Stories from Thursday, June 26, 2014

Six entertainers will have audiences laughing, dancing and singing at The Farmers Bank Stage "Only at the Fair," Sept. 6-14 at the 2014 Clay County Fair. "This year, the Clay County Fair offers more than $120,000 in free entertainment for fairgoers," Clay County Fair Manager Jeremy Parsons said. "The Farmers Bank Stage will be the place to be throughout the week if you are looking for a wide variety of free entertainment."...

Organizers for the Rocket Suzie Music Festival are in full gear preparing for this year's event July 18-19. "Things are coming along really well," said Lacey Brunette, co-organizer of Rocket Suzie. "There are a lot of organizations around the community that have shown interest, and the bands are really getting ramped up. It's great energy."...

While Spencer residents continue to pick up stray branches, remove downed trees and perform general clean-up following last week's close call with extreme weather, former Spencer resident Kathy Elliott knows first hand the disastrous effects of tornado conditions...

A survey conducted by the Kauffman Foundation and Thumbtack.com ranked Iowa sixth in the nation for Small Business Friendliness due to its small business licensing rules. Brian Dalziel, Iowa Lakes Corridor vice president, suggested small business friendliness plays a large part in the success of new start-up ventures...

DES MOINES -- Thursday, Rep. Megan Hess (R-Spencer) released information on a few notable bills that were passed during the 2014 legislative session which go into effect on July 1. "I believe this session we were able to pass laws that give Iowans the opportunity to make family life more affordable, upward mobility more likely and employment easier to find," Hess said. "I look forward to meeting with Iowans and gather their input for the next legislative session."...

William J. Schomburg, 64, Royal, died Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was airlifted from Spencer to the McKennan Hospital on June 6 due to complications from diabetes and pneumonia. Bill, the son of W.H. Schomburg and Iola Gannon Schomburg, was born April 7, 1950, at the Spencer Municipal Hospital, in Clay County. ...

In Treasure Village's production of "The Frog Prince," Prince Felix must learn about helping others or he will remain a frog. Actors and puppets on stage together create a colorful, lively production designed to entertain all ages. The new starting time for all shows at Treasure Village this summer is 10 a.m. Plan to arrive between 9:30-10 a.m. to purchase tickets and be seated...

Representatives of Eaton Corporation presented a donation of a Coordinate Measurement Machine to members of Spencer Community School's administration to include in the high school's technical education program. CMM machines are used to confirm that machined parts are made to engineering specifications, and will provide the students with hands-on experience with equipment being used in today's manufacturing industry. (Photo by Kate Padilla)

Jennifer Mason, 25, of Everly, was arrested at 6:45 p.m. June 18 and charged with simple assault. Andrew Vanderweide, 39, of Royal, was arrested at 8:45 a.m. June 23 and charged with driving while barred and excessive speed. --- Cesar Menchaca, 23, of Sioux Rapids, was southbound on Clay County Road M-36 in his 2008 Dodge Nitro at 12:54 a.m. ...

I have yet to read what I believe to be an honest assessment of the current state of trade negotiations between the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) U.S.-EU trade talks. I have not heard any U.S. trade official tell them to quit wasting all of our time if they intend to keep using the "precautionary principle" instead of science to determine what trade they can regulate in any new agreement. ...

LOST ISLAND -- REAP funding safeguards Iowa's future through conservation education. Lost Island Nature Center in Palo Alto County demonstrates the success of statewide REAP-empowered education efforts. Quality of life for all Iowans is bolstered by recreational opportunities that double as resource conserving activities -- allowing future generations to enjoy the same outside wonders...

Hiccup, the misfit Viking teen; his dragon Toothless and the villagers of Berk return for a second go-round in the mythical world of dragons and vikings coexisting and partnering in peace in "How to Train Your Dragon 2." The sequel to Dreamworks very popular animated work picks up five years after the original film, with the people of Berk not only living side-by-side with the dragons, but riding using them for transportation and other purposes. ...

We don't normally associate rough and rugged Clint Eastwood with popular music -- "Bronco Bill" not withstanding -- but the actor turned director has shown nothing is beyond his golden touch with "Jersey Boys." Eastwood directed and produced this story that details the rise of popular musical group The Four Seasons from the tough streets of Jersey in the '50s to the top of the musical charts. ...

ARNOLDS PARK -- Saturday, Shawn Mayer and Casey Muessigmann will be performing at Preservation Plaza in Arnolds Park. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free to the public. Beginning at age 15, Mayer was booked to perform the "National Anthem" for headliner, Southern Rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd. ...

It seems like an interesting choice to review a live album, but what I loved about "Life in Duluth" is that it doesn't really feel like a live album. Sure, there are moments of conversation between the band, Duluth's Saint Anyway, and the audience, but the sound is pure enough it could have just as easily been recorded in a studio...

I imagine it can be difficult to see a "bright side" to a personal tragedy. Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up in the downward spiral a diagnosis can lead to. And for this reason, I wholeheartedly applaud Nicole C. Kear and her memoir, "Now I See You."...

The Rocket Suzie Music Festival will return to the green space outside Gary's on the River July 18-19. Bands performing include headliners The Pines and He's My Brother, She's My Sister alongside musical acts Comfort Kings, King of the Tramps, Mat d. ...

ALBERT CITY - Sioux Central's girls took full advantage of Clay Central-Everly's pitching woes, following the loss of starting pitcher Mattie Larson to injury, Tuesday night, drubbing the Lady Mavs 10-0 in five innings. The Lady Rebels struck early, scoring three times in the first inning off of CC-E eighth-grader Isabel Dehrkoop on the mound...

The Rebel baseball squad had a loaded schedule this week, piling up six straight days of games, including a tournament in Granville coming Saturday. Through Wednesday, the week had not been kind to Sioux Central as they started Monday with a tight 3-2 victory over South Central Calhoun, but they followed it with back-to-back road losses to Emmetsburg and East Sac County by scores of 4-3 and 10-0 respectively...

In the spring semester, Iowa Lakes had 56 student-athletes earn Academic All-Region; 21 of them first team and 35 second team. Athletic Director Troy Larson is thrilled with the performances of each of these Lakers. "Very proud of our student athletes and their work in the classroom. ...