“Limb’n and chunk’n in pieces your swampers can move,” yelled Doug Chafa in what sounded like secret code known only to the 30 or so select people who happened to be dressed in chainsaw chaps, long sleeve shirts, hard hats and gloves.

Iowans love the outdoors and would like more opportunities to enjoy the beautiful lands and waters of this great state for recreation, leisure, personal and family health. Iowans work very hard and when it is time to spend that hard-earned income, they witness lands and waters neglected, and imperiled, by elected officials of this state denying the public the healthy outdoor opportunities which Iowans overwhelmingly support.

Over a lifetime of fishing I’ve shared a boat or a dock with many different anglers. Some of these anglers spent a lot of time on the water and were very, very skilled. hey caught a lot of fish. I soon learned that I could learn a lot by watching the different things that the better anglers did to catch more fish.

Registration is now underway for the 2023 Prairie Lakes Conference set for Aug. 9-11 in Okoboji. The theme for this year is “The Future of Lake Management,” which will include the following session topics: Oak Savannah restoration, shallow lake improvement practices, rural and urban best management practices, and fish management.

SPENCER — This weekend brings another race to the Clay County Fair Speedway Saturday at 7:30 p.m. It’s the second night of the Midwest Championship Enduro 200. The race will have its first night Friday at Hancock County Speedway in Britt before coming into town Saturday.

SPENCER — The Spencer softball team had two games to start off their week, traveling to Estherville on Monday before hosting Cherokee-Washington on Wednesday. The girls would split the contests, losing to the Midgets 11-1 before dominating Cherokee 14-2 behind 13 team hits.

SPENCER — After losing their first game to Estherville-Lincoln Central, Spencer bounced back to defeat Pocahontas and Cherokee. The team had an offensive explosion in both wins, putting up double-digit runs in both contests.

Spencer lost to ELC 6-1 before defeating the Indians 13-6 and then dominating the Braves 10-0. Reid Tigges tossed a gem on Wednesday for Spencer, allowing zero runs and besting Cherokee batters all night long.

SPIRIT LAKE — Sioux Central had a rough start to this week, facing Spirit Lake on Tuesday after playing Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire on Monday. The girls would lose the matchup with the Indians, 6-1, after losing a heartbreaker to the Titans, 9-8.

On Tuesday, Sioux Central would struggle to string together offense; they racked up six hits, all singles. The girls actually took the first lead of the game, adding their only run in the fourth inning.

MILFORD — Sioux Central hosted two games against neighboring schools to begin their week. The team went to Ruthven on Monday to face the GTRA Titans and the Okoboji Pioneers on Tuesday. The team dominated the Titans 12-2 before losing to Okoboji 11-1. Sioux Central couldn’t find a rhythm offensively, while the Pioneers scored three runs in the second and five runs in the fourth inning. The game would be over after five innings.

ROCK RAPIDS — Spencer was unable to host their game on Friday against Sioux Center due to the weather. They then traveled to Central Lyon to face the Lions on the diamond on Saturday, dominating from the beginning to win 12-0.

PETERSON — Sioux Central took two out of three in their weekday games. The girls defeated South Central Calhoun on Friday after defeating Pocahontas on Thursday and losing to Southeast Valley on Thursday. Sioux Central lit up the scoreboard against the Titans, winning 10-0 in five innings.

NEWELL — The Sioux Central girls softball team had an exciting weekend at the Newell-Fonda tournament. The Rebels would dominate the day, defeating the unbeaten Mustangs 7-2 before giving the North Union Warriors their second loss of the season.

The girls jumped on the Mustangs early, scoring two quick runs in the first inning. The team would add two more in the fourth and three more in the sixth inning to down the Mustangs by five.

PETERSON — Sioux Central picked up two conference wins to end their week. The team defeated Southeast Valley 6-2 on Wednesday before run-ruling South Central Calhoun 12-2 on Friday in five innings.

AMES — Spencer special education teacher Molly VanderLinden has gone above and beyond for the special education program. VanderLinden was recognized for her efforts with Special Olympics athletes, as she was named 2023 Special Olympics Iowa Coach of the Year at the Summer Games in Ames at the end of last month.

DES MOINES — Spencer girls soccer head coach John Hansel was selected as the recipient of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union's Soccer Golden Plaque of Distinction Award. The accolade was presented to Hansel prior to the Class 2A State Championship match on Saturday.