Stories from Friday, December 2, 2011

Three members of the Iowa National Guard's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, were recognized as part of the U.S. Army's greatest inventions competition after a panel of combat veteran Soldiers voted them part of the most innovative advances in Army technology...

Services are pending for Mrs. Mary Clifton, 85, of Knoxville, formerly of Spencer, who passed away Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Westridge Nursing Home in Knoxville. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Mrs. Willmer Clark, 88, of Peterson, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. Jo Frahm Watkins will officiate the service. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the services at the funeral home...

Calla Bernice Mann, 87, of Spencer, passed away on Wednesday Nov. 30, 2011, at the Spencer Hospital in Spencer, Ia. Bernice was born on Dec. 31, 1923, at Lake Park, Ia., to Milo and Linnie Range Meyerdirk. Bernice married Louis Mann on Dec. 31, 1941 in Dakota City, Neb. He passed away on Aug. 9, 1994...

Steve Dean Smith, 52, of Bull Shoals, Ark., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, of his courageous seven-month battle with cancer, at his home. He was born April 12, 1959, in Chillocothe, Mo., to Dean Layton and Marguerite Rhea (Sidden) Smith. He was Director of Marketing for Ranger Boats, coming to the area in 2004 from Spirit Lake, Ia. ...

Northwest Aging Association and the RSVP Volunteer Program will co-host an informational meeting to assess the need for a volunteer clearinghouse in Clay County. Representatives of organizations or agencies that utilize volunteers, or that are able to provide volunteers, are encouraged to attend the fact-finding meeting at noon Thursday, Dec. 8, at Northwest Aging Association, 714 10th Ave E., Spencer...

Joanne Schar will return to Arts on Grand on Sunday, Dec. 11, to host Alice's Tea Party. From 1-4 p.m. guests will be served tea, coffee, or cider and choose from a variety of delicious holiday treats. Teacups and teapots from the collections of Alice Schar and Helen Gilbert will be used. The "Art on a Card" exhibit has been extended through that date, and cards - as well as art from the exhibit and the gallery shop - will be available for purchase. The event is free and open to the public. (Photo submitted)

Crimestoppers has increased the reward to $5,500 for information leading to an arrest in the M. Martin Jewelry burglary which occurred Nov. 22. The Spencer Police Department is continuing an ongoing investigation. Surveillance equipment suggest a man and woman were involved in the burglary at the Southpark Mall store...

Throughout his career, conservation officer Gary Biederman has seen drastic improvements in the behaviors of gun-wielding deer hunters in Clay County and eastern O'Brien County. He hopes those trends continue as shotgun deer season occurs Saturday through Wednesday and from Dec. 10 to 18...

Area residents will have the opportunity to vote for Spencer to become a "Blue Zones Community" from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Hy-Vee, Fareway, Del's Garden Center and Southpark Mall, where a flash mob will take place at 11:30 a.m., with a drawing for the "Big Blue Bundle" worth more than $1,500. What does being a Blue Zones Community mean? Blue Zones are considered the healthiest, happiest and longest-living communities on earth. Ten Iowa communities will earn the designation, which comes with an emphasis of belonging, having the right outlook, eating wisely and moving naturally. If Spencer receives the designation, the community will create a plan to work toward those initiatives. Blue Zones will employ a qualified Spencer resident to oversee and help implement Spencer's plan on a full-time basis for the 18- to 36-month duration of the project, and also provide other expertise to help guide a local advisory board to reach the community's goals. For more information, visit www.bluezonesproject.com.

The Charging Rebels dropped their first two wrestling matches of the season at a double dual in Storm Lake Thursday, Dec. 1. The Rebels lost 52-28 to Pocahontas Area/Pomeroy-Palmer and 54-13 to Storm Lake. Jordan Gunnarson pinned Dameon Doyen of Pocahontas Area in 2:22. Bryce Wenell recorded a technical fall and a major decision on the evening at 126 pounds. Ethan Lindquist won by fall in 1:23 over Wyatt Block of Pocahontas and won by major decision over Noel Buenelos of Storm Lake, 10-0...

West Bend-Mallard handed the Clay Central-Everly boys and girls basketball teams a pair of losses Friday night, Dec. 2. The CC-E girls committed 35 turnovers in a 54-35 loss. Emily Jobst led the Mavericks with 17 points and six steals. Blair Montgomery added nine points and 15 rebounds...

Two Iowa Lakes volleyball players have been named All-Americans. Iowa Lakes sophomores Xiao Liang and Le Mi were named to the 2011 NJCAA DII All-America team on Thursday by the NJCAA. Liang was selected First Team All-American for the second consecutive year. She ranked fourth in blocks per set, 14th in hitting efficiency, and 17th in kills per set...

The Sioux Central girls basketball team continued their winning ways early in the season with a lopsided 57-16 win over Laurens-Marathon Friday night in Laurens. The Rebels are now 6-0 on the season. Morgan Walker led the Rebels with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field. ...

A competitive first half turned into a blow out in the second half for the Spencer boys team Friday night during a 66-43 loss at home to Unity Christian. Trailing by just four at halftime, 32-28, the third quarter proved to be disastrous for the Tigers as they were outscored 18-2 in the third frame as Unity pushed the lead to 50-30...