Two schools represented the always stellar War Eagle Conference at the 2022 state volleyball tournament. Unity Christian — the conference champions — qualified for the Class 3A tournament and Hinton went all the way to the Class 2A state semifinals. Gehlen Catholic fell a game short of a state tournament berth in Class 1A.

Three University of Iowa track and field athletes represented the United States at the Pan American U20 Championships on Aug. 4-6.

Former Spirit Lake High School athlete Mike Stein was crowned champion on Sunday in the men’s javelin with a throw of 71.38 meters. Stein took the lead from the jump with all of his throws being farther than the silver medalist’s farthest throw.

Seven Dickinson County softball and baseball athletes earned additional postseason awards following the conclusion of their respective state tournaments.

In softball, Spirit Lake senior Taylor Schneider was a Class 3A Third Team All-State and Class 3A West All-District selection by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

It has been a pretty crazy, busy and at the same time a gratifying summer for the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club (IGLFC). It seems like since the ice left the area lakes, IGLFC volunteers have been going nonstop making sure northwest Iowa youngsters get the chance to go fishing.

It’s about this time every year when I think back on my early days of fishing on the small to mid-size rivers that were close to my north Iowa home. There were ponds and lakes in the area, but the rivers at this time of year provided better fishing action. In recent days, I visited some of my old fishing holes.  

A tissue sample collected in mid-June from a road killed adult buck deer in Marshall County has tested positive for chronic wasting disease. With the addition of Marshall County, 260 deer have tested positive in 16 Iowa counties since 2013.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled two meetings to update the public on chronic wasting disease surveillance and management efforts in Jasper, Marshall and Grundy counties.

Spirit Lake’s baseball team got out to a hot start, winning seven of the first eight games of the 2023 season. Success was spotty for the Indians from that point forward, as they dropped 11 of their next 16. However, a 12-12 overall record and a 4-4 mark in the Lakes Conference was a marked improvement from their 9-17 season the year prior.

For their efforts, eight players earned conference recognition following the season.

Spirit Lake’s softball team continued its strong tradition of winning under first-year head coach Jason Schneider. The Indians went 14-9 overall and 4-4 in the Lakes Conference in 2023. It was their 14th straight season at or above .500.

For their efforts, five Spirit Lake softball players earned conference honors.

POSTSEASON HONORS

I visited with fisheries biologist Mike Hawkins last week, and he said he has been getting lots of calls about really bad looking water on Big Spirit, East Okoboji and Lake Minnewashta along with some of the other area lakes. Often called blue-green algae, the correct name for this organism is cyanobacteria.

The summer months can provide very good fishing, and when the fall months arrive, fishing can be even better. In the warm water of summer, fish eat often. The cooling water in the fall is Mother Nature’s way of telling the fish they need to fatten up for winter, so they eat often then also. Fish that are eating are easier to catch.  

Pheasant hunters in the northern half of Iowa had an excellent season last year, and many are looking forward to what 2023 has in store. The fall forecast will be based on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) annual roadside pheasant counts, that begins Aug. 1.

Dugout Creek-Yager Slough wildlife areas south of Lake Park, in western Dickinson County, is home to an array of marshes plus two unique and rare habitat types in the state - one of the largest and highest quality wetland fen complexes in Iowa and high-quality remnant prairie.

Okoboji’s baseball team saw success in its first year under the direction of coach Andy Wolf. The Pioneers went 14-13 overall and 8-8 in the Siouxland Conference. It was the program’s highest win total since 2017.

For their efforts, the Pioneers had three players earn postseason recognition in the Siouxland Conference.

POSTSEASON HONORS

Landon Duvall, a sophomore, earned First Team All-Siouxland Conference honors.

In 2023, Okoboji’s softball team matched its win total from the previous season, but improved its conference win total by a game. The Pioneers went 5-18 overall and 4-12 in the Siouxland Conference in their second season under coach Kate Perrin.

For their efforts, two Okoboji athletes earned postseason honors in the conference.

POSTSEASON HONORS

Over the past decade, I’ve watched the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) work with individuals and businesses in the Iowa Great Lakes area to help purchase and protect important parcels of land that, by doing so, have helped protect the Iowa Great Lakes.