Stories from Monday, February 26, 2007

"…It makes my job extremely easy when you have such dedicated people working with the various organization and making things happen."

Tigers senior pulls off stunning quarterfinals win

The state's highest court issued a reprimand, but no suspension on Friday to Assistant Clay County Attorney Chuck Borth. The Iowa Supreme Court's decision matches a Grievance Commission's recommendation in July that Borth should be publicly reprimanded, but not suspended, for his role in the once-common practice of accepting "cowl lamp" plea agreements...

Spencer D.A.R.E. coordinator Daaron Hansen proudly presented 170 sixth grade students from five elementary buildings in Spencer diplomas Friday afternoon. Hansen, who attended a two-week schooling in Sioux City in order to become a certified D.A.R.E. program instructor, attempted to describe the profound impact the sixth grade students had on him during the 12-week program...

Take a close look at those ice puddles and patches of brown. By Saturday night that might be a fond memory. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday issued a winter storm warning this weekend for the Spencer area. Periods of rain or freezing rain are expected before 9 a.m. Saturday. Periods of rain follow, with periods of snow after 3 p.m...

Negotiation strategy discussion scheduled for closed session The Spencer Community Schools Board of Education will convene in a 5 p.m. closed session to discuss negotiation strategies on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in the board room of the central administrative offices, located at 23 E. Seventh St., before entering its regular monthly meeting scheduled at 5:30 p.m...

Lisa Bailey of Spirit Lake will be the featured spotlight photographer at the Northwest Iowa Center for Photography during the months of March, April and May. The center provides an opportunity for residents and tourist to experience photographic art, as it strives to promote and educate local photographic artists...

I have to admit that the exit of Dean Torreson as Spencer city manager left me a little disappointed last week. Attending the City Council meeting on Monday and seeing Torreson's seat empty really hammered it home. I know that there are people who weren't fond of our former city manager. ...

John Lee Wilbur, 67, of Sioux City, formerly of Spencer, passed away Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, at St. Luke Orthopedics Hospital of Sioux City. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at Warner Chapel of Spencer. Rev. Jeff Filkins will officiate the service. Interment will take place at North Lawn Memorial Park of Spencer...

There's something special about the Iowa High School Wrestling Championships. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but I had an opportunity to take my two oldest sons, a junior and a freshman, and five of their friends down to Des Moines. For several years I covered the state wrestling meet, and this year, for the first time I went as a spectator...

I've often waxed rhapsodic about my love of those weekend winter storms, and we had another doozy this past weekend. Ice, snow, a little wind thrown in for good measure. A perfect excuse to settle in to a comfy chair with a blanket around my shoulders, some cocoa in my hand, and a good book...