Stories from Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Harris-Lake Park volleyball team played with a lot more heart and energy after the longest rally of the night shifted game two into its favor, helping the Wolves overcome a 1-0 deficit and defeat Graettinger/Terril 3-1 in a highly competitive match between the two Cornbelt Conference rivals Thursday, Sept. 17 in Terril...

The Graettinger/Terril football team bounced back from a setback to undefeated North Sentral Kossuth by throttling rival Harris-Lake Park 51-8 Friday, Sept. 18 in 8-Man District 2 action in Graettinger. "We worked all week on getting better and building momentum every week," said Graettinger/Terril head coach Karlton Hector. "The kids responded in practice, and we were able to get back in the win column."...

The Okoboji football team couldn't figure out what part of the Eagle Grove triple option offense to key in on, giving up two touchdowns through the air and six on the ground en route to a disappointing 55-7 homecoming loss to the Eagles Friday in Class 2A District 2 play in Milford...

The Spirit Lake football team forced a season-high seven turnovers, converted both of its red zone opportunities into touchdowns and won the battle of field position to help secure an emotional 14-0 homecoming victory over Sibley-Ocheyedan Friday, Sept. 18 in Class 2A District 1 play at Hafer Field. The emotional victory took place just five days after aassistant coach Brad Travis suffered severe burns from a brush fire accident...

A shorthanded Okoboji boys' cross country team that was missing three runners was still able to turn in many individual highlights while running at the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Invitational Monday, Sept. 21 at the Sanborn Golf Course. "With the size of our team and with a couple of kids sick (Matt Ohl and Joe Hilsabeck), we didn't have the depth to field a score, so the kids went out and tried to work on their own individual achievements," said Okoboji head coach Brad Peter. ...

The Okoboji girls' cross country team propelled itself to a fourth-place finish in the team race behind the strength of three top-20 performers and two medalists Monday, Sept. 21 at the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Invitational ran at the Sanborn Golf Course...

With the Sept. 17 filing deadline past, the ballots are now set for Dickinson County's city elections. Voting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3. All area mayors are up for election in 2009, and they run for two-year terms. Each city council also has either two or three council seats up for election as well this year.

The University of Okoboji invites residents and visitors to a weekend of fall fun Saturday, Sept. 26 in the Iowa Great Lakes region. Special activities begin with the annual University of Okoboji Oktoberfest Bike Ride at 10 a.m. at Arrowwood Resort in Okoboji...

Amy was an smart, intuitive, intelligent 15-year-old girl who wasn't prepared for an online predator. She ran away from home once to visit her online "friend," but her mom soon found her and took her home. Then her predator showed up at her home and threatened to harm her family if she didn't leave with him...

(Nov. 16, 1934 - Sept. 15, 2009) A memorial service was held Saturday, Sept. 19 at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Spirit Lake for Harold "Bud" Jenkins, age 74, of Spencer, who passed away Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was born on Nov. 16, 1934, in Fulton, Mich., to Charles and Nina Jenkins.

(Oct. 25, 1951 - Sept. 17, 2009) Private family services will be held at a later date for John M. Gamble, 57, formerly of the Lakes area, who passed away Thursday, Sept. 17 at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.

(March 11, 1928 - Sept. 11, 2009) A family interment service was held Saturday, Sept. 19 at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake for Eileen Doris De Voll of Spirit Lake, who passed away Sept. 11 at Hilltop Care Center. Rev. Lon Lewis officiated.

(June 3, 1921 - Sept. 9, 2009) A memorial service was held Monday, Sept. 14 at Turner Funeral Home for Ruth E. (Duncan) DeSpain Baker, who passed away at her home on Little Emerson Bay to join her husbands and children Ed, Tom, and Ann on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009.

The Bedford High School art students have captured both awards in the 2009 Gretsch Iowa RockNRoll Music Art Guitars in Schools competition. Two awards are given each year: Artists' Choice and People's Choice. "These students have taken home both prizes this year," stated IRRMA Museum Vice President Tom Golden of Arnolds Park. ...

It's hard to get ahead. In your personal life, at work, in the community and even at your school. But sometimes it seems as though no door remains closed for some. Call it luck, claim it's who they are, or believe in your heart that karma is working in their favor, but realize that it helps to be in the know...

The Travis family would like to thank our community and all the extended communities, friends, family, students, teachers, and staff for their generous caring support. We feel extremely blessed! We have seen pictures of the tailgate benefit and are overwhelmed of the generosity extended...

I am writing to you in regard to the recent hearing on the Spirit Lake School Board. I cannot believe that a select few have brought suit against the school board. I understand that they had a meeting in Des Moines last year as they were already there for a school board conference, to save money. ...

The Milford Commercial Club and City of Milford would like to thank everyone who participated in our Light Pole Decorating Contest. All the poles were great and the judges had a hard time deciding on the winners. The winning entries were: The Little Flea Market in first place, who won $50 in Milford Bucks; St Joseph Catholic Church in second place with $30 in Milford Bucks; and Land Mark Products, Inc. who won $20 in Milford Bucks...

Get in your cars. Start at the new schools at the end of Hill Avenue. Drive on Hill. Pretty, isn't it! Go clear to the stop sign at the Gingham Inn. Then you have an ugly (and I mean UGLY) cement piece meant to stop a car from crashing into the pump house. It looks like something that belongs in the Iraq War Zone...

Recently I was privileged to join a couple dozen others in riding a bus to Washingtion, D.C. to express displeasure at the Administration's wasteful spending and takeover of the automobile, banking and insurance industries. We also opposed the proposed takeover of our nation's healthcare and energy segments...

To whoever either climbed my little fence or entered through the gate and picked my grapes, I hope you enjoyed them. I had good plans for them. What do you think I had them for? Don't tell me the birds got them as they only pick the fruit, not the whole stem bunch of grapes. I was watching them and obviously you were, too. Please stay off my property and leave my fruit and garden alone. That is my labor of love and I pay the taxes on it...

Thank you to everyone who remembered me on my 90th birthday with cards, gifts, calls and good wishes. I enjoyed each and every one of them. Thanks to my family for the surprise party. Sylvia Wallace Milford

Two Michigan men were arrested Sunday, Sept. 20 following a report of a suspicious vehicle on private property. The Dickinson County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the 2100 block of 160th Avenue at 3:35 p.m., where officers observed a marijuana-like substance inside the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed approximately 66 pounds of unprocessed marijuana plants. Arrested were Joseph Lee Bates, 35, of Shelby, Mich. and Christopher Allen Bates, 23, of Muskegon, Mich.

Lakes area animal lovers are encouraged to "bark their calendars" for the second annual Tails on the Trails event being held Oct. 5 on the Dickinson County Trails system. Tails on the Trails is an annual charity dog walk to benefit the recreational activities of Active Okoboji and the homeless pets of the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa. The event will be held beginning at noon Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa in Milford...