Stories from Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Lower Gar meetings planned May 20, 21 (05/20/09)
Two public meetings have been scheduled this week to discuss the Lower Gar outlet project. At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, a meeting is planned at the Pearson Lakes Art Center where the Milford City Council and Dickinson County Supervisors will meet with representatives of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Army Corps of Engineers. Those in attendance will discuss the Lower Gar outlet and potential flooding in the Iowa Great Lakes...

Memorial Day services honor area veterans (05/20/09)
American Legion Post #371 of Lake Park will be having Memorial Day program at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25 at the Harris-Lake Park MS/HS Auditorium. Retired Brig. General Allen J. Smith will be the guest speaker. Following the program at the school, there will be a dedication service at the Silver Lake Cemetery. The public is encouraged to attend.

Pioneers sprinters steal the show at regionals (05/20/09)
The Okoboji girls' track and field team has posted some impressive times all season long in the sprint relays, and the Pioneers made all of the hard work they have put in pay off by qualifying for state in eight different events including the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays at the Class 2A regional meet Friday, May 15 in Cherokee...

Indians rule the track at regionals (05/20/09)
Make no mistake about, the Spirit Lake Park girls' track and field team meant business Friday, May 15 at the Class 3A regional meet in Orange City, sprinting to first-place finishes in three races and qualifying for the state meet in 13 total events...

Okoboji boys advance seven events to state (05/20/09)
The Okoboji boys' track and field team turned in a strong overall performance at the Class 2A district meet Friday, May 15 in Cherokee -- advancing seven events to state against a loaded 12-team field that included perennial power Unity Christian and 2009 Lakes Conference champion Western Christian...

Indians qualify five events for state (05/20/09)
The usual suspects stepped up for the Spirit Lake Park boys' track and field team, which qualified four long distance events and one field event for state during the Class 3A district meet Friday, May 15 in Orange City. Senior Tyler Gustafson and junior Brandon Griffin, who were each a part of last season's state championship 4x800-meter relay quartet, had the most impressive performances for the Indians. ...

SL-O girls move into regional semis with pair of wins (05/20/09)
The Spirit Lake-Okoboji girls' tennis team coasted past Storm Lake and Spencer in the first two rounds of Class 1A regional team competition Saturday, May 16 at River View Tennis Courts in Spencer. "The girls are all playing really well," said Spirit Lake-Okoboji head coach Bob O'Hara. ...

Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer with entertaining activities (05/20/09)
Sunshine. Shopping. Some well-needed family time. Whether you're looking for entertainment, bargains, food or someplace to take the kids, the Iowa Great Lakes Memorial Day weekend schedule will accommodate all your needs. With the official kickoff of summer, Memorial Day weekend brings activities for everyone, including the annual Wing Ding, flea markets, and of course, the opening of the Lakes area's amusement attractions.

Live music to highlight holiday weekend (05/20/09)
Okoboji is known far and wide for the great live music acts that come to the Lakes area. Playing this weekend are The Senders, Dueling Pianos and Too Drunk to Fish at The Barefoot Bar, Urban Myth at Captain's Getaway, Under the Covers at The Gardens, Sallgood at Okoboji Boat Works and The Fabulous Traidmarx at Ruebin's Theatre.

Judith Ann Arnold (05/20/09)
(March 3, 1939 - May 16, 2009) Memorial mass was held May 16 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert for Judith Ann Pfarr Kivela Arnold, 70, of Gilbert, who passed away May 11 at her residence in Gilbert.

Robert L Currell (05/20/09)
(Dec. 9, 1930 - May 9, 2009) Funeral services were held May 13 at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake for Robert L. Currell, 78, of Spirit Lake, who passed away Saturday, May 9, 2009, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake.

Harriet M. Gildemeister (05/20/09)
(March 19, 1931 - May 14, 2009) Funeral services were held May 16 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake for Harriet M. Gildemeister, 78, of Spirit Lake, who passed away Thursday, May 14, 2009, at her home in Spirit Lake.

Richard B. "Red" Griffith (05/20/09)
(Aug. 27, 1928 - April 21, 2009) Services were held recently for Richard B. "Red" Griffith, who passed away April 21, 2009 in Mesa, Ariz.

Ethel Lighter (05/20/09)
(Sept. 14, 1911 - May 5, 2009) Funeral services were held May 8 at the First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji for Ethel Lighter, 97, who passed away May 5 at the Milford Nursing Center in Milford.

Marie Heath (05/20/09)
A celebration of life for longtime Lakes area entertainer Marie Heath was held Sunday, May 17 at the Jefferson Elks Club, 103 W Harrison in Jefferson. Marie, who led singing at the piano bar at The Inn for over 30 years, passed away Monday, May 11. She was 82...

Dr. Richard L. McCombs (05/20/09)
(Feb. 8, 1929 - May 10, 2009) Funeral services were held May 16 at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake for Dr. Richard L. McCombs, 80, who passed away Sunday, May 10, 2009 at the Lakes Regional Health Care facility in Spirit Lake.

Cheryl Serck (05/20/09)
(Oct. 9, 1948 - May 10, 2009) Funeral services were held May 14 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake for Cheryl Serck, 60, of Spirit Lake, who passed away Sunday, May 10, 2009, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Angela Vorland, Brandon McAuley to hold June wedding (05/20/09)
Angela Kathrine Vorland and Brandon Donovan McAuley, both of Scottsdale, Ariz. announced their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Tom and Julia Romanin of Cedar Falls and the late Bob Vorland and Nancy Donovan of Spirit Lake and Gary McAuley of Mount Pleasant, Texas. The groom is the grandson of the late Ed and Loretta Donovan of Estherville and the Lakes area...

Myron and Beverly Wiese celebrate 50 years (05/20/09)
Myron and Beverly Wiese will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in June with their children and grandchildren on a trip to the Black Hills. They were married at Sioux Valley Lutheran Church on June 4, 1959. Greetings may be sent to Myron and Bev Wiese, 72325 410th Ave., Lakefield, MN 56150...

Sirens 5/20/09 (05/20/09)

Age of entitlement (05/20/09)
So it's pretty obvious the country is in the midst of a recession. It hasn't been officially declared, but we all know how slowly things move when the government is involved. Americans (not to mention the rest of the world's population) are stressing over home foreclosures, unemployment, soaring credit card debt and, if they're anything like me, an occasional case of the Mondays...

EMS Week is May 17-23 (05/20/09)
Emergency Medical Services week is May 17-23. This year's slogan is "A proud partner in your community." This slogan recognizes the commitment that emergency medical personnel make on behalf of the communities they serve. Each year volunteers from throughout Dickinson County respond in their communities to neighbors in need. ...

Honor Their Sacrifice (05/20/09)
What is the price of freedom? This is not a question you hear asked very often. It is a question that deserves honest reflection, especially as the Memorial Day holiday approaches. Memorial Day is usually thought of as the unofficial start of the summer season, but the true meaning is often lost in the shuffle. As Americans, we enjoy so many freedoms that many times it is taken for granted, an afterthought, if you will...

Food drive thanks (05/20/09)
Did you know that participating in the National Association of Letter Carriers National Food Drive is voluntary? I am well aware of this because I am the director for the Upper Des Moines outreach offices for three area counties, and the Spirit Lake letter carriers are the only ones in my area who commit to this service project each year. ...

Green volunteer opportunities (05/20/09)
April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring a bloom of green volunteer opportunities for the coming summer. Environmental Okoboji is a collaborative of area environmental educators, and we would like to share information with you about these opportunities...

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