Stories from Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The route between Estherville and the North Lawn Cemetery in Spencer covers about 37 miles. Not an inch of the trip could have been easy for the family of Staff Sgt. Steven P. Blass. The decorated member of a NATO-led International Security Force died March 11 after the Black Hawk helicopter he was in crashed during a mission in southern Afghanistan...

A Spirit Lake woman with a connection with the 2010 "Broken Arrow" drug investigation faces a new set of charges, according to the Spirit Lake Police Department. Officers say 27-year-old Annette Loerch faces three counts of possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine, and intent to deliver on Friday, March 15. The initial cause for arrest stemmed from a violation of parole...

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad ordered flags at half-staff and communities on the route from Estherville to Spencer honored a fallen northwest Iowa soldier Tuesday. Staff Sergeant Steve Blass was laid to rest late Tuesday afternoon at North Lawn Cemetery in Spencer, in a grave site next to his grandfather, C. Don Erickson...

Okoboji shined the brightest in the mid-distance races and field events, with Dalton Syverson winning the high jump competition and the team coming away with seven top-5 performances at the Norm Herren Invitational Saturday, March 23 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D...

The field events and hurdle races have blossomed into a major strength for the Spirit Lake Park boys track team with Indians capping off their indoor season with several standout performances in those events at the Dan Lennon Invitational Monday, March 25 in Vermillion, S.D...

Both the Spirit Lake Park and Okoboji track teams turned in a number of solid showings in the Class A division of the Dan Lennon Invitational Monday, March 25 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D. The Indians secured top-10 finishes in all three relays and came away with top-20 performances in six events from five different athletes, led once again by standout sprinter Taylor Sieperda. ...

With Florida Gulf Coast, La Salle and Wichita State all crashing the Sweet 16 party this week, what does that say about the parity in college basketball? Well all knew the 2013 NCAA Tournament could get a little crazy with how the regular season had gone with No. ...

On behalf of the Okoboji High School Athletic Department, I would just like to say 'thank-you' to everyone that participated in our recent Coaches v. Cancer event during our ninth grade and varsity basketball games against Rock Valley on Friday, Jan. 25...

While it doesn't rival the popularity of Santa Claus, the Easter bunny still holds it's own in the spring. But what is the origin behind the large, bigger-than-life creature that carries around colorful eggs and causes kids to go wild? Does it seem a little bit creepy to anyone else to have a six-foot-tall bunny walking around with a locked, sheepish grin on its face?...

April 1, 1985 -- March 11, 2013 Steven Patrick Blass was born April 1, 1985, in Estherville, the son of Randy and Carol (Erickson) Blass. He grew up in Estherville where he attended Estherville Lincoln Central Schools from kindergarten through graduation in May 2003. He then continued his education at Iowa Lakes Community College before joining the Army...

July 20, 1937 -- March 17, 2013 A funeral services for Lyle Westergard, 75, of Milford, was held Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Terril. Interment will be at a later date. Lyle John Westergard was born in Graettinger on July 20, 1937, to John and Venetta (Hansen) Westergard. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith...

Aug. 26, 1942 -- March 17, 2013 Kenneth E. Tomlinson, age 70, of Spirit Lake, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2013, at his home in Spirit Lake. He was born on Aug. 26, 1942, in Stuart, to Chester and Maudie (Baker) Tomlinson. Ken graduated from East High School in Des Moines in 1960, where he excelled in school and wrestling. He married his life-long friend and sweetheart, Nancy Warren on October 20, 1960, in Lakewood, Calif. They have four children, Ken, Rebecca, Rodney and Kyle...

Jan. 23, 1906 -- March 16, 2013 A funeral service was held for Helen Farrow, 107, of Spirit Lake on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at Elmore United Methodist Church in Elmore, Minn. Helen Joyce Farrow was born Jan. 23, 1906 in Elmore, Minn., to Bessie Ripley and John H. Krosch. She was raised and educated in Elmore, graduating from Elmore High School in 1924. Following high school, Helen attended Mankato State Teacher's College in Mankato, Minn., where she obtained her teacher's certificate...

March 16, 1917 -- March 21, 2013 Gordon Lee Mennen, World War II veteran, longtime northwest Iowa banker, community leader and beloved patriarch of his family, passed away of natural causes on March 21, 2013 -- five days after his 96th birthday at his winter residence in Bonita Beach, Fla. Gordon lived in Milford when not in Florida...

Oct. 9, 1925 -- March 14, 2013 Donald Eugene Nielsen, age 87, of Milford, passed away Thursday, March 14, 2013 at the Country View Manor in Sibley. Memorial Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at Faith Lutheran Church in Spencer. Pastor Tim Nappe and Pastor Robert Entin officiating. Burial will be at a later date...

Oct. 30, 1948 -- March 22, 2013 Brenda Ann Gott was born on Oct. 30, 1948 in Rome, N.Y. She was the daughter of Junior and Della (Ernst) Thaemlitz. She lived her youth and attended school in Rome until age 13, when she moved to Lakefield, Minn. and continued her education...

Sept. 2, 1927 -- March 16, 2013 A funeral service for Avis Hoffman, age 85, of Milford, were held Friday, March 22, 2013 at Union Memorial Church in Milford. Mrs. Hoffman passed away March 16, 2013 at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake. Avis Marie Sorensen was born to Fred and Frances Sorensen on Sept. 2, 1927 in Spirit Lake. Avis was the second of eight children; Betty, Verland, George, Donald, Carole, Larry and Rhonda and was proceeded in death by Betty, Donald, and Rhonda...

A number of Graettinger-Terril music students escaped the winter weather of northwest Iowa last week. Twenty-seven high school band and choir students and 12 adults traveled to Orlando, Fla. for a music clinic. The trip, which was March 21-24, was also an opportunity to celebrate the commitment the students have made to the G-T school district...

The annual Dickinson County Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt has a new location once again this year. Children throughout the county are invited to search for candy-filled eggs starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30 on the soccer fields near the Bedell Family YMCA...

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad ordered flags at half-staff and communities on the route from Estherville to Spencer honored a fallen northwest Iowa soldier Tuesday. Staff Sergeant Steve Blass was laid to rest late Tuesday afternoon at North Lawn Cemetery in Spencer, in a grave site next to his grandfather, C. Don Erickson...

Lab results will be available just down the hallway when Erin Schrunk starts her July residency in Lincoln, Neb. She'll be able to monitor heart activity with an EKG and have access to state-of-the-art technology. But, during a six-week stay in Ghana, the 2005 Spirit Lake High School graduate had to learn to adapt...