Stories from Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Area legislators, Iowa District 2 Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, and Iowa District 1 Sen. David Johnson, I-Ocheyedan, met with the Clay County Board of Supervisors Wednesday morning to discuss issues from the past session as well as the path the state faces moving forward...

OCHEYEDAN -- Citing what he referred to as "racist remarks and judicial jihad" by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Iowa District 1 Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, has suspended his membership in the Republican Party as a means of protesting. Johnson changed his party affiliation to independent -- or no party -- on Iowa's primary election day Tuesday...

As the votes were counted Tuesday, the three County Board of Supervisor candidates maintained their positions throughout the night. From the initial numbers, incumbent supervisor Joe Skow led the group with 37.09 percent, Spencer Ward 5 Councilman Randy Swanson followed with 35.35 percent and Spencer Councilman At-Large George Moriarty held 27.01 percent. ...

With more than 550 voters making their way to Clay County polling locations by 10 a.m. Tuesday, it became apparent the local sheriff and supervisors races had generated a great deal of interest in the Iowa primary election. When the polls had closed, a total of 3,871 votes had been cast -- 3,695 of which were on the Republican ticket. Of the total vote count, 1,045 were absentee ballots...

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health received $2,000 from the Renaissance Initiative to help fund a therapeutic playground at Autumn's Center. The therapeutic playground will be specially designed playground equipment for outdoor play therapy at Autumn's Center, which will open in September. ...

The Spencer Municipal Band, under the direction of Kurt Schwarck, will open its season with the group's annual Flagfest performance at 1 p.m. Sunday at the bandshell in East Leach Park. The band, with musicians from Spencer and the surrounding area, will once again perform six concerts this summer...

Wednesday night's matchup with Western Christian put Tiger baseball back in the win column for the first time since May 27 as Spencer snapped a five-game skid with a 13-5 triumph over the Wolfpack. "It was nice to get back in the win column after some tough losses. The kids have been down some, but haven't given up. Getting a win tonight will hopefully get us going again," Spencer baseball coach Brian Dirkx said...

After coming up just short in extra innings against Cherokee Tuesday night at home by a score of 10-9, Spencer's softball girls hit the road Wednesday, continuing conference play against Western Christian in Hull. The Tigers cut their errors from 11 on Tuesday to six against the Wolfpack, but 18 Western Christian hits added up to a 16-7 defeat for Spencer, dropping the purple and golf to 0-8 on the season and 0-5 in league action...

Clay Central-Everly's Judge Altenburg, pictured digging for home Wednesday night against Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in Everly, scored the lone Maverick run during the second inning in a 14-1, five-inning defeat at the hands of the Hawks. The Mavs currently sit at 0-7 on the season and return to action Thursday night at home against Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn/Remsen-Union. (Photo by Nate Shaughnessy)

Quality Refrigeration Services hosted an open house Tuesday afternoon to celebrate a recent 30,000-square-foot addition to the facility. The Spencer City Council, various community members, contractors, financial entities and employees were in attendance. QRS, which deals mainly in cold storage and meat processing, has been making plans for expansion for some time...

Oh my stars and garters. I said I don't like to talk politics and yet, I'm doing it again. I've tried writing three different columns already and I'm just not inspired to talk about Paris Green, the Olympic refugee team, or the overuse of questions in written media. You can probably look for those in the coming weeks, though. Apparently, when it comes to politics, I just can't help myself. So here we go...

Movie sequels can either make or break a film franchise and throughout movie history it seems that Hollywood has yet to figure it out. One good example is "Pitch Perfect," which had a sequel with a subpar storyline. The profit they made off the movie was amazing but producers need to see that the quality of the storyline shouldn't be compromised for their wallets. ...

Funeral services for Edith Bjorklund, 73, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 10, 2016 at United Pentecostal Church of Marathon. Rev. Doug Enger will officiate the service. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. today at the Warner Funeral Home of Spencer with family present from 5-7 p.m...

Funeral services for Maurice Roy Broadie, 87, of Superior, were conducted Monday, June 6, 2016, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel in Estherville. Rev. Barry Nehls officiated the service. Interment was conducted at East Side Cemetery in Estherville. Military rites were conducted by VFW Post 3388 and American Legion 91 of Estherville...

Funeral services for Larry Lynn Anderson, 78, of Spencer, formerly of Marathon, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 9, 2016, at the Marathon Community Center. Rev. Alan Dean will officiate the service. Burial will be conducted at Poland Township Cemetery in Marathon...

Clay County Relay For Life representatives Ann Sassman and Dana Kauffman were presented a sponsorship from (center) Kristy Connor with Abben Cancer Center of Spencer Hospital. Clay County Relay For Life will be conducted on Saturday, June 25, at the Clay County Fairgrounds. (Photo by Paula Buenger)

Mark and Heidi Iltis, of LeClaire, announce the engagement of their daughter, Naomi, to Ian McCloud, son of Keith and Mary McCloud, of Spencer. Naomi is a 2011 graduate of Pleasant Valley High School and a 2015 graduate of Concordia University Nebraska. She is currently a nursing student at the University of Iowa...

Teresa Becker and Matt Weirich were united in marriage on May 7, 2016. The ceremony was held at Broadway United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, with Rev. Kurt Duggleby officiating. The reception, dinner and dance was held at Canal 337 in Indianapolis...

There is still time to create a beautiful and productive garden this summer, whether starting from scratch or rejuvenating an existing garden. Many people are starting fresh by elevating their garden beds to overcome landscape challenges, create new beds or simply make harvesting, planting and tending the garden easier...

DES MOINES -- Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October. "Crops continue to make good progress in general, with 80 percent of both the corn and beans rated in good or excellent condition. ...