Stories from Tuesday, April 23, 2019

A pardon by the president was promised if the newly appointed acting Secretary of Homeland Security Keven McAleenan was charged with breaking the law by following President Trump's orders on border security. This followed the dismissal of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen because Trump felt she was not tough enough and disagreed with the family separation policy. ...

We are 14 weeks into the legislative session, leaving us with only two weeks until the scheduled end of session. This deadline prompted discussion on a number of substantive topics this week and many hours debating on the Senate floor. On Tuesday, April 16, the Senate passed a bill creating a children's behavioral health system in Iowa. ...

We are within a week or two of being done with our business at the Iowa State Capitol this year. We have had a successful legislative session and have begun the process of ending our actions for the year. Our official last day in Session is May 3. However, I don’t think we will be in Des Moines until then. We have agreed on a budget dollar amount which only spends 97.43 percent of the available dollars next fiscal year. This is not a cut in the state budget, rather a slowdown...

Recently Dickinson County property taxpayers — along with Iowans across the state — were either shocked by the increase of their assessed property tax value or mildly pleased by their escape. Iowa law requires the city or county assessor to review all property in their jurisdiction in odd number years (2019) to be sure assessments are proper. In our case the assessor is the Dickinson County Assessor located at the Spirit Lake courthouse...

Aug. 5, 1950 — March 31, 2019 There is no formal service planned for Keri Dietrich, 68, of Milford. Keri Lee Dietrich was born Aug. 5, 1950, to Frank and Beverly (Wilson) Gilmore in Estherville. She was raised in Arnolds Park graduating in 1968. She was baptized in the Methodist Church...

Aug. 20, 1925 — March 26, 2019 Morris L. Norman passed away peacefully on March 26, 2019, in Bonita Springs, Florida, reaching the end of his life as optimistically as he lived it, his positive attitude a gift to all who knew him. Morris was born on Aug. ...

Isabella Adena Miller, age 20, of Spirit Lake was charged with simple assault at 7:21 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, in the 2700 block of Sunner Avenue in Spirit Lake. She was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 8:27 p.m. the same day on charges of simple assault...

As Iowans eagerly anticipate warmer temperatures, state park staff are preparing for the start of the 2019 camping season. The first weekend of May marks the official launch of the summer camping season with Iowa State Parks' annual Camping Kickoff celebration...

Nick Steffes, broker and owner of Integrity Real Estate announced that Integrity Real Estate has relocated their Spencer office to 1807 Norris Place, at the stoplights south of the Gateway North Shopping Center in Spencer. Integrity Real Estate specializes in brokerage services, marketing services, transaction management, project management, strategic planning, location planning, leases and subleases. ...

In anticipation of the 100th anniversary of Iowa state parks in 2020, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Arts Council — a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs — and Iowa State University are bringing 20 artists to 20 state parks this summer...

Led by ACE mentor Mackenzie Barton, intern architect at CMBA Architects, and comprised of high school students from Spirit Lake and Spencer, northwest Iowa's chapter of the national Architecture Construction and Engineering mentor program has completed its inaugural year. The program allows students a chance to get hands-on experience in their field of interest and learn from area professionals. Barton said she was excited for the program to grow and continue in the area...

Dickinson County weed commissioner Aric Ping has released the 2019 noxious weed policy. "Each owner and each person in the possession or control of any lands in Dickinson County shall cut, burn or otherwise control all noxious weeds thereon," the policy states, "and in such manner shall prevent said weeds from blooming or coming to maturity, and shall keep said lands free from such growth."...

The Iowa Rock'N'Roll Music Association is excited to announce that construction has begun on the final stage of completion for the association’s museum in Arnolds Park. Last May, IRRMA moved into a new museum space located inside the new addition to the Maritime Museum Complex in Arnolds Park. The space sat mostly empty last summer as IRRMA worked through how best to fill this exciting new space, which was made available through an agreement with Historic Arnolds Park...

The Pearson Lakes Art Center welcomes The Diamands to the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25. The Diamonds released an instant million-selling hit called "Little Darlin'" in 1957. The song quickly went gold and led to a career which saw the group appear on American Bandstand 33 times and be inducted into both the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. ...

At 2 p.m. Thursday, April 25, Milford Memorial Library is hosting "Herbs 101" with Megan & Co. Attendees will get to sample products and learn about the medicinal benefits of certain plants. We look forward to seeing you. This is a free program and no preregistration is required...

  The Second Annual Okoboji Bike-N-Bite is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, rain or shine. This year's event will feature more bites, more stops and a short or long route option. Bike-N-Bite is a community biking event that celebrates healthy living, community and local foods in and around the Lakes Area. Cyclists are sent on a food tour throughout the area, biking and biting into samples of locally-grown and/or produced food prepared by participating restaurants, vendors and other organizations...

Harris-Lake Park band and choir students participated at the IHSMA solo/small ensemble festivals April 6 at South O’Brien High School. They earned a combined total of 14 Division I (superior) ratings, seven Division II ratings, and one Division III rating. The students pictured earned Division I ratings in one or more events.  (Photo submitted)...

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program has announced 22 recipients of its "Growing Together" mini-grants, with funds from the SNAP-Education program. Master gardeners Theresa Golden, Penny Nordstrom and Carol Larson — as well as community volunteer gardener Caroline Perkins from Dickinson County — received one of the grants...

The Iowa Navy Commodores recently celebrated on deck with the staff of Okoboji Inn and Suites. The business, formerly Boulders Inn and Suites, officially changed names soon after the new year. The hotel board's president and partial owner Denise Cole explained the Boulders franchise sold its name to another franchise group. ...

Everyone loves superfoods, and compost is like a superfood for your garden. Food scraps and yard waste together make up about 30 percent of what we throw away, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and instead they can be composted. Composting leaves and grass clippings is exactly what the Dickinson Recycling Center in Milford does...

FDA hearings about cannabidiol oil are planned in May, and Iowa lawmakers voted to allow conditional use of the cannabis compound at the end of 2018. But that doesn't mean Dickinson County residents have legal access to CBD oil-based products as a health supplement. ...

Arnolds Park Mayor Jim Hussong said it's been more than a year in the making, but signs designating the stretch of road outside the Central Emporium as a one way were installed April 17. Painted arrows were stenciled on the pavement the next day. The mayor said the new traffic flow was first identified as a possible change during the initial stages of the Imagine Iowa Great Lakes highway beautification plan. ...

Milford firefighters had to respond twice in six days to a hog barn west of Milford. No animals or people were harmed in the fires, which took place Wednesday, April 17 and Monday, April 22. Milford Fire Chief Jim Carpenter said neither was suspicious in nature...

The dull gold of harvested corn stalks was reduced to the stark black of ash as a ring of fire consumed a crop field west of Superior Friday afternoon. The Superior Fire Department was called to a field fire around 3:15 p.m. Friday in the 2900 block of 140th Street — northwest of the Superior Drive-In Theater. ...

A Spirit Lake man is scheduled to appear May 16 on charges that he violated terms of the Iowa Sex Offender registry 13 months ago. Jason A. Krayenborg was on the offender registry for a Dec. 12, 2007, conviction for assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse involving a minor girl under the age of 13...

Regular business at Compass Pointe came to a halt April 15, but the treatment center is seeking fourth quarter financial commitments from the nine counties which had funded it. Dickinson County Treasurer Kris Rowley is the county's representative to Compass Pointe. She asked the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors to consider the payment at its April 16 meeting...