Stories from Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Spencer Area Concert Association will host one of today's most exciting young classical ensembles when the Claremont Trio comes to town on Friday, Feb. 22. The three beautiful and talented young women have gained the praise of music critics for their "exuberant performances" and "gutsy repertoire."...

The 24th Annual Northwest Iowa Ag Outlook Conference and Trade Show will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19 at the Clay County Regional Events Center on the Clay County Fairgrounds in Spencer and will feature an industry trade show and an agricultural forum...

Writing a book had always been in the back of Kelly Carper Polden's mind. "Puppy Tales: The Adventures of Adam the Australian Shepherd" marks the Spencer native's first venture into the world of authoring and publishing a children's work of art. Penned from her dog Adam's point of view, Carper Polden's recently-released book is written primarily for an 8 - 10-year-old target audience. ...

Gov. Chet Culver on Wednesday said he is willing to give up doubling the 5-cent deposit as part of a compromise on his plan to expand the state's bottle deposit law. But some reforms are needed, according to his lieutenant governor, Patty Judge, who made a stop in Spencer as part of a series of meetings in northwest Iowa...

Services are pending for Gaylord Lyle Vogt, 75, of Spencer, who passed away Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, at Longhouse Residence of Spencer. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

Wednesday morning, the Spencer Fire Department was called to a gas leak at 414 First Ave. E., after a gas riser on the southeast side of the building was reportedly struck by snow moving equipment. The call came at approximately 8:55 a.m., and firefighters were asked to respond to the site where gas was releasing into the air...

Arts on Grand offers a Valentine Class Arts on Grand in Spencer is offering a class for children from 2:45-3:45 p.m. on a early dismissal day, today. Students will paint pre- made clay hearts and beads to make a Valentine wall hanging for the wall or door...

Mr. and Mrs. Terry Cuthbert of Spencer announce the engagement of their daughter, Wendi Cuthbert to Leon Canada, the son of Mrs. Maureen Canada of Des Moines. Wendi is a 1989 graduate of Spencer High School, a 1994 graduate of UNI and a 1998 graduate of Wayne State College. Wendi is an elementary school guidance counselor in Johnston...

Spirit Lake's School Board meeting held Monday night was far less explosive than the group's special session Feb. 5 in which members accepted the forced resignation of High School Principal Jedd Sherman. Parents, students, faculty members and others spilled into the hallway during the meeting as the room was too crowded to include all interested parties...

-Class 3A state tournament begins today in Des Moines- It all comes down to this. Three days left in a three-month season. Two hundred twenty-four Class 3A wrestlers invade the Wells Fargo Arena today for the start of the 83rd annual Iowa High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Championships for the state's largest class...

-Spencer subdues Storm Lake 59-32, advances to play rival Spirit Lake in regional semifinal- One down, two to go. Spencer made its first playoff win in four years look easy Wednesday. The Tigers handed out 18 team assists, forced 21 turnovers and held Storm Lake to 20 percent shooting, overcoming their recent playoff jinx with a 59-32 win over the Tornadoes...