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 31,
July 31, 2003  

The Mayor Sez . . .
The City of Odebolt would like to congratulate Jack and Jane Hogue for the national recognition of their Prairie Pedlar extravaganza.  Truly one of Odebolt's treasures.  We salute!
   Crooks beware!  We may be closing in on the perpetrators of misdeeds. (Breaking and entering, theft, etc.)  We have some leads we are working on but it is still a good idea to keep your cars, pickups, and houses locked.
 - R. J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt

LEGION DELAYS AREA VETERANS MEMORIAL DEDICATION
Members of Roose Post 313 voted at last meeting to delay the dedication ceremony from November 11, 2003 to Memorial Day, May 31, 2004 due to several factors.
     1. Concerns about unfavorable weather on November 11, 2003.
     2. Unable to obtain the use of the Community Center on November 11, 2003.
     3. Proposed speaker unable to speak in cold weather.
If this inconveniences your plans to attend on November 11, 2003 we are very sorry, but hope to see you on May 31, 2004.
- Memorial Committee

July Yard of the Month - The Odebolt Chamber of Commerce awarded John and Donna Ekstrom with July Yard of the Month.  Chamber Director Kay Bloyer presented the Ekstroms with the Yard of the Month sign and an Odebolt Flag for their beautifully kept yard.

2nd Furnished Apartment for rent at Meyer Apartments - A second furnished one bedroom apartment has been added to Travelers Home at the Meyer Apartments in Odebolt.  If you have family or special guests coming to Odebolt, please consider reserving one of the furnished apartments.  Each unit also contains a kitchen.  Memorabilia from the Odebolt Hotel is featured as part of the decor.  Each unit has a queen size bed and a full size bed with the combination of bedroom and living room hide-a-bed.  TV and telephone are included.  
  At one time the hotel was known as Traveler's Home.  The original sign was found in the building and rescued to be mounted on the wall of one of the apartments.  The pass-through door between the hotel kitchen and dining room was converted to a coffee table.  Pictures from The Chronicle and the Brower and Dinges families are included.
  For reservations, please call Madeline Meyer at (712) 668-4184 or Dick and Kay Bloyer at (712) 668-2895.  Reservations may be made by the day or the week.

Community Center Donations - The Odebolt Community Center recently received donations from the following donors:  Jason & Beth Wulf, Randy & Renae Babcock, Dale & Diane Pudenz, Janice and Lee Cox, Jack and Joan Simpson, Rollin Linman, Florence Frey, City of Odebolt, Iowa Select, Keith & Gary Siebrecht, Miller Blacksmith, James Body Shop, Odebolt Locker, Class of '53, Lundell Plastics, Bedrock Gravel, Rod Simonsen, Land Mark Products and Odebolt Dr. Recruitment Fund. 

Congratulations! to the Staff & Residents at Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center on a deficiency-free survey from the Department of Inspections and Appeals!  John Schuttinga is ONRC Administrator.

Death:   Norman Olberding, 79, of Odebolt died Monday, July 21, 2003, at Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center.  Services were 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 24 at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Odebolt with burial in the parish cemetery in Odebolt Cemetery. 
     Born April 22, 1924 at Wall Lake, Iowa, the son of Frank and Victoria (Nees) Olberding.  Attended country school near Arcadia, Iowa.  Moved to a farm near Odebolt with his parents in 1939 and graduated from Odebolt High School in 1942.  Married Mildred Landgraf of Odebolt on Sept. 17, 1949 at St. Martin's Catholic Church.  Army Veteran of World War II after which he went into farming.  In 1957 was named an Iowa Master Swine Producer.  Lay Minister for St. Martin's Church.  Served as co-chairman of the Town Centennial, on the Town Council for 8 years, member of the building committee of St. Martin's. Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus.  Traveled extensively with his wife including China, Russia, Egypt.
     Survivors include a brother, Vernon Olberding of Spencer, Iowa; and four sisters, Mardelle Ploeger of Sioux Center, Iowa, Elaine Kennedy of Storm Lake, Iowa, Marilyn Thompson of San Pedro, Calif., and Sharon Truex of Benecia, Calif.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mildred in 1998, and an infant sister, Mary.

Neumann is Sac Fair Queen Candidate - Alison Neumann, 18, daughter of Paul and Elaine Neumann of Odebolt is a Sac County Fair Queen Contestant.  She graduated from Odebolt-Arthur this year and plans to attend Iowa State University in the fall where she plans on majoring in English/literary studies with a minor in political science or history.

Property Taxes Expected to Rise - County treasurers will be sending out property tax statements soon and citizens should expect to see an increase. The increases are due to tax credit reimbursements that were taken away by the state, according to Dick Heidloff, Iowa State Association of Counties president and Lyon County Treasurer. 
     Heidloff said county treasurers in the state want people to be aware that the increase in taxes is coming, and the blame for the tax increase should be placed on the state, not the county officials.  Seniors that own their homes will only receive 40 percent of the low-income/elderly credit to which they are entitled, about half of what they received last year.  Homestead credit will be cut to the 85% level and veterans will see their military credit cut to the 98% level.  All of these figures are estimates from the Dept. of Revenue and Finance.  

OTHER NEWS

O-A School Board Tackles Sharing Issues - by DEB LOGER, Ida County Courier 07/24/2003 - (Summary) The Odebolt-Arthur School Board approved legislative priorities and the sale of a portion of school property in Arthur Monday. The board also discussed whole grade sharing and the local option one-cent sales tax. 

The Mayor Sez...
     I am sorry to say we have someone, and we are pretty sure he/she is local, unlawfully going through people's unlocked cars/pickups looking for money and valuables.  They have broken into one home that we know of and stolen radio equipment out of another citizen's pickup while it was parked in his garage.  Numerous vehicles have been rifled.  NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is a deterrent and the police department suggests locking your unattended vehicle at all times.
     Please, call me or the police department if you see anyone on someone else's property and you are pretty sure they don't have any business with that resident.  I really hate to waste my "Mayor Sez..." space on the above, but I feel that the perpetrator of the above crimes must be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law (translation:  when caught, we're going to "throw the book at him/her").  We now have a county attorney that will back us up!  An old adage goes like this, "If you don't have the time, don't commit the crime."
R.J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt

Booster Club Golf Tournament, Friday, August 1 - The Odebolt-Arthur Booster Club will be holding its 3rd Annual 4 Person Best Ball Golf Tournament on Friday, August 1, with a shotgun start beginning at 12 noon.
     Entry fee is $50.00 per person for the cost of golfing and a steak fry supper.  $25.00 "Dinner Only" tickets are also available.  There will be a $500 Hole-In-One Prize, door prizes and much more!
     Golfers need to make arrangements for their own golf carts.
     Proceeds from this event will once again help with the cost of the ball field improvement project.  Get your foursome together and have some fun while supporting a project that dozens of our local youth benefit from by playing on the improved facilities.   
     Also this event can be supported by either becoming a $100 hole sponsor or through donations for door prizes.

Presbyterians hosts Guest Speakers - First Presbyterian Church, Odebolt, will host three special guest speakers on three successive Sundays.
     Mr. Russ Davis, a farmer from Nemaha and United Methodist layman, will lead worship on Sunday, July 27th.
     Rockwell City Senior High School English Teacher, Mrs. Cherry Marsden, will bring the message on Sunday, August 3rd.
     Finally, August 20, the Rev. Vaughan Michael Smith, from Tampa, Florida will preside.  

LEGION AND AUXILIARY ELECT NEW OFFICERS
Legion Officers 
Duane Einspahr - Commander 
Jim Scott - Vice Commander 
Roger Thayer - Adjutant 
Bob Tiefenthaler - Treasurer
Leonard Carstensen - Chaplain 

Auxiliary Officers
JoAnn Scott - President
Phyllis Tiefenthaler - Vice President
Barbara Bloom - Secretary
Phyllis Gardner - Treasurer
Madeline McTasney - Chaplain

Mayor Presents Certificate - A certificate of appreciation to Elaine Rex was signed by the Mayor and Council of Odebolt and presented to her.  Elaine has successfully applied for various grants and awards on behalf of the City of Odebolt.  The City appreciates the many hours of work dedicated to these projects.

Spirit Walk 2003 - The Seven Fires Foundation will walk from Pine Ridge, South Dakota to Washington, D.C. in July and August.  The Walk will help raise awareness and support The Lakota Project, an outreach educational program to support the preservation of Native American traditions.  The Foundation is working with a group of Lakota elders in establishing an outreach program to teach children honor, respect, and responsibility for self, community , and the Earth.  The goal is to teach children and their families about  the Lakota Way and to build and promote self confidence, a sense of community, honor, and pride in who they are.
     The current route planned for the Walk will go through Sac County on Hwy. 175, then to Hwy. 71 at Auburn.  It is planned to walk approximately 20 to 30 miles per day with 6 to 10 permanent walkers and possibly more short-term walkers in certain areas.  The Walk is scheduled to arrive in Odebolt on July 28th and exit Sac County via Auburn on July 30th.

Sac County Sheriff's Office has a new computer, thanks to a grant from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Foundation (NCMEC).  NCMEC works directly with law enforcement offering technical assistance, resources, information dissemination and advice.  The new computer equipment is designed to enhance reporting and dissemination of information on missing and exploited children nationwide.  The LOCATOR computers are linked together nationwide and provide law enforcement immediate information about missing children as it becomes available.  The computer may also be used to make Crime Alert flyers to post publicly. 
     Sac County Lt. Keith Flink applied for the grant and coordinated the program through NCMEC.  The equipment includes a new Dell computer, scanner, color printer and all software. 
  The Sac County Sheriff's Office is also trained and certified in AMBER ALERT, which is a nationwide system that uses radio and TV news media to broadcast child abductions to the public in a matter of minutes.

OA Major & Minor Softball Teams Sweep NWIA Tournament - The Odebolt-Arthur Major and Minor softball teams both brought home the tournament championship medals.  The Major/Minor teams, being newly sponsored this year by the cities of Odebolt and Arthur, joined the Northwest Iowa League in the spring.  The Minors ended the year with a 10-1-1 record and the Majors completed a perfect 13-0 season. 
     Each Minor team member was awarded a medal.  The Nettes were commended by the umpires on their outstanding sportsmanship and also complimented the team by saying they were a fundamentally sound athletic team.  Congratulations, Minors!
     Medals were also awarded to the Majors girls for their first place finish.  Congratulations, girls!
     The O-A Minors, coached by Julie Bloyer and Kay Bloyer include: Ashley Ellis, Cayla Loew, Justine Ross, Madison Allen, Megan Snyder, Rebecca Neddermeyer, Talia Ross, Lisa Nishimura, Tanna Henkelman, Morgan Olerich, Christine Bloyer, Kate Bergman, Jessi Neumann, Kellyanne Gunderson, Clarissa Pudenz and Kayla Blume.
     The Majors, also coached by Julie Bloyer and Kay Bloyer include:  Emily Frank, Kiley Frank, Sarah Johnson, Brittany Walsh, Amanda Mumm, Abi Olson, Kaytie Peine, Tori Cranston, Abbie Grote, Heidi Hoefling, Laura Schroeder, Shelby Cranston, Bayle Olerich, Brianna Carlson, Katelyn Enderulat, and Ashley Boettger.  

Obituary: Joan M. (Duffy) Einspahr, age 78 of Odebolt, died Sunday, July 13, 2003 at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. Funeral services were held at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Odebolt on July 17, 2003 at 10:30 a.m. with Father John J. McGuirk and Father Jim Smith concelebrating the Mass of the Resurrection. Burial will be in St. Martin's Catholic Cemetery in Odebolt. St. Martin's Ladies' Guild recited the Rosary at 6:30 p.m., followed by a vigil service at 7:00 p.m.
     Joan M. Duffy was born on October 17, 1924, to Walter and Amelia E. (Landgraf) Duffy in Odebolt, Iowa, one of six children to bless this union. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith at St. Martin's Church in Odebolt, where she was a faithful servant and member until she was called by God to leave this life.
     Joan moved with her family to Storm Lake and Cherokee for a short time before returning to Odebolt, where she lived the remainder of her life. Joan attended school at St. Mary's Elementary School in Storm Lake and Immaculate Conception in Cherokee, and when back in Odebolt she went to St. Martin's School and then Odebolt High School, from which she graduated in 1942. She continued her education at St. Joseph's Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City from 1943 to 1946 when she graduated. She then worked as a nurse in Carroll for Dr. Walter Annenberg, and in later years at the Odebolt Nursing Home in Odebolt. Joan loved being a nurse, and as she did in every aspect of her life, gave unselfishly of herself to what she was doing, always seeing that each person received the best care she was capable of providing.
     Joan married Dale Einspahr in Odebolt on a very hot day August 7, 1947 at the Priest's House in Odebolt, after which a reception was held at her parents' home in Odebolt. Her family recalls the extreme heat of the day being exacerbated by all the cooking necessary in the house to prepare the food for the reception. Joan and Dale started their marriage surrounded by family and friends and that was to be how they lived every day of the nearly 56 years they were married. This union was blessed with two sons, Rodney and Dean, and two daughters, Ellen and Karen.
     Joan spent many years working with her family and then her husband Dale at the Duffy & Einspahr Insurance & Real Estate firm in Odebolt. Joan had started working for Mr. Fred Gilbert who owned the agency before her father bought it, as a secretary and bookkeeper in 1942. At various times before, during and after Walter Duffy, Joan's father, purchased the agency in 1944, all six of his children worked in the office for differing lengths of time. Dale Einspahr joined his father-in-law as a partner in 1951 in the agency. Except for the years she spent in training to become a registered nurse and being a stay-at-home mother when her children were young, Joan worked in the agency for 57 years with her husband Dale, her father and later her brother Richard, until her retirement in 1999. She was known for her great friendliness to all and for her exacting work ethic in the office.
     As a child, Joan was a bit of a prankster and her sense of humor and love of life were easily apparent in her ready smile and contagious laugh as an adult.
     Joan and Dale thoroughly enjoyed over 50 years as members of two Odebolt organizations, the Pot Luck Supper Club, a group of people who became cherished friends, and the Bridge Club, where they were charter members.
     Joan had a great appreciation of beauty, and was always quick to point out flowers and scenery that caught her eye. She also loved all kinds of music and had a special fondness for poetry. Ellen recalls her mother's enthusiasm for helping with any of her school assignments involving poetry. Joan and Dale also enjoyed traveling about the area to find good places at which to dine. Joan was an excellent cook and her family says her pies were wonderful, with flakey, delicious crusts. Shopping was another favorite pastime for Joan and she especially liked to include her family, which made each trip into a special memory for her.
     Above all earthly tasks and diversions, however, her family was always her priority and she cherished any time spent with them.
     Joan is survived by her husband Dale of Odebolt; two sons, Rodney and wife Joy of Elkhorn, Nebraska and Dean of Tucson, Arizona; two daughters, Ellen and husband Rommie Maxey of Houston, Texas and Karen and husband Lee Hemer of Odebolt; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Walter Duffy and wife Patricia of Lincoln, Nebraska and Richard Duffy of Odebolt; two sisters, Phyllis Gardner, and Betty and husband Robert Hansen, all of Odebolt.
     She was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Amelia Duffy, parents-in-law Ben and Stella Einspahr, sister Patricia Smith, brother-in-law Donald Gardner, and great-nephew Scott Barnes.
     Joan was a devoted wife and mother and a loving and loyal daughter, sister and aunt. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

The Chronicle, Volume 112, Number 29,
July 17, 2003

The Mayor Sez...
     I received an anonymous letter recently that was quite interesting.  Normally unsigned stuff goes to file 13, but this one earned a response.
     The anonymous author basically says that bigger is better when in fact state educators say, "fight for your small schools and your identity."
     The anonymous author says, "Your emotions are clouding the facts."  I say, "You bet my emotions, along with many others, have finally kicked in to do something about those of you that want to sell us out (and our kids)."
     Now for something of a very positive nature.  There is going to be a referendum on whether or not to have a local option one cent for school infrastructure.  It is absolutely imperative to vote "YES" on this.  When you go just about anywhere and spend your dollars, you are helping that community out as they already have 1 penny voted in.  Let us get behind this referendum and vote "YES", as it is just one of many positive things that are going to happen down the road.
 -  R. J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt

Congregate Meals  - After 29 years of serving nutritional noon lunches at 214 S. Main Street (currently Caroll's Kitchen) in Odebolt, the Elderbridge Agency for Aging has moved their Congregate Meals to the Odebolt Community Center.  The food, provided by the Wall Lake Meal Center, is brought to Odebolt each day where twenty to thirty senior citizens gather for nutritional lunches at 11:30 a.m.  The fee for suggested contribution for each meal went from $2.25 to $2.75.  Contact Caroleen Loeback, Site Manager, at 668-4195 for reservations or more information.  A 24 hour advance notice is required.

New Slide at Odebolt Public Swimming Pool - A new slide was installed at the swimming pool shortly before the pool season opened this year.  The Richland Robins 4-H club served an Omelet Brunch earlier in the year and donated the proceeds to the City of Odebolt for the purchase of the slide.  The Faith Lutheran Church of Odebolt is also known for the support they provide for the pool each year.  The pool continues to provide good entertainment for the youth of Odebolt throughout the hot summer months.  You are invited to take a look at the pool facilities.  Public support is appreciated.

In the Service - Sergeant Gregory James Bruening was called to active duty January 21, 2003 as part of the 129th Transportation Company out of Gardner, KS to serve in Enduring Freedom.  He was in Ft. Riley, KS with the 129th when he was deployed.  In civilian life, Greg works for Jerry's Plumbing and Heating in Sac City.  He is married and the father of two children.  Greg graduated from Odebolt-Arthur High School in 1988 and is the son of Ray and Pat Bruening of Odebolt.

Chris Hedden, Coach-of-the-Year - 1994 OA graduate Chris Hedden has been named Coach of the Year in the Big East Conference in eastern Iowa.  In his first season as head coach at Midland of Wyoming, Hedden led the Eagles to a 22-7 overall record with a conference mark of 9-2.  He also coached a co-Most Valuable Player of the conference.  Hedden was named all-conference as a player for OA in 1994 and carried five letters in baseball and basketball.

Local Residents featured in The Herb Companion - Jack and Jane Hogue of Odebolt are featured in the August/September issue of The Herb Companion, a national magazine celebrating the useful plants.  The story, "From Hog Farmer to Herb Lover, " describes Jack Hogue's transition from a hog farmer to an herb gardener at Prairie Pedlar, the herb farm owned by the Hogues.  The Herb Companion is a bimonthly magazine devoted to a vocational herb gardeners, cooks, crafters and general enthusiasts.

PRAIRIE PEDLAR 
ANNUAL GARDEN FESTIVAL
http://www.prairiepedlar.com/

     The Annual Garden Festival will be held at Prairie Pedlar in NW Iowa on Saturday, July 26 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and Sunday, July 27 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
     In addition, reservations can be made for an 'Evening Extra', which will take place on Saturday night from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. The two-day gala will feature a variety of garden activities for the entire family.
     Guest speakers include Jim Long, of Long Creek Herbs who lives along the Missouri/Arkansas border in Ozark country. Jim is a columnist for the Herb Companion magazine. At 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, his presentation, "What Was In A Doctor's Medicine Bag in 1850?", makes century old ties to current over-the-counter medications like tums, listerine, and cough drops. Jim gleans his information from an 1859 formulas diary and includes interesting information from the patent medicine era of Lydia Pinkham, and Kloss' Linament. This program is free to the public. 
     In addition, Kathleen Ziemer, owner of ButterfliZ of Iowa, who operates a cottage business in Des Moines that raises a variety of butterflies for wedding releases and other special occasions will entertain groups in the flower garden as she shares her knowledge of the Butterfly kingdom. Butterfly walks will take place at 12:00 noon and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.  
     At 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jim Long will present a workshop, "Ten Ways to Eat a Rose" in the refurbished schoolhouse on the property. A registration fee for the workshop is $10 and may be paid at the door.
     In addition, Maypole Dancers will perform at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 & 3:00 on Saturday, as well as 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 on Sunday. 
     Watch artist, Katie Evers, at work in the garden, enjoy outdoor floral/herbal exhibits and children's activities, and sort through an array of perennial plants that will be for sale. Linger through more than 65 theme gardens, climb the Garden Mount for a spectacular sight, and visit the Garden Folly for a step back in time. View the flower harvest hanging in the lofty haymow of the restored bow-truss barn, and browse through the lower level gift shop to choose from an array of garden gifts and accessories. Ice cream refreshments will be available at the concession stand.
     Admission to the daytime activities in the garden is free to the public. 
     The Prairie Pedlar is located at 1609 - 270th Street, six miles North of Odebolt. For more information, visit Prairie Pedlar's website: 
http://www.prairiepedlar.com/
     New to the Prairie Pedlar Garden Festival is our first ever, "Evening Extra" celebration. You can beat the afternoon heat by joining us Saturday night in the gardens at 7:00 p.m. A guided garden walk will explain theme gardens, identify flowers, and share interesting plant folklore and garden remedies. The tour will be followed by hors d'oeuvres at quaint table settings artfully arranged throughout the new Sanctuary Garden for small groups or large. Then sit back and enjoy Jim Long, of Long Creek Herbs, who will present a delightful program, "Dream Pillows and Love Potions". Jim is a columnist for the Herb Companion magazine. He has traveled to the far corners of the globe hunting for new and interesting plants and researching new ways to use them. He's been seen on many Home & Garden TV and Discovery Channel programs. He's been a featured speaker at Disneyworld's Epcot Gardenfest and has spoken to a variety of national conference and groups.  Take this opportunity to glean from his extensive herbal knowledge and to appreciate his engaging garden conversation. Admission to the evening program is $10.00 and reservations may be limited. Call 668-4840 today to save your seat.  Bring a Friend!

The Mayor Sez...
     When this gets read, the 4th of July will have come and gone for the year 2003. Sad, but true, summer is flying by!
     Many challenges will face us as fall approaches: one of which I have a deep concern. They say natural gas prices are going to go up as much as 50% which will create a financial hardship for many. One alternative is electrical type heating such as space or baseboard units. Don't wait.
- R.J. Rex, Mayor of Odebolt.

New at the Public Library

• The Face, by Dean Koontz; Flirting With Pete, by Barbara Delinsky, The Lake House, by James Patterson; Wish Come True, by Eileen Goudge; Last Things, by Ralph McInerny; White Death, by Clive Cussler; The Tattooed Girl, by Joyce Carol Oates; Die in Plain Sight, by Elizabeth Lowell; Chasing Darkness, by Danielle Girard; The Quilter's Legacy, by Jennifer Chiaverini #5; Mother Road, by Dorothy Garlock;
• Paperbacks: Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger; About Face, by Fern Michaels; Always a Thief, by Kay Hooper; Heaven, Texas by Susan Phillips; Forever Victoria, and Sweetwater, by Dorothy Garlock; The Quilter's Apprentice #1, Round Robin #2, The Cross-County Quilter5's #3, and The Runaway Quilt #4 by Jennifer Chiaverini; Navy Blues by Debbie Macomber; Leadership, by Rudolf W. Giuliani; We Were The Third Herd, by Richard Hogue; An Alzheimer's Guide, by Pat Nckola; Spirit of Christmas XVII by leisure Arts; Let's Roll, by Lisa Beamer (bio); Harry Potter & The Order of Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling.
• DVD's: Atlantis: Milo's Return, The Pianist, Windtalkers, Ghost Ship, Star Trek Nemesis, Die Another Day 007, About Schmidt, Catch me If You Can, Just Married, and Jungle Book II.
• Videos: Miss Congeniality, Rat Race
• Audio-CD's: When the Wind Blows, by James Patterson; Twelve Times Blessed, by Jacquelyn Mitchard; The Altman Code, by Robert Ludlam; Flirting With Pete, by Barbara Delinsky; and No Second Chance, by Harlan Coben.

Senior Meals Site Change- The Over 60's will no longer meet at Caroll's Kitchen for dinner. On July 7 they began going to the Community Center for dinner at 11:30 a.m.  Please call Caroleen Loebeck at 668-4195 for reservations.

School Board Filing to Begin
Bob Daiker and Jeff Scott have expiring terms at O-A this fall. Nomination papers are available from board secretary Carol Auen and 15 signatures are required.  School board elections will be Tuesday, Sept. 9. The voter registration deadline is Aug. 29 at 5 p.m.

Lundstroms to appear at First Baptist Church, Kiron, on Wednesday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. -  Larry and Gloria Lundstrom of Sisseton, SD, will present a timely message of inspiration and hope through music and the Word! They come to give hope to the lost and downhearted and encouragement to hurting families. Their lives have been peppered with pain, loss and disappointment, but it has not taken away their joy of living. Admission is free. A freewill offering will be taken.

The Denison Christian Women's Club invites all ladies in the area to a luncheon to be held Wednesday, July 16 at 1 p.m. at Cronk's Angus Room in Denison. A special feature and music will be present by Zion's school students of Denison with Janet Gerjets of Brocking, SD, as guest speaker. Reservations can be made by calling 712-263-6026 or 712-263-4815.

Deaths: 
Freda Wilhelmine Elise Stehr, 98, of Odebolt passed away Saturday, July 5, 2003, at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove, Iowa. Services were 2 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Odebolt. 
     Freda was born June 6, 1905, the daughter of Charles and Louise (Vosgerau) Schultz in Sac County, Iowa. She was raised south of Odebolt and attended Wheeler Township Country School. She was married to Henry Stehr on June 11, 1924, at her parents' home in Sac County. They had five children, Arlene, Ardis, Daryl, Janice and Rollyn. 
     She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Stockholm Township, Crawford County, Iowa, until they moved to Odebolt and joined Trinity Lutheran Church. 
     She is survived by two daughters, Arlene Sundell of Odebolt, and Janice and her husband, George Witte of Schaller, Iowa; a son and his wife, Rollyn and Nancy Stehr of Burnsville, Minn.; a daughter-in-law, Donna Stehr of Kiron, Iowa; 20 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lillian Bedel of Wall Lake, Iowa, and Vera Bedel of Omaha; as well as many other extended family members. 
     She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry; a daughter, Ardis Schroeder; a son, Daryl Stehr; two sons-in-law, Robert Sundell and Norman Schroeder; two great-grandsons, Patrick North and Cade Johnson; and a great-great-grandson, Cole Johnson.

Earl Johnson, 84, of Odebolt died Wednesday, July 9, 2003, at Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center at a brief battle with cancer. Services were July 12 at Faith Lutheran Church in Odebolt, with the Rev. Patricia Underberg officiating; burial in Odebolt Cemetery.  
     Born Dec. 14, 1918, in Kiron, Iowa, Earl Fred Johnson was the son of Fred Oscar and Anna Sophie (Wangler) Johnson. He grew up in Odebolt and received his education at Wheeler 5. He worked for several area farmers as a young man. He was baptized on April 8, 1919, and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in May 1933, at Bethel Lutheran Church in rural Kiron. On October 11, 1942, he joined Faith Lutheran Church in Odebolt, where he was a faithful and active member, serving over the years as Sunday School teacher and superintendent, as head usher and on several church committees. He also was a 4-H leader in Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa, and worked with various community projects.
     He was united in marriage to Phrona (Bruns) Woodke on Dec. 4, 1940. The couple farmed in Ida and Sac counties until 1981. They moved into Odebolt in 1987. In addition to farming, he enjoyed carpentry, traveling, camping, fishing, playing cards and playing Swedish songs on his accordion. In later years, he participated in Senior dances and especially enjoyed time spent with family and friends. 
     Survivors include his wife, Phrona; two children and their spouses, Margaret Ann and Mervin Buller of Odebolt and Bloyce and Gayle Johnson of West Des Moines; a daughter-in-law, Barbara Johnson of Medford, Wis.; a former daughter-in-law, Nanci Boten of West Des Moines; seven grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a great-step granddaughter; two sisters-in-law, Orlean Skibsted of Storm Lake, Iowa, and Mary Johnson of Odebolt; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 
     He was preceded in death by his parents; an adopted son, Willard Johnson; two grandchildren, Daryl and Gene Johnson; and two brothers and their wives, Raymond and Ferne Johnson and LeRoy and Ella Johnson.

Emma R. Hausman, 86, of Odebolt died Sunday, June 29, 2003. Services were July 3rd at Trinity Lutheran Church in Odebolt. Burial was in Odebolt Cemetery.  
     Born November 22, 1916 near Denison, Iowa to Hans and Dora (Namanny) Claussen.  Born and raised on a farm near Denison and attended the McAhren Country School and Lutheran Parochial School in Dension.  United in marriage June 28, 1936 to Henry Hausman of Odebolt, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison.  
     Owned and operated the Gamble Store in Odebolt for several years until 1944 when they moved to their farm. Owned and operated H&M Electric in partnership with Francis and Marge McCorkindale in the 1950's.  Member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Odebolt for 50 years until the church closed in August 1985. She then joined Trinity Lutheran Church in Odebolt.
    Survived by her son Jim and Cindy Hausman of Ida Grove, IA; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren, a sister, Marie Bettin of Lake View. 
     Preceded in death by her parents; husband Henry, April 1, 1992; two sisters, Eloise Frehse and Hilda Lindstrom; two brothers; Henry Claussen and Pete Claussen.

Other News

Girls Softball  - Odebolt-Arthur lost their final two Maple Valley Conference softball games of the 2003 season. The losses left the Trojanettes with a 6-5 record in the conference and 11-9 overall.

Congratulations to Mark & Pam Hanson for winning June yard of the month. They received an Odebolt Flag & the Yard of the Month sign was placed in their yard.