Stories from Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Spirit Lake junior guard K.J. Veldman and Harris-Lake Park sophomore center Noreen Morrow turned in two of the best girls basketball performances in the entire state for the week of Dec. 1-7. Veldman had the top scoring outing with 35 points in a 53-43 win over Jackson County Central on Saturday, Dec. ...

It's not yet clear whether it's an eventual pardon or just a stay of execution, but Superior's post office will stay open at least five more months. The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday said a request made by multiple U.S. Senators prompted the agency to delay the closing or consolidation of post offices or mail processing facilities until May 15...

To me, a horror movie every now and then is never a bad thing, but a one preview in particular caught my attention for all the wrong reasons. The Darkest Hour, set to be released on Christmas day is a a horror/sci-fi thriller. I have no idea if it will be any good or not but I just think it is cruel that production companies insist on releasing horror films on the biggest holiday of the year...

Senior center Sawyer Harms tossed in a game-high 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lift Spirit Lake to a 56-42 victory over Cherokee Tuesday in Lakes Conference boys basketball action. Junior guard Paul Brown was also in double figures, adding 11 points, five assists and four steals...

Veteran coach Jessica VanLoy has returned to Iowa Lakes to lead the award-winning softball team. VanLoy served as the Iowa Lakes assistant softball coach in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. She replaces Shawn Semler, who announced his departure last week...

The fact that Wartburg senior defensive lineman, Matt Tschetter, was able to return from the Intensive Care Unit to the Knights' starting lineup is impressive. Even more impressive is the fact that he accomplished this in only four months after dropping 70 pounds in the month he spent in the hospital due to what doctors eventually diagnosed as an internal bacterial infection in his esophagus...

Here is a New Year's resolution to keep; start an American Legion Baseball Team. It is easier than getting back into shape, losing weight, or quitting all of those bad habits you picked up over the last year. So how do you start an American Legion Baseball Team? It is easy as one, two, three.....

Spirit Lake used some stifling in-your-face defense to surge past Class 3A No. 10 Storm Lake for a 59-37 win Friday, Dec. 9 in Lakes Conference play. After a back and forth first half that saw the Tornadoes outscore the Indians by nine in the opening quarter and Spirit Lake rally back with an 18-9 run in the next stanza, the final 16 minutes featured a complete team effort by the Indians. ...

Harris-Lake Park guard Eli Ihnen seemed to have an answer for every comeback Emmetsburg made, answering every single E'Hawk run with a 3-pointer of his own down the stretch. The Wolf junior drained two clutch 3-pointers after Emmetsburg had twice sliced a 10-point lead down to two in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. ...

Fourth-ranked (Class 2A) Spirit Lake Park put up a solid showing against some impressive competition, placing third overall at the 14-team Jackson County Central Pizza Ranch Invitational Saturday, Dec. 10 in Jackson, Minn. The Indians finished with nine total place winners and two champions, clipping Class AA No. 6 Adrian, Minn., by 7.5 points for the third spot. Class A No. 1 JCC won the team title with 209.5 points and Class A No. 3 Wabasso/Red Rock Central was the runner-up with 191 points...

Police Chief Jeff Hanson and officer Shane Brevik recently spent hours meeting with 13 teenagers at Spirit Lake High School. But there weren't any acts of vandalism or underage drinking parties to investigate. The Spirit Lake Police Department recently completed year four of its Youth Police Academy -- and lessons on Taser use and drug prevention aren't necessarily geared toward students on a law enforcement career track...

We have always known that we live in a great place. However, the generosity of area residents and those far beyond our borders has taken our breath away. We held a two-day 'Tunes for Tim" fundraiser last weekend and the response has been phenomenal...

The welcome has been warm for Father Francis Makwinja of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The Iowa climate, however, will take a bit of adjustment for the priest who recently arrived from the small African nation of Malawi. An average December day back home hovers around the mid-80s. To him, snowflakes were decorations on the front of imported Christmas cards...

Some Smurfs, penguins and a Kung Fu Panda are helping moms and dads round out their Christmas shopping in the Milford area this year. Pioneer Theatre owner Sharon Mayer wouldn't have it any other way. She's popped the popcorn and threaded the film for free merchant matinee weekends since taking over the business along Highway 71 nine years ago. The Milford business community sponsors the weekend screenings between Thanksgiving and Christmas each year...

Christmas is a time of presents and family. It is a time of bows, ribbons and gifts. Many of us would also say it is a time about Jesus. We remember Jesus born as a baby in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. While we know Jesus was a baby, we also intuitively know he was much more. Who was Jesus besides a baby in that manger?...

July 7, 1929 -- Dec. 4, 2011 Robert A. Horsman, age 82, of Spirit Lake, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at Hilltop Care Center. He was born on July 7, 1929, in Plover, Iowa, to Orville and Gladys (Gross) Horsman. Robert was united in marriage to Fae O'Neall on Aug. ...

Jan. 14, 1962 -- Nov. 6, 2011 A graveside service for Larry Mohr, 49, of Port Charlotte, Fla, formerly of Terril was held Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, at Fairview Cemetery in Terril. Larry Gene Mohr was born Jan. 14, 1962, to Lynn and Jean (Bowker) Mohr in Spencer...

Oct. 29, 1921 -- Dec. 8, 2011 Harper F. Seemann, age 90, of Spirit Lake, passed away Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, at Hilltop Care Center. He was born on October 29, 1921, in Spirit Lake, to Eldon and Gladys (McDowell) Seemann. Harper worked for a local newspaper growing up in Spirit Lake. He graduated from Spirit Lake High School in 1939, and enlisted to serve his country in the United States Navy, serving for three years on the USS Henry T Allen...

Jan. 10, 1932 -- Dec. 2, 2011 A funeral service for Rev. Harold Tegtmeier, 79, of Spirit Lake, was held Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Rev. Harold Frederick Tegtmeier was born Jan. ...