Stories from Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Milford Habitat project on track for fall dedication (08/26/09)
Work is nearly complete on the latest Habitat for Humanity project in Milford. "We are in pretty good shape," said Mary Thunhorst, board member for Habitat for Humanity. "We're looking at maybe sometime in October for possible dedication, but the homeowner needs to get more [equity] hours, so we can't finalize a date until then."...

Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative dedicates first in the nation project (08/26/09)
Despite a turbulent national economy, one local electrical cooperative is following the winds of opportunity to create a historic renewable energy project. "This is truly a first in the nation event," said Terry L. Bruns, Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative president and chief executive office. "What started as an unlikely dream has now made Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative first in the nation to use wind energy to serve another renewable energy form - the Superior and Lakota ethanol plants."...

Indian girls open season with team victory at Spencer Invite (08/26/09)
The Spirit Lake girls' cross country team opened up the season in style with a team victory at the Spencer Invitational Tuesday, Aug. 25 at Spencer Municipal Golf Course. The ninth-ranked Spirit Lake knocked off Lakes Conference rival Estherville Lincoln Central/Armstrong-Ringsted by 16 points. ...

In battle of No. 1s, Algona downs SL in season debut (08/26/09)
The head-to-head battle between a pair of defending state champions -- Spirit Lake (Class 2A) and Algona (Class 3A) -- lived up to its billing in the opening meet of the 2009 cross country season, but it was the Indians that came up just a little shy of a team victory by the slimmest of margins Tuesday, Aug. 25 at the Spencer Invitational...

Indians showcase talent on gridiron in intra-squad scrimmage (08/26/09)

Okoboji football fans get an early look at the Pioneers (08/26/09)

Syverson, Brons earn spots on IGCA All-State softball team (08/26/09)
Okoboji seniors Jenny Brons and Morgan Syverson continued to pile up the postseason hardware after already being awarded with All-Conference and All-District accolades this summer for their outstanding seasons on the softball diamond, earning the most prestigious honor in the entire state on Friday by being named to the 2009 Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-State softball team...

Nature Center hosts Monarch Festival (08/26/09)
The fifth annual Monarch Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Dee and Kate's Butterfly House just down the lane from the Dickinson County Nature Center. The festival will feature a tag and release program, children's craft projects, butterfly house self-guided tours and more...

Natural History Weekend returns to Iowa Lakeside Lab (08/26/09)
Natural History Weekend, a continuing education experience for adults, returns to Iowa Lakeside Lab on Sept. 11-13. Participants will explore Northwest Iowa's landforms and ecology with leading local and Iowa naturalists. The event was last held in 2005...

Hall of Fame Ceremony gets regional endorsement (08/26/09)
Iowa Governor Chet Culver declared Sept. 5-7 as Iowa RockNRoll Weekend throughout the state. Thursday evening government officials in the Lakes region gathered to do the same. In the Roof Garden at Arnolds Park, officials from Milford, Arnolds Park, West Okoboji, Wahpeton, Spirit Lake, Orleans and Dickinson County sat down at the Rock the Roof concert and signed similar declarations for their communities...

Ralph Boles (08/26/09)
(Sept. 20, 1927 - Aug. 10, 2009) Funeral services were held Aug. 15 at the Turner Funeral Home in Milford for Ralph Boles, 81, who passed away Aug. 10 at the Milford Nursing Center. Arlyn Taylor officiated. Interment was at Milford Cemetery.

Fibelstads celebrate 50 years (08/26/09)
Paul and Dee Fibelstad of Spirit Lake will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 29. They were married at Bethany Lutheran Church in Joice on Aug. 29, 1959. They have been blessed with three daughters and seven grandchildren.