Okobojian

Okobojian The Okobojian is a free entertainment publication of the Dickinson County News that serves the peopl

The 43rd annual University of Okoboji Winter Games is almost here. The 2023 Winter Games edition of the Okobojian arrive...
01/20/2023

The 43rd annual University of Okoboji Winter Games is almost here. The 2023 Winter Games edition of the Okobojian arrived on racks and in the Dickinson County News earlier this week. Check inside for schedules, profiles on this year's cheerleaders and a few more helpful tidbits for planning your Winter Games weekend. You can also check it out online at:

https://www.dickinsoncountynews.com/okobojian-2023-winter-games-edition

07/18/2022

By Doris Welle - Performance Reviewer

“An Inspector Calls” is classified as a mystery. This intriguing play evolves into a lesson in human respect for one another, which we all need to reinforce today.

The play takes place in England in 1912, prior to World War I. The British aristocracy is very evident.

Director Stephen Brotebeck took college students and professional actors, wove them into a tight unit; working together to teach us all a lesson in humanity.

The set, the home of the wealthy, influential Birling family, was well done by set designer Brandon PT Davis. I wonder where he found those two portraits that hang in the room? Kirsteen Buchanan did a fine job on the costumes from that period.

Now for the Birling family — father Arthur, mother Sybil, son Eric and daughter Sheila. Rob Doyen was masterful as the arrogant, sometimes obnoxious father. The words I want to use to describe Arthur are not printable. The mother’s role was skillfully portrayed by Jesse Graham Galas. She gave the mother’s role all kinds of snobbery. You really don’t like the mother at all. Karina Short was so believable as the daughter. She stayed in character all night long, and we really felt her pain and agony over trying to break away from her family’s privileged attitude.

I really enjoyed Joe V***a as the son Eric. His character was semi-inebriated through the entire show, and he pulled that off very well.

The daughter’s “fiancé” Gerald Croft was portrayed by William Draper. He projected just the right amount of entitled attitude to make him totally believable.

Now for Inspector Goole. Chad Fess played the inspector trying to find the source or reason for the su***de of a young 21-year-old woman. Fess did the hardball investigator role perfectly. We really liked and respected him…up to the end.

Hannah Helms was efficient in the role of the maid Edna.

The audience was given additional assistance with the story line by the silhouetted acting behind the drawing room windows. It was very effective and appreciated by us all. I give credit to Kaitlyn Smith, who was back there playing the poor victim Eva/Daisy.

My neighbor attended opening night with me. We both love to solve mysteries, so we were whispering our guesses as to the outcome while the play went along. I have to admit we both got the ending wrong — but it sure was fun trying.

The musical background, trying to mimic the way movies and television shows are done, added to the suspense but was a bit too loud at times.

“An Inspector Calls” is extremely well done. It keeps our minds working and teaches us all a lesson in respectfulness. That is quite a bit to accomplish in one evening.

The play ran through Sunday, July 17.

Campus HotlineBy Doris Welle - Staff WriterThose of you who read last week’s Campus Hotline remember seeing a picture of...
07/11/2022

Campus Hotline

By Doris Welle - Staff Writer

Those of you who read last week’s Campus Hotline remember seeing a picture of the Harmony Club Orchestra from Sheldon back in 1935. I wondered if anyone would recognize some of the band members. One of the comments I received noted that Ronald Langley went on to play in the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. Thanks for mentioning it.
Kelley Zinge is back in town. The former Okoboji Summer Theatre student and later director of their Boji Bantam Theatre, she is bringing a musical she wrote nine years ago to the OST stage. “Purely Patsy Cline” brings Patsy back to earth to tell us her stories and sing her songs. Zinge is a very talented artist with an outstanding voice. She has been touring constantly with her one-woman show, and now we get the chance to see it. Zinge is also bringing her own band to perform with her. They have not been to Okoboji before, so it will be interesting to hear their perspective on this weeklong adventure for them. Zinge’s show runs July 19-24. Welcome back Kelley!
Another famous international star is returning to the area. Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean fame was here in 2015 when he and his late partner were inducted into the Iowa Rock ’n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame. I remember him as gracious, somewhat quiet and very talented. He is bringing his band, all members of various well-known groups such as the Beach Boys, to put on the Jan and Dean Beach Party in the Roof Garden on July 29. That should be a fun show; especially for those of us who love the music of the '60s and '70s.
Brent and Brenda Tewes welcomed his sister Jo, her husband Grant and kids from Peoria, Illinois, for a fews days in the area. Their teenaged children really enjoyed the boating and other fun things to do around here. I had not seen them in a few years, so the kids being in the mid to late teens was a shock to my system. The Tewes live on the harbor at the north end of West Lake Okoboji, so they had a spectacular view of the fireworks on the Fourth of July for their guests to enjoy.
For all you karaoke fans out there, Jason Grinnen will be back at his post with B & J Karaoke in a couple of weeks. He had to undergo some surgery and is now home from the hospital. He told me he must take it easy for at least two weeks before he can get back at it again. We all wish him a speedy recovery.
If you have a reunion, family party or special event coming up this summer, let me know. You can email the information to [email protected] or give me a call at 712-320-2850. Have a safe week!

MEMORY LANEMowingBy R. Aubrey La Foy - Okobojian ContributorWe live on Emerald Hills Golf Course, and the most noise we ...
07/10/2022

MEMORY LANE

Mowing

By R. Aubrey La Foy - Okobojian Contributor

We live on Emerald Hills Golf Course, and the most noise we hear are the fellows mowing the fairways and greens. What a contrast mowing is compared to the mowing when I was a youth. My dad was very proud of our home in Milford and mowed our yard with a push mower. He won several years for having the “best lawn in Milford.” Later on it became my task to push the reel mower around the yard. Our first cottage at Terrace Park was mowed by a reel mower but later on we obtained a power mower with a gas engine.
Money was scarce in The Depression years, but lawns still needed mowing. I was fortunate to have several lawns to mow and was paid the large amount of 25 cents. Wow! Twenty-five cents would buy a lot of candy or whatever. The chief problem with the reel mowers was they needed to be sharpened periodically, otherwise they didn’t mow very well. Several men in our community set up shops in their garages dedicated to sharpening the reel mowers. The price was one dollar but, considering you only received 25 cents to mow a lawn, it was high. Mowing was hard work but was good for building your muscles.
I recall that lawns needed mowing because if you left them too long the grass made it tough to mow and do a good job. We didn’t have much with which to do trimming like the w**d eaters of today but used hand operated shears, and they were tough on hands. We also had clippers to trim bushes. Maintaining a nice lawn required a lot of physical labor.
Establishing a lawn prior to the advent of sod was a time consuming operation. We purchased a lot at Terrace Park in the early 1950s and built a cottage. We purchased several loads of black dirt and spread it around with a shovel and a wheelbarrow. After we had it spread, Connie’s father sent their hired man Paul from the farm with a drag to smooth it out. The trip was 22 miles from Wallingford to the Lakes and back but Paul thought it was a blast. After it was all nice and smooth and level we broadcast the grass seed on the surface then used garden hoses, sprinklers and water. Before that summer was over, we had a nice established lawn but it needed to be mowed with the reel mower. It is much simpler today with sod being used, and we can have a lawn overnight.
In the early 1970s, we moved to Pocahontas Point on West Lake Okoboji. The house had been built in 1897, and the lot was pie shaped with 125 feet of lakeshore and 35 feet in the back. It had many oak trees and a wonderful view. The lakeshore was a jungle, and we had it landscaped but it was still a good slope down to the water. Mowing that sloop was a challenge and, when the acorns fell, it was dangerous to mow and not slip on them. We solved that problem by attaching a rope to the mower and pulling the mower up and down the slope — hard work and thankfully only needed mowing about once after the acorn harvest. Where there is a will, you find a way.
I was always curious driving around the country going past cemeteries. They were fenced, including gates. It was kind of a joke to say the people buried in those cemeteries were fenced in knowing full well that was not true. Several years ago I chanced upon a photo of sheep grazing on the White House lawn eating the grass or “mowing” the lawn, and it dawned on me that was why cemeteries were always fenced. I learned later that prior to Decoration Day (now Memorial Day) herds of sheep were placed in the cemeteries to trim the grass.
Today it is still a chore to keep cemeteries looking nice but, with power mowers and grass trimmers, it is can be done. Labor is a problem today and woe to a sexton who doesn’t do a good job. Cemeteries contain much of our past history, and we honor ancestors buried there. I don’t know if you have ever been to Arlington National Cemetery, but it is a heartfelt experience to watch the changing of the guard at the tombs of the Unknown Soldiers and view the rows and rows of crosses marking each grave. I have seen military cemeteries in Holland and France and was so proud and honored by how well kept they are. Beautiful!
We wintered in Arizona for more than 20 winters, and it was nice but we missed the green. Our lawns were rocks, and the only thing we had to do was keep the w**ds out. Some people even raked their rocks to make them look nice, but I never did. In our complex at Leisure World, the early homes and yards were grass. It attracted the midwestern crowd but required lots or irrigation. The golf courses were irrigated; the fairways were green and required a large number of workers.
The equipment provided today is very extensive to keep your lawn and property — hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, string trimmer and the Grasshopper riding mower. It is quite evident when we drive cross-country and see the well-manicured lawns and hedges. I would have loved to have some of those machines when I was a youth.
Today we live in Emerald Meadows townhouses, and the lawns are mowed and kept up for us, plus the trimming is taken care of and the leaves are blown off our deck. I miss the ability to do all that beautification, but time marches on and, of course, no sheep in the cemeteries.

“Rockin’ Retro”One of the truly big stars performed At Roof GardenBy Tom Tourville - Okobojian ContributorThere are star...
07/09/2022

“Rockin’ Retro”

One of the truly big stars performed At Roof Garden

By Tom Tourville - Okobojian Contributor

There are stars and then there are STARS. The Roof Garden Ballroom welcomed to its stage one of the biggest stars in pop, country and comedy music in October of 1961. This man has won 10 Grammys and has received gold records for hit after hit. He owned his own television show, built and ran two amazing live theaters and was inducted into the country, Christian, songwriter, Nashville music, Georgia music and Atlanta music Halls of Fame.
How’s this for hits: “Gitarzan,” “The Streak,” “Everything Is Beautiful,” “Misty,” “Ahab The Arab” and “Shriner’s Convention.” He has recorded for Capitol, Prep, NRC, Mercury, Warner Brothers, Barnaby, Curb, Monument and MCA Records.
You might have guessed his name by now, but his real name is Harold Ray Ragsdale. Okay, he changed his name for the stage; including his appearance at the Roof Garden, to simply, Ray Stevens.
Often, we forget who came and performed for us at our Roof Garden Ballroom. Some of the biggest stars of the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s stood tall in front of us while leaving us musicL memories.
Ray Stevens was born Harold Ray Ragsdale in Clarksdale, Georgia, in 1939. By high school he was leading one of the hottest rock bands in Georgia, the Barons. After high school he was off to Georgia State University where he was majoring in music. At age 18 he was signed to his first recording contract — with Capitol Records no less. His first record of note was “Silver Bracelet.” Because of that hit, Stevens was signed to NRC Records to be a studio musician, song writer, music arranger and vocalist. Why? It paid more money than working for Capitol Records. Wow, did Capitol ever goof up!
But Stevens liked recording songs and the amazing fame that came with that. In 1961 he would go on to record with Mercury Records. His hit at that time was “Harry The Hairy Ape," and he came to the Roof Garden while the song was charting. It was in 1962, while still recording for Mercury, he hit it big with “Ahad The Arab” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard charts.
It wasn’t until 1966 when Stevens would move over to Monument Records, and the hits would come back in a big way when “Mr. Businessman,” and “Have A Little Talk With Myself,” were released. Then he hit it big with “Gitarzan” and it was a Top Ten hit for Stevens along with being awarded a gold record as well as two Grammys.
While he wasn’t recording his own hits, he would write songs for Dolly Parton, Ronnie Dove, Brenda Lee, Brook Benton, Patti Page and Dusty Springfield. Ray was at the top of his game.
By the ‘70s, Ray was back in the studio working with different artists as well as continuing his recording life. I know he worked with Ronnie and the Daytonas at some of their recording sessions. As for his own recordings, he hit it out of the park with his recording of “Everything Is Beautiful” in 1970 which won Ray another Grammy and went to No. 1 on the charts selling well over one million copies and going gold.
Between 1973 and 1974, he was working on various Nashville TV shows and took the fad of streaking and turned that fad into another No. 1 gold record, “The Streak.” He won another Grammy for the release of “Misty,” that he put out in 1975.
The music scene was changing quickly in the ‘90s, so Ray took on one of the biggest challenges of his life. He built his own “Ray Stevens Theater” in Branson, Missouri. How could the show not do well with Ray’s catalog of monster hits to perform from. While at his theater, he tapped into the next new trend, music videos.
Ray has continued to release records and videos all the way to today. He sold his theater in Branson in 1993 and would open a new theater in West Nashville called the CabaRay Theater in 2018. In 2014 Ray would publish his own autobiography, “Ray Stevens’ Nashville.”
In October of 1961, the Recording Stars Dance Party Tour arrived at the Roof Garden Ballroom. It was a star-laden package show and was headlined with Bobby Vinton and Tony Orlando. It used New York’s Prep Tones to back all the artists. The idea was to have a set of headliners and then some “one hit wonders” on the show. The “one hit wonders” for this tour included: Janie Grant, Ral Donner and some young guy from Georgia named Ray Stevens. If we had only known.
I so hope you were one of the lucky ones to have paid the $1 to get in. It gives me chill bumps just to think about it.

Until Next Week
Take Care & Remember the Music

OST showcases mega talent, funny lyrics and much moreBy Doris Welle - Performance Reviewer“Pump Boys and Dinettes” has i...
07/09/2022

OST showcases mega talent, funny lyrics and much more

By Doris Welle - Performance Reviewer

“Pump Boys and Dinettes” has it all. The set is awesome, the talent in the five-person cast is over the top and the music’s lyrics bring joy and laughter along with some poignant moments.
We, the audience are visiting a little gas station and diner on Highway 57 somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna. Set designer AJ Hansen did a spectacular job as we were immediately taken back to the ‘50s in rural America.
Adding to our enjoyment was the band. All four musicians were right there, center stage for the entire show. They blended in so well with the story the singers/actors were trying to tell. Tom Andes is the musical director and piano man. He was in his element at last night’s opening. He hammed it up and sang along with much enthusiasm. I believe I remember the cast calling him Bill during the show but — Bill or Tom — he was fun to watch.
Joining him in the band were Greg Forney on drums, Tim Schumacher on guitar and Dalton Peterson on bass. They are all fine local musicians and did a great job.
Directing an OST production for the first time, Pennsylvania native Alison Morooney had five people to work with who could sing and dance magnificently. She took their talents and blended them together; giving us a really fun musical experience.
The three “mechanics” who only like to work on cars after a few beers, were so fun to watch. They all three sing extremely well. Tyler Breeding played Jackson. It is obvious he has spent time working out and was easy on our female eyes. L.M. was played by Hunter Semrau. He has all the dance moves anyone could imagine, plays a mean piano and brings out many chuckles all night long. It was really fun to watch him tap dancing on the counter in the diner. Zeke Bocklage has the role of Jim. His voice is sweetly strong, and he is such fun to watch. Both Bocklage and Breeding play the guitar during the show too.
Now, across the street at the Double Cupp Diner, we find the Cupp sisters. Prudie (Reagan Grisolano) amd Rhetta (Betty Kay Merkle) are waitresses. They sing and dance delightfully and harmonize their awesome voices well. They may be third-year students at Stephens College, but they held their own with the interns and pros on that stage. You could not tell who were pros and who were students or interns.
You must be sure to listen to the lyrics of these songs. Each tells a story. All the anglers in the Lakes Region will be amused at “Fisherman’s Prayer.” The song “Tips” reminded us, thanks to the Cupp sisters, how important it is to leave a tip when you have finished dining. “The Night Dolly Parton Was Almost Mine” was done by Semrau. It was hilarious.
Being a former farmer, I loved the song “Farmer Tan.” So did a farmer friend of mine sitting two rows ahead of me. Right B.T.? I promised him I would not tell anyone about his farmer tan. My lips are sealed.
When the cast began singing “Closing Time,” and the sign in the window was flipped from OPEN to CLOSED, we in our seats were far from ready for the show to be over. “Pump Boys and Dinettes” is fun from the first song to the last and there are 20 of them. Thanks to the cast and crew for a most enjoyable evening. The oldest person in the audience was 97-year-old Aubrey LaFoy, and some of the youngest were in their teens. No matter what age, they all clapped, smiled and laughed all night long.
I also would like to send a thank you out to the utility people who got our power back on so we could see the show and arrive safely, thanks to working traffic lights.
The musical runs through Sunday evening. I highly recommend this one.

The summer fun keeps rolling along in the Lakes Area. Take a look at just some of what's happening with the Okobojian's ...
07/08/2022

The summer fun keeps rolling along in the Lakes Area. Take a look at just some of what's happening with the Okobojian's Catch This:

July 8 — LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
10-11 a.m. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
Boji Bantam Children’s Theatre
Okoboji Summer Theater

July 8 — LIVE MUSIC
5-9 p.m. Funset Sunset with Charlie Leissler
Nick Hickman - all day
The Gardens

July 8 — OUTDOOR EVENT
12-4 p.m. OBW Dock Hop
Okoboji Boat Works

July 8 - LIVE MUSIC
1 p.m. Kick
8 p.m. 40 Oz. to Freedom
Okoboji Store

July 8 — OUTDOOR EVENT
5-6:15 p.m. Siesta Cruise – Family Friendly

July 8 — OUTDOOR EVENT
6-9 p.m. Barefoot Dock Hop
Okoboji Boat Works

July 8 - LIVE MUSIC
6 p.m. Murphy’s Law
The Ritz

July 8 — OUTDOOR EVENT
7-10 p.m. OBW Dock Hop
Okoboji Boat Works

July 8 — LIVE MUSIC
7 p.m. Nebraska Showdown
Barefoot Bar

July 8 - LIVE MUSIC
7:30 p.m. Night Ranger
Roof Garden Ballroom

July 8 — LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
8 p.m. Pump Boys and Dinettes (musical)
Okoboji Summer Theatre

July 8 — LIVE MUSIC
9 p.m. The White Keys
Captain’s Getaway

July 9 — OUTDOOR EVENT
7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Farmers Market
Dickinson County Fairgrounds

July 9 — GOLF TOURNAMENT
Colton Baschke Charity
Emerald Hills Golf Course

July 9 — OUTDOOR EVENT
BRASL (Bike Ride Around Spirit Lake0
Spirit Lake Chamber

July 9 — OUTDOOR EVENT
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Farmers Market in the Park
Arnolds Park Amusement Park

July 9 — OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT
9-10 a.m. The Studio Yoga and Barre
Arnolds Park Amusement Park

July 9 — LIVE MUSIC
9 a.m.-12 p.m. She’s With Us
Arnolds Park Amusement Park

July 9 — LIVE EVENT
10-11 a.m. The True Story of the Little Pigs
Boji Bantam Children’s Theatre
Okoboji Summer Theater

July 9 — LIVE EVENT
10:30-11 a.m. Saturday Morning Stories
Dickinson County Nature Center

July 9 - LIVE MUSIC
11:30 a.m. The Okoboji Masters Choir
Iowa Rock ’n Roll Museum Patio

July 9 - LIVE MUSIC
1 p.m. Kick
8 p.m. 40 Oz. to Freedom
Okoboji Store

July 9 — OUTDOOR EVENT
2-5 p.m. Barefoot Dock Hop
Barefoot Bar

July 9 — LIVE MUSIC
2-6 p.m. The Mellow Dees of Okoboji
Round Lake Vineyards

July 9 — OUTDOOR EVENT
2:30-5:30 p.m. Millers Bay Yacht Party
Okoboji Boat Works

July 9 - LIVE MUSIC
all day - Nick Hickman
5-9 p.m. Funset Sunset with Ryan Sather
The Gardens

July 9 — LIVE MUSIC
2:30 p.m. Lonesome Losers
7 p.m. Nebraska Showdown
Barefoot Bar

July 9 — LIVE EVENT
4:30 and 8 p.m.
Pump Boys and Dinettes (musical)
Okoboji Summer Theatre

July 9 - LIVE MUSIC
6 p.m. Murphy’s Law
The Ritz

July 9 — LIVE MUSIC
6-8 p.m. Charlie Roth
Little Swan Lake Winery

July 9 — LIVE MUSIC
7:30 p.m. 90’s Rock Show
Preservation Plaza

July 9 — LIVE MUSIC
9 p.m. The White Keys
Captain’s Getaway

July 10 — GOLF TOURNAMENT
Parent/Child Scramble
Brooks Golf

July 10 — OUTDOOR EVENT
1-4 p.m. OBW Dock Hop
Okoboji Boat Works

July 10 - LIVE MUSIC
1 p.m. Anthony Koester Band
Okoboji Store

July 10 — LIVE MUSIC
2 p.m. Lonesome Losers
Barefoot Bar

July 10 — LIVE MUSIC
2-6 p.m. Michael Hope
Round Lake Vineyards

July 10 - LIVE MUSIC
4 p.m. Murphy’s Law
The Ritz

July 10 — LIVE MUSIC
4-6 p.m. Rick Ayres and the Jazzed Up 6tet
Little Swan Lake Winery

July 10 - LIVE MUSIC
5-9 p.m. Funset Sunset with Boji Bill
The Gardens

July 10 — LIVE EVENT
6 p.m. Pump Boys and Dinettes (musical)
Okoboji Summer Theatre

July 10 - LIVE MUSIC
9 p.m. Ventura Boulevard
Captain’s Getaway

July 11 — OUTDOOR EVENT
7 a.m.-8 p.m. Birding on the Green
Dickinson County Nature Center

July 11 - LIVE MUSIC
5-9 p.m. Funset Sunset
with Parker D & Boji Bill
The Gardens

July 11 - LIVE MUSIC
7 p.m. Dick Bauman Big Band
Pomerantz Hall
Pearson Lakes Art Center

July 11 - LIVE MUSIC
7:30 p.m. Songwriters Workshop
with Surf Zombies
Majestic Pavilion

July 12 - LIVE MUSIC
5-9 p.m. Funset Sunset with Tim Horsman
The Gardens

July 12 - LIVE MUSIC
7-9 p.m. Jazzed Up Big Band of Okoboji
Roof Garden Ballroom

July 12 — LIVE MUSIC
7:30 p.m. The Everly Set
Pearson Lakes Art Center

July 12 — LIVE EVENT
8 p.m. An Inspector Calls (mystery)
Okoboji Summer Theatre

July 13 — OUTDOOR EVENT
7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Farmers Market
Dickinson County Fairgrounds

July 13 — GOLF TOURNAMENT
Iowa Electric Coop
Brooks Golf

July 13 — OUTDOOR EVENT
10:15 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Nature Explorers
Living Things in the Environment
Dickinson County Nature Center

July 13 — OUTDOOR EVENT
10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Nature Tots
Things with Wings
Dickinson County Nature Center

July 13 — OUTDOOR EVENT
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wild Wednesday: Chemical Reactions
Iowa Lakeside Laboratory

July 13 - LIVE MUSIC
5-9 p.m. Funset Sunset with Ryan Sather
The Gardens

July 13 - LOIVE MUSIC
6-8 p.m. The Senders
Spirit Lake VFW

July 13 — LIVE MUSIC
7 p.m. Full Moon Party
Callista Clark
Barefoot Bar

July 13 — LIVE MUSIC
7:30 p.m. Forever Simon and Garfunkel
Pearson Lakes Art Center

July 13 — LIVE EVENT
8 p.m. An Inspector Calls (mystery)
Okoboji Summer Theatre

July 13 — LIVE MUSIC
9 p.m. Michael Handler Trio
Captain’s Getaway

July 14 - LIVE MUSIC
5-9 p.m. Funset Sunset with Charlie Leissler
The Gardens

July 14 - LIVE MUSIC
5:30-7:30 p.m. Paper Moon
Minerva’s Patio Party

July 14 — LIVE MUSIC
6-8 p.m. Jeremy DeWall
Round Lake Vineyards

July 14 -LIVE MUSIC
6-8 p.m. Adam Layman
Little Swan Lake Winery

July 14 — LIVE MUSIC
6-8 p.m. Rock the Roof
Mogen’s Heroes
Roof Garden Ballroom

July 14 - LIVE MUSIC
8 p.m. Ryan the Pianoman
Okoboji Store

July 14 — LIVE EVENT
8 p.m. An Inspector Calls (mystery)
Okoboji Summer Theatre

July 14 — LIVE MUSIC
9 p.m. Michael Handler Trio
Captain’s Getaway

July 15 — OUTDOOR EVENT
6-9 p.m. OBW Dock Hop
Okoboji Boat Works

July 15 — LIVE MUSIC
7 p.m. Thrillbillies
Barefoot Bar

July 15 — OUTDOOR EVENT
7-10 p.m. OBW Dock Hop
Okoboji Boat Works

July 15 — LIVE MUSIC
7:30 p.m. The Lettermen
Roof Garden Ballroom

July 15 - LIVE MUSIC
8 p.m. Damon Dotson
Okoboji Store

July 15 — LIVE EVENT
8 p.m. An Inspector Calls (mystery)
Okoboji Summer Theatre

July 15 - LIVE MUSIC
9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Joystick
The Gardens

July 15 — LIVE MUSIC
9 p.m. Tom’s Top 8
Captain’s Getaway

July 15 — LIVE MUSIC
9 p.m.-1 a.m. Joystick
The Gardens

Memory LaneFishingBy R. Aubrey La Foy - Okobojian ContributorThe following information was mainly acquired by research v...
06/19/2022

Memory Lane

Fishing

By R. Aubrey La Foy - Okobojian Contributor

The following information was mainly acquired by research via the Spirit Lake Public Library. I examined the newspapers from 1872 by searching for the term “fishing.” The search returned articles from the Spirit Lake Beacon, Milford Mail, Terril Record, Lake Park News and Storm Lake Pilot from 1872 through 1880. The newspapers held information I thought noteworthy as well as other news that seemed interesting.
August 21, 1872 - The Pilot says that the champion fisherman of Storm Lake caught “seven fine pickerel, ranging in weight all the way from four to eight pounds, in two hours.”
June 22, 1876 - “A small fishing party passed through the city by the late train Wednesday night, on their way from Omaha to Spirit Lake, Dickinson County, to spend a few weeks in that delightful locality.”- Sioux City Journal-Spirit Lake Beacon
June 7, 1877 - “The fishing parties from Charles City and Iowa Falls have returned home after having 'dead loads' of sport.” - Spirit Lake Beacon
April 18, 1878 - “The patient angler hasn’t struck very rich reward at the bridge lately. Indeed at that quarter fishing has been rather scaly business.” - Spirit Lake Beacon
May 10, 1878 - “O’Brien Pioneer: Gib Chrysler, Will Slack, Mack Green, Gene Healey, Bill Willet, Dan Gorrel and our Jr. (Bert Willis) are on a grand fishing and hunting excursion to those beautiful lakes in Dickinson County. The boys came, saw and conquered: behaved well, fished a little and returned home in good order. They will be heartily welcome in town and at these headquarters whenever they choose to put in an appearance.” - Spirit Lake Beacon
May 16, 1878 - “Thousands of pounds of fish have been caught in the Dickinson County lakes this spring. The fishing has been better this spring than ever known before.” - Clay County News-Spirit Lake Beacon
Sept. 4, 1879 - A Visitor’s Notes-W.W. Junkin of the Fairmont Ledger was casting his eagle eye about the lake country a couple of weeks ago, and as a result the following remarks appear in the last issue of his paper.
“Aug. 19, 1880 we turned our face toward Spirit Lake, a distance 20 miles from Spencer. We went in the hack, the expense being $1 to the town of Spirit Lake. We stopped one day with Mr. Arnold at West Okoboji Lake, one of the pleasantest places visited by us. Here we rode the lake and fished, but not with very great success, as our bait was not the enticing kind. A party in a boat about 100 yards from us caught 78 bass and pike in the forenoon, while we caught but six; they fished with minnows while we had to use pieces of fish.
West Okoboji is 2-3 miles wide and nearly 6 long. It is very deep, much deeper than Spirit Lake, and is nearly surrounded with timber. It is a beautiful body of water and has considerable romantic scenery about it. Mr. Arnold has locations we never saw, and the expenditure of a little labor and money would greatly enhance its loveliness. East Okoboji is long and narrow, connecting West Okoboji and Spirit Lake and various smaller lakes. Dickinson County is smaller than Jefferson being 17 by 24 in extent. About 40,000 acres of this is covered with water, reducing the land surface very much. By proper energy in attracting travelers and tourists, these bodies of water can be made more productive than an equal amount of land.
The fishing in these lakes is simply marvelous and very large revenue is derived from them. We were informed that over $4,000 was realized from the fish caught in the lakes last winter, besides supplying the neighborhood.They are a great place of resort for hunters who find an abundance of game and fish. All kinds of water fowl are plenty; ducks and smaller birds breeding in the lakes and sloughs. At this season geese and other game have commenced to make their appearance and in a few weeks the hunter’s paradise will begin.
Fish abound in the lakes — rock bass being more numerous in West Okoboji, while walleyed pike and pickerel are without number in Spirit Lake. A census of the fish in these lakes would make the population of Iowa appear insignificant in number. To give a faint idea of the quantity, we will state that in six hours fishing on the 20th, three boatloads of people caught 237 game fish — pike and pickerel — in Spirit Lake, besides a large number of perch. The sight of a perch on the hook is disgusting to a fisherman in Spirit Lake and an ej*******on of “Pshaw!” and a jerk at the pole generally lands it in the water.
At the upper end of the lake about 8 miles from the town of Spirit Lake, O. Crandall has built a hunter’s lodge. He furnishes meals, lodging, boats, bait, etc. at reasonable prices, and is crowded with visitors, about 40 being there at the time we were. He had to turn eight persons away. He is building additions and will have ample accommodations in a few weeks. If anyone is disposed to grumble at $1 to $1.25 per day for these privileges, he has no business at Crandall’s or any other fishing or hunting grounds. The fishing in the lakes of Dickinson County will not end in many years, because the smaller lakes and sloughs are such splendid hatching grounds. When the fish of Clear Lake are almost exhausted — because spawning places are few — fishing in Spirit Lake and Okoboji lakes will be magnificent, and with the game abounds, will prove an almost inexhaustible source of revenue to the county.” (reprinted in Spirit Lake Beacon)
Fishing in those days was mainly from shore or rowboats. Boys or young men were sometimes hired to do the rowing and the fishermen’s results were amazing in most cases.

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1721 Hill Avenue
Spirit Lake, IA
51360

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