The Harris-Lake Park boys' golf team pulled away from Sioux Central on Day 2 of the inaugural Ryder Cup behind singles victories from Kyle Jacobsen, Austin Jacobsen, Nathan Kyle and Kyle Kruger Tuesday, April 21 at Silver Lake Country Club, clinching the cup by a 6-3 margin after entering the day locked in a tie with the Rebels.

It turned into a battle for the top spot from the opening event, but the Spirit Lake Park girls' track and field team had a bit more depth and firepower than Okoboji on the way to winning the team title Monday, April 27 at the 25th annual Okoboji Relays in Milford.

For many Lakes area residents Monday was a typical spring day, but for one West Okoboji couple it marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Bob Booth and Mike Getz have been together for 13 years, and beginning this week they were legally able to apply for a marriage license.
"We didn't realize it might be an option until recently," said Booth shortly after completing the necessary paperwork.

{http://www.sunshinecleaning-themovie.com "Sunshine Cleaning"} (2008, R, 91 min.) is an "indie" (short for independent film) comedy from three of the producers, Jeb Brody, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub, of another indie hit from three years ago, "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006, R, 101 min.). Both movies are set and were filmed in New Mexico, and both star Alan Arkin as a grandfather.

Spirit Lake School's incoming superintendent David Smith is facing a civil lawsuit filed April 14 in Black Hawk County by Linda Sharp, an instructor at Malcolm Price Lab School in Cedar Falls where Smith is the current director. The school is located on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and provides clinical teacher education and research at the early childhood, elementary, middle and high school levels.

***Additional fires strike Lake Park home, area grasslands
Fire has struck another Lake area business as flames continue to break out in area structures and grasslands.
On Wednesday evening, Milford firefighters battled a blaze at Mige's Restaurant, formerly Dan'z Restaurant, in south Milford. Damage is estimated at over $25,000.

Almost everyone remembers their first job -- and its lessons, subsequent headaches, sense of responsibility and more.
For many, the introduction into the formal world of work begins at a young age. Kids as young as 14 can work outside of the home and those as young as 10 can sell items door-to-door.

Amanda Joy Patzer and Gregory Eugene Neppl are pleased to announce their engagement and approaching marriage.
Amanda is the daughter of Tom and Sherri Patzer of Mitchell, S.D. She is a 2002 graduate of Mitchell High School and a 2006 graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University with a bachelor of science degree in marketing with a minor in business administration. Amanda is an admissions representative at Mitchell Technical Institute.

Dawn Bernholtz of Spirit Lake and Jeff Harken of Grundy Center are announcing their engagement and approaching wedding.
Parents of the couple are Kenny and Carmen Bernholtz of Spirit Lake and Jim and Keely Harken of Grundy Center.
The bride-to-be is employed at Heartland Financial, Dubuque, and the groom-to-be is a recent graduate of University of Dubuque in Aviation and Management.
The 4 p.m. ceremony is set for Aug. 8 at Gull Point Lodge, Okoboji.

*** Two arrested on drug charges
On Thursday, April 23 at approximately 2:45 a.m., a search warrant was executed at 607 19th Street in Spirit Lake after a joint investigation between the Spirit Lake Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations. A search of the residence turned up a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana and several items of drug paraphernalia.

Oh, if you didn't attend, what you missed! In March, at the Sami Center, the Dickinson County Ministerial Association presented "Lakes Cabin Companion," a take off of PBS radio's popular and humorous "The Prairie Home Companion." Proceeds from this wonderful evening benefitted local non-profits including: CAASA, Discovery House, Habitat for Humanity, and Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc.

I am concerned with the increased assessed values for real estate property in Dickinson County. I believe that the vast majority of properties in the county are over assessed with the Jan. 1, 2009 assessments. I would encourage all tax payers to file an appeal of their assessed values before May 6. You may obtain the necessary form to do so online at the site of the Dickinson County Assessor.

Recently I received a letter from the Social Security office, informing me they will send me a check for $250 in May. I am not wealthy, but I am comfortable, and I decided to share this money with the unfortunate workers in our area, who have lost their jobs, through no fault of their own.

April has been designated Sexual Assault awareness month. Although, some of you may know and many do not, I feel it needs to be me made aware to the public. I had heard little if any of recognition of this month and what it stands for.
I am a survivor of sexual assault that occurred in the spring of 2008. Before the assault, I did not recognize or pay attention to this month and its meaning. I always thought, how unfortunate, but that is the extent my empathy went.

I can still hear the tune every time I hear someone utter those words -- "Gone Fishin'." Hank Parker's fishing show was a common Sunday afternoon feature at my house while I was growing up -- especially this time of year, when the males in the household caught what they've called "fishing fever."