Stories from Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Consumers have tools to keep the annoying robocalls and other annoying, unwanted phone solicitations at bay. There were 4 billion robocalls placed in July, up from 2.6 billion in July 2017, according to YouMail, which tracks the most common auto-dialed calls every month. The company's website lists high-risk numbers from 515 and other area codes, including scams involving interest rates, travel, insurance and vehicle warranties...

  A:  First, I join with all of my fellow Americans to pay tribute to all of the men and women who have served our country honorably in uniform during times of war and peace. This year, we mark a special centennial salute on Nov. 11. On this day one hundred years ago, Armistice Day commemorated the cease fire agreement in World War I on the 11th hour, of the 11 day, of the 11th month. ...

The midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 6, brought some changes to state government. In the legislature, the House and Senate will remain in Republican control with a 54 seat majority in the House and 32 seats in the Senate (This number has the possibility of changing with canvassing and recounts in the days to come)...

My fellow Americans, I have a confession to make. Quite by accident, I realized I may have actually offended a large group of people Monday morning … while the national anthem played … at a Veterans Day assembly. It was just one of those situations when we find ourselves making a potentially bigger mess while trying to be considerate — like holding the door open for someone, only to realize you hit someone on the other side squarely on the nose...

March 21, 1937 — Nov. 11, 2018 A private family service for Cleo Bunde, age 81, of Estherville, formerly of Spirit Lake, will be held at a later date. Cleo J. Bunde was born March 21, 1937, to James and Daisy (Headley) Coleman in Onaka, South Dakota. ...

March 21, 1934 — Nov. 2, 2018 A funeral service for David Bordwell, 84, of Lakefield, Minnesota, was held Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Minnesota. Interment was at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake. David Emery Bordwell, the son of Reno and Ruby (Parsons) Bordwell, was born March 21, 1934, in Minneota Township in Jackson County, Minnesota. ...

March 6, 1944 - Nov. 8, 2018 Jean M. Thompson, 74, of Carlisle, Ohio, formerly of Spirit Lake passed away on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at her home in Carlisle, Ohio. Funeral services for Jean will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. ...

Jan. 11, 1926 — Nov. 7, 2018 John "Dick" Notestine, 92, of Okoboji passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake. A memorial Mass was held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 12, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Burial was at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. ...

For the first time since 2006, a parade will help usher in Milford Holiday Fantasy weekend on Friday, Nov. 30. The Milford Commercial Club is bringing back the longtime favorite after an 11-year absence. Anyone who would like to have an entry in the parade is encouraged to contact Sharon or Susan at 338-2274 for more information. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: "Best Lit Entry," "Best Unlit Entry" and "Best Character in Costume."...

Lakeside Lab is planning an inaugural "Walk Off Your Thanksgiving Dinner" self-guided hike on Thanksgiving weekend. The time and date will be announced. The Breakfast and Sustainable Holiday Workshop will take place Saturday, Dec. 1. The public is invited to come for breakfast and make holiday wrapping paper and ornaments from recycled and natural materials. ...

There is an urgent need for families to provide safe, temporary homes for teens in Iowa's foster care system. Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) Foster Care and Adoption recruits and supports foster and adoptive families in 30 counties in western Iowa. Currently, 55 children in western Iowa between ages 10 and 18 are waiting for a foster family. In the meantime, they are forced to stay in shelters due to the shortage of foster families and homes available...

Wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you dreading these holidays, knowing that everything has changed and that happy memories from past years can't be recreated? On Nov. 17, a "Surviving the Holidays" two-hour seminar will be held at 1 p.m. at the Okoboji Bible Conference grounds (7 South Highway 71, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331)...

Make sure to note the time change for our next Public Story Time, it will be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17. Join our Children’s Librarian, Miss Becca, as she reads about turkeys. Everyone is welcome, and all items will be provided by the library...

  Black Hills Energy customers in Iowa can expect to pay about the same price for natural gas this winter as they have in previous winters. The natural gas component typically accounts for 65 percent to 75 percent of a residential bill and is the actual cost Black Hills Energy pays for the natural gas...

Fall leaves are beautiful — until they pile up in your yard. But don’t send those precious nutrients up in smoke. Instead, put them to good use. Leaves, branches and other landscape materials can nourish lawns, gardens or communities. It’s as easy as 1-2-3: ...

Lakes Regional Healthcare had been preparing for the anticipated construction of a new medical office building for Avera Medical Group-Lakes Family Practice and Avera Medical Group-Spirit Lake Medical Center physician clinics. Bids for the construction project will be reviewed by the LRH Board of Trustees in the next month. ...

The Iowa Navy Commodores escaped chilling winds Wednesday as they helped celebrate one of the newest editions to Parks Marina. Snappers Turtle Bay Cafe is currently open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The finishing touches are being put on the upstairs event space in preparation for a Nov. ...

More than 800 people left the Spirit Lake Expo Building with full stomachs Nov. 5 after the St. Mary's Parish Soup and Pie Supper sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Iowa Great Lakes Council 5043. The Knights served five varieties of soup and delicious pie at the annual event, with proceeds going toward helping others in the community. ...

The Okoboji Foundation said the Youth in Philanthropy group has raised more than $270,000 in its first eight years as it makes a lasting positive impact in the Lakes Community. The funds will be given back to the Lakes community through the 2018 YIP Grants...

Lakes Youth Theatre extended its appreciation too all those helped make the production of "Sleeping Beauty" a success this fall. We had over 60 area students from grades 3-8 that were in this one-week theatre program. This production was a week-long residency by Prairie Fire Children's Theatre from Barrett, Minnesota. The directors this year were Jordyn Wofford and Bryan Farthing...

Registration for the 39th Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games is officially open. Participants are encouraged to get signed up for events from broomball to chess. Visit www.uofowintergames.com for a printable registration form or access to online registration...

Iowans turned out in record numbers for the November 2018 general election, according to the Iowa Secretary of State's Office. More than 1,320,000 votes were tallied as of Wednesday morning, Nov. 7 — the highest mark for a mid-term election in state history. The previous record was set in 2014, with 1,142,311 votes...

With two new Supreme Court Justices taking the bench in the past year, U.S. Rep. Steve King hopes the balance of the high court has shifted enough to uphold his proposed federal heartbeat bill. The bill would outlaw abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected during an ultrasound examination. ...

A local business built from scratch has entered the final phases of a sale to New York-based private equity company Sycamore Partners. Newell Brands had announced plans to sell Pure Fishing in May. At the time, Pure Fishing and other tertiary brands like Rubbermaid, made up approximately 35 percent of Newell's net sales. ...

A judge will hear from both sides in a case stemming from resistance to a proposed housing development near the shores of East Lake Okoboji. Iowa Third District Court Judge Patrick Tott ordered attorneys for local businessman Leo "Butch" Parks and a group called Concerned Citizens of Dickinson County to appear in person the morning of Dec. 11 at the Dickinson County Courthouse.

School assemblies provided a Monday punctuation to Veterans Day ceremonies around Dickinsson County. Busloads of elementary students joined the high school ranks Monday afternoon for a Veterans Day program at the Harris-Lake Park High School gymnasium. Members of American Legion Post 371 presented the colors and emceed the event — with the Post's Vice Commander James Kessler delivering the keynote speech. Kessler said all veterans are part of an ongoing legacy of service...

Valerie Kay Loerch, age 56, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 6:41 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 on charges of gathering where a controlled substance was used, failure to affix a drug tax stamp, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to deliver, manufacturing and two counts of contempt — failure to obey a tribunal court. Bond was set at $25,000...

A busload of 35 Tanzanian seventh grade students became what Sioux City orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steve Meyer described as a mass of bodies one fateful day in May of 2017. The deadly accident occurred as the Tanzanian students were on their way to take mock graduation exams before a day of fun...

The annual Upper Des Moines Opportunity Sharing Christmas program provides holiday gifts to low-income children of Dickinson County. Below is a list of participants included in this year's program. We ask that you wrap each item and attach a tag with the family number as well as which member that gift is for. ...