Stories from Monday, July 10, 2017

HOLSTEIN — Freedom Rocks are brightening up the landscape in several Iowa counties. These painted-boulder salutes to veterans all started with one just off Highway 25 near Menlo. On this specific plot of land was a very large boulder that for years had been used for a graffiti canvas...

DES MOINES — More than 60 representatives from various federal, state and local agencies, along with various members and officials of state agriculture organizations, met in Des Moines recently for an emergency exercise hosted recently by both the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management. ...

The Spencer Police Department and Clay County Sheriff's Department have no plans to encrypt all radio communication. Other areas in Iowa, such as Linn County, have recently decided to encrypt all police scanner traffic, but local law enforcement administration indicated there are no plans to do so locally...

Both citizens and visitors to Spencer have a new choice in cuisine, as Southside Grill — formerly JJ’s Cutting Board — has opened for business. Owners Chris and Love Burg explained that aside from their interest in running a successful restaurant, they thought that transforming the restaurant into its current operation would be something beneficial to the community as well...

Democratic candidate for governor John Norris discussed politics with a group of potential voters at The Bear Monday night. "I had a breakfast with Tom Vilsack over the Christmas and New Years holiday where he encouraged me to run that began me thinking about it," Norris said. ...

Members of the Spencer Public Works Board and representatives from the Spencer City Council discussed a presentation offered by the “National League of Cities Service Line Warranty Program.” The presentation was delivered by Utility Service Partners Inc. and focused on providing warranty to homeowners’ water and sewer lines, which run between the public connection and a home’s exterior...

Real estate broker Richard “Dick” Hallett enjoys his family. He also likes to work — which includes building and selling houses — and has passed this quality onto his children. The realtor emeritus, 92, has been working since he was 12. By his senior year at Central High School, he’d transitioned to a position at the former Cudahy Packing Company, where he met his future wife, in Sioux City...

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, aka the SNES or Super Nintendo, was released in 1991 in the U.S. It remains one of my favorite video game consoles of all time. I spent large chunks of time with childhood friends playing games like “Donkey Kong Country 2” on it for hours in years past. While many video game enthusiasts (except those with a Sega Genesis) experienced one of the greatest game libraries ever assembled way back in the late 20th century, some people didn’t get the chance...

I went over for a short visit with my parents this past weekend. While it's always nice to spend some time with Mom and Dad, I had a mission — to find photos of my grandparents to be displayed at the wedding of my nephew this weekend. My parent's home is the archive for our family. ...

Funeral services for Duane Robert Milton, 89, of Las Vegas, Nevada, formerly of Langdon, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2017, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. Doug Dingel will officiate the service. Visitation with the family present will be conducted one-hour prior to the memorial service at Warner Chapel...

Funeral services for Jack Nalley, 91, of Spencer, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 13, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Rev. William Schreiber will officiate the service. Visitation will begin at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday with the family present from 5-6:30 p.m. at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer...

Services are pending for Reginald “Redge” Berg, 78, of Spencer, who passed away July 9, 2017, at Northshire Residence in Spencer. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

Death. It’s not a topic many people are comfortable discussing — particularly in regards to their own mortality — but as we approach our twilight years we reach a point when it has to be addressed. In thinking about our death, we must ask ourselves:...

Iowa Lakes Director of Athletics Troy Larson announced last week that Hunter Porter will become the new head volleyball coach for the Lakers. She will also take over the role of Success Center instructor for the Estherville campus. Porter is replacing former head coach Lea Hartigan...

The 2017 MLB All-Star Break is upon us, and mercifully this year’s game doesn’t determine the home team for the World Series. It’s crazy to me that rule went into effect all the way back in 2002. There are teenagers walking around out there thinking that was the norm, and that’s just sad...

SERGEANT BLUFF — Spencer met up with No. 6-ranked Sergeant Bluff-Luton on the road Monday night in what could be a potential substate title game preview should both teams make it through 3A District 2 and 3A District 1 respectively. The Warriors got the best of the Tigers this time around, winning 5-3 despite Spencer notching six hits to SB-L’s four...