Stories from Tuesday, April 30, 2019

A new web program from the Iowa Soybean Association entitled "The State of Soy" recently addressed the "confusion" created by food labeling, claiming "hype and hearsay" often are placed above science, negatively affecting consumers and producers. "Consumers feel increasingly overwhelmed by the claims, attributes, characteristics and information they are presented with," said Aaron Putze, ISA communications director and “The State of Soy” host. ...

Francis Ford Coppola recently premiered a new cut of “Apocalypse Now” for the 40th anniversary of his film which eccentrically explores the Vietnam War while also being an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s novella “Heart of Darkness.” Some people like to proclaim Coppola’s first two entries in “The Godfather” trilogy as the pinnacle of cinema, but I’ve always been a fan of “Apocalypse Now” over his other work. ...

It seems there is a day or a week assigned to recognize nearly everything under the sun. For example, did you know that April 9 was recognized as National Unicorn Day? Or that May 1 is Batman Day? From World Naked Gardening Day (this Saturday, May 4) to International Axe Throwing Day on June 13, there is a day for just about everything...

Local farmers are getting anxious, as wet spring conditions have put them slightly behind on planting schedules. “They are getting antsy, not so much for the delay but because we need to get dried out. If we have an inch of rain now, it will knock us another week behind,” with subsoil profiles already overflowing from a wet fall and heavy winter snowfalls, said Kris Kohl, Iowa State Extension Service agriculture engineering specialist in Buena Vista County...

Eunice Ann Hofmeyer, on Wednesday, April 25, 2019, joined our Savior, Jesus Christ, and many other loved ones in Heaven. We are forever grateful for her faith, family and friends. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, on Nov. 9, 1940, to Freida and Henry Foege, she is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; her youngest son, Paul; her granddaughter, Olivia; her parents and grandparents; her sister, Melinda; and her brothers: Ronald and David; as well as many other family and friends...

STORM LAKE — Everything about Royce White says power. Except for the power to defend against his own inner struggles. After years of battling mental illness, the former Iowa State University star power forward, NBA first-round draft pick, and now author and aspiring mixed marital arts fighter, is sharing his story...

Local ladies prepare to give more than 300 May Day baskets to nursing home residents Members of First Christian Church of Spencer, Marcia Christy, Shirley Clark and Winnie Schoenewe are waiting for the first of May to bring a little cheer to the residents of Spencer's nursing homes. Approximately 300 baskets of candy decorated for the holiday crowded Schoenewe's kitchen table ready for delivery Monday morning...

Local family to lead ‘March for Babies Walk’ Saturday A local family, committed to making a difference and raising awareness following a health scare involving their prematurely born daughter, will bring a March for Babies event to Spencer’s East Leach Park on Saturday. The walk will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. Participants can register in advance or on location the day of the event...

With a couple rural roads still closed due to widespread flooding earlier in the year, the Clay County Engineer’s Office’s most recent estimates suggest March flooding caused more than $480,000 in damage to county roadways. “Equipment, materials and labor to basically to put the roads back together, that’s the C-Work, which is $424,529,” Clay County Engineer’s Office manager Pam Doran said. ...

Local distillery releases 1st product as progress continues Inside Century Farms Distillery, located at 2304 Highway Boulevard in Spencer, the husband and wife team of Ryan and Amanda Bare have been hard at work to make their microdistillery dream a reality. The two recently achieved one of their first benchmarks by having the distillery’s first product, “Open Gate Vodka,” released and available on store shelves in Spencer. The duo said there are big plans in the works for the distillery...

After just playing Spirit Lake-Okoboji up north Friday, the Tiger tennis boys faced the Indians again Monday at Riverview Park with a similar result, falling 7-2. “We had a tough meet tonight,” Tiger boys tennis coach Joe Steele said. “It’s difficult with the short turnaround against an excellent team to feel like we’ve had a chance to learn from Friday’s mistakes and correct them for today. ...

ALGONA — Playing just a few days after being one golfer short of qualifying for team scoring against Spirit Lake and Sheldon in Sheldon, Spencer’s girls took took to River Road Golf Course in Algona Monday with all four of their varsity starters. The Bulldogs barely edged the Tigers with a 219 to Spencer’s 223...

ORANGE CITY — Spencer’s soccer girls hammered MOC-Floyd Valley 10-0 for the second time this season Monday night at Northwestern College. The victory once again puts the No. 5-ranked Tiger girls atop the state wins list with a record of 10-0. Spencer is now 6-0 against Lakes Conference competition and will continued conference action Tuesday night at home against Storm Lake. It will be the first meeting of the Tigers and Tornadoes this season...

STORM LAKE — Spencer’s girls ran down a seventh straight major meet title Monday night, scoring 159 points at the Tornado Relays for a 52 point win over second place Sioux Center. Le Mars was the only other team in triple digits with a 105. Grace Hamilton and Elisa Fisher picked up three individual wins on the track for the Tigers with Hamilton taking the open 800 and Fisher claiming the 1,500 and 3,000...

NEWELL — A scrapbook of World War II memories has turned up at the Newell Public Library, perhaps not seen since the 1940s. “It was found in the library under a pile of stuff,” said Penny Lanxon, of the Friends of the Library group. “I worked at the library for years and have never seen it before.”...

Booked into Clay County Jail April 15 — Makaila Lyn Kennedy, 27, Spencer Disturbing the peace April 15 — Jason Christopher Hollander, 45, Ida Grove Judgment entry Violation of probation April 15 — Jenni Lee Good, 33, Milford Judgment entry April 16 — Alexander Matthew Hefner, 18, Spencer...

Coming off a pair of losses in Sioux City Friday, Spencer’s boys returned to their home pitch Monday where overtime is seemingly required, playing MOC-Floyd Valley to a 2-2 tie in regulation before coming away with a 3-2 win 1:30 left in the first extra period...