Stories from Friday, July 29, 2011

No. 1-ranked and nationally-renowned Martensdale-St. Marys needed a come-from-behind win in the seventh inning to beat Coon Rapids-Bayard 5-4 Thursday night and advance to the 1A final on Saturday. MSTM, who have won a national-record 86 consecutive games, have needed seventh-inning runs to advance in both its first two games at state. ...

Pfc. Kyle Klaassen is among the elite military personnel deemed a Purple Heart recipient. The 21-year-old is one of 16 National Guard members to have Gen. David Petraeus pin the military decoration on his chest during a June 3 ceremony at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan...

"It's summertime and the living is easy" isn't necessarily true when it comes to driving in rural Iowa. On average less than 12 accidents occur in northwest Iowa during the summer from unmarked intersections, according to Sheriff Randy Krukow, but is still something drivers should be aware of...

With the results of a housing needs survey in hand, the city of Spencer is poised to work toward a solution to the city's housing needs. Members of the Spencer Progress and Development Committee gave a preliminary nod of approval to a plan that would set aside $400,000 into a Quality Housing Initiative fund to provide an incentive for residents buying homes priced between $110,000 and $180,000...

The 2012 Ron Paul presidential campaign tour by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has been canceled due to debt ceiling negotiations and votes. Paul was scheduled to visit Pizza Ranch in Spencer at 2 p.m. today. "Naturally, we understand that Sen. Paul is required to be in Washington for a critically important vote on the debt ceiling," Ron Paul campaign Iowa Chairman Drew Ivers said. ...

Police continue to search for a man who robbed the Northwest Bank in Storm Lake Wednesday, and eluded an intense manhunt that lasted throughout the night. The bank reopened on schedule Thursday morning, and manager Dan Berglund said that no customers had been impacted by the incident, which happened 11 minutes before the bank would have closed at 5 p.m...

Classroom Collections, an annual project spearheaded by Southpark Mall and KICD radio stations, will once again service the needs of Spencer area youth in its collection of school supplies. Over 559 students will be helped with these donations. Total cash contributions to the 21st annual project totaled $7,338 and the items were unloaded Thursday afternoon at the Spencer Middle School. Many people and organizations donated bags of supplies to the cause and money raised via Classroom Collections was used to purchase backpacks and school items. Among the donors contributing over $250 were: Walmart, H & N Chevrolet-Buick, Hy-Vee, Eaton Corp., Dyno Oil, Kiwanis After Five, Compass Pointe, Farmers Trust and Savings Bank, Northwest Bank Cares and KICD Radio. (Photo by Kris Todd)

Funeral services for Mrs. Esther Helen Brown, 94, of Spirit Lake, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will begin after 4 p.m. Sunday, July 31, with the family present from 4-6 p.m. at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake...

Much like the original "Iron Man" and "Spider-Man," "Captain America: The First Avenger" will appeal to comic book and non-comic book fans alike. Initially I was a bit concerned with casting Chris Evans as Steve Rogers - the runt turned super soldier - who becomes Captain America, mythical hero of World War II. ...