Stories from Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Cherish Center would like to recognize and send sincere thanks to The Good Neighbor Fund for the recent donation. This gift has a significant impact on the individuals we serve. The gift assists with the operational and program needs of Cherish House as well as has an impact on our ability to carry out the additional ministries of mentoring and parent/family educational opportunities...

Thank you to the Good Neighbor Fund of the Okoboji and Spirit Lake territory and all of the community members who donated to the Good Neighbor Fund this past year and made it possible for Hope Haven, Inc. to receive such a great donation. The funds we received this year will go toward assisting our clients with purchasing RIDES passes and transportation tickets...

The American Red Cross Serving Greater Iowa would like to thank everyone in the Iowa Great Lakes Region who donated to the Good Neighbor Fund this year. The American Red Cross has had a presence in Iowa since 1916, focusing on disaster relief, health and safety preparedness, blood service, international service and supporting the armed forces. ...

We, at Discovery House, would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the residents of Dickinson County who contributed so generously to the Good Neighbor Fund, and to our non-profit organization this year. Recently, we had a new roof put on Discovery House, so part of this year’s donation, in addition to some private donations, will help to complete that project...

Dickinson County is blessed with the best natural resources in the State of Iowa. Our 10 natural lakes are a magnet that draws people from a 200 mile radius and beyond. We are fortunate so many people want to visit the Iowa Great Lakes – with the result – many want to buy property here. Recently lakeshore property has been selling at higher prices...

The YMCA of the Okobojis would like to recognize and thank the Good Neighbor Fund for the donation given to the Y, which impacts both the Bedell Family YMCA and Camp Foster YMCA. The Bedell Family YMCA received funding to assist in the purchase of new AED machines for our three facilities and, additionally, some of the funds will help offset the costs to the Y for hosting North Area Special Olympics events for the state of Iowa. ...

Does $1,320 an inch sound about right? That is what the letter from Stephanie Sohn, the assessor informed me a month ago. Up 20% from last year. Since I was 10 years old, I dreamed of having a home on West Okoboji Lake. I am one of the lucky ones whose dream came true. But that dream is becoming more impossible each year as many owners are being displaced from the market by wealthy buyers who line up at realtors' offices with suitcases full of cash...

Oct. 20, 1947 — April 30, 2019 A memorial service for Mark Nicol, age 71, of Milford, was held Saturday, May 11, 2019, at Excelsior Methodist Church. Burial was at Excelsior Township Cemetery. Mark (Nick) Nicol passed away at the Nicol family farm on April 30, 2019. ...

May 15, 1950 — May 3, 2019 A funeral service for Patricia Ann Zweibahmer, 68, of Spirit Lake, was held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery. Patricia Ann Zweibahmer was born May 15, 1950, in West Union, the daughter of Cyril J. Zweibahmer and Ruth F. (Heldt) Zweibahmer...

Oct. 1, 1960 — May 7, 2019 Scott McConnell, 58, of Spirit Lake passed away on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2019, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences can be sent to spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced on May 2 that nine Iowa communities have been awarded the Certificate of Appreciation – 50 Year Award from the American Dental Association (ADA), Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for continuously adjusting and maintaining the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water from 1968-2018 to prevent tooth decay...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) spring fish spawning season is over and Iowa's two walleye hatcheries are filled to capacity. Netting crews collected enough walleye to produce 1,082 quarts of walleye eggs at the Spirit Lake hatchery and 963 quarts at the Rathbun hatchery...

Congratulations were extended to Mr. Jay Daugherty, who has won the Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award in Omaha, Nebraska. The award is given by the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. Jay Daugherty is the son of Sharon and Jerry Daugherty of Milford, owners of the Sugar Shack in Okoboji...

Students at Spirit Lake High School participated in the Red Sand Project on May 10. Over 70 students, staff, local law enforcement and Cathy Hansen from the CARES group joined together to fill a sidewalk crack on Hill Avenue to take action against vulnerabilities that lead to human trafficking and exploitation. ...

The Okoboji Elementary School announced three students will be presenting in Des Moines at the Science Center of Iowa. Fourth-grade students Trent Tewes, Laylah Kalsow and Ella Nicoletti received a STEM Innovation grant from the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition (ICEC) to do a water game jam this spring...

The 2019 Okoboji Foundation Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) set a new annual fundraising record of $72,377. YIP grants were awarded to: • $20,000 to Okoboji Sailing Center for boats for interscholastic sailing • $16,000 to Lakes Regional Healthcare for an ambulance power loading system...

Kyle Ervin Stafford, age 48, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, on a court order. Leah Dyan Norton, age 48, of Milford was charged with driving while license suspended, operating without registration and drug equipment violation at 7 p.m. ...

Northwest Bank employees shared an important lesson on saving money to Spirit Lake, Milford and Arnolds Park students as part of the American Bankers Association's Teach Children to Save Day. Northwest Bank employees encourage financial responsibility at a young age, which in turn will strengthen and maintain our thriving communities for years to come. ...

From 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, Milford Memorial Library invites children and families to interact, have fun and use their imaginations with a variety of toys, building items, puppets, coloring sheets, puzzles and more. Guardians can relax and converse with other adults, or they are welcome to join in with the kids. All of the items are provided by the library. There is no pre-registration and no cost to join this discovery time...

The Cornbelt Chorus was named the 2019 Small Chorus Champion at the Central States District Barbershop Chorus Contest in Iowa City on Saturday, April 27. The Cornbelt Chorus was also named the Plateau B Division Champions, performing the songs "Surfer Girl" and "Driving Me Crazy."...

Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative Superintendent of Field Operations Brian Scott has completed an intensive program in electric utility management with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Scott is one of only a few electric cooperative management staff that graduated from the Management Internship Program this year...

Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis inducted seven new members on May 8: T.J. Thayer (operation director - Upper Des Moines), Jim Clark (Building Products Inc.), Gary Morgal (Business development - Lakes Marketing & Print), George Bower (Ag loan officer - United Community Bank), Heather Goff (CFO - Rides), Nick Stauss (Associate/Owner - Stauss Realty), Dr. ...


 The Milford Commercial Club recently welcomed Stan's Bait and Tackle as a member for 2019. Owners Dennis Harman (pictured) and Travis Harman operate the store under Triple L Fishing, LLC. The bait and tackle retailer is located at 2306 Okoboji Ave. ...

It meant a lot of furniture had to be lifted, according to co-owner Amanda Williams, but Midwest Modern is now open for business. Williams and fellow owner Shannon Dunham were joined by the Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce Friday afternoon to officially cut the ribbon outside their location at 3524 Highway 71 in Spirit Lake...

Dickinson County remains in position to show growth when census employees do their official count in 2020. The State Data Center in Iowa released its county estimates on April 18. Dickinson County was one of 30 counties to show growth since 2010, with a gain of 486 residents. The Iowa Great Lakes started the decade with an estimated 16,667 residents. It now has 17,153 residents and is the 13th fastest-growing county in the state at 2.9%...

"Well, if you want to buy things in China, it's going to cost more in a month," U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley said, during a press update Monday afternoon. Trade negotiations surrounding U.S. and Chinese tariffs continue to escalate, and Grassley noted the United States plans to impose more tariffs on products coming from China. ...

New trial dates — two of them — have been set for an Ackley man accused of confining his son in darkness, terrorizing him about dogs, withholding food and toilet use, injuring him and forcing him to sleep on a cement floor. Alex Craig Shadlow is scheduled to stand trial at 9 a.m. ...

Friday was a special day, according to Okoboji School Superintendent Todd Abrahamson. He, district administrators, staff and community members crossed the district high school's parking lot to officially break ground on the site of what will be the new Okoboji Middle School...