Stories from Monday, December 25, 2017

Sacred Heart Catholic Church volunteers turned out in force Christmas Day to support the church’s annual holiday meal. The Spencer church’s fellowship hall had guests begin arriving about 20 minutes early for the free meal featuring ham, green beans casserole, cheesy potatoes, fruit salad, rolls and baked goodies. The seating was limited for the first hour of the meal. The idea behind the dinner is to provide a place for people to come for fellowship and enjoy a warm meal. (Photos by Randy M. Cauthron)

Spencer High School business law students presented changes they would like to see in the student handbook for the 2018-19 school year. The proposed changes included: Moving to a weighted grading system with more weight placed on advanced placement and dual credit courses when calculating a student's grade-point average; lower the parking pass fee from $30 to $20 which would allow more low-income students the opportunity to park in school parking; and change the cellphone policy to allow teachers to confiscate a cellphone that is in plain sight to a more lenient standard allowing for teacher discretion.. ...

When a child is removed from their home and taken into protective custody of the state by the Department of Human Services, DHS issues a referral and the search begins for a safe place for a child to stay. Lutheran Services in Iowa is an agency that receives referrals for the children, and helps connect foster and adoptive parents with children in need of a home. ...

CLAY COUNTY — Marlyn D. Van Tol, 59, of Lake Park, passed away Dec. 20 at Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, nine days after being hit along the side of U.S. Highway 18 near the intersection of 300th Avenue, east of Spencer on Dec. 11...

A Friday afternoon pedestrian stop led to the arrest of a Houston, Texas, resident wanted for aggravated robbery. Rajaun Lewis, 20, was taken to the Clay County Jail and held on a bond of close to $900,000, after Spencer Police approached him at the intersection of Seventh Street and Grand Avenue on an alcohol violation. During the stop, officers identified Lewis and determined he was wanted on a valid warrant for the aggravated robbery out of Harris County, Texas...

Almost a year to the day after Kevin Grimes resigned as lead pastor at DaySpring Assembly of God Church in Spencer and director of the Spencer Dream Center amidst allegations of inappropriate behavior, he was sentenced to five years in state prison for multiple counts of sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist. ...

Never missing a day of school, now that’s impressive. This Spencer graduating senior was recognized for her accomplishment, overcoming illness and other obstacles to occupy her seat in a classroom for the past 13 years. Anyone wishing to duplicate her feat should heed her advise, “Suck it up.”...

On the surface, it looks like just another erosion control project. But under the surface, the project on Iowa 31 in Woodbury County is a dive back in time. In December 2015, Dixie Nelson, now-retired Iowa Department of Transportation highway maintenance supervisor in Correctionville, noticed some erosion on the cutbank of the Little Sioux River running alongside Iowa 31 near Anthon. ...

MILFORD — July 4, is filled with barbecues and fireworks, but for Leonard and Wendy Luft it’s the day that their lives changed forever. Their 15-year-old son, Logan, was in an ATV accident that left him on life support. One short day later Logan passed away. Just a year or so earlier, Logan received his drivers permit and chose to be an organ donor...

STORM LAKE — Despite frustrating delays, the Buena Vista County Trails Advisory Committee is ready to hit the road rolling next spring with an on-road biking system that has been some five years in the making. Signs to mark the countywide trail have now been received, but frozen ground means they probably won’t go up until after spring thaw, according to chairperson of the volunteer group Jon Kruse...

SAC CITY — A former City Council member in Sac City has been accused of sexually abusing a child. The report involved a child who is currently under age 12, with the abuse allegedly taking place when the child was age 6. Gary Lee Hansen, 75, is charged with sexual abuse second degree. Court documents indicate that Hansen admitted to sexual contact with the victim...

While “'tis the season to celebrate!” coworkers and bosses have a long memory when it comes to unprofessional behavior at company parties. Even if you don’t remember exactly what happened your coworkers and bosses will and if you are getting the “disgusted” stare, it isn’t going to be good for your career. ...

As we roll out of bed on this day after Christmas, rubbing our eyes to clear them of those visions of sugar plums that had filtered our sight the past few days, we reflect on time spent with loved ones, laughter, and the very real need to count our calories for a while in the coming days to make up for so much glorious food...

At the end of every year, we get hit with Thanksgiving, and then the holidays come around. For all of these holidays, whether Christmas or otherwise, people make an effort to be thankful and to give to others. Then, it all comes to a head with New Year's...

STORM LAKE — A new general manager has taken over the reins at city-owned King’s Pointe resort in Storm Lake. Jason Bjerk began work two weeks ago with the resort’s management company Omega, replacing a former leader who resigned abruptly after a short time in the position...

Nothing warms the heart for the holidays quite like a father and son teaming up to overcome obstacles — even if those challenges come at 100 mph on a snowmobile ripping across some frozen tundra. Mitch Sebastian and his father Bryan come in at No. 3 on this year’s countdown after doing just that. ...