Stories from Wednesday, September 8, 2010

It was business as usual for much of the weekend after smoke was spotted and fire damaged well-known Arnolds Park eatery over the weekend.

FORBES MEATS 360 SPRINTS A Feature (20 laps) -- 1. 57x Jake Peters, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 2. 11x Gregg Bakker, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 3. 27 Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA; 4. 75c Casey Heser, Jackson, MN; 5. 5T Mark Toews, Spirit Lake, IA; 6. 1HD Jason Tostenson, Gaylord, MN; 7. 05 Bill Boles, Harris, IA; 8. 2H Jason Eckard, Milford, IA; 9. 18 Troy Schmidtke, Trimont, MN; 10. 09 Matt Juhl, Joplin, MO (DNF)l 11. 11 Justin Jacobsma, Hull, IA (DNF)...

Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, as voters consider the renewal of a plant fund levy for Iowa Lakes Community College.

The Spirit Lake and Okoboji boys cross country teams both came away with top-5 performances in the team race on probably the hilliest course they'll see all season long at the Estherville Lincoln Central/Armstrong-Ringsted Invitational on Tuesday. "There's no doubt that the course is challenging and it's nice to run on all different sorts of terrain because you never know where the conference or district meet will be," said Okoboji coach Brad Peter. ...

Okoboji freshman Clare Eckard and Spirit Lake sophomore KJ Veldman each came away with the best races of their careers, finishing in the top three behind Erin Reedy of Bishop Garrigan Tuesday at the Estherville Lincoln Central/Armstrong-Ringsted Invitational...

It was a bit of a roller coaster ride, but the Harris-Lake Park volleyball team closed out the Okoboji quadrangular strong with wins over the host Pioneers and Graettinger-Terril to finish with a 2-1 record Tuesday, Aug. 31 in Milford. The quadrangular started off on a rough note with a 21-12, 21-9 setback to Spirit Lake, but the Wolves quickly rebounded with solid efforts in their final two matches...

Only once in the past five years has a Spirit Lake football team played a complete enough game defensively to shutout an opponent, but the Indians added to that tally this past Friday behind the strength of a dominant run defense and a ball hawking effort by the secondary en route to a 23-0 victory over Storm Lake in non-district football play...

A youth movement took center stage at the season opener for a large group of cross country teams in northwest Iowa, with three freshmen finishing in the top four of the Okoboji Invitational Thursday, Sept. 2 at Woodlyn Hills Golf Course in Milford. "There's been a lot of talk about it and there are a lot of exceptional freshmen in the area at Sibley and Spencer, and there also quite a few at Spirit Lake on the girls side and even on the boy side," said Okoboji coach Brad Peter...

A balanced concert lineup, some baby farm animals and a giant slide highlight was expected to be another promising year at the Clay County Fairgrounds.

I have to come clean about the mashed potatoes. The ones in the styrofoam that have been in my fridge for, well, let's just say "more than two months."

They learn basic lifesaving skills and sell popcorn. They'll roll up flags at a Memorial Day ceremony in the morning or gather around a campfire at night. And because of their efforts, the Mid-America Council's Scouts and leaders have been named the nation's best among 296 councils in the Boy Scouts of America organization.

Works of Art for the State Parks was held Sunday, August 29, at Gull Point Shelter House. The event featured live and silent auctions, a champagne tasting and brunch.

To the Editor On September 14, 2010, Iowa Lakes Community College is asking voters to renew the Plant Fund Levy. In these times of economic challenges for all of us, it is important that quality educational opportunities continue to be available for all residents of our area...

To the editor: On behalf of the American Red Cross, we wish to express our deep appreciation and say "thank you" to every donor, volunteer and support person who participated in the August blood drives in Milford, Spirit Lake and Lake Park. Your generosity is most appreciated by those needing transfusions in trauma situations and for ongoing treatment of chronic, life-threatening illnesses...

A lot of people have been talking about modern egg production since the salmonella contaminations. All have been linked to the Big Bad Wolf of egg farmers: Jack DeCoster. This guy gets about as much respect among Iowa farmers as Mel Gibson now gets in Hollywood. That's because the majority of Iowa farmers, both big and small, believe in doing things right...

Don and Evelyn Henderson of Spirit Lake will celebrate 50 years of marriage on Saturday, Sept. 18. They will be having a celebration to honor the occasion with their family. Their children invite friends to wish them a "Happy Anniversary" by sending greetings to 900 8th St., Spirit Lake, IA, 51360. No gifts, please...

Allison Michelson of Spirit Lake and Jacob Beggs of North Platte, Neb. were united in marriage at 4 p.m. on May 29, 2010, at Gull Point State Park in West Okoboji. The outdoor ceremony was officiated by Jim and Amy Jo Hawley of North Platte, Neb. A reception followed in the lodge...

Craig and Becky Cobb of Pella and formerly of Spirit Lake are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Kimberly Cobb, to Brett Nielsen, son of Butch and Barb Nielsen of Yorkville, Ill. Kimberly is a 2005 graduate of Spirit Lake High School. ...

Friends and family are invited to join Marilyn and Larry Edson, their children, spouses and grandchildren in the celebration and renewal of vows for their 50th wedding anniversary at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at Saint Simeon's Episcopal Church in Chippewa Falls, Wis...

Sept. 29, 1908 -- Aug. 28, 2010 Funeral services for Mary Elizabeth Olson were held Tuesday, Aug. 31 at the Turner Jenness Family Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Mary Elizabeth Olson was born September 29, 1908, in Milford, the daughter of Lillian and Bruno Von Housen. She attended Beaver College in Philadelphia and Froebel Teachers College in Chicago...

Services were held Saturday, Sept. 4, at Grace United Methodist Church for Esther Jean Connell, 78, of Spencer.

Led by a familiar face in Joe Hilsabeck, the Okoboji boys cross country team turned in a solid all-around effort in their home opener Thursday, Sept. 2 at Woodlyn Hills Golf Course in Milford. Hilsabeck, a sophomore all-conference standout last season, equaled his third place performance from one season ago after finishing right behind Ben Berberich of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn and Adam Sohl of George-Little Rock/Central Lyon. ...