Stories from Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Did you know that in 2018 Iowa was named "The Best State in the Nation" by U.S. News and World Report? This year, Iowa has been named as the third best run state in the nation. This year, Iowa has the lowest dropout rate for high school students in the nation. ...

Dickinson County Zoning is at a crossroads when it comes to proposed high density development. We face the prospect of county zoning that gives developers whatever they request, versus a professional review of the proposed development which insures attention to the capacity of utilities, roads and the environment. Our future quality of life depends on which of the three candidates are elected to the three open seats on the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors...

In the 1980s, with our nation facing an influx of drug crimes, Congress passed into law stiff penalties targeting all levels of offenders. The goal was to deter crime through harsh sentences. While well-intentioned, these policies came with a cost. Over time, prisons began to fill up with offenders of all stripes. ...

(As the past weekend approached) we are almost done for the year in Des Moines and have just a few more days to perfect bills and complete the year on a good note. Four years ago, when I decided to run for the Statehouse, I had some specific things that I wanted to accomplish. One of those items was meaningful tax reform. ...

I voted no on the justice systems budget. My vote was not a reflection of the requirement for the state fire marshall's office to hire an administrator, preventing drones from going over prisons, funding for victims assistance grants or funding for legal service poverty grants...

June 16, 1940 — April 15, 2018 Angeline (Angie) Kay Snyder Bell, 77, of Cedar Rapids, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, April 15, 2018, surrounded by her family. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 19, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. Pastors Randy Kasch and Trish Decker will officiate. Burial will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Saturday after 12:30 p.m. at the church...

Students in preschool through fourth grade are encouraged to attend the After School Craft Party from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, in the community room. This month's theme will be "Mother's Day flowers" featuring book talk, stories, crafts and snacks. Everything will be provided at no cost to the students...

Noreen Morrow of Lake Park was recognized at Simpson College's Honors Convocation ceremony on April 18, 2018. Noreen's parents are Terry and Deb Morrow. Noreen received the E.G. Booth Award. This award is given to a senior in education who is outstanding in athletics and has also shown excellence in teaching and scholarship...

Put on the grass skirts and sunglasses for the Iowa Lakes Community College Foundation’s annual Dickinson County Scholarship Luau. The Luau will take place on Thursday, June 21. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a social hour at the tropical Barefoot Bar on Lake Okoboji...

The spring dinner meeting of Okoboji Summer Theatre Association will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, on the OST lot, Frances Shloss Green Room. Persons interested in learning about the association are welcome to attend. Cost is $8 to cover meal expenses. Anyone interested in attending the spring dinner meeting is encouraged to R.S.V.P. by May 12 to OSTA President Rachelle Fratzke at 712-330-5990...

O’Reilly Auto Parts is pleased to announce the opening of its new location in Spirit Lake. The store is located at 2323 Circle Dr. West. The store will be celebrating a grand opening May 9-22. As part of the grand opening celebration, there will be a customer appreciation day from 11 a.m. ...

When people bring tree stumps, branches, leaves and grass clippings into the Dickinson Recycling Center, that green waste is seen as just that — waste. However, staff at the recycling center in Milford see that green waste for what it can be — beautiful mulch and healthy compost...

Farm to Fork food truck in Spirit Lake will be featured on Iowa Public Television’s "Iowa Ingredient" series at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 12. This episode features Iowa-produced green beans. Green beans are a garden staple, and are the third most popular garden vegetable after tomatoes and peppers. ...

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate reminds Iowans that the absentee balloting period for the June 5 primary is now underway. Voters can request an absentee ballot through their county auditor’s office. They can also vote in-person at the county auditor’s office...

An overnight traffic stop led to the arrest of a Spirit Lake man on drug charges. Spirit Lake police stopped a black 2001 BMW at about 1:59 a.m. Thursday near 15th Street and Gary Avenue in Spirit Lake. Upon further investigation, officers say they found 19-year-old Josh Titus with a white crystal substance — believed to be methamphetamine — inside the car. He was arrested for:...

The Dickinson County Endowment Fund Advisory Council is now accepting applications for its 2018 Grant Cycle. Grant are awarded to I.R.S. 501(c)(3) ‘tax exempt’ organizations and 170(b) "unit of government" organizations benefiting residents of Dickinson County. Non-profit organizations without either status may apply by seeking a fiscal agent that does...

A plea agreement has been reached involving a former adult living services employee who was accused of having an illegal sexual relationship with her client. Danielle Christine Shadle entered a "guilty" plea to a serious misdemeanor charge of dependent adult abuse by a caretaker on Friday...

The Iowa Mortgage Association is pleased to announce that several mortgage professionals from Northwest Bank were accepted into the IMA’s 2017 President’s Club and Winner’s Circle. During the recognition program, the club recognizes mortgage originators who meet an outstanding level of loan volume. ...

An upcoming, two-hour Welcome to Medicare event offered by Lakes Regional Healthcare SHIIP counselors can help area residents understand what Medicare offers and what benefits they are eligible for. The Welcome to Medicare event will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. ...

Colleen Daly of the American Legion Auxiliary looked on as Spirit Lake Mayor Ed Vos signed the Poppy Day Proclamation declaring May 25-26 as Poppy Days for the community of Spirit Lake.

Members of the Okoboji Foundation's Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) team presented the Dickinson County Agricultural Society (Fair Board) with a grant of $9,410 for work completed this past year on a new refrigeration unit and water-saving plumbing in the Expo Building on the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Spirit Lake. ...

The Humane Society of Northwest Iowa is pleased to announce it now have a second location available for folks to drop off their Iowa refund cans and bottles. The Hutt parking lot across from Historic Arnolds Park now has a can cage ready to accept donations. ...

Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire & Rescue was established as a joint department in 2000 with services, including fire protection to the cities of Arnolds Park and Okoboji, initial vehicle stabilization, extrication and rescue, a surface water rescue team, emergency medical services, operations level hazardous material response for small to medium incidents, underwater search and rescue (dive team), the area’s exclusive fire boat and ice rescue response by the area’s sole airboat...

Warmer weather means more time outdoors and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans to protect themselves against tick bites. Ticks can carry the organisms that cause diseases like Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever...

The Clay County Fair announces that Lita Ford will open for Tesla as part of the SRG Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9 in the Sleep Number Grandstand at the 2018 Clay County Fair.   A British born rocker who grew up on the streets of L.A., Lita Ford is considered one of the most important female representatives of the rock genre. ...

A May 16 preliminary hearing has been set for a Superior man who was charged Sunday with third-degree sexual abuse. A $10,000 bond was set for 24-year-old David Michael Clinton. Spirit Lake Police suspect Clinton "did have sexual contact with the victim in this case against the will of the victim, causing physical injury to the victim," according to a criminal complaint filed at the Dickinson County Courthouse...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in the process of treating curlyleaf pondweed at East Okoboji Lake and Lower Gar. The Iowa DNR and local leaders developed this management plan, after extensive discussion and review of available options, to help alleviate an extensive growth of the non-native plant in the Iowa Great Lakes...

By some accounts, the area experienced a record ice out this year — if only by a day or two. Officials are still comparing notes, but Mike Hawkins, Fisheries Biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said initial ice out estimates were April 28 for East Lake Okoboji, April 29 for Big Spirit Lake and April 30 for West Lake Okoboji. ...

Funeral services will be held Saturday at Adventure-Life Church in Altoona for Jim Meyerdirk, who spent 25 years with the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office as a deputy and jail administrator. Meyerdirk passed away unexpectedly at his home in Altoona on May 1, according to the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office. He was 64 years old...

A Lakes Area staple may fall under a new corporate umbrella in the near future. Pure Fishing's parent company Newell Brands announced Friday it plans to potentially sell a number of it tertiary business brands, including Pure Fishing. Michael Sinatra, the company's director of external communications, said Pure Fishing has not been sold as of yet and there is no specific buyer in place at the moment...

The Spirit Lake-Okoboji boys tennis team had some good moments Saturday against a tough Spencer squad, but the Lakes Conference champions got past the Indians 7-2. "Spencer came in undefeated, and beat us in our first meeting so, going into it, we knew they would be very tough," SL-O coach Dan Taylor said. "Last time we played them, we were missing a couple from our varsity lineup, so I was excited to see how we would do this time full strength."...

Many a high school student is told the sky's the limit when choosing their career path. Few take it literally, but about 75 students set foot on the Estherville Airport runway last week to do an academic surface check before taking off on their career trajectory...