Books

Alaskan author shares adventure, inspires reading and writing (03/19/10)
Author Shelly Gill pumps up her audience of third through sixth-graders about nature, adventure and writing Thursday afternoon. Gill has authored 26 best-selling books, including 12 children's books. Students from Fairview, Lincoln and Johnson Elementary schools listened closely as Gill shared personal adventures she has experienced as an author, adventurer, whale detective, pony wrangler and dog musher on the Iditarod Trail (which inspired her first book Kiani's Iditarod.) Gill's visit was possible thanks to a contribution from the Spencer Community School Foundation.. ...

State snowfall inches into record books (02/23/10)
Blizzard by blizzard, inch by inch, this Iowa winter is going down in history. As of the most recent numbers, released by State Climatologist Harry Hillaker on Thursday, the statewide snowfall average is 43.1 inches. Though not official, the local numbers are much higher than the state average...

Poet laureate to headline 'Written Word' event (11/17/09)
In February 2009, Governor Chet Culver announced Mary Swander's appointment as Poet Laureate of the State of Iowa. For Swander, a graduate of the University of Iowa Writers Workshop and a Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University, this was just the latest of a long string of awards, including an Iowa Author's Award in 2006 and the Carl Sandburg Literary Award in 1981...

Myron follows up fair with library appearance (09/26/09)
Meet Author Vicki Myron from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Spencer Public Library. Spencer's own, Myron, author of the No. 1 New York Times bestseller Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, makes a return visit to promote her brand new children's book, Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! Books will be available to purchase at the event by On Eagle's Wings of Spencer. ...

Vicki Myron's children's book to appear at Clay County Fair (09/10/09)
Vicki Myron will have her children's book available at the Clay County Fair. For a story on the children's book and her new projects associated with Dewey Readmore Books, see Thursday's Daily Reporter.

Whispers from the spirits of Everly's past (07/17/09)
Looking for an opportunity to gain a bit of a historic perspective about the people who helped make Everly what it is -- take part in the Cemetery Walk at Lone Tree Cemetery from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18. Walking tours will leave every half hour...

Spencer to tackle religion in the public schools (07/03/09)
Is there a place for religious expression in public schools? Should history be taught to students via the Bible and texts dealing with Darwinism in a public school district's classrooms? Spencer school board members, with hoped-for input from members of the public, are planning to address issues such as these with a draft religious liberty policy currently under consideration...

'Dewey' movie on fast track (05/08/09)
The woman who's agreed to write the script for the upcoming movie based on Dewey Readmore Books' life is a natural for the job at hand. Pamela Gray has a cat paraphernalia collecting fever. She's been visiting people and places in Spencer this week, and she's jotting her important notes worth remembering in a notebook covered with cartoon cats. She currently has 10 cats of her own. The woman even has a tiger stripe tattoo -- based on the stripes of tigers she fell in love with while serving as a volunteer zookeeper -- inked on her right shoulder. --- It's safe to say that Vicki Myron, Spencer's former librarian-turned-author, feels a bit overwhelmed at times. She's busy. Even before her and Bret Witter's "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World" book became a No. 1 bestseller, Myron had been working the media channels to promote it...

Author, illustrator to speak at South Clay, Sioux Central (04/01/09)
Betsy and Giulio Maestro will visit with students at South Clay Elementary School and Sioux Central Community School this week. The Maestros, who have written and illustrated children's non-fiction books since 1974, have written and illustrated over 100 books...

Quilting efforts draw mall crowds (03/25/09)
The first ever Northwest Iowa One Stop Shop Hop was at the Southpark Mall over the weekend. Many participants took part in this quilters dream shopping experience. Judy Martin (above), a renowned author of many quilting books, brought her Trunk Show to the Mall on Saturday to the delight of many people. ...

Author/Illustrator coming to Spencer (03/24/09)
Children's author and illustrator Lisa Campbell Ernst will be visiting Spencer elementary schools on March 31. Besides entertaining students, her programs at Johnson, Lincoln and Fairview schools will be designed for parents and community members interested in early childhood education...

Clay Central-Everly students to present Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" (03/14/09)
The Everly school gymnasium promises to transform into a make-believe world filled with whimsy and romance this week when Clay Central-Everly High School students perform Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." With close to 70 CCE students involved in the production -- and many community members also stepping forward to assist with the love story featuring Belle (Jacque Ginger ) and Beast (Kasey Kunzmann) -- Director Nancy Patrick guarantees the big show will delight young and young-at-heart alike...

Book club members being sought (02/26/09)
Spencer Public Library representatives have heard the request. In response, they're hoping to establish a new book club at the library. "We've had some people call us and say that they would like to join a book club," Kay Larson, the library's director, said. ...

The moral of the story is ... (02/24/09)
As the Spencer High School students enrolled in Michele Dirkx's Creative Writing class huddled in Fairview's hallway near the elementary school building's office Monday morning prior to reading the children's stories they'd written and illustrated, they were instructed by their teacher to do four things:...

Spencer native donates Dewey sculpture to library (02/13/09)

Library seeking replacement for Walk (01/14/09)
Spencer Public Library Director Kay Larson, who was authorized to purchase a laptop computer for patron use recently, is currently fielding a "pretty good list of candidates" for the position formerly held by Mary Walk. Walk, who officially shelved her last children's book as the Spencer library's children's librarian on Dec. 31, 2008, was recognized for her 33 years of service at the library with a come-and-go coffee held the afternoon of Jan. 6...

2009 First Baby of the Year Gifts (01/10/09)
Newborn Brody Meendering of Hartley, as the first baby of 2009, has been given a collection of items from area merchants and service providers welcoming him to northwest Iowa. The items are for both baby and parents. Child care publications, children's books…Clay County ISU Extension...

Walk steps away (01/06/09)

Briefs 12/19/08 (12/19/08)
Please join us at a "Come-and-Go" reception to wish Kitty Conover the best in her retirement from Iowa Lakes Community College and to welcome Mary Mohni, chief academic officer and new campus administrator. The reception will be held from 2:30-4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19 at Iowa Lakes Community College at Gateway North in Spencer. At the request of the honorees, please no cards or gifts...

Tennant shares best of regional storytellers (12/18/08)
Jean Tennant was first published in fourth grade. A poem she penned as part of a class project landed in the pages of the popular youth magazine, "Highlights," when her teacher thought it worthy of submission. But the writing bug didn't really bite Jean until her early 30s when her love of reading led her to become an author herself...

Four days of holiday activities begin tonight (12/04/08)
Begin the holiday season by attending an Evening Gala Premier at Parker Museum, 300 E. Third St., from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, where you're invited for a first look at 11 holiday-decorated rooms; and wrap up the weekend with the Festival of Choirs on Sunday afternoon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church...

Rural dentist morphs into nationally-known author (12/02/08)
While working on patient's teeth during the work day, Dr. Nathan Jorgenson finds himself recanting a comment he used to make to his wife: "Why would anybody want to be a writer? What a dumb thing to want to do." Jorgenson, who grew up on a farm near Jackson, Minn., is a Fairmont, Minn. dentist who can chuckle today as he vividly remembers working in Spencer's former packing plant as a college student. He deems the two summers a "quite memorable" time...

Holiday Family Adoption Program 5 (11/21/08)
The Holiday Family Adoption Program continues with a listing of families in The Daily Reporter. The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty...

Holiday Family Adoption Program 4 (11/20/08)
The Holiday Family Adoption Program continues with a listing of families in The Daily Reporter. The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty...

Author delivering 'From the Sky' messages in Spencer classrooms (11/19/08)
Spencer elementary students are being guided on a tour of Iowa cities by a yellow goldfinch named Barnaby this week. Iowa's state bird, along with his creator, is allowing them to view the Hawkeye state, while at the same time learning interesting facts about its cities' special attractions, "from the sky."...

'Dewey' hits No. 1 on NY Times list (11/11/08)
After seven weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list, Dewey made the leap from No. 3 to No. 1 on the hardcover nonfiction list. According to Spencer co-author Vicki Myron (above), she has been receiving mail from all over the world with regards to "Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched The World." Myron noted that some countries won't publish the book until January or February, but it is currently out in seven countries so far including with translations for Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Finland, Holland, and Portugal. ...

Flags for Freedom at AOG (11/06/08)
"Flags for Freedom" is the photographic exhibit for the month of November at Arts on Grand This exhibit includes 30 photographs, a profusion of flag imagery, taken by Michael Peterson from Hackensack, Minnesota. Some of these photos are part of a photographic collection published in a book, which is available at the Gallery Shop...

Rotary Book Sale continues (11/01/08)
Thousands of books remain, binding to binding in rows on tables across the entire Clay County Regional Events Center Ballroom - all available for purchase at discounted prices as part of the 17th Annual Spencer Rotary Book Sale. The sale was scheduled to include approximately 30,000 used books ranging from fictional classics to romance novels and nonfiction selections to rare first editions. ...

'Dewey' story debuts at No. 13 (09/26/08)
Boba Fagena. Sounds like a character from the Star Wars franchise. In actuality, it's the name of the Spencer City Manager in the Polish version of "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World." Other Spencer residents have "owi" attached to their names in the foreign version...

Former Spencer resident publishes children's book (09/24/08)
Angela Tonderum, a former Spencer resident, has released her first book. PublishAmerica is releasing "Kaycee Kangaroo Lost in Alphabet Forest: Adventures of Kaycee Kangaroo" by Tonderum who now lives in Box Elder, S.D. This book was inspired by her middle child, Kaycee, and the childish mischief that she gets into. ...

Briefs 9-18-08 (09/18/08)
Spencer Public Library will host a book signing by Vicki Myron, author of "Dewey: The Small-town Library Cat Who Touched the World" tonight at the library. Vicki will speak at 7 p.m. and will sell and sign copies of her book afterward. Friends of the Library will provide refreshments and give away a copy of the book...

Briefs 9-17-08 (09/17/08)
Okoboji Women's Connection, a division of Stonecroft Ministries, will have a luncheon at the Inn at Okoboji at 12:30 p.m., today. Cost for the event is $10. Featured speaker is Dee Fero of Tonka Bay, Minn. An author of four books, who has lived in the British West Indies, published monthly devotionals and went back to work after flunking retirement...

Briefs 9-11-08 (09/11/08)
The Clay County Farm Service Agency will host USDA informational meeting at 1 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 11, at Frederick's of Royal, located at 303 Main St. in Royal. The meeting will provide information on SURE (Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program), which was enacted as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), to provide supplemental disaster assistance...

Briefs 9-10-08 (09/10/08)
The Clay County Farm Service Agency will host USDA informational meeting at 1 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 11 at Frederick's of Royal, located at 303 Main St. in Royal. The meeting will provide information on SURE (Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program), which was enacted as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), to provide supplemental disaster assistance...

Publisher interviewed for CBS Sunday Morning 'Dewey' segment (09/05/08)
Daily Reporter Publisher Paula Buenger is interviewed by CBS Sunday Morning's Martha Teichner for a segment that will air later in September regarding the impact of Dewey Readmore Books on the city of Spencer. The piece is tied to the release of former Spencer librarian Vicki Myron's novel, "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World." Myron will be signing copies of the book during the Clay County Fair...

Briefs 9-04-08 (09/04/08)
Arts on Grand will host an "open mic" event at 7 p.m. tonight. This is an excellent opportunity for local artists to share their talents in a casual, supportive environment. Interested musicians, poets, or anyone else who would like to take part may sign up in advance at Arts on Grand or just show up that evening...

National writer wonders: Does 'Dewey' mark end of publishing's 'dog' days? (08/09/08)
Self-professed dog person Craig Wilson probably didn't believe the assignment when he heard it the first time, either. "One of the editors came over to my desk yesterday or the day before," Wilson said. "He'd gone to the meeting -- they have a monthly meeting that tells everybody all the cover stories for the month ahead -- so he said: 'So, you're going to Iowa to do a story on a cat that's dead.' I said 'yes, I kind of wish the cat was still alive.'"...

Briefs 7-31-08 (07/31/08)
Registrations for the Spencer 3-6 grade teams, part of the Midwest Youth Football League, will only be accepted until tonight. A final registration will take place at Scharnbrg Park's shelter house from 6-8 p.m. tonight. At that time, late registrations who haven't had their sizes taken yet will be fitted. ...

Poppy Day to be celebrated Thursday (05/21/08)
Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson, joined by American Legion Auxiliary members: Betty Tonderum, Adeline Bensene, Clarion Lovitt, Sharon Faulkender, Linda Bergendahl and Carol Person, proclaimed Thursday, May 22, Poppy Day in Spencer. It was 1918 when an American woman, Moira Michael wrote a poem in response to "In Flanders Field," titled, "We Shall Keep the Faith." In her poem, she promised to wear a poppy to honor the dead, this was where the tradition to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day first began, a tradition that still exists today. ...

Spencer Honors English: National Writing Contest Winners (05/16/08)
Spencer High School's Honors English students have been named "Best Class" in the national writing contest sponsored by Penguin Books. The contest "Confessions of a Word Nerd" required students to submit personal essays of 1,500 to 3,000 words and correctly utilize 60 SAT vocabulary words. ...

International poet shares joy with SHS students (05/10/08)
Staff Published in literary journals worldwide, an international author of seven poetry books told Spencer High School (SHS) students Friday that accuracy, precision, attention, imagination and examination are all crucial to poetry...

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