Stories from Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Four osprey arrive at Nature Center (07/15/09)
The Dickinson County Nature Center welcomed four new additions Monday night with a small ceremony celebrating their arrival. The baby osprey -- falcon-like birds of prey -- were purchased through a community fund drive to bring the species back to the Iowa Great Lakes.

Gas prices continue to fluctuate (07/15/09)
The nation has been on a gas price roller coaster throughout the last 12 months. One year ago gas prices peaked at $4 a gallon, and in December, prices plunged to a five-year low at $1.60 a gallon. In 2009, prices slowly made a climb back to above $2.60 a gallon, but this month has brought another steady decline with Iowa gas prices now averaging $2.39 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel.

Pioneers advance to 2A regional final with 5-1 win over upstart Nighthawks (07/15/09)
The Okoboji softball team continued its assault on Class 2A Region 1, but still had to hold off a late charge to seal a 5-1 victory over upstart Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley in the semifinal round of regional softball action Monday, July 13 in Sheldon. The Pioneers looked to run away with the game after outscoring the Nighthawks by five runs in the first three innings, but neither team was able to get much offensive production for the remainder of the night after both starting pitchers settled into the contest. ...

Indians breeze to tourney win over Hawks (07/15/09)
The Spirit Lake baseball team batted through the order in both the fourth and the sixth innings to break open a tight game on the way to a 14-2, six-inning win over Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in the first round of the Class 2A district baseball tournament Saturday, July 11 in Milford...

Williamsen delivers key homer in walk-off win for Pioneers (07/15/09)
The first round playoff contest between Okoboji and Sioux Central was action packed from the opening pitch, but the Pioneers needed every single out to cap off a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Sioux Central with Scott Williamsen delivering the damage blow with a walk-off home run that silenced the crowd for a matter of seconds before bouncing off the top of the fence in left field and sending the home crowd into a frenzy...

Knights come up two wins shy of state bid (07/15/09)
The Graettinger/Terril softball team had its bid for state come up two wins short after suffering a 10-1 setback to ninth-ranked North Sentral Kossuth in the semifinal round of the Class 1A regional softball tournament Monday, July 13 in Swea City. The Knights had all kinds of problems with an Eagle offense that entered the game averaging seven runs per outing. NSK continued to swing the bats well, scoring 10 runs off 13 hits...

Night Lights: Understanding nature's glow-in-the-dark bugs (07/15/09)
The firefly - unremarkable insect by day, wonder of nature by night. It's that time of year when dusk brings out the the awe-worthy dance of lightning bugs in Iowa's backyards, parks and ditches. But what do we really know about these bugs - other than that they have the magical ability to produce light?

Marilyn Maye continues supersinger tradition at The Inn (07/15/09)
Continuing one of the Lakes area's most loved musical traditions, The Inn at Okoboji brings back the marvelous Marilyn Maye for a trio of performances later this month. Maye, in her 53rd year visiting the Lakes area, will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 19, 21 and 22 at The Inn's Lakeview Room.

Donald George Veitch (07/15/09)
(May 24, 1918 - July 1, 2009) Funeral services were held July 6 a the First Christian Church in Spencer for Donald George Veitch, 91, who passed away July 1 at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer. Pastor Dan Mayes officiated. Interment was at North Lawn Cemetery in Spencer.

Mildred Olson (07/15/09)
(Aug. 6, 1914 - July 6, 2009) Funeral services were held July 10 at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park for Mildred Olson, 94, who passed away July 6. Rev. Sarah Rohret and Rev. Scott Holmes officiated. Interment was at Okoboji Cemetery in Arnolds Park.

Arlene V. Heine (07/15/09)
(Oct. 17, 1921 - July 5, 2009) Graveside services will be held at a later date in Waterloo for Arlene V. Heine, 87, who passed away July 5, 2009, at Hilltop Care Center, in Spirit Lake. At her request she was cremated.

Donna Cummings (07/15/09)
(May 21, 1929 - July 5, 2009) A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2009 at the Friendship Haven Celebration Center in Fort Dodge for Donna Cummings, 80, of Fort Dodge, who passed away July 5, 2009 in Fort Dodge.

Notes to my younger self (07/15/09)
Dear 15-year-old Caroline, 1) Love every little thing about your personality, your body and your life, because all of them are going to change soon.

Boyz & Berries - A male perspective (07/15/09)
I was honored to weekend in your community, and accompanied my wife and sister-in-law to lunch. They selected Boyz & Berries. Man-law requires me to notify other males about this experience.

Veteran thanks (07/15/09)
I would like to extend thanks to the Veterans' organization that selected me to be the grand marshal for the Memorial Day parade and program. It was a great honor. Thank you!

Positive changes in school board (07/15/09)
I have been quite openly critical over the past year concerning the leadership of the Spirit Lake School Board. From the handling of the firing of former principle Jedd Sherman to the $2 million spend down of budget authority to asking the State for $400,000 of "forgiveness" to being convicted of open meeting laws to its insatiable appetite for capital spending. I, and many others, have never blamed this on the board itself, but by the stubborn way this board was being led. So, it was a great surprise to see the professional manner in which the board handled the stadium improvement discussions.

Goodwill thanks (07/15/09)
Goodwill Industries of Sioux City wishes to take this opportunity to thank the many donors who contributed to the recent Ambassador drives in Lake Park and Spirit Lake. During your last Ambassador drives, community Ambassador volunteers helped to collect 17,650 pounds of donated materials in Lake Park and 33,000 pounds of donated materials in Spirit Lake.

Save the Park ... for the disabled too (07/15/09)
Last week, my granddaughter and I went to dinner at Maxwell's down by the state pier. She drove me down to the entrance, and then she parked the car. Afterwards she picked me up. At the time I saw a new gate on Lake Street.

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