Stories from Monday, April 15, 2019

Terril residents add drug charges in stolen property search TERRIL — A search warrant in search of stolen property, executed by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office on a residence in Terril on Tuesday, April 9, resulted in a pair of arrests on both stolen property and drug charges...

Although Spencer received an "Iowa Great Place" designation 11 years ago, on Monday Spencer's City Council approved a resolution supporting application for the redesignation of Spencer as an Iowa Great Place. Spencer resident Braden Falline, a member of the governor appointed Iowa Arts Council Board of Directors, said the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs program had been "revamped" in recent years. The program was originally created by the Iowa Legislature in 2005...

Spencer City Council members decided to continue a public hearing to a later date and table related agenda items for a project to improve a city roadway after council members expressed a desire for further discussion on the project. “The project has two parts,” City Engineer Ross McWhirter said. ...

Spencer Schools will be celebrating the careers of four longtime district employees on May 15 with a reception in the district's central office starting at 4 p.m. Lincoln teacher's associate Jeri Langenfeld, now in her 43rd year, began with the district during the 1976-77 school year; Johnson TA Julie Graham has served the district since the 2001-02 school year; fourth grade teacher Diana Koppen started her 30-year career with the district in 1989; and elementary TA Liz Stevenson will conclude her 13 years with the district at Lincoln at the end of the school year.

CC-E, SHS experience similar success The state of Iowa recorded an all-time high graduation rate for 2018 of 91.4% and similar success has been experienced at both the Clay Central-Everly and Spencer school districts. "The support provided to students to earn the diploma first begins with highly effective teachers teaching quality curriculum," Spencer High School Principal Elli Wiemers said. ...

Anti-bullying activist delivers message of kindness, empathy Around the time of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in the spring of 1999, anti-bullying activist and author Jodee Blanco realized "America didn't get it" when it came to bullying. That realization caused her to tell her story as a survivor of bullying in the pages of "Please Stop Laughing at Me," and she continued sharing her message of kindness and empathy in the face of bullying in Spencer Schools last week...

STORM LAKE — Homebound Storm Lake senior citizens rely on volunteer drivers to get their meals, and there just aren’t enough of those volunteers to go around. Jan Hallengren, site manager at the Storm Lake Senior Center, said that about 30 people currently depend on the home-delivered meals...

America loves a comeback story. We love the tale of folks who hit rock bottom, overcome incredible odds, and climb to a mountaintop. We saw a pretty great one on Sunday as Tiger Woods captured the Master’s green jacket — his fifth. While I was traveling and didn't get to enjoy a favorite April Sunday tradition, lounging on my couch watching Sunday at Augusta, I followed Tiger Woods' move up the leader board through radio updates. ...

Rebecca “Becky” Full, 60, of Belmond, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Memorial services for Becky Full will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 304 Third Ave. NE, in Belmond, with Rev. Cindy Morrison officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer...

Funeral services for Patricia A. Johnson, 94, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. Curtis Batschelet will officiate the service. Visitation was Monday with the family present from 5-7 p.m. at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer. Burial will be conducted at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer...

Funeral service for Suzanne Rothmeyer, 71, of Spencer, will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, 2019, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. John Syvertson will officiate the service. Visitation will be conducted one-hour prior to the memorial service at the Warner Chapel with the family present. Burial will be conducted at St. Joseph Cemetery in Dedham. Rothmeyer passed away Monday, April 15, 2019, at Spencer Hospital. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements...

Created way back in 2008, Record Store Day has been an interesting addition to my annual holidays. It caught on when I was in high school and was eager to widen my interest in music. Unlike other regions where record stores have gone the way of other cool local places like roller rinks or drive-in theaters, I think music fans and vinyl collectors in Iowa are very lucky to have the record stores that continue to serve our quest to find our next favorite LP...

For the second straight game, Spencer’s soccer boys found themselves on the wrong end in overtime Monday night, falling to Sioux Center 3-2 in the first period of extra time. However, unlike the last outing which saw Western Christian score three goals in the last 20 minutes of regulation to force bonus play, it was the Tigers coming up clutch in the second half against the Warriors with two scores in the final 3:46 to tie it at 2-2...

After last year’s Spencer Invitational had to be canceled due to weather, the Tiger golf boys made sure the title remained at Spencer Golf and Country Club this spring, carding four scores in the top eight to put up a 315 and win the tournament by nine strokes...

CHEROKEE — A trip to Cherokee for Lakes Conference tennis yielded Spencer’s boys their first meet win of the year by way of a perfect 9-0 sweep of the Braves Monday. “I thought it was a great team win just because we got a chance to see the progress we are making in practice turn into wins,” Tiger boys tennis coach Joe Steele said. ...

The Tiger tennis girls kept their dual record spotless Monday night, taking out Cherokee 8-1 on their home courts. “The girls were tired from prom, but they fought through it and beat a solid team,” Spencer girls tennis coach Bob Schlaeger said. “The girls will continue to work hard and continue to get better.”...

SIOUX CENTER — Sioux Center never really stood much of a chance against the 2A No. 6-ranked Spencer girls Monday night as the Tigers racked up 11 goals in just 40 minutes of play. The 10-goal mercy rule doesn’t apply until at least an entire half is played...

STORM LAKE — All indications are for a stellar fishing season coming up on Storm Lake. Iowa Department of Natural Resources' crews have been busy over the past several nights netting walleye on Storm Lake, collecting eggs to use in raising fish for stocking around the state...