Stories from Friday, September 16, 2016

A new exhibit building will be open for commercial use at the Clay County Fairgrounds in 2017. The building, located at the east end of the fairgrounds, has not yet been completed, needing only the bathrooms and electricity to be installed. "We have a definite need for more commercial exhibit space and that building will be entirely used for commercial exhibit space. ...

Harold Gross, of Spencer, began attending the Clay County Fair when he was 5 years old, in 1926. However, he admitted that he may simply not remember going prior to that time. In those days, Gross lived near Gillett Grove and graduated from the area high school in 1939...

Max Titterington sampled some of the chocolate milk provided during Dairy Day at the Clay County Fair. Volunteers were on hand to educate the public about the use of dairy products in food and drink. (Photo by Seth Boyes)

SPIRIT LAKE -- Sixth-grade students from around Dickinson County were taught in a different kind of classroom last week. They traded in textbooks and walls for hands-on activities, trees, grass and blue sky. The Dickinson County Soil and Water Conservation District hosted its 38th annual sixth-grade Outdoor Classroom Thursday, Sept. ...

Fall is definitely in the air, and with it comes a fun day on the water. If you love boating, enjoy eating fresh fish and just plain talking about being on the water, then you will want to mark Sunday, Oct. 2, on your calendar for the 88th annual Great Lakes Marine Sales and Service's annual Fall Day of Fun...

Autumn is in the air. The geese are honking and the leaves are starting to change their color. And trophy anglers are getting excited. They know that the fall months offer several good reasons to go fishing. Fall fishing offers variety, solitude, and spectacular landscapes. ...

DES MOINES -- The Iowa deer hunting tradition will be passed on to about 10,000 youths who are participating in the youth deer hunting season, which opens Saturday, Sept. 17. This season provides an opportunity to teach deer hunting, wildlife behavior, and safe hunting practices to resident youths while they are under the watchful eye of a licensed adult...

I'm sitting at my desk at the Dickinson County Nature Center and have a perfect view of the bird feeders in the avian courtyard outside. Wings are almost constantly flapping throughout the year as goldfinches, house finches, black-capped chickadees, red-winged blackbirds and a variety of sparrows stop by for the sunflower and safflower seeds...

DES MOINES -- A campaign is underway by tree stand manufacturers, retailers, media, natural resource agencies and deer hunters to reduce and eliminate tree stand accidents by raising awareness of this issue and providing education about safe tree stand hunting best practices...

It might be hard to imagine, what with those flashy khakis and constant jaw clenching, but Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh hates fun. I've suspected this for a couple years now, but as of this week, we have definitive proof that the Wolverines' head man is a full blown curmudgeon...

GRAETTINGER -- It took longer than head coach Sue Mattson hoped, but Sioux Central finally got its second volleyball victory of the season Thursday night, beating Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire in four sets. "It felt so good to bring home a win. ...

STORM LAKE -- On the morning of Sept. 10, a crowd of children showed up at Buena Vista County Park to catch monarch butterflies, attach a tiny tag like a postage stamp, and release them back into the wild. Monarch butterflies migrate through Iowa in the fall headed for Mexico, where they will spend the winter months. ...

STORM LAKE -- As an ambitious journalism student from Storm Lake, Ashley Hammen figured on a life telling stories and searching for truth. But she never imagined it would be taking place amid the glitz of Hollywood. "Television is changing. People are interested today in reality programing that is factual. ...

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach unveiled the Land Grant Legacy Project at the Clay County Fair, on Friday. This project is aimed at identifying the parcels of land in Iowa that were sold to fund ISU as part of the Morrill Act of 1862. The ISU Extension recognized 19 families who now own those parcels...

STORM LAKE -- After nearly a decade of frustration, the failed Sunset Bay condominium site appears to be in business again, with construction possibly beginning later this fall. In a rare special meeting held Wednesday morning, the Storm Lake City Council paved the way for a proposed sale of the site, adjacent to the municipal golf course on the lakefront. ...

SPIRIT LAKE -- Last year, Julie Scheib resigned as the director of Discovery House after a decade of helping residents get back on their feet. She said the job had started taking a toll on her and thought she might not be as effective as she once was. She believed someone new might bring a little more passion to the position...

I once heard that opposition to your goal is a sign that you are on the right track. That makes sense in some instances. For example, if you're a police officer and your goal is to get a hostage away from the criminal waving a gun at innocent people, the gunman will oppose you by shooting at you. Just because he is shooting does not mean you're doing the wrong thing...

Two days and counting. Then we can begin the countdown to the 100th anniversary of the Clay County Fair. But I've still got a couple more days to scarf down some of those fair favorites and take in the sights and sounds that make the Clay County Fair unique to any other county fair I've ever experienced...

7:30 p.m. Prices are $33 (general admission stage front standing), $28 (reserved Grandstand seating), and $23 (general admission bleacher seating). Rock legends Three Dog Night, with openers Kory & The Fireflies, will provide the entertainment on the U.S. Cellular Grandstand Stage at 7:30 p.m. tonight...

Sept. 2 -- Alexander Robert Cody, 22, Spencer Domestic abuse assault --- Sept. 3 -- Orlando Jesus Bustos, 29, Amarillo, Texas Consumption in public/intoxication --- Sept. 3 -- Nolan Jon Broadie, 30, Cedar Rapids Consumption in public/intoxication ---...