Stories from Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Visions of a holiday open house might not readily bring to mind images of the device used to break open the shells of hard, dry fruits. They may, however, pique dreams of "The Nutcracker" ballet and the decorative nutcrackers often collected for their appearance, rather than their daily designated use...

-Spencer High School Choir to join 'The Gambler' on stage- Julienne Irwin, semi-finalist in the hit television show America's Got Talent, will be part of the Kenny Rogers Christmas and Hits Tour when it arrives in Spencer for one show on Nov. 30. "It's just amazing," Irwin said. ...

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Security screeners at the Newark airport could almost open a department store with all the banned items: nine bottles of wine, three sets of kitchen knives, a replica antique gun, pool cues, golf clubs and baseball bats. The objects, confiscated from travelers over several recent days, also included martial-arts weapons and a belt with fake bullets...

AOG announces Clay Santa Ornament class Arts on Grand is having its annual Children's Santa ornament class with Rita Goeken.   The class will be two sessions: Today from 2:45 - 3:45 p.m., and Friday, Nov. 23 from 10:30 -11:30 a.m.  The first session will be working with clay and the second session will be painting with acrylics.  The creations will be signed and dated making a perfect holiday memory!  Times may be arranged for painting if unable to come for the second session. ...

Funeral services for Ruth Mary Rogness, 89, of Westminster, Md., and formerly of Royal, will be held today, Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal. The Rev. Deb Mechler will officiate the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. Ms. Rogness passed away Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, at Carroll Hospice in Westminster, Md...

Funeral services for Mrs. Dorothy Pingel, 84, of Sutherland, will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007, at Bethel Lutheran Church of Sutherland. Rev. LeRoy Riemer will officiate the service. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m., Friday with the family present from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Warner Funeral Home of Sutherland...

Mandy Reynolds and Ryan Kabrick are pleased to announce their engagement. The couple is planning a Nov. 24, 2007, wedding at Zion Lutheran Church in Ruthven, with a reception to follow at Moose Lodge. Mandy is the daughter of Michael and Regina Reynolds of Ruthven. She is a 2003 graduate of Ruthven-Ayrshire High School. Mandy is currently employed as a CMA at Orthopaedics PC in Spencer...

Alissa Ann Gray and Matthew James Hansen were married on July 7, 2007, at Sacred Heart Church, Spencer, during a ceremony officiated by Rev. Edward Murray. A reception and dance followed at The Inn in Okoboji. The bride is the daughter of Terry and Lori Gray of Arnolds Park. The groom is the son of Dennis Hansen of Ruthven and Sherri Hansen of Spencer...

Bobbi Clark and Tony Hoger were married on Sept. 29, 2007, at the Chapel in the Woods, Evansdale. Bobbi is the daughter of Shirley and Larry Clark of Spencer. Tony is the son of Lisa and Randy Hansen of Spencer and Clint Hoger of Spencer. A reception honoring the marriage will be Nov. 24, 2007, at Oneota Park in Spencer from 12-4 p.m...

Isabella Eve Vazquez, daughter of Jonathan and Amber Vazquez of Spencer, was born Nov. 11, 2007. She weighed 8 pounds, 3.9 ounces. Grandparents are Kayl and Regan Hauschen of Sioux Rapids. Isabella was welcomed home by big brother, Christian.

Kristin and John Hass of Spencer, are the new parents of a son, Ethan Lyndon Hass. He was born Nov. 14, 2007, and weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces. Grandparents are: Ken and Marilyn Ullmann of Spencer, Jeri Huber of Buffalo, Wyo., and the late Lyndon Hass of George...

Kelsee Lynn Warnke, daughter of Mike and Adrian Warnke of Primghar, was born Nov. 15, 2007. She weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Grandparents are: Mandy Burrington of Primghar, Ken and Helen Burrington of Corwith, Deb Warnke of Coon Rapids, and Darrel Warnke of Archer...

Adam Rohwer and Stephanie Thul of Sutherland, are the new parents of a daughter, Mataya Cheyann Rohwer. She was born Nov. 15, 2007, and weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces. Grandparents are: Denny Anderson and Deb Rohwer of Linn Grove, and Paul and Evelyn Thul of Beech Grove, Ark...

Kreed Daniel Pierce Schroeder, son of Ben Schroeder and Roxy Todd of Spencer, was born Nov. 15, 2007.  He weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. Grandparents are: Donna Todd of Spencer; and Dan and Nancy Schroeder of Hinton.  Great-grandmother is Beverly Todd of Laurens...

-Peterson scores school record 32 points, ties mark for single game 3-pointers- There was no slow start this year. One year after shooting just 28 percent in a season-opening loss to Emmetsburg, the No. 4 Tigers opened the 2007-08 campaign on a blistering pace Tuesday night at the Fieldhouse, knocking down 10 3-pointers and scoring 82 points in a 51-point victory over Le Mars...

-Sioux Central comeback falls short- Clay Central-Everly did just enough to hold on to a season-opening victory Tuesday night in Everly, overcoming a 26-point night from Brooke Scharn to edge Sioux Central 51-50 in non-conference play. "We had a huge improvement over our jamboree and had a really good effort," said Clay Central-Everly first-year coach Lester Tessum...

The Clay County Board of Supervisors received a pitch from community leaders who want to step up efforts to promote tourism. Kathy Fueston and Bob Rose were on hand to see if the county board was willing to set aside a portion of the county budget for tourism promotion...

Taxes, religion and early-childhood education were among the topics broached during the 62nd Annual Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) Convention held last week in Des Moines. The educational-based gathering, held Nov. 14 - 16, marked David Schlichtemeier's fourth time in attendance as a representative of Spencer...