Stories from Wednesday, December 15, 2010

The Iowa Lakes softball coaching staff, comprised of former head coach Mike Bosch and assistant coaches Megan Anderson and Jessica Van Loy, were honored as the 2010 Midwest Region NJCAA Division II coaching staff of the year for their success on the softball diamond...

Behind a season-high 21 points from senior guard Anna Brandt, the Harris-Lake Park girls basketball team collected a 43-29 victory over border rival Mountain Lake Christian Dec. 13 in non-conference play. Brand connected on 10 field goals, surpassing the total amount of made baskets from the rest her club. She was one of the few bright spots in a sluggish overall effort, shooting 56 percent and adding four rebounds, five assists and four steals...

Harris-Lake Park got outmatched physically in the first half, but made enough defensive adjustments at intermission to run away for a 60-50 win over Mountain Lake Christian Dec. 13 in a heated showdown between the two border schools. The Wolves slowed down MLC's Josiah Stoess in the second half, one of the key changes that tilted the contest in the Wolves' favor. Stoess, who scored a game-high 27 points, did most of his damage in the first 16 minutes...

On a night when Spirit Lake Park proved to be far superior to its competitors, it was the little things that mattered most Dec. 9 in a Lakes Conference dual. The Indians were met with little resistance by a couple of lower tier teams, sweeping Western Christian (63-18) and Estherville Lincoln Central (60-20) by wide margins. SLP needed less than 30 minutes to dispose of the Wolfpack, before having two matches go the distance in a rout of the much improved Midgets...

Okoboji's coaching staff certainly got the message across in practice this week. After two dual losses and a poor showing at their home tournament last week, the Pioneers gained the upper hand from the opening match and never relented in a 57-15 thrashing of West Lyon Dec. 9 in its Siouxland Conference opener...

Okoboji made things look rather easy offensively for the first time all year, using some excellent passing and a balanced scoring attack to surge past Trinity Christian for a 63-39 win. "Finally I thought we played well for 32 minutes. We really did a great job of sharing the basketball and got some shots to fall. ...

Okoboji was matched score for score by Trinity Christian in the first half, but the Pioneers powered to a lopsided 42-19 victory with a reenergized effort after the break. "I thought the girls kind of came out flat. I don't know if that was because it's Monday or it could have been a million other things, but I think we played a lot better in the second half," said Okoboji coach Abby Goodlaxson. ...

May 18, 1924 - Dec. 7, 2010 Donald Wayne Noble was born on May 18, 1924, southwest of Ocheyedan. He was the son of Roy and Christina (Johnson) Noble. He lived in the Ocheyedan area all of his life. He was united in marriage to JoAnn Hofmeyer of Sibley, on Dec. 1, 1944, in Sibley. They just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary...

Aug. 26, 1930 - Dec. 9, 2010 A funeral service for Marty Duane Martinson, 80, of Okoboji was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Burial at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. "Marty" Duane Ellsworth Martinson was born Aug. 26, 1930 in Lisbon Township, the son of Oscar and Olga (Anderson) Martinson. Marty graduated in 1949 in Boyd, Minn. Marty served his county in the United States Army during the Korean War...

Dec. 10, 2010 Virgil S. Eakin, 96 of South Sioux City, Neb., formerly of Spirit Lake passed away on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010, peacefully at his residence. Abiding by family wishes, cremation has taken place and services will be held at a later date. Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements...

Marvin and Joy Lauver were married Jan. 1, 1951 and will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary with their family. Marv retired from Northern Natural Gas in 1987 and they gradually made their home in Spirit Lake. Their children and spouses include Steve and Kristi Lauver of Spirit Lake and Lori and Jon Krueger of Council Bluffs. ...

Air Force Airman Kevin S. Difford graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills...

Dear Friends of Discovery House, Once again we are inviting you contribute to our annual "No Show Charity Ball." Just imagine how much it would cost to attend a ball -- $115 for tuxedo rental, $250 for a gown, $100 for shoes, $20 for a corsage, $100 for banquet tickets for two, $20 for a babysitter, and $20 for gas. The total cost would be $625...

My baby-boom age group came of age politically in response to our new president's famous 1960 inaugural address challenge, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country!" How badly our country needs a leader today who can muster public support for the same principle and have the courage to fight for needed legislative actions to get our country back on a track of economic stability. ...

Saturday morning. You remember it, right? I heard the blizzard reports, a big dash of red blemishing counties including our own and stretching into Minnesota. "Absolutely no travel advised" the reports would blare under some lengthy description of snowfall and impressive gusts, giving me the sense that the National Weather Service had grounded me...

It's 2 p.m. on a Friday afternoon and Melanders Appliance in Milford is filled with a torrent of activity. Amidst the usual showing of stovetops and appliances are piles, rows and heaps of gifts. Behind a stack of brightly packaged presents, Susan Reiser chirps organizational orders, and soon, the presents on a countertop in front of her disappear, replaced by a whole new set...

Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation vice president Shaun Arneson has been helping existing industries throughout the four-county area since 2006. Now, the Spirit Lake resident will get a chance to offer his services to businesses across the state...

After all of those years of planting yard signs, Wayne Northey will stick to his corn and soybeans from now on. The longtime Dickinson County Supervisor decided not to run for another four-year term in November, saying "I just thought it was time," for a new voice to serve on the board. Northey's term and 22 years of county service conclude at the end of the calendar year...

Snowplows were called off the roads, patrol cars got stuck and northwest Iowans may still have some Christmas shopping to do after blizzard conditions shut down travel Saturday in northwest Iowa. "For the most part people stayed put, which is always helpful for the responders," said coordinator Michael Ehret of Dickinson County Emergency Management. ...

Some solid man-to-man defense and a combined 37 points from Anna Brandt and Mariah Gath lifted Harris-Lake Park to a decisive 58-43 win over Clay Central-Everly Tuesday on their home court. The Wolves pushed the pace from the start, taking a 10-1 advantage four minutes into the game and opening up a 14-9 lead when Gath hit Brandt on a long outlet pass with under 30 seconds left in the quarter. ...

GIRLS BASKETBALL THE SCORE: Spirit Lake 67, Storm Lake 20 Tuesday, Dec. 14, in Storm Lake MOMENT OF THE GAME: BY THE NUMBERS: KJ Veldman reached double digits in scoring for the fifth time in five games. She led the way with 21 points. Cara Vale also collected 10 points. The Indians connected on a season-high nine treys and shot 47 percent from the perimeter...