Stories from Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Gov. Chet Culver announced Thursday that Major General Ron Dardis, the retiring commander of the Iowa National Guard, will serve as Executive Director of the Rebuild Iowa Office effective February 9. Dardis was raised in the Spencer-Ruthven area and graduated from Spencer in 1961. His mother, Zerena, still lives in Spencer...

A Spencer man is being held on a $50,000 bond after members of the Clay County Sheriff's Office executed an arrest warrant on suspicion of methamphetamine distribution. Deputies took 31-year-old Jesse Armstrong into custody at 12:34 a.m. Saturday in the 700 block of East First Street. Armstrong was wanted on three Class C felony counts for delivery of a controlled substance - methamphetamine...

A 24-year-old Spencer man faces a series of charges following a traffic stop at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday in the 2500 block of U.S. Highway 18. While on a routine patrol, a Clay County Deputy stopped a vehicle driven by Nicholas Elmer Farghum for going 114 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy then did a brief investigation after the stop and suspected Farghum of driving while intoxicated...

Upon his request, no services will be held at this time for William Sherman Schwarck, 87 of Spencer. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Bill passed away Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 at his home. William Sherman Schwarck of Spencer, was born to Dr. ...

Services for Helen Iona Paulsen, 97 were held Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal. Rev. Tom Dettmer officiated the service. Interment took place at Willow Creek Cemetery in Royal. Helen passed away on Feb. 5, 2009, at Longhouse Residence in Spencer...

A Sioux Rapids woman faces new charges after investigators suspect she stole thousands of dollars Wal-Mart merchandise, then flipped the items for a profit on eBay. Police first arrested 32-year-old Jackie Lynn Peterson of Sioux Rapids on Wednesday, Jan. 28, for shoplifting about $500 worth of merchandise from the Wal-Mart store in Spencer...

Area volunteers are being sought to take part in a March 7 event that'll not only be fun, but is guaranteed to fill the heart. The service project anticipated to be filled with fellowship will have interested individuals and groups signing up to package meals for Kids Against Hunger...

EVERLY -- Clay Central-Everly out-rebounded Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka 43-19 and had their way with the Tigers in the paint, producing a 68-42 victory to improve to 18-1 on the season. "Rebounding is definitely what's winning games for us. We're really handling the boards well," said Clay Central-Everly head coach Gordie Jorgensen...

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right: Class 4A Others receiving votes: Davenport Central 17. Marshalltown 8. Johnston 6. Des Moines Hoover 1. Iowa City High 1...

Spencer shot 50 percent from the field and held Sheldon to 14 points fewer than the teams' first meeting, but the Tigers' chance for a game-tying shot in the final seconds never materialized as the Orabs held off Spencer 56-53. "We had a really good comeback in the second half. I was happy with our effort," said Spencer head coach Bob Haak. "They did the things they needed to do to win the game in the end."...

Spencer's swim team is going to state. The Tigers shattered a handful of school records and will send six athletes in five events to the Iowa High School State Swim Meet in Marshalltown after turning in the school's best district swimming performance in history...

What is left to say about Brittany Peterson? Spencer's point guard is simply amazing. Peterson stole the show again Friday at the Fieldhouse, turning in an all-time great performance with a school record 36 points and her second triple-double of the season in leading the No. 12 Tigers to a 66-41 win over Sheldon...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- A coalition of environmental groups called Tuesday for the Iowa Legislature to put an end to trash burning and develop a statewide plan for its waterways. Those were among the priorities outlined by Iowa Environmental Council at a Statehouse news conference. Members of the council appeared with Republican and Democratic legislators and made the case that they had bipartisan support in the Legislature...