Stories from Friday, April 15, 2016

The Clay County Fair will host rock powerhouse Lynyrd Skynyrd for a performance on the final night of the 2016 "Blue Ribbon Fun" event on the U.S. Cellular Grandstand stage at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18. "Classic rock fans should be excited to have one of the top-selling acts of all time at the Fair this year," Clay County Fair Manager Jeremy Parsons said. "This show will be a powerful end to the 2016 fair."...

Iowa Lakes Community College student senators invite the public to join in their sixth annual Soles4Souls shoe drive. Soles4Souls is an outreach project that benefits both disabled and underprivileged individuals. Soles4Souls has provided shoes to over 22 million individuals in more than 127 countries across the globe...

The Clay County Supervisors signed a Safety Telecommunicators Week proclamation for April 10-16. Those participating in the signing event were Clay County/Spencer Joint Communications Dispatcher Supervisor Mel Peterson, Supervisor Joe Skow, Supervisor Linda Swanson, Supervisor Burlin Matthews, Melanie Petersen, Supervisor Board Chair Barry Anderson, Spencer Police Chief Mark Warburton and Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow. (Photo submitted)

Spencer High School students Jon Coulander and Dylan Ellis set a stage image of Darth Vader and Brady Seier moves a "Star Wars" sign Friday afternoon while setting up for tonight's grand march, dance and after-prom festivities in the Clay County Regional Events Center. The grand march, open to the public, will begin at 8 p.m. with the dance scheduled to start at approximately 9 p.m. After-prom activities will run from midnight until approximately 4:30 a.m. Sunday. (Photos by Randy M. Cauthron)

Drs. Alexander Pruitt and Yogesh Kolwadkar, with Orthopaedics P.C., will offer a free joint pain seminar beginning 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at Arrowwood Conference Center in Okoboji. "We just want to give the public some information regarding these issues," said Marci Yost, an athletic trainer at Orthopaedics P.C. "It's a seminar primarily on hip and knee pain, to give people an idea of what might be going on with their own pains, and treatment options."...

The newest gallery show at Arts on Grand ― opening Tuesday ― is "A Sense of Place," by Wendell Arneson. The exhibit will be displayed until May 21, and a reception will be held Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. Arneson said this is his first exhibit since retiring last June...

The National Honor Society at Spencer High School will be hosting its inaugural 5K Run/Walk Saturday, April 23, at Dale Norton Field in Spencer in conjunction with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation which will benefit from all event proceeds. "We have a lot of money coming (in donations) but not a lot of bodies yet," NHS President Blake Carlson said. "All of our proceeds are going to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Foundation research. Plus we're going to have a bake sale and a raffle."...

Eighth-grade students at Spencer Middle School had a unique educational opportunity Friday as they came face-to-face with potential future employers in a classroom setting as well as one-on-one during a career day experience. Participants spent the afternoon in a variety of educational seminar settings with area professionals, learning the do's and don'ts when it comes to getting hired, and also had the opportunity to sit down and be interviewed by business professionals in an effort to hone their skills.. ...

Slowly and steadily the netting crews have been making progress in their walleye seining efforts. According to Kim Hawkins, natural resources biologist and the Spirit Lake Hatchery manager, two sample crews went out on East Okoboji Sunday, April 3, and collected 114 walleyes (male and female combined). That number increased to 176 on the next night...

It's warming up and more and more anglers are getting ready to go fishing. I know I am. I'm often asked about my favorite fish to catch and my favorite fishing technique. When I respond that I don't have a favorite fish or favorite technique, I am being very sincere. I just like to catch fish, and I use whatever technique is best for a particular situation...

Spring is arriving! I'm going to think positive and believe that spring is around the corner although sometimes the corner is pretty wide. Winter and spring always have a battle but spring will win eventually. Today winter has the edge, but spring is hanging in. Being a long time gardener makes me trust what I see more than what the calendar says. This morning there was a large group of robins in the street not far from Bird Haven, looking for warmth and food...

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever recently honored five wildlife professionals for their distinguishing contributions to conservation during the 81st North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference. Awards were presented to Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever partners who have championed wildlife habitat conservation efforts for upland species including pheasant, quail, sage grouse and the lesser prairie-chicken...

DES MOINES -- Anglers and boaters are reminded to make sure to pull the drain plug as a boat leaves a ramp to avoid spreading unwanted plants or animals to other water bodies. The regulation, that went into effect on July 1, 2013, requires drain plugs and other water draining devices must be removed and/or remain open during transport. If you want to keep live bait when leaving a water access, you must replace water in bait containers with tap or bottle water...

DES MOINES -- Conifers, or evergreen trees, provide color and wind protection to the Iowa landscape during the winter months. However, this year, many of these trees are showing signs of winter desiccation, also known as winter burn. Although this past winter may have been one of the warmer on record, several days had air temperatures above freezing, while the soil remained frozen...

Spencer's Cael Bruning (far right) came in second in the state in the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship held in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines the weekend before last. Bruning dropped 22-of-25 in the regulation round, pitting him against two others in a shoot-off. Bruning sunk 3-of-5 while his counterparts drained two and four, leaving him with runner-up honors. (Photo submitted)

Out of the seventh- and eighth-grade classes at Clay Central-Everly, 12 students were selected to bring their science fair experiments to the state science fair earlier this month. "Everyone in seventh and eighth grade is required to do a science fair experiment," said Nicolette Bracy, who teaches science at CC-E. ...

Iowa Lakes Community College softball player, Lauren Hein, has been recognized as last week's ICCAC Athlete of the Week. Hein, a freshman second baseman from Andover, Minnesota is the first Iowa Lakes softball player to receive this award since 2011. She was selected for this award based on games played during the week of April 4-10. Hein produced monster numbers for the Lakers during their eight game week...

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has named Iowa Lakes Community College sophomore Chris Jones, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a second-team All-American in men's basketball. Jones led Iowa Lakes to a 25-8 overall record and a 10-2 mark in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC), resulting in the regular season ICCAC championship this past season. The Lakers reached the championship game of the NJCAA Region XI Men's Basketball Tournament...

Iowa Lakes volleyball player and Spencer High School graduate, Kirstin Martindale, signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and volleyball career at Division II Lander University in South Carolina. Martindale was the main offensive powerhouse for the Lakers this past season after earning a starting spot halfway through last year. During her career at Iowa Lakes, Martindale started in 69 of 74 matches and accumulated 831 kills...

Iowa Lakes volleyball player, Rachel Sanow, signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and volleyball career at Division II Minnesota State University, Moorhead. Sanow has been the starting setter and anchor of the Laker offense the past two seasons starting in all 264 sets and accumulating 2,877 set assists in her career...

The Iowa Mortgage Association announced that several Mortgage Professionals from Northwest Bank were accepted into the IMA's 2015 President's Club/Winner's Circle. Jason Warren, of Spencer, was named to the President's Club and Jo Currell, of Arnolds Park was named to the Winner's Circle. These members were honored at the IMA Convention on April 6 at the association's Spring Conference...

Dr. Ronald J. Kolegraff of re*be Skin & Vein Clinic has been appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad and recently confirmed by the Senate to sit on the Iowa Board of Medicine. The State Board of Medical Examiners was established in 1886 to license physicians and regulate the practice of medicine. The board is composed of 10 members -- five practicing doctors of medicine, two practicing doctors of osteopathic medicine and three members of the public. Kolegraff will begin his three-year term in May 2016...

One year after a disastrous outbreak of avian flu in Iowa turkey and chicken flocks, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is reviewing preparations that have taken place among poultry farmers and by the state and federal governments to better prepare for another potential outbreak of avian influenza...

HOLSTEIN -- Renovations are well underway to save the iconic State Theatre in Holstein, in hopes of opening the doors of the landmark this summer for the first time in years. The theater dates back to at least 1935. After World War II it was rebuilt in the then-popular quonset hut style, opening in September 1948. It is the last surviving theater of its type in Iowa, and when it reopens, it will be one of only 10 still operating in the United States...

STORM LAKE -- Over the past seven nights, a team of nine people from the Department of Natural Resources has been netting walleye in Storm Lake so the state can enjoy quality fishing. The eggs collected here will be taken to the hatcheries at Spirit Lake and Lake Rathbun, then distributed statewide...

OKOBOJI -- Three years ago, State Rep. John Wills and some Dickinson County conservation groups wanted to do something to help improve water quality in the area. Those early Clean Water Summits have set the stage for the Prairie Lakes Conference Aug. 11-12 at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Okoboji...

ALTOONA -- America's SBDC Iowa was well represented at the Iowa Recognition of Performance Excellence Awards on March 31 in Altoona. (Letf to right) Dean David Spalding, ISU College of Business; Maureen Elbert, executive director, Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development Corporation and SBDC State Advisory Board chair; Mike Crum, vice president, ISU Economic Development and Industry Relations; Lisa Shimkat, state director, America's SBDC Iowa; Gov. Terry Branstad; Jim Patton, SBDC state advisory board member; Tricia Janes, associate state director, America's SBDC Iowa; and Christina Moffatt, regional director, Mid Iowa SBDC. (Photo submitted)

In 2010 there was a constitutional question on the ballot, asking if voters supported the creation of a constitutionally protected trust fund for natural resources. This fund was then to be funded with the next raise in the state sales tax. However, by passing the question on the ballot, it did not raise the state sales tax. That is left up to the legislature...

The reason why a senator votes for a bill is often easily explained. On the other hand, voting against a bill is not all that it seems to be. Such was the case this week when I joined a handful of other senators in opposing House File 2413, a bill to clarify state education policy seeking to improve a student's proficiency in reading before he or she advances to fourth grade...

We are seeing and hearing lots of dialogue when it comes to Iowa natural resource issues. However, as a mayor, I need to separate rhetoric from the facts when it comes to making the right decisions. When it comes to funding the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust, here are the facts:...

Last week, I remarked about the fact that we were celebrating Victims Rights Week while at the same time our Iowa Supreme Court is wrestling with a language issue that may restore voting rights to a great number of dangerous, violent felonious criminals...

Services for Orlyn Ray Wiemers, 80, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 18, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. Jennifer Hesebeck will officiate the service. Visitation with the family present will be conducted beginning 2 p.m. Sunday at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer...

Edward Hiram Ball, 81, passed away on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. Memorial services will be on Saturday, April 23, at Marbury Baptist Church at 3 p.m. Ball worked for Spencer Packing House for many years in Spencer. He retired from the Autauga County road crew. ...

SPIRIT LAKE -- A new member is joining the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association , as Sheryl Davis was named the new interim museum director. The Trimble, Ohio, native will replace former Director of Marketing and Operations Andrea Wiesenmeyer. "I have that interim label right now just so I can get in the door here and learn how things operate during the high season in the summer," Davis said. "Eventually, I think I will move more into the preservation side of things."...

ARNOLDS PARK -- Local businesses and the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce are working together to make the summer safer for international students who travel the area on bicycles. An informational meeting for area businesses employing J1 Visa international students will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at Hedberg Theatre located within the Maritime Museum building in Arnolds Park...

In an effort to create some coaching continuity amongst Spencer's athletic programs a workshop entitled 3Dimensional Coaching will be offered to all local coaches of all levels Wednesday, April 20 at the Spencer Community Schools Administration Building. The workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be hosted by 3Dimensional Coaching presenter Dave Turnball...

The annual Spencer Girls Invitational hit the track around Dale Norton Field Friday night, welcoming 11 schools to Spencer to compete in 1A or 2A competition. Spencer continued their strong season with a first-place finish in the 2A meet, scoring 186 points with 11 event titles which included every relay other than the 4x100 and shuttle hurdle. Spirit Lake Park came in second with 125 while Okoboji finished third with 72...