Stories from Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Coming off a 9-3 season in which the Okoboji football team won a district championship for the first time in school history and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, a pair of Pioneer gridiron standouts have been named to the Iowa Football Coaches Association Preseason All-State football teams in Class 2A...

The Pearson Lakes Art Center is thrilled to present Grammy Award Nominee Michael Johnson in the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre on Monday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. Johnson has performed and lived more music and recorded many hits. His voice immediately identifies him as the man who sings "Bluer Than Blue," "Give Me Wings," "That's That," and other landmark songs...

The Pearson Lakes Art Center's Art in the Park was held on Saturday, Aug. 1 at Preservation Plaza in Arnolds Park. Over 90 artists participated in the event and Art in the Park received an outstanding attendance. Art in the Park is also a competitive show for its exhibitors, and the Pearson Lakes Art Center is proud to announce this year's award winners for the event:...

During the nighttime hours of Aug. 7-8, a Swiss flag was stolen from the flag pole in front of our house. The flag is red with a white cross in the center. Our family has flown the flag for over 45 years whenever we have been at our home at the lake. In its place, at the bottom of the flag pole was left a small, red rose boutonniere (a lousy trade)...

A driver of a small tandem wheel truck killed my beloved friend on 240th Avenue north of the cemetery. He never slowed or stopped. Had he been going 35 or less miles per hour and had compassion he could have stopped and saved my friend. The driver after him stopped and offered aid to my friend who was crying out in pain and attempting to stand. As I carried my 30 pound spaniel friend home, I gave a prayer of thanks for his unconditional love to me then he breathed his last. His pain was my pain...

Dickinson County taxpayers are facing higher property taxes despite the depressed economy. For example, lakefront property valued at $1,500 per lake front foot in 1985 is now assessed at $12,500 to $14,000 per foot, meaning a 50-foot lot with no buildings is assessed at over $600,000. We are seeing state and federal financial support to our cities and counties drying up...

The first day of school is always a tough one. Teachers size you up, the other kids crack jokes about your outfit and your older siblings try to sucker punch you in the hallways. (OK, so maybe that doesn't happen very often, but it always sounded like a legitimate threat to me.)...

On Friday, Aug. 7 at approximately 2:43 a.m., Spirit Lake Police stopped a 1998 Acura Integra on Highway 9 for a traffic violation. After an investigation, it was determined the driver Elizabeth Jane Abbey of Prairie Village,Kan. was operating while intoxicated.

Marv and Maridean Fernelius of Okoboji are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan Fernelius to Steve Ferguson, son of Jack and Jean Ferguson of Newton. Megan is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in linguistics and works as an editor for the Internet Society's Request for Comments series based out of the University of Southern California...

Melissa Wildin and Tim Grienke are pleased to announce their engagement. Melissa is the daughter of Debbie Wildin of Spirit Lake. She graduated from Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School in 2003. Melissa currently works at Burger King in Spirit Lake. Tim is the son of Fred and Kathy Grienke of Spirit Lake. He graduated from Iowa Lakes Community College in 1997 and Northwest Community College in 1998. Tim is a graduate of Alta High School's class of 1996 and is employed by GKN in Estherville...

Shanna Feddersen and Shane Neavin of Spirit Lake are proud to announce the birth of a son Kenadie Shane Neavin, born July 29. Kenadie weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 20 inches.

Scott and Kathi Hill of Spirit Lake celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Aug. 18. They were married Aug. 18, 1984 in Sutherland. They have three children: Lucas and twin daughters Samantha and Katie. Scott is employed at Eaton Corporation in Spencer and Kathi is employed at Iowa Lakes Orthopedics in Spirit Lake. The couple celebrated their special day with family...

(June 9, 1927 - Aug. 8, 2009) Funeral services were held Aug. 11 at the Adams Funeral Home in Ames for Lois Luella Donaldson, 82, who passed away Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, after an extended illness. She was in her home, surrounded by her loving family.

(June 9, 1924 - Aug. 6, 2009) Funeral services were held Aug. 10 at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake for Peter Harmsen, 85, who passed away Aug. 6 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

(May 20, 1911 - Aug. 2, 2009) Graveside services were held Aug. 6 at the Riverside Cemetery in Jackson for Albertine Ellen Brody, 98, who passed away Aug. 1 after a brief stay at West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids. Pastor David Brown officiated.

(July 14, 1973 - Aug. 1, 2009) Funeral services were held Aug. 6 at the Warner Chapel in Spencer for Greg Allen Elmore, 36, who passed away Aug. 1 at his home. Pastor Dale Hodges officiated. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.

(Aug. 20, 1942- Aug. 5, 2009) Funeral services were held Aug. 8 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley for Robert Wills, 66, of Sibley, who passed away Aug. 5, 2009 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley.

(Nov. 29, 1932 - Aug. 4, 2009) Funeral services were held on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 at the Hart Funeral Home Chapel in Tahlequah, Okla. for Janet Anne Murphy, 76, who passed away Aug. 4 at her home in Tahlequah.

(April 4, 1983 - July 27, 2009) Mass of Christian Burial was held July 31 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford for Blake J. Schierholt, 26, who passed away July 27, 2009. Father Brian Danner officiated. Interment was at Silver Lake Cemetery in Lake Park.

After nearly a dozen years of planning and negotiating, the final hurdles are being cleared to convert an abandoned Lakes area railroad into part of the area's trails system. Trails Board Executive Director Steve Litts met with the Dickinson County Supervisors on Tuesday morning to discuss a real estate transaction regarding the railroad system. ...

Ever wondered what lies below the surface of the area's popular lakes? Other than more fish, sand, aquatic plants and rocks than we know what to do with, the mysteries of Dickinson County's lakes lure underwater explorers from throughout the Midwest...

Help open the doors to Dickinson County's Nature Center with the second annual GreenWave Festival coming Saturday, Aug. 15 and Sunday, Aug. 16. in the Lakes area.

Okoboji softball standouts Morgan Syverson and Jenny Brons both played with a ton of heart and were a couple of key leaders for the Pioneers on the diamond this past season. After propelling the Pioneers to just the second state tournament berth in school history, Syverson and Brons continued to collect postseason accolades after being selected to the 2009 Class 2A All-District softball team...

Annual free skateboard competition, concerts serve as summer blowout

Sports in Brief Sports Preview Night set at Okoboji The Okoboji Booster Club and the Okoboji High School Athletic Department will be holding their Sports Preview Night for the 2009-2010 school year on Thursday, Aug. 20, at the high school. The football team will scrimmage from 5 to 5:30 p.m., followed by the volleyball team from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m., and all fall sports teams will be introduced. ...