Stories from Wednesday, December 8, 2010

KJ Veldman and Cara Vale combined to score 33 points and drill seven 3-pointers and Alli Gerking chipped in 14 to propel Spirit Lake past Lakes Conference rival Spencer Tuesday in girls basketball action. The tall and athletic Tigers had a decisive size advantage, so the Indian backcourt rose to the occasion from the perimeter. ...

The Okoboji girls basketball team dug itself into a hole from the onset in a disheartening 60-37 loss to West Lyon Tuesday in Siouxland Conference play. "We were just very lethargic. We got off to a bad start and could never get back into the game," said Okoboji coach Abby Goodlaxson. "We missed a lot of bunnies that we couldn't finish and it was just a bad night. Nothing would fall for us on offense and we couldn't get momentum going our way."...

A tightly-controlled Sarah Palin book-signing event came through Spirit Lake with no hint from the former Alaska governor about her future plans. The appearance Thursday at the Spirit Lake Walmart and a late-November stop in West Des Moines has fueled speculation that Palin may be laying the groundwork for a 2012 White House bid. ...

With diving temperatures in Dickinson County, local Department of Natural Resource officials are taking steps now to lessen the likelihood of a loss of plant and fish life on area lakes throughout the winter months. Mike Hawkins, fisheries biologist with the DNR in Spirit Lake, says winter ice and snow cover can block sunlight from reaching the underwater lake life, and cause a "cap" to form on the bodies of water -- the process can cause a "winter kill" of plants and fish...

Joshua Currier, 19, of Spirit Lake, was charged with possession under a legal age at 12:50 a.m. Nov. 9. Charles Evans, 49, of Spirit Lake, was charged with providing alcohol to a minor at 12:50 a.m. Nov. 9. Deborah Simpson, 55, of Okoboji was charged with fifth degree theft at 10:40 a.m. Nov. 11...

Now, I would never reveal the identity of a certain staff writer who offered me $5 to put a copy "Living History" the Hillary Rodham Clinton autobiography in front of Sarah Palin for an autograph Thursday at Walmart. The former Alaska governor does know how to use firearms after all...

It is hard to believe that my first term as Iowa Secretary of Agriculture is coming to an end, but I am very gratified by the support of the voters and looking forward to continuing to serve the people of Iowa as your Secretary of Agriculture. During my first campaign, I ran on a platform that stressed the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities available through renewable energy, the need to promote conservation and stewardship both in town and on the farm, and my commitment to helping share the story of Iowa agriculture.. ...

It's hard to believe that the Christmas season is upon us once again. It's the time of year that adults count their blessings, and the kids start putting together their 'wish list'. OK, so the adults start putting together their wish lists, too. It shouldn't be just the kids that have all the fun, right? This year, I thought I would share the Iowa State Patrol's wish list with you, the motoring public...

Brittany Sheeler and Ken Brennan were united in marriage on Sept. 4, 2010. The ceremony was held at Lake Park Untied Methodist Church and the reception was at Arrowwood Resort in Okoboji. Brittany is the daughter of Terry and Lori Sheeler of Lake Park and is employed at Comprehensive Rehab in Clinton as a speech-language pathologist. Ken is the son of Marty and Barb Brennan of Emmetsburg and is employed at Rock River Lumber and Grain in Morrison, Ill., as an agronomy salesman...

Marlin and Lola Kness were married Dec. 30, 1960, at the Montgomery Methodist Church. They both worked at Berkley Inc., until they retired in 1997. They have three daughters, Cindy, Sandy and Cherie. Their daughters invite you to help them celebrate from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at Wesley Place in Spirit Lake. Cards of congratulations can be sent to 1208 Gary Ave., Spirit Lake. The couple requests no gifts...

Jennifer Maudlin and Tyler Diedrich were united in marriage at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 26 at First Lutheran Church in West Lake Okoboji. Pastor Bob Vaage officiated the service and a reception followed at Arrowwood Conference Center. Parents of the bride are Carolyn and Tom Maudlin of Spirit Lake. Parents of the groom are Lynn and Peter Diedrich of Overland Park, Kan...

William Henry (Willie) Hoppe believed in living life to its fullest. It wasn't the amount of years he lived, it was the amount of living he did in those years.

Oct. 28, 1913 - Dec. 8, 2010 A graveside service for Mrs. Mildred Snook, 97, a longtime former Milford resident was held on December 8, 2010 at Milford Cemetery. She died in a Mountain Home, Ark., hospital on Nov. 13, 2010. She was born Mildred Jorgensen, on Oct. 28, 1913 in North Dakota. on Oct. 2, 1932, she wed Wilbur Snook and moved to Iowa. Three sons - Jim, Jay and David brightened her life...

A Vigil Service and rosary was held at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 6, at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, for Marilynn Joan Flinders Kanellis.

The Spirit Lake Park wrestling team let four-time defending Lakes Conference champion Spencer know just how good they have the potential to be, winning all four of its title matches and finishing with 12 place-winners Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Okoboji Invitational...

After winning only two first round matches at their home invitational, the Okoboji wrestling team rebounded in the next couple of rounds to finish the meet with one champion and six place-winners Saturday, Dec. 4 in Milford. "Overall, we saw some improvement today," said Okoboji coach Nate Dau. ...

Graettinger-Terril senior Nate Howard lived up to his preseason billing as the top-ranked wrestler in Class 1A at 215 pounds with three first-period pins and a tournament title at the Okoboji Invitational Saturday, Dec. 2 in Milford. Howard, who was the lone individual champion for the Knights, won the 100th match of his career with a pin over Spencer's Kris Rhode (ranked sixth in Class 3A) in a match that last only a minute and 23 seconds. ...

It was going to be hard to duplicate the infamous 2009 meeting of a border battle between Spirit Lake and Jackson County Central, but the 2010 matchup had nearly as much excitement despite a heartbreaking 57-54 loss for the Indians Saturday, Dec. 4 in Jackson...

Relentless, sound and hard-nosed best describes the type of defense Jackson County Central was able to shut down Spirit Lake with Saturday, Dec. 4 in a girls basketball clash. The Huskies, the top-ranked team in Minnesota's second largest class, made the game plan of combining a physical full-court press with a smothering man-to-man defense seem so simple. ...

Points were hard to come by in a defensive slugfest between Dickinson County rivals Harris-Lake Park and Okoboji, but the Wolves' depth and athleticism eventually powered them past the Pioneers 43-30 Thursday, Dec. 2 in Milford. "Overall, you've got to summarize that game as ugly," said Harris-Lake Park coach Jeff Sohn. "Both teams struggled shooting the ball, but I think the difference was turnovers for them. We caused more than they did tonight. Our pressure got to them at times."...

Left for dead after falling behind by as many as 14 points in the first half, Harris-Lake Park surged all the way back against Okoboji before Skylar Hansen and Taylor Poppema stepped up from the charity stripe in a 54-46 victory Thursday, Dec. 2 in non-conference play...