February 2003 Odebolt News
last update March 7

elected news briefs edited from

Odebolt ~ Early ~ Wall Lake
Official Sac County Newspaper, Established 1877
Jerry & Becky Wiseman, Publishers,

The Chronicle, Volume 112, Number 09
 February 27, 2003

The Mayor Sez...
     Tip of the week...to all you folks in cyberspace (on the net, that is) instead of writing all those notes to yourself about upcoming local events, school functions, club meetings, church meetings, etc., simply go to odebolt.net, hit the news [and calendar] and there you have it: the info is up-to-date and has current activities, times and dates included.
     NOTICE - our Webmaster has requested churches, organizations, school and etc. to e-mail upcoming events and noteworthy news to .  Think of it as a cybernotice bulletin board for Odebolt.  Thank you!
 - R.J. Rex, Mayor

Meet with Your Legislators March 8 - The Odebolt Library will be the site for a meeting on Saturday, March 8, from 9 to 10 a.m. with Senator Steve Kettering and Mary Lou Freeman.  This meeting will give citizens an opportunity to ask questions or voice concerns, or just be updated on issues currently being debated in the state legislature.  Sac County Farm Bureau legislative committee chairmen Dennis Lindskoog and Jim Meyer will host the meeting.

New Activity Director at ONRC - Sonia Kuehl began her duties as Activity Director at the Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center on January 15, 2003.  She moved from Sioux City to Wall Lake 10 years ago and for the past nine years owned and operated Grandma's Attic, a floral and Craft shop in Wall Lake.  She has been an activity director in the past.  Sonia looks forward to getting to know the residents at ONRC and the people in this community.  She says she is "open to any new ideas and suggestions and can always use volunteer help

Wrestlers to State - O-A sophomore Joel Andersen at 112 pounds won his second district title, and O-A senior Brian Fertig at 215 pounds, won his first district title at Rock Valley during District competition on February 22.  They will represent their school at the state tournament, which began Wednesday, February 26 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines. 

ODC Meeting March 5 - The Odebolt Development Corporation will meet at Caroll's Kitchen, 7 p.m on Wednesday, March 5th. Anyone that is helping with Creek Days or wanting to have a booth during Creek Days, please be present

Goodwill 's Ambassador trailer will receive donations in Odebolt beginning March 7 until March 13.  Donations are to be placed in the trailer located in the parking lot of the Faith Lutheran Church.  Please place donations as far to the front of the trailer as possible.  Furniture and large appliances cannot be accepted.

World Day of Prayer March 7 - WDP Women of Lebanon have jointly prepared this Worship Service to be held on March 7 at 2:00 p.m. at the Odebolt United Methodist Church.  Invite your friends, families and communities of faith to join in song and prayer to support women's ecumenical ministries toward peace and justice.  An offering to support women's projects both internationally and in the US, as well as to support the ongoing work of the WDP International Committee will be taken.

Odebolt School Alumni  - It's time to update alumni information again. If your address has changed in the past year, or you would like to share your e-mail address, please send your information to:  Carol Auen, PO Box 486, Odebolt, Iowa 51458; or send an e-mail to   In addition., if you know of family or friends whose addresses need to be changed, please let Carol know. This database is an on-going project and we appreciate any updates.

The National Honor Roll recognizes high school students who have achieved exceptional academic success.  The 2002-03 Commemorative Edition, released in December 2002, honors students who excelled during the 2001-02 year.  The following students qualified from Odebolt-Arthur:  Kayla Down, Kara Kelly, David Larson, Holly McDonough, Alison Neumann, Lacie Peine, Matt Roeder, Tyler Schnuckel, Katie Schroeder, Keith Schroeder, Bret Sleight, Nicholas Thies and Blake Wilken.

O-A Music Dept. "Butter Braids" sale - February 27 to March 13 - $6.00 each.  Call the OA Music Office at 668-4353.  Delivery April 10.

For Sale - 1980 Ford Dump Truck - The City of Odebolt is accepting sealed bids, to be sold "as is".  To see, contact Bill Tysor at 668-2669.  Bids must be received at City Hall by 7:30 p.m. on March 3, 2003. City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.

Additional News

HOOPS! by RJ - (March 6) Newell-Fonda defeated the O-A Trojans Thursday night in the sub-state semi- finals by 12 points (more or less). O-A's record of straight wins ended at the 25th game. All in all it was a tremendous season for the Trojans and they can hold their heads high.  Seniors Mark Currie, Kevin Bloyer, Nick Thies, Troy Schroeder, and Blake Wilken will be sorely missed. We congratulate head coach Jim Mickelson and assistant coach Kurt Hoffmeister for the time, talent, experience, and putting it all together towards having an almost perfect season. This writer can also say that O-A hoops is alive and well for many years to come, both boys and girls. If i don't miss my guess we will be knocking on the door again next season, so I'll save my "Mayor's State Championship Speech" until then. We salute!!! 
(March 3) - The O-A Trojans blew away Rockwell City/Lytton by a score of 71 to 45 Monday night, March 3.  They will play the #1 team (1A) in the state, Newell/Fonda, Thursday, March 6th to determine who will go on to sub-state playoffs. The game is at 7 p.m. at Wall Lake View -Auburn.  GO TROJANS!

UPDATE:  O-A Wrestler Joel Anderson was defeated by Guy Gerloff of Dike-New Hartford by 3 to 2, ending up as 6th in the State, 112 pound, Class 1A. Congratulations!

last update February 26, 2003

Selected news briefs edited from

Odebolt ~ Early ~ Wall Lake
Official Sac County Newspaper, Established 1877
Jerry & Becky Wiseman, Publishers

The Chronicle, Volume 112, Number 08
 February 20, 2003

The Mayor Sez...
     Sounds as if I struck a nerve in my "Mayor Sez..."column last week.  I received a lot of positive feedback so I will say on the subject again this week.  I have asked YOU to help in assisting us to stamp out drug activity and here is one thing you can do!  Write down license plate numbers if you think there is any suspicious activity, drop them in the box-drop at City Hall and we will take it from there.  We have some drug dealers that think they are going undetected, and guess what?  We are going to have a big surprise for them!
- R.J. Rex, Mayor

The Chronicle to Recognize Soldiers - The Chronicle would like to recognize area soldiers that have been called to active duty.  Information can be mailed to:  The Chronicle, Box 485, Odebolt, IA 51458 or faxed to 668-4364.  Information can also be emailed to .  Include a brief bio of the soldier and any information that can be shared.  If possible, include a photo and an address where readers can correspond with them.

Snow - A six to eight-inch windblown snowfall hit Friday night and Saturday morning Feb. 14 & 15, clogging many streets, making travel treacherous and forcing cancellations of activities.  The snow followed about a half-inch of rain and another half-inch of freezing rain.

Daffodil Days in Odebolt - Daffodils are blooming to bring hope, progress and answers to an estimated 1.3 million people diagnosed each year with cancer. Bring hope to many.  Contact Marge at 668-2769 to purchase your daffodils at $7.00 per bunch.  Orders are due by February 25th.  Cancer is survivable with your help.

Friends of Library February 10 meeting briefs - Assorted table cloths for the meeting room will be looked into and place mats will be bought for use on the small tables.  A 500 Card Party will be held March 31 with reservations being taken by Phyllis Hoefling.  The Friends will offer volunteers who will read books, correspondence and newspapers for those in need.  Notice to be placed in The Chronicle and in church bulletins.  Donarae Cleveland, Librarian, asked that everyone save plastic scoops that come in detergent for a project for this summer's reading program.  She also asked for small jars to use for a 4th of July project and money for the Reading Bingo program.  She has 26 to 30 children attending on Wednesdays and needs small prizes and money for treats.  The Friends voted to give $100.00.  Next meeting will be April 14.

Presbyterian Church Evening Brunch, Saturday, March 1, 5 to 7 p.m., 201 W. 3rd, Odebolt.  All-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and eggs. Adults $4, Children under 12, $2.50.  Proceeds go to Handicap Accessibility.

Deaths:
Donna Sewell, age 63 of Sac City, formerly of Arthur, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2003 at Park View Care Center in Sac City. Born Feb. 5, 1939, the daughter of James A. and Marie L. (Howard) Sewell; graduated from Odebolt-Arthur High School in 1957; attended 2 years at Calvary Bible College, Kansas City, MO.; worked 25 years in Christian ministries. Survived by brothers James, Calvin, sister Betty.  Preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Alice.  Burial at Hayes Township Cemetery, Arthur, Iowa.

Barbara Mason, 79, of Odebolt, died Feb.1 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, following a lengthy illness.  Services were 10:30 a.m., Feb. 8, 2003, at the First Presbyterian Church in Odebolt. Born May 25, 1923 in Odebolt, daughter of Frank and Dorothy (Hale) Mattes; graduated from Odebolt High School in 1941; married Robert Mason in Odebolt March 19, 1944; made their home on several farms near Odebolt.  Survivors include her husband, Bob; two children, John and Mary, two grandchildren, a great-granddaughter; a sister, Sally.  Preceded in death by her parents. Burial will be at Odebolt Cemetery, 

Charles Waterbury, 88, of DeBary, Florida, formerly of Odebolt, died February 5, 2003 at home in DeBary following a lengthy illness.  Services February 22, 11 a.m. at United Methodist in Odebolt. Burial at Storm Lake Cemetery. Born April 15, 1914 in Storm Lake, son of Frank G. and Lucy L. (Robinson) Waterbury; attended Grant Twp. School #9 and graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1931. Attended Buena Vista College and Drake University; Master's Degree at Drake in 1953.  Married Mary R. Gambach on June 5, 1938 at Storm Lake.  Served forty years as an educator in Northwest Iowa, and in school administration in Holstein, Arthur, Nemaha, Schaller and Odebolt.  Survivors include his wife, son Richard, three daughters, Carol, Janet, and MaryBeth, 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren.  

Additional News

Wrestling:  (from Sioux City Journal, Feb.26)
The latest in an outstanding list of Odebolt-Arthur Trojan 215-pounders and heavyweights, Brian Fertig won sectional and district titles to improve his season record to 39-2. He has qualified for the state tournament for the first time.

Also qualifying for State is Joel Anderson, a Trojan 112-pounder. 

Odebolt City Council Meeting Minutes, from the Ida County Courier
Sac County web site for county information and current County Board of Supervisors minutes.

HOOPS! by RJ

(Feb.26) Past state champions Palmer-Pomeroy went down to defeat in a triple-overtime thriller to the 23 game undefeated Trojans of Odebolt-Arthur by a score of 90 to 85. Mark Currie led scoring with 35 points. The team played  to a packed house at Schaller and will now meet Rockwell City on Mon., March 3rd at Schaller-Crestland.  GO TROJANS!

(Feb. 24) The Trojans defeated Schaller-Crestland 78 to 59 Monday night, in the first round of District Tournaments.  They advance to play Palmer-Pomeroy Wed.night, Feb 26 at 7 p.m. at Schaller-Crestland.  They will be playing without varsity member, Troy Schroeder, who broke his ankle - he will be sorely missed in future action.

(Fri., Feb 21) - Last evening, O-A defeated IKM (Irwin, Kirkman, and Manilla) to complete an undefeated season of basketball.  They won 21 straight games completing the "impossible dream" for all concerned.  Monday night they take their show on the road to compete for a berth in the state tournament!  

(Thurs., Feb 20) - The number 5 state-ranked Trojans defeated a fired up Mapleton team by the narrow margin of only a few points to give the undefeated Trojans the outright Maple Valley conference title.  3 point shots kept the Ramblers in the game but the superior Trojan firepower, defense, and bench made the difference. Coach Jim Michelson's boys are on track to go all the way to state and the coveted state championship.  Assistant Coach Kurt Hoffmeister's JV team had no trouble in showing the Mapleton JV'ers who was the better team. They won handily in the preliminary game.

New Pastor for Faith Lutheran - (From Bob Hardin, Feb. 16) - Faith Lutheran Church has recently received word that Pastor Patricia Underberg has accepted the call to serve Faith & Bethel congregations.  She will arrive the end of April and will start her duties May 11th.  Underberg is currently the pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Newcastle, Wyoming, having served there the past six and one half years. She also served a year as an interim pastor in South Dakota and a year as a pastor of a two point parish in Wisconsin.  She is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkley, CA and received her BA from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls where she majored in physical education. She taught for seven years before entering the seminary.  Originally from Eagle Grove, Iowa, she comes from a family of seven sisters and two brothers. Her parents still live in Eagle Grove.

Selected news briefs edited from

Odebolt ~ Early ~ Wall Lake
Official Sac County Newspaper, Established 1877
Jerry & Becky Wiseman, Publishers

The Chronicle, Volume 112, Number 07
 February 13, 2003

The Mayor Sez...
     In accordance with the Iowa Code, the Odebolt City Council met in special session last week to set the budget for the coming year.  I am pleased to tell you that all departments (street, water, recreation, etc.) are holding the line on additional spending.
    Employees will received a 3% raise and certain adjustments were made for certain employees.
     All in all, I am pleased with the council's decision not to raise spending which, in turn, will hold our taxes pretty much the same, at least the city's portion of the taxes.
     I would be remiss if I didn't remind our taxpayers that our cost of doing business has gone up, but for the time being we can hold our own.  I want to commend our council members and department heads for their cooperation and being ever mindful that a "penny saved is a penny earned."  - R.J. Rex, Mayor

Friends to help read - The Friends of the Library are offering volunteers who will go to homes of those that need help with reading due to eye problems.  They will read the daily newspapers, correspondence, books, or anything people need read.  The library has a wide selection of books on tape as well.  To obtain help, call 668-4182, 668-4311 or 668-4327. Please take advantage of these services.

Fellowship Banquet, Sunday, February 23 - United Methodist Church will host the Annual Fellowship Banquet featuring a meal of roast pork, roast beef, potato, vegetable, roll, salads, beverage and dessert, to start at 6 p.m. in the church basement.  Entertainment from our local youth in the Fine Arts department at school will follow as well as the guest speaker, Jim Hanke of Sioux City.  Henke will present "A View from the Outside", addressing the ecumenical challenges and opportunities facing rural Iowa.  Rev. Jim currently serves as the Sioux City District Superintendent and is a dynamic speaker.  Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.  Tickets are available at the area church offices.  Reservations are necessary and must be received by Wednesday, February 19th.

Youth Fellowship to hold 30 Hour Famine - On February 21 and 22, the Odebolt Youth Fellowship will participate in a 30-Hour Famine, so that real hunger can be experienced firsthand.  The group will be raising money to help hungry children and their families in World Vision programs in Malawi, Burundi, North Korea, Zambia, Peru, Ethiopia, and the United States. Donations received will help deliver immediate basic care and provide long-term support through improved health care and education, as well as ensure development of healthy, stable food and water sources.  To donate to this cause contact 675-4401 or 668-2607.

Box Tops for Education - Odebolt-Arthur Community School will soon receive a check for  $506.52 for box tops sent in during the first half of the school year.  Almost $80.00 of that amount was through the Box Tops for Education Visa Card.  To apply, call 1-800-227-9605.  Remember, too, you can shop online at Box Tops for Education Marketplace with stores like Barnes & Noble.com, EddieBauer.com and PETsMART.com.  Up to 10% of your qualifying purchases will be donated to the school of your choice.  Go to boxtops4education.com to participate.

Additional News

History - For those of you interested in Odebolt history, excerpts from Dorothy Groman Ellis' book "My Family in Iowa, 1878-1949", telling about her girlhood days growing up in Odebolt, are on-line at the Odebolt History Pages.

HOOPS! by RJ 
(Tues., Feb. 18) - The powerful 5th ranked Trojans extended their undefeated season, winning by a wide margin over a very impressive Schaller/Crestland team. Prior to the varsity demonstration of firepower, a very talented group of JV Trojans easily won over the Schaller/Crestland JV. I might add that many coaches around the state would be happy to have our JV team for their varsity team.

(Monday Feb 17) - 13th ranked Sac City defeated the Trojanettes in the first round of district play at Sac City.  This writer could talk about turnovers, missed free throws, poor officiating, but the fact of the matter is they earned their victory and we wish the county seat girls well!
(Friday, Feb. 14) -  The 6th ranked Trojans and Trojanettes were" locked and loaded" for an always formidable foe, Mapleton, but alas, an ice storm has caused the games to be canceled. At this writing I do not know if the game will be played at a future date or not.

HOOPS! by R.J. 
(Feb. 11) - last night the Trojans and Trojanettes traveled to Remsen and again returned home victorious. The Nettes won handily by 50 or so points. The No. 6 ranked Trojans had to quell a fired up Remsen team and emerged with a 20 some point advantage.

(Feb 7) - The Trojans and Trojanettes went on scoring sprees Friday, Feb. 7 against Maple Valley foe Whiting.  They both won by nearly 50 points and the Nettes held their opponents to only 11 points for the entire game.  That is awesome!!!

Selected news briefs edited from

Odebolt ~ Early ~ Wall Lake
Official Sac County Newspaper, Established 1877
Jerry & Becky Wiseman, Publishers

The Chronicle, Volume 112, Number 06
February 6, 2003

The Mayor Sez...
     Rumors abound about increased drug activity around the area.  My answer is as follows: the best deterrent to stop drug activity is you, the public.  When you see suspicious activity in a particular area, call the police dept. or me.  Give us "probable cause" and we will take action.
   In the meantime, keep your eyes open and write down suspicious license plate numbers. You will remain anonymous!  I am going to send this message:  "If you are going to mess with drugs, stay out of Odebolt!"  Note:  I am requesting the sheriff's department to make random checks with the drug-sniffing dog around town. If you had, or do have, drugs in your vehicle you are probably in "deep doo-doo."
 - R.J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt
Note:  Only 19 weekends left 'til Creek Days (June 14 & 15).

Odebolt Public Library Meeting Briefs, December 9, 2002.  The Library has received Enrich Iowa Funds which enables the library to continue to offer the Wednesday morning library hours, and raises. The balance will be used to help cover the library's half of the cost of the west side paving and sidewalk.  A check is to be received from the Gates Family Foundation to be used for a new Gateway computer and printer of their specifications.  The library will host a Christmas party for the children in December. The City will be asked about placing parking blocks to prevent people from driving too far up the parking on the alley side.  They will also be asked if they can furnish a sign stating that there is parking available on the alley.  Yellow marks are needed to designate parking spaces and also the handicapped parking space.

Bedrock Gravel, Inc., owned by Chad Mohr and Dean Quirk, has relocated its main office to 222 South Main, Odebolt (located with Mane Street Studio).  Call 668-2432 for all your rock and gravel needs.

Sectional and District Wrestling Sites Assigned:  Class 1A Odebolt-Arthur will participate in sectional action on February 15 at the West Monona, Onawa site.  First and second place winners from this sectional will advance to the district at Rock Valley on February 22.

Clover Kids program will be starting in the Odebolt-Arthur school district on February 18, to be held after school on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.  This program is for Kindergarten through Second graders.  For more information, contact the Sac County Extension Office at (712) 662-7131.  Pre-registration is required by February 10.

Rotary News - On January 28th the Odebolt Rotary Club welcomed Jim Hershey of the American Soybean Association, who was invited by Curt Raasch to speak to the group about the possibility of participating in World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH).  The objective of this program is to increase the consumption of soy protein by humans in developing countries and thereby create new opportunities and provide higher economic returns to US soybean producers.
     The Odebolt Rotary will be deciding if they can raise enough funds for one container of the soy product to be delivered to a third world country, or if they need to request the assistance of nearby Rotary groups.  One 25,000 to 30,000 pound container of the textured soy protein and soy flour fits into a 20 foot container and produces nearly 2000,000 servings, enough to provide nourishment to 600 people a year.  The cost of this crate of soy product including freight is approximately $5,000.

Additional News

HOOPS! by RJ 
(February 4) The Trojans and Trojanettes traveled to Moville (Woodbury Central) last night to play a usually tough pair of Wildcat teams.  Last night was no exception for the Nettes, as the lady Wildcats caused the Nettes to turn the ball over a record 35 times.  In defense of the Nettes poor play, I will say that the Maple Valley Conference champs (Moville) are probably the quickest group of girls that this writer has ever seen.   Moville won easily by 14 points give or take a few.  The boys game is an entirely different story.  From the tip-off the 6th ranked Trojans had a cakewalk with the Moville boys team.  For Moville it had to be one of the most humiliating defeats in the history of the school.  (The Trojans led by 30 or so at the half- need I say more?)

(February 1) The new Maple Valley Conference Champion is Odebolt-Arthur, defeating Holstein on Saturday. The Trojans toyed with Holstein for 3 quarters and then decided they had better pick up the deficit.  In the last quarter, they outgunned Holstein in every category.  It will be a game that the players will long remember (on both sides).  For those fans that are interested, our 13 year-old boys (7th grade age) came home yesterday from a Newell/Fonda hoops tournament with the championship trophy. Our girls won 3rd.  (Interestingly, they had to beat a very good Holstein team to advance to the finals.)

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