Stories from Monday, May 1, 2017

A large gathering of family, friends, fellow business professionals and well-wishers gathered at the Clay County Fair and Events Center Monday evening to help celebrate the 50th Spencer Citizen of the Year, Del Brockshus. Brockshus was recognized with the honor in the Daily Reporter’s final Saturday edition which also included its 2017 Progress Edition “Our Fair City.”...

During yesterday's Spencer City Council meeting the council read the first filing for an ordinance which prohibits the use of "first class consumer fireworks" within the city of Spencer. The ordinance is a response to recently passed legislation, which pending the governor's approval will allow the sale of consumer-grade fireworks from June 1 to July 8 and from Dec. 10 to Jan. 3...

Clay Central-Everly High School conducted its 2017 prom Saturday night in the Everly high school gym. The theme of the event was "Go Out and Paint the Stars, Van Gogh." CC-E named its prom king and queen, Jon DeWall and Aylin Garcia. (Above, from back to front) Nelson Findling, Brent Dendlin, Judge Altenburg, Sean Kosters, Kennedy WIlson, Kristen Glackins and Sarah Nehring with DeWall and Garcia, comprise the CC-E 2017 prom court. (Below) Brian Schimidt, Jasmine Kluender, Sean Kosters, Sarah Nehring, Kle Goeken, Kennedy WIlson, Dayton Brugman, and Laney Wilson enjoying their post-grand march meal Saturday night. (Right) Brent Bendlin and Olivia Gross take a second for pictures during the CC-E prom grand march. (Photos by Colin Van Westen)

MILFORD — The Milford man who exchanged fire with police officers Sunday night was the subject of a petition for relief from domestic abuse earlier in the week, according to court records at the Dickinson County Courthouse. A statement Monday from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said officers responded at 9 p.m. Sunday to a “domestic situation” at 26 Westview Drive, which is just north of the Okoboji High School athletic complex in Milford...

An autism seminar designed for parents, caregivers, early care and education providers, teachers, para professionals and health care providers will be conducted from 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday in the Maple and Oak rooms in the lower level of Spencer Hospital. With a panel of presenters from Prairie Lakes Area Education Association, Spencer Hospital and others including a teacher and a parent, the seminar will offer something for everyone with regards to information on autism. A special feature on the (above) Greg and Theresa Rasch family of Spencer, who have raised an adopted autistic son Caleb, from infancy to 20 years of age, will be included in Thursday’s Daily Reporter. To register for the local conference contact Rachell Swanson-Holm at rachell-swanson-holm@uiowa.edu or 515-955-8326. (Photo submitted)

At last night's Spencer City Council meeting, Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen submitted his letter of resignation to Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson and the City Council. Upon reading the letter, Peterson explained its contents and his thoughts on Fagen throughout the 10 years he had spent in Spencer...

COUNCIL BLUFFS (AP) ― An inmate shot two sheriff's deputies, killing one of them, and escaped from an Iowa jail on Monday before he was recaptured a short time later following a high-speed chase across the state border in Nebraska. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker said Wesley Williams Correa-Carmenaty, 23, managed to steal a sheriff's deputy's gun after he returned from court and shot the two deputies around 11 a.m...

Sunday afternoon, Spencer Police officers investigated a social media post from a local student which was determined a “threat” involving Spencer schools. As officers investigated the threat, a search of the student’s home was conducted. At that time, officers determined that the student “did not have the means to carry out the threats previously posted,” according to information provided by Spencer Police Chief Mark Warburton...

Women in flappers and men in their zoot suits gathered like it was the Roaring '20s to support the Parker Museum and Clay County Heritage Center Saturday night at Boji Builders in north Spencer. (Above) A group of the usual suspects toast to an evening of fun and celebration. (Below) Some swinging guys and gals tried their hand at roulette. (Left) Clay County Heritage Executive Director Ryan Odor mixed drinks for the partygoers. (Photos by Colin Van Westen)

For local veterans taking part in the next Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight, it's been a long time coming. The program that flies veterans to visit the war memorials in Washington, D.C., and Arlington National Cemetery, originally set up for World War II veterans, has been expanded to serve those from the Korean War era, and now, the Vietnam era...

Iowa Lakes Community College softball head coach Katie Larson announced the signing of Kacie Salazar to the 2017-2018 recruiting class. She is the daughter of Jerry and Jane Salazar and played for the Ridgeview High School Wolfpack. "We are very excited to welcome Kacie and her family to our Laker softball program. ...

Iowa Lakes Community College softball head coach Katie Larson announced the signing of Lexi Pallisco to the 2017-2018 recruiting class. She is the daughter of Jane Pallisco and played for Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “We welcome Lexi Pallisco and her family to Iowa Lakes softball today,” said Larson. “Her work ethic and love for the game are the traits that we want future Laker softball players to exemplify as well.”...

Golf enthusiasts are invited to attend the Iowa Lakes Clay County Scholarship Golf Outing set for Friday, June 2, at the Spencer Golf and Country Club. Registration and meal will begin at noon, followed by a 1 p.m. shotgun start. A short awards program will follow play...

Iowa Lakes women's basketball player, Tristyn Dunivant signed her letter of intent to continue her athletic career at Nebraska Christian College (NCC) located in Papillion, Nebraska. She will also continue pursuing her academic career in human development and psychology at NCC...

The Heldt-Laker Memorial Golf Outing generates scholarship funds for student-athletes. Over 300 student-athletes compete collegiately for Iowa Lakes in 16 different sports. The event starts on Friday, July 14 at the Estherville Golf Course. Golfer check-in begins at noon with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The event features a 9-hole four-person best shot tournament format...

NEWELL — A fire on a Dakota Access pipeline site near Newell Thursday night has been ruled an arson. About $70,000 damage was done to a contractor-owned skid loader that was set on fire, and $75,000 to pipeline equipment. The fire, in a field near 180th Avenue north of Highway 7, was reported around 9:20 p.m. Newell firefighters responded, and Buena Vista County Sheriff's Department officials were immediately called in to investigate...

Funeral services for Howard Kindlespire, 89, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2017, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of Spencer. Bishop David Keith will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted Friday, May 5, at the Warner Funeral Home in Spencer, starting at 3 p.m. with the family present from 5-8 p.m...

A funeral service for JoAnn H. Killmer, 74, of Spencer, was held Monday, May 1, 2017, at First Baptist Church in Spencer. Burial was at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. JoAnn, the daughter of Orese (Allard) and Urban Noethe, was born Feb. 5, 1943, in Granville, Iowa. She attended school in Iona, Minnesota, and Sheldon, Iowa, before graduating from Everly High School...

Services for Ruth Margaret Hoffman, 90, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Rev. William Schreiber will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted one hour prior to the service at the church...

Services for Melvin “Mel” LeRoy Henning, 83, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 4, 2017, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Spencer. Rev. Jan Henry will officiate the service. Visitation with the family will be conducted from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Warner Funeral Home in Spencer...

Funeral services for Wayne Lee Frerichs, 72, of Peterson, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Chaplain Norman Prather will officiate the service. Visitation will begin one-hour prior to the services at the Warner Chapel in Spencer...

With his distinctive voice and trademark bucket hat pulled over his head, it's hard to miss Del Brockshus. For area residents, who have depended on Del's commonsense horticultural advice, he's an institution. For Clay County citizens, who benefitted from nearly a quarter century of his service as a county supervisor, he was a supporter of the public's voice in county affairs. For those who utilize the services of the newly-created Autumn's Center, he is a steadfast supporter...

Each year, there is a constant barrage of the same types of articles, with the same coverage. Sales of vinyl LPs have been increasing. The last I had heard, the numbers of records sold had regressed to the same numbers that were being sold in the early '90s. ...

This is the time of life when things get so much more interesting with our grandkids. They have opinions (about everything). They spend hours (and days) on their cell phones. Many grandparents find that it becomes harder (and more fun) to find new ways to entertain them and make your time together truly memorable. Here are seven things that you can do with your teenage visitors that everyone might enjoy...

The Spencer Police Department and Positively Spencer Youth hosted a Drug Take Back Saturday morning in the parking lot at the police office on Grand Avenue. The Take Back collected 21 pounds of unused or expired prescriptions while the Monday through Friday drop box in the Spencer Police Department building generates about 25 to 30 pounds of returned items each month. The event is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration and started back in 2010. Spencer Police Chief Mark Warburton (above) collected unused prescriptions from a car. (Photo by Colin Van Westen)