Stories from Saturday, July 13, 2013

Storm Laker outdoors enthusiast Mark Kirkholm recently took a bite out of his nature bucket list. While taking part in a Buena Vista University student biology expedition to South Africa, Kirkholm, a security officer at BVU and a charter member of the local trumpeter swan committee, made a side trip on his own to go cage diving among great white sharks with Discovery Channel shark expert Chris Fallow's Apex Diving...

Mike Hawkins spent at least part of a windy, 90-degree day treating unwanted purple loosestrife, a flowering, imported weed that seemed to be crowding out native plants near Big Spirit Lake. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist has taken on projects of a bigger scale since arriving at the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery in 1999. His efforts to improve water quality were recognized by the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies...

I want to have a focus when it comes to my column. I want a direction for my "Tidbits," but I want to know what local interest is. My idea is to write columns in series: group topics by month, and write four or five columns on that topic based on how many Saturdays fall in a given month...

Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year is Clay Mutual Insurance, located at 515 Grand Ave. in Spencer. "We're one of the oldest businesses in town," Ann Banks, manager of Clay Mutual, said. The business began in 1888, and was located on West 4th St., where J.P. Greer Law Office is located now. They've been in their location on Grand Ave. since 1974...

Discussions about Iowa agriculture and turkey usually center around the bird with a lowercase "t." Greg Van Sickle was part of an overseas trip to change the conversation. He was part of a delegation who embarked on a trade mission June 10-13 to the Middle East...

Colleen "Coke" Wolthuis, 64 of Lincoln, Neb., passed away at her home surrounded by family on Tuesday, July 9th, 2013. Coke was born in Boone, Iowa on April 12th, 1949, to Eldon and Mary (Younggren) Kelley. Coke grew up in Sheldon, Iowa and graduated from Sheldon High School in 1967. She attended Iowa Lakes Community College and it was there that she met her lifelong friend and husband, Dave. She married Dave Wolthuis at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa on September 7th, 1969...

Chris Irvin Woodall, the son of Phillip and Lena (Toft) Woodall, was born on November 19, 1925, on a farm near Royal, Iowa. Chris attended elementary school at Clay Center No. 5 country school and graduated in 1943 from Royal High School. This summer was the celebration of Chris' 70th class reunion...

"Gift elves" Kathy Anderson and Sheli Cheevers surprise mother and daughter Jackie Sullivan and Catie Sullivan with $10 gift certificates at Southpark Mall's Crazy Days celebration. The elves will appear throughout the weekend to give away prizes at random to Crazy Days shoppers. (Photo by Kate Padilla)

Cluttered with unique, repurposed, antique-like and interesting items, one of Spencer's more unusual retail stores has only been open for a short amount of time but that hasn't stopped residents from flocking to the small garage-like building. Gypsy Junktion was started by Janet Bottolssen, who owned the Gab & Dab in Arnold's Park before selling it to make time for her new venture...

The Spencer Archery high school team can officially say it's one of the best in the world. After competing at the NASP World Championship Tournament at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on Sunday, June 30, the Spencer archers placed ninth out of 48 teams in the high school division and finished their season with another top finish at a prestigious event. The team turned in a top-10 finish at the national event in May...

During the lunch hour Friday afternoon, a FedEx tractor-trailer collided with, and pinned a Honda Accord underneath the trailer at the intersection of 4th St. SW and Grand Avenue. The tractor-trailer was turning onto 4th St. SW when the accident occurred. Traffic on Grand Avenue was slowed while the Honda was freed from the trailer. The official accident report was unavailable at the time of print. (Photo by Paula Buenger)

The third annual Spencer Chamber of Commerce Ag Experience is fast approaching, with it being July 18, but there is going to be something different this time around. With the event focusing on educating kids and adults on the world of agriculture, the Chew On This Tour is making a stop at the Clay County Fairgrounds where the event is being held. The nationwide tour is a unique, interactive look to heighten awareness about hunger -- one the biggest problems facing the world...

Iowa Lakes Community College head wrestling coach Cody Alesch has put his time in around the area to find some local talent on the mat. Of the numerous local athletes to sign with the Lakers, Spencer's John Christopherson was the first. Alesch looks for him to compete at 125 pounds for the Lakers next year. The Spencer graduate finished in the top-5 at state three times and had 150 career wins...

Not too often can a team give up eight runs in the first inning and still "10-run" that team in five innings. But that's exactly what happened Friday night when Spencer traveled to Algona to face Bishop Garrigan in a varsity-only make-up game. The Tigers got monster offensive games from Austin Allen, who continued his hot streak following Thursday's three extra-base hit performance, Matthew Klemme and Weston Glienke. ...

The Sioux Central Rebels finished its regular season with a 10-4 loss at Cherokee Wednesday night, July 10. Cherokee scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull away as Evan Balder took the loss in a complete-game effort. Tim Saunders collected two of the Rebels' five hits in the loss. ...

Saturday, July 13 Class 2A District 2 Baseball (at Spirit Lake) Sioux Central vs. ELC - 5 p.m. Okoboji vs. Emmetsburg - 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 Spencer Baseball - home vs. Algona - JV/V Wednesday, July 17 Spencer Baseball at Sgt. Bluff-Luton - JV/V Friday, July 19...

Now through Sept. 6, tickets to the Clay County Fair are available for $6, a 25 percent savings from typical admission prices. "When we were delivering the tickets to the locations, we know people were waiting for them," Jeremy Parsons, manager of the Clay County Fair, said...