Stories from Tuesday, February 4, 2014

The Harris-Lake Park girls basketball team struggled out of the gates against North Union on Friday evening, as the Wolves didn't reach double-digit points in any of the first three quarters of a 46-40 road loss. With their offense struggling to a 12-8 deficit after one quarter of play, the Wolves relied on a stingy defense that allowed just two points to the Warriors after the next eight minutes while taking a 17-14 lead into the locker room at halftime...

After a shaky first half against Lakes Conference rival Estherville Lincoln Central on Friday, the Class 3A No. 12-ranked Spirit Lake girls basketball team erupted over the final 16 minutes in a 57-21 mauling of the Midgets. The Indians led by just nine entering the locker room at halftime, but outscored ELC 34-7 over the final two quarters in the victory...

Buoyed by an energetic home crowd, the Estherville Lincoln Central boys basketball team stole a Lakes Conference victory from Spirit Lake on Friday evening, as the Indians let a double-digit lead disappear in a 58-55 loss to the Midgets. Up by as many as 11 points throughout the course of the game, the Indians failed to capitalize on momentum and instead let the Midgets seize control of the contest by outscoring Spirit Lake 14-5 over the final eight minutes...

Competing at the Siouxland Conference wrestling tournament, the Okoboji Pioneers placed three wrestlers in the top three and seven in the top five of their respective weight classes in Sioux Center on Friday. Brady Jones, Adam Dublinske and Colbin Larue each earned third place finishes with matching 3-1 records at 113, 120 and 126 pounds, respectively...

Three Spirit Lake Park wrestlers were named Lakes Conference champions -- tied with Spencer and Estherville Lincoln Central for the most individual champs -- following stellar performances at Spencer on Friday and two more placed in the top three to lead the Indians to a fourth place overall finish...

A relentless full-court pressure defense by North Iowa was the difference in an otherwise evenly matched contest between the Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire girls basketball team and the Bison in Graettinger on Friday. Unfortunately, the Titans struggled to control the ball during a 59-44 loss at home...

After facing a large deficit in the opening minutes of Friday night's contest with North Iowa, the Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire boys basketball team displayed the tenacity that has made the Titans one of the more dangerous teams in 1A, coming from behind to best the Bison 54-45 at home...

Armed Forces Foundation President and Executive Director Patricia Driscoll shared the importance of funding efforts to assist veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The impassioned plea opened bidding for a restored Dodge M37 three-quarter ton pickup truck, and a restored 1959 Cessna L-19E "Bird Dog." The vehicles were auctioned for the cause at the 43rd annual Barrett-Jackson car auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. Saturday, Jan. 18...

Spirit Lake has moved one step closer to a new city hall. City officials recently awarded Woodruff Construction of Fort Dodge the low-bid for the city hall project along Hill Avenue. The company's $980,900 bid was well below the city's anticipated budget for the project...

While she's aged gracefully, the 87-year-old dame at Arnolds Park Amusement Park is due for a facelift. And Park officials say the Legend Roller Coaster should be ready for her close-up on May 17. Construction crews have used the Park's offseason to rebuild 700-feet of track on the historic thrill ride. Once all is said and done, guests from all over will be able to experience the smoothest ride yet...

Edwin David, 47, Spirit Lake, Spirit Lake, was charged with fifth-degree theft of $10 cash at 6:12 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, at Caseys in Spirit Lake. Krista Card, 33, Milford, was charged with driving while suspended at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at 23rd Street and Keokuk Avenue...

The number of grumbles may be reaching uncharted territory, but the season's low temperatures aren't good enough for the record books, according to Harry Hillaker. The state climatologist keeps records for the most tornado touchdowns in a single day. He can look up the month with the most rain and find the day with the highest temperature ever recorded...

Coming off a rough-and-tumble game against Lakes Conference foe ELC on Friday, the Spirit Lake girls basketball team faced yet another conference rival Tuesday, as the Indians earned a 58-44 victory over visiting Emmetsburg. Spirit Lake caught fire from the outside, making 9 of 11 shots from beyond the arc before nailing clutch free throws in the final minutes to salt away the win...

Coming off a heart-breaking loss to Estherville Lincoln Central on Friday night, the Spirit Lake boys basketball team responded exactly how coach Dr. David Smith expected them to, out-battling Lakes Conference foe Emmetsburg 54-42 at home Tuesday evening...

A tied ballgame near the end of the second quarter turned into an absolute blowout Tuesday evening, as the Harris-Lake Park girls basketball team outscored visiting Clay Central-Everly 32-6 over the final 18 minutes of play to earn a 58-32 Cornbelt Conference victory...

Tuesday night's contest between Harris-Lake Park and Clay Central-Everly was virtually over before it started, as the Wolves jumped out to a 19-0 lead to start the game and pulled away to best the Mavericks 67-23 in the end. "I thought, overall, we played a solid 32 minutes of basketball," H-LP coach Jeff Sohn said. ...

President Barack Obama on Tuesday signaled his support for a sweeping $100 billion-a-year Farm Bill that trims the amount dedicated to the food stamp program by about 1 percent while eliminating the direct payment subsidy process. "That's been something that's been around for the last couple of farm bills," Spirit Lake farmer and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said. ...