Stories from Saturday, August 13, 2016

Mitchell hosts the popular outdoor program "Jason Mitchell Outdoors," which airs on Fox Sports North (9 a.m. Sunday) and Fox Sports Midwest (8:30 a.m. Saturday). More information can be found online at www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com. For diehard anglers, fall fishing may be the most coveted time of the year. ...

ARNOLDS PARK -- It's finally here ... I've been waiting over four months for this week to arrive. I know, I know, at my age it's not good to wish the time away; it goes fast enough as it is. No, my anticipation is for the Okoboji Blue Water Festival to be held today at Preservation Plaza in Arnolds Park...

I can't believe I'm thinking this already, but autumn is fast approaching. The month of August signals the end of summer and the beginning of school and football season. It also is a time when fishing can be a little tough if we don't make some adjustments in the way we go about our fishing. And, if we make those adjustments, fishing can be very good. Following are some fishing adjustments to consider for the next few weeks...

As we head into the month of August, duck hunters are already making plans for this year's duck seasons. This will be the third year of the special statewide teal-only season, and with it come some interesting changes. For the first two years, Iowa took advantage of the entire 16-day season and began the first weekend in September. Last year, for instance, that season ran from Sept. 5-20 with the first year from Sept. 6-21. This season was a teal-only season...

This isn't what I wanted to title this column. Not only because it's somewhat misleading since Alex Rodriguez is currently tabbed to be a special adviser for the Yankees and could get signed by any other club hoping to give itself little to no help offensively, defensively or in the public eye but also because I'd much rather entitle this column in a much more colorful fashion. Internet colorful...

While growing up on Fair-view Avenue in northeast Spencer in the 1960s, there was really only one thing Brad Dodge wanted to do -- gather up some friends with his brother Danny and head over to Pederson Park to spend a couple hours on the diamond. The undersized athlete struggled to find much traction on the gridiron or hardwood, but on the mo-und or manning the gap at short Dodge showcased some of the sharpest skills in the area...

Well we're about halfway into the 2016 Olympics, and as a sports enthusiast, it's really about all you can ask for. The performances, in particular those by the American athletes, have been outstanding to say the least. From the amazing iron man -- or iron lung -- capabilities of the age-defying Michael Phelps in the swimming pool as he continues to add to his medal collection to aquatic star teammates and fellow water frogs; from the first American gold in Rio -- won by 19-year-old Ginny Thrasher in the obscure -- and previously unbeknownst to me -- 10-meter air rifle competition to the comeback cycling mom, Kristin Armstrong who too took top honors; from Kayla Harrison who demonstrated that age is no boundary as she claimed the top of the medal stand in the women's judo competition at 78 kg. ...

Boy Scouts are very militaristic in the way we operate. From our uniforms to our chain of command, it all seems to derive from the military. When you think about how many Boy Scouts go on to join the military, it makes perfect sense. I often wonder if it happens so often because we stick with what is familiar...

Sacred Heart Catholic School implemented a new summer care program that started in May and will continue through Aug. 19. The program was a result of a survey of parents and coordination between program administrators, Kristie Carlson, pre-kindergarten teachers, and Amanda Woodall, lead teacher, as well as several other Sacred Heart teachers that developed and worked to provide care to more than 30 children during the summer...

With clear, sunny skies overhead, community members turned out in large numbers Aug. 4 at the Gateway neighborhood in Spencer, a project built by IGL Construction. The local family-run construction company teamed up with Spencer USA Young Professionals to open their newly built homes to interested home buyers allowing them to get an up-close look at the vibrant, family-friendly environment at Gateway and receive first-hand testimonials from current residents...

In an email late last week, the Spencer Chamber of Commerce informed the public that the office had become the victim of ransomware at some point on Aug. 4. Chamber Executive Director Bill Campbell confirmed that the ransomware was limited to chamber offices and did not affect any city offices. However, because the chamber operates off of a common server, each computer in the office has been affected...

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- A member of the 319th Security Forces Squadron from Grand Forks Air Force Base was selected as the Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level NCO for 2015. Tech. Sgt. Brent Kimbell, the 319th SFS NCO in charge of anti-terrorism, was named the best in his category at the squadron, major command and Air Force levels...

Bailey Hawn, of Spencer, now attending the University of Iowa, was one of 36 students from across the state of Iowa to be selected to participate in the 2016 Okoboji Entrepreneurship Institute. OEI offers young entrepreneurs from Iowa colleges the opportunity to learn firsthand from successful entrepreneurial men and women testing their skills and knowledge in a business startup simulation. ...

At noon Friday, the Spencer Fire Department welcomed a patriotic addition to the firehouse. A flag from the American Legion was given to the department to hang in the truck bay. Ben Grimmius, who is part of the Fire Department and American Legion, was credited as the motivating force behind the flag's installation...

Spencer Women of Today are continuing their annual fundraisers to provide aid for those fighting breast cancer at the Women's Wellness Center. They are currently hosting a Cupcakes for a Cause drive as one of the first fundraisers leading up to Pink Out Night. The cupcakes are baked by Gina Kohrs and are offered in a variety of flavors including: wedding cake, lemon, chocolate fudge, chocolate peanut butter, red velvet, carrot, cookies and creme and snickers...

Charity begins at home ... and in the garage too. The Holst family of Spencer made a donation to Abben Cancer Center/Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundation in memory of Kirk Holst's mother, Karen, by donating proceeds from the family's garage sales. (Above) Kirk and Kim, along with their children Dylan, Emma and Chloe (foreground), presented their gift to Abben Cancer Center Director Melissa Cunningham (far left).

STORM LAKE -- A Laurens man has been arrested after an investigation into counterfeit $100 bills being passed in Storm Lake. Police say the man was duped into passing the fake bills in hopes of a romance with the woman shipping the counterfeit money from Africa into the U.S...

Funeral services for Doris Lavonne Steele, 96, of Sutherland, will be cond-ucted at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, at Church of Christ in Sutherland. Rev. John Erickson will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday with the family present from 4-6 p.m. at the Church of Christ in Sutherland...

Funeral services for Everett C. Nelson, 88, of Tracy, California, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at Meadow Township Cemetery in Langdon, Iowa. Rev. John Syvertson will officiate the service. Burial will be conducted at Meadow Township Cemetery in rural Langdon. Nelson passed away Aug. 6, 2016, in Stockton, California. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements...

ARNOLDS PARK -- A recognition dinner was held recently at Emerald Hills Golf Club. Randy Rohlfsen and the Wednesday Night Men's League hosted the event. Emerald Hills member Tom Madigan suffered cardiac arrest while on the course on May 18. He was promptly assisted by golfers Jason Brown, Randy Krile and Dave Abrahamson, who performed CPR...

SPIRIT LAKE -- Roderick A. Smith settled in what would eventually become Dickinson County in 1857. As one of the first residents of the area, he decided to record its history on paper. The manuscript he wrote was titled "The History of Dickinson County." It documented the origin of the county from the first courthouse to the first city council members and was published in 1902...

Still numb from the latest mass shooting, in Orlando, it's easy to imagine that guns have always divided us this way. But a close look at survey data over decades shows they haven't. There was a time when most citizens favored banning handguns, the chief gun lobbyists supported firearm restrictions, and courts hadn't yet interpreted the Second Amendment as guaranteeing a personal right to bear arms for self-defense at home...

What better way to dedicate a performance stage than with Shakespeare in the Park? "Summer Shakes" will be performed in conjunction with the dedication of the Basil and Middy Deegan Pavilions at 2 p.m. Sunday in West Memorial View Park in Spencer. The Summer Shakes showcase will present several scenes from "Romeo and Juliet" and a brief piece from "Henry IV" presented by a 13-person cast under the direction of former SCT Artistic Director Cara Gerlock, who now volunteers her time with various Deegan Children's programming opportunities, and Matt Schulz.. ...

On Wednesday, Aug. 24, IowaWorks will host a presentation by Melisssa Wright, community outreach and resource planning specialist for the U.S. Department of Labor. Wright will be addressing the federally mandated changes concerning salaried employees and overtime pay...