Stories from Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Council actions leave shortage in Spirit Lake police force (05/26/10)
The Spirit Lake City Council voted last night to only fill one vacant position on the Spirit Lake Police force, leaving in place a city-wide hiring moratorium announced last fall.

Polaris closes Wisconsin plant, 'adding to workforce' in Spirit Lake (05/26/10)
Scott Wine, CEO, Polaris Industries Inc. said an effort to improve cost, quality and speed to market was behind a decision to close the company's Osceola, Wis. plant and comes after a "thorough and lengthy review of our operational capacity and plant footprint."

Wittler receives possible 15-year sentence (05/26/10)
A Spirit Lake man charged with using a knife during an attack of his mother could spend up to 15 years in prison on two felony counts.

Life-altering disease no match for BVU runner (05/26/10)
For Dan Pearson, life has thrown him many curve balls along the way, but his incredibly optimistic outlook has rarely wavered. Early during his sophomore year at Buena Vista, the 20-year-old was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) and was forced to take a leave of absence from school as well as the track and cross country teams to undergo aggressive chemotherapy treatments...

State champion: Heidebrink brings home hardware in 110 hurdles (05/26/10)
Spirit Lake Park senior Kyle Heidebrink proved how much a lot of hard work and a little heart and determination can pay off by powering to a Class 3A state championship in the 110-meter high hurdles during the final day of the 2010 Iowa State Track & Field Championships Saturday, May 22 at Drake Stadium...

Indians take 3A field by storm at state, place in seven events (05/26/10)
The Spirit Lake Park boys track and field team raced to five school record performances, placed in seven events and was headlined by state champion Kyle Heidebrink in the 110-meter high hurdles this past weekend at the 2010 Iowa State Track & Field Meet in Des Moines...

Okoboji's DeMuth races to state runner-up finish (05/26/10)
Okoboji senior Brandi DeMuth came an eyelash short of winning a Class 2A state championship in the 100-meter hurdles, getting clipped by West Fork's Taylor Twedt at the finish line by two-hundredths of a second Saturday, May 21 at the 2010 Iowa State Track & Field Meet in Des Moines...

Indians secure third straight state bid (05/26/10)
The Spirit Lake girls golf team showed enough mental fortitude to overcome extremely blustery conditions on the way to punching its third consecutive trip to state with a runner-up finish at the Class 3A regional meet Monday, May 24 at All Vets Golf Club...

Relays shine for SLP girls at state track meet (05/26/10)
The Spirit Lake Park girls track and field team shined the brightest in all three relays they ran in, setting season-best times in the sprint medley, distance medley and 4x200 relays during the 2010 Iowa State Track & field Meet this past weekend in Des Moines...

Johnson caps off Pioneer career in style (05/26/10)
Running on the final day of competition at the 2010 Iowa State Track & Field Championships, Okoboji senior Milan Johnson had one thing on his mind. Johnson was looking to better his school record clocking of 1:57.85 in a loaded field of runners in the 800-meter run. ...

State bid eludes 'Boji girls on the links (05/26/10)
The Okoboji girls golf team wasn't able to duplicate an outstanding team effort a week earlier at districts, falling nine shots short of an elusive state berth with a third place round of 408 at the Class 2A regional meet Monday, May 24 at Five Island Golf Club in Emmetsburg...

More than a day off: Veterans keep Memorial Day's true message alive (05/26/10)
While some vacationers are lining up a campsite or jet ski rental, local veterans will be making sandwiches for a noon luncheon or helping with the Avenue of Flags on the courthouse lawn.

No thing but a chicken wing (05/26/10)
The Iowa Great Lakes Chamber wants vacationers and residents alike to kick their summer off with a bang -- and a ding. The sixth annual Great Okoboji Wing Ding is slated for 5-9 p.m. Sunday, May 30 from at the Majestic Pavilion and Roof Garden.

Margot Grace Wahl (05/26/10)
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 26 at the United Methodist Church in Sibley for Margot Grace Wahl. Everyone is invited to stay for a luncheon following the service.

Gwen Miller (05/26/10)
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Friends Church in Arnolds Park with visitation held Monday, April 19, 2010 at the Turner Geness Family Funeral Home in Milford for Gwendolyn Ruth Miller.

Claude Ernest Miller (05/26/10)
Claude Ernest Miller, 88, of Cedar Falls, died Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home in Cedar Falls.

Condon, Lucin to wed (05/26/10)
Stephen and Kathy Condon of Lakefield, Minn. along with Dr. Martin and Kim Lucin of Jackson, Minn., are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their children, Theresa Condon and Michael Lucin.

Jason Tesch and Sheila Morrow (05/26/10)
Jason Tesch and Sheila Morrow of Milford will be married June 19, 2010. Teenagers of the couple are Halee and Jacob Morrow.

Anderson, Abueg set June 26 date (05/26/10)
Kurt and Bonnie Anderson of Lake Park and Rolando and Nenita Abueg of Bellevue Neb., announce the engagement of their children, Kristen Anderson and James Abueg.