Sports

   A funny thing happened while my sons and I were sitting at the United Center in Chicago, watching the Bulls take on a pair of opponents on back-to-back nights a couple of weeks ago.

   A play was developing, and there was a wide-open shooter in the corner. Just before the ball got to him, my younger son Ian said, “I just got a notification; he makes this shot.”

   Sure enough, the ball swished through. For just a second, I was slightly annoyed at Ian for “spoiling” the play.

   With spring finally here we can all look forward to the emergence of spring flowers! As the snow melts and strength of the sun grows, some of Iowa’s first spring wildflowers are brightening our days with their much-anticipated arrival.

   Skunk cabbage, a rare and elusive Iowa early bloomer is one of the earliest spring wildflowers to emerge. As its name implies, skunk cabbage is named after the smell that is produced by the flower and somewhat cabbage shaped leaves. The pungent skunk like smell is thought to lure in early spring pollinators like flies and beetles.

   Having leadership with state meet experience is a luxury not every high school girls track and field team has.

   The Maquoketa Valley Wildcats certainly do. Led by three seniors who scored points at State a year, ago, the Wildcats, despite reduced numbers, are looking for more big things this season.

   The Maquoketa Valley boys track and field team has 14 members, made up of one senior, two juniors, four sophomores and seven freshmen.

   The returning letter-winners are senior Carter Klaren, juniors George Livingston and Lance McShane, and sophomores Tate Intorf, Arion Rave and Matthew Schaul.

   Rounding out the team are sophomore Nathan Beitz and freshmen Kenyon Baker, Kash Hunt, Dylan Knipper, Preston Salow, Colin Smith, Deshawn Strickland, and Brady Wall.