I grew up on the farm in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and most of my time was spent out in the sun.

Back in those days, there was little thought of danger and exposure to the sun. We never thought about UV radiation that can lead to skin cancer. The only reason I ever wore a cap/hat was because the mid-summer sun was so hot!

Of course, I spent a lot of time fishing in the hot summer sun, and that would fry my skin even more!

The calendar indicates that the ice fishing season is winding down. In some states or certain areas of some states, regulations prohibit fishing for walleyes and a few other species at this time of year. There are still plenty of fish to target though, and they can be very willing to bite during this latter part of the ice fishing season.  

Six more weeks of winter — so I hear. Never did trust that rodent!

Historically, according to Punxsutawney Phil’s data, he’s only been accurate around 46% of the time. Of course, if he were shooting 3-pointers in a basketball game, he’d be pretty deadly.

The good news is we’re now into February, and the days are getting longer. As this month unfolds, there are a couple of dates ice anglers need to adhere to.

Okoboji’s girls pushed its win streak to three games with a narrow Siouxland Conference home victory over Rock Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The Pioneers topped the Rockets 65-62 in Milford.

Harris-Lake Park’s girls basketball team put a beating on War Eagle Conference foe Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The Wolves handed the Hawks a 64-45 loss on senior night in Lake Park.

Harris-Lake Park’s boys basketball team battled but ultimately fell in overtime to War Eagle Conference rival Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The Hawks outlasted the Wolves 68-65 in Lake Park.

Okoboji’s boys basketball team snapped its two-game win streak with a Siouxland Conference home loss to Rock Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The Rockets topped the Pioneers 60-46 in Milford.

Dickinson County girls wrestling teams will send a pair of competitors to the first-ever sanctioned girls state wrestling tournament in Coralville this week, as Spirit Lake Park’s Aurora Preston and Okoboji/HMS’ Avery Ballis punched their tickets with third-place finishes Friday, Jan. 27 at the super regional wrestling tournament in Sioux City.

Spirit Lake’s girls basketball team – no stranger to upsets after toppling No. 2 Unity Christian early in the season — earned another signature win by edging No. 11 (3A) Cherokee in a Lakes Conference home contest played Thursday, Jan. 26. The Indians edged the Braves 60-59 in Spirit Lake.

It was their first win over Cherokee since 2015.

Okoboji’s girls basketball team earned a narrow Siouxland Conference home win over Sheldon on Thursday, Jan. 26. The Pioneers defeated the Orabs 57-54 in Milford.

After taking a 16-14 lead into the second quarter, Okoboji pushed its advantage to 28-20 with 3 minutes remaining in the first half. However, Sheldon held the Pioneers off the scoreboard for the remainder of the second quarter, making it a 28-23 Okoboji lead at the break.

After snapping a seven-game losing streak with a dominant victory over Sibley-Ocheyedan on Tuesday, Okoboji’s boys basketball team made it two wins in a row with a 10-point victory over Siouxland Conference rival Sheldon on Thursday, Jan. 26. The Pioneers obliterated the Orabs 68-58 in Milford.

Harris-Lake Park’s boys basketball team earned a War Eagle Conference home win over Akron-Westfield on Friday, Jan. 27. The Wolves bested the Westerners 61-49 in Lake Park.

Harris-Lake Park’s girls basketball team came up just short of a War Eagle Conference home victory against Akron-Westfield on Friday, Jan. 27. The Wolves held an early 15-12 lead, but a third-quarter scoring slump allowed the Westerners to pull ahead for a 33-31 victory in Lake Park.

Okoboji’s girls basketball team battled back from an early deficit for a Siouxland Conference road victory over George-Little Rock on Friday, Jan. 27. The Pioneers trailed 14-7 after one quarter, but outscored the Mustangs 14-10 in the second, 13-8 in the third and 16-12 in the fourth to seal a 50-44 victory in George.

Okoboji’s boys basketball team suffered a Siouxland Conference road loss to George-Little Rock on Friday, Jan. 27. The Mustangs defeated the Pioneers 63-43 in George.

Okoboji hung with its hosts for a quarter, trailing just 13-10 after one. However, a 29-13 score in the second quarter pushed the Mustangs out to a 42-23 lead at the break and the Pioneers never recovered.