Stories from Tuesday, June 25, 2019

During Michael Cohen's testimony to Congress, he produced letters Trump directed him to send to Trump's high school and colleges, threatening them with legal action and jail time if they ever released his academic records. A seemingly strange thing to do when he repeatedly claimed that he graduated "first in his class" from the Warton School of Business at Penn. ...

I am a 1969 graduate of Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC). That year, John Denver and the Mitchell Trio performed in concert on the ILCC campus. The commencement speaker was the then Iowa Governor Harold Hughes. Since my graduation from ILCC, I have watched the college grow and increase the number of campuses to five; one each in the principal counties served. During that 50-year period, the school has added a number of career and technical programs...

  Throughout its history, Iowa has been a place where women break barriers. Time after time, Iowa women have shown if they set their minds to something, work hard and believe in themselves, they can accomplish anything. On July 2, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Iowans ratifying the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It granted women the right to vote...

Governor Reynolds vetoed House File 732, which would have altered Iowa's cannabidiol program. The veto leaves Iowa's current cannabidiol law in place. HF 732 would have made several changes to 2016 law. The largest of which would be removing the 3% THC cap and allowing a person with a medical cannabidiol card to receive up to 25 grams of THC in 90 days. Patients would be responsible for managing their dosage in those 90 days and would be prohibited from receiving more in that time...

July 8, 1941 — June 16, 2019 A funeral service for Arnie Ihnen, age 77, of Lakefield, Minnesota, was held Thursday, June 20, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux Valley, Minnesota. Burial was at Sioux Valley Cemetery. Arnie Gene Ihnen, the son of Ben and Minnie (Fries) Ihnen, was born July 8, 1941, in Dickinson County. ...

Sept. 21, 1923 — June 15, 2019 Jean Bridson, age 95, of Storm Lake died Saturday, June 15, 2019, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be at the Fairview Cemetery in Terril. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements...

April 1, 1921 — June 15, 2019 A funeral service for Madge Voss, age 98, of Spirit Lake, was held Friday, June 21, 2019, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Lakeview Cemetery. Madge Ilene Voss, the daughter of Earl and Zella Bentley, was born April 1, 1921, in Superior. She graduated from Spirit Lake High School...

July 8, 1952 — June 13, 2019 Richard "Kirk" Ewen, 66, of Arnolds Park passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2019, at his home. Family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial will take place in the Okoboji Cemetery in Arnolds Park. The Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

Help protect 48 acres along the north shore of Big Spirit Lake in the McClelland Beach neighborhood More conservation is coming to three parcels of land within a quarter-mile of Big Spirit Lake in Dickinson County. The extended family members involved in the Bartels Bartels & Fox LP chose to sell this land to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for conservation. ...

Nearly five decades ago a young couple with very small children decided to build a dream. Garth and Bonnie Neisess took a large parcel of land along Highway 86 north of Milford and turned it into Treasure Village. The family still owns what has become a family theatre playhouse, mini-golf course, ice cream shop, crafts shed and site for huge flea markets on holiday weekends...

Kicking off the Bantam Season with daring swagger and swashbuckling adventure, "Treasure Island" puts its audience at the helm of the ship. Shows are 10:30 a.m. each day June 19-22. The magic of dreams carry the story through a stormy sea, a mosquito infested jungle, to a haunted treasure trove...

Atlatl is an odd word. This ancient spear-throwing tool was used by prehistoric peoples in Iowa to achieve greater velocity when hunting with spears. It's probably not something most area residents and guests have seen, or even heard of, but participants can try their hands at using one during Family Nature Night 7 p.m. Friday, June 28 at the Dickinson County Nature Center...

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, Milford Memorial Library is showing the movie "A Wrinkle in Time" (2018). Everyone is welcome to attend. Free popcorn and water will be provided by the library. There is no pre-registration or cost for this event Registration for "A Universe of Stories" summer reading programs are still open. You can pick up a registration form at the library or registration forms are available on our website...

June 26 – July 3 Wild Wednesday free, fun family science programs 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at the Waitt Lab — International Mud Day: Yes, it's true – there is such a thing as International Mud Day! Learn about the importance of mud and be prepared to get a little dirty...

Parks Marina in Okoboji is proud to announce the donation of $1,425 to the Alzheimer's Association in recognition of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in June. Proceeds were a result of the June 6 "Couture for a Cause" Fashion Show held in Parks Boat Club above Snappers Turtle Bay Café. The event featured fashions from Lilly Pulitzer at Palm in the Park, West Boutique, Okoboji Boat Works and The Barefoot Bar...

At the Iowa Questers International State Day in Mason City, the local Okoboji Queen Chapter #1489 received a grant to finance the framing of Roof Garden posters and signed celebrity contracts that had been purchased last year with a Questers International grant. Okoboji Queen treasurer Karmon Amsler was in Mason City to accept the $2,820 grant which, combined with $800 from the local chapter, was given to Historic Arnolds Park Incorporated CEO Jeff Vierkant...

Wisconsin officials on Thursday confirmed a lawsuit settlement that will pay Laera Reed and Paige Ray-Cluney a combined $3.9 million for abuse that took place at the Copper Lake School for Girls in Irma, Wisconsin. Reed and Ray-Cluney were represented by Spirit Lake attorneys John M. ...

Some of Friday night's Dickinson County Relay for Life festivities will be moved off Lake Street because of renovations in the Arnolds Park Amusement Park area. But, they won't move far. Organizer and American Cancer Society representative Dana Kauffman said activities will still be nearby in the Queen's Court and the large tent north of Preservation Plaza. The night will include the traditional walking component as well as children's games, a silent auction, dancing and more...

There's nearly 1,700 miles of highway stretching between Orange County, California, and Dickinson County, Iowa, but it's well worth The Trip. The five members of rock cover band The Trip will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. July 3 in Preservation Plaza as part of the Live at the Lakes concert series in Arnolds Park. Band member Erik Johnson said this will be The Trip's first visit to the Lakes Area...

The Dickinson County Conservation Board welcomed a large turnout Wednesday, June 19, as they looked for feedback about the recently acquired Brooks Golf property in Okoboji. The course was purchased by Dickinson County Conservation in early March through an anonymous $3 million donation. ...

Bev Wittler of Spirit Lake said she enjoyed everything about her son Jeff. Except his illness. What started out as an ADHD and anxiety diagnosis at age 10 evolved into bipolar disorder with psychotic features for Jeff at age 22. "He would have basically normal periods and then the descent into depression and manic episodes," Bev said...

There are pictures of Jeff Wittler that no one keeps in their wallet or pocketbook. They don't get shared on Facebook. He's wearing jail-issued orange with a painted cinder block wall in the background. He's holding a placard with his name and inmate number 161548. Jail cameras captured the image of an young adult still trying to find his way in life...