Stories from Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Spirit Lake boys' basketball team was able to break out of a five-game slide in the Lakes Conference by pounding the ball inside for 42 points in the paint to propel themselves to a 56-48 victory over Estherville Lincoln Central Friday, Jan. 8 at Spirit Lake High School. The Indians are now 5-6 overall and 1-5 in conference play...

Perhaps two straight fourth quarters meltdowns flipped a switch or perhaps the Spirit Lake girls' basketball team just got its legs back into playing shape after a lengthy holiday break. Either way you look at it, the Indians stormed back from a 10-point second-half deficit and 50-45 margin with 45.4 seconds left to hand previously unbeaten Worthington a shocking defeat in overtime in the annual Iowa-Minnesota border battle between the two schools on Monday, Jan. 11...

Anelisa and David Murphy were united in marriage at Seaplace on Longboat Key, Fla. on Dec. 23, 2009. Following the ceremony, a reception and dinner was enjoyed by family and friends.

Jennifer Hoover and Jay Hernandez of Estherville are the proud parents of Cristian, Dickinson County's New Year's Baby. Cristian was born at Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) on January 3 at 6:49 pm weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces and 20.75 inches in length. Cristian was also welcomed by his sisters, 2-year-old Aubri and 1-year-old Kiera.

Marguerite "Elaine" Oliver, 88, of Bella Vista, Arkansas died Monday, December 28, 2009 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, Arkansas. She was born April 17, 1921 in Smithland, Iowa to Ernest and Emma Swanson and spent her early years in Sutherland, Iowa.

Family graveside services will be at the Lake View Cemetery in Spirit Lake for Betty J. Lienemann, 89, who passed away on Wed., Dec. 23, 2009 at Franklin Grove Nursing Center. She was born on July 20, 1920 in Storm Lake to Roy A. and June E. (Allison) Jarnagin.

Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux Valley, Minn. for Lucile H. Fischer, 91, of Lake Park who passed away Jan. 3, 2010 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. Rev. Gerald Gauthier, II officiated. Interment was at Silver Lake Cemetery in Lake Park.

A memorial service is scheduled at 2 p.m. at Victory Lutheran Church, Mesa, Arizona, for Glen Anderson who passed away on Jan. 7, at his winter home in Mesa, Ariz.

When Adam Literski and Greg Frates started classes this past fall at Iowa Lakes Community College they had no idea they'd be featured in a national television commercial.

The holidays are over and the long stretch of midwinter is before us. With good reason, now is a good time to think about taking a little getaway. When it comes to planning your reverie, the individual tastes and interests of vacation seekers are as wide-ranging as the airport's list of items not allowed in your carry-on

Nancy Meyers directs a trio of entertainment "heavy hitters," Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, in "It's Complicated" (2009, R, 120 min.), "a comedy about love, divorce and everything in between." As a general rule, while I enjoy all types of movies regardless of genre, I tend to get the least excited about romantic comedies because so many of them lack substance, and they're often formulaic and predictable.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for making this year's "Be a Santa to a Senior" project another successful one.

Another Christmas and another Adopt a Family has come and gone. It may sound like a cliché, but through the years I have learned that this program is as beneficial for those who give as for those who receive.

In this new year, I want to commend and thank our strong and principled leaders like Chuck Grassley, Tom Latham and Steve King for standing up for the people of Iowa and letting it be known that our country and state cannot afford the high taxes

With the bowl season wrapping up, the NFL playoffs taking shape and truly meaningful basketball games less than a month away, the time is right to pop the hood and tune up a few things about sports.

Former U.S. Attorney and Iowa gubernatorial candidate Roxanne Conlin has announced plans for a Spirit Lake stop as part of her campaign for the U.S. Senate seat held by Chuck Grassley.

Samuel Blue Lint was still being held in Spirit Lake's Dickinson County Jail on $10,000 bond Tuesday as attorneys in northwest Iowa decide if, and when, the 18-year-old Milford man will be transported to Sioux Falls, S.D., to face charges of armed robbery and murder.

The Graettinger/Terril wrestling team came away with five champions and three runners-up against a pretty solid field of wrestlers en route to capturing the 2010 Graettinger/Terril Invitational by 69 points Saturday, Jan. 9 in Graettinger. "It's always a good day when you win a tournament, especially at home," said Cody Alesch, Graettinger/Terril head wrestling coach. "For having a crazy week of weather and very little practice, I thought we fought pretty hard."...

Girls Basketball Ruthven-Ayrshire 49, Harris-Lake Park 42 The Harris-Lake Park girls' basketball team controlled Ruthven-Ayrshire for three quarters, but fell apart defensively in the final eight minutes of a 49-42 setback in a West Divisional matchup Tuesday evening in Ruthven...

The Spirit Lake Park wrestling team stayed undefeated in Lakes Conference action with a 45-24 dual win over Storm Lake on Tuesday evening. The Indians improved to 5-0 in the league and 6-3 on the season with the impressive dual win, getting pins from Dylan Bryce (125), Rick Maris (140), Brandon Griffin (152), Andrew Broocks (160), Adam Dreeszen (215) and Shae Heinrichs (285)...