-line course...

Dickinson County's delegation to the Iowa General Assembly had a chance to revisit some ongoing tension Saturday as part of the legislative forum series held Saturday in Spencer and Okoboji. State Rep. Megan Jones remains upset about an exchange with state Sen. David Johnson following a Feb. 17 forum in Spirit Lake...

Familiar faces will be taking on new positions within the Okoboji School District administration. District Superintendent Todd Abrahamson said earlier this month the district plans to shift toward a strengths-based model for the upcoming academic year. The new structure will reduce redundancies and prepare for a growing student body, without changing the district's proposed $25 million bond referendum, according to the superintendent...

Members of the Milford Fire Department were called at about 5:50 p.m. Monday to a backyard storage shed fire at 604 H Ave. in Milford. The location is less than a block southeast of the Okoboji football and track complex.

Iowa state parks offer more than 90 cabins in 19 parks across the state. Here are three reasons to book now and stay in a cabin before Memorial Day: Between Labor Day and Memorial Day, guests can rent any cabin for as short as a two-night minimum stay. In the peak summer season, most cabins rent for a week at a time. So reserve a cabin now for a weekend getaway!...

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke recently joined U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Angus King (I-ME), Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and others to introduce a bipartisan bill to rebuild America's National Parks. The proposed bill would use up to $18 billion in revenue derived from energy produced on federal lands and waters to establish a special fund within the Treasury specifically for “National Park Restoration”...

It may still be cold outside, but it’s time to stop pruning oak trees to prevent the spread of oak wilt. “The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to not prune any oak tree between the end of March and the start of October,” said Tivon Feeley, coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) forest health program...

Pheasants Forever and a coalition of partners recently announced a new project in southwest Iowa to stimulate outdoor tourism, rural economies, and Ag production. The initiative - Southwest Iowa Communities for Pheasants and Farming – focuses on development of wildlife habitat and public access on private lands to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities while increasing agricultural profitability in the region...

On a drive around a nearby lake recently, it became apparent that another ice fishing season is concluding. There were still lots of anglers on the ice where the ice was safe, but wind was making open water areas larger by the minute. I caught myself looking forward to warmer temperatures and open water fishing...

The third annual Okoboji Blue Water Festival, which is a celebratory clean water event in the Iowa Great Lakes, will culminate with a prestigious musical act on stage. Michael McDonald, a world-renowned American singer, songwriter, record producer and five-time Grammy winner, will headline the Okoboji Blue Water Festival on Saturday, Aug. 11, in Preservation Plaza at the Arnolds Park Amusement Park...

Daylight broke on opening day of Iowa's 2017 spring turkey season. I sat, bow in hand, as the increasing sunlight glistened off of green clumps of alfalfa in front of my blind. I was near a roosting tree that I had scouted in the weeks leading up to opening day. The turkeys that I had been searching for were there again, and several hens yelped, clucked and purred from the treetops. Like rolling thunder, a chorus of gobblers followed, sounding off along the oak ridge...

Iowa Lakes Community College head women's basketball coach Ashley Martin announced the signing of Beth Rehse, a 5-foot-11 forward from Ida Grove, this past week. “We are excited that Beth decided to continue her basketball career at Iowa Lakes,” Martin said. ...

Iowa Lakes Community College head softball coach, Katie Larson, announced the signing of Brooklyn Mickelson to the 2018-2019 recruiting class last week. Mickelson is the daughter of Todd and Tami Mickelson and played for the St. James High School Saints from St. James, Minnesota...

The Iowa Lakes men's basketball team’s season came to an end Thursday with a 102-93 loss to Southwestern in the Region XI semifinals. The Lakers were led by Nick Wagner with 38 points. Dennis Joiner added 25, and Christian Kyles had 10. Joiner also added 16 rebounds...

The Lakers fell in overtime on the road in the first round of the regional tournament to Iowa Central 74-79. The Lakers were led by Marissa Ruiz with 20 points shooting 5-7 from behind the arc, Lemia Ntor-Ue with 13 points, Mia Wassink with 12 points, and Marisela Perez with 11 points...

The final puck dropped on Saturday for the Boji Mammoths hockey team at the South Dakota Amatuer Hockey Association JV State Tournament. After entering the eight-team tournament as the sixth seed, Boji saw their opening round game against No. 3-seeded Yankton end in overtime 4-3 before being ousted from the tournament in the consolation semifinals by No. 7-seeded Sioux Falls 2-1...

With snow still covering the track in Milford, the Okoboji boys track team headed south to compete at the 25th Iowa State Boys High School Classic at the Lied Athletic Recreation Facility in Ames. "I thought we ran really well, competed hard," Okoboji coach Brad Peter said. ...

With temperatures hovering around freezing outside, the Spirit Lake and Spirit Lake Park boys and girls track teams headed indoors Tuesday to compete at the 2018 Lakes Conference Indoor track meet held on the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake...

Dickinson County boys basketball teams combined to go 33-35 overall this past season with just one of the three teams finishing over .500 for the season. For their efforts, several athletes earned postseason recognition from their respective conferences and one athlete was named all-state by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association...

Nick Schrunk could have been thinking about his 10-year high school reunion back in 2014, but the Spirit Lake High School grad was presented with a much more difficult connection. It was the kind of connection that overcame decades and distance. It involved unanswered questions between a father and daughter, locations that couldn't be found on a typical map and customs established half a world away...