Stories from Wednesday, June 20, 2012

In my honest opinion, this past weekend tops any other sports weekend of the year -- even Super Bowl weekend. Every Father's Day weekend we can always count on one guarantee for sports -- the final round of the U.S. Open and this has been so for many, many years. But, it's not the only sporting event being held either...

The state fire marshal's office continues to work with insurance investigators to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed Mineral City Mill and Grill in Arnolds Park. "I noticed they are starting to clean the building up, so the insurance company has probably released the building back to the owners and said it is OK to go ahead and start cleaning it up," said Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth of Arnold Park/Okoboji Fire & Rescue. ...

As the tiny silver-, black- and yellow-tipped rocket launched into sunny and humid sky, kids ranging from preschool to eighth grade stood in awe. The parachute soon opened and the rocket slowly drifted back to earth, landing on the roof of a nearby apartment complex...

A reception will be held from 1-3 p.m. Friday, July 6, in the community room at the Dickinson County Courthouse for a longtime elected official in Dickinson County. County Recorder Jan Bortscheller announced her retirement after more than 22 years as Dickinson County Recorder. She was midway through her sixth term in office...

Spirit Lake used some solid hitting from the heart of its batting order to avenge an early-season 13-5 setback to Spencer with a commanding 12-3 victory Tuesday night in Lakes Conference softball play. It was the seventh win in the last nine games for the Indians...

Spirit Lake jumped on Emmetsburg early and never relented on the way to an 8-2 victory Monday, June 18 in Lakes Conference baseball play. "We have three conference games this week and it's important to start it like we did last week and keep the ball rolling," said Spirit Lake coach Jason Schneider. ...

Sophomore Macy Gunderson pitched Harris-Lake Park to a doubleheader sweep of Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne, picking up a pair of wins in the circle Monday, June 18 in Cornbelt Conference softball action. The Wolves received a 10-strikeout pitching performance from Gunderson in game one, as she limited the Panthers to four hits and no earned runs in a 10-1 victory...

Okoboji started off a challenging week of six Siouxland Conference games with a pair of tough losses to league-leading West Lyon in baseball twinbill Monday, June 18 in Larchwood. "They're pretty good all over the field and one through nine (in their lineup)," said Okoboji coach Rory Marra. ...

Spirit Lake will be faced with a daunting task while Okoboji and Harris-Lake Park could also meet ranked opponents with first-round wins in the regional softball tournament as the pairings for all five classes were released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Monday night...

The first visit of the IMCA North Star Touring Series arrived at Jackson Speedway for the first time in the 2012 racing season Saturday, June 16, bringing the A Modifieds to the historic half-mile for the first time this season. A total of 125 cars filled the pits on State Bank of Fairmont Night...

The state fire marshal's office continues to work with insurance investigators to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed Mineral City Mill and Grill in Arnolds Park. "I noticed they are starting to clean the building up, so the insurance company has probably released the building back to the owners and said it is OK to go ahead and start cleaning it up," said Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth of Arnold Park/Okoboji Fire & Rescue. ...

Festive music, games and good food will come with a dose of Hawaiian flavor will be infused into locals on Thursday, June 21. The 8th annual Dickinson County Scholarship Luau hosted by Iowa Lakes Community College Foundation is set for Thursday evening at the Barefoot Bar in Okoboji. ...

A reception will be held from 1-3 p.m. Friday, July 6, in the community room at the Dickinson County Courthouse for a longtime elected official in Dickinson County. County Recorder Jan Bortscheller announced her retirement after more than 22 years as Dickinson County Recorder. She was midway through her sixth term in office...

May 19, 1910 -- June 14, 2012 A funeral service for Mabel Carr, 102, of Milford was held Monday, June 18, 2012, at Union Memorial Church in Milford. Burial was at Milford Cemetery. Mabel O. Carr was born on May 19, 1910, to Emma Elizabeth Traver Jones and Minor Marvin Jones in Dickinson County, Milford Township. ...

OK, we're not going to wake up in a world where kids suddenly wait until they're 21 to drink on college campuses. All of the beer ads won't suddenly disappear from those 11 a.m. ESPN football broadcasts, either. It's also safe to assume young adults won't make their beverage choices based exclusively on a poster logo or team-colored beer can. Taste, access and affordability are likely going to win the day in the dorms of Iowa City...

Dennis and Penny Baschke of Milford announce the engagement of their daughter, Tina Baschke, to Scott Nolte, son of Donny and Jan Nolte of Lakeside. Tina graduated from Okoboji High School in 1997 and then attended Westmar University in Le Mars until the college closed in 1998. She is a stay-at-home mom in Spencer and also works for CAASA...

April 15, 1928 -- June 14, 2012 Funeral services where held Saturday at Christ the King Catholic Church in Omaha , Neb. for Thomas R. Burke of Omaha and Okoboji. Mr. Burke was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Jean Burke; daughter, Pamela Burke and son, Timothy James Burke...

July 18, 1925 -- June 13, 2012 A funeral service for Richard Stetzel, 86, of Spirit Lake was held Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Memory Gardens. Richard D. Stetzel was born to Lewis and Mabel Welty Stetzel on July 18, 1925 in Dickinson County...

July 23, 1927 -- March 24, 2012 Graveside services for Kaye-Rose Miller, 84, of Dallas and formerly of Spirit Lake, will be 11 a.m. Friday, June 22, at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Kaye-Rose was born July 23, 1927, to Lyle Franklin Miller and Rose Howrey Miller. She was a 1946 graduate of Spirit Lake High School and a 1950 graduate of Buena Vista College...

Feb. 2, 1958 -- June 14, 2012 Clayton Harper Seemann, age 54, of Spirit Lake, passed away Thursday, June 14, 2012, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. He was born on February 2, 1958 to Eugene and Elsie (Blass) Bates and lovingly raised by Harper and Betty (Vanderburg) Seemann...