SCD turning into MusicFest

Protivin and Wykoff have polka music. Bluffton has “Light up the Bluff.” And Spring Grove has Bluegrass Fest. Lime Springs is going to join their ranks pretty soon with the varied music going to played over Sweet Corn weekend on Aug. 10-12.

Clerk gets probation, restitution

Former Lime Springs City Clerk Larry Gates was sentenced in the Iowa District Court for Howard County on March 19, 2012.

Chester luncheon, egg hunt

The Easter Bunny has snuck up on us. It’s almost Easter and that means Chester’s spring luncheon and egg hunt! Chester is having its luncheon on Saturday, March 31 at the Community Center from 11:00-2:00 p.m. Partners in Progress is ready for a picnic, by serving maidrites, potato salad, beans and dessert—eat in or carry out.

Chester to test new siren

The City of Chester is testing its new warning siren every Wednesday, starting March 28 and through the end of April.

On March 28 and April 4, 11, 18 and 25, the siren will go off at noon or at 6:00 p.m. to test the siren and to train the public what it sounds like during an emergency.

Grace Hughes Foundation grant applications due

Applications are now being accepted for the Grace Hughes Foundation from local Lime Springs and Howard County non-profit organizations and the Howard-Winneshiek Community School District. The applications can be picked up at Lime Springs City Hall or emailed by contacting limearea@iowatelecom.net. They are due on or before Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Merle Mitchell, 85, Cresco

Merle Joseph Mitchell died Monday, March 26, 2012 in Cresco, Iowa. Merle was born to Thomas Mitchell and Loretta Drew Mitchell on July 8, 1926 in Lawler, Iowa.

Arnold ‘Arnie’ DeRuiter, 74, LS

Arnold (Arnie) Lee DeRuiter, 74, of Lime Springs, Iowa passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, March 23, 2012.

Arnie was born on Dec. 17, 1937 in Lynnville, Iowa to Teunis and Jeanette DeRuiter. He attended country school in the Lynnville area and graduated from Lynnville High School in 1956. He attended Upper Iowa University after graduation.

On May 31, 1959 Arnie married Betty Rodas at the Congregational Church in Edgewood, Iowa. They lived in Edgewood and Arnie worked at Thermogas until 1968 when he was transferred to Lime Springs.

Dolores ‘Dolly’ Miles, 93, Saratoga

Dolores “Dolly” Miles, 93, of Riceville, Iowa formerly of Saratoga, Iowa passed away at the Riceville Family Care & Therapy Center on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

Dolly was born on April 12, 1918 to David and Emma (Horesji) Dinger on the family farm in Howard County. She attended rural school in Howard County and graduated from Riceville High School and worked at Oliver in Charles City during World War II. Dolly began teaching in a country school before attending Upper Iowa University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree. Throughout her 38 years of teaching, she taught in Lime Springs, Chester, and Cresco Schools. She was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star.

Delores ‘Dee’ Cowles, 87, Cresco

Delores (Dee as she was known to family and friends) was born on June 2, 1924 in Farmington, Minn. to James Dennis Magirl and Clara (Hosch) Magirl. She was one of six children, five girls and one boy in the Magirl family. Her surviving siblings include Mary Callahan, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Florence Thompson, Reno, Nev.

Delores grew up as a farm girl, preferring to work outside on the farm. Following graduation from high school, Dee worked for Oelwein Chemical Co (Occo) in Oelwein, Iowa.

Taking a swing at new business venture

Dennis Langreck stands at the new granite bar he installed at Root River Country Club.

By Marcie Klomp

It’s a new season of golfing at Root River Country Club, just four miles south of Spring Valley with a new owner. With the unseasonably warm weather, the course opened March 15 with the restaurant to open in April.

Dennis and Beth Langreck of Lime Springs added 69 acres to their farming operation, but don’t expect them to plow this under! They took possession of the golf course Jan. 1, and the family has been remodeling and sprucing up the place ever since. Week one, they cleaned. Week two, demolition started and continued for the next seven weeks.

“Beth and I saw an opportunity and talked about it. We were kinda interested [in purchasing the country club] but we couldn’t get together [with the member-owned business]. We walked away for awhile and then decided it’s something we wanted to do. Besides, it’s not every day you can own a golf course.”