Stories from Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz reminded Iowa voters that early in-person absentee voting for the Nov. 4 general election begins today and Clay County Auditor Marge Pitts said her staff is ready to go. "We are very ready. We're ready when anybody who wants to vote comes to the counter. ...

By a unanimous vote, Spencer Community Schools Board President Bob Whittenburg was re-elected to serve for the 2014-15 school year. No other board members were nominated. Another unanimous vote elected board member Bill Zinn as vice president. As with the position of board president, no other board members were nominated...

Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds Wednesday released data from the Iowa Department of Revenue showing Clay County is receiving $377,685.61 in state back-fill funding and taxpayers are receiving $334,483.78 in credits, for a total of $712,169.39 in the 2013 assessment year as part of the property tax reduction bill the two state administrators advocated for...

Spencer Hospital is asking all area businesses to join the local health care provider in the fight against breast cancer. On Friday, Oct. 10, the hospital is encouraging the public to show their support by wearing pink. The pink is designed to remind women of their role in beating the disease by performing monthly self-exams, scheduling annual doctor visits, and arranging a digital mammogram. (File photo)

Application for city and county permits and submitting requests to the Spencer City Council take time to complete. According to city and county officials, early communication is key when asking for approval. The message stems from last Monday's City Council meeting, when due to an oversight by the Grace United Methodist Church, a street closure request was added to the council's agenda 2 ½ hours prior to the meeting. ...

My dad is the type of person who can make friends with anybody. I mean anybody. He once made a friend with a guy waiting in line to pay for gas while we were on vacation in Missouri. Everybody likes my dad, too. I have never met a person who knows my dad who had a bad thing to say about him...

Spencer Golf and Country Club hosted a send-off party for the 10 Northwest Iowa Junior League All-Stars headed to regional competition in Chicago, which will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-28, on Wednesday night. The All-Stars, playing in PGA Junior League Golf, are comprised from four players from Spencer (Colin Slattery, Chase Hough, Ezra Meyer and Connor Moret), two from The Ridge Golf Club in Sioux Center, two from Brooks Golf Club in Okoboji and two from Emerald Hills Golf Club in Arnolds Park. ...

MILFORD -- Milford officials didn't have to look far to find their next city administrator. Turns out, LeAnn Houge was there the whole time. She was deputy city clerk when Klaussner Home Furnishings closed its factory, leaving 105 employees without jobs. She was also at city hall when city leaders put together an incentive package to bring rapidly-growing Polaris Industries to the vacant building in south Milford...

ESTHERVILLE - The No. 19 Iowa Lakes Lakers fell in five sets to the No. 16 Des Moines Area Community College Bears Tuesday night on their home floor in conference play. The Lakers held on for a match-opening 26-24 win, but they allowed DMACC to equalize the match in game two, falling 25-21. A 25-23 set three win gave ILCC the 2-1 lead, but the Bears answered with a 25-19 set before running away with a 15-6 fifth set...

SANBORN - Sioux Central put together a strong showing at the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Cross Country Invitational Monday night. The Rebels had a pair of runner-up finishes as Dalton Demers came in second in the boys race in a time of 17:23, and freshman Makayla Nims matched that place with a 4K time of 16:55...

WEST BEND - The Lady Mavericks were undeterred by a match-opening loss Tuesday night against the Wolverines of West Bend-Mallard. Clay Central-Everly bounced back to win the next three sets for a 3-1 victory on the evening. A slow start doomed the Mavs in game one as they surrendered the set 25-21, but they were back on top of their game in set two, winning easily 25-16. The third game looked pretty similar as CC-E won 25-17...

LE MARS - Undefeated, Class 4A No. 4-ranked Le Mars picked up their 13th win of the season Tuesday night, sweeping the Spencer Tigers 3-0. Spencer continued what has become an unsettling trend for the season Tuesday night as they once again struggled to find a rhythm in the first set. Le Mars took full advantage, running away with game one 25-10...

The Spencer Daybreakers Kiwanis will conduct its annual apple sale from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the K-Cafe stand on the Clay County Fairgrounds. Haralson, Honey Crisp and Connell Red apples will be available for purchase. All proceeds go back into youth projects in the Spencer area. (File photo)

Graveside services for Mr. Eugene Pooler, 84 of Spencer, will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014 at Dickens Cemetery in Dickens. Burial will be conducted at Dickens Cemetery in Dickens. Mr. Pooler passed away Monday, Sept. 22, 2014 at Longhouse Residence in Spencer...

Services for Patricia Folsom, 93, of Mankato, Minnesota, formerly of Spencer, will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 at First Congregational Chapel in Spencer. Rev. Wendy Van Tassell will officiate the service. A public gathering with the family present will be conducted beginning 5 p.m. Friday at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer...

Graveside services for William "Bill" Scott, 89, of Spencer, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. Rev. Matthew Winslow will officiate the service. Burial will be conducted at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer...

A gathering for Terry W. Brown, Sr., 63, will be conducted beginning 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 at the Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Ruthven. Brown passed away Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014. Terry Wayne Brown, Sr., son of Darold and Phyllis (Weatherall) Brown, was born March 10, 1951 in Storm Lake. He graduated from Marathon High School in 1969. Following high school, Terry worked at Vic Schuelke Motors in Sioux Rapids...

Local members of VFW Post No. 3159 and its auxiliary members will be selling poppies in conjunction with the annual Poppy Day fundraising effort all day Friday at various locations around Spencer. Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson, joined by the VFWs Frank Lehman, signed a proclamation declaring Friday Poppy Day. All proceeds collected from the sale of the cloth poppies will go to local veterans programs. (Photo submitted)

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced Sept. 11 to more than 11 years in federal prison. Jason Moore, 30, of Le Mars, received the prison term after an April 25 guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. The case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde...

DES MOINES -- Gov. Terry E. Branstad Wednesday appointed Patrick H. Tott District Court Judge in the Third Judicial District (3B). Tott, of Sioux City, earned his law degree from Creighton University School of Law and is currently working in private practice and as a judicial magistrate...

Q: Are radar detectors and fuzz busters illegal in Iowa? A: One of the most popular questions asked of troopers at lunch has always been, "How fast can I go without being stopped?" This question is closely linked to our topic of the day. Those that purchase and operate radar detectors have just gone a step further than asking the question...

David and Donna Pholtner of Sheridan, Illinois, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Stephanie, to John Bendlin, son of Paula Bendlin and the late Jim Bendlin of Spencer. Stephanie is a graduate of Western Illinois University and is currently working in marketing for LDJ Manufacturing in Pella...

The Spencer Ambassadors welcomed Garrett Adams to the Spencer business community as he has opened the Garrett Adams Agency with American Family Insurance at 520 Grand Ave. Adams assumed the local American Family Insurance operation in April and moved into the new, remodeled location on July 1. Adams is well traveled, having lived for multiple years at various larger communities around the country, after graduating from West Delaware High School in Iowa. Adams is a former active duty U.S. Marine who remains available for call-up. Prior to coming to Spencer, he worked in the Cedar Rapids area with the insurance company. Adams moved from the former south Spencer office location to downtown, noting after 25 years at the old office, he wanted "a new face on it." He also pointed out he has room for expansion in the new site. (Photo by Randy M. Cauthron)

Meet Betsy, a 2-year-old Shih Tzu who was found wandering the streets. When she was first found, her fur was matted and overgrown. After cleaning Betsy up and giving her a new look on life, the volunteers at Spencer's People For Pets describe her as a "happy little lady." Betsy prefers to be part of a one-dog show, but she doesn't mind the company of cats and older children. She likes to cuddle and be a lap dog. Betsy knows how to sit and does well when it comes to being house trained...