Stories from Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Veins of artistic talent run through northwest Iowa communities. And while the public may have seen some of the work produced by the creative souls, the face behind the work may not be as familiar. Fortunately, local artists have been putting their work on display and welcoming visitors each fall for the past 15 years during the Artisans Road Trip. This year's self-guided driving tour is set for Oct. 13-14, and will showcase a plethora of aesthetic styles...

An annual Medicare Part D drug coverage review can uncover savings. In one hour, a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselor can complete a review and let participants know if they can lower costs and make sure the patient has access to needed medications...

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dickinson County will host an aquatic, forest and right-of-way continuing instruction course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The program provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) can be seen at office locations across Iowa...

The Humane Society of Northwest Iowa (HSNWIA), located in Milford, was started after a group of animal lovers recognized the need to care and find loving homes for surrendered and stray animals. Since then, the shelter has grown in operations and routinely cares for over 100 dogs and cats at any given time...

Girl Scouts learn valuable leadership skills, including financial literacy, goal setting and teamwork, all while earning valuable funds for their troops as part of the Girl Scout Fall Product Sale. The 2018 Fall Product Sale is now underway and will run through Oct. 19. The sale offers high quality nut and chocolate products from Ashdon Farms as well as magazine selections from QSP...

Iowa Lakes Community College honored several employees during their recent Professional Development seminar held on the Emmetsburg Campus. Employees were recognized for outstanding contributions that were made to Iowa Lakes Community College for the 2017-18 school year...

The Milford Memorial Library has so many fun events throughout October. We changed some days and times around for certain programs in order to accommodate families and their busy schedules. Please check out our monthly calendar, website and social media...

Oct. 4, 1920 — Oct. 7, 2018 Ronald C. Olson, 98, of Spirit Lake passed away on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at his home in Spirit Lake. Per his wishes, there will be no formal services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

July 7, 1929 — Sept 19, 2018 Ardyce Lavon Rush, 89, of Urbandale passed away Sept. 19, 2018, at her home at Deerfield Retirement Community. A celebration of life service was held Oct. 5, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. Ardyce was born July 7, 1929, to Sam and Addie Mills in Spencer. ...

July 19, 1931 — Sept. 28, 2108 A funeral service for Bev Dodge, 87, of Terril, was held Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at United Methodist Church in Terril. Interment was at Fairview Cemetery in Terril. Beverly Jean Dodge, the daughter of Albert and Esther (Sullivan) Mohr, was born in Estherville on July 19, 1931. ...

June 24, 1964 — Sept. 29, 2018 Jeff Farrar passed away suddenly of cardiac arrest the evening of Sept. 29, 2018, in Okoboji, surrounded and cared for by multiple friends and family members. Jeff was born on June 24, 1964, in Omaha, Nebraska, to his parents, Terrie and Don Farrar. ...

April 19, 1933 — Sept. 29, 2018 A Mass of Christian Burial for John M. (Bud) Brooks, 85, of Arnolds Park was held Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in Milford. John "Bud" Melford Brooks, the son of Zetta C. ...

Sept. 5, 1936 — Oct. 4, 2018 A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Oct. 6, for John Clement Cain Jr. of Spirit Lake and formerly of Sheldon. Interment was at St. Patricks Catholic Cemetery in Sheldon. Rev. Siby Punnoose, Msgr. Kenneth Seifried, and Rev. Tim Johnson were the concelebrants...

Dec. 16, 1953 — Oct. 4, 2018 Funeral services were held Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer for Lorraine Mary Kenney of Spirit Lake. Rev. Tim Johnson officiated. Interment was at Mount Zion Catholic Cemetery in Fonda. Lorraine Mary Kenney, the daughter of Leo and Florence (Peiffer) Hammen, was born Aug. ...

April 5, 1927 — Oct. 6, 2018 Martha Jo (Pray) Woodard, 91, of Arnolds Park, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018 in Spirit Lake. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation with family present will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. ...

Sept. 23, 1931 — Sept. 24, 2018 Longtime Sac City resident Virginia Thompson passed away Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, at age 87, in Salinas, California, where she had been residing with her daughter, Lucinda, since last Christmas. Virginia May Tackett was born Sept. 23, 1931, to parents William and Dessie (Gilstrap) Tackett in Milwaukee. Virginia's family resided in Estherville. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith...

During the 2018 legislative session, we took action for a creative solution in providing Iowans relief from unaffordable health care products on the individual market. "Health benefit plans" are offered by Farm Bureau and administered by Wellmark. Sign up will be available starting Nov. ...

We individually may tire of discussing the finer points of the Kavanaugh-Ford-investigation-setup-circus, but we collectively have plenty of steam. Fortunately, this steamer may be closing in on the light at the end of the tunnel. Kavanaugh is now the newest Supreme Court Justice. There's not much to be done at this point...

Here's a rhetorical question: Is it possible to be unfair to people on both sides of an issue? I'm not the mayor or police chief of the opinion page — that would be my publisher and general manager — but I am traffic enforcement when it comes to letters to the editor. No one likes an officer that lets too many cars fly by at a high rate of speed. No one likes citations for everyone who doesn't quite come to a complete stop at a controlled intersection, either.

Listening to what Mrs. Ford said, "she only thought Mr. Kavanaugh was going to rape her," but that a rape didn't actually occur; the crime was not committed. Is that all it takes in this country to crucify someone now is to "think" they're going to do something? Especially 30 years later? She also mentioned during her testimony that at this party people on a stairway were having a conversation. ...

To the residents of Arnolds Park: We hear the phrase "life isn't fair" all the time. While it may be true, I would contend that most people, when given the opportunity, will do the fair thing. That is why I appeal to you today. I firmly believe you will be fair...

Event hosted by Lakes Regional Hospice, Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home, and Turner Jenness Funeral Home Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) Hospice, Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home, and Turner Jenness Funeral Home have teamed up again this year to honor those who have passed away and those that are currently in hospice care by hosting their annual Walk/Run to Remember 5K event on Saturday, Oct. 20...

Is there such a thing as too much talent? Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association doesn't think so. Iowa Rocks Talent, the nonprofit's statewide youth music competition originally called Battle of the Bands, had eight bands and six individuals make it to finals on Labor Day weekend. ...

The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber is excited to bring back this fun event — the Second Annual Chamber Games. This will take place 1-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at The Waterfront. Teams of four individuals will participate in a variety of competitions throughout the afternoon. ...

Shorter days and cooler fall temperatures are reminders to Iowa drivers that the risk of deer-vehicle collisions will increase in the coming weeks. On the plus side, the chance of hitting a whitetail remains at the lowest level in the last nine years...

Okoboji Foundation President, Rob Waterhouse, presented a check for $30,000 on Oct. 2 to Dr. Mary Skopec, Executive Director of the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. These resources allowed Iowa Lakeside Lab to the purchase microscopes and lab equipment to conduct monitoring of blue-green algae and algal toxins in the Iowa Great Lakes Region. ...

You may have noticed it while you’re at the store or work or anywhere else while you’re out and about – sneezes, coughs, runny noses. While these symptoms are often due to colds or allergies, it’s the time of year when the flu also starts to rear its ugly head. ...

Parents in need of support and encouragement in Clay and Dickinson counties may find solutions to their challenges through the Cherish Center’s newly established program, Cherished Mentors. Annette Eckert, Cherish Center program manager, said Cherished Mentors is a successor to a previous effort...

You might miss the sign for Spenser's Underground Ministries this week. A cover with a bull's head and the words "No Bully" is now tethered between the youth shelter and coffeehouse's sign posts. Anti-bullying speaker Keith Deltano will be sharing his personal experiences and tips to combat bullying within the community during a visit to the Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday. ...

Gray days and misty haze have been the norm for many Lakes Area farmers recently. Many field crops continue to stand in soil still soggy from light-yet-persistent showers. "The ag economy's pretty tough right now, to be honest about it," Lake Park area farmer Vince Elser said. "With the weather we had this summer and prices, I think that profits are going to be pretty slim."...

Jamie Billings, advanced registered nurse practitioner, has joined the staff of Milford Family Care to meet the health care needs of people in the area, from birth to geriatric services. Billings will provide general family practice including preventative care, treatment of episodic illness, physicals, chronic disease management and referral to specialists. She specializes in diabetes management, cardiac issues such as heart failure and coronary artery disease and women's health issues...

The Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club is pleased to welcome Rob Waterhouse. Rob was born and raised in the Cedar Rapids area and attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1991 with a degree in economics. His career began with the American Red Cross with several transfers during the subsequent 27 years. He also worked at non-profit health charities that specialized in diabetes, crones disease and others. Waterhouse has been with the Okoboji Foundation as the Executive Director since April 2018...

Northwest Bank donated proceeds from its Sept. 14 football tailgate, which was held at Hafer Field in Spirit Lake. Many Indian fans supported the tailgate, enjoyed a grilled pork burger meal and then cheered on the Indians as they defeated the Sioux Center Warriors...

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been awarded $3.5 million over five years to implement the "Zero Suicide" model across Iowa. The state will partner with Foundation 2, IDPH's contractor for the Your Life Iowa helpline, and with treatment programs across the state to ensure all 99 counties are represented. Foundation 2 answers Your Life Iowa calls, texts and chats for the state...

Congratulations went out to The Force Marching Band from Spirit Lake on receiving its fourth consecutive Division I "Superior" rating at the IHSMA State Marching Band Competition in Sheldon. The Force earned an overall score of 84.6, a 13 point increase from last year. The Force will be traveling to The Dutchman Field Championship on Oct. 13 in Orange City. (Photo submitted)...

Big blue stem, compass plant, wild white indigo – these beautiful prairie plants could be a part of your landscape. You could get the seed for free by participating in Dickinson County Conservation’s seed collecting program 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the nature center in Okoboji...

The Wilderman’s Series, an exhibit of paintings by Iowa artist and songwriter Chad Elliott, opens Oct. 18 in the Weaver Lobby and McIlrath Landing Galleries of the Pearson Lakes Art Center and will be on view through Jan. 5. The exhibit will feature fifteen 3-by-4 foot canvas paintings that also include illustrations for his upcoming release of Wilderman's River Rhymes...

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory is introducing a new public program that includes both speakers and food on the menu. “Our new series is called Science on the Menu,” Mary Skopec, Lakeside executive director, said. “Our weekly summer public Science Seminars attract such a consistently large audience that we decided to extend the series into the fall on a monthly basis. We thought it might be enjoyable to include a dinner along with a lecture.”...

Simantikos Dance Chicago will be performing for the second year at The Shores on Five Island Lake in Emmetsburg, Sunday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. Simantikos Dance Chicago is a contemporary modern dance company based in Chicago that was founded in 2015 by Haley McElwee. The public is encouraged to visit the group's website and Facebook for a sample of their works...

Alice Bonnell of Spirit Lake recently celebrated her 104th birthday. She is a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Daughters.

If early numbers at the Dickinson County Auditor's Office are any indication, a lot of people may by avoiding the line to cast a general election ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Monday was the first day voters could request and receive a ballot for absentee or early voting. Requests for absentee ballots by mail must be received at the Dickinson County Auditor's Office by 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. Absentee ballots can be requested in person at the auditor's office through Monday, Nov. 5...