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Odebolt ~ Early ~ Wall Lake
Official Sac County Newspaper, Established 1877
Jerry & Becky Wiseman, Publishers
The Chronicle, Volume 113, Number 5
January 29, 2004
The Mayor Sez...
When this is read, January of ’04 will nearly be over—the month of
head colds, flu, diets, and budgets will be behind us. Speaking of
budgets, we (city council) will be setting the city’s budget for ’04-’05.
I understand that the county has cut the library’s budget by up to
20%. We certainly hope we don’t have to take drastic measures such
as the above. I see where our neighboring cities have proposed cuts
of only 3-4%. Donations, gifts, and memorials (like the Odebolt
Swimming Pool) would be greatly appreciated. The Memorial Walk Park
is funded 100% by memorials and gifting.
As for diets, hang in there! By Spring you will
be trying on some of the clothes that wouldn’t fit last year.
From the Bolt!
R. J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt
The Sac County Crime Stoppers is offering a $15,000
Reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the
subjects involved in the destruction of three John Deere combines during
the nighttime of Oct. 7, 2001. Although this is a "cold
case" information is still needed.
Vandals destroyed 3 combines parked in a field
south of Wall Lake by ramming the machines into each other. Over
$132,000 in damage was inflicted. If you have information about this
felony crime, contact Sac County Crime Stoppers at 712-662-4430, or Sac
Co. Sheriff's Office at 712, 662-7127.
Schaller Man Arrested - Joseph Doyle Garriott, age
57 was arrested last week on seven counts involving kidnapping, sexual
abuse and lascivious acts with a child. Bon is set at
$1,000,000. Garriott will appear for arraignment on Feb. 2, at 9
a.m. in the Sac Co. Courthouse. The charges stem from incidents that
occurred between October and late December, 2003.
Sac County Democrats joined Democrats across the
Iowa last Monday night as they made their choice of candidates to back
later this year at the county and state convention. Delegates from
Sac County will meet on March 13 at their county conventions. County-wide,
Kerry had 37 supporters; Dean got 25; Edwards had 29 supporters; Gephart,
6; and Kucinich, 1.
Become a Mentor for Odebolt Youth - Sharing
Opportunities and Success mentoring program in our communities
currently has 23 active matches that are "reaching for the stars
together". To those of you who are contributing your time,
energy and talents to mentor a child, your time spent with your special
friend is priceless.
Volunteer to be a mentor! It doesn't
require any special skills - just an ability to listen and to offer
friendship, guidance, and encouragement to a young person. You'll be
amazed by benefits this has to offer.
Contact Terri Carstensen, coordinator for Sharing
Opportunities and Success for information on how to become a mentor.
Obituary: Donald W. Schwaller, age 78, of
Odebolt, Iowa, passed away Saturday, January 24, 2004, at Horn Memorial
Hospital, Ida Grove, Iowa.
Don was born on January 8, 1926, at Odebolt, IA,
the son of William and Genevieve (Thies) Schwaller. He graduated from
Odebolt High School in 1943. He started farming at the age of 17, after
the death of his father. On January 19, 1952, Don was united in marriage
to Verna Mae Tiefenthaler at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Odebolt.
They were blessed with seven children: Linda, Bill, Carol, Tom, Doug, Jim,
and Ann. The family moved into Odebolt in 1967. He then worked for the
Odebolt Cooperative Elevator for the next 20 years, retiring in 1987.
Don was a member of the Knights of Columbus and
served two terms on the Odebolt City Council. He loved spending time with
his family and grandkids. Don enjoyed camping with the Stormy Water
Rollers Camping Club, watching car racing and football, and taking care of
his cat, “Buff”. Don also spent many hours “surfing the Net” on
his computer.
Survivors include his wife Verna Mae; his four
sons: Bill and his wife Sue of Cherokee, IA, Tom and his wife Kim of
Overland Park, KS, Doug of Odebolt, and Jim and his wife Kim of South
Elgin, IL; his three daughters: Linda Sund and her husband Dave of
Thompson Falls, MT, Carol Auen and her husband Bob of Odebolt, and Ann
Knierim and her husband Steve of Cedar Rapids, IA; and 11 grandchildren:
Abby and Maggie Sund, Ashley Schwaller, Broc and his wife Amy, Melanie and
Megan Auen, Christi and Scott Schwaller, Kevin Schwaller, and Tyler and
Caitlin Knierim. Don is also survived by his two sisters: Joyce Wee
and her husband Bob of Pollock Pines, CA, and Bonnie Jones and her husband
Mike of Oconomowoc, WI, and his extended family; and many friends.
Don was preceded in death by his parents William
and Genevieve Schwaller.
Funeral service for Don was held Tuesday, January
27th, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Odebolt with
Father John McGuirk officiating, Kay Bloyer organist, and Malinda Bengford
cantor. Pallbearers included: Broc Auen, Gary Schroeder, Scott Schwaller,
Ryan Tiefenthaler, Mark Schroeder, and Steve Tiefenthaler. Honorary
Pallbearers were the following: Abby Sund, Ashley Schwaller, Melanie Auen,
Maggie Sund, Megan Auen and Christi Schwaller. Intermet was at the St.
Martin’s Cemetery in Odebolt under the direction of Farber & Otteman
Funeral Home, Odebolt, IA.
The Chronicle, Volume 113, Number 4
January 22, 2004
The Mayor Sez...
The City of Odebolt had the good fortune to host our Northwest Iowa League
of Cities meeting last week. Among the guests were members of Congressman
King's staff and also a member of Senator Grassley's staff. Tom
Bredewig, our Iowa League of Cities Exec. Director, made comments about
what we may expect from our legislative session now in progress.
(Sounds bleak to me!) We thank Howard Hustedt for a very
enlightening program about our new community center and a tour there
of. Needless to say everyone enjoyed the evening. Thanks to
United Bank of Iowa, First Federal, Lundell Plastics, and Swanson
Insurance for the favors. Kudos to Herby's s Bar and Grill for the
fine meal.
From the Bolt!
R. J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt
Special Guests Share Stories - On January 13,2004
the Odebolt Tuesday Club met at the home of Thelma Schroeder.
Special guests for the day were Rachel Hansen and Alayna Wilken, junior
students at Odebolt-Arthur who traveled with 21 other people from the
Odebolt area on a trip to Fuji, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii last
summer. Everyone enjoyed their tales of adventure, sight-seeing
trips they enjoyed, and their reactions to the different countries, people
and food. Rachel is the daughter of Mr.. & Mrs. Mark Hansen, and
Alayna is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Dave Wilken.
O-A Dance Team Places 2nd in State - On Saturday,
December 6, 2003 the Odebolt-Arthur Dance Express Team competed in the
state dance competition in Des Moines. The team placed 2nd in the
pom division for small schools. The girls also received
"1" ratings in pom, jazz, and new hip hop, and an academic award
for a team GPA of 3.6. The next performance of the team will be the
regional dance competition in Sioux City on January 24th, and the Annual
Spring Show on Saturday, April 3rd At Odebolt. Rendee Wallace is the
dance director.
Wanted:
-
Odebolt Pool Manager for the 2004 Swimming Season -
Must be an adult and have pool management experience.
Contact Mary Jeanne Thompson at 712-668-4182 or Box 628, Odebolt, IA
51458.
-
Swimming pool Guards and Basket Persons - pick
up applications at the City Clerk's office in Odebolt. Return
applications by Feb. 2, 2004.
Donations to the Library Memorial Fund - Memorials
in honor of LeRoy Lundblad, Russell Wilken, Marge Porter, Lydia Evans,
Betty Thayer, Clara Thies, and Gladys Lindberg were received for the
months of November and December 2003. Donors were Madeline McTasney,
Helen Bettin, Camille Crenshaw, Janie Snyder, Keith & Jill Siebrecht,
Donna Ekstrom, Corinne Down, Alice Hemphill, Ralph & Bonita Boerner
and Frank & Diane Neville.
OTHER NEWS
NEWS FROM THE PAST - 1881
ODEBOLT OBSERVER, Vol. 2. No. 8. August 31, 1881--The ceremony of laying
the corner stone of the Wright block took place this A. M. and was very
impressive. John [Wright] dropped a C greenback into the cavity, George a
law book and we contributed a copy of the OBSERVER, and various other
contributions were made that will astonish and delight the future
antiquary.
See some history about the Wright
Block at The Odebolt History Pages.
O-A SPORTS
January 20 Basketball News
- Odebolt-Arthur 53, Lawton-Bronson 47 - The Trojanettes forced
Lawton-Bronson into 13 first-quarter turnovers in a Maple Valley
Conference game. Rachel Hanson scored a game-high 21 points for
Odebolt-Arthur.
- Odebolt-Arthur 72, Lawton-Bronson 52 - Tony
Wipperling scored 16 points and Kyle Siebrecht added 10 points, pulling
down 12 rebounds to pace Odebolt-Arthur.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Odebolt-Arthur Middle School Winter
Concert & Art Show will begin at 7:30 sharp in Arthur on Monday,
Jan. 26th. The 6th grade choir will be performing 2 songs: Zum Gali
Gali and Simple Song of Peace.
The 7th/8th grade choir will be singing I'll
Be There For You (theme song from Friends), Witch Doctor, and
an especially challenging piece called Jubilate Deo. -
Linda Johnson, Vocal Director
Odebolt-Arthur
School Board approved sharing administration and entering whole grade sharing
negotiations with Battle Creek-Ida Grove Monday [Jan. 19th]. Twenty-seven
community members and O-A staff were present for the meeting.
The Chronicle, Volume 113, Number 3
January 15, 2004
The Mayor Sez...
I can’t believe it! There were four candidates
running in a special election to fill the early retirement of former
Sheriff Roger Owens. Ken McClure emerged the winner. The
ironic thing about the above is that the election process will be repeated
in the June primary and then again this fall in the 2004 general
election. That will make an unprecedented three elections in one
year to pick a sheriff for our county. Makes us wonder who else will
be running in the upcoming June primary!!!
As for the gambling issue that was also on the
ballot with sheriff’s special election, the voters have spoken; the vote
was about 60/40 in favor of “No”. Feelings must have been running high
to prompt certain individuals to steal yard signs. I will end this essay
the way I began it. I can’t believe it!
From the Bolt!
R. J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt
Gambling Proposal fails in Sac County - A proposal
to legalize excursion-boat gambling in Sac County failed Tuesday January
6, 2004 by a wide margin with voters in the northern half of the county
casting their ballots overwhelmingly against the plan.
The gambling referendum went down 58 percent to
42 percent, or 2007 votes to 1,475, according to unofficial results from
the Sac County Auditor's Office. The turnout for the election was 41
percent.
The proposal was to develop a riverboat-style
complex on the Hallet Materials gravel pits outside of Wall Lake. It
was cited that it would create 320 jobs and millions of dollars in
economic development.
The Auditor's Office says that according to state
code a gambling referendum could be placed on the ballot again in two
years.
The precinct at Odebolt cast 181 votes
"for" and 318 votes "against" the gambling proposal.
ODEBOLT CHAMBER MINUTES FROM JAN. 8, 2003
The January meeting of the Odebolt Chamber of
Commerce was held at Carroll's Kitchen. In attendance were Melissa Pierce,
Roxie Hemer, Tammie Dausel, Kay Bloyer, and Traci Bengford.
December meeting minutes were reviewed.
Financial report was given & approved.
Roxie Hemer & Traci Bengford were elected
as Directors for the 2004 year. We would like to welcome Traci as a
new Director & thank Roxie for continuing to be a Director. Also, a
big thanks to Neil Sibenaller for all his years of service!
Election of officers was held & is as
follows: President-Melissa Pierce, Vice-President-Kay Bloyer, and
Sec./Treas.-Tammie Dausel. The rest of the Directors are Vicki Beckman,
Shelly Else, Roxie Hemer, & Traci Bengford. If you have any questions
or comments don't be afraid to give them a call.
Winners of the Holiday Lighting Contest
were-Steve & Deb Loger, Jeff & Cindy McDonough, Brad & Jennie
Bengford & Honorable Mention-Mark & Jill Horsley.
Alison Neumann received her Scholarship money
after submitting her grades for approval.
Jan 21, 2004 we will be hosting our Chamber
Membership Drive/Soup Supper. This will be open to all current &
prospective members & their employees. It will be held at the
Community Center as a come & go from 6:00-8:00 p.m. We
will be serving soup & sandwiches. A cash bar will be available as
well. This will be free of charge to current members, prospective members
and their employees. If you haven't paid your dues, this would be a great
opportunity to do so. If you have paid your dues then just come to
socialize. Dues for this year are $25.00. Please fill out the enclosed
dues form and bring it with you the 21st or if you can't make it send it
to PO Box 574 Odebolt IA 51458.
The Chamber will be hosting a washer tournament
during Creek Days. Watch for details!!
The Chamber will be hosting a Fish Fry,
Friday, March 5, 2004 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Pre-Sale tickets will be on
sale from any Director soon!! Presale tickets are- Adults-$6.00,
Kids-$4.00. At the door tickets are $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for kids.
Remember, we meet the 2nd Thursday of the month!!
Come join us!
VISIT OUR WEB SITE! Odebolt
Chamber of Commerce
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OBITUARIES
Dawn I. Etler, 75, of Odebolt collapsed at First
Presbyterian Church in Odebolt on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at later died at
Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove, Iowa.
Services were held 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 12,
2004 at First Presbyterian Church in Odebolt, Iowa, under the direction of
Christensen-Huffman Funeral Homes. The Rev. Charles Bulger
officiated the service with burial following in Odebolt Cemetery.
Born Sept. 9, 1928, in Ida County, Iowa, Dawn
Isabel (Compton) Etler was the daughter of Ross and Margaret (McGeachy)
Compton. She was baptized and confirmed at Ida Grove Presbyterian Church.
She attended several rural schools and graduated from Ida Grove High
School in 1946. She taught country school for one year.
In June 1947, she married Clarence Etler of
Cushing, Iowa. The couple farmed south of Cushing for several years. In
the spring of 1960, they made their home on a farm north of Odebolt. They
retired in 1988 and moved into Odebolt in 2000.
She was an active member of First Presbyterian
Church. She was an honorary member of Presbyterian Women and a member of
the Mary Elizabeth Guild. She taught Sunday school for several years and
served on the board of trustees and as a deaconess. She also was a 50-year
member of the Arthur Order of the Eastern Star.
Her children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren were very special to her. She appreciated time spent
with friends and family and especially enjoyed the supper/card club in
which the couple participated each month. She made friends easily and was
always willing to help in any way she could. She also enjoyed gardening,
flowers, cooking, helping with the crops and the great outdoors. The last
third of her life, she faced increasing health challenges with courage and
a strong will. She continued to help others and did not consider herself
handicapped.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years,
Clarence; two children, Donald (Alice) Etler of Algona, Iowa, and Debra
(Randall) Anderson of Urbandale, Iowa; five grandsons; two
great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert Compton of Quimby, Iowa; two
sisters-in-law, Miriam Underwood of Sioux City, and Lois (John) Orvick of
Eagle Grove, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of
friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a
brother and his wife, Bruce and Marjorie Compton; and a sister-in-law,
Frances Compton.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to
First Presbyterian Church Building Fund.
Dawn Boom, age 84, of Odebolt, died January 1, 2004
at Ramsey House in Des Moines.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 5,
2004 at the United Methodist Church in Odebolt, with Reverend Al Milligan
officiating. Interment was in the Odebolt Cemetery. The Farber &
Otteman Funeral Home in Odebolt was in charge of the
arrangements.
Dawn Eleanor Hill was born on June 7, 1919 in
Marshall, Minnesota to Floyd and Sylvia (Waggoner) Hill. At six months of
age, Dawn moved to the Odebolt, Iowa area with her family. She attended
elementary and high school in Odebolt. Dawn liked to cook and was an
especially good baker. She was very proud of being awarded the title of
“Cake Queen” in her community for three consecutive years and kept the
engraved trophy she received as a treasured memento her entire life.
On March 15, 1941, Dawn was united in marriage to
Robert Anton Boom. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Linda and
Dale. Robert and Dawn were together for nearly 50 happily married years.
Robert and Dawn lived and farmed in the Odebolt
community for their entire married lives, and attended the United
Methodist Church in Odebolt. Dawn was a homemaker and spent her days
making a warm and comfortable home for her family, but she also enjoyed
farm life and helped outside whenever needed. She liked the neighborhood
community in which she resided and enjoyed visiting with her neighbors.
It was always apparent that Dawn’s first
priority was her family. She was a loving wife and devoted mother and
grandmother, who cherished any time she could spend with her family. Her
children and grandchildren will treasure her memory and miss her daily.
Survivors include her daughter, Linda and husband
Ed Marten of Colorado Springs, CO; her son, Dale and his wife Lu Boom of
Urbandale, IA, two grandchildren; and many extended family members and
friends.
Preceding Dawn in death were her parents, her
husband Robert on June 21, 1990, and her sister, Bonnie Jean Ekstrom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The below article was
submitted by Gloria Huisenga. Capt. Wade Wiegel is the son of Gloria and
Roger Huisenga of Odebolt, & Lonn Wiegel of Solon, Iowa.
Grandparents are Pat & Herb Wiegel of Lake View and the late Winston
and Blanch Mortensen. Wade and his wife, Amy, live in Beaufort,
South Carolina, where he is stationed, and Amy teaches 4th and 5th
Grade.
First to Flight
Capt. Alexis L. McCabe
The Checkerboards of VMFA-312,
flying from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
in the North Arabian Gulf, attacked enemy targets near Kirkuk, Irag, 18
Nov. in support of Operation Iron Hammer.
This was one of the many "firsts" for
VMFA-312 during this deployment. The Checks led the charge in the
war on terrorism for Carrier Air Wing 1 by being the first squadron to fly
combat missions into Iraq in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, the
first to fly combat missions into Afghanistan in support of Operation
Mountain Resolve and now the first to employ ordnance in theater.
The two F/A-18A+ Hornets launched on what was
thought to be a "routine" show of force mission over the skies
of Iraq, but unbeknownst to the pilots, the United States was in the midst
of beginning Operation Iron Hammer. Just after refueling in flight
from a KC-135 tanker, the aircraft were contacted by forces on the ground
and asked to employ ordnance on the selected building identified as a
command post for enemy troops.
The mission was led by Capt. Wade E. Wiegel, 32,
of Sac City, Iowa. Capt. James W. Smith, 31, of Ridgewood, NJ, the
other aviator involved said, "The systems worked as advertised.
It went very well, very methodically - from 'talk on,' to delivery, to the
egress." He went on to say, "personally it's a reminder of
how proud I am to be a Checkerboard with CVW-1. It's exciting to be
part of the first squadron aboard Enterprise to engage the enemy."
Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. John R. Snider
stated, "As a CO, I'm very proud of the squadron as a whole.
This strike was a result of the hard work the Marines and Sailors
contribute each and every day to this squadron's readiness and efforts to
support the war on terrorism." He went further to say, "We
have shown that we stand poised and ready to execute at a moment's
notice."
VMFA-312 has been attached to CVW-1 since March
2003, and has been in the midst of work-ups for their current deployment
since that time. To complete their workup cycle the carrier, along
with CVW-1 conducted Composite Training Underway Exercise off the eastern
coast of the United States during the month of September. This was
the first successful completion of the exercise since the closing of the
Vieques range training complex in Puerto Rico. From its position,
the USS Enterprise and its battle group transited the Atlantic Ocean and
began operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility mid-October.
After arriving in the area, the Checks led the
charge by initially supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom flying missions
over Iraq.
After a short, but much welcome port call, the
battle group was then requested to support Operation Mountain Resolve in
Northeastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. After a day's
transit, the Checkerboards began flying combat missions into
Afghanistan. VMFA-312's F/A-18A+Hornets routinely flew extended
missions averaging 6-7 hours in length as a show of force for the Soldiers
and Special Operations Forces on the ground combating Taliban and
anti-coalition militias.
At the completion of Operation Mountain Resolve,
activities in Iraq began to ramp up. The Enterprise Strike Group
transited back north through the Straits of Hormus to again support ground
forces in Iraq.
"Once again, the Marines led the way into
combat," said Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Commander Rear Adm.
James G. Stavridis. "The Navy-Marine Corps teams have never
been stronger and our partnership in Enterprise speaks to that. I
couldn't be prouder of these brave Marines and the leadership they've
shown."
Memorials from the following were received for the
Odebolt American Legion Veterans Memorial:
In memory of Anna Streed from Jim Scott, Marilyn Stork, and Marlene
Noll;
In memory of Charles Neville from Marlys J. Waters;
In memory of Paul Bye from Marilyn Stork and Karen Wareham;
In memory of a family friend from Ruth Kelly;
In memory of Robert Miller from Marilyn Stork;
In memory of Russell Wilken from Marie Steinkamp
In memory of Ivon Buehler from Early Buehler.
Pitts Chiropractic welcomes Dr. Bob Kuchel, D. C., to
their clinic - As of Monday, January 5, 2004. Dr. Kuchel,
42, from Sioux Falls, SD has taken over for Dr. Shane Bradley at Pitts
Chiropractic.
Before coming to the area, Kuchel worked in Sioux
Falls for Break-through Centers of the Midwest which was
multi-disciplinary in the areas of medical, chiropractic and physical
therapy. Prior to that, he owned a chiropractic clinic for eight
years in Hartley, Iowa where his three children still reside. Kuchel
has two sons and one daughter.
Dr. Kuchel graduated from Palmer College of
Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. He is enthusiastic about being here
and his out-going personality is sure to complement the business.
The Sac County Conservation Board set fees for 2004
at their regular board meetings Dec. 11th and January 8th. Camping
fees are $15.00 per night for modern camping and $10 per night for
primitive camping. The rates for the camping cabin at Hagge Park are
$35 per night on weekends and holidays, $30 on weekdays and $200 per
week. In addition there is a $50 deposit required per reservation.
Shelter house fees are $40 per reservation with a
$40 deposit. Organized youth groups may use the shelter house free
of charge but a $40 deposit and a reservation are still required. In
addition the shelter house can be used free of charge on a "first
come, first serve" basis unless there is a reservation for that
specific time and date.
The Sauk Rail Trail permit is $10 for an annual
pass and $1 per day for those 18 years and older. Passes can be
obtained along the Sauk Rail Trail or at the Sac & Carroll County
Conservation Board offices.
For more information contact the Sac County Conservation
Board office at 662-4530. Camping and shelter houses are available
at Grant, Hagge and Reiff parks starting May 1st.
Other News
About Roger Barkley - I was in the Odebolt library
the other day and checked out the book "The Story Man's First
Writes", by Roger Barkley, who was born in 1936 in Odebolt and grew
up here. He went on to become a popular radio personality in the Los
Angeles area where he formed a 25-year partnership with Al Lohman, as
"Lohman and Barkley" on KFI Radio. They had a popular
morning radio show and hosted a two time Emmy Award winning Television
variety show among other endeavors. In 1985 they were honored by
stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in LA. Roger passed away in 1997
and the book was published in 1998 in his memory. I have discovered
that this book can be ordered on-line. See "The
Story Man's First Writes" for more information and a
biography on Roger. The book contains many references to
Odebolt and I found it interesting and humorous. Wish I had known
him!
- Barb (Girvan) Horak
New at the Odebolt History Pages! Appreciation
goes out to Ben Cooley from Oregon, who sent information and photos of his
grandfather, Professor J. H. Orcutt, principal of Odebolt School from 1884
to 1894. Included on the new page is a card with a list of high
school pupils in 1885. Click for the new page!
The Chronicle, Volume 113, Number 2
January 8, 2004
The Mayor Sez...
We were sorrowed to hear of the death of Bart
Ogden. He has left an indelible mark on all of us that were fortunate
enough to know him and, more especially, those of us that had him as our
school superintendent. For many of us he had a profound effect in getting
us ready for life after high school. Condolences go to his family from the
Odebolt community. He will be missed!
Aaah yes, it is the new year of 2004. As I
mentioned many of us have made the New Year’s resolution to shed a few
pounds. If any of you have made the same resolution as I and have a few
tips, let me know. Misery loves company!
Our first council meeting was held this past
Monday and numerous priorities were established. Ways to make budget cuts
were discussed and all dept. heads were asked to submit ways to save
hard-to-find tax dollars. For the record, every effort will be made NOT to
cut our first responders’ budgets (Fire dept., Police dept., and
Ambulance group). No cuts are contemplated for our swimming pool and we
are thankful for all of the generous contributions that have been and are
given to that entity. The special budget meeting will be held next month.
If anyone would care to offer any ides, please do so.
From the Bolt!
R. J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt
January 5, 2004 City
Council Minutes are now on-line
Caucus information - A voter can register to vote
at their caucus location on the night of the caucus. A voter can
change their party affiliation or address on the night of the
caucus. No identification is needed to participate in the
caucus. Anyone can attend but only those 18 years old (or will be 18
by November 2004) and registered with a major party (Democrat or
Republican) can participate in the caucus. For caucus locations
contact the Sac County Auditor, 712-662-7310; 712-662-7879, sacoaud@pionet.net
Unofficial Special Election and Gambling Issue Results
-
For Sheriff
Ken McClure (R)- 1142
Bruce Henderson (D) 839
Ted Helmich 520
Keith Flink (write in) 883
-
Public Measure A - Shall the following Public
Measure be adopted? "Gambling games on an excursion boat in
Sac County are approved."
YES 1475
NO 2007
The United Funds of Odebolt and Wheeler Board of
Directors held their meeting on December 11, 2003. Present were Joan
Godbersen, Malinda Bengford, Marge Loger, Shirley Sykes, Mary Gustafson,
Lois Story, Nancy Hugeback, Florence Bye and Deb Reinhart. The
purpose of the meeting was to disburse the donations from the 2003 drive.
A total of $3866.00 was collected in the United
Fund Drive for Odebolt and Wheeler Township. Funds were disbursed as
follows:
Swimming Pool - $975; Pee Wees - $200;
Major/Minors - $200; High School Ball Program - $200; Lakota Girl Scout
Council - $60; Prairie Gold Boy Scouts - $60; American Red Cross - $115;
Salvation Army - $100; IA Society Prevention of Blind - $100; IA
Children/Family Services - $100; West IA Mental Health Center - $55; IA
Chpt. Arthritis Foundation - $130; Florence Crittenton Home - $100; Mental
Health Assoc. of IA - $55; New Hope Village - $150; Sac Co. Assoc. of
Retarded Citizens - $110; Community Opportunities - $175; Family Hospice -
$250; Respite Care - $80; Sioux City Gospel Mission - $60; Odebolt
Ambulance - $10; Richland Robins - $75; O-A Showmen - $75; Odebolt
Community Building - $30; Howard Center - $45; Odebolt Library - $15.
Expenses were $173.82. If anyone has
comments or questions concerning the United Funds of Odebolt and Wheeler,
they may direct them to Secretary, United Funds, Box 34, Odebolt, Iowa
51458.
Onnen joins Farber & Otteman Staff - Nathan
Jensen, funeral director and owner of Farber & Otteman Funeral Homes,
is pleased to announce that Ann Hemer Onnen has joined their professional
staff as Marketing Director. Onnen will handle the general marketing
duties, including advertising and PR, and will continue to build on the
highly personalized approach to funerals and memorial services offered by
Farber & Otteman. She will also write and produce the firm's
newsletter and various informational pieces mailed throughout the year.
Onnen is originally from Arthur, Iowa, where she
grew up on the farm of her parents, Roy and Shirley Hemer. She is
the oldest of 13 Hemer children, most of whom still reside in this general
area. Onnen graduated from Odebolt-Arthur High School, and NBT
College in Sioux City, and has completed numerous continuing education
workshops in marketing techniques and graphic design. Onnen's
professional experience includes the publishing field and marketing for
financial institutions; she held the position of Marketing Director
at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City and most recently handled marketing
for Cover-All of Northwest Iowa in Sac City
We're very happy to have someone like Ann, who
has such a high quality of experience and expertise in the marketing
field", stated Jensen.
Farber & Otteman Funeral Home serves the
communities of Carnarvon, Early Nemaha, Odebolt, Lytton, Lake View, Sac
City and Wall Lake. Visit
their web-site for more information on staff and services offered.
The Odebolt-Arthur Booster Club Annual Youth Wrestling
Tournament will be held in the High School Gymnasium on
Saturday, January 10, 2004. The tourney will feature a PeeWee
Division (ages 5-8), Bantam Division (ages 9-10) Junior Division (ages
11-12) and a Senior Division (ages 13-15 with a maximum 8th grade limit)
competing in a round-robin competition. All wrestlers will have the
opportunity to wrestle 3 times (if the brackets are filled) and will
receive an award (trophies for first place or medals for 2nd, 3rd,
and 4th places.) Team trophies will be given for the most points
accumulated by the team in each division (excluding O-A wrestlers).
Pee Wee Division weigh-in will be from 7:25-8
a.m. with the first round to begin at 9. Bantam weigh-in will be
from 9 to 10 a.m. Senior Division weigh in will be 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Admission for spectators that day will be $3 for
adults and $2 for students. There will be a concession stand open
all day.
For more information call 668-4491, 668-4825 or
668-2262.
Harkin Announces Iowa School Modernization Grants
Calling it a major step towards modernizing Iowa schools, Senator Tom
Harkin (D-IA) announced on December 19 that the Iowa Department of
Education will award more than $11.5 million in Harkin Grants to Iowa
school districts. The funding comes from two pilot programs Harkin created
to help local school districts with construction projects and upgrades to
meet fire (life) safety codes. (Click
for complete article)
Area schools receiving funding include:
Albert City-Truesdale - $25,000
Alta - $25,000
Newell-Fonda - $25,000
Odebolt-Arthur - $25,000
Sac - $25,000
Schaller-Crestland - $22,120
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley will hold a town meeting in Sac City
on Wednesday, January 14, 2004. The meeting will be held 9:15 to
10:15 a.m. in the Education Room at Loring Hospital. Everyone is
welcome.
Topics of discussion will include Medicare Fairness for
Iowa and Prescription Drugs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other News
Death: Dawn
I. Etler, 75, of Odebolt collapsed at First Presbyterian Church in
Odebolt on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, and later died at Horn Memorial
Hospital in Ida Grove, Iowa. Services were. Monday, January 12, at
First Presbyterian Church, with burial in Odebolt Cemetery.
Injured - Word has
been received that John Heidenreich, son of Odebolt attorney Joe
Heidenreich and his wife Jane, suffered injuries when he was attacked
in New York City at an ATM machine. He has been hospitalized.
OA
and BCIG School Boards Mull Sharing Options
The Battle Creek-Ida Grove and Odebolt-Arthur School Boards and
administrative teams met at Odebolt Monday to discuss sharing options.
Discussions centered on sharing administration, curriculum director,
technology director, sharing courses and teaching staff.
See the full article by Deb Loger, Ida Grove Courier.
The Chronicle, Volume 113, Number 1
January 1, 2004
The Mayor Sez... (January 1, 2004)
I have been asked to poll the community to see if there are any
100-year-old businesses. The
Iowa Dept. of Economic Development says there are 30 counties that have
not responded to having a 100-year-old business (Sac County is one of
them). Those eligible for recognition must have started in 1903 or before;
the business doesn’t have to have been in “the same hands”, but in
operation for the last 100 years. Barb
Horak (our webmaster) suggests our telephone office, law office,
newspaper, hotel, and etc. may be eligible.
Please contact city hall and we will forward your nominations for
recognition. Thank you.
Kapow! 2004 is here! Resolutions galore! I’ll bet weight watching is high
on everyone’s list; it is on mine.
Good luck and may we all have a good year. My hope and prayer for the New
Year is that Odebolt and the surrounding communities be a safe place for
our people and our kids. Your
present city administration is dedicated to make the above possible.
From the Bolt!
R. J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt
SAC COUNTY Four candidates are seeking votes for
Sac County Sheriff on Tuesday, Jan.6. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.
to 8 p.m. for this special election. All the usual polling places
will be utilized.
On the ballot for Sac County Sheriff are:
- Ken McClure, Republican candidate
- Bruce Henderson, Democratic candidate
- Ted Helmich, who was nominated by petition
- Keith Flink, whose supporters are running a write-in
campaign.
The other issue on the ballot is stated as follows:
Public Measure A: Shall the following Public Measure be adopted?
"Gambling games on an excursion gambling boat in Sac County are
approved." Voters will vote either yes or no on the measure.
Voter turnout is expected to be high. The number
of candidates for sheriff and the vocal efforts by both sides on the
gambling issue are the driving forces behind that expectation.
Sheriff Candidates:
(See The Chronicle for full articles on the candidates.)
-
Bruce Henderson, 49, is currently Odebolt
police chief. He farmed for 15 years before going into law
enforcement. He graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
and worked as a correctional officer with the Woodbury County
Sheriff's Department, promoted to Corporal and later Sergeant/Jail
Supervisor. He then worked at the Crawford County Sheriff's
Department as a deputy. He has been Odebolt police chief for five
years. Henderson believes that increased communication with the
public will be an asset if he is elected. "I will have an
open door policy", he said. "I want to go to each
community and stay in touch with the people. I want them to feel
comfortable telling us when they see something out of the
routine. Then we can act on what they tell us."
-
Keith Flink, 53, currently the lieutenant in
the Sac County Sheriff's department, is a veteran lawman with
32 years experience in law enforcement, the last 20 years with the Sac
County Sheriff's office. Flink said he decided to run as a
write-in candidate for the office because he cares about the people of
Sac County. "I feel I know the citizens of Sac County well,
having been raised here. My years of service would be something
that people can depend on. They know who I am, what I stand for,
and that I will take care of their problem."
[Keith is acting sheriff and is a National and State Crime
Prevention Awards Recipient who is acitve in the schools and
community. He was Odebolt police chief before joining the
Sheriff's department.]
-
Ken McClure, 36, of Schaller is currently a
deputy on the Sac County Sheriff's staff. He is a 1988 graduate
of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and has worked for the City of
Odebolt, Clarinda and Sac City before working six years with the Storm
Lake Police Department. In Storm Lake he was detective for four
years and lead investigator his last year there. He began
working as a Sac County deputy in July 2001, taking a position vacated
by his father, Bill McClure. McClure believes his experience as
an investigator and a tough stance on drugs are what makes him the
best candidate.
-
Ted Helmich, 45, is currently the Lake View
Police Chief and was nominated by petition. He is a graduate of
the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and former chief of police in
Graettinger, a position he held for 8 years. He became chief in
Lake View in 1997 and has run that 4 man department since then.
Helmich wants to improve communication with the police departments in
Sac County, and helping them when in need. "It's time for the
Sheriff's Department to work for the people. Remember that Sac
County has a lot of communities, and they have to be able to depend on
an active sheriff's department."
Winners of Lighting Contest - The following were
announced as winners of the Odebolt Chamber of Commerce Lighting Contest
held on the evening of Friday, December 19th:
Steve & Deb Loger, Jeff & Cindy McDonough, and Brad & Jenny
Bengford. An Honorable Mention went to Mark & Jill Horsley.
Scholarship awarded by Henderson - Benjamin Wallace
of Lake View was the recipient of the 2003 Bruce and Jan Henderson
Officer's Memorial Scholarship. This $250 scholarship is awarded
annually to one senior student that has graduated from Sac County and is
entering into the criminal justice/law enforcement field with at least a
2.0 GPA. Applicants must be of good moral character with no criminal
record. The award is announced on graduation day and presented
following the first completed semester. Bruce and Jan reside in
Odebolt where Bruce is Chief of Police. The award is given by the
Hendersons as a way to remember past friends and officers who have
dedicated their lives to public safety and also in appreciation of all
those who have supported and enriched their lives.
Former Teammates Meet - Former O-A teammates Holly
McDonough and Jill Pudenz had the opportunity to meet once again on the
basketball court, this time on opposing teams. Holly, daughter of
Jeff and Cindy McDonough, Odebolt, plays for Buena Vista University of
Storm Lake, and Jill, daughter of Dale and Diane Pudenz, Iowa Falls, plays
for Morningside College of Sioux City.
The two teams squared off in the championship
game of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Thanksgiving Showcase on
Saturday, November 29.
Holly and Jill were members of the 2001
Odebolt-Arthur girls' team which was coached by Larry Allen and competed
at the State Basketball Tournament.
Obituary: Bartley Glen
Ogden, age 99, of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away on Monday, December 22,
2003, at the Odebolt Nursing & Rehab Center. Bart was born May 4,
1904, to Ray and May (Wagner) Ogden in Plymouth County, Iowa, near Akron.
Bart attended a rural school in Plymouth County
and graduated from Akron High School in May, 1924. He received his two
year certificate from Iowa State Teachers College (U.N.I.) in 1929, and
his B.A. in 1933. Bart earned his Masters Degree in 1940 at the University
of Iowa, and completed additional graduate work at I.S.U. He taught rural
school in Plymouth County, Craig, and Chatsworth, Iowa, and was school
superintendent at Alvord, Fairview, Schaller, and Odebolt.
On June 5, 1929, Bart married Bernice Cornish of
Hawarden. They were married at the Little Brown Church near Cedar Falls,
Iowa. To this union was born five children: Beverly, Janet, Vern, Judy,
and Kent.
In 1944 they moved to Odebolt, where Bart was
school superintendent until 1969 when he retired. He then became Sac
County Superintendent from 1969 until 1973. During his years as
superintendent in Odebolt, the school was reorganized to become
Odebolt-Arthur School, and a new school was built. The Bart Ogden
Gymnasium was dedicated to him in appreciation for his contribution to the
school.
Bart served on the Iowa Girls’ High School
Athletic Association Board in the 50’s, and in 1961 was one of ten
persons in the United Stated to receive the I.S.T.C. award for his
outstanding work as a pioneer in the field of school reorganization. He
also was awarded a special citation for his contribution to the Maple
Valley Conference, and an award for helping start the Ft. Dodge Community
College. For several years, Bart was a counselor for Iowa Boys State.
He was very active in the community and in the
First Presbyterian Church, where he was a member. He had been a member of
the Odebolt Rotary Club since 1944, when he brought the Charter to
Odebolt. He also served on the Library Board, the Low-Rent Housing Board,
and was instrumental in organizing and building the identification board
at the Odebolt Cemetery.
On August 14, 1990, Bart married Manie Ahrenholtz.
He loved his family, Manie’s family, and the world of education. He also
enjoyed walking, traveling and woodworking. Bart built their own home
during his retirement. He wintered in Mesa, AZ, for 25 years. He loved
people and will be remembered for how he lived-a caring persons life.
Bart leaves to mourn, his wife Manie of Odebolt;
daughter, Janet and Ken Fertig of Sheldon; son, Vern and Gayle Ogden of
Granbury, TX; son, Kent Ogden of Las Vegas, NV; son-in-law, Charles
Mandernach of Dallas, TX; step-son, Donald Ahrenholtz and Becki Jarvela of
Lacy, WA; brother, Gene and Roberta Ogden of Springfield, VA; eight
grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; nine
step-great grandchildren; and one step great-great-grandchild.
Bart was preceded in death by his parents; his
first wife and mother of his children, Bernice on November 5, 1987; two
daughters: Beverly Ogden and Judy Mandernach; and two sisters: Gladys
Eilers and Oma Gassmann.
Funeral
service for Bart were held Monday, December 29, 2003, at First
Presbyterian Church in Odebolt, with Rev. Charles Bulger officiating.
Special music with Barb Votrobeck, soloist, Congregation Singing, and
Carol Raasch, organist. Honorary pallbearers include: John Ekstrom, Donald
Bettin, Charles Foy, Dr. John Hubiak, and Clarence Etler. Pallbearers will
be: Keith Siebrecht, Gary Siebrecht, Curtis Raasch, Roger Thayer, Duane
Simonson, and Richard Profit. Burial was at the Odebolt Cemetery.
Obituary: Gladys
Irene Tjaden Lindberg was born on a farm near Aplington, Iowa, June
18, 1914, the daughter of George H. and Lizzy Lindeman Tjaden. In
1922 the family moved to Aurora, South Dakota where she was graduated from
high school. She then attended South Dakota State University at
Brookings, graduating with her Bachelor of Science degree in Home
Economics Education. Following college she taught Home Economics in
Clarksville, Ellsworth and Odebolt, Iowa.
On April 11, 1941, Gladys was united in marriage
with Dennis Eugene Lindberg at her parents' home in Winnebago,
Minnesota. Their union was blessed with two children, Mary Alice and
Charles Brian. They made their home on the farm southwest of Odebolt
where Gladys was a busy homemaker, farmwife and mother. For many
years she was a 4-H leader, judged at many fairs in northwest Iowa, served
on the Sac County Extension Committee and was a member of the M7K Club in
Odebolt. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, sewing and
quilting. Until its closing, she was a member of the Arthur Baptist
Church and their Women's Missionary Guild serving as Guild
Secretary. She currently was a member of the First Baptist Church in
Kiron, Social Committee Member and the Women's Missionary Society.
Dennis died July 13, 1986 and Gladys remained on
the farm until December of 2002 when she moved to the Odebolt Nursing and
Rehab Center.
Gladys died early Wednesday, December 17, 2003,
at the Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove, Iowa. At the time of her
death she had been blessed with 89 years, 5 months and 29 days.
Gladys was preceded in death by her parents,
George and Lizzy Tjaden; Her husband, Dennis Lindberg; one sister,
Ruth Tyler; brothers-in-law: Edmund Jones, Chris Budolfson and Bob
Purcell.
Those remaining to cherish her memory include her
children: Mary Alice and husband Roger Lorber of Cedar Falls, Iowa
and Charles Lindberg and wife Pam of Odebolt, Iowa; 6 grandchildren, 2
great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mildred Jones of Blue Early, MN, Opal
Jones of Winnebago, MN and Donna Tjaden of Blue Earth, MN.;
Funeral services were held Monday, December 22,
2003 at First Baptist Church in Kiron, Iowa with the Rev. Wayne Fritzinger
officiating. Music for the service included singing by Wayne
Lindskoog and the congregation with Mrs. John W. Larson serving as
organist. Pall-bearers were Dennis Lamaak, Dennis Lindskoog, Reese
Johnson, Tate Wilken, Blake Wilken and Steve King. Interment was at
the Kiron Cemetery, Kiron, IA.
OTHER NEWS
New Reference to the origin of our town's name
Judy Bauer, who grew up in Ida Grove and has ties through ancestry to
Odebolt, found the following and posted it on the Odebolt History
Pages Message Board.
December 22, 2003
Written in this month's Ida County Historical Society's newsletter:
----Letter written in 1897 by Ed M. Smith, an early settler in the
Ida Grove area "Odebolt Creek was named for a young German who worked
for the Townsleys in 1856."
---- Written by M.G. Aldrich of Battle Creek in his "Notes on
Ida County, Iowa," June 6, 1872. "...a young German by the name
of Odobo, selected a claim immediately across the small stream that forms
a junction with the Maple River (near where Ida Grove was later
established in 1877). This claim was soon abandoned and the young man
sought a home in another land, but his memory is preserved in the name of
the stream (Odebolt Creek) on which he settled, which in common with many
other streams in this section of country, was named in honor of its first
settler, Odobo. This name has since been perverted to Odebolt. This passed
the season of 1855."
Judy's finding perhaps ties in with the story of the Swiss
or German name "Oderbolz" leading to Odebolt's name. Read
more about this at The Odebolt History Pages.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dawn Eleanor Boom, 84, formerly of Odebolt, died
January 1, 2004 at Ramsey House in Des Moines. Funeral services were held
10:30 a.m. Monday, January 5 at the Odebolt United Methodist Church.
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