Okoboji hoops teams went 1-1 against Sheldon in a Siouxland Conference road doubleheader on Friday, as the Pioneer girls picked up a 49-40 win and the boys fell 90-62 to the Orabs.

The Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire girls and boys basketball teams split a doubleheader with South Central Calhoun on Friday in Lake City, as the girls improved to 6-0 with a 45-43 win and the boys dropped to 1-3 with a 66-56 loss.

The Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire wrestling team split a pair of duals with Emmetsburg and Sibley-Ocheyedan at a meet hosted by the Generals on Tuesday. The Titans defeated the E-Hawks 39-33, but fell 49-21 to Sibley-Ocheyedan on the night.
Against the Generals, Lucas Hoffman, Kolton Roth and Blake Miller each picked up victories.

The Harris-Lake Park girls basketball team lost a home contest with Unity Christian on Tuesday, Dec. 6, as the Wolves fell 70-24 to the Knights.
Unity Christian led 19-5 after one and held a 32-16 lead at the half. The Knights continued to pour it on in the second half, outscoring the Wolves 24-4 in the third and 14-4 in the fourth to salt away the victory.
The Wolves were led by Taylor Meyer. The sophomore finished with nine points, five boards and two steals.

The Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire girls and boys hoops teams squared off with a pair of St. Mary's squads on Tuesday, Dec. 6, as the girls topped Remsen St. Mary's 53-42 and the boys fell to Storm Lake St. Mary's 76-61 in Ruthvan.
In the girls game, the two teams were tied 8-8 after one, but a 14-7 second quarter lifted the Titans to a 22-15 lead at the half.

Terril Fire Chief Tim Matthews estimates his department will get about $2,200 to help fight fires near wetlands and conservation areas.
The amount comes from about $206,000 available through the 2016 DNR volunteer fire assistance grants. The funding is awarded to rural fire departments through the Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau, in cooperation with U.S. Forest Service -- State and Private Forestry.

Discovery House in Spirit Lake will host a ball this month, but Iowa Great Lakes residents won't be required to wear black ties and gowns.
The nonprofit will host its No Show Charity Ball fundraiser throughout the December. Funds raised will go to support the homeless shelter and haven for adults.

Mary Skopec used to spend summers at her parents' home on Big Spirit Lake when she was in junior high, admiring the natural landscape of the Iowa Great Lakes Area.
Now she will have the opportunity to teach others about this landscape and how to protect it.

The Prairie Lakes Conference Planning Committee has announced Aug. 9-11 as the dates for the upcoming 2017 Prairie Lakes Conference. The Okoboji Blue Water Festival will follow the conference on Aug. 12. The Clean Water Week festivities be similar to last year's activities. Stay tuned to www.plciowa.com to learn more in the coming months.

Dickinson County Recorder Ann Ditsworth reminds owners of ATVs, ORVs, and Snowmobiles that it is time to complete their annual registration renewals. Renewals completed prior to Dec. 31 will avoid a $5 penalty; 2017 Snowmobile trail permits are also available. Payments may be made via cash, check or credit card. Stop in to the recorder's office at the courthouse to complete your renewals today.

The 2016-17 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been established to help qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay for a portion of their primary heating costs for the winter heating season. Application will be taken from Oct. 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017 for the elderly and/or disabled households. All other households can apply from Nov. 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017. This program is not designed to pay household's total energy cost.

Dress as a gangster or silent screen star! Come as a flapper or come as you are! Join the Iowa Lakes Community College Foundation, for "Crime and Punishment," a 1920s-themed murder mystery experience, to be held at "The Shores of Five Island" community center in Emmetsburg on Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11. Social begins at 6 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m.

Lake Park American Legion Post #371, American Legion Auxiliary Unit #371 and Lake Park Rescue will be holding six nights of bingo to benefit each group's programs. Bingo nights are Jan. 14, Jan. 21, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 11 and March 25. The groups need items for prizes for the bingo games and are asking for local support. Organizers are willing to pick up any items donated to their cause by Dec. 16.

The Morning Users Group (MUG) meets at 9:30 a.m. on Fridays at the Black Box Theater in the Sami Center at the Spirit Lake High School. The group will meet on Dec. 16, then again on Jan. 6. The group is made of beginner and experienced computer users who discuss the latest trends in computer technology and how to solve problems brought by the users. Come and listen to how others have fixed their computer problems and learn possible solutions to your computer issues.

The Dickinson County Snowhawks are offering a public snowmobile education course. The course will is at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at the Dickinson County Expo Building in Spirit Lake. The course is open to those ages 12 and up. Cost is $10 for Dickinson County Snowhawks Members and $15 for non-members. A social security number is required. Snacks, lunch and beverages will be provided.