Area news

Area girls and boys ages 9 to 14 participated in the 2026 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship Jan. 18, and nine earned the right to compete at the District level. Iowa Great Lakes Council 5043 in Spirit Lake sponsored the local competition at the Bedell Family YMCA, drawing a record 27 kids from Spirit Lake and Okoboji.

The Knights of Columbus Council 5660 at Mater Dei Parish in Sioux City distributed $500 checks to five organizations that serve clients with intellectual disabilities in Sioux City.

The Knights of Columbus Iowa Great Lakes Council 5043 oversaw the exemplification for three members. The ceremony was held Jan. 11 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Honored with the third degree by District Deputy Jim Miller, with State Chaplain Rev. Dan Guenther presiding, were Vance Katzfey, Okoboji, Jason Dahna, Graettinger and Nicholas Poss, Ashton. With family members in attendance, the men committed themselves to the first three degrees of the Knights of Columbus: charity, unity and fraternity.

The St. Andrew Church Guild in Sibley presented an Achievement Award scholarship to Macy Polen following Mass Jan. 11. She is attending Buena Vista University in Storm Lake.