Stories from Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Dickinson County News will give away three pairs of tickets to The Dweebs Halloween show, scheduled for Saturday, on its Facebook site Thursday - one set at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. - to the first person to correctly answer the horror movie trivia question. ...

July 3, 1934 -- Oct. 17, 2012 A funeral service for Jim Ballah, 78, of Terril, was held Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Terril. Burial was at Fairview Cemetery in Terril. James L. Ballah was born July 3, 1934 in Terril, the son of James L. Ballah, Sr. and Dessie (Miller) Ballah. He graduated high school and completed one year of college...

Melissa Abbott and Guy Hilgendorf were united in marriage on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. A reception was held after the ceremony at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center. Melissa is the daughter of Steve and Mary Abbott of Spirit Lake. She is a 2004 graduate of Spirit Lake High School and a 2009 graduate of The University of Iowa. She currently works as a Registered Nurse for Spencer Hospital's Community Health and Hospice...

Harris-Lake Park dashed another team's playoff hopes by pounding Remsen St. Mary's 62-13 in the final week of the regular season on the gridiron Friday, Oct. 19 in Lake Park. Fresh off a 48-0 shutout victory over Kingsley-Pierson that all but ended the Panthers' playoff lives, the Wolves kept on rolling with an impressive aerial display that saw quarterback Colin Brons complete 18-of-28 passes for 348 yards with five touchdowns and his lone interception coming on a Hail Mary pass to end the first half. ...

Fifth-ranked Spirit Lake surged to its second consecutive outright district championship with a 52-21 destruction of Estherville Lincoln Central to cap off the regular season a perfect 6-0 in Class 2A District 2 action Friday, Oct. 19 at Hafer Field...

Dickinson County was well represented with Okoboji and Spirit Lake jockeying for the Class 2A district championship Monday, Oct. 22 in Holstein. Even though senior Will Norris and junior Tanner Goetsch secured top-5 finishes for the Indians, the Pioneers used the strength of four top-20 performances and a 27th place finish from No. 5 runner Dakota Kraninger to come away as the district champions by a three-point margin...

Spirit Lake overcame the odds and an underdog role to qualify for state as a team after a one-year hiatus at the Class 2A regional meet Monday, Oct. 22 in Holstein. The Indians have now qualified for state for seven times in the past eight years. "At the beginning of the year I don't think anybody and I mean anybody would have given our girls a chance to get to state," said Spirit Lake coach Tim Heinitz. ...

Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire has a lot of positives to build off in the first-year under head coach Todd Hough after outscoring Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne 74-42 to end the 2012 football season Friday, Oct. 19 in Graettinger. "Our kids came out ready to play tonight and did a nice job executing offensively and defensively," Hough said. "I have been happy to see our kids staying positive this season and keep improving with every game."...

While Okoboji's defense certainly rose to the occasion, they couldn't get enough going offensively to get into the win column in a 13-0 loss to North Union in the final week of the season Friday, Oct. 19 in Armstrong. "I wish we were starting the season right now because we're just right now starting to play at a high level with the speed and intensity it takes to play varsity football in this district," said Okoboji coach Jon Allen. ...

Spirit Lake couldn't slow down the vaunted offensive attack of MOC-Floyd Valley enough to get much going, fighting hard but still faltering 3-0 in the quarterfinal round of the Class 3A regional tournament Monday, Oct. 22 in Orange City. The third-ranked Lady Dutch prevailed by scores of 25-11, 25-12 and 25-17 to set up a semifinal showdown with crosstown rival Unity Christian tomorrow night. ...

For the 59th time, the trailer with a bee logo and a convoy of motorcycles came to the home of a family in need. The Ben and Alyssa Umscheid family of rural Milford had a chance to host the caravan Saturday afternoon. The family faces extensive travel, lodging and therapy expenses as they try to help their son, Elias. The toddler receives care at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital in Iowa City...

His love for interior design pushed the company deep into the 21st century -- and there are no signs of slowing down. Jerry Twetten has owned Twetten's Interior Design for almost 60 years and has seen the business thrive in his family for almost an entire century. Twetten's is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, with stores in Spirit Lake and Sioux Falls, S.D...

After September 11, 2001, I was so grieved my prayers asked God to help everyone in the shadow of those two towers and those who helped them. The whole nation grieved. Everyone will always remember where they were, what they were doing and who was with them on that day...

In the Dickinson county recorders race it is a simple choice. I am voting for the person who is preforming the duties of recorder and has worked there for 10 years. Janelle Traganza has earned my vote because she is competent, knowledgeable and reliable. I want to keep that friendly courteous service working for me...

First, an invitation. Come meet members of the Dickinson County News staff at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 25. We're going to be at the Koffee Kup Kafe along Highway 71 in Arnolds Park. We would like to know your thoughts about the newspaper. The very informal coffee gathering is ideal for people with story ideas, feedback or anyone who just wants to meet us and talk current events. ...

Spirit Lake Middle School students were armed with digital cameras, notepads, pencils and walking boots, as they set out Monday morning to learn firsthand about the various invasive plant species that are prevalent in the Tom Grein Audubon Sanctuary...

March 8, 1931 -- Oct. 17, 2012 A funeral service for Vernon Bueltel was held Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Burial was at St. Patricks Cemetery in Estherville. Vernon William Bueltel was born March 8, 1931, in Estherville to Joseph and Rose (Loneman) Bueltel. ...

Sept. 5, 1932 -- Oct. 16, 2012 Robert R. Orris, of Cedar Park, Texas, passed away at the age of 80 on Oct. 16, 2012. He was born Sept. 5, 1932, in Sioux Falls, S.D. to John and Eleanor Orris. Robert is survived by one brother, Gary of Lake Park, and five children, Sandra Strohmeier, Minn., Nancy Ketcham, Spencer, Brad Orris, South Dakota, Susan Marshall, Calif., and Debra Feges, Minn., 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. ...

Oct. 19, 1931 -- Oct. 18, 2012 Merlin "Bubby" Jay Bertness, the son of Herman and Elizabeth (Smith) Bertness, was born Oct. 19, 1931, on a farm in Buena Vista County. He was baptized at the United Methodist Church in Sioux Rapids and attended school in Sioux Rapids and graduated in 1950...

Dec. 23, 1931 -- Oct. 17, 2012 Maxine E. Olsen, age 80, of Spirit Lake, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at the Milford Nursing Center. She was born Dec. 23, 1931, in Sac County, to Wylie and Verna (Fort) Shannon. Maxine graduated from the Nemaha High School. She was united in marriage to Donald Olsen Dec. 1, 1949, in Nemaha. Donald passed away April 10, 2009...

July 25, 1956 -- Oct. 15, 2o12 A funeral service for Matthew Plagman, 56, of Milford was held Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Burial was at Memory Gardens in Spirit Lake. Matthew Lyndon Plagman was born July 25, 1956, in Spirit Lake, the son of Clifford and Shirley (Erichsen) Plagman. He graduated from Milford High School and continued his education at Iowa Lakes Community College focusing on mathematics and technical electronics...

Nov. 14, 1934 -- Oct. 16, 2012 A funeral service for Janice Clark, 77, of Lake Park was held Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Park. Burial was at Silver Lake Cemetery. Janice Coleen Clark was born Nov. 14, 1934 in Round Lake, Minn., the daughter of Harry and Elvera (Bunning) Reimers. She started country school in Sioux Valley, Minn. and then in second grade moved to Dickinson County and graduated from Lake Park High School...

March 27, 1927 -- Oct. 17, 2012 A funeral service for Don Payne, 85, of Milford was held Monday, October 22, 2012 at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Mr. Payne passed away Oct. 17, 2012 at the Milford Nursing Center. Edgar Donald Payne, Jr. was born on March 27, 1927, in Mason City. He was the son of Edgar and Dorothy Payne. Don spent his childhood years in Mason City, attending school there and graduating from Mason City High School...

June 15, 1928 -- Oct. 14, 2012 D.R. "Doc" Gumm, age 84, of Spirit Lake, passed away Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at his home in Spirit Lake. He was born on June 15, 1928, in Bagley, Iowa, to Roy and Gladys (Murphy) Gumm. Doc graduated from Dow City High School. ...

Oct. 12, 1950 -- Oct. 6, 2012 Dixie (Nelson) Iverson, the daughter of Melvin and Dorothey (Anderson) Nelson was born Oct. 12, 1950, in Jackson, Minn. Dixie passed away Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, at her home in Estherville at the age of 62. She received her education in Estherville schools, graduating from Estherville High School in 1968...

Oct. 13, 1948 -- Oct. 14, 2012 Connie Jean Karl was bon October 13, 1948, in Spirit Lake, the daughter of Donald and Mildred (Spoo) Simpson. Connie was raised and educated in Arnolds Park, graduating from Arnolds Park High School in 1967. On July 25, 1969, Connie was united in marriage to Darrell E. Karl at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. The couple made their home in Spirit Lake...

Feb. 6, 1933 -- Aug. 22, 2o12 Burdette (Burt) Heikens, 79, passed away peacefully Aug. 22, 2012, at the age of 79. He was the son of Harry and Agnes Heikens, born Feb. 6, 1933, in Spencer. He grew up as a farm kid, helping with chores and attending Spencer High School where he graduated. ...

June 29, 1932 -- Oct. 17, 2012 A funeral service for Beverly Downing, 80, of Milford was held Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Burial was at Milford Cemetery. Beverly JoAnn Downing was born June 29, 1932, in Des Moines, the daughter of Clare and Harold Lander. She attended East High School and was married to Arthur Dean Downing on March 4, 1948, in Des Moines. Beverly lived in Des Moines and Long Beach, Calif. before moving to Milford in 1969...

June 17, 1982 -- Oct. 20, 2012 Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at the First Presbyterian Church in Tekamah for Andrew Lorenz Goll, 30, of Des Moines and formerly of Tekamah, Neb. Rev. Duncan Nichol is officiating. Visitation is 1-8 p.m. Wednesday at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah. Visitation Thursday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial is at Tekamah Cemetery...