Tornado–EF2 Tornado damages homes in Howard, Fillmore

The Mitch Shultz family, living on the former Gailen Johnson farm, northwest of Lidtke Mill, escaped injury when the twister came through. One daughter slept through the ruckus.

The roof of the Jewel Kiefer home was torn off. By fortune or not, Mrs. Kiefer had been admitted to the hospital earlier that week.

By Dan Evans and Marcie Klomp

Following a path from north of Riceville through the countryside between Chester and Lime Springs and on to Minnesota, a tornado devastated homes, machinery, sheds, grain bins and more this past Sunday, May 22.

Pleasant Hill Cemetery appeals for help

Lime Springs residents and former residents are being asked to give donations to help with the upkeep for Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The cemetery does not receive tax money and costs have risen steadily over the last several years. Gifts may be sent to Wilton Thomas, P.O. Box 122 or Donna Ihns, 207 W. Franklin St., both of Lime Springs, Iowa 52155 or any board member of donations can be left at City Hall.

Lidtke Mill, House Clean-up Day

Roy Herman Lidtke looks the part of a miller as he attaches a sack to the auger.

A special clean-up day was held at Lidtke Mill and mill house on Saturday, May 21. Those helping to sweep and scrub were Claire and Dorothy Anderlik, Mickey Hart, Laney Stevenson, Carla Ness, Dr. Roy Herman and Alicia Lidtke, Jerry White, Abby Hovey, Evelyn Truka, Mary Stevenson, Amiah DeWolf, Tary Kolek and Phyl Stevenson.

The Mill will start its touring season on Memorial Day, May 30 through Labor Day, September 5. Hours are 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through the summer.

Special tours for groups or individuals are welcome and can be arranged by calling 563-566-2893 or 563-566-2864.

Don’t forget to attend the Buckwheat and Buttermilk Pancake Day on Saturday June 4, from 7:00-noon. It is a benefit for the mill. Another benefit is the Ice Cream Social with full meal on Sunday, July 10 with serving from 4:00-7:00.

Richter family goes viral

David Richter, don’t look now, but someone is looking over your shoulder! (It’s actually dad Tim, who found this eight-foot picture of himself at the convention in Tampa, Fla.) Photo submitted

Well, the big time paparazzi have been keeping their distance from the Tim Richter family. Maybe they can’t find rural Lime Springs, but that doesn’t stop the local media.

They were found on the set—doing business as usual . . . farming.

The family was featured in a six-minute video clip sponsored by Dow AgroSciences. The chemical company was introducing a new product and needed some “real” farmers.

Richter said, “Dow needed a couple farmers and a friend of a friend gave them my name. They asked if I’d be willing to do it.” And the rest, as they say, is history.

Softball, pool will keep kids busy this summer

Kim and Harry Kitchen sign up for summer softball. If you didn’t get a chance to sign up, call Laney Stevenson.

Carla Moser updated the Lime Springs City Council on softball and swimming pool events. At the May 3 meeting, she said there was to be a sign up on May 7. “We are also looking for coaches.” Laney Stevenson is in charge of softball this year.

Pool

She also gave the board’s recommendations for lifeguards for summer 2011, which were accepted. The manager will again be Raquel Ristau with Haley Ollendick as assistant manager. “We are going to ask that one or the other be working at all times because a lot of the guards are young or working for the first year.”

Painting water tower

Council members learned that McGuire Iron will be sandblasting the inside of the water tower and then painting it inside and outside.

Groups give reports to LS council

The separate entities under the City gave reports at the Council meeting on May 3.

Elizabeth Roberts, 79, Lime Springs

Elizabeth Louise Roberts, 79 of Lime Springs, Iowa, passed away at the Regional Health Services of Howard County, Iowa on Saturday, May 7, 2011.

Elizabeth was born on a farm west of Grand Meadow, Minn. on June 22, 1931 to Thomas and Olivia (Stier) Michaelsen. She attended and graduated from Grand Meadow High School in 1950. Betty had a few different jobs. She drove truck, hauling peas and sweet corn in the 1950s for Holman Canning Company and also Libby’s. She also worked as a nurse’s aide at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

H-W looking at safety of students

Supt. Dianne Anderson holds up the proposed driveway project.

The roving Howard-Winneshiek Community School Board meeting made its way to Lime Springs on April 26. The biggest discussion dealt with the proposed K-8 Driveway Project.

Anyone who has Cresco Elementary or Crestwood Junior High students feels frustrated every time he or she needs to pick them up after school. The road along the circular drive is filled with car after car waiting to pick up a child.

The project will make the driveway a one-way road where cars will still be able to park along the edge, but also allow cars an easy escape. The drive will go along the circular drive and continue in front of the school to the north and end up exiting onto 4th Ave. East. This will help ease the congestion of the parking lot and entrance/exit.

Senate redistricting

On April 19, 2011, Iowa became one of the first states in the nation to enact both a congressional redistricting plan and a state legislative redistricting plan.