Stories from Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Upper Des Moines Opportunity's Clay County Head Start Birth to Five program is among the first early childhood program to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) -- the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals. ...

SIOUX RAPIDS -- Sioux Central's Brooke Scharn recorded a double-double, scoring 19 and pulling down 17 boards, to help the Rebel girls advance to the second round of the Class 2A Regional playoffs with a convincing 65-36 win over Pocahontas Area Saturday night at Sioux Rapids...

Spencer Tiger Girl's Basketball Coach Don Martindale has maintained all season long that this year's squad - the first to capture a Lakes Conference championship in the history of the Spencer girl's basketball program - is a group of team players. Saturday's All-Conference meeting, conducted by Lakes Conference coaches reaffirmed Martindale's belief...

MARSHALLTOWN -- Coach Katie Tanner's Spencer Tiger swim team made a big spalsh in what could be the team's final pool appearance. Facing a possible program cut as part of an extensive reduction package designed to cut the Spencer Community School District budget by $800,000-plus, the Tigers sent six members of its 12 swimmer team to Marshalltown Saturday to take part in the Iowa High School State Swim Meet...

Based on seeding, four were expected to go. One was a pleasant surprise. And regardless of the circumstances, Spencer Wrestling Coach Dave Schaefer is pleased to be taking five wrestlers to compete on the big stage in Des Moines beginning Wednesday afternoon this week...

Funeral services for Mrs. Hilda Joenks, 92 of Rossie, were held Monday, Feb. 16, 2009 at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Revs. Tom and Wendy Van Tassell officiated the service. Graveside services were held on Monday at Oakland Cemetery in Peterson. Hilda passed away Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 at Spencer Hospital...

Services for Mrs. Sharon Virginia Rehan, 66 of Spencer were held Monday, Feb. 16, 2009 at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. Brent Lingle officiated the service. Interment took place at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. Sharon passed away Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 at Spencer Hospital in Spencer...

Memorial services for Bradley Allen Wallace, 36 were held Monday, Feb. 16, 2009 at the United Methodist Church of Marathon. Rev. David Schumann will officiate the service. He was cremated. Bradley passed away at his home on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009. Bradley Allen Wallace, the son of Allen and Theresa (Ray) Wallace, was born on March 4, 1972, in Indianapolis, Ind. ...

Services for Lloyd Enger, 89 of Ruthven, were held Monday, Feb. 16, 2009 at Zion Lutheran Church in Ruthven. Rev. Luther Thoresen officiated the service. Interment took place at Crownhill Cemetery in Ruthven. Lloyd passed away Friday, Feb. 13 at Buena Vista County Hospital in Storm Lake...

Labor issues and taxes, which are taking center stage this week as the Iowa Legislature enters its sixth week, also were at the center of several heated comments made during Saturday morning's Eggs and Issues session as the political ideologies of Sen. Jack Kibbie (D-Emmetsburg) and Rep. Marcie Frevert (D-Emmetsburg) differed with those of Sen. David Johnson (R-Ocheyedan) and Rep. Mike May (R-Spirit Lake)...

Northwest Iowa Ag Outlook Conference and Trade Show will open its doors at 8 a.m., this morning with coffee and donuts being served until 9 a.m. Ag Outlook has free admission and over 90 exhibitors. The Spencer Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee has sponsored the conference and trade show for the past 25 years. The trade show and conference will begin at 8 a.m...