I came to work for the first time at what was then called the Spirit Lake Beacon in the fall of 1984. The building had the news and sales offices in the front and the printing presses toward the back and was located next to where the cleaners and Krafty’s are now on Ithaca.

This weekend nearly 2,200 anglers came to the Iowa Great Lakes to cast their chance at the $43,000 grand prize and Dawn Ingvaldson from Albert Lea, Minnesota did just that! Dawn caught the tagged walleye on Big Spirit Lake on Saturday, around 2 a.m. and brought it to Stan’s Bait & Tackle where it was confirmed.

This annual kickoff event brought individuals of varying ages from 21 different states to see what our area has to offer.

Most of the county knows now the massive wind turbine project was approved April 30 unanimously by Dickinson County Board of Adjustment members Jeff Ashland (Chairman), Alex Oponski, Kirby Berhow, Susan Clark, and Douglas Westerman. This happened in spite of over 300 letters and much testimony opposing this extensive change to the county.

Working with all of you over the past 28 years has been my pleasure, and I appreciate your support in allowing me to lead the Elderbridge Agency on Aging. I will be retiring, effective June 30, 2025, and passing the baton to Stacia Timmer as she assumes the role of the new CEO of Elderbridge. Stacia and staff will continue to be the leaders in aging services for Northwest, North Central, and Central Iowa.

Milford Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. We look forward to seeing everyone when we reopen  at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 27. Remember to enter using the east door during the Ninth Street construction. Have a fun and safe holiday weekend.

The next bi-monthly book challenge is up and running at the Spirit Lake Public Library!

Get started now so you have plenty of time to read your four books for the May-June Book Challenge. The six prompt choices are as follows:

• Recommendation from a librarian

• Re-read

• Social media made me read it

• Cliffhanger

• Good book/bad cover and

• Non-human main character.

It’s the fishing opener in Iowa.

You will find the communities around the lakes increasing in their size, because of the fishing opportunities here. It is one of the most looked forward activities in the area, the big opener. How is this activity related to the Christian faith?

Mark 1:16-20 (NKJV)

I am here to apologize to you.

Under the oversight of my generation, you have been raised in an era that emphasizes the importance of your feelings and your right or even responsibility to protest when you don’t get your way. It’s unfortunate, if not shameful, perhaps disastrous, really, what your forbearers have wrought in our society.

During the Ninth Steet construction, please enter Milford Memorial Library through the east door. Return materials to the east side drop box during construction. Ninth Street will be closed until mid-July for the replacement of utilities, street pavement, and sidewalk pavement.

The countdown has begun for the last day of school and the first day of the Summer Reading Program! The SRP kicks off at the Spirit Lake Public Library on Tuesday, May 27 with a full schedule of summer events, activities and, of course, reading books!

A topic that seems to be appearing more and more in recent years is the concept of “minimalism” in our homes or daily lives. Minimalism can be defined as the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. For many, minimalism is more than a way to declutter closets — it’s a path toward spiritual renewal.

I write to you not only as a resident of Dickinson County, but as someone who cherishes the land, the legacy of rural life, and the natural beauty that defines our home.

I am writing in response to Viola Hagedorn’s comments about my recent LTE in the Dickinson County News addressing the lack of eminent domain reform in the Iowa legislature. In my letter, “Lucy’s football is in the Iowa Senate,” I expressed my frustration that pro-landowner bills pass out of the House only to die in the Commerce Committee in the Iowa Senate.

For the past few weeks, Red Rock Wind Energy/Invenergy has run full-page ads in the Dickinson County News and Lakes News Shopper, extolling the benefits of adding 67 more wind turbines in Dickinson County. These ads make a lot of promises — lower taxes, better services — but where’s the proof?

Join MML for our weekly Building Bookworms Storytime on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. 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.

• May 5 — Cinco De Mayo with Kindermusik

• May 12 — How Does Your Garden Grow?

• May 19 — Cluck, Cluck You’re in Luck!