Stories from Wednesday, November 25, 2009

A memorial service was held Nov. 19 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig for Theodore Hans Abbe, 92, of Spirit Lake, who passed away Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake. Interment was at Morgan Cemetery in Schleswig. Theodore was born on Dec. 11, 1916, in rural Schleswig, to John and Hertha (Marth) Abbe.

The H1N1 flu vaccine clinic to be held on Dec. 14 at Lakes Regional Healthcare's (LRH) Community Health Center at 1003 21st Street in Milford has been filled. There are no other H1N1 flu vaccine clinics scheduled and DCPH staff is no longer accepting appointments for H1N1 flu vaccine.

The Spirit Lake boys' basketball program has started to turn in the right direction under the leadership of ninth-year head coach John Walz. The Indians have averaged over 11 wins per season the past four years, including capturing a school-record 18 victories in 2007-08 before losing to Sioux City Bishop Heelan in a Class 3A substate final. The Crusaders featured University of Iowa freshman Brennan Cougill and future Hawkeye star Zach McCabe that season...

Team Name: Okoboji Pioneers Conference: Siouxland Head Coach: Abby Goodlaxson Seasons Coached: 1st season as head coach Last Year's Record: 18-4 overall, 13-5 in conference play Returning letter winners: 5 Returning starters: senior guard Brandi DeMuth, junior guard Taylor Poppema...

Team Name: Okoboji Pioneers Conference: Siouxland Head Coach: Ryan Paulsen Seasons Coached: 5th season as head coach Last Year's Record: 16-9 overall Returning letter winners: 4 Returning starters: none Pioneers at a Glance: After graduating one of the best senior classes in school history, Okoboji looks toward a new crop of players to keep the recent run of success going. ...

Team Name: Spirit Lake Indians Conference: Lakes Head Coach: Rick Reinking Seasons Coached: 3rd season at SL, 16th overall Last Year's Record: 18-7 overall, 12-4 in conference play Returning letter winners: 7 Returning starters: senior guard Mary Brown, senior guard Chelsie Stettnichs, senior guard Sammy Spies, senior forward Regan Sieperda, senior guard Caila Jones (started seven games)...

2009-10 Spirit Lake Boys Basketball Dec. 1 -- vs,. South O'Brien Dec. 5 -- vs. Jackson County Central Dec. 8 -- at Spencer Dec. 11 -- at Le Mars Dec. 12 -- at Harris-Lake Park Dec. 15 -- vs. Storm Lake Dec. 18 -- vs. Cherokee Dec. 21 -- at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn...

Spirit Lake and Harris-Lake Park were locked in a seesaw affair until the Indians used a 10-0 scoring spurt midway through the third quarter to break open a tight game en route to a 52-33 victory in a season opener between the two Dickinson County rivals Monday, Nov. 23 in girls' basketball action...

Team Name: Spirit Lake Park Indians Conference: Lakes Head Coach: Rick Vander Woude Seasons Coached: 9th year as head coach Last Year's Record: 9-10 dual record, 4-4 in conference Returning letter winners: 6 Returning starters: Cullen Andera, Rick Wilson, Shae Heinrichs, Adam Dreeszen, Ty Ahrenstorff, Casey Jones, Scott Hummel, Dylan Bryce, Drew Brevik, Brandon Griffin...

Team Name: Okoboji Pioneers Conference: Siouxland Head Coach: Justin Bouse; assisted by Nate Dau and Levi Marx Seasons Coached: 9th season at Okoboji, 10th overall Last Year's Record: 7-9 dual record, 4-4 in the conference Returning letter winners: 10...

Team Name: Graettinger/Terril Knights Conference: Northwest/Twin Lakes Head Coach: Cody Alesch Seasons Coached: 4th season as head coach Last Year's Record: 10-7 dual record, 5-2 in the conference Returning letter winners: 9 Returning starters: Tyler Dalen, Ryan Schany, Michael Jensen, Tyler Manning, Heath Marchand, Trent Lundgren, Tym Hart, Nate Howard, Drew Skattebo...

Team Name: Harris-Lake Park Lady Wolves Conference: Cornbelt Co-Head Coaches: Jenni Schweitzberger and Neil Brandt Seasons Coached: Schweitzberger's 1st year as a head coach; Brandt's 2nd year as head coach Last Year's Record: 6-15 overall Returning letter winners: 7...

Team Name: Harris-Lake Park Wolves Conference: Cornbelt Head Coach: Jeff Sohn Seasons Coached: 11th season as head coach Last Year's Record: 6-15 overall Returning letter winners: 5 Returning starters: junior forward Mychal Sheridan, junior guard Justin Murphy, junior guard Jake Ihnen, junior forward Steven Hibma, junior guard/forward Brady Nissen...

Team Name: Graettinger/Terril Knights Conference: Cornbelt Head Coach: Roger Conway Seasons Coached: 3rd season at G/T, has coached at Terril since 1980 Last Year's Record: 9-10 overall, 3-7 in conference play Returning letter winners: 4 Returning starters: senior guard Dakota Hovinga, senior guard Amanda Oleson...

Team Name: Graettinger/Terril Knights Conference: Cornbelt Head Coach: Brent Dyhrkopp Seasons Coached: 20th season at G/T and Graettinger Last Year's Record: 8-11 overall, 4-6 in conference play Returning letter winners: 6 Returning starters: senior guard Cody Dyhrkopp, junior forward Eric Hatland, junior guard Cody Chapman, junior forward Jesse Nissen, junior center Beau Craig...

It was a full house and an eventful meeting for the Dickinson County Supervisors on Tuesday morning at the Dickinson County Courthouse as discussion of a trapping ban drew in a pack of outdoorsmen and some action was taken on the Lower Gar outlet issue.

Peyton Bosch sits in her high chair, almost cherub-like in a denim jumper and tights, pinching Goldfish crackers between her fingers every so often. It is the sight of a nine-month old at ease with her surroundings, looking with wide, warm eyes at the parents that sit across from her at the table. It is her sense of ease that makes Marcy and Steve Bosch's tour through the ups and down of the adoption process seem like a journey worth the topsy-turvy ride. For Marcy, a plant controller for Polaris, it wasn't a question of if the couple would adopt, but when. v

'Tis the season for family, fellowship and celebration, but it's also one of society's most prominent seasons for waste. With the holiday season approaching, area environmentalists gathered together last week for the monthly meeting of Environmental Okoboji. "We've talked about what we can do to lessen our impact on the environment over the holidays," said Jen Johnson, Environmental Okoboji representative and director for ArtsLIVE and Active Okoboji.

For Graettinger-Terril third grader Mackenzie DePyer, an afternoon snack with her dad turned into a visit to the ER and the discovery of a severe food allergy. "She ate peanut butter for the second and third year of her life and then one day she had a bowl of peanuts with her dad and just swelled up like a balloon and couldn't breathe," recalls Miranda DePyper, Mackenzie's mother.

**Moore presents two concerts at PLAC What: John Moore performance When: Thursday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 12, both shows at 7:30 p.m. Where: Pearson Lakes Art Center, Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre Tickets: $26 nonmembers, $22 members, $13 students The Pearson Lakes Art Center will conclude its 2009 performing arts season with Lakes area native John Moore. After selling out two performances in 2008, John is back for two performances in 2009: Thursday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are currently still available for both performances.

The Dickinson County Sheriff's Office arrested Johnathen Dreu Barber, 22, of rural Spirit Lake on Nov. 11, 2009. Barber was arrested by a Sheriff's Deputy in the 900 Block of Okoboji Ave in Milford for Public Intoxication and found to be in possession of controlled substances. Barber was booked into the Dickinson County Jail on charges of public intoxication,possession of a controlled substance

Wow! What a terrific response to our Red Cross Blood Mobile Drive in Milford, Lake Park and Spirit Lake in October. Because you took the time to come and donate a unit of blood, someone, somewhere will receive another birthday or anniversary, another laugh, another hug or another chance. (If you were deferred this time, increase your iron intake, drink plenty of liquids and try again next time!)

One year and one month ago, I lost my husband of 30 plus years. We were very close and one thing we shared was football. He was an avid Nebraska fan, having tickets to all the games. I had a flag stand and a Nebraska flag stolen from his headstone sometime during the week of Nov. 8 - 14.

Were Christ to return today would we find him doing his ministry at church breakfast, suppers, social affairs, services or Sunday schools? Or would we most likely find him among the homeless, the beggars, prisoners, a rehab center, a bar or a jail as was documented by the Gospels during his short time on earth? Would He cross the street to avoid a beggar or a socially challenged person or condemn a person who is not financially a success and must rely on others for support?

How much is a trillion dollars? It is a thousand billion dollars or a million, million dollars. 592 trillion dollars represents the amount of money in the over-the-counter derivatives market worldwide. This is the market that ran the price of gasoline up to $4 per gallon, the price of eggs up to $2 per dozen, the price of corn to $8 per bushel and the list goes on and on. It is casino type betting on whether the price of a commodity will go up or down and how much. It is buying and selling the future.

Anyone in the state wanting a license or permit for anything has to prove they are qualified to have one. This is done by making them take a test or in some cases, multiple tests. Everyone, that is, except hunters

Someday Isle is a place I learned about at the Little Swan Lake Winery several months back from a songwriter and author named Douglas Wood. Although they didn't realized it yet, nearly everyone in Doug's cozy audience soon learned they'd spent some time at Someday Isle.

Happy holidays are nearing once more, and 'tis the season for holiday cheer, family gatherings and giving generously to those less fortunate. This year, spread the holiday joy by donating gifts to a needy family in the Lakes area through one of several programs.

Ben and Tiffany Lempiainen of Owatonna, Minn. announce the birth of a daughter, Natalie Jo, born Oct. 19. She weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces. Paternal grandparents are Dan and Mary Lempiainen of Spirit Lake. Maternal grandparents and Dave and Monica Betts of DuBois, Pa. She is welcomed home by her big sister, Hannah, age 2.

Funeral services where held Nov. 19 at the Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake for Wilfred "Will" Frasching, 81, who passed away Nov. 18 at Lakes Regional Healthcare.

Funeral services were held Nov. 11 at the Union Memorial Church in Milford for Charles Ernest Schroeder, 83, who passed away Nov. 7 at the Milford Nursing Center. Rev. Karl Whiteman and Jan Whiteman officiated. Interment will be at the North Lawn Cemetery in Spencer

Oct. 19, 1916 - Nov. 3, 2009 A memorial service to celebrate the life of Allie Mae Threde will be held on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Lake Park. The family will receive friends after 10 a.m. at the church. Allie Mae Threde, 93, of Lake Park, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009.

March 10, 1928 - Oct. 23, 2009 Funeral services were held Oct. 27, 2009 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake for Richard Riley Ayres, 81, of Spirit Lake, who passed away Oct. 23, 2009 at Lakes Regional Healthcare as the result of a massive heart attack. Rev. Phill Andreasen officiated. Special music was provided by his daughter, Ann Ayres Bass on organ, granddaughter Laura Ayres on piano and family friend, Jack Ryan of Spencer, on trumpet. Interment was in Spirit Lake Memorial Gardens