Stories from Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Points were hard to come by in a defensive slugfest between Lakes Conference rivals that have had a storied history the past five years, but Spirit Lake was able to wreck havoc with its pressure defense and execute enough offensively to pull away for a 42-34 victory in the girls' basketball contest Tuesday night at the Spencer Fieldhouse...

The Graettinger/Terril boys' team made a statement on both ends of the court on the way to a blowout 69-23 win over Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne Friday, Dec. 18 in Graettinger. The Knights knocked down a season-high 10 three-pointers and got 11 players into the scoring action offensively, while holding the Panthers to only 13 points in the first 24 minutes of the contest and 23 for the game...

The Graettinger/Terril girls' basketball team put together one of its most balanced efforts of the season en route to scoring a 45-26 victory over Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne Friday, Dec. 18 in a Cornbelt Conference contest in Graettinger. "The girls gave a good effort, but we lost our rhythm at times because of a scrappy Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne team," said Roger Conway, Graettinger/Terril head boys' basketball coach. ...

The Okoboji wrestling team attended the Al DeLeon Invitational at West Hancock High School on Saturday, Dec. 19. They took second overall with 225 points, falling short of first by only five points to Graettinger/Terril, who had 229 points. "This tournament is great for us right now for a couple of reasons," said Justin Bouse, Okoboji head wrestling coach. "It is nice for the kids to get a bunch of matches, and it is really nice to get to see some teams we rarely if ever see."...

The Okoboji wrestling team, the managers, and its cheerleaders celebrated senior night on Thursday, Dec. 17. After the first match of the night, the Pioneers recognized their seniors for their hard work and dedication to the team. Okoboji had a Siouxland Conference double dual against Sioux Center and Sheldon/South O'Brien, which resulted in both a win and a loss for the night, bringing their season dual record to 2-3 to conference record to 2-1...

The Graettinger/Terril wrestling team finished with six individual champions to slip past Okoboji by four points for the team title Saturday, Dec. 19 at the Al DeLeon Invitational hosted by West Hancock High School. The Knights finished with 229 points, while the Pioneers scored 225 and West Hancock came in third with 211 points. Sumner-Fredericksburg (207) and Central Springs (199) rounded out the top five...

Mychal Sheridan saved the day for the Harris-Lake Park boys' basketball team, sinking a desperation shot from half-court to propel the contest into overtime, where the Wolves were able to persevere for a 63-61 victory to enter the holiday break on a high note Monday, Dec. 21 in Lake Park...

The Harris-Lake Park girls' basketball team improved to 4-0 against West Division foes with a 57-47 victory over Armstrong-Ringsted in a Cornbelt Conference intradivisional contest Monday, Dec. 21 in Lake Park. The Wolves used strong scoring efforts in the first and fourth quarters to surge past the Mustangs, putting up 16 points in the opening stanza and exploding for 20 points in the final period...

The Spirit Lake boys' basketball team did little to match Cherokee's size and athleticism after an outstanding first quarter of action, getting outscored by 11 points in the final three quarters of a 58-53 loss Friday, Dec. 18 in Lakes Conference play...

The Spirit Lake girls' basketball team quickly recovered from its first loss of the season, bouncing back with an impressive 76-37 rout of Cherokee Friday, Dec. 18 in Lakes Conference play. The Indians came out shaky offensively, but quickly turned the game into their favor with some pressure defense that allowed them to go on a 62-22 in the final 23 minutes after falling behind 15-14 less than a minute into the second quarter...

With construction complete on the Dickinson County Courthouse, the site's historical tower is getting some finishing touches this week.

A gender equity bill that made its way through the Iowa Legislature last spring is meeting mixed commentary from legislators and local officials. House File 243 calls for all appointed boards within the city and county to make a "good faith" effort to have gender balance on all appointive boards and commissions.

Members of the Spirit Lake City Council and community met Thursday, Dec. 17 to discuss the results of a housing assessment conducted by Marty Shukert, a community planner with RDG Planning based in Omaha, Neb. Shukert presented his findings, which were based on a Community Housing Assessment Team Process (or C.H.A.T.) used to identify trends, projections and needs for the community over the next decade.

It never fails, just when I've begun to forget that cute little story about the starfish, someone decides I need to be reminded.

Limiting congressional terms is vital to our survival as a nation. Our Representatives and Senators do not listen to the public they claim to represent. We have a dysfunctional Congress. Where are character, integrity and virtue of our Representatives and Senators?

On Dec. 18 at approximately 4 p.m., a search of the residence of 607 Lake Street in Spirit Lake was conducted by the Spirit Lake Police Department. As a result of the search, the police arrested Kenneth Leroy Scott, 46, and Richelle Anne Evans, 41.

Although a blizzard blanketed much of the Lakes area with snow earlier this month, the snow hill at Horseshoe Bend won't open until a better snow hits the area.

Mass of Christian burial will be held Dec. 17 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake for Edward James Welch, 80, who passed away Dec. 11 at Lakes Regional Healthcare.

Funeral services were held Dec. 19 at the Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake for Allen D. Slater, 68, who passed away Dec. 11 at Keelson Harbour Senior Living in Spirit Lake.

Funeral mass was held Dec. 18 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake for Dienne Duling Rodawig, 83, of Spirit Lake who passed away Dec. 15, at her home in Spirit Lake.

A memorial service will be held at the United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park, at a later date for Robert J. Hansen, 80, who passed away Saturday, Dec. 12, at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minn., from heart failure.

Services were held Dec. 17 at the Holman and Howe Funeral Home in Lebanon, Mo. for Kaye Jeanne Butler Myler Fariole, 64, of Lebanon, Mo. who passed away on Dec. 12, 2009, after an extended battle with Alzheimer's disease.

There will be private family services for Rose Louise Branstetter Blum, 85, who passed away from cancer Dec. 12 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. On July 25, 2010 there will be a luncheon party to celebrate her life at Gull Point State Park near Milford for all family and friends.

Funeral services were held Dec. 18 at the Calvary Methodist Church in Arnolds Park for Onalee Strube Elston, 93, of Arnolds Park, who passed away Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake.