Stories from Wednesday, March 19, 2014

I'm sure you've probably dealt with this at least once in your life. Your purse busting at the seams because it's full of all those "necessary" items you never know when you'll need. It's what I call the curse of a purse. No matter the size of the purse, it is inevitable every inch of conceivable space will become filled with something. ...

Spencer's track and field squads kicked their 2014 season into action on Saturday, March 15 with an indoor meet at Minnesota State University's facility in Mankato against Algona, Okoboji and North Union, placing 15 girls' events and 10 boys' events in the top-two...

The Spencer Blue Zones Project Team -- Alison Simpson, Sheriffa Jones and Erin Pingel -- flanked by Super Blue, will continue to direct Spencer as it continues to implement Blue Zones principles, but they will be doing it as volunteers going forward. (File photo)...

A photo gallery of the show is available online and a photo page will be included in Saturday's Daily Reporter. Coming to the Clay Central-Everly High School new gym this weekend is "Hairspray," a musical created by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan based on the 1988 film of the same name. CC-E's production will open at 7 p.m. tonight and both Friday and Saturday, concluding with a 2 p.m. matinee performance Sunday...

Results from the 2012 Iowa Youth Survey show the number of teens participating in risky behaviors is higher in Clay County compared to the state average. The Iowa Youth Survey asks teens questions about alcohol use, drug use and gambling and is conducted every three years; the next survey will be completed this coming fall...

Final results in the Daily Reporter's online poll: Which Spencer dining establishment serves the best fish meal during Lent? Weasy's enjoyed a comfortable victory, capturing more than 28 percent of the popular vote. Cindy's trailed bringing in a little more than 20 percent. The full results are as follows:...

Anna Irene Yates entered into rest on March 14, 2014 at her residence in Longmont, Colo. Irene was born on Dec. 12, 1919 to Fred and Rena (Heikens) Tjaden of Fostoria. Irene was raised in Iowa and married George Goble of Sailor Springs, Ill., in 1936. ...

Funeral services for Alma Jeane Spears, 98, of Spencer, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2014 at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. Tonna Parsons will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted beginning one hour prior to the services at the funeral home...

Funeral services for Opal Smith, 92, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Visitation will be conducted beginning one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be conducted at Fairview Cemetery in Terril...

Funeral services for Lee Shatto, 83, of Spencer, formerly of Fostoria, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 20, 2014 at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer. Rev. Paul Kaldahl will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted beginning noon Wednesday, with the family present from 4-7 p.m. at the Warner Funeral Home...

Funeral services for Marjorie Krogh, 89, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2014 at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer. Rev. Kay Hooper will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted beginning one hour prior to the service at the funeral home...

Funeral services for Vera Saxby, 94, of Spencer, will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2014 at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer. Rev. Paul Kaldahl will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted beginning one hour prior to the funeral service at the church...

Memorial services for Devada "Dee" Dirksen, 66, of Spencer, formerly of Paullina, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2014 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina. Rev. Daniel Wagner will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted beginning 5 p.m. Friday with the family present from 5-7 p.m. at the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina...

Clay County Conservation Board Director Dan Heissel (left) and O'Brien County Conservation Board Naturalist Charlene Elyea (right) met Tuesday with State Sen. David Johnson (R-Ocheyedan) during Environmental and Conservation Day at the Capitol in Des Moines. "Our county conservation system includes hunting lands, trails and campsites that draw 24 million visitors each year," Johnson said. "The annual economic impact is close to $900 million. Dan, Charlene and their colleagues add to our quality of life through countless education programs and outdoor recreation activities." (Photo submitted)

ESTHERVILLE - The Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes Community College had the opportunity to receive the latest updates on the Aviation and Airport Management program at its meeting late Tuesday afternoon. Ron Duer, co-coordinator and chief flight instructor, explained the benefits of the Iowa Lakes Aviation program -- including an excellent employment outlook. ...

SPIRIT LAKE - Ed Sullivan has been fighting demons all of his life. The 32-year-old Spirit Lake graduate abused drugs and drank too much at times in his life, but a trip to the casino seemed harmless enough. His wife and a friend came along and he had a good Saturday afternoon last April. Sullivan left the gaming area with an extra $600 in his pocket...

DES MOINES -- On St. Patrick's day, Rep. Megan Hess (R-Spencer) and Senator David Johnson (R-Ocheyedan) welcomed Michelle Mulherin, a member of the Irish Parliament, along with her sister and their escorting party from the Emmetsburg area to the Iowa Capitol. Pictured are: Hess; Katlyn Moore, Spencer; Kelly Kuehler, Spencer; Joe Kuehler, Spencer; Johnson; Grace Mulherin, Dublin, Ireland; Andy Joyce, Emmetsburg; and seated is Michelle Mulherin, Ballina, Ireland. (Photo submitted)

From my driveway in Ocheyedan to the parking lot of the state Capitol in Des Moines is a distance of 229 miles. Senate District 1, which I represent, covers nearly 2,529 square miles. That's twice the size of the state of Rhode Island. Needless to say, I put a lot of miles on my car and pickup trucks. Spinning odometers comes with the territory...

Jenna Faye Simpson, of Norfolk, Neb. and Bryan Howard Thu, of Spencer, will exchange marriage vows May 31, 2014 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Spencer. Parents of the couple are Jim and Faye Simpson, of Norfolk, and Mike and Sheryl Thu, of Spencer. The bride-to-be is a 2004 graduate of Norfolk High School and received her bachelor's degree in education from Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Mo. ...

Zoey Konrady is pleased to announce the engagement of her mommy, Kayla Christopherson, to her daddy, Skylaur Konrady. Kayla is a graduate of Spencer High School, class of 2008. She is currently working at WB Promo in Spencer. Skylaur is a graduate of Spencer High School, class of 2010. He is currently working for Spencer Office Supply in Spencer...

Martha Elizabeth De Young and Benjamin Arthur Mulder were united in marriage Sept. 21, 2013 at First Christian Church in Spencer with Rev. Dan Mayes officiating. Parents of the couple are Jo Ann De Young and the late Lanny L. De Young, of Spencer, and Arthur and Loralei Mulder, of Spirit Lake...

The Spencer Ambassadors met with Noteboom Implement CEO Dan Noteboom Tuesday morning at the dealer's new location in south Spencer. Noteboom Implement purchased and took over operation of Northwest Equipment, the local John Deere dealership. Noteboom now has three Iowa locations to join its three South Dakota operations. The additional Iowa dealerships are located in Lake Park and Sibley. "We're thrilled to be in Iowa. We're thrilled to be in Spencer," Noteboom told the Ambassadors. He said the company is currently seeking individuals to help it handle the continuing technology changes within the agriculture industry. Noteboom also confirmed that he is currently searching for property to build a new Spencer store, which would allow for additional inventory and expansion. The CEO said he is looking forward to helping "bring economic development to the city." (Photo by Randy M. Cauthron)