Every year April is designated as Child Abuse Prevention month. The solution to ending child abuse is up to all of us. Everyone in Emmet County can and should do all they can to prevent child abuse, because protecting children is everyone's business.

Hope bloomed in Dickinson County this year as we painted our community yellow with daffodils and generated over $5,600 for cancer research and programs. The overwhelming support that Dickinson County residents and businesses showed to support the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days was incredible. My heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who participated in this campaign to support important Society programs and resources to help people facing cancer and improve their quality of life.

Oh behalf of the American Red Cross and all the patients who need blood, a sincere thank you to all the donors at the March blood drives in Spirit Lake, Lake Park and Milford. Together we bring hope and healing to patients and their families through your generosity. We look forward to seeing you in May on our next drive. Also thank you to all the volunteers and/or support persons who were a part of this draw.
Sincerely,
__Kathy Hesseltine, Milford__

The other day while taking a commercial break from my regularly scheduled programming, I started tuning out the television when I heard a tv parent yelling at their child to "go play video games."
Was this some sarcastic commercial? Did I accidentally switch to a bad family sitcom? I wondered... but no. This was a tv ad for learning toys - video game learning toys. Oh the joys of technology.

With live animal displays, informational exhibits and presentations by conservationists throughout the Lakes area, Mother Earth is getting a celebration in her honor Saturday, April 25 at Gull Point State Park Lodge.
Although national Earth Day is April 22 and international Earth Day was March 20, Dickinson County Conservation Board Naturalists Barbara Tagami and Charles Vigdal moved the family -- friendly event to the weekend for more participation.

With live animal displays, informational exhibits and presentations by conservationists throughout the Lakes area, Mother Earth is getting a celebration in her honor Saturday, April 25 at Gull Point State Park Lodge.
Although national Earth Day is April 22 and international Earth Day was March 20, Dickinson County Conservation Board Naturalists Barbara Tagami and Charles Vigdal moved the family -- friendly event to the weekend for more participation.

With live animal displays, informational exhibits and presentations by conservationists throughout the Lakes area, Mother Earth is getting a celebration in her honor Saturday, April 25 at Gull Point State Park Lodge.
Although national Earth Day is April 22 and international Earth Day was March 20, Dickinson County Conservation Board Naturalists Barbara Tagami and Charles Vigdal moved the family -- friendly event to the weekend for more participation.

Oct. 9, 1917 - March 29, 2009
A prayer service and celebration of life was held April 10 at the First Reformed Church Chapel for Jean Achterhof, 91, of Rapid City, S.D., formerly of Sioux Center, who passed away Sunday, March 29, 2009 at Hospice of the Hills in Rapids City.
Rev. Bob Holtrop officiated. A graveside service immediately followed at Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

April 2, 2009
A memorial gathering and mass was held April 6 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Whitefish Bay, Wisc. for Sara Clarity Beck, who passed away April 2, 2009 following a five-year battle with breast cancer.
Sara lived, laughed and loved her way through 47 beautiful years of life. She was a wife, best friend and "sassy" soul mate to husband Scott and the awesome mother of Jack Henry and Joseph Benjamin.

Oct. 3, 1932 - March 11, 2009
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 27 at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake for Dick N. "Bub" Muilenburg, 76, of Arnolds Park, who passed away Wednesday, March 11, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake.
He was born on Oct. 3, 1932, in Orange City to Hubert and Jacoba (DeMotts) Muilenburg.

Sept. 17, 1976 - April 3, 2009
Funeral services were held April 7 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Walker for Nicole Denise Reed, 32, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Walker, Minn. who passed away Friday, April 3, following a brief, but difficult battle with liver cancer.
Pastor Greg Jorgenson officiated. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Walker, Minn.

June 11, 1928 - March 14, 2009
A celebration of life service was held March 17 at the Fostoria Methodist Church in Fostoria for Nathan Kingsley Thon, Jr., 80, of Arnolds Park, who passed away March 14 at the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Pastor Paul Hansen officiated.

April 26, 1920 - April 5, 2009
Mass of Christian Burial was held April 8 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake for Ralph Eugene Walsh, 88, who passed away April 5 at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville.
Fr. James Smith officiated. Interment was at St. Margaret's Cemetery in Spirit Lake.

For the past eight weeks, Okoboji drama students have been rehearsing with a six-foot tall imaginary rabbit named Harvey for their upcoming theatre production. Harvey is the "star" and namesake for the drama department's production of Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Harvey" coming to the stage this weekend.

Oh behalf of the American Red Cross and all the patients who need blood, a sincere thank you to all the donors at the March blood drives in Spirit Lake, Lake Park and Milford. Together we bring hope and healing to patients and their families through your generosity. We look forward to seeing you in May on our next drive. Also thank you to all the volunteers and/or support persons who were a part of this draw.
Sincerely,
__Kathy Hesseltine, Milford