April 19, 1926 — June 11, 2025

A funeral service for Doris Martin, age 99, of Spirit Lake was Wednesday, June 18, at the Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Interment was at St. Margaret Cemetery in Spirit Lake.

Readers of this column over the years probably understand that it’s been pro-agriculture and pro-business most all of the time. But the umbrella over all of that has always been the support for individual rights. Our founding fathers demonstrated brilliance in adopting a series of individual rights that were designed to protect people from the propensity of government to become tyrannical.

If you’re struggling to comprehend the massive and complex One Big Beautiful Bill Act, you’re not alone. It’s complicated, messy and ominous.

Join MML for our weekly Building Bookworms Storytime at 10 a.m. Mondays. Take a look below for our themes. All materials and services are provided by the library free to participants. All kids and their adults are welcome to stay after storytime and mingle. For more information contact the library or check out our Facebook page.

• June 23 – Camping with special guests: Kindermusik at the Lakes

It was paradise supreme at the Pearson Lakes Art Center on June 10. The sold-out crowd of music lovers were colorfully attired to spend an evening in tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett. The world renowned singer/songwriter passed away Sept. 1, 2023.

Many in the audience wore bright beach shirts or dresses adorned with leis around their necks as they filed into the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre to see Parrothead Paradise. I even saw two guys in grass skirts!

As we approach the end of June, there are still so many activities and events going on at the Spirit Lake Public Library! Please join us for a very special Story Time at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 23. We will be joined by children’s author Heather Dawn Torres. Her Tractor Squad books have been very popular with the kiddos. 

Isn’t it time to finally forgive yourself?

God has made the way! If we allow the power of the forgiving and cleansing blood of Jesus to touch our past, the sorrow from the shame of that past will not cost us our hope and future. Either from what you did or what someone did to you, shame wants to plant you in the past and paralyze you. Often you will not even allow yourself to receive the gift of forgiveness and cleansing by the blood of Jesus because you are riddled with guilt.

In today's full-contact political environment, it's sometimes necessary to be blunt. Take for instance elected Republican's claims that their budget priority to cut Medicaid funding is only intended to reduce fraud, waste and abuse — more cynically — sustain the future.

It's not true. Straight up. Republican Medicaid cuts would hurt all Iowans.

Dickinson County Board of Adjustment and also Board of Supervisors are allowing more wind turbines to be built around our beautiful lakes. Many of us Dickinson County residents do not want more turbines. I ask what is the motivation of Dickinson County officials not listening to their constituents? Thankfully two County Supervisors, Steve Dullard and Levi Markwardt, are attempting to slow down this rubber stamp process.

In a world that often feels divided and disconnected, finding a space where you are fully accepted — just as you are — is a rare and beautiful thing. For me, that space is the Iowa Lakes Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ILUUF).

Join MML for our weekly Building Bookworms Storytime 10:30 a.m. Mondays. Take a look below for our themes. All materials and services are provided by the library free to participants. All kids and their adults are welcome to stay after storytime and mingle. For more information contact the library or check out our Facebook page.

• June 16 – Under the Microscope

• June 23 – Camping with special guests: Kindermusik at the Lakes

There are lots of fun activities planned for week four of the Summer Reading Program! 

At 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 16, join Miss Krista in the Community Room at the SLPL for a special Story Time. Staff from the Nature Center in Okoboji will be bringing some animal ambassadors for the children to interact with. 

Years ago, when I was in the Army, I was part of a ceremonial unit called “The Old Guard” that performed funerals for all the deceased service members being buried in Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). I slept in a barracks building a football field away from the brick wall separating the southwestern part of the cemetery from Fort Myers, Va.

The Pearson Lakes Art Center would like to thank the Good Neighbor Fund of Spirit Lake and Okoboji for their donation to the education department. We are so fortunate that the citizens of our communities are so generous and supportive of the Iowa Great Lakes Area non-profit organizations.

Join MML for our weekly Building Bookworms Story Time at 10:30 a.m. Mondays. Take a look below for our themes. All materials and services are provided by the library free to participants. All kids and their adults are welcome to stay after story time and mingle. For more information contact the library or check out our Facebook page

• June 9 – Impact: The Ripple Effect

• June 16 – Under the Microscope