Elijah and Sara Cornell of Spirit Lake are proud to announce the birth of their son Robert Cael Elijah Cornell, born Jan. 2 at {http://www.lakeshealth.org/babies/ Lakes Regional Healthcare} in Spirit Lake. Robert weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces. He is the couple's first child.

Aug. 28, 1925 - March 27, 2009
Funeral services were held March 31 at the Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake for Melba R. Alborn, 83, who passed away March 27 at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake.
Rev. Phil Andreasen officiated. Interment was at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry.
Melba Ruth Alborn was born Aug. 28, 1925 in Stuart.

Aug. 16, 1950 - March 27, 2009
Mass of Christian Burial was held March 30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake for James Patrick Burke, 58, who passed away peacefully on March 27, 2009 after braving a courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
Fr. James Smith officiated. Interment was at St. Margaret's Catholic Cemetery in Spirit Lake.

Aug. 16, 1950 - March 27, 2009
Mass of Christian Burial was held March 30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake for James Patrick Burke, 58, who passed away peacefully on March 27, 2009 after braving a courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
Fr. James Smith officiated. Interment was at St. Margaret's Catholic Cemetery in Spirit Lake.

Jan. 6, 1931 - March 24, 2009
Funeral services were held March 30 at the Union Memorial Church in Milford for Verlyn "Bernie" Marcks, 78, who passed away March 24 in Sioux Falls following complications of a stroke.
Rev. Karl Whiteman officiated. Interment was at Milford Cemetery in Milford with Military rites by Milford American Legion, Post 384.

Funeral services were held April 4 at St. Cecilia's Cathedral for Joan Miller Harding Ragan Cudahy, 79, of Omaha who passed away March 22, 2009.

Aug. 7, 1916 - March 22, 2009
Funeral services were held March 25 at the Evangelical Methodist Church of Arizona City for Beulah Margaret "Peggy" Smith, 92, of Arizona City, Ariz., who passed away peacefully at the Casa Grande Elderly Care on March 22, 2009 after a short illness.
Rev. James Mumme officiated.

Oct. 2, 1945 - March 30, 2009
Funeral services were held April 2 at the Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake for Roger W. Wieck, 63, who passed away March 30 at the Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Gene Krueger officiated.

Despite recent flurries and freezing temperatures in the Lakes area, spring is here, and it's time to think about severe weather. The season officially changed March 20, and April 6-10 has been designated Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa to encourage people to plan and prepare for the upcoming severe weather season.

The Okoboji High School is pioneering the way with a new alternative program called Avenues of Opportunity.
Launched this school year, the Avenues of Opportunity Learning Center features a credit recovery aspect as well as a vocational program.

The Scoreboard Lounge in Milford runs the risk of losing its liquor license for violations of the Smokefree Air Act.
Attorney General Tom Miller says the Scoreboard Lounge complaint is among 38 liquor license enforcement actions brought by the Attorney General's Office since the law took effect.

From the time the ice goes out for the season on the area's smaller lakes, Dickinson County dock builders are ready to head out on the water to begin their spring season.

The struggle toward a compromise on the Lower Gar issue continued for the Dickinson County Supervisors and the Milford City Council on Monday night. The two entities held a joint meeting Monday evening at the Dickinson County Expo Building.

Funeral services were held April 3 at the First Lutheran Church in Milford for Jay Lighter, Jr., 70, who passed away March 30 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Rev. Tim Nappe officiated. Interment was at Milford Cemetery in Milford.
Jay Lighter, Jr. was born April 12, 1938 in Spencer, the son of Jay H. Lighter, Sr. and Ethel E. Hollesen Lighter. He graduated from Milford High School.

The struggle toward a compromise on the Lower Gar issue continued for the Dickinson County Supervisors and the Milford City Council on Monday night. The two entities held a joint meeting Monday evening at the Dickinson County Expo Building.