Page 12 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 2-3-2016

Sports/OutdoorsPage 12 • Feb. 3, 2016 Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter

Sport Shorts Why Are They Here?

The Jack scheduled for Feb. 12-13 Early bird sightings trigger backyard excitement

The seventh annual "The Jack" Helgren Memorial Iowa Lemans Champi- by Lowell Washburn Along with widespread reports Winter robins at Clear Lake Photos by: Lowell Washburn.
onship will be held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12-13. The event is sponsored For a lot of folks, the appearance of robin sightings from local bird en- are well adapted to surviving winter in now puts flocks at increased risk and
by the North Iowa Snowseekers. Friday night from 6-9 p.m. pre-register at the of the year’s first robin is an excit- thusiasts came the universal question, the north. Robins are not. Being here could prove to be a fatal error.
V.F.W. in downtown Clear Lake and cruise around the lake. Saturday, Radar ing event -- a sure and welcome sign “Why are they here?” The answer is
Runs start at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m. Lemans style racing begins. The event also of spring. Or is it? For a growing that no one can say. Although Janu-
includes a Vintage Show and Kitty Kat races, all held at Clear Lake State Park number of North Iowans, catching a ary weather has offered ample snow
on South Shore Drive. An awards ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday glimpse of the year’s first robin has al- cover and occasional double digit
night at the Surf Ballroom with a live band. ready been checked off the 2016 Out- below zero wind chills, overall winter
door Bucket List; and I think it’s safe temperatures have remained tolerable,
NIACC youth baseball camp planned to say that spring is still a long way off. although certainly not warm enough
From Okoboji to Elkader, robins that anyone would expect to look out
The NIACC baseball team will hold a youth camp on Feb. 6, in the suddenly began appearing in back- their kitchen window and see a flock
NIACC Recreation Center. The camp is open to players in grades two-12. yards and woodlots across the state of robins hopping through the snow
The Feb. 6 camp is a pitching camp. The camp for players in grades two to during the last half of January. The drifts. What is certain is that the
six is from 9-11:30 a.m. and the camp for players in grades seven-12 is from unlikely visitors weren’t necessarily sightings are highly unusual for Iowa’s
12:30-3 p.m. The cost is $75. To register go to www.niaccbaseballcamps. lone, off course vagrants either. In northernmost counties and that rob-
com/skills-camp.cfm. many cases, the robins were reported ins are definitely pushing the envelope
arriving in flocks numbering any- by choosing to venture this far north
GHV Sports Boosters plan tournaments where from a dozen, to 20, 30, or even this early in the year. Cold tolerant
more birds. species like chickadees and blue jays
The GHV Sports Boosters will be hosting the following tournaments:
Boys Basketball Tournaments will be held on Feb. 12 for grades seven-eight Clear Lake JV girls adding wins late in season
and on Feb. 13 for grades three-six. A Girls Basketball Tournament will be
held on Saturday, Feb. 20, for grades four-seven. For more information con-
tact Chad Shaw at 641-485-6178 or Cheila Frayne at 641-860-0776.

VFW holds Bean Bag Tournament The Clear Lake junior varsity and moved the ball well. Our defense for us. Kayla Ritter had a great game great spark for the team on both ends
girls record currently stands at 5-9 as couldn’t keep up with their offense, all around. She was attacking the bas- of the court,” said Coach Hill.
The VFW Post 4868 held their weekly Bean Bag Tournament on Wednes- the season begins to wind down. said Coach Emily Hill, whose team ket and playing great defense. Mikayla Faber scored 19 in the win.
day, Jan. 27. The winner of the Afternoon Singles Match was Stu Parr and Dale Algona 42, CL 37 fell 45-26. VanderPloeg stepped in nicely defen- Elizabeth Brandt put in six points and
Anderson was the runner-up. In the evening, two doubles matches were played. After the Christmas break the Humboldt 37, CL 27 sively and on the boards.” Macy Mixdorf finished with four.
Winners of the first match were Wayne Huntley and Steve Raber. Winners of Lions faced a tough Algona team and Humboldt earned a 37-27 North
the second match were Gordy Wiemann and Bailey Blickendorfer. was downed, 42-37. Jessica Faber Central Conference victory over the CL 39, Hampton-Dumont 32 Iowa Falls/Alden 42, CL 27
scored 15 points to lead the Lions. Lions. Jessica Faber and Mallory Lei- The Lions got back on the The Lions got off to a slow start
DNR reports good yellow bass, Morgan Nauman put in six points sure each scored seven points. Emilie winning track against Hampton- and couldn’t recover in a 42-27 loss to
crappie fishing on Clear Lake and Kayla Ritter added four. Jandebeur had five. Dumont. They were winners, 39-32. Iowa Falls/Alden. “Plagued by foul
“It is always a fun rivalry game trouble, it was hard to get back into
The Iowa Department of Natu- fish 8-12 feet of water on the little CL 44, Webster City 23 Forest City 31, CL 17 with Hampton. After a one point lead the game,” said Coach Hill.
ral Resources issues a weekly fishing lake and move until you find schools. The Lions picked up a 44-23 vic- Coach Emily Hill saw some at halftime, the Lions outscored the Gretchen Jones led the way with
report on Thursdays in an effort to Anglers will catch a few different year tory over always-tough Webster City. good performances, but unfortunately Bulldogs by six in the second half to eight points. Mikayla VanderPloeg
provide the latest information heading classes but are catching 8.5-9.4 inch Jessica Faber and Macy Mixdorf each the Lions were cold and fell to Forest get the victory. Jessica Faber came in was next with seven and Mallory Lei-
into the weekend. The weekly fishing fish consistently. The action has been put in nine points, while Gretchen City, 31-17. Macy Mixdorf led the and took over in both the second and sure had six points for the Lions.
report is compiled from information good near the west aerator to Baptist Jones scored seven. team with seven points. Kayla Ritter fourth quarter. She always provides a
gathered from local bait shops, angler camp. Walleye - Fair: An occasional New Hampton 45, CL 26 had five points and Mikayla Vander-
creel surveys, and county and state walleye is being caught near the aera- Jessica Faber scored 11 and Ploeg added two. Battle of the Badges set for
parks staff. For current information, tor or west to Baptist camp. Use jig- Gretchen Jones added eight, but it “Macy did a great job handling Feb. 19 at NI Ice Arena
contact the district fisheries office at ging spoons, small lipless cranks, or wasn’t enough to off-set a potent New the ball for us,” said Coach Hill. “She On Friday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. Each year the game begins with
the phone number listed at the end of 1/8 oz. jigs with minnows. Crappie Hampton offense. “They were quick created a opportunities for other play- law enforcement and firefighters will an honor guard presentation and sev-
each district report. - Good: Crappie have been caught ers. Unfortunately, the shots didn’t fall play in the annual Battle of the Badges eral Wish Kids help with a pre-game
The most recent report says Clear mixed in with some of the yellow bass charity hockey game. The game will puck drop.
Lake has about around 15-inches of catches in 8-12 feet of water but the Eighth grade boys use team be held at the North Iowa Ice Arena After the past two games, Battle
ice on both the little and main lakes. better locations are in the deeper 15- in Mason City. of the Badges was awarded as the Gold
There is a little bit of current flow- 24 feet holes early morning (7-9 a.m.) effort to split with Algona Law enforcement and firefight- external event of the year in the State
ing into the little lake from Ventura or evening (3-8 p.m.). Good numbers ers will be out in communities rais- of Iowa, meaning that the game raised
Marsh; be aware of possible thin ice of 10-12 inch fish. Yellow Perch - Fair: Clear Lake’s eighth grade boys 21 victory. ing money from sponsors prior to the more money for Make-A-Wish than
on the south side of the little lake. Occasional larger perch (9.5-10 inch- basketball teams split games with Al- Kuhemeier led the team with 14 game, all of which will be donated. any other external event in the state.
Yellow Bass - Good: Action is good if es) have been caught on the little lake. gona Thursday, Jan. 28. points. Cameron Levenhagen added Last year, the game raised $37,629.50, Tickets are available at the Cerro
you move often if not catching fish; In the A game, Coach Shawn six points, Noah Mason had four with all proceeds going to charity. The Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Mason
Puttmann said his Lions came out flat and Connor O’Tool and Austin Lar- money raised comes from private and City Police and Fire Departments,
Partnership will plant 69,600 trees and didn’t play their best. They were son each scored three points. Hunter corporate sponsors and donations, Wayne’s Ski and Cycle, Coffee Cat
defeated, 42-21. Hill, Hunter Nielsen, Jackson Loge ticket sales, a jersey auction and items and American Family Insurance (Matt
The Arbor Day Foundation re- A portion of the Arbor Day Jaylen DeVries and Ryan Thom- and Zane Anderson scored two points for sale at the game. Dodge Agency). Tickets are $5 each
cently partnered and through its mem- Foundation’s programming focuses as each scored six points. Brecken apiece. All proceeds from the Battle of and children under five-years are ad-
bers provided funding to the DNR’s on large-scale tree plantings that will Arndt put in four points, while Kody “The Lions did lose to Algona the Badges are donated to Make-A- mitted free of charge. Tickets will also
Forestry Bureau to plant 69,600 trees positively impact the environment, kearns had three and Jack Barragy earlier in the season and they wanted Wish, with the money staying local to be available at the door.
on Iowa’s State Forest Land in 2016. create habitat for wildlife and pro- scored two. to prove that they could beat them,” help kids in North Iowa communities. Anyone wishing to sponsor the
Bare root tree seedlings will be planted mote watershed restoration in our In the B game, Coach Puttmann said the coach. “It was a great team ef- Over the past five years, no including event are asked to contact Lt. Matt
by hand and by machine to reforest nation’s forests. This year, the Arbor said Brody Kuhemeier stepped up his fort by everyone.” this year’s game, Battle of the Badges Klunder at the Cerro Gordo County
and improve diversity on 170 acres of Day Foundation has emphasized wa- game and sparked the Lions to a 38- has raised approximately $150,000. Sheriff’s Office, 641-421-3000.
Iowa public forest land. tershed restoration projects.

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