Stories from Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Throughout this pandemic I've continued to listen to and hear from Iowans in all corners of our state. During telephone town halls, virtual town halls, conference calls, Facebook live events, and so much more, I've continued to hear directly from Iowans and have been able to bring their fight and voices to Washington...

    A: This historic civil rights law has empowered tens of millions of Americans with disabilities to live a higher quality of life and eliminate barriers to employment, education and economic opportunities in communities across our great nation. During debate on the Senate floor 30 years ago, I introduced an amendment to make the ADA apply to the legislative branch of the federal government...

By Judy Palmer The red-wing blackbird nibbles at the feeder As the wind whips flags on the white docks. Boats traverse across the lake as the Wind excites wakes so skiers can jump them. --- Sightseeing boats carry chairs filled with Awestruck dreamers of what might be...

I contemplated writing about key positive issues or programs that could be introduced after our next election. However, following President Trump's Rose Garden rant, his recent TV interviews, his rebooting of misinformation/politicizing the COVID-19 crisis and now his dispatching federal militia into sovereign cities managed by political opponents, it becomes more important we seriously study history of constitutional democratic demise! Trump's actions flaunt the concerns of Hamilton and other founders in creating the American presidency they perceived to be based upon trust of mutual toleration and institutional forbearance.. ...

Nov. 17, 1923 — Feb. 14, 2020 A graveside service for Charles Hedges, 96, of Spirit Lake, was held Monday, July 27, 2020, at Memory Gardens in Spirit Lake. Charles Grant Hedges, the son of Leo and Susie (Singer) Hedges, was born Nov. 17, 1923 in Spirit Lake. After Spirit Lake High School, Charles was enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943 and was honorably discharged on April 5, 1946. Charles served on the USS Tennessee Battleship during WWII...

Dec. 22, 1942 — Jan. 27, 2020 A memorial gathering for Don Hungerford will be held from 1-3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, at Gilbert Park in Spirit Lake. Donald Maurice Hungerford, the son of Daniel and Ann (Mulvihill) Hungerford was born Dec. 22, 1942, in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduation from Holstein High School, he continued his education at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, receiving a degree in education...

Dec. 30, 1919 — July 23, 2020 A memorial service was held Saturday, July 25, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church for Edward L. Wollner of Milford and formerly of Terril. The Rev. Tim Johnson and Msgr. Kenneth Seifried officiated. Interment was at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Emmetsburg. Military Rites were performed by V.F.W. Post #2295 of Emmetsburg...

June 25, 1955— July 20, 2020 The world lost a great advocate of natural resources on July 20, 2020, with the passing of Gary Fredricks at his home in Washougal, Washington. Gary Lee Fredricks was born June 25, 1955 in Sioux Rapids to Verlin and Delores (Bappe) Fredricks. ...

Oct. 2, 1940 — July 13, 2020 Nancy Ann Schlichting, the daughter of Frank and Gladys (Haack) Galema, was born on Oct. 2, 1940, in Ocheyedan. She attended school at Excelsior School, south of Lake Park, graduating in 1958. Following graduation, she attended Worthington Junior College for two years. She then started working at the Dickinson County Extension Office in Spirit Lake...

Aug. 23, 1952 — July 24, 2020 Steven Wayne "Shaggy" Daly, the son of Ed Daly and Barb Dickinson was born Aug. 23, 1952, in Spirit Lake. His childhood years were spent in the Okoboji area and raised by his grandparents. Steve graduated from Arnolds Park High School in 1970. He began working at Terrace Park Dairy where he met his wife, Sharon Suber and married June 22, 1974. They moved to Spencer in 1976, where they raised two children...

A Denison woman was given a written warning after causing minor injuries in a vehicle crash over the weekend. The Dickinson County Sheriff's Office said 41-year-old Andrea Wonder was headed east along the 2600 block of Highway 9 around 11:23 a.m. Saturday. She began to turn north toward a private drive when authorities said she collided with a car driven by 37-year-old Kristina Diaz of Fairmont, Minnesota, who was heading west along the highway with three passengers...

The Judicial Nominating Commission for the 3A Judicial District has nominated attorney John M. Sandy of Spirit Lake and Lyon County Attorney Shayne L. Mayer of Rock Rapids for the judgeship created by the retirement of District Court Judge Don E. Courtney. A total of eight applicants were considered for the position...

New deadlines are in place but time is running out for Dickinson County residents who have delayed their March property tax payments. "Governor Reynolds’ Proclamation of Disaster Emergency signed on July 24 impacts many of the services provided at the County Treasurer's office," Treasuerer Kris Rowley said. ...

It's not often local chamber officials visit an empty lot, but a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday morning drew officials with both the Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Shovels were turned on the future site of Great Lakes Dental Associates — 3020 Aurora Avenue in Spirit Lake. ...

Birders were surprised to hear the characteristic whinny of a sora during Birding on the Green last year. "That was cool, because that was one bird I've never heard before," said naturalist Ashley Hansen. Birding on the Green allows birders of all ages the opportunity to see and hear up to 60 different species in just a couple of hours. The Dickinson County Conservation Board program will be held 7 a.m. on Aug. 3 and Sept. 14 at Brooks Golf in Okoboji...

Following the recent announcement surrounding postponement, the Clay County Fair has announced two ways to get a fair food fix in the month of August — Non-Profit Take Out Tuesdays and Fair Food To Go. "From the moment the fair was postponed, we knew our local nonprofits would be hurting," Clay County Fair & Events Center CEO Jeremy Parsons said. ...

Each year Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps holds an annual fundraising weekend, including a Scandinavian feast, a live concert, a 5K race, and a quilt auction. This year the featured auction item to be sold is a Norwegian tapestry. Auction weekend begins Thursday, July 30, with quilt viewing in the gym from 4-7 p.m...

Calling all individuals looking to have barrels of fun! This fall marks the 29th year of University of Okoboji Oktoberfest and registration opens Saturday, Aug. 1. Early-bird registration is $30 per person and ends Sept, 17. Don’t miss your chance to take advantage of this discounted rate!...

An open meeting of the Board of Trustees for Milford Memorial Library is at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, in the Milford Community Center. The agenda on MML's website and front bulletin board at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. The public is welcome to join...

The mobile food pantry from the Food Bank Iowa is returning to Estherville. The free distribution will take place from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, in the Crossroads Community Church parking lot. Recipients are asked not to arrive before 3 p.m. and to remain in the vehicle — do not line up at the door, because the building will be closed. Recipients are asked to bring bags, laundry baskets or boxes to carry the food...

With a Berkley flag flying from her bow and an American flag flying from her stern, the Queen II led boaters in a loop around West Lake Okoboji Saturday night in recognition of Berkley Bedell's passing. The former U.S. Representative and local businessman died Dec. 7, 2019, in Naples, Florida. A July 25 memorial service in Spirit Lake was postponed due to COVID-19. In lieu of a memorial service, arrangements were ultimately made to hold Saturday's Berkley Bedell Memorial Boat Parade...

More restrictions on entering the Dickinson County Courthouse are to be lifted next week. The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously for the courthouse move to its third phase of reopening for the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

Members of Congress are still putting together potential legislation for a second round of federal relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Legislators approved a first wave of relief under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security — or CARES — Act in late March, and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said he hopes the final version of a second relief bill can be sent to President Trump's desk by Aug. 6...

Four criminal charges against a Carroll teen, including a felony weapons charge, have been dropped by the state of Iowa to allow a federal court to take over the case. Court records show Iowa Third Judicial District Judge Don E. Courtney allowed the charges against 19-year-old Buomkuoth Mach Lol to be dismissed in a June 18 decision. ...