Blizzard Is an Iowa Word B$3;**
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<* ARCHIVES DE3 KOINES IA VOLUME 105 NUMBER 3 TWO SECTIONS-20 PAGES OFFICIAL NIWSPAPf R FOR SPIRIT LAKE AND DICKINSON COUNTY, IOWA 15 CENTS PEK COPY THURSDAY, JANUARY IS, 1*TS •i so* -, ••; «> f b$3 ;**: >' . I -* v/t -\ KS&& & 3 I '* ~ •> a i -. ^;\C^? Blizzard Is An Iowa Word •*£rCfi •«•-1- .~-v<^t*- - «*f v '-!§&*•* "-< Dickinson County is un- subsided and stories of storm are included in almost every clubs for their outstanding week's Beacon. ~*' *. ¥ covering and stories are un- related hardships unfolded. storm story. assistance during the " »|"-$ folding from' the worst blizzard Farmers were struck another emergency situation, and ex- Telephones Out ,•&' .M to hit the area in at least 35 fierce blow in an already Service Maintained pressed his gratitude to the years. disastrous year as large Peoples Natural Gas was able many others that helped during Numerous phone lines were The storm was still growing in numbers of cattle dropped to to maintain service throughout the storm. downed by Ihe storm over the ,r intensity as it hit northwest the snow from exposure. The the blizzard, according to Jerry Stuckey contributed the weekend, reports Dave Iowa, and Dickinson County high winds were the main Clayton Hagberg of Peoples. use of his four-wheel drive Machula of Northwestern Bell was in.the middle of the area culprit in the considerable loss The sto/Tn had little effect on International Scout to the in Spirit Lake. most severely inundated by the of livestock. gas line^ since they run under Sheriff's Department In addition, the power outages tempest. It swept into The winds also caused ground. in Spirit Lake, Arnolds Park throughout the storm for use in •"•>*•. Dickinson County about 8 a.m. widespread loss of electrical "A lot of people learned how rescue efforts. The vehicle was and Wahpeton forced the Friday. By 10:00 the wind was power in the area, and the loss to light their own pilot light, used to transport Dr. K. L. company to go to battery power growing in intensity and by of some telephone service was though," Hagberg quipped. in those areas. Power was out The man "on call" received a Clayton to Superior to aid Kate noon visibility was down to a reported. Phones in Spirit Kepler in child birth, but he in Spirit Lake and Arnolds Park "^ ' quarter mile. Lake, Arnolds Park and Wah- lot of phone calls for advise arrived shortly after the birth tor about 12 hours and in Wah- Spirit Lake schools dismissed peton were operated on battery during the storm, according to had occurred. peton for about 36 hours. Phone at 10:45 a.m. and as the storm's power during.the power Hagberg, but the storm usage drained the battery intensity grew businesses began outages. prohibited house service. Great Help power, so a plea went out over to close and traffic was choked With the loss of power came The company experienced Snowmobilers stormed into local radio stations to restrict to a virtual standstill. the loss of heat in many some low pressure in its lines action during the blizzard, and calls to necessary emergency Winds gusted to 60 miles per residences, and people began to when the electricity came back their efforts played a major calls only in those areas. hour, suspending all normal group for warmth and safety. on and all the furnaces kicked contribution to keeping the Machula reported that activities and taking its toll on As the seriousness of the on at once, but no problems emergency operations func- residents seemed to cooperate both animal and human lives, storm became evident, rescue resulted. tioning. For much of the bliz- with the phone company's including one Spencer man. workers, law officers, utility "We weathered it pretty zard, snowmobiles were the request, and the office call load Raymond James Mayou of employees, citizen band radio well," said Hagberg. only feasible means of tran- was held down during the power Spencer died while on a operators, snowmobilers, road sportation. shortages. snowmobile rescue mission to maintenance workers and in- Director Stranded Fortunately, there were no • The company started to help stranded motorists. He numerable other workers and Civil Defense Director serious injuries reported among repair services Monday in those became separated from his two volunteers sprung into action, William Conner was stranded Dickinson County snowmobilers areas where the phone lines companion snowmobilers north keeping loss of life, property by the storm at his residence on assisting in the rescue efforts. were downed during the storm of Spencer early Friday night and discomfort to a minimum. Crescent Beach on West However, Raymond Mayou, Machula stated that phone and was reported missing later As the tales of events during Okoboji. 32, of Spencer lost his life services was expected to be that evening. A search party the ^blizzard unfold, the. Jerry Stuckey of Spirit Lake Friday night after he became back to normal by Tuesday found his body about 10 a.m.foremost message is that of pinch-hit for Connor at the Civil lost in the storm during rescue night. Saturday approximately a people helping people, often at Defense office while Connor efforts and froze to death. quarter mile west of Highway 71 the risk of life. handled more than 150 calls at Commendations for all the north of Spencer. The list of those who his home in directing the snowmobilers' efforts have Water Shortage Numerous storm related sacrificed for the welfare of emergency operations. come from many corners, and a dealhs were discovered in the others will never be complete, Connors cited the more complete account of their The power outages in Spirit midwest as the holocaust but the results of their efforts snowmobilers and snowmobile efforts will appear in next Lake and Wahpeton caused a temporary shutdown of the water treatment plants in those two towns during the storm last weekend. Tlie chlorinating apparatus in ''ai^Tvatcf treatment plant in Wahpeton was not functioning, resulting in a warning to area residents that the water should be boiled before consumption to insure purity. However, the chlorinator has been returned to service and the water restored to drinking purity. The power was restored to the Spirit Lake plant in time to insure a continuous water supply in that town. Bill Dean worked continuously at the BUNDLED FOR THE BLIZZARD-An unidentified woman braved her way through the storm as it Spirit Lake plant from Friday to grew in intensity in Spirit Lake last Friday afternoon. The blizzard is termed the worst at (east since Sunday during the storm. the famous Armistice Day blizzard of 1940. Vs.--, - •^j-s'ssasssEi,'^^"^--rpF^, V^vOr^ , CK "*>' . Heavy Livestock Losses " i- r ^ Dickinson County farmers the county, according to ASC perished. losses and initiating action to were dealt yet another blow in manager Duane Curry, and it is As drifts built up over fences get relief for the victimized what has been a disastrous also the portion hit hardest by and winds grew in intensity, farmers. period when last weekend's the draught last summer. cattle apparently moved with The emergency board con- blizzard roared through nor- Two of the greatest losses the wind over fences and sists of: the three county thwest Iowa and left a multitude have been suffered by Bob and scattered about blindly seeking supervisors, the three ASC of dead livestock at its heels. Fred Ahrenstorff, who shelter. There were numerous committeemen, ASC manager Early estimates place the estimated that they had lost reports of cattle breaking out of Duane Curry, District SCS number of Dickinson County over 350 head, and Bernie Cohrs shelters and out into the storm Conservationist Clarence Call, cattle which perished in the who has lost over 250 head. after they were apparently Dickinson County Extension blizzard somewhere between Cattle belonging to O.K. spooked by the blizzard. Director Jim Yungclas, and 1500 and 2000 head. McAllister of Milford were Other type of livestock were FHA Office Manager Bob The western portion of the spread about the Emerson Bay also reported to have been lost Snyder of Spencer. county was apparently hit the area and some had wandered to the storm. The emergency board will hardest by livestock losses. out onto the lake. Snowmobilers The USDA Emergency Board monitor the losses and may That is where the largest aided in the roundup of the convened on Sunday evening to BLOWING IT AWAY-Iowa Highway Commission crews, using a conventional blades scraped and threw snow away from the concentration of livestock is in begin the task of surveying the (Continued on Page 3) snimuiowe-r, opened the ssnthshsre o? Big Spirit Lake to traffic. roadway. cattle, but not before many Working much' of Monday afternoon, the blower and crews with Widespread Power Outage Heavy winds gusting to 60 A series of difficulties and the The third source of power, the Arnolds Park and northwest of miles per hour or more which complete choking off of travel other 69,000 volt backup line Spirit Lake, restoring power to accompanied last weekend's resulted in the temporary in- feeding into Arnolds Park from the balance of the Lakes storm resulted in widespread capacitation of ail sources of the Corn Bell plant, was still Region, with the exception of power outages in Dickinson power except the generating surviving the storm. However, the Wahpelon area on west side County. plant in Spirit Lake. workmen were unable to battle of Okoboji and up around to Power was lost in Spirit Lake, The problems began ap- iheir way through the blinding 'Haywards Bay. Arnolds Park and Wahpeton at proximately 5:30 p.