Stories from Monday, December 23, 2019

POCAHONTAS - The Sioux Central girls were two seconds away on Friday night from getting a road win in a Twin Lakes Conference tilt. The Pocahontas Area girls were able to steal a 44-43 contest away from the Rebels. “We played a good defensive game against an offensive system that is hard to guard,” Rebel Coach Kasey Krager said. “It was also a night in which we struggled to score. We only shot 20 percent for the game.”...

POCAHONTAS - The Sioux Central boys basketball team knew it would be a fight for all 32 minutes on Friday night against Pocahontas Area. The two teams battled back and forth, trading the momentum, but the Indians were able to come away with a 51-47 decision...

SIBLEY/FORT DODGE - After dropping a dual last week, the Storm Lake Tornadoes got back on the winning track on Thursday night after winning twice. The green and white were able to takedown Estherville-Lincoln Central and Sibley-Ocheyedan. “I thought that we wrestled really well on Thursday. We wrestled some tough matches and gritted out some wins,” SL Coach Ben Seaman said. “Even in the matches that we lost I was pleased with our effort and not giving up for six full minutes.”...

IDA GROVE - The Ridge View basketball teams took on OA-BCIG on Friday night in a Western Valley Conference doubleheader. The Raptor girls were able to come away with a win, while the boys suffered a loss against the Falcons. The Ridge View girls took a 53-39 win to move to 4-3 on the year...

STORM LAKE/GOWRIE - It was a difficult couple of nights for the St. Mary’s boys basketball team. They welcomed in River Valley on Thursday night and were unable to defend their home court, falling 67-34. The Wolverines led by 15 after the first quarter, 23-8. They then stretched their advantage to 20 at halftime, 37-17. St. Mary’s scored 11 points in the third quarter, but continued to fall deeper into the hole, down 54-28...

STORM LAKE/GOWRIE - The St. Mary’s girls were able to get back in the win column on Thursday night when they played host to River Valley. The Panthers were able to take a 47-31 decision over the Wolverines to get their fourth win of the year. It was a high scoring first period for the Panthers as they scored 17 points to take a six point lead to the second quarter, 17-11. The Wolverines clawed back a little in the second, but the Panthers had a 26-22 lead going to the halftime break...

WEST BEND - After dropping a 53-35 decision on Thursday to South O’Brien, the Alta-Aurelia girls were back on the hardwood on Friday night to take on West Bend-Mallard. A slow first half put the Warriors behind the eight ball as WB-M took a 43-29 decision...

CHEROKEE/MANSON - Thursday night was a tough outing for the Newell-Fonda boys basketball team as they took on the Cherokee Braves. Cherokee jumped out early against the Mustangs and never allowed them to get back into the game, setting the Mustangs home with an 87-48 defeat...

HOLSTEIN - It was a busy Saturday for both Alta-Aurelia and Ridge View as they took part in the Ridge View hosted Raptor Duals. Both teams took part in four duals on the day as A-A went 3-1 with their wins coming against Coon Rapids-Bayard, Sioux City West and Ridge View, and their lone loss coming against South Central Calhoun. RV bested CR-B and Sioux City West while also falling to South Central Calhoun...

WEST BEND - The Alta-Aurelia boys basketball team got back into the win column on Friday night thanks to a good defensive effort and an efficient night on offense against West Bend-Mallard. The Warriors were able to come away with a 63-25 victory, their third of the year...

SPENCER - The Storm Lake girls basketball team, still searching for that elusive first win, went north on Friday night to take on the Spencer Tigers. The second and fourth quarters were the key to the game as Spencer handled those two frames to dash the Tornadoes hope of a win, SL dropping a 60-41 decision to head to break without a win...

SPENCER - It was a knock down fight on Friday night for the Storm Lake boys basketball team as they took on the Spencer Tigers. Neither team wanted to head into the holiday break with a loss, and the Storm Lake boys were able to accomplish that goal as a last second three-pointer by the Tigers missed it’s mark, allowing SL to take a 55-54 contest...

CHEROKEE/MANSON - Newell-Fonda Coach Dick Jungers said that Thursday night was going to be a test for the Mustang girls basketball team as they took on No. 10 in 3A Cherokee. The two teams play a similar pressing style and after a hectic contest, the Mustangs passed the test with flying colors, dismantling the Braves, 84-40...

If you are like me, you’ve watched all the Christmas stuff over and over. Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, that Little Ralphie movie that plays inescapably on cable all December long, yada yada. You’ve been there, done that. Even those cookie-cutter Hallmark happily-ever-after stories, you’ve seen it all...

Vera Brower, age 90 of Early, passed away on Tuesday, December 17, at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake. Vera Jeanette Kleist was born on March 4, 1929, to parents Paul and Bessie (Dearth) Kleist on a farm near Newell. She was baptized and confirmed at the Presbyterian Church in Schaller...

Lori Ashley, age 57, of Rembrandt, Iowa died on Wednesday, December 18, at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center in Sioux City. Memorial services was held on Saturday, December 21, at 10:30 a.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. Burial was in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation took place on Friday, December 20, from 6 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home in Sioux Rapids. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements...

Iowa State University is one of nine Iowa colleges to receive a partner grant with Iowa College Aid that will support students from Storm Lake and other selected school districts in the GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) program...

Buena Vista Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, signed Christmas and other cards to be sent to veterans who will be hospitalized over the Christmas season. This annual holiday tradition was a highlight of their November meeting. This year the chapter signed 132 cards for the VA Medical Center in Des Moines...

A Des Moines woman was charged with attempted murder after she told police that she intentionally ran over a 14-year-old girl because she believed the teenager was Mexican, authorities said Friday. Natalia Miranda suffered a concussion and severe bruising in the attack but is expected to make a full recovery...

As West Lake Okoboji is freezing over, great improvements are being made to the waterfront at Arnolds Park Amusement Park. The seawall in front of the Ferris wheel — which was in need of repair — has been completed thanks to the cooperation of the DNR and Graves Construction. ...

After voting against Articles of Impeachment in the House of Representative, western Iowa congressman Steve King blasted Democrats for their effort to impeach President Trump. “For three years, sore loser Democrats have feverishly attempted to undo election results that they have never accepted, and these sham impeachment articles represent the futile culmination of the far-left’s impotent frustration and rage,” King said in a statement. ...

A Storm Lake preschool provider is on the lookout for a place to put a new child center. “When we have the need we do, why should we have buildings just sitting empty?” she asks. Trevina Jefferson, of the Trepson Montessori Preschool, had previously approached Storm Lake officials about establishing a center within St. ...

“She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ...

“Thump.” A kid splatters bottom-first to the well-used floor of honey-colored wood. She winds up face-down, gathers herself, discovers everything still attached. Grinning, sets off again. For a few seconds. “Thump.” Outside, a soft barely-dusting of snow filters out of a gray winter Sunday sky. Inside, it’s warm and familiar, with young voices singing along to the Village People. How they know it is anyone’s guess...