Stories from Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The self-imposed funnel week that took place last week narrowed down the number of bills that are eligible to continue to move through the legislative process. The House Economic Growth committee considered bills meant to improve economic growth within the state. ...

A string of 70-degree days in the forecast has some Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials concerned about ice conditions in the Iowa Great Lakes. "This time of year, the ice can get very unpredictable," said Mike Hawkins, a fisheries biologist for the agency. "I would say at this point that travel out onto the ice is not recommended. This week is really going to destroy the ice. It's really going to deteriorate."...

Across the country and here in Iowa, the theft of precious metals -- including copper, aluminum and bronze -- is on the rise. They are stolen from abandoned or vacant buildings, empty homes and most dangerously from overhead power lines along rural roads, electric cooperative substations and storage facilities. Copper metal theft is a growing, expensive and dangerous trend in Iowa that threatens your electric service reliability, the public's safety and potentially cooperative linemen's lives...

Darren Rovell, a sports business reporter for CNBC recently wrote an article about why he no longer fills out NCAA tournament brackets. He mentioned that he no longer participates in NCAA tournament pools and hasn't done so for three years. He does make a few valid points -- such as not knowing to root for if you have multiple brackets, but I think filling out brackets makes the big dance even more enjoyable than it already is...

It sticks out among all the students who have participated. Okoboji High School -- from students to faculty -- has become more positive and outgoing. "The tension is gone, people are more relaxed," said Kenny Olson, a student at Okoboji High School. "It really got us out of our comfort zones."...

An "Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy" episode featuring local businesses and Department of Natural Resources officials airs tonight (Wednesday, March 14) on the History Channel. The episode is titled "American Invasion," airs at 8 p.m. according to the cable channel's website history.com. The episode guide describes the comedian's trip to a "carp rodeo in Iowa, a wild and watery way to control the population of a voracious species of fish."...

If there wasn't enough incentive for anglers before, the Great Walleye Weekend has upped the ante. The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is offering a $30,000 grand prize in a nod to the arrival of the 30th annual event May 5-6. The top prize is $10,000 in most years...

Oct. 23, 1919 -- March 6, 2012 Elizabeth Jeanette Matuska was born on Oct. 23, 1919 in Spencer, the daughter of Glen and Ida (Kumba) Chapman. She lived in Fostoria and Terril and attended Terril Public Schools. Elizabeth moved to Jackson, Minn. and graduated from Jackson High School. On Feb. 4, 1938, she was united in marriage to Robert Lawrence Matuska in Milford...

1954 -- 2012 Services were held for Bradley Riley, 57, of Spirit Lake on Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Bradley Dean Riley was born April 6, 1954, the son of James W. and Mabel (Peterson) Riley. He resided in Spirit Lake and was formerly from Deloit...

April 11, 1945 -- Feb. 26, 2012 A funeral service for Barb Wills, 66, of Spirit Lake was held Thursday, March 8, 2012 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Barbara Lynn Wills was born April 11, 1945 in Pender, Neb., the daughter of Ralph and Mabel (Roosendaal) Jaycox. The family moved from Nebraska to live in Lake Park when Barb was very young. Barb graduated from Lake Park High School in 1963 and moved to Spirit Lake...

You most likely know the word Sabbath means to rest. You may also know that it is the root of our word Saturday and has historically referred to the seventh day of the week. If you know the Genesis story of creation, the reasons are obvious as God "rested" from work on the seventh day and that becomes a pattern of Israelite life. The Babylonians had a similar custom as they regarded seventh days as unlucky and avoided some activities on those days...