Stories from Wednesday, December 26, 2012

We all have battled through yet another year, fighting through drought, extreme heat, deaths, tragedies, birthdays, births, weddings, and graduations. As 2012 passes us by, it's time to call up the old cliche and "turn the page" on the year that was. For me, I am ready to deem 2013 as the year of the "new."...

I'll admit, I have my share of quirks. Our summer writer Doris kidded me to no end when I told her I like chicken, but don't like gnawing it off the bone -- that's also true for corn and corn-on-the cob, by the way. Brandon and Ryan in the newsroom still shake their heads about that. I'll never be invited to a picnic...

The Spirit Lake City Council has set a March 5 date for voters to decide the future of Spirit Lake City Hall. The Spirit Lake officials would like to construct a new building at the existing city hall site along Hill Avenue. Residents will be asked to issue $1,355,000 for the project...

Milford's effort to spruce up the downtown business district chould take another step forward over the next few months. The city is in the process of acquiring the former Gressley shoe repair building on the east side of Okoboji Avenue (U.S. Highway 71) in downtown Milford...

The appeal of a small town with attractive amenities caught the attention of new Lake Park City Administrator Wade Wagoner. The Parkersburg native was making a couple of trips to the area with his wife when he encountered welcoming spirit of the community...

March 14, 1941 -- Dec. 17, 2012 A funeral service for Marilyn Hoffman Hjelmeland, age 71, of Milford, was held Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Burial was at Milford Cemetery. Marilyn Dorene Hoffman-Hjelmeland was born March 14, 1941, in Milford to Clifford and Grace (Marsh) Kinkade. ...

April 11, 1920 -- Dec. 15, 2012 A funeral service for Effie Green was held Wednesday, Dec. 19 at the United Presbyterian Church in Boyden. Clergy was Rev. Rollin Haynes. Interment was held at Evergreen Lawn Cemetery in George. Effie (Korthals) Green, the daughter of Leonard and Lubbertha "Bertha" (Evink) Korthals was born on April 11, 1920, in Boyden. She spent her entire youth in this area, and completed her education at the Sheridan Township Country School in Sioux County...

Aug. 9, 1921 -- Dec. 17, 2012 A funeral service for Edith Marks Widstrom, age 91, was held Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Lake Park. Burial was at Silver Lake Cemetery. Edith Marks Widstrom was born Aug. 9, 1921 at Sunnyside farm near Lake Park to Dr. ...

A 10-of-14 effort at the charity stripe lifted Spirit Lake to its second overtime win in less than a week, allowing the Indians to knock off Estherville Lincoln Central 51-47 in double overtime Friday, Dec. 21 in Lakes Conference boys basketball action...

Things looked bleak after three quarters of action, but Okoboji gained control of the contest by playing like the veteran team they are, surging past Sibley-Ocheyedan for a 48-45 victory Friday, Dec. 21 in Siouxland Conference boys basketball action...

Okoboji made free throws down the stretch and came away with defensive stops at key moments of the game en route to a come-from-behind 44-35 victory over Sibley-Ocheyedan Friday, Dec. 21 in Siouxland Conference girls basketball play. A rocky start didn't seem to faze the young and inexperienced Pioneers (6-3 overall), as they had enough poise and determination to rally back from a 23-13 halftime deficit...

Harris-Lake Park capped off a magnificent week on the hardwood with a commanding 56-43 victory over rival Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire Friday, Dec. 21 in a Cornbelt Conference showdown in Terril. "It was a very aggressive game, but our girls played tough," said Harris-Lake Park assistant coach Becca Bolda. "Overall we played well both defensively and offensively."...

Although Harris-Lake Park let Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire hang around for awhile, they finally put the Titans away in the third quarter of a 69-42 win Friday, Dec. 21 in Cornbelt Conference boys basketball play. "They're a pretty solid team even though they're young. ...

Third-ranked (Class 3A) Estherville Lincoln Central threw the early haymaker and never let up in a 70-36 win over No. 6 Spirit Lake Friday, Dec. 21 in Lakes Conference girls basketball play. "We just did a poor job of taking care of the ball," said Spirit Lake coach Rick Reinking. "Some of that's their strength but the bottom line is that when you play a good team like that and you throw the ball away, you don't get shots...and you can't score when you don't get shots."...

April 12, 1946 -- Dec. 16, 2012 Constance "Connie" L. Johnson, age 66, of Laurens, passed away Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, at her home in Laurens. She was born on April 12, 1946, in Emmetsburg, to Ralph and Helen (Prentice) Virgil. Connie graduated from Laurens High School in 1964 and New Mexico State University in 1992. She was united in marriage to Joe Johnson Jan. 3, 1970, in Laurens...

Sept. 21, 1945 -- Dec. 15, 2012 A funeral service for Archie Wartnaby, age 67, of Terril, was held Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at Hope Reformed Church in Spencer. Burial was at Fairview Cemetery in Terril. Archie L. Wartnaby was born Archie Leroy Wartnaby on Sept. 21, 1945, to Carroll Lester Wartnaby and Beatrice (Polly) Lamb Wartnaby. In his younger years, he grew up in Sheffield and later lived in Rockford and Nora Springs, Iowa. Archie graduated from the Nora Springs--Rock Falls High School...