Stories from Monday, December 23, 2019

Second grade students at Spirit Lake Elementary were asked how Santa travels around the world on Christmas Eve and how he can visit so many houses in one night. The students had a variety of creative theories to share. Here are the answers: Because he has fast reindeer and they are so strong too and because he has magic power and because he is very fast too. Rudolph the red nose reindeer has a very shiny nose and because he knows who is naught or nice. — Brady A...

It was 1897 when little Virginia O’Hanlon wrote her famous query to The New York Sun, “Is there a Santa Claus?” The editor turned the letter over to Francis Pharcellus Church to answer. The result is a timeless piece of wisdom that applies as beautifully this holiday season as it did long ago...

On Dec. 11, the interim Public Retirement Systems Committee met to receive an update from IPERS, 411 system for police and firefighters, Judicial Branch, Department of Administrative Services-Retirement Investors Club, and Peace Officers' Retirement System. The state of these pension systems continues to be strong...

To the younger generation, Berkley Bedell was our very active U. S. Congressman and activist Democrat after leaving Congress having suffered a bout with Lyme disease. However, to the older generation, there is much more for us to remember him for. His importance to our community before his time in Congress needs to be told...

April 9, 1997 — Dec. 14, 2019 A funeral service for Blake Mart, age 22, of Spirit Lake, was held Thursday, Dec. 19, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake.  Burial was at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Estherville. Memorials in honor of Blake may be given to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the Lakes Regional Healthcare Foundation Diabetes Fund...

Feb. 26, 1926 — Dec. 20, 2019 A funeral service for Viola Nordblad, age 93, of West Okoboji, was held Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Burial was at Milford Cemetery. Viola Marie Nordblad was born Feb. 26, 1926, to Lars and Sophie Krogh near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Ringsted Lutheran Church...

Travelers may notice an increased law enforcement presence on Highway 18 in O’Brien County over the upcoming holiday travel period. That's because the Iowa State Patrol is partnering with O'Brien County Law Enforcement agencies to reduce the number of crashes on this 24-mile stretch through the holiday season...

The weekend of Jan. 4 will a big one for local tabletop gamers. Now in its second year, Lakes Area Game Fest 2020 is expected to be even bigger and better. The convention is being organized by Lakes Area Board Gamers. "We asked for feedback after our first year from all of the attendees as well as our vendors and exhibitors, and we had one exhibitor who said that he had been to hundreds of conventions and as far as the first year went, we were five years ahead," Lakes Area Board Gamers co-founder Joe Weber said. ...

He laughs at the irony now, but local businessman Bob Shaw's familial connection to the sport of foosball spurred donations of several foosball tables to area school districts. The first of the donated tables was installed at Spirit Lake High School in late November. ...

A Minnesota woman will stand trial at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, on accusations she used another person's identity to fraudulently apply for a credit card and two vehicle loans. Jasmine Latrice Simmons-Brown entered her written plea of not guilty Wednesday, Dec. 18, according to court records. The 30-year-old faces a Class C felony identity theft charge for using someone else's date of birth, address and social security number to obtain $54,383 on or about Oct. 1, 2018...

Lakes Regional Healthcare's Board of Trustees approved a collaborative business relationship with Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons during its December board meeting. Known as "provider-based status," the regional orthopedic practice essentially becomes a department of the hospital...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources encourages the public to bring friends and family on an enjoyable winter hike in an Iowa state park. Dozens of hikes are planned across Iowa as the DNR staff kicks off the 100th anniversary of Iowa state parks...

The Iowa Navy Commodores welcomed another member to its Chairman's Council members. The staff at Northwest Bank in Spirit Lake was on deck to receive a plaque from the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon. Representatives of the bank's Milford and Arnolds Park locations were also present for the occasion...

Teaching me the importance of setting a good example, a.k.a. "practicing what I preach" was a big deal to my mother. "What you do, speaks so loudly, that the world can't hear what you say" seemed to be Mom's answer to every excuse and rationalization I ever gave her for my poor behavior...

Staff members at Dickinson County Conservation don't go into hibernation during the winter months — and they hope area residents don't either. The Dickinson County Nature Center is worth a visit at 22785 Nature Center Road in Okoboji. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, year-round. For more information on Dickinson County Nature Center programs, visit dickinsoncountynaturecenter.com or call 712-336-6352. Keep up on the latest happenings on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well...

The countdown is on for the 40th anniversary year of the University of Okoboji Winter Games presented by GrapeTree Medical Staffing. With Christmas right around the corner, Chamber staff members have gift ideas for a spot under the tree. Order online at www.uofowintergames.com or stop in to one of the local stores in the Iowa Great Lakes Area...

For a busy father and supervisor, Buena Vista University's online courses have been an academic godsend. "One-hundred percent of my classes have been online through BVU," says Heath Richter of Spencer, who earned a bachelor's degree in business management and, in December, completed his master's degree in BVU’s organizational leadership program. "Online classes have been the draw for me."...

Several SLHS Key Club members spread Christmas cheer at the Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake open house. They sang Christmas carols and enjoyed the refreshments with the residents. (Photo submitted)

All boys and girls ages 9 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the 2020 Knights of Columbus free throw championship. The local contest will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at a new location: the Bedell Family YMCA in Spirit Lake. Registration and practice begin at 12:30 p.m. And age levels have been extended to include 9-year-olds...

Area boys and girls in grades 4-7 are welcome to compete in the 2020 Knights of Columbus spelling bee. Iowa Great Lakes Council 5043 is sponsoring the always-entertaining contest Thursday, Jan. 16 at the Spirit Lake Middle School music room. Free on-site registration – requiring a parent's signature – will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the hallway outside the music room at Spirit Lake Middle School off Hill Avenue in Spirit Lake...

Area youth receive awards at the seventh annual FIRST LEGO League regional qualifying competition Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville Campus. Three teams will advance to the championship event at Iowa State University in January 2020...

  Vance Hjelm was presented Dickinson County’s Farm Bureau County Recognition Award at the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) Annual Meeting on Dec. 3-4 in Des Moines. Vice-President Joe Heinrich made the presentation to Hjelm. Dickinson County Farm Bureau received an outstanding designation for its 2019 programs which help further the story of agriculture to new audiences through many areas, including policy development, policy implementation, communications and strengthening the county Farm Bureau. ...

The Iowa Great Lakes Board of Realtors (IGLBOR) has announced new officers for the 2020 year. The new leadership team was elected in November and assumed their roles effective Jan. 1, 2020. Serving in the role of President is Rob Hinn of DOWDEN-HINN Realtors in Spirit Lake. Will Kretsinger of Ingvall Real Estate is serving in the role of president-elect and Angela Bousquet-Hinn of DOWDEN-HINN Realtors in Spirit Lake is serving in the role of secretary/treasurer...

MaxYield Cooperative held its 105th annual meeting Monday, Dec. 12 at the Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum in Algona. Board chairman Howard Haas called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. During the meeting, MaxYield CFO Susan Post discussed the financial results of the cooperative. The audited financial report for the fiscal year ending July 31 reported local earnings of $1,790,071 with total pre-tax earnings totaling $7.4 million. Both earnings levels were greater than the prior fiscal year...

Parks Marina in Okoboji and Upper Des Moines Opportunity in Spirit Lake are proud to announce that the 11th annual Boat Loads of Toys produced $5,000 worth of toys and children's clothing. The annual campaign provides Christmas toys and clothing to youth in need throughout Dickinson County and surrounding areas. ...

Jensen Real Estate and Sunshine Foods have partnered this holiday season to donate food thru Upper Des Moines Opportunity food Pantry in Spirit Lake.  For every pre-filled bag purchase, Jensen Real Estate will match the donation to UDMO.  Supporters can purchase the bags at Sunshine Food in Milford. Working together Jensen Real Estate and UDMO can help make sure no one is hungry this holiday season in Dickinson County...

A Spirit Lake man whose car collided with a home earlier in 2019 now faces separate charges after striking a pedestrian last week in the 2000 block of Peoria Avenue. Spirit Lake Police said 76-year-old James Lee Stevens struck 46-year-old Joseph Aaron Vanveldhuizen of Orleans at about 10:21 a.m. ...