Stories from Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Just two meets after losing the opening meet of the season to Algona, the top-ranked team in Class 3A, the Spirit Lake boys' cross country team got the better of the Bulldogs by two points on a much more challenging course Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the Estherville Lincoln Central/Armstrong-Ringsted Invitational in Estherville...

One week after dropping a 30-12 non-district contest to Remsen St. Mary's, the Harris-Lake Park football team turned in a dominating performance in a 60-0 shutout win over Spalding Catholic Friday, Sept. 4 in Lake Park. "They just came out ready to play, and I thought they did a great job on both sides of the ball of controlling the line of scrimmage," said Harris-Lake Park head coach Lane Gunderson. ...

After Graettinger/Terril and Remsen-Union battled toe to toe in a pair of games that were decided by a touchdown last season, the Knights expected another intriguing matchup with the eighth-ranked Rockets on Friday, Sept. 4 in Remsen. But RSM was only able to keep pace with G/T for a quarter before the Knights put up 34 unanswered points on the way to a lopsided 40-6 victory...

The Spirit Lake football team had a victory well within its grasp after taking a 12-point advantage into the fourth quarter, but the Indians gave up three touchdowns to Sioux Central in the final eight minutes after holding the Rebels out of the end zone for the first 40 minutes of play, including giving up a game-winning 47-yard scoring pass from Kaleb Miller to Adam Ehlers with less than a minute left in the game that helped SC steal a 20-14 road win Friday, Sept. 4 at Hafer Field...

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn made no secrets about the style they wanted to play as they used an old-fashioned smash-mouth approach to steamroll past Okoboji by a 33-0 margin Friday, Sept. 4 in the Pioneer's home opener on the gridiron. "We know what to expect with Hartley," said Okoboji head coach Travis Schipper. "We have to do a better job of matching their physicalness the next time we play them. They're such a physical team. It's not a secret what they're going to do."...

Milford firefighters learned that progress is on schedule for the department's new fire hall during a sneak peak event on Sunday afternoon. Members of the fire department gathered at the new fire hall for the raffle drawing on a Polaris four-wheeler. Dena and Terry Adams of Milford were the winners of the drawing. Funds from the raffle will help fund the department's centennial next summer. Events are scheduled for July 9-11, 2010...

The annual Clay County Fair is more than just a time to remember. For many, it is a time to reunite with family, friends and classmates from various stages of life. Sure, laughing over memories past with others is bound to happen, but simply seeing loved ones will make the trip worthwhile no matter the distance.

The Iowa Court of Appeals has overturned the conviction of Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez, the former Estherville restaurant owner and citizen of Mexico who faced charges related to the abduction and murder of Gregory Sky Erickson in June 1997. Castillo-Alvarez fled to Mexico as co-conspirators were questioned and his restaurant was being searched for evidence 12 years ago. ...

Thank you to all our family and friends for the many cards and greetings on our 50th wedding anniversary. We really appreciate all your acts of kindness. Sincerely, Geroge and Gladys Doocy Spirit Lake

On behalf of the Spirit Lake School Staff, I would like to thank the business community for the wonderful luncheon held on Aug. 21, 2009. From the food from McKeen's Pub and Grill, to all of the various businesses who sponsored tables, thank you. Also, thanks to all of the businesses who had representatives at their tables to visit with staff during the lunch time...

On behalf of the American Red Cross and four million patients in the United States who need blood, a sincere thank you to all the donors who took time out of their busy schedules to donate blood at our local blood drive in August. Donating blood is an easy way for each of us to give back to our communities and help the Red Cross to carry on their life giving work...

The Indian Athletic Booster Club would like to thank everyone who participated in and attended the Indian Athletic Booster Club's 2nd Annual Fall Sport's Preview on Saturday, Aug. 22. The turnout was great and the generosity from the attendees was outstanding! The free will donations and auctioned items toward the football/track bleachers totaled around $7,000 with the Booster Club matching an additional $5,000. ...

I am writing to thank all of the wonderful people who helped sponsor me in Celebration Iowa. This is an amazing organization that provides wonderful opportunities for kids from all over the state. I feel very honored and privileged to have been a part of it this past summer...

Change is an unavoidable part of life. With change comes excitement, opportunity and eventually wisdom. How you respond to change is sometimes more important than the variation itself, and your action, reaction or inaction helps define you as a person...

The Pearson Lakes Art Center is delighted to present Rock music legend Roger McGuinn on the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre stage on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. Tammy Hamlin, a local folk favorite will open for Mr. McGuinn. The art center will also be hosting a Curtain Talk (preshow lecture) about the history of Roger and the Byrds at 7:15 p.m...

It's no secret that fall is approaching quickly. School is back in session, football, cross country and volleyball seasons are in full swing and the Lakes area homecoming weeks are here. Spirit Lake students, faculty and supporters will begin celebrating their homecoming the week of Sept. 14...

The glitz and glamour of Hollywood will fuse with athletics and pompons during Okoboji's annual homecoming events scheduled for Sept. 14-18. "This year we have a 'Hollywood - Lights, Camera, Action' theme,'" said Okoboji Guidance Secretary Chris Vander Berg. "We start the homecoming events with the naming of the court at 8:12 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11."...

Jocelyn Squier is excited to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of her parents, Lucas Squier and Adrienne Hardin. Luke is the son of Dan Squier and Dean and Linda Tjaden of Charles City. He is a 2000 graduate of Charles City High School and a 2002 graduate from North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. Luke is currently working as a chef at Maxwell's in Arnolds Park...

(Oct. 30, 1949 - Sept. 3, 2009) Funeral services were held Sept. 7 at the Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake for Stephen K. (Steve) Graff, 59, of Spirit Lake who passed away Sept. 3 in the Hospice Care Unit at the Spencer Municipal Hospital.

(March 1, 1924 - Aug. 31, 2009) Memorial services were held recently at Union Memorial Church in Milford for Ferel Delores Tischer Mitchell, 85, of Milford, who passed away Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, at Keelson Harbor in Spirit Lake. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery, Spencer.

(June 28, 1918 - Aug. 24, 2009) Funeral services were held Aug. 29 at the Epworth Chapel in Monarch Cove in Spirit Lake for Alta "Ollie" Thompson, 91, who passed away Aug. 24 at her home in Monarch Cove.

(May 30, 1918 - Aug. 28, 2009 ) Funeral services were held Sept. 2 at the Miller Funeral Home in Sioux Falls and Sept. 3 at the First Lutheran Church in Milford for Lorraine (Horstman) Zimmer, 91, of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Spirit Lake, who passed away Friday Aug. 28, 2009, at Bethany Lutheran Home in Sioux Falls, S.D.