Child Abuse

Extra enforcement planned for Labor Day (08/22/08)
Area law enforcement agencies are once again stepping up patrols in advance of the Labor Day holiday weekend. Chief Deputy Duane Bates of the Clay County Sheriff's Office is coordinating the year's fifth and final wave of sTEP, the special traffic enforcement program. The enforcement effort is being held in conjunction with "Over the Limit. Under Arrest," a national drunk driving awareness campaign...

Arraignment set in vehicular homicide case (08/22/08)
A Spencer man will have a chance to respond to amended charges for his possible role in a traffic fatality earlier this summer. James Owen Prather faces a charges of vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The vehicular homicide charge is a Class B felony and carries a penalty no more than 25 years in prison...

'Safe Routes to School' study underway (08/22/08)
Public reaction to recommendations to occur Sept. 17-18

Kardell sisters donate to Locks of Love (08/06/08)
Sisters Liz and Gabby Kardell both donated to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially-disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss, Tuesday afternoon. The pair, who mark Bruce and Gwen Kardell of Spencer's eldest and youngest of five children, trusted Sam Madison of Design Masters to shear them as their mother, grandmother Shirley Wheeler and friend Jake Kluver watched...

PSY among 24 community programs to receive federal drug free funds (07/26/08)
By Randy M. Cauthron Managing Editor Senator Chuck Grassley announced Thursday that the Office of National Drug Control Policy has awarded $2,208,689 in Drug Free Communities Support Program continuation grants to 24 Iowa communities. Among those communities, Spencer's Positively Spencer Youth group was awarded the top funding amount of $100,000...

Representative daycare (07/10/08)
State Rep. Mike May (R-Spirit Lake) accepted the invitation of local childcare provider Judy Elliott to attend her special deep sea daycare event at her home which also doubles as Elliott's Home Family Child Care. May, with the assistance of Elliott (above), had the opportunity to sit down and be involved in a sing-a-long with the children present, sharing a story accompanied by music about the creatures in the water. ...

GriefShare: Returning program assists those dealing with loss of loved one (05/30/08)
It's an undeniable fact - it hurts to lose a loved one. A continuing program in Okoboji is hoping to help those struggling find support, strength and peace. GriefShare, a biblically based support group seminar, is returning to the Lakes area this summer...

Student volunteers recognized (05/30/08)
Spencer Middle School students who participated in the RSVP Student Service Project were recently recognized for their volunteer contributions to the community. Forty seventh and eighth graders contributed over 500 hours to non-profit organizations and public agencies during out-of-school time over the past school year...

First Congregational Church to donate playhouse (05/23/08)
Currently on the grounds of First Congregational Church of Spencer sits a log-cabin playhouse, located near the entrance to the sanctuary. At the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 25, the entire congregation will gather around the house for a prayer of dedication as the playhouse is destined to become a fixture in the backyard of the Clay county CAASA (Center Against Abuse and Sexual Assault) shelter...

Accused murderers request bond reduction (05/20/08)
Three men accused of a Milford murder this spring await a judges' decision on bond reduction after appearing before Dickinson County Court Monday morning. John Allen Swan, 30, of Crossett, Ark.; Scott Thomas Adair, 29, of Crossett, Ark.; and Michael James Friedrichs, 29, of Forest City are being held in the Dickinson County Jail on $750,000 bond...

Local teen finds success in pageant world (05/12/08)
In a little over two months, Spirit Lake High School freshman Alexandria "Lexi" Schuchert will be onstage speaking, modeling and interviewing to the best of her ability in front of hundreds of people. This July, Lexi, daughter of Chad and Jennifer Schuchert, will travel with her family to the windy city of Chicago to compete in the Miss Teen International Pageant...

Ambassadors meet with PSY reps (05/07/08)
The Spencer Ambassadors met with Amy Simpson and other representatives of Positively Spencer Youth to learn about how the volunteer operated program is serving the needs of the young people in Spencer. The organization has partnered with the schools and other area organizations in the community to put on a series of informative and relevent seminars for teens and parents regarding the dangers on the internet and various types of substance abuse in today's teen culture, the group has also offered several fun activities for families and children to take part in, brought in a variety of positive speakers and worked with other groups such as After Prom and the Extreme Am to add more benefit to those served by each project. ...

Deputies press King for federal grant support (05/03/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Funding for the Iowa Great Lakes Task Force was a central point of conversation Friday as U.S. Rep. Steve King met with Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow in Spencer. Krukow is concerned about cuts to the Byrne-JAG (Justice Assistance Grant) program. The grants were established in 2005 to allow states and local governments to support improvements to the criminal justice system...

Making the transition easier (05/01/08)
Volunteer students from the Spencer Middle School RSVP Volunteer Program, who volunteer at non-profit or public agencies during out-of-school time, spent their early out Wednesday packing up various bags and backpacks for "The Foster Care Emergency Bag Project." The emphasis behind the project was to make the Foster Care transition a little bit easier. ...

Cruising for Kyuss: Raising awareness for autism (04/26/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff April, which has been designated National Autism Awareness Month, seems the perfect time for Damon and Leah Hintz of Spencer to announce that they're the proud parents of two children: Kyuss will mark his sixth birthday in July and Miles Hintz will turn 18 months old on May 3. The eldest of their two sons was diagnosed with autism as a 3-year-old...

Hearing date set in Castillo-Alvarez case (04/03/08)
District Court Judge Don Courtney has set the hearing date for a former Estherville restaurant owner who was convicted for his role in the disappearance and death of an area teenager. Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez's attorney, Mike Williams, filed a motion on March 7 asking Courtney to vacate guilty verdicts on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. Castillo-Alvarez wants a new trial...

2007 Citizens of the Year - Tom and Wendy Van Tassell named Citizens of the Year (04/03/08)
-Pair united in their mission to help others- One child. One family. One smile at a time. The 2007 Citizen of the Year honorees, Tom and Wendy Van Tassell, have worked to improve this corner of the world since joining the Spencer community in 1997 as co-pastors of First Congregational Church...

Briefs 4-02 (04/02/08)
Spencer schools early dismissal Spencer Community Schools announces that there will be an early dismissal at 12:30 p.m. today for teacher in-service.  n If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kathryn Elliott at the Central Office Administration Building at 262-8950...

Briefs 4-01 (04/01/08)
Visually Impaired/Blind Self-Help Group The Spencer Area Visually Impaired/Blind Self-Help Group will hold its monthy meeting at 1:30 p.m., today in the round room of the Spencer Library. n For information call Kay at 264-8911. Spencer schools early dismissal...