Stories from Wednesday, April 8, 2015

OKOBOJI ― Superintendent Gary Janssen said he is disappointed that Tuesday night's middle school proposal fell 80 votes short for construction to begin near the high school in Milford. School district voters rejected a $1.34 physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL) 782-703 for a middle school construction project near Milford. The measure needed majority support to pass and would have generated $14.7 million over the next decade...

In everyone's family, there's at least one odd duck, one person who's a bit next-to-center. In "You Can't Take It With You," however, nearly everyone could qualify for this role. The play is set during the Great Depression. Martin Vanderhof, "Grandpa," (Blake Carlson) hasn't paid income taxes since the income tax law was established in 1914. ...

Mary Kay Leatherman, an author from Omaha, Nebraska, will be speaking at 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Arts on Grand to speak about the writing process, and about the different publishing options available, to writers from around the area. Leatherman has a wide range of experience in writing. ...

Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson faced a barrage of questions from a classroom full of pen pals. "What is your favorite thing about being mayor?" "Is your job fun being mayor?" "What do you do as mayor?" "What are your parent's names?" "What do you talk about in your meetings?"...

The Spencer Farmer's Market will be conducted from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays from June through October. Organizers will conduct an informational meeting for vendors at 9 a.m. Saturday at Del's Garden Center. "Although farmers have been selling on the streets of Spencer for years," Del Brockshus, of Del's Garden Center, pointed out, "the organized Farmers Market began during the farm crisis in the early 1980s. ...

ESTHERVILLE -- Metal detectors were set up at the courtroom entrance and Scott Sudbeck wore handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit as he took his seat at the defense table Monday afternoon in Estherville. The Emmet County sentencing hearing was a chance for Judge Patrick Carr to administer Sudbeck's mandatory life sentence in open court. ...

I have what you would call a love-hate relationship with the form of communication known as texting. On one hand, texting is great. Have a question that needs a simple yes or no answer from a friend? Send them a text. Got separated from your sister while on a shopping trip and need to set up a rendezvous point? Send her a text. ...

Services for Marcella McCord, 72, of Spencer, formerly of Fostoria, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, April 10, at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer. Rev. Julia McCullough will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted beginning one hour prior to the service at the church...

Services for Frances Larsen, 94, of Royal, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, at United Methodist Church in Royal. Rev. Charles Gilbert will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted beginning one hour prior to the funeral service at the church...

The head swimming and diving coach at Iowa Lakes Community College has submitted his resignation. Johnathan Jordan is leaving Iowa Lakes after five years to become the head swimming and diving coach at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois. He already began his duties with Lincoln on Tuesday...

Former Iowa Lakes basketball standout and current South Dakota State guard Deondre Parks was named a finalist for the 2015 Riley Wallace Player of the Year Award. The Riley Wallace award is presented annually to the top transfer in Division I college basketball. All of the finalists also earn Riley Wallace Award All-American honors...

Meet Blake, a 1-year-old long-haired tabby. According to the volunteers at People For Pets, he is a "ultra-friendly and clearly handsome cat." When Blake came to the shelter, he had a broken leg. After surgery, his leg is healed, and he is ready to find a forever home. He is appreciative of attention and has a delightful personality...

Services for Ann Therese Kirby, 86, of Spencer, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, April 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Rev. William Schreiber will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted beginning one hour prior to the service at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer...

Tuesday night served as the home opener for Spencer's girls, hosting preseason Class 1A No. 5-ranked Bishop Heelan at the Spencer Soccerplex. The Crusaders showed why voters put them near the top of their class, blanking the Tigers 3-0 in less than ideal conditions...

FORT DODGE -- Spencer's tennis boys got their first taste of action Monday afternoon, taking on last year's state runner-up Fort Dodge St. Edmond's on the road. The Tigers struggled in early season play, falling 4-2 in singles play and 3-0 in doubles...

SPENCER ―Representatives from Spencer Kiwanis clubs will once again participate in Saturday's annual Peanut Butter and Jelly Collection Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Members of the Daybreaker, Hy-Noon -- including Gary Ogburn and Tony Hall (above) -- and After Five programs will host carts at Fareway, Hy-Vee and Wal-Mart in Spencer and will collect peanut butter and jelly donations from shoppers. The goal this year is to collect 2 tons of support within the local division. Last year, the three Spencer locations collected a ton of the two sandwich staples which were delivered to Upper Des Moines Opportunity's food pantry. (File photo)