Stories from Thursday, October 21, 2010

ADA event focuses on people, not disabilities In observance of the 20th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act, community members were given the opportunity to "try on" various disabilities during "Don't 'Dis' My Ability," organized by the local ADA Council Tuesday afternoon at Spencer Community Theatre...

Matthew and Brad Bern (left) of Bern Custom Woodworking, of Littleton, Colo., delivered a whimsical, handcrafted children's table and chair set from their new garden collection Wednesday, Oct. 20, to the Spencer Public Library. The tree trunk table and four chairs showcasing an oak leaf, blue bird, green leaf and six-legged purple bug were constructed and individually hand painted by the father-son team and artist Lori Worthman, who accomplished the detail painting on the pieces. ...

According to Spencer Police Chief Mark Lawson, the initial charges filed in the state of Wisconsin against Spencer Police Officer Chad Julius have been dismissed, in exchange for Julius' agreement to enter a plea of no contest to a disorderly conduct charge...

Spencer will send three athletes to the state cross country meet next Saturday after a trio of Top 10 performances at Thursday's district meet in Denison.

Spencer locked up a share of third place in the Lakes Conference volleyball standings and ended the regular season on a high note Tuesday in Storm Lake where the Tigers produced a 4-game win over the Tornadoes -- 25-21, 25-21, 18-25, 25-20. Spencer's win ended a 3-match losing streak against the Tornadoes and gave the Tigers their highest finish in the conference since 2007 when Spencer went 6-2 following a state tournament berth in '06...

Most days, I don't put much thought into what I wear. I grab the least wrinkled shirt and pair of pants, add a belt and pair of shoes that match and I'm out the door. But Wednesday, I joined millions of people across the nation and beyond as I chose to wear purple in memory of individuals who have killed themselves after being bullied and harassed by peers who thought they were gay...

Tialisa Lynn Weatherman and Jeremy Michael Jurgensen are pleased to announce their engagement. Parents of the couple are Jerry and Anna Weatherman of Milford and Dale and Mindy Jurgensen of Lake Park. Tialisa is employed with Little Hands Day Care in Spirit Lake...

Larry and Sherry Clark and Julie Bringle and Scott Smith are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their children, Whitney Clark, of Spencer, to Josh Smith, of Spencer. Whitney will graduate in December 2010 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science from the University of Sioux Falls...

Clarence Frank Scharnberg, the son of Frank and Caroline (Ott) Scharnberg was born on March 12, 1911, on a farm outside of Everly. He received his early education and graduated from Everly High School. Clarence married Awreatha Peck on Sept. 6, 1935. Following their marriage, he farmed in the Everly area until retiring in 1966. Upon retirement he designed and built a home on West Lake Okoboji where they spent many happy years together...

Orville Edgar Luepke was born in Windom, Minn. on Aug. 4, 1922. His family moved from near Delft, Minn. to Storm Lake when he was eight months old. He graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1939, then worked for Storm Lake Floral Co. for the two years following. In 1941, he completed a course in engineering drafting at Iowa State College (now ISU) and moved to Chicago where he worked in the defense industry...

Funeral services for Mr. Gerry Lowe, 69, of Spencer will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at Warner Chapel of Spencer. Rev. Tonna Parsons will officiate the service. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 6-8 p.m. at the Warner Funeral Home in Spencer...

Funeral services for Mrs. Gertrude Lorenz, 92, of Milford, formerly of Spencer, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. Paul Hansen will officiate the service. Visitation will begin at 11:30 a.m. Thursday with the family present from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, at the Warner Funeral Home in Spencer...