Stories from Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Two groups of locals have been recently working to address food insecurity in the Lakes Area. One is a group of local officials and business people with Wellmark Insurance's Healthy Hometown Initiative. The other is a group eighth grade students from Okoboji Middle School who independently took on the issue as part of the school's No Boundaries class...

Residents of Spirit Lake have many community assets to be thankful for. For a city of our size, we share benefits usually found only in larger ones. Fortunately, tourism contributes for the cost of some of these assets. However, some assets remain for our citizenry to fund...

As you prepare for finals and look ahead to summer jobs, don’t miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Have you ever considered working on Capitol Hill? My U.S. Senate office offers internship opportunities that will give you hands-on work experience in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment. Internships are open to all college-age students of any academic major...

Has the winter been rough on your car? Does it need repair caused by an accident on icy roads? Is it out of alignment or does it need new shocks due to all the potholes? Taking the time to find the right repair shop will save you money and future headaches...

As you read this message the 2019 session of the Iowa Legislature has ended. There were many things that were done this year to "move Iowa forward" and we were able to have a very successful session. This last session, we were able to put taxpayers first, ensure a world class education, ensure affordable and accessible health care, revitalize rural Iowa, enhance Iowa's workforce and economy and protect public safety...

During the 15th week of the legislative session, we continued our work toward adjournment for the year. We spent much of our time waiting for bills to come to us from the other chamber, waiting on amendments and debating some of the last proposals we will discuss this year. ...

Dec. 27, 1932 — April 29, 2019 Sandra M. Switzer, 86, Raytown, Missouri, passed away April 29, 2019. Services were, Friday, May 3, at Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W. Lexington Ave., Independence, Missouri; interment at Forest Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Northern Boulevard United Methodist Church, 1800 S. Northern Blvd, Independence, MO, 64052...

March 19, 1951 — April 27, 2019 A funeral service for Nina Bishop, 68, of Milford and formerly of Spirit Lake and Laurens, was held Thursday, May 2, 2019, at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Interment was at Laurens Cemetery in Laurens. Nina Annette Bishop, the daughter of Carroll and Bonnie (Johnson) Newgard was born on March 19, 1951, in Laurens, Iowa. She was raised in rural Webb and graduated from South Clay High School in Gillett Grove in 1969...

Feb. 8, 1926 — May 2, 2019 A service for Aletha Meyer, 93, of Spirit Lake was held Thursday, May 2, 2019, at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Interment was at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in a family service at a later date. Aletha Lois Meyer, the daughter of Conrad and Ida (Rachuy) Krahling, was born Feb. 8, 1926 in rural Ashton. She attended school until the eighth grade at Dale Township...

The Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of the Citizens Climate Education/Lobby, an organization of volunteers, will hold its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11 in the Waitt Lab of Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, on Highway 86 north of Milford. Refreshments and snacks will be served and participants may bring some food to share, but all are welcome...

The Iowa Mortgage Association named several Mortgage Professionals from Northwest Bank were accepted into the IMA’s 2018 President’s Club and Winner’s Circle. Angie Peterson of Spirit Lake and Jason Warren of Spencer were named to the President's Club. Mark Roos of Sioux City joined Brian Klass and Abby Funk of West Des Moines in the Winner's Circle...

The spring 2019 commencement ceremony for Iowa Lakes Community College will be held Friday, May 10. Following the fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters, 314 students have completed or are in progress to complete the requirements for their degrees or diplomas at Iowa Lakes. Nearly 200 students plan to attend the commencement ceremony...

Students in preschool through fourth grade are encouraged to join MML's Youth Librarian, Miss Becca, for a fun afternoon of stories, a simple craft, activities, and coloring pages at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9. This month, youth will create a cute and thoughtful pencil bookmark to be given to their one-of-a-kind teacher. Everything is provided at no cost to the students, and there is no pre-registration...

Friends and family members were concerned about Kolton Dicus when he disappeared on foot from Milford more than two weeks ago. Their worst fears were realized on Saturday. Milford Police and the family confirmed Kolton was located by a private investigator and York, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois K9 who specializes in missing persons searches. Memorial services for Kolton are still pending in Sioux City...

Two Spirit Lake residents face several drug-related felonies and misdemeanors after authorities searched their home. Spirit Lake police executed a search warrant for a home in the 1200 block of Jackson Avenue. The search turned up more than a pound of marijuana and various forms of tetrahydrocannabinol — or THC. ...

The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce credited fantastic weather in part to the turnout of over 2,100 anglers for 37th Annual Walleye Weekend. The contest serves as a kick-off to walleye season in the Iowa Great Lakes Area. Individuals of varying ages and 17 different states got to experience the local chain of lakes...

At least two counties are generating some pushing back against a bill Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed at the beginning of the month. House File 609 established a children's behavioral health system and requires certain core services among the state's mental health regions...