Selected news briefs edited from
THE CHRONICLE
Odebolt ~ Early ~ Wall Lake
Official Sac County Newspaper, Established 1877
Jerry & Becky Wiseman, Publishers 

The Chronicle, Volume 112, Number 35,
August 28, 2003  

The Mayor Sez...
     There is no greater challenge for city officials than maintaining the direction and health of the city while suffering significant reduction in resources."
      The above paragraph is taken from the Iowa League of Cities.  They also say "the budget process this coming winter will pose just as many challenges as the past several months."
     With that in mind your present administration will do everything possible to keep the budget cuts at a minimum.
 - R.J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt

Odebolt Firefighters are "Fired Up" for MDA  - The Odebolt Firefighters will participate in a fundraiser called "Fill the Boot" during Labor Day weekend to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Your very own Odebolt Firefighters will be out on the town with their boots to collect donations for MDA. Please help your firefighters in their support of MDA; say hello & drop dollars and change into their boots.  Last year during the "Fill the Boot" programs, firefighters raised over $14 million dollars nationwide for children and adults battling neuromuscular dystrophy.

Voters Info on Elections - Two important local elections are coming up in Sac County during the month of September.  One is the regular school board election on September 9 and the other is the one-cent sales tax (SILO) on September 30.  Some facts regarding these elections that may help with voter turn out and possible confusion regarding the elections are as follows:
     You must be registered to vote and if not already registered, one must be registered by August 29 to vote in the school board election and by September 19 to vote in the one-cent sales tax election.  Registration forms can be obtained from the Auditor's office in any county and there are some registration forms at the school , which can be completed and sent to the auditor's office.
     The polls are open from Noon until 8:00 p.m. for the school board election on September 9 and from 7:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the one-cent sales tax election (Silo) on September 30.
     Absentee ballots for either election can be obtained by submitting a written request to the Auditor's office.  When making the request, include social security number, a hand written signature, and an address to which the ballot is to be sent.  Persons may also go directly to the courthouse and request the absentee ballot in person and even vote at that time.
     The rules for the school board election are the same in all counties and all in the school districts will vote for board members on September 9.
    On the ballots for the Odebolt-Arthur School District is incumbent Bob Daiker, Roger Buehler and Vicky Beckman for two seats.  All directors serve three year terms.
    The SILO election is somewhat different in that it is on a county by county basis rather than on a school by school basis.  While Sac and Crawford counties are having their election on September 30, Ida County is waiting until November 18 for its vote.  As a result most Arthur area voters will not vote on the one-cent sales tax issue until November 18 even though you live in the Odebolt-Arthur School District.

Odebolt Class of 1948 Holds 55th Class Reunion June 13, 2003

Click on above for enlargement

Class of 1935 Holds 68th Reunion on July 31, 2003

Click on above for enlargement

ONRC Auxiliary - The annual Fall Bazaar will be October 4th.  Plans for the event were being made at the August 21 meeting of the ONRC Auxiliary.
     Zena told about the staff members taking 15 residents to her parents' home near Kingsley.  Many old tractors and other older machinery were on display.  A noon luncheon was served under a tent.  Everyone had a very good time.
     The family Barbeque Picnic was held August 20th.  A German Czech band provided entertainment before the meal.

Trojanettes have Blend of Experience and Youth - article from Ida County Courier

The Mayor Sez...
     Drivers beware - This message is not just for student drivers, it is for all drivers.
     School is back in session and that means to watch out for our kids at intersections! (or anywhere for that matter)  Our police department usually patrols before and after school.
    Please obey the speed limits and a stop sign means "stop"!
From the 'bolt
R. J. Rex, Mayor

Booster Club Kick-Off - The Odebolt-Arthur Booster Club will be holding its annual membership drive in the months of August and September.  Memberships will be available the night of the All Sports Meeting, Thursday, August 27, at the Soap Scrimmage on Friday, August 29th, or at the Bloyer Agency. 
     The Booster Club will be holding its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, August 27 at 7 a.m. at Caroll's Kitchen.  Everyone is welcome and those with students participating in athletics at O-A are encouraged to attend.
  The Booster Club has averaged over $12,000 per year in donations to Odebolt-Arthur's programs over the past decade.  To be able to continue this level of support for our school, it is important that you consider getting involved in the O-A Booster Club.
     To join, send or drop off your name, address and email address along with the $5 membership fee at  Bloyer Agency, Reis Service, United Bank of Iowa, Swanson Insurance, or OA Schools. 

City Clerk Continuing Education - Nancy Imhoff of Arthur and Joan Godbersen of Odebolt attended a continuing education program in city management recently at Iowa State University.  The three-day Municipal Clerks Academy was conducted by ISU Extension July 23-25 in Ames.
     Advanced topics offered in this session included tax and financial changes affecting Iowa cities, spread sheet programs, best practices for small and large cities, and web page design.  The academy concluded with a forum on current issues facing cities.

The Bengfords and Beyond - (The below was edited from a longer article including a photo.  See The Chronicle for the complete story and list of those attending.)
     Ben and Irma Bengford could never have imagined the scene in Odebolt during the recent weekend of July 24-27, when over 100 people with that last name and variants of it descended upon their native birthplace here.  Bernard Bengford and Irma Dinges were married in 1921 and during the 1920s and 1930s their family quickly grew to include Madeline, Alice, Norbert, Wilbert, John, Mary Jean, Kenneth, Thomas, Margaret Ann, Loretta, Bernard, Norman and Theodore.  Ben passed away prematurely in 1938 but Irma remained a well-known life-long Odebolt resident through 1988.  Madeline and Willie and some of Willie's family still live in the area, but the rest of the clan has eventually spread out all across the country.  On July 24-27, however, Odebolt reclaimed its place as the center of the Bengford universe.
     Bengfords and their descendants arrived from California, Arizona, Colorado in the west, from as far east as Rhode Island, from Montana in the north and Texas in the south, and from neighboring Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois in the Midwest.  Motels in neighboring communities were brimming with Bengfords.
     Activities included a Thursday night gathering at the Country Inn at Lake View, various breakfast and lunch groups, sentimental trips to the local cemetery, ice cream at Sluggos, softball games, and tours of the house on Hanson Blvd. where many Bengfords had grown up.  The Holmes graciously opened up the home they now own to the family.         
     Steve Bengford hosted a tour of GOMACO Trolley plant in Ida Grove.
     Friday evening a gathering  at Odebolt Park consumed fifty boxes of pizza.  The younger folk enjoyed basket ball and volleyball, swings and slides, while many enjoyed a stroll down the Memorial Park Walkway.  Larry Heidemann, Justin Bengford, and Matt Evans entertained the group with combinations of old accordion favorites, and folk and guitar music, while cameras and flashes continually sparkled in the background.
     Saturday evening the entire group gathered at the Odebolt Community Center for a catered dinner and more good times.  One of the interesting highlights was a 28 page family tree starting with Ben and Irma and outlining over 200 names and 5 generations.  Following a program there was music, dancing and desserts.
      Activities concluded Sunday morning with a Mass at St. Martin's (across the street from the original Bengford home) celebrated by Father Ron Bengford from Rhode Island and sung by a sizeable choir of Bengford descendants.  As the weekend wound down with a concluding brunch in St. Martin's Hall, the Bengfords again dispersed to the four winds.  They left, however, with fond memories of Odebolt, with renewed acquaintances, and with a wonderment about what the future may hold... 

Deaths:
Joel N. Johnson, 55, of Orono, MN, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003.  He had received multiple injuries in a truck/train crash on Fathers Day, June 15, near Hwy. 55 in Medina. MN. He was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
     Born April 20, 1948 at Hampton, Iowa, Mr. Johnson was a graduate of Odebolt High School. He obtained a business degree from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion and went on to become a Certified Public Accountant. He owned and operated Johnson & Co. CPA and Five Sons Landscaping. He served as a Marine Sergeant in Vietnam and also was a reservist.
     A lover of hunting trips, Mr. Johnson ventured through the Safari Club to Russia and British Columbia.
     He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Leona. He is survived by his wife, 3 sons, a daughter, 3 step-sons, and his sister Kathy.
     The family prefers memorials to the Joel N. Johnson Fund, c/o Wells Fargo Bank, 900 E. Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata, MN 55391

Albert Prestin passed away at the Lutheran Hospital in Mesa, Arizona on Monday, August 11, 2003.  He leaves to mourn his wife, Jean, and his two sisters, Myrtle of Mason City, Iowa and Mildred of Odebolt.

Other News

August 14 Chamber of Commerce Minutes are now on-line

Stay Informed!  - Monday, August 18 School Board Meeting Minutes - by Deb Loger, from Ida County Courier

From the Mayor, Aug 16 -Water has been newly installed at the RV Park in Odebolt Memorial Walk Park.  This project was made possible by the generosity and foresight of the Odebolt Development Corp.  
     For anyone's information, RV's and campers account for a very large part of sightseers and visitors to a community, and now Odebolt can give them full accommodation. We also have a dump site if needed. A full hookup is only $8. Come and be our guests.  R.J. Rex, Mayor

The Mayor Sez...
     In a recent "Mayor Sez..." I mentioned the rising cost of natural gas and to seek alternative ways to heat your home.  I see where Gov. Vilsack is now alerting all Iowans to prepare for the above.  (Maybe he read my "Mayor Sez...").  I urge you to seek alternative ways to heat your homes such as electricity.  Talk to the experts before it is too late.
    Another item I want to call your attention to is recycling. Odebolt residents are doing a good job on the Blue Box recycling; however, we must try and do better.  Too much tonnage is going to the landfill.  Now just a reminder as to what goes in the Blue Box and which is which.  Check out the following:
1)  Blue Box - plastic, glass, tin and aluminum
2)  Paper Grocery Bag - slicks, non-white junk mail, chipboard, paper egg cartons, magazines, and catalogues
3)  Paper Grocery Bag - high quality white paper
4)  Flattened Bundles - corrugated cardboard
     Try it.  It will help the city by making fewer trips to the Landfill and it will help the County by making more landfill space available.  Make this a community and a money-saving effort.
From the 'bolt
R.J. Rex, Mayor

Notice of Election Sales and Services Tax for School Infrastructure Purposes - On September 30, 2003, an election will be held in Sac County to vote on the question of imposition of a local school infrastructure tax.  The proposal to be voted upon at that election will include the following information.
     A local sales and services tax for school infrastructure projects shall be imposed in the county of Sac at the rate of one percent (1%).  The tax will begin on January 1, 2004.  The tax will be in effect for a period of 10 years until December 31, 2014.  
    The money received from the tax is to be spent as follows:  construction, reconstruction, repair, demolition work; Purchasing or remodeling of school buildings, gyms, field houses and/or bus garages; Procurement of schoolhouse construction sites and making of site improvements; Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) purposes (equipment, computers, buses, lease-purchase) or Public Education and Recreation Levy (PERL) purposes (adult education, playgrounds, etc.); Payment or retirement of outstanding bonds previously issued for school infrastructure purpose; and/or Payment or retirement of new bonds issued for school infrastructure purposes issued under 422E.4 (2003 Code of Iowa).

What does 1 Cent mean for Sac County Schools? - SILO means:  School Infrastructure Local Option Tax.  When Governor Vilsack signed Senate File 445 into law on June 3, 2003, it became apparent that Sac County would have to pass a referendum to be included in the statewide school infrastructure pool.  The referendum will be for a 1 cent local option sales tax.
     Senate File 445 provides for "the establishment of a school infrastructure financing program by providing for the sharing of revenues from local option sales and services taxed for school infrastructure purposes, and providing for the use of the revenues from the local option tax for school infrastructure or property tax relief purposes."
     Each school district in Iowa that does not have a local SILO in place, must pass a like referendum to be included in the statewide pool.
     Senate File 445 has been met with mixed feelings as it appears to be "just another tax," but the fact remains that if Sac County does not pass the referendum favorably, they will be excluded.  This will mean a loss of approximately $270 per student per year.
     All Sac County School boards held public hearing and passed resolutions to be included in a county-wide election to be held September 30, 2003.  
     What will it mean for you?  Instead of paying 5 cents on your dollar purchase, you will pay 6 cents.
     On which products and services will my one cent tax be paid?  Only the items for which you are currently paying sales tax will be taxed the extra penny.
     What will the Silo tax be used for in my school district?  (See above article).
     SILO cannot be used for:
     * Salaries
     * Instructional materials or supplies (paper, books, etc.)
     * General operation of the district
       The referendum must be passed by October 1, 2003 in order to receive money for the pool beginning January 1, 2004.  This local option rate cannot exceed 1 cents.
     Vote on Tuesday, September 30th at your local polling place.  

Rotary Calendars for 2003/2004 are now available and can be picked up at area businesses, or at The Chronicle in Odebolt.

Bible School Day Camp held at Faith Lutheran - "Camp out! Getting Back to Basics with Prayer" was the theme for the 2nd annual day camp hosted by Faith Lutheran Church in Odebolt and presented by the Lutheran Lakeside counselors from Okoboji.  All children ages K-5th grades in the community were invited and welcome to come for the non-denominational four day camp held June 23-26th.  A total of 35 children attended.  The four counselors led the campers each morning in many fun activities such as singing and worship with guitar music, skits, Bible study, cool crafts, and wacky games.  Some other special activities for the week included collecting food pantry items for Sac and Ida Counties; a field trip to Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center; wild water game day on Thursday, and a family potluck meal and program on Wednesday evening.  All campers had an absolutely great time at this jam-packed retreat which couldn't have been made possible without the help of many local volunteers.  For more information about attending next year's camp or how you can volunteer, please contact Connie Leinbaugh (668-4518) or Pastor Trish Underber (668-4515).

Death: Eleanor Linquist, 81, of Odebolt died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003, at a Sioux City hospital.  Services were 10 a.m. Friday, August 15 at First Baptist Church in Kiron, Iowa, with burial in Kiron Cemetery. 
     Born Oct. 13, 1921, on the home farm of her parents in Wheeler Township, Sac County, Iowa, Eleanor E. Linquist was the daughter of William and Ellen (Turin) Linquist. She attended Arthur Baptist Church.  She participated in various organizations within the church and held the position of Sunday school secretary for 25 years. On July 4, 1999, she joined First Baptist Church in Kiron.
     She made her home in Odebolt in the fall of 1953. She later settled in Arthur, Iowa, where she lived until moving to Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center. She enjoyed embroidery and having coffee with friends and neighbors.
     She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Lloyd Linquist

The Mayor Sez...
Hey, it's August!  Seems like the 4th of July was just a week or so ago.
    Some important upcoming things to think about: Special vote for a one-cent local option sales tax for our schools, and a very important school board election (more on this soon!)
     And to my young readers (if I have any), you had better enjoy these last few weeks of summer vacation.  (Moms will soon be singing "happy days are here again.")
From the 'bolt
R.J. Rex, Mayor

Welcoming a New Doctor - Dr. Shane Bradley has taken over for Dr. Mark Ford at Pitts Chiropractic Clinic.  Dr. Ford moved on to Osceola, Iowa to begin his own practice.  
     Dr. Bradley is originally from Armstrong, Iowa and attended college at Northwestern Chiropractic College in Bloomington, MN.  He has worked in St. Lois Park, MN and Billings, MT.
      Dr. Bradley is especially excited to work on the sidelines for the athletic teams and servicing the community with the best he has to offer.
     An Open House to welcome Dr. Bradley will be held on Wednesday, August 13th from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pitts Chiropractic Clinic on Main Street in Odebolt.  Stop in and welcome Dr. Bradley to the area!

United Funds Annual Meeting - The United Funds of Odebolt and Wheeler Township held their annual meeting July 11, 2003 at Joan Godbersen's.  Present were Chairperson Joan Godbersen,  Co-Chairperson Malinda Bengford, Secretary/TreasurerDeb Reinhart and board members Margie Loger, Florence Bye, Lois Story, Shirley Sykes, and Nancy Hugeback.  Not able to attend was Chairperson of Wheeler Township Mary Gustafson.
    Joan and Malinda have accepted another 3-year term and the board will stay the same as last year.
     The annual drive will begin with a kick-off coffee on August 11 at 9 a.m. at Caroll's Kitchen.  All the helpers will pick up their materials at this meeting.

20 Year Reunion - During Creek Days on Saturday, June 14th, the Odebolt-Arthur class of 1983 held its 20 year class reunion.  Classmates who rode on the float in the parade were Scott Scanlan, Connie (Neville) Leinbaugh, Kathy (Fries) Peterson, Jeff Tiefenthaler, Bob Lorenzen, Scott Cranston, Lisa (Schroeder) Drost, Kelli (Cowlham) Duff, Ann (Schwaller) Knierim, and Sharon (Joens) Berhow.
     Later that evening the group got together for delicious hors d'oeuvres and dinner at The Alumni Club, while others joined them at the street dance downtown to end the night.
     Other classmates attending but not in the parade were:  Paul Arbegast, Julie (Stehr) Childers, Tom Gunderson, Barb (Hoaglund) Hancock, Gregg Hoaglund, Wayne Imhoff, Roger Lansink, Ron Lorenzen, Toni Neville, Mike and Gina (Hustedt) Pick, and Dave and Dawn (Koenen) Schluter for a total of 23 out of 53 graduates.
     For a current list of addresses you can check out the Alumni website.

A Little Walk - Daryl Cleveland and his son, Bradly had a picture taken of them standing under the U.S. Highway 30 overpass along the banks of the Mississippi River at Clinton, Iowa on July 4th, 2003.  The photo commemorates the completion of a 336 mile walk across Iowa along US 30 from the Missouri River at Blair, Nebraska to the Mississippi River.  The walk took 22 days with the final 61 miles being completed in the last three days.  It was a bit more than a "little walk".  

School Board Candidates Announced - Bob Daiker (incumbent), and two past board members, Roger Buehler (1993-2002) and Vicki Beckman (1989-1991).  Bob Daiker and Jeff Scott have expiring terms at O-A this fall.
     School board elections will be Tuesday, Sept. 9.   The voter registration deadline is Aug. 29 at 5 p.m.

Kiron Fire Department celebrates 100 Years - The Kiron Fire Department was organized September 4, 1903, with the Mayor F.A. Burrows, as chairman and W.J. Sandberg as secretary.  There were 18 charter members.  
     The department will celebrate 100 years of service on Sunday, August 10, 2003 at the present location on 101 S. Grove in Kiron.  At 3:00 p.m. the antique fire truck and equipment will be on display, along with fire truck rides and water balloon sling-shots.  From 4 to 7 p.m. beef and pork burgers and hotdogs will be grilled, with beans, chips and a pop for $3.00.  At 5 p.m. a 100-Year Ceremony will be held followed by the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle give away.  All money raised will be used to purchase a new 4-wheel drive First Attack Unit. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be matching funds.
     The department serves a 65 mile square area in the townships of Hayes, Otter Creek, Stockholm and Wheeler townships and also the City of Kiron and the unincorporated town of Boyer.  

Neumann First Runner-Up - Alison Neumann of, daughter of Paul and Elaine Neumann of Odebolt was chosen first runner-up to the 2003 Sac County Fair Queen Heather Phillips of Sac City on Thursday, July 31 at the grandstand at Sac County Fairgrounds.  Alison was also awarded the Ms. Citizenship award.

Death:  DeLoris Hazel Turin, age 83, of Arthur, Iowa, died at noon on Saturday, July 26, 2003, at the Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center in Odebolt.  Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Sunday, August 3, 2003, at Kiron Baptist Church in Kiron; burial in the Kiron Cemetery. 
      Born February 19, 1920, in Hayes Township, Ida County, Iowa, DeLoris was the daughter of Edwin and Ruth (Larson) Turin. She attended country school at Hayes #6 and graduated from the Ida Grove High School in 1937.
      DeLoris helped her parents on the farm and was a caregiver for the elderly and many young children. She enjoyed handwork, crafts, and making scrapbooks. She was the Historian for the Colonial Manor Auxiliary and for the Arthur Centennial.
      DeLoris was a member of the First Baptist Church in Kiron, Horn Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Ida County Historical Society, Odebolt Nursing & Rehab Center Auxiliary, C C (Country Crochet) Circle, and Supper Club.
      Following surgery for colon cancer in 2002, she moved to the Odebolt Nursing & Rehab Center, where she received loving care from the staff and enjoyed visits from family and friends.
      She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Renea Ogren; and two brothers-in-law, Carl Sonichsen and Kenneth Austin.
      Those remaining to cherish her memory are two sisters, Marian Sonichsen of Arthur and LaVerne Austin of Des Moines; a brother-in-law, Allen Ogren of Odebolt; six nieces and nephews; ten grand-nieces and nephews; and two great-grand-nephews.

OTHER NEWS

Thanks for all the years of dedication to the ODC, Kristy!   After serving very successfully, Kristy Rosemeyer has resigned from the Odebolt Development Corporation.  Kristy was the head organizer for the 125th Celebration in 2002 as well as many other events, and we owe her many thanks.
     Please contact Jason or Beth Wulf (phone and address on the above Registration Form) if you need ODC information.

Answer to last week's "Who are they?" 
Our Mayor, R.J. Rex emailed and said, "I have hunted and fished with all of them - Frank Mattes, Dale Einspahr, Earl McFarland and Earl Mandernach".  (Photos circa 1953 submitted by Vicki Beckman. Thanks, Vicki!)

Did you know.........?
Both the Community Center and the Library have rooms for rent for group activities and meetings, or family gatherings, including use of kitchen facilities.  Check them out below!

Odebolt Public Library
Odebolt Community Center 

August 7 - August City Council Minutes are on-line