Stories from Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Mini-Wakan gets major grant (02/17/10)
The doors are gone. So are the windows. But the Mini-Wakan shelter house on the north shore of Big Spirit Lake isn't without hope.

City of Spirit Lake moves forward on city hall planning (02/17/10)
Spirit Lake city officials and council members are moving forward with plans to improve, remodel or rebuild the Spirit Lake City Hall, and numerous options are on the table. Mark Stevens, city administrator for the city of Spirit Lake, notes the problems with the current facility are growing...

Third time's a charm: SL battles tough for 2A playoff win over ELC (02/17/10)
It took some bumps and bruises along the way, but Spirit Lake battled tough for a 40-37 victory over Estherville Lincoln Central when it mattered the most in postseason play. After suffering setbacks the previous two times the Lakes Conference rivals hooked up, the Indians made just enough key plays down the stretch to clinch a berth in the semifinal of the Class 2A regional tournament...

Wolves push tempo, run past Mavs in 1A playoffs (02/17/10)
Both of the previous matchups between Cornbelt Conference rivals Harris-Lake Park and Clay Central-Everly were decided by four points or less. Tuesday's quarterfinal round contest of the Class 1A regional tournament wasn't quite as close. The Wolves pushed the tempo and didn't let off the gas until its trip to the regional semifinals was firmly in hand, using a fast-paced transition attack to impose its will on the Mavericks in a 61-26 victory...

SLP's Miner punches ticket to Des Moines (02/17/10)
Freshman Doug Miner was the only Spirit Lake Park wrestler to get out of an extremely grueling Class 2A district tournament unscathed, winning both of his matches by fall to clinch the 103-pound title Saturday, Feb. 13 at Lake Mills High School. Miner, ranked fifth overall in the smallest weight class, needed only 33 seconds to toss Austin Hoeft of Charles City in the opening round. In the title bout, the SLP freshman pinned ninth-ranked Matt Bieber of Clear Lake in 3:29...

Four Okoboji matmen advance to state (02/17/10)
Four of Okoboji's wrestlers will be advancing to state after an exciting day at the Class 1A district meet on Saturday, Feb. 13. The Pioneers took third place out of the 14 schools with 75 points. They followed district runner-up Woodbury Central, who had 83 points, and district champion Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, who finished with 104 points...

Jensen, Howard secure state berths with district titles (02/17/10)
Michael Jensen and Nate Howard have both proven to be the two most consistent wrestlers all season long for Graettinger/Terril. After coming up short of state berths last season, Jensen and Howard were rewarded for all their hard work and time spent on the mat by capturing district titles at the Class 1A district tournament Saturday, Feb. 13 at Sioux Center High School...

Wolves slip past Knights in regional opener (02/17/10)
Anna Brandt made the two biggest free throw shots of her career to propel Harris-Lake Park to a 54-50 victory over conference rival Graettinger/Terril in the opening round of the Class 1A regional girls basketball tournament Thursday, Feb. 11 in Lake Park...

Indians use defense to surge into quarterfinals (02/17/10)
The Spirit Lake girls basketball team used a pair of 13-0 and 10-0 first-half runs to build a comfortable lead while the defense did its part as well, holding Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn to a season-low in points in a 54-31 victory in the first round of the Class 2A regional tournament Saturday, Feb. 13 at Spirit Lake High School...

Stifling defense not enough in loss for Okoboji (02/17/10)
The Okoboji girls basketball team gave Estherville Lincoln Central everything they could handle in the early stages of an opening round clash, but couldn't overcome a 10-minute field goal drought in a 47-35 loss in the Class 2A regional tournament Saturday, Feb. 13 in Estherville...

A dollar at a time: local students spring into action for Haiti relief (02/17/10)
"Just how much we raised was pretty impressive; I think every kid who could participated in some way. From change to $20 bills; they all just gave what they could. Everybody tried." -Tami Horsman, Spirit Lake Middle School guidance counselor ...

Mmmm, mmmm, Goodies (02/17/10)
"I should have given you a heads up about comfortable shoes," David Tvedt, co-owner of Goodies, says to me as I walk through the door. I've gotten the lucky assignment to spend an afternoon learning the ropes of being a confectionary extraordinaire at the candy shop, and apparently have not dressed the part. I look down at my three-inch heeled boots and shrug.

Larry Joe Miller (02/17/10)
Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 13 at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly for Larry Joe Miller, 58 formerly of Milford. Larry passed away at the Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, on Tuesday, Interment was at Lone Tree Cemetery on Feb. 9, 2010. The Rev. Lauren Ley

When life's necessities get misplaced, retrace your steps (02/17/10)
It is 12:42 p.m. and I am in a panic. My coworkers are all waiting for me at lunch, but do you think I have the faintest idea where my wallet is?