The OABCIG Spring Vocal Music Extravaganza topps them all on May 4. Linda Johnson brings out the sixth, seventh and eighth grade Choirs. To begin the evening, the sixth grade Choir sang tunes like Haida and Jubilate, Alleluia! And bringing back memories for all of us, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: A Choral Medley.
Next in line was the seventh and eighth Choir singing tunes such as Make them Hear you, Hope Rises, and There will be a New Day.”
The Ridge View Spring Band and Vocal Concert and Art Show was a wonderful display of the arts throughout the night on May 2. In the High School Gym, art displays were set up for viewing. Remarkable works. The Art Instructor is Mrs. Angie Kohn.
In Feb. 1898, the Women’s Reading Circle, consisting of 15 Odebolt women who organized for mental improvement, started a fund for a free public library. When they had accumulated $200, they started the Odebolt Library Association, a corporation with $5 shares each. Then, Hon. W.W. Field subscribed $500 and other citizens of the town and country adjacent subscribed $700 more, Making $1,400 available. Books were purchased and the library opened in July 1898.
If you take 4th street west out of the town of Odebolt, you will meet up with a very tall owl greeting you as you drive by. And, if you look farther to the right in the same yard, you will see a bear standing tall with a redbird in his paw and the words WELCOME carved alongside. These are quite the sight and wonderful decorations for our town. Jerod Mace occupies the house, but the stumps were created into art with a prior occupant. Mace kindly gave permission for this story.
Dan Remer, owner of Remer Realty and Appraisal in downtown Ida Grove, has a long history of real estate experience.
“My dad was a certified general appraiser,” said Remer, “and a real estate broker for 50 years, and I worked underneath him. He wanted to train me to be an appraiser.”
Remer’s life took a detour before he became a realtor, however.
Shari O’Bannon has been preaching at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ida Grove for 16 years. She is a Commissioned Ruling Elder. Over the years, Presbyterian USA has changed their rules, whereas someone could preach who is a lay pastor or commissioned ruling elder, as it is now. O’Bannon has risen to the rule at all times. O’Bannon says her challenges are struggling with ‘How can I help you?’ O’Bannon prays,
“I pray that God gives me the words to say and gives me other people with education in a certain area to help.”
Anita Radke began her 45-year teaching career in a parochial school in Hospers, Iowa. The following summer, she married Mike Radke and accepted a second grade teaching position in Galva. When the 1980 reorganization of Galva and Holstein occurred, she began teaching third grade in Holstein, teaching first, second, and third grades until her retirement from full-time teaching in June 2016. In July 2016, her phone started ringing, asking her to teach half time fifth grade in Galva. After conversations with her husband, she accepted – thinking it was a one year commitment.
Ridge View High school theater department presented Shakespeare’s A Midsummer night’s dream on Thursday, April 27 and Saturday, April 29 in the evening at the Rosemary Clausen Center for Performing Arts. Much dialogue for these young actors to learn. They did a fine job.
A short synopsis of the play is this: People get lost in the woods. A fairy called Puck manipulates their romance affections and (in one case) anatomical head-shape. Actors put on a play to celebrate Theseus’s wedding day.
Jackie Courtright is retiring from teaching English at Ridge View High School. She once taught at Washington High school in Cherokee for 29 years. She took early retirement from there, but missed teaching, so, when she was asked in 2005 to teach half time at Holstein High School, she took it on. She has been teaching a total of 50 plus years.
While being led down to Courtright’s room for this interview, a colleague said in regards to Courtright’s retirement, “She will be greatly missed.”
Tears came to Courtright’s eyes when she heard this, as she said,
Galva-Holstein Elementary performed their Spring Concert on Tuesday, April 25. To begin, Mr. Jonah Kistenmacher directed the 5th Grade Band to play 3 songs: Theme from Symphony No. 9, Indigo Rock, and Shine. It was a pleasant performance, for sure.
For the rest of the evening, Ms. Amanda Kinney directed her music class through many cultures:
