Stories from Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Okoboji and Harris-Lake Park locked up in a pitcher's duel for three innings before Miley Hunziker jump-started the Pioneers with a deep two-run home run to center-field. Paisley Jones added a two-run inside-the-park homer in the seventh to spark Okoboji to a 7-0 victory in a non-conference showdown with their Dickinson County rivals Tuesday, June 2 in Milford...

The Spirit Lake-Okoboji girls' tennis team fell in an early hole that they couldn't climb out of in a 5-0 setback to Waterloo Columbus Thursday, May 28 in a Class 1A regional final in Fort Dodge. "I knew that against Columbus that we needed to get off to a fast start. ...

Spirit Lake sophomore Matt Weeks fired a 79 to climb up the leaderboard into a three-way tie for 23rd place with a two round score of 173 Saturday, May 30 on Day 2 of the Class 3A boys state golf tournament at Harvester Golf Course in Rhodes. Weeks carded the fourth lowest score on the second and final day of competition with the seven-over-par 79. ...

Two members of the Meneyata Park Association are suing the City of Wahpeton over ownership rights to and the use of three beaches located within city limits. Residents Marline Johnson and Mark Fallon filed suit May 4 regarding Arrowhead, Hiawatha and Papoose Beaches and are challenging the city's claim on the lakefront properties.

Law enforcement in Dickinson County had a busy start to the week with attempted murder charges stemming from two separate incidents in the area.

In conjunction with the renovations to ArtSMART, a sculpture contest was held to exhibit additional outdoor artwork between the PLAC and the Nature Center. PLAC is hosting a reception Friday, June 5 from 5-7 p.m. to officially unveil the work. In addition there are four new artists that make up the Visions and Versions exhibit in ArtSMART...

I wanted to send a big "THANK YOU" to all of the restaurant vendors, volunteers, the Arnolds Park Amusement Park Staff, KUOO/KUQQ/KUYY, Dickinson County News, Lakes News Shopper, and Damon Dotson and his band members for making the 2009 Great Okoboji Wing Ding an enormous success...

This year, there are millions of reasons to celebrate on June 7. National Cancer Survivors Day, honored the first Sunday of June each year, is a time to celebrate the 11 million cancer survivors in America and 110,000 in Iowa who will celebrate another birthday this year...

Freedom is the basis for all of our rights as Americans. Unfortunately many of these freedoms are being eroded and manipulated by those very people we have elected to protect and preserve them. Excessive taxation erodes every citizen's freedom to succeed. Activist judges remove our freedom to decide the laws we live under via our representative democracy. Support of political correctness limits each person's freedom of expression. More examples abound...

I would be totally remiss if I failed to express my thanks and gratitude to all who participated in making our Memorial Day Tribute and Parade such a phenomenal success. Kudos to the American Legion Post and VFW Post members for their continued dedication and service to our community, the County Supervisors for their roll and tenacity in providing us with such an edifice on which to back-drop the ceremonies, to all the volunteers: the High School band, the Junior High band, the vocalists, Marilyn Strickland for the beautiful banner, the entire military group, the Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, convertibles and drivers, EMC, Fire Department, Shriners, John Tonsfeldt for his contribution as speaker for this event, the Spirit Lake Police Dept., dignitaries, Court House custodian, Bob Boettcher for providing a golf cart and making my work much easier.. ...

When I was growing up, I had a strange sense of when summer truly began and when it ended. Instead of the technical seasonal dates of traditional Memorial Day to Labor Day ways of measuring my favorite time of year, summer started when I couldn't remember what day it was...

- Ashlie Lynn Mitchell, 25, of Estherville was arrested and charged with OWI - first offense, improper use of curb and unauthorized use of emergency audio device at 2:03 a.m. May 16. - Anthony John Bianchi, 22, of Spirit Lake was arrested for OWI - second offense at 5:02 a.m. May 17...

(April 10, 1920 - May 23, 2009) A memorial service was held May 27 at Union Memorial Church in Milford for Rose K. Barriage, 89, of Milford who passed away Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the Milford Nursing Center where she has been a resident since March 30 of this year.

(Oct. 19, 1904 - May 25, 2009) Funeral services were held June 1 at Protestant Parish in Kimball for Daisy Anna Dey, 104, of Milford, who passed away May 25 at the Milford Nursing Center in Milford. A committal service followed at the Kimball City Cemetery.

(Dec. 1, 1918 - May 21, 2009) Funeral services were held May 27 at Warner Chapel in Spencer for Barbara Jeanne Wilson, 90, who passed away May 21, at the Good Samaritan Home in Windom, Minn.

A memorial service for Robert (Bob) Max Seely, 60, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Bob passed away Jan. 13, 2009 in Berkley, Calif. following surgery. Interment will be at St. Margaret's Cemetery in Spirit Lake...

With its rich history of good, wholesome entertainment, the 18th annual Mainsail-A-Bration is set to entertain Lakes area residents and guests Saturday, June 6 in downtown Spirit Lake. "It really brings a sense of the old-fashioned town back," said Jeff Thee, event co-chair. "With people out walking in the streets and greeting each other, it's great to have that feeling of community with area residents and visitors."