Ruthven-Ayrshire considers sharing administrators
(03/05/10)
When Ruthven-Ayrshire school board members began the process of replacing their retiring superintendent in November, they requested a lot of information from seven neighboring districts. As they've pondered hiring a full-time replacement, sharing an administrator with a neighboring district and sharing with another district further away, the board recently met with Sioux Central and Clay Central-Everly (CCE) administrators and tentatively narrowed down their decision to sharing with one of the two non-bordering school districts.. ...
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Children's Books
Conlin to stop in Spencer Saturday
(03/05/10) U.S. Senate candidate Roxanne Conlin will make an extensive weekend swing through Northwest Iowa. Conlin will stop at the Spencer Area Activity Center at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. Conlin, a Democrat, is bringing her "Fight to Fix It" tour to the city for the first time...
Locals participate in 'Many Hands for Haiti' mission trip
(03/04/10) Six local residents are determined to provide hope and encouragement to residents of a country devastated by an earthquake on Jan. 12. While this trip is the fifth for Christi Gabhart, it marks the second to Haiti for Karmen Brown and Dawn Vanden Berg. The March 3 - 12 journey is the first for fellow Spencer residents Paul Rekow, Heather Brown and Sharon Berkenpas as local mission volunteers. ...
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...
Holiday Family Adoption under way
(11/10/09) The Holiday Family Adoption program kicks off today with the first 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...
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...
Schools to see rules on nutrition, physical activity
(05/30/09) When the rules take effect in July 2010, students across Iowa will see physical fitness standards, mandatory CPR classes and healthier food choices occur in their local school buildings. The Healthy Kids Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver one year ago, was formulated to combat obesity...
'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...
Nelson's Jewelry offering items to raise funds for Autism Walk
(04/23/09) A selection of hand crafted bracelets, charms and ribbons are currently available at Nelson Jewelry with all proceeds going to the Iowa Autism Walk. For the proprietors and staff at Nelson Jewelry, autism is a matter close to home. Tom Nelson Jr., owner of Nelson Jewelry, and his sister, Carrie have a nephew that copes with autism. That's where the idea came from for the fund raising project...
Shayla Bee awards funds to 16th family
(04/22/09) On Feb, 15, The Shayla Bee Fund made a donation to the Brian and Kristi Fisher Family marking the 16th family to receive Shayla Bee funding. Two of the Fisher children, Nathan and Brenna, both have been battling Hirschsprung's disease since early infancy. ...
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. ...
Elementary artists sought for AOG Dewey project
(03/24/09) Dewey Readmore Books, the library cat, has been a part of childhood trips to the Spencer Public Library for many years. Coordinators at Arts on Grand are hoping to have the children of Spencer and elsewhere create their own artwork to honor the memorable cat...
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...
Briefs 3-14-09
(03/14/09) A bird house workshop will be held at 1 p.m. today at Lost Island Nature Center, north of Ruthven. To build a wren house, just bring a hammer. Call (712) 837-4866 for more information. --- A bake sale will be held today at the Southpark Mall. The groups will be: "People to People Ambassador Program" for Devan McCord Fund Raiser and DreamTeam...
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...
Briefs 3-13-09
(03/13/09) A soup and pie fundraiser will be held from 5-8 p.m. tonight at DaySpring Assembly of God Church, 1410 W. 18th St., Spencer. Chef Dr. Darrel Forslund will be serving home-style chicken noodle soup, "27 Spice" chili, and an international selection: Mongolian hot pot soup. Many...
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:...
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...
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...
Kruse Music Fund lives on
(12/04/08) Marvin and Lucille Kruse of Spencer were music boosters who didn't want the support of music programs to end after their children graduated from Spencer High School. And today, their wishes of are heard through the new bass guitar and the music room's advanced digital equipment...
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...
Area's Pettits are 'Hall of Fame' singers
(08/20/08) The children of Claude and Marie Pettit of Emmetsburg have been referred to as "The Pettit Family," "The Kids Next Door," "The Singing Pettits," and "The Petites" over the past 50 years. While all seven sang at one time or another, the five primary singing siblings will be recognized for their state and national successes next weekend in Arnolds Park as they're inducted into the 2008 class of the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame...
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.'"... |