The Akron Hometowner

Akron Hometowner serving the communities of Akron, IA and Westfield, IA with Local News, Sports and What's Happening in the community. Designed by River City Digital Design www.rivercd.com

July 19, 2007

What's Happening?

Goodwill suspends routes Goodwill Industries has suspended all of its Ambassador routes for the rest of the 2006 season. Therefore, there will no longer be a Goodwill truck coming to Akron. This change was made due to the escalating fuel and transportation costs.

Driver's License stations closed In preparation for a statewide rewrite for driver's licensing, Plymouth County Driver's License Department will be closed Thursday, July 20. For one week only, driver's licenses and ID's will be issued on Wednesday, July 19. from 8:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon. The normal schedule will resume the following week.

Classifieds

Obituaries

And they're off! Twelve teams of fishermen took to the waters of the Big Sioux River at Akron for the 2006 Skily Slam, a memorial fishing tournament. In the background were two of Team Catfish Mike Minor of Akron and Ike Baisden of Vermillion, S.D., who were preparing to turn around and pick up their final team member Bob Myers of Akron. Pushing off was the River Runners team consisting of (l-r) Thad and Tricia Finzen, Tammi and Lance Vossberg, all of Akron.

Skily Slam: Fishing on the Big Sioux

By Julie Ann Madden

There were 44 people who participated in the fourth annual Skily Slam, a fishing tournament held July 8 in memory of Christopher Walrod, the son of Gail and Bob Walrod of Akron, and brother of Bobby and his wife, Christy; and Austin and his wife, Jenny, and uncle of Cael Christopher Walrod. According to Gail, her son loved to fish. “He lived to fish,” said Austin, who along with Bobby built a special “Super Dooper Skily Willy Lose No Fishie Friggie Diggie” to help their brother continue to fish as his health deteriorated. On April 17, 2003 at age 31 Chris died. That summer the family came up with the idea of hosting an annual memorial fishing tournament called “Skily Slam,” which was based on Chris' nickname of “Skil.” Seventeen teams participated in this annual 24-hour tournament, which began at noon Saturday. Many teams fished all night; some went home. Many stayed on a sandbar and had a grill cookout and fireworks. Donations received for the Skily Slam Tournament were as follows: Southeast Farmers Coop, propane refills for grill tanks; Mike McCall of Texas, Skily T-Shirts; Uncle Rich and Aunt Linda Walrod, large cooler, small cooler, two camp chairs, lantern and two flashlights; Dustar Trucking of Ireton, T-shirts; Lessman Electric, cash donation; Fisherman Bait & Tackle, hat and gift certificate; and Four Seasons and Harley Seney, electric fillet knife.

Exhibitors win at livestock show

At the Akron-Westfield FFA Alumni Livestock Show, the youngest exhibitors learn what it is to win. Ali Welch, daughter of Jerod and Tracy Welch of Westfield, was one of four trophy winners in the Beef Bucket Calf class. Other winners were Kurtis Hoffman, Tyler Welch, both of Westfield and Dominick Foley of Le Mars. Judge Tom Lehner of Le Mars presented the trophies.