Books

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...