OKOBOJI — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is opening the Gull Point State Park lodge and shelter for reservations, starting March 20. The facilities were initially closed for the 2024 season due to a planned renovation project, including upgrades to roads and campsite infrastructure. That project is on hold due to construction delays.

The lodge and shelter can be reserved beginning at 9 a.m. on March 20 on the DNR’s reservation site at iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com.

LAKE PARK — Work is underway to stabilize the shoreline on the northwest section of Silver Lake, in Dickinson County.

The contractor will close segments of the Trappers Bay State Park roadway as work progresses. Road closures and signage will be adjusted to allow as much public access as possible. Access must be restricted when trees are being removed to ensure the safety of park users. The public is advised to not drive or walk past the road closure signs.

In some areas, anglers have no problem finding a place to go fishing at any time of the year. There might be times when the fishing can be better, but those folks always or almost always can find a place to fish.

This winter through the month of March has been an incredible time for Iowans throughout the state to enjoy witnessing bald eagles, the national symbol of our country. Winter is the best time to observe bald eagles in Iowa as many eagles from northern states and Canada migrate south to find food.

“Spencer will go down as a highlight event for us,” said Dillon Swanson, owner of Raise ‘Em Rank, who brought the Bulls and Brews event to the Clay County Regional Events Center last Friday and Saturday night.

ESTHERVILLE — Three Iowa Lakes Community College men's basketball and two female athletes were named to the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Division II Basketball All-Region teams.

Kai Evans and Sam West were named to the ICCAC All-Region first team, and Benard Omooria was named to the second team All-Region for the men; while the women were represented by Emma Kanz on the ICCAC All-Region second team and Jordyn Stokes on the ICCAC All-Region third team.

Two nights of bull-riding action at Spencer’s Clay County Regional Events Center, Friday and Saturday evenings, filled the seats as Raise ‘Em Rank productions coupled with other area breweries for the popular Bulls & Brews event. The battle between man and bull — which the bull more often than not, wins — began at 7 p.m. in the main arena.

The Iowa Lakes Community College softball team went 1-3 during the team’s first two days in Clermont, Florida. On day two, against a pair of 2023 National Tournament qualifiers, the Lakers split, the Lakers dropped game one to South Suburban 12-5, and then bounced back to beat Jackson College 9-8. ILCC dropped both games on the first day losing to Jackson College, 7-6, and Triton College, 6-3. The Iowa Lakes squad are now 7-5 overall.

ESTHERVILLE — The 12th-ranked Iowa Lakes men’s basketball team fell to No. 6 Ellsworth 92-84 for the first time in three contests this season Thursday night in the Regional Tournament on the Lakers home floor.

The loss may result in an end to the Lakers season, at 26-7, pending a potential at large bid for the NJCAA National Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday.

DES MOINES — February set multiple records for warm, dry conditions and minimal precipitation, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

February 2024 ranks among the top two warmest, top three driest and top five least snowy months on record. Overall winter temperatures also rank among the top five warmest recorded, with February showing a statewide average temperature more than 12 degrees above normal.

With the ice gone, our concern becomes the need for rainfall. At this point, strong winds and low humidity levels are raising the fire danger levels. Fires have broken out here and there across northwest Iowa, and there is a lot of praying for rain.

This is also the time to look at our lake levels. Big Spirit Lake is currently 11.4 inches below the spillway, while the Okoboji chain is 3 inches below the Lower Gar outlet.

The period between the ice fishing season and the open water season this year is going to be a bit longer for anglers in some areas. Mild winter temperatures shut the ice fishing season down prematurely, and in those same places, open water fishing isn’t real feasible either, say in areas north of us in Minnesota and Wisconsin. There’s too much ice to put a boat in, and not enough ice to walk on. Additionally, some fishing seasons are closed.

The final touches on the Okoboji View Wetland Complex, a major clean water project near the Okoboji View Golf Course across the road to the west of West Lake Okoboji, are scheduled for this spring with completion by the end of this coming June. The Natural Resources Commission approved the project at its January meeting.

BOYS

Boys 1st Team

Jaxon Pauslrud, So., Cherokee

Jordan Jensen, Sr., ELC

*Owen Larson, Sr., ELC

*Dylan Stecker, Jr., Spirit Lake

*Jaidyn Coon, So., Storm Lake

Boys 2nd Team

Coy Lewis, So., Cherokee

Sincere McMurran, Jr., ELC

Cael Bruning, Jr., Spencer

Ethan Stecker, Jr., Spirit Lake

Wesley Walz, So., Spirit Lake

Cameron Boyd, So., Storm Lake

Sophomore Brooklyn Bode reached base 10 times in her 18 at-bats last week. Bode hit .555 (10-18) with a total of six RBI, six runs scored, six stolen bases, two triples and one home run. She reached via a hit in every possible way which included a single, double, triple, and home run. Bode produced all of these numbers from the nine spots in the lineup.