Stories from Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Aug. 31, 1929 — Oct. 24, 2018 A funeral service for Frank Hodge, 89, of Milford, was held Monday, Oct. 29, at Faith Community Church in Milford. Burial was at Fairview Cemetery in Terril. Memorials may be given to Lakes Regional Hospice or Faith Community Church...

July 11, 1932 — Oct. 17, 2018 Joyce Overocker, 86, was called to her heavenly home on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. She was surrounded by her loving family. Funeral Services were held at the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church on Monday Oct. 22, burial followed at the Lakeview Cemetery...

Sept. 12, 1938 — Oct. 15, 2018 A Mass of Christian Burial for Larry Pick, 80, of Milford was held Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Interment was at Okoboji Cemetery in Arnolds Park. Larry Pick was born on Sept. 12, 1938, to Gregor and Theresa Pick. ...

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dickinson County office will hold a pair of continuing education courses — also called CICs — in mid-November. Both courses are provided by the pesticide safety education program (PSEP) and information can be found at ISU Extension's website...

The Milford Memorial Library will have one public playdate in November, and it will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 2. This is a time when children and families can interact, have fun and use their imaginations with a variety of toys, puppets, games, puzzles and more. Everyone is welcome, and all items will be provided by the library...

It's nearing the time of year again when ladies and gents dawn fancy dress and celebrate All Hallow's Eve. Not to be left out, this column is again in its own fancy dress just to add a bit of seasonal fun. For once, I was fairly prepared. It took some shower singing and some early morning note jotting, but I think this column — at least at first glance — could pass for the later handy work of a founding member of the Quarrymen (you may know the name John Lennon). ...

This week and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel. These rules address the greatest dangers for teen drivers — alcohol, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding and number of passengers...

Dickinson County Trails Board submitted two grants in October through Iowa’s 2018 Federal Recreational Trails Program. One grant was for the rail trail, Tatonka Ska Trace, from Hudson Avenue in Spirit Lake and continuing west for another mile to 219th Street. In 2019, DCTB will be constructing a mile of this trail from Hy-Vee to Hudson Avenue, and this year's grant request will be a continuation from that segment...

I’m so tired of hearing how bad Dems or Reps are. We've always had people passionate and vocal about their beliefs, and some that also got out of hand, on both sides. However, since Trump took office (actually when he became a candidate), people have become irrational and unyielding in their beliefs and defenses and more violent verbally and physically … on both sides...

I am responding to a recent Letter To The Editor titled "Brett Kavanaugh is a Winner." The writer stated that the "letter signed by 1,000 law professors from the elite colleges" which asked Congress to reject Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment meant little. His reasoning, because "most colleges these days are dominated by liberal thoughts. It is very hard to find a conservative professor anywhere on campus."...

Hundreds of thousands of Iowans are making their voices heard by casting a ballot in the November elections. Are you one of them? If so, thank you for voting. If you’re not, why not? The United States of America is the greatest and freest country in the world because we give the power to our citizens to choose our elected leaders. ...

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst sought some input from her constituents during several northwest Iowa stops Wednesday — one of them being Rosenboom in Spirit Lake. The senator said the machine and tool company was a priority for her not only because it is a major employer in the Lakes Area, but also because the company is family-owned...

The Iowa Lakes Community College Music Department has announced that the 27th Annual Jazz Festival will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 31, on the Estherville Campus of Iowa Lakes Community College. This year's festival will feature the Jazz Trio of Joey Gulizia on percussion; Tony Gulizia on vocals and keyboards; and Andy Hall on bass...

It seemed like yesterday when laparoscopic surgery was the newest, best technology during surgery. Patients were amazed at the tiny incisions surgeons made, and the pincher-type instruments and camera used to perform the surgery. Fast forward to 2018, and robotic surgery is quickly becoming the standard for surgical care. Lakes Regional Healthcare has adopted this new technology and is now the only hospital in northwest Iowa to provide comprehensive robotic surgery for a wide range of surgeries...

  Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Dickinson County welcomes new staff member Katie Goodell. Goodell lives in Harris and will begin serving in the role of agriculture program coordinator and office assistant on Monday, Oct. 29. She is a graduate of Iowa Lakes Community College and Buena Vista University and is currently pursuing a masters of extension education from Colorado State University...

  Beef producers are reminded that by Jan. 1, 2019, they must have a current Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certificate in order to sell cattle to certain packers. To help producers comply with this requirement, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach, Iowa Beef Center and Iowa Beef Industry Council are offering a series of “year-end” trainings in Northwest Iowa. ...

Joshua Jackson, a freshman at Spirit Lake High School, was awarded the Key Club Student of Service award for this month at the Oct. 25 Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis meeting. Josh is currently involved in football, student council and Key Club. He has helped with Key Club projects such as the Upper Des Moines Food Drive, Kiwanis trail clean up and the Welcov Family Night. ...

The Spirit Lake High School Key Club was the featured program Oct. 25 at the Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis meeting. The leadership showed a video of the projects they have already completed this year, as well as upcoming events. Pictured (front row from left) are: Emma Hamm, webmaster Devin Linn, president Emery Groen, Emily Werner, vice president Emmaline Hughes, advisor Lisa Duffy, (back row) Cameron Quance and Ben Steffens. (Photo submitted)...

Nebraska-Iowa Division 3 Lt. Gov. Tom Roti on Oct. 18 installed new officers and board members for the Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis. Pictured are Roti, board member Brent Harris, board member Anthony Poncelet, President Nate Johnson, Secretary Sue Clark, Vice President Kiley Zankowski, board member Kim Wermersen, treasurer Amanda Shaffer, board member Dustin Pohlman and board member Blain Andera. Not pictured are President-elect Mara Groom as well as board members Scott Trautman and Ryan Schmitt...

Spencer Rotary Club members are busy preparing for the 2018 Rotary book sale set for Wednesday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Clay County Regional Events Center. The 27th annual book sale is expected to feature approximately 30,000 used books ranging from fictional classics to romance novels and nonfiction selections to rare first editions...

This year on Veterans Day, the Operation Barnabas group of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake is planning special worship services in celebration of Veterans Day for Nov. 10-11. These services will conclude with the honoring and recognition of veterans within the membership of the congregation, along with other friends or relatives who members wish to be honor. ...

The Okoboji Foundation recently introduced the 26 area high school students participating in the ninth year of Youth in Philanthropy (YIP). Youth in Philanthropy is an annual program for high school students to empower them to make a lasting positive impact. ...

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory is pleased to announce that Jane Shuttleworth has recently been honored as a 2018 Board of Regents Staff Excellence Award recipient. The Iowa Board of Regents, in cooperation with the Staff Councils of the five regents institutions, annually recognizes staff for outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the institutions as well as the state of Iowa. ...

The Clay County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of an accident southeast of Everly after one of the vehicles was sent airborne early Saturday morning. Deputies said 27-year-old Derek Maynes of Salome, Arizona, was driving a 2017 Dodge Ram pickup west on 345th Street. ...

The winner of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Games not only holds bragging rights, but chooses a nonprofit to which proceeds from the event will be donated. Beck Engineering took top honors at the games this year and joined chamber representatives Monday afternoon at the Bedell Family YMCA in Spirit Lake. The staff received a donation of $750 for the YMCA Strong Kids Program...

Voters in Arnolds Park and Wahpeton will have an extra item on their Nov. 6 ballots. Both cities passed a resolution asking voters to decide whether their respective hotel/motel tax should increase from 5 percent to 7 percent. The measures need majority support to pass. Both would take effect Jan. 1 if approved by the public...

As the high school football postseason continues into the quarterfinals, parents may find themselves weighing the pros and cons of having their children participate. Physical activity improves fitness, helps build strong muscles and bones and boosts academic performance in some areas, but unfortunately sports and recreational activities also send hundreds of thousands of kids to the emergency room with concussions every year...

Eventual gubernatorial nominees Kim Reynolds and Fred Hubbell used stops early on in the year to plant seeds of support in the Iowa Great Lakes. Now, it's harvest time. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, as the mid-term elections come to a close. Democrat Hubbell made an Arnolds Park stop in January, while Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds visited Spirit Lake near the end of Iowa's 2018 legislative session...

Three-term state Rep. Megan Jones and Ryan Oder, the treasurer for Clay County Democrats, both met the filing deadline to serve southern Dickinson County in Iowa House District 2. The district includes all of Palo Alto County and all of Clay County as well...

Voters will be asked to elect five members to the Dickinson County Extension Council at the Nov. 6 general election.  The County Extension Council guides the workings of the local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office by developing policy and helping to make programming and budget decisions. ISU Extension and Outreach educational programming is a cooperative effort involving local citizens, Iowa State University and the United States Department of Agriculture...

Voters in the northern half of Dickinson County have a contested race to decide who serves the area in the Iowa House of Representatives. Incumbent Republican John Wills of Spirit Lake is seeking his third term serving northwest Iowa in Des Moines. Iowa House District 1 includes Lyon County, Osceola County, in addition to the northern portion of Dickinson County...

Sioux City freelance paralegal J.D. Scholten is bidding to become the first Democrat to serve northwest Iowa in Congress since Berkley Bedell's last election win in 1984. He'll face eight-term incumbent GOP Rep. Steve King in Iowa's 4th District. "The average member of Congress is 58 years old and has a net worth of a million dollars," Scholten said. ...

Voters next week will decide the outcome of the single, contested race at the county level. Two men seek the District 2 County Supervisor seat, which will become vacant when Supervisor Mardi Allen steps down at the end of December. GOP nominee Steve Clark of Terril surpassed opponent Dave Kohlhaase of Arnolds Park by approximately 10 votes during the Republican primary in June. ...

The successor to Wellmark Insurance's Blue Zones project is still finding its feet in the Lakes Area. A group of approximately 20 people met Oct. 18 at Lakes Regional Healthcare to discuss the insurance company's new initiative — Healthy Hometown. The group included community figures involved in local government, health services and educational organizations...

Hammers, drills and eventually a forklift could be heard Friday morning at Memorial Park in Milford. Despite gloomy conditions and a sprinkling of rain, nine volunteers from the local Safco manufacturing facility joined city staff in removing two backstops from the baseball diamonds...

While it's true Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad hasn't supplied information regarding the Doon oil spill to the county's hired consultant, the company is saying it may have been due to a problem with its email security measures. Dickinson County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Leupold told the board last Tuesday BNSF had asked the county to confirm Gary Cipriano's authorizaton to seek information on behalf of the county. ...

The floor of Kay's Beach Boutique in the Central Emporium is full of potential more than clothing these days. After 39 years, owner Kay Hesse has decided to shutter the staple shop and begin a new chapter. "I got up one day, and something just said, 'You know what? It's time for you to get out in the world and do something else,'" Hesse said...

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday released its findings about the cause of a March 2017 train derailment near Graettinger. The NTSB's summary said a broken rail caused 20 cars to leave the track as the train crossed Jack Creek east of the Emmet County city. The train was carrying undenatured ethanol from the Green Plains ethanol plant in Superior. The fuel ignited after the train left the rails. The NTSB said an estimated 322,000 gallons of the ethanol was released...

"Almost every person in this country has experienced some kind of cyber challenge, meaning someone has messed with you," Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said Wednesday. "Government isn't any different." Pate stopped at the Dickinson County Courthouse last week as part of an effort to assure Iowa voters the upcoming midterm elections will be secure. ...