Stories from Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The first of Iowa’s two shotgun deer seasons opens on Dec. 7, and while optimism for a successful hunt is the primary focus, hunters are encouraged to brush up on safe hunting practices. Basic firearm rules are pretty straight forward: treat every firearm as though it were loaded; always point the muzzle in a safe direction; be sure of your target and what’s beyond it; keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot...

Heading into Iowa’s busiest outdoor ‘opening day,’ shotgun deer season hunters should expect to see about the same number of deer in the timber as last year – with the possible exception for hunters in southcentral Iowa, where local deer populations were impacted by an outbreak of hemorrhagic disease...

Pollinator Paradise is officially open at the Dickinson County Nature Center. The $1.2 million addition now features children’s museum-quality exhibits including a food truck featuring faux meals that need pollinators to exist, a touchscreen pollinator habitat game and even a life-size apple orchard where you can be a bee and pollinate apple blossoms...

The recent cold weather has furharvesters excited because cold weather helps animal furs become better. Called prime, a pelt becomes prime when the fur is at its peak in color, length, density and texture. This is often determined by fur buyers as they judge a fur’s primeness when determining the price the buyer is willing to pay...

Okoboji senior Camry Jones recently signed a national letter of intent to attend Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and play women’s basketball. Jones, a post player, is the fifth commitment to the DMACC women’s basketball program for the 2020-21 school year. ...

Spirit Lake volleyball teammates Emma Loveall and Jordyn Hamm added to their postseason awards list early this week. The duo had already earned First Team All-Lakes Conference honors after helping to lead the Indians to a 35-6 overall record and a runner-up finish in the Lakes Conference this past season. They tacked on a Class 3A All-West District selection, as well as a pair of all-state nods by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association...

Okoboji opened the girls basketball season with a convincing conference win Monday night in Hull, as the ninth-ranked (3A) Pioneers earned a 58-39 win over host Boyden-Hull. According to Pioneers coach John Adams, the Comets jumped out to a quick 9-3 lead against the defending Siouxland Conference champions. However, Okoboji responded with a 12-0 to end the quarter and take a 15-9 lead...

Spirit Lake battled adversity to pick up a season-opening home victory over non-conference foe Sioux Central on Monday. The Indians lost the services of senior post Jordyn Hamm in the second quarter and faced foul trouble throughout, but managed to find a way to outpace the Rebels to a 53-41 win in Spirit Lake...

Gary and Linda Prince are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a card shower on Dec. 6. If friends and family would like to send cards, the address is:  Gary and Linda Prince 408 North 16th Pl. Estherville, IA 51334

Last week the serial anti-Trump letter writer postulated that this time they have the goods on President Trump to impeach him. The Democrats have wanted to remove Trump from office ever since he was elected. First it was the Russian puppet hoax. When they couldn't get the job done by themselves, they called for a special prosecutor to launch a two-year $40 million investigation staffed by Democratic attorneys and FBI investigators. ...

Serving and honoring those who have selflessly served us and this nation through military service is important. The sacrifices our service members and their families make on our behalf is great and their efforts deserve our continuing respect and admiration...

Chief Justice Mark Cady passed away Nov. 15, 2019, from a heart attack. He was 66.  Chief Justice Cady of Fort Dodge, was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 1998. The members of the court selected him as chief justice in 2011. Chief Justice Cady was a real judge. And I do not mean that he sat in a stuffy robe, on a high pedestal, with a wig, banging a gavel around. He was a real Iowan. A worker-bee, approachable and one of the people. Just as a judge ought to be...

Get out your ear plugs, because I'm about to toot my own horn again. Don't say I didn't warn you. As I've mentioned before, this paper participates in the Iowa Better Newspaper Association's annual competition. As great as winning those awards is, the true purpose of the competition is to cultivate — you guessed it — better newspapers in the state of Iowa. ...

Jan. 12, 1943 — Nov. 16, 2019 Daniel Ray Rubel, 76, died on Nov. 16, 2019, in his home in San Francisco, where he had lived for the last 15 years. He was suffering from metastatic prostate cancer. Dan was born Jan. 12, 1943, on a farm south of Lake Park to Mildred and Charles Rubel, the last of their eight children. ...

July 20, 1956 — Nov. 17, 2019 Joel "Joe" Caughey, 63, of Lake Park passed away on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

Jan. 24, 1932 — Nov. 26, 2019 A funeral service for Adeline Dagel, 87 of Lake Park was held Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, at Excelsior United Methodist Church of rural Milford. Burial was at the Silver Lake Cemetery in Lake Park. Lorraine Adeline, the daughter of Peter and Frances (Fijalek) Dunai, was born Jan. 24, 1932, in Lakefield, Minnesota...

June 4, 1940 — Nov. 22, 2019 Jeleen Ann Bargloff was born June 4, 1940, in Sac County to John H. Carlson and Esther (Hardabeck) Carlson. The family moved to Storm Lake in 1946. Jeleen was confirmed in 1954 at St. John's Lutheran Church where she attended and served as a Sunday School teacher...

Nov. 20, 1966 — Nov. 15, 2019 Linda Worrell, 52, of Des Moines, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. Funeral services were Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Iles Grandview Park Chapel. Cremation followed the service...

March 6, 1925 — Nov. 21, 2019 Lloyd Merle Friedrichsen, age 94, passed away Nov. 21, 2019, at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley. Lloyd was son of the late Henry and Caroline (Meyer) Friedrichsen. He was born March 6, 1925, in Moneta. He was a WWII veteran, U.S. Navy, Pacific Theater, serving on the USS Pocomo; fought in the Battle of Tarawa and was honorably discharged...

Dec. 1, 1953 — Nov. 17, 2019 Patrick Yeager, 65, of Estherville passed away on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019 at Accura Health Care of Spirit Lake. Services for Pat will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be directed to spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

Aug. 17, 1930 — Nov. 18, 2019 Thomas "Wayne" Crystal, 89, of Spirit Lake passed away Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, at his home. Celebration of life will be held at a later date at the Downtown Church in Milford. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be directed to spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

The footprint for a pair financial service providers is about to grow, according to announcements released by the companies. Northwest Financial Corp. on Friday, Nov. 22, announced plans for its charter bank — First National Bank in Creston — to purchase Century Bank, located in Shenandoah. The purchase is subject to regulatory approval but Northwest Financial hopes to complete the purchase by Friday, April 17, 2020...

Parks Marina is celebrating 40 years of Winter Games in Okoboji with a line-up of concerts and entertainment for the thousands of visitors returning to the Iowa Great Lakes for cold weather fun. Parks Marina will host the "Locals Pre Game Party and 8th Annual Battle of the Bartenders," beginning at 5 p.m. ...

The Iowa Lakes Community College music department is proud to announce the 20th annual Elizabethan madrigal feaste. This year’s festivities will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Estherville campus' SERT Building. The Elizabethan Madrigal Feaste pays tribute to the Christmas Feaste that was an annual custom in early England. This custom originated from the celebration of the New Year and was an extravagant display of rejoicing and toasting of the 12 days of Christmas...

Milford residents and businesses have a chance to win Milford Bucks just by showing some holiday spirit. The Milford Holiday Fantasy lighting decoration contest will take place from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, as part of the weekend celebration. A touring panel of judges will be on the lookout for bright lights, but entrants are encouraged to contact Milford Municipal Utilities to make sure  their location is on the "watch list." Residents and business owners are encouraged to nominate themselves — or a neighbor who goes "all out!". ...

In the true spirit of community fun and recognition, the University of Okoboji Winter Games Committee is giving the public the opportunity to nominate a man or woman to serve as a 2020 University of Okoboji Winter Games cheerleader. Nominees must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of Dickinson County...

In 2010 Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) began as an idea to engage local students by educating them on nonprofit organizations and the importance of community giving. Nine years later, the program is stronger than ever and continues to empower and challenge youth to identify community needs and make a positive lasting impact. A decade of giving has resulted in 164 students raising over $342,000. Twenty-four grants have been awarded to 19 different nonprofit organizations...

The Spirit Lake Student of Service for October was Olivia Whiting, a sophomore and Key Club leadership team member. Whiting has participated in the homecoming parade, Kiwanis trail clean-up, WEL-Life Family Night,  Key Club week and is always willing to sign up for new service projects. (Photo submitted)...

The Milford Memorial Library is closed Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The library will be open Saturday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Milford Memorial Library is hosting the Festival of Trees again this year for Milford's Holiday Fantasy. ...

A six-session course designed to guide women in making farm business decisions will be hosted by ISU Extension and Outreach for Clay and Dickinson Counties.   "Annie’s Project: Farm Business Management" will be held for six Thursdays beginning Jan. 23 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Milford...

In April, regent Mary Thunhorst represented the Ladies of the Lake Chapter at the 2019 state conference and sang the National Anthem at the awards banquet. She accepted the six state awards for the local chapter. At the conference, Carolyn DeLay played The Daughters of the American Revolution March dedicated by the composer in 1916 to the Ladies of the Lake Chapter...

On Oct. 31, the Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis was made aware that Upper Des Moines Opportunity had an immediate need for children's coats, snow pants, hats and gloves. Teresa Beck, a club member, brought the need before the membership and received $1,000, which was enough to outfit 20 children. Their board also set aside funds to assist in any future needs for children's winter apparel. ...

The Arnolds Park City Council met in special session Nov. 20 to discuss a potential purchase of the Okoboji Middle School building. Council member John Adams said he had been approached by a handful of residents with the idea. The property's next owners will have to emerge from a public bidding process — a Nov. ...

The paths of a Spirit Lake robotics club and a budding high school robotics program are intersecting inside a brick building on the outskirts of the Spirit Lake High School campus. Spirit Lake Industrial Technology instructor Bob Kirchner has overseen the local chapter of FIRST — or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — Robotics for a number of years. ...

Over the past four decades, people have picked up their bait and fueled up their boat at the south end of Iowa Highway 86 near Milford. But that's about to change, according to Steve Pflueger, owner of Oh Shucks Bait, Tackle and Convenience Store. He plans to close up shop and retire at the end of the week...