Stories from Monday, May 11, 2015

Spirit Lake Elementary students may soon be able to test their problem-solving skills -- even during recess. A fund drive titled "Playground Possibilities" is underway led by the Spirit Lake Elementary P.I.E. The group hopes to install a large, reclining rope structure with a hammock, rope ladder and an access net. A Burke comet spinner and a kidforce spinner, on the elementary school playground, are part of the plans...

Former Spirit Lake athlete and current Morningside tennis player Brandon Stoll was recently named to the 2015 All-Great Plains Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Team. Stoll, a freshman, teamed with sophomore Danny Graves to compile an 8-13 overall record on the season in doubles...

The Okoboji Protective Agency (OPA), along with several other landowners, families and organizations, was recently honored by the State of Iowa for its gift of conservation land located just to the south of Gull Point to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at A "Gift to Iowa's Future" Recognition Day. ...

As we enter a new open water fishing season, it's good to get some thoughts together regarding changes in fishing techniques and fishing ideas. Some of us consider ourselves to be "walleye fishermen", some fit the bill as "bass fishermen", others narrow it down even more and proclaim themselves to be a "jig fisherman"...

"This is the best day of my life," a little girl clad in a bright pink shirt said as she was traipsing atop logs outside the Dickinson County Nature Center. A part of the Buzzing Adventures with Winnie the Pooh day camp last summer at the nature center, the 4-year-old girl had spent time with others her age learning about pollinators. ...

The fourth annual Muskie Tackle Swap Meet is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 at Stan's Bait Shop in Milford. Times for each day will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The local chapter (Chapter 29) of Upper Great Plains Muskies, Inc., will provide tables and rod racks. Those who want to display their equipment should bring their equipment to the bait shop on Friday...

Rainfall has improved overall conditions in Iowa, with the drought-free area increasing from 75 percent two weeks ago to 80 percent this week. Through the month of April, average statewide precipitation for 2015 was running about two inches below normal, but rainfall in the first few days of May will help conditions continue to improve...

After experiencing a bit of a hiccup with three straight losses at the midway point of the season, the Spirit Lake Park-Okoboji girls soccer team looks to be back on track with its second shutout victory in as many games with an 8-0 win over visiting West Sioux on Thursday...

The Harris-Lake Park boys golf team played well Thursday despite less than ideal conditions at a home meet against Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn. While the heart of a thunderstorm missed Silver Lake Golf Club in Lake Park, the golfers were unable to escape the damp and cold conditions felt throughout the region early on. The weather eventually improved and the Wolves were able to card a team total of 179 to beat the visiting Eagles by 11 strokes...

On a stormy Thursday afternoon last week, the Harris-Lake Park girls golf team earned a convincing win over visiting Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn. Led by Christina Galvin's runner-up medalist round of 58, the Wolves cruised to 243-277 victory over the Eagles...

The Spirit Lake-Okoboji girls tennis team took fourth place at a tournament hosted by Spencer on Saturday. While a few individuals stood out, overall the squad didn't play up to its standard according to coach Bob O'Hara. "We had several good performances, especially in singles from Alison Bueltel and Rebecca Owens," O'Hara said. "They both won tough tiebreakers in the semifinals and played well in the finals...

The Harris-Lake Park boys track team competed at the West Sioux Coed Invitational on Thursday, earning 10 top-five finishes on the day. The shuttle hurdle relay team of Cale Hellinga, Dahlton Burdorf, Darin Hesebeck and Skylar Cudmore snagged a runner-up finish in Hawarden with their time of 1 minute, 8.68 seconds...

Led by a sub-40 round from Luke Wollenburg, the Okoboji boys golf team placed fourth overall at a meet hosted by Sioux Center. Wollenburg placed sixth individually with his team-low round of 39. Teammate Seth Feller followed with a 41, while Nik Mankle came in with a 43, and Sean Greiner rounded out the team scoring with a 44...

Okoboji's Alex Mankle continued to dominant the Siouxland Conference Thursday, as the senior cruised to a seven-stroke victory at a conference meet in Hull. Mankle carded a 38 on the day to earn medalist honors, beating Sibley-Ocheyedan's Brooke Grimes who carded a 45...