Stories from Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Gary Owen, a supervising officer for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in Dickinson County says the math isn't too difficult. "It's real simple," Owen said. "Last year, we had 14 water patrol officers. We were doing navigation enforcement, we were doing dock enforcement and we were doing aquatic invasive species enforcement. This year I have four water patrol officers and we're strictly doing navigation enforcement."...

To the casual fan, it may seem like The Beatles only put out seven or eight albums. But, Jeff Zwagerman isn't a casual fan. The Okoboji native can tell you the group produced more than 40 albums in all. He has collected every single one of them, including countless duplicate albums with different covers...

With a state berth on the line, Spirit Lake Park-Okoboji was not going to be denied, earning the first ever postseason victory over Spencer with a come-from-behind 2-1 win May 28 in a Class 2-A sub-state boys soccer final at the Spencer Soccerplex. "It feels awesome. It's the first time in school history and it was pretty fun," said senior defender Zach Lindsey about the monumental win. "We've had a couple of chances and have never been able to do it, so this year's big."...

The Spirit Lake girls golf team certainly didn't put its best foot forward after Day 1 of the 2011 State Girls Golf Tournament, finishing sixth overall and 44 shots out of first place Tuesday at River Valley Golf Club in Adel. The Indians will have to go back to the drawing board and hope for some extremely low scores Wednesday to finish in the top five in Class 3-A...

Lexy Determan, a 2007 graduate of Graettinger-Terril High School, has been named a 2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-American. The announcement was made at the NCAA III Softball Championship Finals Banquet held Thursday, May 19 in Salem, Va...

After battling closely in 1-0 and 3-1 losses to 11th-ranked Spencer earlier this season, Spirit Lake Park-Okoboji still couldn't solve the Tigers and pull out the program's first win over them, dropping a 4-1 match in the Class 2-A regional quarterfinals May 26 at the Spencer Soccerplex...

The Okoboji softball team put it all together on a windy night in Spencer, capturing its third straight win by a decisive margin to motor past the Tigers 10-0 in six innings in the annual Memorial Day showdown. It was also the Pioneer's third win in a row in the series, with two of those victories coming via the 10-run rule...

Yellow caution tape and temporary fencing have replaced the heavily-used, plastic, floating dock used by boaters at Arnolds Park Amusement Park. The State Pier annex isn't likely to be replaced anytime soon, according to manager Tim Richey of the DNR's state parks bureau. He thinks time took its toll on the structure...

On Thursday, June 2, the Abben Cancer Center in Spencer, Iowa will be hosting their annual cancer survivor's day celebration. We will be joining hundreds of communities worldwide in celebrating life as part of the National Cancer Survivor's Day. The National Cancer Survivor's Day events are filled with joy, camaraderie, hope, compassion, faith and love. Cancer survivors are honored for their strength and courage. Surviving cancer is an attitude about life and living each day to the fullest...

I've repeatedly said that the state of Iowa will have $600 million in our reserve funds and $300 million in our ending balance when the fiscal year comes to a close on June 30. I argued that with so much money on hand -- far more than most other states-- there is no need to deeply cut our local schools, community colleges and universities...

As the summer approaches, I always look forward to enjoying the many delicious fresh fruits and vegetables that can be found across Iowa. From sweet corn at a roadside stand to Iowa melons and ripe tomatoes at a farmers market, our state truly has some of the best produce anywhere. ...

Children who have a parent deployed in the Army often use the daily grind of school as a distraction. But when the summer months roll around, there is little available for them to keep their mind off things. Through a project called Operation Barnabas, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is teaming up with Camp Okoboji to help fill the idle time experienced by military families...

It's been a few weeks since I last sent out a newsletter with updates from the State House. The Iowa House is technically still in session but most of its members have been sent home over the last three weeks. The leadership in both chambers is working on a resolution for the 2012 budget but there has not been a lot of progress thus far. ...

College is, as they say, "the time of your life." For me, it really was. Four years came and went, now here I am in the real world. Looking for a college wasn't very difficult for me. I took a college tour at the University of Northern Iowa and knew right away that it would be my new home for the next four years. The campus was a great size and there was a lot of Panther pride...

Harold has egg on his face. Harold Camping, the guy who has been preaching on the radio about the rapture and the start of judgement day, etc. Did you notice how fast they changed the billboard going into Milford? That was a record! As much as I enjoy poking fun at Harold, this entire "episode" has made all Christians look bad. We should have stood up and rejected Harold louder...

Eric and Brooke Thompson from Spirit Lake, announce the arrival of daughter Braelyn Nichole Thompson. Born May 20, 2011 at Spencer Hospital, she weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces at birth. Grandparents are Scott & Teresa Loving of Albert City and Bruce & Lori Thompson of Jewell...

Gary and Beverly Hurley of Spirit Lake will celebrate 50 years of marriage on June 3. Their children and grandchildren invite family and friends to wish them a happy anniversary by sending greetings to: Gary and Beverly Hurley 12645 253rd Avenue Spirit Lake, IA, 51360...

Sept. 20, 1930 -- May, 4, 2011 Virginia Arlene Collins Blenderman, 80, journeyed to heaven May 4, 2011, while hospitalized in Venice, Fla. Virginia was born Sept. 20, 1930 in Yell Township, Webster County, Iowa to Vermon D. O'Dell and Viola Mae (Malcom) O'Dell...

July 28, 1918 -- May 20, 2011 Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 25, at First Lutheran Church in Milford for Harry Richard Adams. The Rev. Bob Vaage officiated. Burial followed at North Lawn Memorial Park in Spencer. Pallbearers were Butch King, Bob Rusk, Butch Noethe, Jim Rusk, Jim Adams, Rich Adams, Bryan Adams, Doug Adams, Rick Adams and Mark Mills...

May 31, 1923 -- Feb. 12, 2011 A memorial service was held Friday, May 27, at First Reformed Church in Sibley for Grace Hromatko. The Rev. Gary Van Heukelom officiated, with a special reading by granddaughter Diane Johnson. Reflections were by Leola Malone. Interment was at Ocheyedan Township Cemetery in Ocheyedan. The Andringa Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements...

May 12, 1925 -- May 27, 2011 Gaylord Wesley Hopkins, age 86, passed away on May 27 in Des Moines. He was born on May 12, 1925 to Everett and Malinda (Mast) Hopkins in Primghar. He worked for the United States Post Office upon graduation from high school in Primghar until his retirement in 1980. ...