Stories from Wednesday, August 1, 2018

How much do you know about our national bird, the bald eagle? Quite literally, with a wingspan of 6 to 7.5 feet! Most bald eagles are 3 to 3.5 feet tall and weigh 8 to 15 pounds. Despite this impressive and fierce appearance, bald eagles can only lift 3 to 5 pounds. They eat mostly fish, but will also take advantage of a carrion meal...

You may have heard some odd-sounding names when people refer to natural places in Dickinson County --- the Silver Lake Fen, the Freda Haffner Kettlehole, the Kenue Park glacial kame. What in the world do these words mean though? A fen is a peat-forming wetland that receives nutrients from sources other than precipitation. ...

It’s the middle of summer. Walleye anglers are catching walleyes on live-bait rigs, spinner rigs, crankbaits, jigs, and slip-bobber set-ups. And a few anglers are using ice-fishing baits to catch walleyes. Here’s an idea you might want to try next time your chasing walleyes when the weather is warm...

The Okoboji Blue Water Festival is set for Saturday, Aug. 11, and it brings with it a day of activities centered on clean water. According to organizer Greg Drees, “We have a special treat for anglers who fish this area. Tommy Skarlis, Iowa native and professional angler, will present a special seminar under the Big Tent from noon to one.”...

Lakes Area senior standouts Kelsey Kannenberg (Spirit Lake) and Sydney Jensen (Okoboji) competed Tuesday, July 24, at the 8th Tri-State Fastpitch Senior Showcase hosted at Sioux City West High School. In the first game, Jensen's White Team defeated Kannenberg's Blue Team, 7-5...

Former Spirit Lake quarterback Nick Christensen recently competed in the 2018 Iowa Shrine Bowl. Christensen's North Squad fell to the South Squad 59-14 — the largest margin of victory in the 46-year history of the game — on Saturday, July 21, at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls...

Dickinson County softball stars shined this summer. Area squads combined to go 42-44 overall, winning one conference title and earning a state tournament berth, and netted a total of 15 athletes named to postseason teams, including four all-state and three all-district selections...