Stories from Friday, September 9, 2011

Two terms with the Spencer school board are up for grabs in the Tuesday, Sept. 13 election, and two local women are vying to fill the at-large spots in an uncontested race. The seats currently filled by Todd Korbitz, who is not seeking re-election, and Marti Bomgaars are being sought by Bomgaars and Kristine "Kris" McDermott...

When the first plane slammed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, Mike Watland was having a cup of coffee with Dewey Stouffer in the Spencer fire station. By the time the second plane crashed, they, like others around the world, had become riveted to the latest happenings as they unfolded on cable television. Watland, a 27-year Spencer firefighter who retired in 2006, hosted a vigil Thursday on the Clay County Courthouse lawn. He did this as a volunteer for Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth. "I was a prime candidate to become a volunteer for A&E because of my strong feelings for 9/11, being I was a firefighter at the time. I witnessed the

With the flooding of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers on the borders of Iowa this summer, and additional flooding throughout the state, one might think that mosquitoes should have been particularly prevalent this year. But the opposite has been the case, especially over the past two months...

The Spencer and Okoboji/Spirit Lake debate teams will hold the ninth "Annual Debate At the Fair" at 2 p.m. Sept. 10, in the 4-H Auditorium at the Clay County Fair. A team of two student debaters from each school will square off in a debate addressing the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks...

Funeral services for Mr. Jeffrey Balk, 51, of Spencer, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer. Visitation will take place Saturday, Sept. 10, at Warner Funeral Home, starting at 8 a.m., with family present from 9 a.m. until the time of the service...

Funeral services for Mr. Robert Boyd, 85, of Spencer, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Rev. William Schreiber will officiate the service. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer...

Funeral services for Mrs. Edith Hamrick, 69, of Spencer, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at Hope Reformed Church in Spencer. Rev. Russell Muilenburg will officiate the service. Visitation will take place Friday, Sept. 9, at Warner Funeral Home, starting at 3 p.m, with family present from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m...

Funeral services for Anna Alvina Jalas, 88, of Santa Maria, Calif., formerly of Sutherland, will be held at noon Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, at Church of Christ in Sutherland. Rev. John Erickson will officiate the service. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church...

Fourteen employees of Farmers Trust & Savings Bank of Spencer recently volunteered their time helping to build a Habitat for Humanity home in Everly. Among the local bank volunteers taking part wereSheila Salton, Deb Leake, Christin Lee and Peg Huckfelt. (Photo submitted)

"All the World is a Stage" at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. "A Midsummer Day's Dream" was performed on July 29. The After School Acting Club, directed by Marta Barnard, begins at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10. For more information please call the PLAC at 712-332-7029. (Photo submitted)