Stories from Sunday, August 6, 2017

A Thursday afternoon accident, at the intersection of West Seventh Street and First Avenue West, resulted in two individuals being transported to Spencer Hospital with minor injuries. Storm Walvoord, 18, of Spencer, was driving a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville southbound in in the 700 block of First Avenue West and had stopped for a stop sign at the intersection with West Seventh Street at approximately 2:20 p.m. ...

Celebrating its fourth year, the D.A.R.E. 5K Fun Run drew a huge group of supporters from all age demographics Saturday morning to help Spencer Police Department D.A.R.E. instructor Lt. Kyle Otterloo raise funding for local D.A.R.E. graduation activities. The sizable ensemble (above) of runners and walkers completed the course, starting and finishing near the boat ramp at West Leach Park, led by 15-year-old Jacob Lamb, of Okoboji (right). As they arrived at the finish line, the participants were presented with courtesy water bottles (Below) to go along with their event shirts. Van Otterloo thanked everyone for their commitment to the program and to the youth of the area. (Photos by Randy M. Cauthron)

The Spencer Fire Department personnel, their families and members of the community met at Spencer’s East Leach Park Thursday evening to take part in the inaugural Family Drill Night. “I believe that while members of the Fire Department are family, it’s their family that allows the men and women to participate and they’re the unsung heroes,” Spencer Fire Chief John Conyn said. ...

Iowa’s hospitals see over 70,000 staff working congruently to provide for many Iowans or fellow Americans that seek proper care in a time of need. Each year, the Iowa Hospital Association honors only 10 people each year to highlight each individual’s work ethic, kindness and compassion that they bring to work every day. Spencer Hospital nurse Margaret Molitor is one of 2017’s Hospital Heroes, and will be formally honored during the IHA’s annual meeting this October...

Gracie Dammann (left) was joined by her father, Tom Adams (center), as she presented funds raised from the Northwest Iowa Organ Donation Awareness 5K to Jessica Kuil, with the Iowa Donor Network (right). Dammann, who organized the event in West Leach Park earlier this summer, said her father was the inspiration behind involvement in the effort. Dammann presented a $3,400 check to the Iowa Donor Network from the run and silent auction, to go along with an additional estimated $1,500 she raised through a bake sale earlier this year — bringing the local contribution this year to close to $5,000. Dammann said she hopes to hold the run again next year but has yet to set a date. (Photo by Joseph Hopper)

Soiree En Blanc attendees waited for notification for their surprised destination Friday evening, and after receiving the location at approximately 5:30 p.m., for the fourth year in a row, partygoers came together to celebrate both the 100th centennial of the Clay County Fair and the fourth anniversary of the Clay County Heritage Center’s annual fundraiser, started by the Parker Historical Society. ...

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a post-harvest marketing workshop from 6-9 p.m. on Aug. 21 at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg. The "Winning the Game" workshop will help farmers with practical advice in writing and executing a post-harvest marketing plan...

Although the 2017 Okoboji Blue Water Festival, which will run Friday, Aug. 11, through Saturday, Aug. 12, is meant to be a fun weekend, it is also meant to challenge those in attendance to learn more about clean water and how we all can go about making our waters cleaner...

If you go fishing, our goal is to have a good time, and catching some fish greatly increases our odds of having a good time. Yes, it’s fun to be outside with friends or family and enjoying wildlife and being around the water, but when you go fishing, you really want to catch something. In the summer months, rivers can provide consistent fishing action...

The 2017 Okoboji Blue Water Festival is a celebration of clean water and a chance to learn about how we can all make our waters even better. The festival, which runs Friday, Aug. 11, through Saturday, Aug. 12, at Preservation Plaza in Arnolds Park, is designed for both young and old alike and for families...

Each summer, Pheasants Forever does a summer report of pheasant conditions and numbers throughout the country. Here is a look at the Iowa report. As summer reaches its midpoint, every pheasant hunter’s thoughts start turning to autumn’s prospects. The sun hangs just a titch lower in the sky. Dog work intensifies a smidge. Shooting takes on a notch more significance...

As recent as this week, Iowa is suffering from a moderate to severe drought. Almost two thirds of the state is affected by the lack of rain. One report shows a 4-foot ruler lowered into a crack in a farmer’s field with all but a foot below ground level...

The women and men who passed out free water to RAGBRAI bikers near Ayrshire were engaged in civil dialogue with bikers from all over the country. We were exercising our civil right to discuss in a respectful manner. Although a few riders shouted “Go Trump” or “Build a wall” as they rode by, it appeared that 90 percent agreed that Steve King is an embarrassment to Iowa. ...

The corn is well past knee-high but it isn’t quite time to reap what’s been sown. Fortunately, I’m not talking about the corn. I’m actually talking about my hair. It’s under new ownership. The photo accompanying this column is no longer accurate and I may even be able to blend into a crowd once in awhile...

Funeral services for Lester Hicks, 79, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer. Rev. Paul Frederiksen will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted one hour prior to the services at the church...

Funeral services for Anna Marie Hamrick, 8, of Spencer, will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer. Rev. Steve Olson will officiate the service. Visitation will begin after 3 p.m. Wednesday with the family present from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home...

Sunday my spiritual family at Sacred Heart Catholic Church grew a bit as we officially welcomed parishioners from St. Louis of Royal as well as other local churches caught up in the realignment of Catholic churches throughout northwest Iowa. And it was awesome. Church was packed and we are very happy to invite our new congregational brothers and sisters in Christ. It will serve to make Sacred Heart a richer, worship experience...

Sacred Heart Catholic School and Parish invites the public to take part in the annual Dave Nelson Golf Classic to be held Monday, Aug. 14, at Spencer Golf and Country Club. The 18-hole tournament is dedicated to the memory of David Nelson, who for several years gave unselfishly of his time and financial resources to ensure the success of this event. The funds raised in his memory continue to have a significant impact on the success of Sacred Heart, specifically Sacred Heart Catholic School...

The Second Annual Tailtwister Golf Outing will be held Saturday, Aug. 19 at Spencer Golf and Country Club. Check-in for the 18-hole, best ball tournament will start at 11:45 a.m. with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. All golfers will receive 18 holes of golf with a car, an evening meal and the opportunity to win various hole prizes. ...

Going into championship Sunday, Bellville, South Africa’s Ian Snyman sat three shots back of leader and 2013 Northwest Amateur Tournament champion Trent Peterson. By the middle of the championship flight’s 36-hole day, Snyman slipped in front of Peterson by a stroke, and he was able grow that lead over the final 18 holes, finishing the tournament at 18-under par — two shots off of the record score of 20-under set by Ben Wollam in 2014...