Stories from Wednesday, August 18, 2010

With the high school fall sports scene becoming less murky with slightly over a week of practice under the football, volleyball and cross country team's belts, here's what Dickinson County sports enthusiasts should keep an eye on in the fall of 2010...

Year one of men's soccer was definitely a learning experience at Iowa Lakes and with that came both a large number of positives and the negatives. The Lakers have cleaned house and hope to build off those positives and learn from those negatives with almost an entirely new roster of players entering the 2010 season...

The overall numbers are still a little lower than Iowa Lakes women's soccer coach Kevin Farley wants, but more often than not quality is more important than quantity. With the Lakers set to take the field for the first time ever at the end of this month, a high level of enthusiasm is in the air for a team headed by Farley and assistant coach Jessica Cannova...

As funds continue to roll in for the Mini-Wakan Shelter restoration project, volunteers such as Joe Ulman, a chairperson of the Mini-Wakan Committee, are finding there is nothing small about the community support rallying behind the cause.

As students mourn the end of another summer, officials in the Okoboji school district are celebrating being one step closer to completing construction that will add 10 classrooms to their elementary building.

The investigation into the shooting of a minor female on the 300 block of East Sixth Street in Lake Park has been turned over to the Department of Criminal investigation, according to Lake Park Police Chief Joe Hoover. Hoover said the incident occurred during the afternoon of August 22, and that the victim was airlifted to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, where she was last said to be under recovery...

It was the long-awaited end to what had been an exhausting Monday. I was loaded down like a pack mule crossing the Oregon trail with the supplies of my day; a purse, a bag of miscellaneous work items, a set of high heels, coffee cup and half-empty can of Diet Coke...

From the Spirit Lake Police Department: Willicia Moorehead, 29, of Milwaukee was charged with assault and disorderly conduct at 2:08 a.m. July 13. Christopher Puckett, 30, of Blackhawk, Minn., was charged with OWI at 9:19 p.m. July 19. Elizabeth Loring, 20, of Gillett Grove, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and fifth-degree theft at 10:49 a.m. July 20...

The Lakes area plays host to numerous family reunions throughout August, but for one group of kin, the month held the opportunity to host an especially memorable get together.

Dear Editor, Several weeks ago I read Smith Schuneman's letter and thought I should respond. I've put if off until today, but with all the rain we are having, I thought it was appropriate now. I have known Smith since he was a little kid. Smith is a well educated man and I have the highest regard for him. However, I have a disagreement with him about his letter...

We never had air conditioning at home when I was growing up. When I was little, my folks had a single small, oscillating fan

The time is quickly approaching for our annual firemen's dance. In addition to supporting the area fire department, it is time to meet the firemen who serve you and your community.

Our race through life begs the question -- like the relay race in which the baton is passed from one runner to the next-- "what condition will the environmental baton be when we pass it on to the next generations -- our children and their children?"...

Thanks to everyone that participated or were spectators at A Piece Of Work's first annual ChalkStock. We have some very talented young and mature artists hiding among us. As evidenced by the participants' creativiry and enthusiasm, it looks like this is going to evolve into a wonderful community tradition that will draw many to Olde Town Spirit Lake for years to come...

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 priviledged to have been a part of it for the past two summers.

A Piece of Work, Inc. is very proud to introduce the two newest members in the ever-growing family of artists that have work on display in the gallery: Todd Thunstedt and Susan Genson.

A graveside memorial service is being held Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at the Murray Cemetery, Murray, Iowa for Ray and wife Del Chesnut. They were residents of Des Moines and Spirit Lake, and wintered in Arizona for many years. Most recently, they resided in the state of Washington, where they died just over one year apart...

Funeral services for Edna Woods were held Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

A memorial service for Ben Saunders, former Okoboji City Administrator, will be August 27 at 2 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park with lunch to follow.

Inez Marie Woodrum Edwards, 92, of Mesa, Ariz., passed away on July 23, 2010.

Danny Johnson, 69, of Yuma , passed away Saturday, August 7, 2010, at Yuma Regional Medical Center. He was born April 23, 1941, in Jackson, Minn., to Harold and Evelyn Johnson. Danny was united in marriage to Dona Emerson on November 9, 1963, in Spirit Lake, Iowa