Stories from Monday, March 13, 2017

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, made a surprise visit to Eggs and Issues final session in council chambers at Spencer City Hall Saturday morning, and while he did face a few questions from the large audience, King found himself enjoying an update on the activities of Des Moines as the majority of questions were directed toward the Iowa state elected officials...

Taking their lead from a regional call to action, Spencer residents Denise Loring and Linda Hoberg DeLaughter used social media to spread the word about an organized protest event targeting all of Iowa’s 4th District U.S. Rep. Steve King’s offices in Spencer, Ames, Fort Dodge, Mason City and Sioux City Saturday beginning at 1 p.m...

Spencer Hospital has again been named one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States, earning the award for the second consecutive year. The nation’s top hospitals are recognized annually by iVantage Health Analytics Inc., a provider of health care analytics...

A retirement/financial workshop put on by Iowa State University and the Spencer Public Library will soon be coming to Spencer. Named "You had a plan, but ...," the workshop is aimed at working young adults who might be two to three decades away from retirement but need some help planning...

The Spencer Park Board will convene at 5 p.m. Tuesday for a meeting and one of the discussions will center around a request for a focus on artwork in Spencer's parks. Jan Myers, of Spencer, wrote to the board inquiring if they might seek artwork by Spencer artists and alumni to help add more beauty to Spencer's parks...

A mass of Christian Burial for Jip will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Burial will be in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Everly. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. with family present from 6-8 p.m. at the church in Milford. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the church. The Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

STORM LAKE — After the sheer size of last week's A.D. Dickinson Relays in Cedar Falls limited the number of entrants Spencer put on the track, the Tigers had plenty of opportunities to stretch their legs Saturday, competing against just Algona and Okoboji in the first of three straight meets at Buena Vista University...

CLERMONT, FLORIDA — Sunday, the Iowa Lakes softball team played the first two of twelve games to be played in the sunshine state over the course of five days. Their first game was an 8-0, six inning win over Monroe Community College. Courtney Calkins picked up her fourth win of the season. The Lakers then took down Rowan College of Burlington County 9-2. Ashton Kazmierski started the game for the Lakers, going three innings, but Kaitlyn Bowman picked up the win, throwing the final four innings...

Funeral services for Archie Andrews, 69, of Olathe, Kansas, formerly of Spencer, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. John Syvertson will officiate the service. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the funeral at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer...

John Clifford Ingvall Jr., 89, of Spencer, passed away on Friday, March 10, 2017, at Longhouse-Northshire in Spencer. There will be a private family graveside service in the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. John was born on July 14, 1927, to Clifford Sr. and Pearl (Hansen) Ingvall. He united in marriage to Bonnie Lockey on Feb. 1, 1952, at the First Christian Church in Spencer. He worked for many years as a supervisor for Spencer Foods...

It's fitting that we are celebrating Sunshine Week in Iowa and around the nation March 13-19. After all, we "sprang" forward on Sunday, which added a little extra light into our lives. Sunshine Week celebrates the work done to protect First Amendment rights, and recognize the press's vital role in ensuring a free and open government. By doing so, journalists provide light on the workings of this great country...

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, 294,000 adult Iowans experienced a problem related to their gambling in the past year, potentially creating significant social and economic costs for individuals, families, businesses and communities. ...

Each year during March, we celebrate National Nutrition Month by focusing on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. “Put Your Best Fork Forward” is the theme for 2017 which serves as a reminder that each one of us holds the tool to make healthier food choices. Making small changes during National Nutrition Month and over time, helps improve health now and into the future...

As the new CEO of Elderbridge, Shelly Sindt takes the reins of the agency. She plans to focus on supporting older Iowans and adults with disabilities to live on their own. Sindt, who was one of five or six candidates, says she has been passionate about the elderly as long as she can remember...

Freda Heuer is a determined woman with a very friendly and positive personality. Born May 3, 1919, Freda learned to work hard and enjoy herself in whatever she was doing. Faith and family are important to this woman, who married Everett Heuer in August 1939. The World War II veteran who owned a feed store in Hartley, taught his wife to drive, at her request, shortly before his death in September 1966...

Today I have a guest writer, Gary Wright, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach farm and agribusiness specialist. Wright discusses the upcoming event for woman in agriculture program, “Annie’s Project,” to be held in Sheldon during April and May. Registration is currently open...