Area girls and boys ages 9 to 14 participated in the 2023 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship this month, and eight earned the right to compete at the district level. Iowa Great Lakes Council 5043 in Spirit Lake and Paul Katzfey, EXIT Realty Midwest, sponsored the local competition at Bedell Family YMCA, drawing kids from the Lakes area to enjoy positive and healthy competition with other youth.

When it comes to plastic on the ice, I think of two things. One of them is good, the other not good at all. Plastic bottles and other forms of plastic litter that some people leave on the ice is not good, but the plastic that more and more anglers are using on their ice jigs can be very, very good. Very, very good for catching fish. Most of us know what we should do with our plastic litter. Following are some ideas about what we should do to catch more fish on plastic baits.

The paddlefish snagging season on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers opens Feb. 1 and goes through April 30 (sunrise to sunset).

Anglers fishing for paddlefish must have a valid Iowa fishing license, along with a special paddlefish license and unused transportation tag(s).

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is sponsoring four courses on how to teach outdoor skills for K–12 teachers, naturalists and other educators this summer.

Hands-on sessions (indoors and outside) will provide introductory skills instruction and development, teaching materials and lesson plans. The cost of each course varies. Create an account on the AEALearning website to find the cost, registration deadline and requirements for each course.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are offering an online training for the national award-winning Growing Up WILD activity guide.

Spirit Lake’s boys basketball team got out to a great start and held off a late run by Storm Lake in a Lakes Conference rivalry road win on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The Indians topped the Tornadoes 65-57 in Storm Lake.

Spirit Lake’s girls basketball team avenged an earlier Lakes Conference loss with a 10-point road victory over rival Storm Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The Indians topped the Tornadoes 53-43 in Storm Lake.

Iowa Lakes Community College recently announced its 2023 Laker Athletics Hall of Fame inductees.

The 2023 inductees include Courtney Calkins (softball, 2015-2017), Freddie Rodriguez (wrestling, 2013-2015), and Daryl and Sue Madison (special contributors).

After suffering three straight War Eagle Conference losses to South O’Brien, Remsen St. Mary’s and Gehlen Catholic, the Harris-Lake Park boys basketball team got back on track with a dominant home victory over Trinity Christian on Monday, Jan. 16. The Wolves defeated the Tigers 79-31 in Lake Park.

Spirit Lake’s boys basketball team made several clutch plays down the stretch to seal a Lakes Conference rivalry road win over Estherville Lincoln Central on Friday, Jan. 13. The Indians edged the Midgets 50-48 in Estherville.

Harris-Lake Park held a late lead over Trinity Christian on Monday, Jan. 16, but the Wolves were unable to come away with a War Eagle Conference home victory. The Tigers outscored the Wolves 13-6 in the final frame of a 49-42 Trinity Christian victory in Lake Park.

Spirit Lake’s girls basketball team hung with returning state champion, top-ranked and unbeaten Estherville Lincoln Central for a half, but the Midgets had too much firepower in a Lakes Conference rivalry win over the Indians on Friday, Jan. 13. The Midgets defeated the Indians 61-42 in Estherville.

Spirit Lake Park’s girls wrestling team placed ninth at the 2023 E-Hawk Lady Invite held Monday, Jan. 16 in Emmetsburg.

Cassie McKeen led the Indians, winning the 105-pound bracket with a 2-0 record. Audrina Bennet and Jaimee Hazelett each placed second. Aroura Preston and Joley Schmahl both placed third.