Stories from Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Rust COO dies in accident (08/25/10)
Wally Lage, vice president and chief operating officer of Rust Communications, parent company of the Spencer Daily Reporter, Dickinson County News and Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune, died Thursday night in Maine, after slipping off a wharf. He was 66.

Attempted murder case has Oct. 5 trial date (08/25/10)
Judge David Lester has set an Oct. 5 trial date for James Naujock, a Spirit Lake man who faces a series of charges, including attempted murder and first-degree kidnapping, on suspicion the 39-year-old used a knife and fireplace poker to detain and injure a woman at their home in the 1400 block of Gary Avenue.

More details emerge in Lake Park shooting (08/25/10)
More details have emerged in a case involving the shooting of a 6-year-old girl from Lake Park.

Sold! Local artists donate to the future of local park shelters (08/25/10)
An upcoming fundraiser is giving local artisans a chance to pitch in for the upkeep efforts of shelters at two treasured state parks.

Top-ranked Indians live up to preseason billing (08/25/10)
The Spirit Lake boys cross country team were able to accomplish a feat they came up short of last season, capturing the Spencer Invitational team championship by 13 points behind the strength of three top-5 performances in their season debut Tuesday at Spencer Municipal Golf Course...

Indians showcase veterans, newcomers alike in season debut (08/25/10)
After graduating four talented seniors from a team that has placed in the top-5 two out of the past three years, the Spirit Lake girls cross country team didn't know quite what to expect with three freshman newcomers on the squad entering their season-opening meet Tuesday at the Spencer Invitational...

Laker netters set sights on lofty goals (08/25/10)
The bar of expectations has been set awfully high by Iowa Lakes head coach Scott Tschetter, but that's exactly the way he likes it. "It's actually more of an expectation at this point and time," Tschetter said about getting to nationals. "We've been there four out of the past five years, so when it comes down to recruiting, what we're trying to do is get players that are better at each position each year, and that's what we've done the past four or five years. ...

Youth movement takes center stage at Iowa Lakes (08/25/10)
With the departure of all but one athlete on the women's team and the entire varsity lineup gone on the men's side, the Iowa Lakes men's and women's cross country programs enter into a rebuilding mode. "It is definitely a learning year for both the men's and women's teams," said Iowa Lakes cross country coach Molly Struve. ...

Thomas teaches valuable lesson in wake of adversity (08/25/10)
Adversity is a fact of life. People deal with financial woes, sick family members, failing grades and many other scenarios every single day in our country. Let's face it. We've all faced some type of adversity in our lives, maybe none quite to the extreme of Aaron Thomas and his family, who were forced to deal with the murder of a father, a husband, a coach and a role model. ...

First-ever ChalkStock success for community, artists (08/25/10)
A Piece of Work, Inc., is pleased to announce that this year's ChalkStock Art Festival was a "huge" success.

Annabell Krogman (08/25/10)
September 24, 1927 - August 20, 2010 A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, Aug. 24 at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Sibley for Annabell Krogman, 82, of Sibley. Burial was at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Ashton. Father John Vakulskas officiated...

Wesley H. Wilbur (08/25/10)
Oct. 29, 1931 -- Aug. 17, 2010 Wesley H. Wilbur, 78, died Aug. 17, 2010, at Kavanagh House in Des Moines. Memorial services were Friday, Aug. 20, at Grimes United Methodist Church in Grimes. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. at the church. Wes was born in Marathon on Oct. 29, 1931, to George and Vira Wilbur. He married Mary Ellen Elvin on Feb. 24, 1956...

Loral Francis Mitchell (08/25/10)
Aug. 26, 1942 -- Aug. 12, 2010 Loral Francis Mitchell the son of Ernest "Ernie" Francis Mitchell and Cora Mae (Zubler) Mitchell was born August 26, 1942 near Curlew, Iowa. He was raised in the Webb area where he attended school until the 10th grade...

Wish you were here: As sun sets on another summer, there's no place I'd rather 'staycation' (08/25/10)
All right locals, fess up. It's mid August, and you're getting sick of traffic. The stop signs at the junction for 9 and 71 mirror the highest level of "Frogger," a trip inside Wal-Mart means you'll inevitably bash your wobbly cart into the ankles of unknown vacationers, and your favorite restaurants have a wait most nights.