Akron Hometowner serving the communities of Akron, IA and Westfield, IA with Local News, Sports and What's Happening in the community.
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August 13, 2008 What's Happening? Akron swimming season is extended to Aug. 31 Due to several incidents that forced the closing of the Akron Swimming Pool this summer, Akron officials have decided that the pool will remain open until Aug. 31. Usually the pool closes as soon as school begins. According to city officials, the pool will be open the following: • Aug. 21: 6 - 8 p.m. • Aug. 22: 6 -8 p.m. • Aug. 25: 6 - 8 p.m. • Aug. 26: 6 - 8 p.m. • Aug. 27: 6 - 8 p.m. • Aug. 28: 6 - 8 p.m. • Aug. 29: 6 - 8 p.m. • Weekends of Aug. 23 - 24 and Aug. 30 - 31 from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Farmers Market The Farmers Market, sponsored by The Akron Area Chamber of Commerce, continues Wed., Aug. 13 in the Akron City Park Athletic Boosters annual meeting The annual meeting of the Akron-Westfield Athletic Booster Club is Saturday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m., at First National Bank Community Room. Three positions on the board are open. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend. School supply drive Britton Chiropractic & Rehab Clinic is hosting a School Supply Drive Aug. 18-23. Kids Fun Day Britton Chiropractic & Rehab Clinic is hosting it's annual Kids Fun Day Aug. 23, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
School starts Thursday, August 21 at Akron-Westfield
$27 for Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury counties in Iowa and Union county in South Dakota $35 - elsewhere $20 - college (9 months)
The Akron Hometowner 712.568.2208 110 Reed St., PO Box 797 Akron, IA 51001
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Opera House board seeks public’s input by Steve Peterson Akron and surrounding area residents have a chance to view the Akron Opera House this week. Akron Community Theatre Board of Directors members will be at the opera house on Reed Street from 6 to 8 p.m. Wed., Thurs., and Fri. If this doesn’t work, contact one of the board members or Joe Hook at Koala-T Printing. Their goal is to receive input from citizens on refurbishment of the opera house building. Formal support for the project was received from the Akron City Council, and the Plymouth County Board was expected to consider a resolution at its meeting this week. “The response has been huge, with support from the city council and the county board,” said Mark Cline, the theater board’s executive director. Organizers of the effort have a tight time frame. They would like public comment by Sept. 1. The reason is grant proposals have to be submitted from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Cline said. Cline said that the building is in sound shape physically, but that work on the outside would be done before inside improvements. Doug Olson, president of the theatre board, said having Cline on staff is important. “Our architect has been here and says it is a fine building. Having Mr. Cline will be a great step forward. We needed that help,” said Olson. “This needs to be saved.” Removal of bats will be an important early step. On a positive note, one possibility is bringing back a grand staircase. The structure that dates back to 1906 and has a fine tradition of performances has had multiple other uses by businesses. Residents recalled a barber shop, complete with a shower facility. Residents and board members had a chance to tour the opera house at the theatre board of directors meeting Aug. 10. Officials said that they are interested in seeing old photographs from shows there. A definite time line would be determined where to start. Opinions from residents who fill out a form may be dropped off at the Akron Hometowner office, 110 Reed Street, or to city hall this week. All comments and suggestions will be compiled from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 16 and 17 at the First National Bank Community Room. Possible topics to be considered: external structural; external restoration; interior structural; internal restoration; beautification; theatre enhancing, performance based and theatre enhancing, audience based.
Sharing her story Akron teen thanks
donors for helping her family grieve By Julie Ann Madden She was only 12 years old when she learned her dad had just a few weeks to live. “I was in the seventh grade,” said Catie Gale, who is a freshman at Akron-Westfield Community School. “Everything was going great until one day my mom had to take my dad to the emergency room.” Her dad, Don Gale, had been out shoveling snow before work and when he came in, her mother, Lori, noticed he was having a hard time breathing. “I went to school that morning, not really knowing what was going on,” she, as keynote speaker, told golfers participating in last Friday’s Carrie Mack Memorial Golf Tournament, which is a fund-raiser for Hospice programs. “When I got home, my dad was sitting in his chair with a sad look on his face, and my mom had tears in her eyes.” “They sat me down and told me that my dad’s cancer had gotten worse and was now taking over his lungs,” said Catie, “and that there was nothing more they could do for him.” Then the oxygen tanks and an oxygen machine were brought to their home, and then the family doctor came. “The doctor mentioned Hospice,” said Catie. “They said they could provide home care for him to make it easier on us and so my dad wouldn’t be stuck in a hospital the rest of his short life.” Catie stayed in her room, trying not to hear what the doctor said but she did hear her father’s diagnosis: two weeks. “The next thing I know I am on the floor sobbing like a baby,” Catie told the packed Green Valley Golf Course clubhouse. “To tell you the truth, I didn’t want to believe what was being said.” Hospice provided her father with medicines, a hospital bed and overnight caregivers. “They helped us keep my dad in this world a few weeks longer,” said Catie. “For me to have more time with my dad, it meant the world to me. I got to be in my own home, had more time with my dad, and I got to be at his side all the time until that last second of his life.” “You can see with the help of Hospice how they help families stay together and stay strong,” said Catie, explaining she also attended Hospice’s Camp Courage, which helps families deal with the loss of loved ones. “Camp Courage and Hospice together helped me through everything,” she said. “Camp is an amazing experience for anybody, whether it’s the counselors, the children and teens going to the camp, or the parents themselves. They all interact with each other.” “You get to tell your story,” said Catie, “and you get to hear other people’s stories so you can help each other, and learn and understand what happened and why. You have your sad times and your happy times at camp.” Camp participants are encouraged to bring friends who have also faced a loss to camp. Catie brought one of her best friends the first year, and two friends the next year so they could try to understand as well. “You never have to battle something alone,” said Catie. “You always have your family, friends, and even something like Hospice to help you through it.” “If I didn’t have all of this support to help me through losing my dad, I don’t know where I would be right now,” said Catie. “That is why Camp Courage and the help of Hospice is such a great organization and experience for families, kids and teenagers.” “I love Camp Courage and Hospice for what they did for me, my friends and my family,” she told the participants who donated money to Camp Courage and Hospice. “Thank you.” Catie plans to be a camp counselor next summer to give back to others what was given to her family.
Five make All StateThe all-State Softball Team was announced by the Girls Athletic Union and five from Akron-Westfield made the list. Making first team in Class 2A were Ambra Coon as outfielder and Kayla Smith as utility player. Making second team was Jessica Horton as an outfielder. Making third team was Shelby Johnson as catcher. Honorable Mention was given to Alison Kusler for infield.
Youth learn techniques at summer football camp by Steve Peterson Akron-Westfield
Youth Football League players were put through the paces by high school
coaches and players during summer camp Aug. 5-7 at Akron-Westfield. The
three-day camp emphasized the basics. A punt, pass and kick competition
was also held. This is the first year for the youth football program.
First, second and third-place winners in the Punt, Pass and Kick
competition were announced at the close of camp. Third grade winners:
Punt: first, Juan Sanchez, second, Chris Muraco, third, Mike VanderMeulen.
Pass: first, Juan Sanchez, second, Rylee McMahon, third, AJ Nemesio. Kick:
first, AJ Nemesio, second, Juan Sanchez and third, Duncan Barber. Fourth
grade winners: Punt: first, Austin Allard, second, Montana Jackso
Rebels advance in tournament by Steve Peterson It took the hometown team four trips to the South Dakota Amateur Class B Baseball Tournament. but now they have broken into the win bracket for the first time. The Rebels beat Sisseton 12-6 in their first game at Mitchell, SD on Aug. 9. The Rebels face Menno in the second round at 6 p.m. Aug. 13. Should the Akron team continue to advance, it would play in the title game at 2 p.m. Aug. 17 in Mitchell. Randall Waterbury gained the win on the mound. He went 7 and one-third innings, with Alex Loutsch closing out the game. Waterbury scattered 8 hits, had 4 strikeouts and 2 walks. Jordan Jacobson took the loss for the Redbirds, going 6 and one third innings with Jason Karst and Gabe Fisher finishing out the game. They combined for 5 hits, 11 strikeouts and 17 walks. The game started out with a 2-run home run by Karst. The Rebels answered right back adding 2 runs on a single from Waterbury. In the fourth, Sisseton again scored 2 runs, only to have the home team answer with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning. “It was a tough game for all who pitched. The umpire seemed to have a very tight strike zone, which turned out to be the difference in the game. Waterbury and Loutsch did a far better job of throwing strikes only walking 4, while Sisseton ended up walking 17. Along with a few timely hits, the Rebels move onto the second round. It was good to win one up there,” coach Paul Martin said. Waterbury also was 2-for-3 at the plate with 4 RBI and 2 walks. Chad Brown was 2-4 with one walk to lead the Rebel bats. Brett Stolpe and Scott Jacobs had 2 RBI each. Jeff Verzal scored 3 runs. The next challenge for the Rebels will be Aug. 13 with a 6 p.m. game against tough Menno team. “Thanks to all who made the trip on Saturday. Hope to see you on Wednesday,” Martin said.
Baseball fans can listen to the Akron Rebels game from the South Dakota Amateur Baseball tournament. Radio stations 106.3 FM and 1570 AM will carry the game at 6 p.m. Aug. 13. Peoples Bank has agreed to be the sponsor. Akron will battle Menno.
2008 Akron Westfield Football Schedule
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third, Michael Finzen. Pass: first, Austin Allard, second, Aaron Allard
and third Montana Jackson. Kick: first Jarett Heyl, second, Aaron Allard
and third, Ben Ostermyer. Fifth grade winners: Punt: first, Wyatt Heyl,
second, Jess McMahon, third, Brenden Hansen. Pass: first, Tom Toben,
second, Wyatt Heyl and third, Zach Bosse. Kick: first, Jess McMahon,
second, Wyatt Heyl and third, Spenser Wardrip. Sixth grade winners: Punt:
first, Joel Brenner; second, Alex Wilken and third, Kevin Carlson. Pass:
first, Joel Brenner, second, Kevin Carlson and third, Joe Welch. Kick:
first, Kevin Carlson, second, Joel Brenner and third, Jacob Neubrand. Head
football coach Graham Lundt and A-W varsity football players conducted the
three-day youth football camp.
