Stories from Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Few instances in the world of sports can match the level of personal satisfaction then nailing a perfect golf shot. Years of practice, lost balls plunked into the nearby pond, lessons and broken clubs finally pay off for that one great shot. In that moment after making contact with the ball -- roughly around 30 seconds -- it's almost as if you are watching your first born take his or her first steps...

Thank you to all of those people responsible for the spectacular fireworks display on West Lake Okoboji on the Fourth of July! The crowd was large and the setting perfect. Hundreds of boats dotted the blue waters and the holiday spirit was running as high as the temperatures that night...

Baseball can be a funny game at times. After struggling in each of his first three at-bats and falling into an early hole in his fourth plate appearance, Harris-Lake Park senior Nathan Kyle quickly became the hero with a walkoff RBI single to center field, allowing the Wolves to advance past Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 4-3 in eight innings in the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A district baseball tournament Tuesday in Hartley...

Okoboji couldn't muster enough offense to slip past Alta-Aurelia and keep its season alive, suffering an 8-3 setback in the opening round of the Class 2A district baseball tournament Saturday, July 7 in Emmetsburg. "They are really talented and hit the ball and make plays defensively," said Okoboji coach Rory Marra. ...

The IMCA North Star Touring Series made its second stop of the season at Jackson Speedway this past weekend, bringing the A Modifieds to the historic-half mile track on the Jackson County Fairgrounds June 7. The evening's races were sponsored by Jackson Sports and Tom Finke Excavating of Sherburn, MN...

The 35th annual University of Okoboji Homecoming events will take place Saturday, July 21. New this year is a triathlon relay, which will join the marathon, triathlon, half marathon and 10K races. If contestants enter prior to Saturday, July 14, they can save $10 on registration. No race day registration will be allowed. All race registration closes at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 19. Please call 1-800-270-2574 with questions...

A nationwide celebration and fundraiser in the fight against cancer will make its return to Spirit Lake this weekend. About 15 fundraising teams are expected for the ninth-annual Dickinson County Relay for Life. Events have an Olympic theme and begin with a 5 p.m registration Friday, July 13, at the Spirit Lake High School track...

Work continues on a project to keep an unwanted guest out of the Iowa Great Lakes. Contractors and surveyors were on hand Tuesday afternoon to scope out the land for a planned electric barrier to prevent the influx of Asian silver carp. From what DNR Fisheries Biologist Mike Hawkins concluded, it looks as though things are moving right along...

From parades to wakeboard contests and a long bike ride, Spirit Lake is celebrating this weekend with the second annual Spirit Lake Days Friday and Saturday, July 13-14. Festivities begin Friday with the Dickinson County Relay for Life on the Sheryl Maas Track at Spirit Lake High School. ...

Shane and Samantha Miller of Spirit Lake announce the arrival of their daughter, Norah Jean. She was born at 3:19 a.m. Sunday, May 27, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Lenny and Sandy Heerdt of Milford and Jim and Barb Miller of Edgemont, S. ...

Lee and Bea Currier of Spirit Lake will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on July 28. Their children and grandchildren request a card shower. Well wishes may be sent to 1719 Hill Avenue, Spirit Lake, IA, 51360.

June 24, 1926 -- June 28, 2012 A funeral service for Jack Helfenstine, 86, of Spirit Lake was held Friday, July 6 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Lakeview Gardens. Jack Litton Helfenstine was born June 24, 1926 in Fairfield to William and Edith (Litton) Helfenstine. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II...

June 1, 1906 -- July 3, 2012 A memorial service for Ella Cooper, 106, of Spirit Lake, was held Saturday, July 7, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Ella Alvina Cooper was born June 1, 1906, in Lansing, the daughter of George and Mary Jane Miles. She was united in marriage to Robert B. Cooper on March 10, 1927...

Oct. 12, 1921 -- July 1, 2012 Channing C. Walker, age 90, of Davenport, passed away Sunday, July 1, 2012, at Heartland Healthcare Center in Moline, Ill. He was born on Oct. 12, 1921, in Des Moines to Dr. Charles and Ora Walker. Channing was a member of the state championship swimming team for Roosevelt High School in 1940. ...

Aug. 9, 1944 -- July 1, 2012 Barbara Jean Wieskus, 67, of Petersburg, Minn., passed away on Sunday, July 1, 2012, at her home. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 7, at the United Methodist Church in Jackson, Minn. with Rev. David Brown and Rev. Eugene Peterson officiating. Burial will be in Union Stateline Cemetery in Dickinson County...