Stories from Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Whether a construction project, new programs, classes or new faculty members -- schools seem to making changes for the better in 2014-15. Okoboji High School is in the midst of a front entrance makeover as well as the construction of a new lunchroom and media center...

Memorial Park will become an outdoor movie theater and Spirit Lake is closing out the summer with a family-friendly event. The public is invited to a free movie in the park at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. It might be one last chance for Spirit Lake students to stay up late -- the first day of school is Monday, Aug. 25...

Gov. Terry Branstad is expected to be on hand for remarks as a local resident is honored for his contributions. The governor will honor Lakes Area businessman Toby Shine of Wahpeton for his contributions to economic development. Ladies of the Lake Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will honor Shine for his contributions to the Armed Forces Foundation, which assists veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and their families...

Sales of Indian motorcycles are strong enough to support more jobs at the Iowa plant that makes them. Polaris Industries expects to hire 300 more people at its Spirit Lake plant that already employs more than 700. Final assembly of the motorcycles will be done there, The Des Moines Register reported...

The Iowa RockNRoll Music Association Presents the Hall of Fame induction spectacular Labor Day weekend in the Iowa Great Lakes. Events include Iowa Hall of Fame induction ceremony and concert in Arnolds Park. The Iowa RockNRoll Music Association (IRRMA) presents the 2014 Hall of Fame induction spectacular Aug. 29 through Aug. 31, with concerts, autograph parties, memorabilia auctions, and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony and concert...

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad will make a series of stops in the Iowa Great Lakes Region this week. He will co-host the Dickinson County Republican summer picnic at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Parks Marina. U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst, state Sen. David Johnson, state Rep. Megan Hess and state Rep. candidate John Wills plan to join other statewide candidates at the event...

The fifth annual Chalkstock was a huge success and the one-day festival celebrating sidewalk, people, music and art will return again next year. Fifty-seven artists came together to decorate the sidewalk in front of hundreds of spectators on both sides of the 1600 block of Hill Avenue in downtown Spirit Lake. Using chalk pastels and sidewalk chalk, they created art on 41 four-by-four feet sidewalk squares, plus two eight-by-10 feet entries marked out in the parking spaces...

On Aug. 26, the citizens of Milford will go to the polls to vote in a special election to elect a mayor and to fill one council seat. The positions are currently held by two very capable people. Apparently, this did not satisfy a small group of people, so they circulated the necessary petitions and the city council was required to schedule a special election. ...

Today it is hot and humid with barely enough breeze to make it tolerable. And where are some of our children today (Tuesday)? In school!! I raised eight children and now am blessed with four young grandchildren. Two started school in Sioux Falls yesterday, one begins at Okoboji next Monday and one started in Sioux City this week. ...

Conservation is about creating great places in which to live -- a place where we can fish in clean water. A place where there are pheasants and ducks to hunt. Pheasants Forever members have the opportunity to engage in activities like hunting and fishing which our founding traditions in this great nation...

April 17, 1926 -- Aug. 5, 2014 A funeral service for Kenneth Beisch was held on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona. Burial was in East Lawn Cemetery in Algona with military honors conducted. Kenneth Robert Beisch was born April 17, 1926 in Algona, the oldest of 15 children of Edward and Suzanne (Pffefer) Beisch. He grew up in Sexton and attended St. Cecelia Academy. Kenny served in the United States Army during World War II...

June 19, 1944 -- Aug. 16, 2014 Joyce Elaine Amdahl Fliehler, 70, of Amarillo, Texas, died Aug. 16, 2014. Services were Tuesday at St. Luke Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jim Wallace officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel in Amarillo...

July 17, 1950 -- Aug. 10, 2014 A funeral service for Brian Reynolds, 64, of Arnolds Park, was held Thursday, Aug.14, 2014 at the Barefoot Bar at Parks Marina. Brian Lynn Reynolds was born July 17, 1950, the son of Kenneth and Darline (Dieters) Reynolds in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was raised and educated in Rock Rapids, graduating from Central Lyon High School. Brian first attended Ellsworth Community College and then graduated from Mankato State University...

Dollar General is proud to recognize employee Beck Olk with a 2014 Serving Others award for her commitment to the company's mission of serving others. Olk was recognized for her philanthropic and commitment to volunteerism with the American Cancer Society -- Emmet County Relay for Life...

Cadence Reed, age 9, made a special visit to Abben Cancer Center on Monday, June 11, with her family. Reed, from Spirit Lake, held a bake sale and made cookies, brownies, scotcharoos, among other things. She donated the money she raised to Abben Cancer Center. Pictured from left are Melissa Cunningham Director of Abben Cancer Center, Cadence Reed and her mother...