Skip to main content

Outdoors: Help the DNR track hemorrhagic disease

Hemorrhagic disease, commonly referred to as EHD or Bluetongue, has been impacting deer in Iowa for over a decade, with severe outbreaks occurring in 2012, 2013, 2019, and 2023. As a way to better understand disease impacts, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has created an online tool where hunters and landowners can report dead deer resulting from hemorrhagic disease outbreaks.

Outdoors: Spengler to present fishing seminar at Okoboji Blue Water Festival

The much-anticipated 9th annual Okoboji Blue Water Festival (OBWF) is just around the corner! Set for Saturday, August 10 at the green space at Preservation Plaza on the shores of West Lake Okoboji, the day will be an opportunity to learn about conservation and clean water efforts and to learn more about being difference makers in positive/sustainable conservation/clean water practices.

Tiger girls fall in postseason shootout

SIOUX CENTER — Leading 10-7 heading into the final two innings of Thursday’s Class 4A Region 1 matchup against Sioux Center, the Spencer squad appeared poised for an upset against their 15-9 hosts. Playing on the Warriors home field, two runs in the bottom of the sixth closed the gap to one. After failing to score and extend the margin in the top of the seventh, the home squad would bring two more home for the walk off 11-10 win.

Spencer unable to rally at SB-L

SERGEANT BLUFF — A solid season for the Spencer Tigers came to a close, Friday night, following a close battle with Sergeant Bluff-Luton on the Warriors home field. The visitors late rally attempt fell short in the 5-3 loss.

“Our team didn't give up,” Tiger coach Brian Dirkx said. “We put together a rally at the end, but couldn't push enough runs across the plate to catch up.

Rebel softball bids farewell to 5 seniors

Sioux Central finished the season 21-7, following a 13-10 softball loss to Emmetsburg in the Class 2A Region 2 opening round game in Pocahontas Wednesday. For the seniors, it’s the end of an era. Coach Kasey Krager said, “We graduate five seniors Morgan (Christian), Bradi (Krager), Preslie (Peterson), Emma (Smith) and Catelyn (Haight) that are going to be greatly missed. They have put in a lot of time into the program and have meant so much to the success of the team over the years.

Outdoors: DNR seeks public input on state park administrative rule revisions

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking informal comments on administrative rules for Iowa state parks and related programs. Executive Order 10 (EO10), signed by the governor on Jan. 10, 2023, requires all state agencies to identify which administrative rule chapters will be retained or rescinded. The EO10 process includes public engagement with the opportunity for meaningful input.

Outdoors: Learn to Hunt program opens registration for beginner fur harvesting workshops

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is offering a program to teach skills needed to trap furbearers to people with little to no trapping experience.

The workshop will feature knowledge and skill building sessions with instructors that will teach the basics of trapping in Iowa.

Outdoors: A look at Lakeside Laboratory from the eyes of scientists and artists/writers

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory is well known for its scientific studies of plants, animals and water quality. In fact, when someone thinks about Lakeside, they are likely to conjure up images of serious looking individuals hunched over various plants or bespeckled laboratorians wearing lab coats and goggles as they mix and measure liquids. We often associate science and scientists with objective, dispassionate observations of the world.

Outdoors: Hot weather, hot fishing

Any time that we get to go fishing, that’s a win! And for many of us, much of our fishing is done in the summer months. Fishing should be a good time, and catching some fish makes it an ever better time. Although rivers across Iowa are facing flooding situations, the hope is that will potentially drier weather, they will go back into their banks. If they do, you can bet the upcoming summer months, will find consistent fishing action in our rivers.

Outdoors: Conservation/Clean Water Week set for Aug. 5-10

For both residents and visitors to Dickinson County, the week of Aug. 5 through Aug. 10 is all about conservation and clean water practices. It begins with the Prairie Lakes Conference beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 7, and running through Friday, Aug. 9.

The conference is then followed by the ninth annual Okoboji Blue Water Festival, which is the foremost clean water event in the state of Iowa and will be held at the Green Space on the shores of West Okoboji.

Tigers 1-1 to finish regular season play

Spencer, played a pair of home games, delivering the seventh loss of the season to 25-win Algona to start the team’s final week of the regular baseball season; before falling to Sioux City Heelan, 12-2, in five innings, Wednesday night.

The Tigers, now 13-9, are set to travel to Sergeant Bluff, Friday night, to face the 22-15 Warriors, at 7 p.m., in the IHSAA Class 3A Substate 1 opener.

 

Spencer 13, Algona 7

Huckfelt showcases deep ball in home finale

SPENCER — “We recognized our senior Olivia Huckfelt last night at the game,” Spencer coach Tara Hauschen said. “She put on a show at the plate going 3-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs.”

Despite her performance, the Tigers would fall 15-6 to Mason City at home, closing out the 2024 regular season.

“She (Huckfelt) has been a staple for this team at third base since her eighth grade season and will be greatly missed next year,” Hauschen said.

Shocking loss

POCAHONTAS — Too much Fiene. Freshman Dylan Fiene to be exact. The Emmetsburg freshman produced four hits — driving in four runs — to help the E-Hawks, 11-15 on the year, topple 21-7 Sioux Central in the Class 2A Region 2 first round softball action Wednesday in Pocahontas.

Fiene, who added three stolen bases, got help from her teammates with 12 more hits for the win to advance.

Rebel softball scores win in home finale

PETERSON — Sioux Central’s girls closed out their regular season Monday with a 6-2 home win against Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn/Remsen-Union for the team’s 21st win, heading into its regional opener Wednesday in Pocahontas against Emmetsburg.

Four Sioux Central girls cracked out multiple hits to help senior Bradi Krager get her 14th win on the year.

Spencer girls top Wildcats on the road

HUMBOLDT — Tara Hauschen, Spencer softball coach, called Wednesday night’s victory on the road against the 11-15 Wildcats, “a huge team win.”

She added, “The girls were patient at the plate and had timely hits throughout the entire game. Bre Johnson and Jersey Vail shared the duties on the mound tonight both battling hard against some great Humboldt hitters.”

Humboldt rallies for win over Tigers

HUMBOLDT — (Above) Tiger first baseman Ashton Ver Steeg looks to make the play to first during Spencer’s 9-6 loss to Humboldt on the road Wednesday. The Tigers early 2-0 lead was erased by three Wildcat runs in the bottom of the third inning. The home team would never look back a three-run seventh left Spencer a few runs short. Jaxon Hefner would register two hits from the leadoff position, as would centerfielder Jack Berends. Aiden Seversen would add a triple for the Tigers.

Subscribe to Sports
--- Online Subscribers: Please click here to log in to read this story and access spencerdailyreporter.com.

Not an Online Subscriber? Click here to subscribe.