Stories from Monday, August 3, 2015

An animal doesn't need to be endangered to receive legal protection. In Iowa, there are plenty of animals that might frighten or startle you, but these animals have important roles in our state's ecology. So the next time you see one of these animals don't panic, and consider what they contribute to the environment around you...

Often, when people stop at the Nature Center, we will get out the corn snake or fox snake to show. Many people will ask, "Is it poisonous?" And I reply that if it were poisonous, I would not be holding it. They are wondering if the snake is like a rattlesnake and can strike. A rattlesnake is venomous, not poisonous, and like others, I find myself using those terms interchangeably at times...

Different people go about their fishing in different ways. Some anglers like to consider every reason why a fish was caught on a certain bait, was in a particular location at that time, and why that fish decided to bite just then. That's great. Curious anglers catch lots of fish and often are the leaders in fishing education...

It's hard to believe that it is already August, and the first waterfowl season is just about here. This will be the second of a three-year experimental teal-only 16-day season. If it corresponds to last year, this year's season will run Saturday, Sept. 5-20...

May 5, 1923 - July 26, 2015 Irene Mae Tatman, age 92, of Spirit Lake, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2015, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was born May 5, 1923, in Superior Township to Albert and Clara (Knutson) Brunsvold...

July 27, 1927 - July 17, 2015 Harold "Deke" Francis Demory, the son of John Clifford and Bernice Ann (Fisher) Demory, was born July 27, 1927, in Morse. Deke served in the United States Army (W.W.II) from Oct. 18, 1945 until his honorable discharge on April 20, 1947...

Sept. 8, 1922 - July 26, 2015 Ernest Lunblad "Sam" Andersen was born Sept. 8, 1922, in Webb. He was the fifth of six gregarious children born of Hartman and Anna (Lunblad) Andersen. Sam, a full-blooded, first-generation Dane, was proud of his family, his heritage and his country. ...

Coffee and Grounds: Tuesday mornings -- 8:30 a.m., Waitt Lab. Join friends and Lakeside ecologists every Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. in restoring prairie, shoreline and savanna habitat, then relax with coffee, treats and conversation. Meet in front of Waitt Lab with your sturdy shoes and work gloves...

Area residents are invited to join members of the Ladies of the Lake Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in honoring the late Bessie Carroll Higgins (1866-1961), a community leader in Spencer, an Iowa activist, and a prominent officer in DAR. The tribute to her many local and state contributions and her outstanding DAR service will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Higgins Museum of Money, 1507 Sanborn Avenue in Okoboji. Refreshments will be served...

A lot has changed since the OPA organized 110 years ago. Back in 1905, cottage security was a priority, boats weren't quite so fast and zebra mussels were unheard of. OPA President Barry Sackett says the organization has changed with the times. "Over the years, the focus has shifted to really protecting the water quality of the lake," he said. ...

The University of Okoboji hosted the 2015 Open Water Swim on Saturday, Aug. 1. Results are as follows:...

With the 2015 summer sports season officially over, several area baseball and softball stars earned postseason honors for their respective efforts. Below is a quick recap of how each team fared and which athletes earned awards: The Okoboji baseball team finished the 2015 season with a 20-10 overall record, a three-way share of the Siouxland Conference championship, and a Class 2A district tournament championship, before falling to Hinton in the substate final by a scored of 3-0. ...