Stories from Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Dawne Howell and Ryan Schmidt both of Spirit Lake are pleased to announce their engagement. An Aug. 21 wedding in Spirit Lake is planned.

No one would speak into the phone as dispatchers tried to sort out a 911 call that went out at 12:40 a.m. Tuesday from 1406 Gary Avenue in Spirit Lake

Their history is firmly rooted in folklore, with tales of entry into the brains of sleeping individuals causing them to slowly but surely be driven insane. And this summer, they are everywhere.

It's fair time in Dickinson County, and while, as of today, I haven't yet made a visit to the grounds, taken a stroll through the livestock barns or parused the exhibit hall, I drive by the grounds on my way to and from work, leaving the thought of fair ever present in my mind.

It's an election year, so the e-mail at the news desk has its share of political spam: "The candidate's wife will be reading to children in Keokuk" (when the e-mail is going to a newspaper in Spirit Lake) or "that new ad by the opponent is a bald-faced lie -- and can you believe what he said in that interview the other day?"

Congratulations to the Spirit Lake Indians Baseball players and coaches for a terrific season! Your record of 15-12 was outstanding.

Sunday, July 18, 2010 It is early, July 18, 2010, morning after the biggest storm we have ever seen at Okoboji, I'm in the backyard of our Haywards Bay, West Okoboji home ... and as I pulled very hard at moving the big tree branches on our lawn in our backyard, and did other cleanup, I heard quietly ... "Did I remind you of my powerfulness last evening? I love you a lot ... it bothers me when you don't think about me a lot each day, and talk to ME a lot."...

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the maintenance crew of Okoboji. Neal Houge, Tim Jensen and Kurt Menefee have done an outstanding job of cleaning up our fair city after the severe thunder and wind storm on July 17, 2010. You guys have gone above and beyond the call of "clean up" duty and I know our residents appreciate your hard work...

The current thinking of experts in the state regarding flood plains, flood control, the artificial lakes, flood plain insurance, future water levels, etc. etc. makes one point very clear

On Saturday, August 14, ChalkStock arrives! Located on the 1600 block of Hill Avenue in Olde Town Spirit Lake, this one-day chalk festival will be a family-oriented event consisting of sidewalk, art, people and music.

Jon and Donna Sweet remember the conversation they had prior to John's first deployment. It took place in 2007, prior to Jon's yearlong stay in Kosovo as part of the Battery A First Battalion of the 194th Field Artillery out of Estherville.

Nathan May and Jessica Green of Harrrisburg,S.D. are pleased to announce their engagement. Nathan is a 1998 graduate of Spirit Lake High School and is employed at Syverson Tile In Sioux Falls, S.D. Jessica is a 2000 graduate of Harrisburg High School and Southeast Tech 2002 and is employed by Allied Exhaust Systems of Sioux Falls. ...

Virginia Koenen, a former Wahpeton resident, will celebrate her 90th birthday, Thursday, August 5. Virginia and her late husband, Donald, lived on Waska Drive in Wahpeton from 1978 to 2005. Her three daughters and their families, including six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, invite you to share in this special occasion by sending cards and best wishes to Virginia at 2003 West 10th street, Spencer, IA 51301...

Vivian Grace Alexander was born Nov. 1, 1909, in Dickinson County, Iowa, the daughter of Robert and Lillian (Dunaway) Powell.

Funeral services for Robert Brown were held July 21, 2010, at the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Park.

Doris Ann Clark was born March 3, 1943, in Estherville the daughter of Gilbert and Esther (Luehring) Gunderson. She was raised and educated in Terril. Upon graduating from Terril High School, Doris attended Buena Vista in Storm Lake.

Michael F. O'Donoghue, 75, of Cedar Rapids passed away on July 24, 2010 at his home following complications from lung cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield, Minn. for Richard Lee Kruse, 46, of Chicago and formerly of Lakefield, Minn. and Okoboji.

Funeral services for Charlotte Thomson were held Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at the Turner Jenness Family Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial is at Superior Cemetery.

In the final season of his illustrious career at Okoboji, senior pitcher Ray Zalabowski is being sent out in style with a handful of accolades. After being selected to the first team in the Siouxland Conference earlier in the week, Zalabowski landed on the first team in the Northwest District on the 2010 Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association All-District Team on Monday...

The 2010 NJCAA Academic All-American and the ICCAC Academic All-Region honors have been released and Iowa Lakes had a number of student-athletes on both lists. "We are very proud of our student-athletes' commitment to academics," said Athletics Director Troy Larson. "It shows that our coaches are recruiting the right people and that they are working hard in the classroom."...

5-6 Year Old Boys 7-8 Year Old Boys 9-10 Year Old Boys 9-10 Year Old Girls 11-12 Year Old Boys 15-16 Year Old Boys 15-16 Year Old Girls...