Stories from Wednesday, December 20, 2017

A series of accidents in the 11 o'clock hour Monday morning resulted in three individuals being transported to Spencer Hospital, and more than $46,000 in estimated property damages. Two of the accidents occurred within one minute of one another on a 2-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 71 south of Spencer...

After first throwing her hat into the political ring last year, joining the Spencer City Council, local Spencer businesswoman, wife and mother, Leann Jacobsen has decided to take a bold and dramatic next step by jumping into the race for the Democratic Party nomination to challenge incumbent Iowa 4th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron...

The Spencer Hospital Board of Trustees, on Wednesday, accepted the lowest bid for a project which will renovate the second floor of the Spencer Medical Arts Building to accommodate the family practice clinic, Avera Medical Group Spencer. The renovation’s primary purpose is to expand clinic space into three physician work areas, including exam rooms, a waiting room and a reception area...

Joel Rose starts preparing for his Christmas light display in November. His display is a mix of moving lights choreographed to move to the music. "The light display has grown," Rose said. "It started way back on the internet in 2004 or 2005. It was the first animated display to music. ...

A congregation’s clandestine effort to honor their pastors — a husband-wife team — for 20 years of spiritual leadership, earned the No. 5 spot on this year’s list of feature stories from the past year. The Van Tassell’s impact on the community extends well beyond the walls of their church building as they contribute to the arts, sports and service efforts which add to the environment of Spencer. A read of the story demonstrates just how much they are loved and appreciated...

The driver of a 2013 Town and Country Van was arrested and charged with OWI, second offense, following a collision with a parked car in the 900 block of East Fourth Street. According to a witness in a vehicle which was following the van, the Town and Country was swerving back and forth while traveling down the roadway. The van was too far to the right as it approached a parked 2003 Ford F-150, facing west on East Fourth Street, and collided with a trailer attached to the rear of the F-150...

SPIRIT LAKE — Although more than 25 people attended the meeting reconvened by the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors Wednesday afternoon, the meeting room seemed empty compared to the week's two previous meetings. The board was forced to quickly schedule another meeting to officially vote on a rezoning request for East Loch Estates — a proposed development that has polarized the Lakes community — after the request was accidentally listed as a "nonactionable" item on the previous day's agenda. ...

OKOBOJI — The gavel sounded in late September for the sale of a Lakes area landmark business — but the investor behind a multi-million-dollar check remains a mystery. The winning bidder made The Inn at Okoboji purchase late Friday and the keys were turned over to the new owners — Whitecap LLC...

Funeral services for Thomas Hegel, 76, of Everly, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, at United Methodist Church in Everly. Rev. Mike Eeten and Rev. Michael Hyde will officiate the service. Visitation will be open after 3 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 5-7 p.m., at the Warner Funeral Home in Everly...

I noted in the Tuesday edition of the Daily Reporter that one of our habitual letter writers had broken a promise to himself. I think he should have kept the promise; I’ve gotta side with Bob on this one. The figures we commonly refer to as our “founding fathers” did not start out as freedom fighters. ...

The modern world has many benefits that I enjoy and many things that I think we as a society could improve on. As we move to the post-modern era, I think it would be wise to examine our weaknesses to create a more inclusive society. The first benefit I see in the modern world is diversity. ...

Fans, media, fans and more fans piled up and around Sioux Central’s football complex on Thursday, Aug. 24 for the Fifth Annual Channel Seed Ag Bowl, featuring the Rebels taking on the Manson Northwest Webster Cougars. The game, broadcast live on NBC Sports Chicago, kicked off the state’s football season and jump started what turned into a playoff campaign for the Rebels as they knocked off the Cougars 22-8 with the help of a 38 carry, 174 yard, two touchdown performance from junior fullback Ben Hargens. ...

CHEROKEE — Spencer’s boys entered Tuesday’s conference game with Cherokee having scored 34 more points in the second quarter than any other frame this season with 137 points coming in the second over the course of their first seven games. That statistic got even more dramatic against the Braves as the Tigers piled it on 29-9 in the eight minutes before halftime of a 70-50 win...

Morgan Wiemann and Garrett Hohbach announce their engagement. Morgan is a 2015 graduate of Clay Central-Everly High School, and the daughter of Jeffrey and Patti Wiemann of Everly. Garrett is a 2012 graduate of South O’Brien High School in Paullina, and the son of Brian and Deanna Hohbach...

The Daybreakers Kiwanis and Spencer Walmart teamed up recently to assist shoppers purchasing toys. A total of 250 toys were collected and delivered on Dec. 13 to Upper Des Moines Opportunity. Children are allowed to select two to three toys on UDMO Family Days. (Above) Daybreakers Duaine Holck, Keith Bress and Tim Weideman helped deliver the toys to Walmart Assistant Manager Dianna Wiertzema and Walmart Personnel Manager Sara Kinnetz. (Photo submitted)

CHEROKEE — Coming off their second win of the season, Spencer’s girls tried carrying the momentum into Tuesday night’s Lakes Conference matchup with 3A No. 4-ranked Cherokee — a squad that happens to lead the state in scoring at 83.9 points per game. The Tigers lack of ball handling proved to be insurmountable as the Braves’ pressure forced 30 turnovers in a 70-35 win...

CLEAR LAKE — Anchored by 2A No. 1-ranked 126 pounder Eric Faught and No. 5-ranked 106 pounder Sam Nelson, Clear Lake presented a tough obstacle for Spencer’s wrestlers going into the Christmas break, especially after last year’s Tiger upset win over a then No. 7-ranked Lions team...

SCHALLER — Winners of their previous five games in a row, Sioux Central’s girls went into Tuesday night’s game with Ridge View looking to push their record to 7-3 going into the Christmas break. The Raptors had other things in store as they put the pressure on the Rebel defense, winning the game 50-43...

REMSEN — Points were tough to come by for Clay Central-Everly’s girls Tuesday evening as Audrey Ruda (13) and Carissa Doran (11) hit double figures only to have the rest of the squad contribute seven combined points in a 53-31 loss to Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn/Remsen Union...

MASON CITY — Tuesday night’s dual in the pool between Mason City and Spencer provided Spencer’s boys with their last taste of competition until 2018, and they responded by putting up their best times of the season. The Mohawks still had the last laugh, winning the meet 58-36...

REMSEN — With the scoreboard reading 26-7 at the end of the first Tuesday night, Clay Central-Everly’s winless boys appeared to be headed down a familiar path, but their winless counterpart, Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn/Remsen Union, couldn’t maintain that level of efficiency the rest of the game, allowing the Mavs to climb all the way back to a one possession game in the fourth. However, the Royals held on 64-58...