Diseases And Conditions

Public H1N1 vaccine clinic set for Tuesday (12/26/09)
Clay County Public Health will host an H1N1 Influenza vaccination clinic from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at Southpark Mall. ...

H1N1 vaccination clinic set for general public (12/14/09)
The shortage of H1N1 vaccine across the nation has alleviated and many people who fall within a health priority group has been vaccinated, resulting in Clay County Public Health now having an adequate supply to begin offering the vaccine to all people...

State promotes awareness as winter creeps in (11/14/09)
Rake while you can, because shovel season is on its way. The National Weather Service is getting ready for the next season, and used Thursday as "Winter Awareness Day" in Iowa. "This time of year we start looking at winter precipitation becoming an issue," said Ben Moyer, senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Des Moines. ...

Wet harvest advancing, yields looking good (11/07/09)
With grain dryers running nonstop across the state, harvest proceeded in force this week as several dry days finally appeared. The most recent Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service revealed corn harvest for grain had reached an 18 percent completion rating, which was 22 percent behind last year and five days behind the five-year average. ...

Tonight's flu vaccine clinic is full (11/05/09)
The H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Clinic Thursday evening at Avera Spencer Family Care is full. Clay County Public Health will continue to provide updates on additional clinics when more vaccine arrives in the county.

Clay County receives small amount of H1N1 vaccine (10/20/09)
With just small amounts of H1N1 vaccine arriving in Clay County, public health officials are finding the priority groups established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are beneficial in making distribution decisions. "We have received a limited doses of H1N1 vaccine to date which is not enough to vaccinate the priority groups at this point, let alone others in the county who would like this protection," explained Colette Rossiter, Clay County Public Health nurse. ...

OB restrictions in place as H1N1 surfaces in county (10/10/09)
Two cases of H1N1, or "swine flu" virus has been confirmed in Clay County by the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory, according to Colette Rossiter, Clay County Public Health Nurse. "Both patients were tested for influenza at Avera Spencer Family Care," Rossiter said, in a statement from Spencer Hospital administration. ...

Corn crop looks robust as harvest nears (09/22/09)
Delayed planting in some areas of the Midwest caused some early season concern, but Chad Hart, Iowa State University grain marketing economist said a long growing season may allow crops in many areas to catch up. Paul Kassel, a field agronomist for ISU Extension noted progress in northwest Iowa and said an unusually cool summer should lead to a good corn crop locally...

Less E. coli in Little Sioux: Grant, loan to help treat Sioux Rapids wastewater (07/24/09)
Sioux Rapids is among 15 Iowa communities to receive more than $24 million in federal recovery funds under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The city received a $225,000 Community Development Block Grant and a $227,422 low-interest loan to improve the quality of treated wastewater going from Sioux Rapids into the Little Sioux River...

Storm cited as factor in fatal crash (07/11/09)
The Clay County Sheriff's Department said Thursday's stormy weather may have contributed to a fatal, head-on collision one mile west of Ruthven near the Palo Alto County line. The crash claimed 77-year-old Opal Lucille Frerichs of Spencer. Deputies think she was traveling east in a 1991 Corsica. She drifted into the westbound lane and into the path of oncoming traffic along U.S. Highway 18 at 4:20 p.m. Frerichs was pronounced dead at the Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg...

'Help' arrives in Spencer Tuesday (07/11/09)
The "Help is Here Express" bus tour will be in Spencer on Tuesday, July 14, stopping at Spencer Hospital to help uninsured and financially-struggling Iowans access information on programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The bus tour is part of the partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) -- a nationwide effort sponsored by America's pharmaceutical research companies -- raising awareness of patient assistance programs among residents who have been facing layoff or a loss of health care benefits in a struggling economy. ...

Lightning science charged with danger, a few myths (06/27/09)
It's ringing phones, not thunder that John Jensenius hears this time of year. He's the lighting expert at the National Weather Service and helped launch Lightning Safety Awareness Week nine years ago. The 2009 campaign comes to a conclusion Saturday...

Fighting back against cancer (06/27/09)

Westview Memorial Park master plan approved (06/11/09)
A master plan was approved for Spencer's only arboretum-style park by Spencer Park Board members this week. The plan for Westview Memorial Park, which was presented by local landscape architect Matt Matthiesen and Karl Van Cura of Midwest Design Group in Sioux City, carried a detailed phasing of the enhancements it proposes, as well as a rough $899,046 cost estimate tied to their realization...

Briefs 5-23-09 (05/23/09)
Farmers Market is returning with an opening date of May 23. Early season vegetables available. Located in the parking lot of the Southpark Mall. --- Come learn about Global Positioning System (GPS) and the sport of geocaching. GPS units will be used to find hidden treasure at Huston Park. Located at the nature center at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 23. The event is sponsored by the Palo Alto Soil & Water Conservation District and the Palo Alto County Conservation Board...

Rowlands making a difference, offering hope to those affected by MS (05/06/09)
The front of Katie Rowlands T-shirt -- which avows "Team Rowly 2009 MS Walk" -- lets you know what she and her teammates will be doing this Saturday in Des Moines. But it's the back of her T-shirt that truly offers a glimpse into the 22-year-old woman's disposition. It declares, "Rowly: Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can."

Tornado warning issued for Clay County (05/06/09)
Areas west and south of Spencer had a brief, but rocky, patch of severe weather Wednesday night. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, S.D. issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northwestern Clay County, southern Dickinson County and eastern Osceola County at 5:15 p.m. Meteorologists were concerned about quarter-size hail with the system. The cell was located near Ocheyedan when the warning was issued...

State officials: Pork won't spread 'swine flu' (05/01/09)
Concerns about the swine flu's impact on the state's robust pork industry prompted official comment from the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture's office Thursday. Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey and the State Veterinarian for Iowa, Dr. David Schmitt, reiterated that consumers cannot get the H1N1 flu strain, or "swine flu" by eating pork and there is no evidence of this flu in the pig population of Iowa or any state...

Highly contagious 'scabies-like rash' reported locally (04/28/09)
Spencer Hospital officials have confirmed a suspected "scabies-like rash" in northwest Iowa.

Spencer Hospital adds Breast Health Navigator cert to health services (04/24/09)
Women who have breast health concerns have another ally at Spencer Hospital. Women's Health Coordinator Mindy Sylvester recently became certified as a Breast Health Navigator. By doing so, she is among the first professionals across the country to receive this new certification which signifies she is trained in providing support to breast cancer patients throughout the journey of diagnosis, treatment and recovery...

Caution still important: No new measles cases reported (04/21/09)
The number of immunizations grew over the weekend. The number of confirmed measles cases didn't. "I think we need to caution people, though," said Susan Zulk, the public relations and marketing director for Spencer Hospital. "We still need awareness and we need to be watchful. If someone does have the symptoms, they should call their personal physician and stay home."...

Measles: Local clinic issues 190 vaccinations so far (04/18/09)

Breaking News: Vaccination clinic offered in Spencer as measles case reported in Clay County (04/16/09)
Case is reported in Clay County

Fire caution urged Wednesday (04/15/09)

Thyroid Test offered during Comprehensive Wellness Screening (04/10/09)
Spencer Hospital Community Health Services will offer a comprehensive wellness screening to the public on Tuesday, April 14 from 6-8 a.m. in the lower level of the hospital. The fee for the screening is $65. The screening includes a fasting laboratory blood screen for diabetes, anemia, immunity, heart, liver, and kidney function tests; body composition analysis, blood pressure; pulse check and for women a heel bone mineral density screening. ...

Severe Weather Awareness Week (04/08/09)
Todd Heitkamp knows northwest Iowans will venture out and look to the skies as a severe storm approaches. The warning coordination meteorologist and his colleagues at the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls, S.D., count on it...

Blizzard conditions possible for Spencer area (04/04/09)
The good news: The National Weather Service canceled a winter storm watch for the region at 4 p.m. Friday. The bad news: They put a blizzard watch in its place. The watch will become a warning barring changes late Friday. A mix of rain and snow were expected to develop late Saturday morning, then become all snow by Saturday evening. Snowfall amounts of 12 to 15 inches were possible, according to projections for Spencer at 6:15 p.m. Friday...

Westview neighbors like park the way it is (04/03/09)
Neighbors of Westview Memorial Park -- Spencer's only arboretum-style park -- firmly expressed that they like their park the way it currently is, they want to keep it a "passive" park, but they'd like to add to or enhance what it currently displays during a meeting held Thursday night...

Spencer Hospital hosts open house for cancer center (03/26/09)
Abben Cancer Center of Spencer Hospital will open its doors to the public from 1-4 p.m., on Sunday, March 29. The open house is designed to give the public a first-hand look at the many services provided by the comprehensive cancer treatment services and will feature the new Varian Clinac iX linear accelerator which provides state-of-the-art radiation therapy. ...

National Weather Service eyes floods, snow (03/24/09)
Monday brought high winds and heavy rain. But the end of the week, the region could be dealing with an entirely different sort of animal. Rainfall through Tuesday was expected to lead to minor flooding across many area rivers, including the Little Sioux River near Spencer according to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, S.D...

City to consider West 18th storm shelter (03/14/09)
Fairgoers could have additional shelter and a safer route to the Clay County Fairgrounds under a proposal that will be considered by Spencer City Council members at their 6:30 p.m. meeting Monday night. Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen is requesting authorization to send a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a proposed storm shelter on West 18th Street...

Briefs 3-12-09 (03/12/09)
Spencer City Councilman George Kruger will host a Ward 1 meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Spencer Public Library. Bob Fagen, Spencer's city manager, will be the featured guest speaker. --- Spencer Hospital will be holding classes for individuals considered to have "pre-diabetes" -- those with blood sugar levels higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be considered a diabetic. ...

ONE LAST SNOWMAN? (03/11/09)
Cheyenne Manwarren, 7, Spencer, holds the shovel Sunday afternoon as Brionna Sinback, 5, and Tanya Manwarren, 9, try to gather enough snow for a snowman near Fareway on East Eighth Street. Forecasters thought the girls would have enough material to work with earlier in the weekend. The city received only a dusting instead of the four inches expected Saturday night and Sunday...

Storm shelter, culvert route possible for Fair (03/11/09)
Emergency management officials may have an unexpected option for shelter space at the Clay County Fair. Ted Kourousis, executive director of Northwest Iowa Planning and Development is working with Iowa Department of Homeland Security about the potential of creating shelter space, under West 18th Street, for the fairgrounds...

Streak of no snow may come to end (02/26/09)
Hopefully you took one last look at the dry streets and brown landscape Wednesday. Winter is expected to make a curtain call Thursday, but Spencer may have caught a break as forecasters shifted the heart of a winter storm north. Earlier Wednesday, Spencer was under a winter storm watch; snow totals of about 4 inches were expected...

Spencer man claims $22,222 in scratch game (02/21/09)
A Spencer man won $22,222 on the "Snow Birds" scratch game. Seth Skalicky claimed his prize Wednesday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Storm Lake. He bought his winning ticket at Casey's on West 18th Street in Spencer. Snow Birds is a $2 scratch game that has four different scenes. ...

Snow melt causes minor flood problems (02/12/09)
The warm temperatures that brought thunderstorms to the state earlier in the week left a reminder behind. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, S.D., issued a flood warning for the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan rivers near Spencer. The area saw unusually heavy snowfalls in December and unusually warm weather within the past week. It prompted the agency to issue flood warnings for:...

'Green Power Express' could come to area (02/11/09)
The Spencer, Storm Lake and Iowa Great Lakes areas could be in line to land a segment of a $10- to $12 billion network of wind energy transmission lines, according to officials at Michigan-based ITC Holdings Corp. The company on Monday announced plans to develop what it calls the "Green Power Express." The network of transmission lines would capture power from wind turbines in the Upper Midwest and carry them to load centers in places like Chicago, Minneapolis and southeast Wisconsin...

Tricky weather causes new hazards (01/24/09)
The treacherous roads and sub-zero wind chills are back. Arctic high pressure brought much colder air in for the weekend as temperatures fell into the single digits and teens below zero in the overnight hours leading into Saturday. Strong winds carried some snow across Clay County roads Friday afternoon and contributed to a single-car accident at 2:23 p.m. on county road B24, about halfway between Spencer and Dickens...

Abben adds new cancer fighting tool to arsenal (01/21/09)
Abben Cancer Center added recently a new tool to their compliment of equipment as it attempts to remain on the cutting edge of cancer treatment technology. Abben, of Spencer Hospital, demonstrated its commitment to provide state-of-the-art cancer treatment technology with the introduction of a new Varian Clinac iX linear accelerator for providing radiation therapy. ...

City completes EPA, billboard negotiations (01/20/09)
The city of Spencer cleared a major hurdle in negotiations to separate its storm water from the sewer system as part of Monday's Spencer City Council meeting. The vote to approve an Environmental Protection Agency administrative order to eliminate combined sewer overflows capped negotiations that began in late 2007...

Wednesday's temp may set recent low mark (01/15/09)
According to records kept by the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls, S.D., Wednesday night's projected low in Spencer could tie the lowest mark in town since 1996. On Dec. 2, 1996, the temperature dropped to 27 degree below zero low to set the mark for the lowest recorded total in Spencer in the past 13 years; the same number which was forecast as Wednesday's low...

One case in state Iowa officials: Tainted peanut butter not found here (01/14/09)
The Iowa Department of Public Health is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and public health officials in many states to investigate an ongoing multi-state salmonella outbreak. One case in Iowa is being investigated as part of this cluster. The investigation has identified peanut butter as a potential source of infection, with Minnesota identifying a particular brand of peanut butter...

Blizzard conditions add to tough winter (01/13/09)
Monday morning was a trick. The temperatures were mild, the wind was calm and residents were moving about the city scooping snow. But, meteorologists and school superintendents knew better. The calm conditions that spilled over into the noon hour disappeared quickly and matched the predictions of Greg Harmon, the Meteorologist-in-Charge at the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls, S.D...

No more pets at Spencer Public Library (01/09/09)
Even though Spencer Public Library representatives have received numerous "offers, requests and inquiries" about hosting another potential resident library cat -- all of which have been turned down -- board members voted unanimously Thursday night to establish a "permanent prohibition against having pets in residence at the library."...

Let it snow� and snow� and snow� (12/19/08)
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, S.D.: ---- Travel, especially to the north, will not be advised this weekend as northwest Iowa's on-again, off-again winter storm pattern continues...

Bhutan woman tells of transition from monarchy to democracy (12/17/08)
She may miss the mountains and her national dress of Bhutan, but Tashi Ongmo, a 20-year-old visitor at the Dr. Rick and Barb Wilkerson home in rural Spencer, is still a relatively happy person. But Ongmo should be happy. Like the approximately 700,000 other residents of Bhutan, she believes in the pursuit of Gross National Happiness, the country's overarching political philosophy which seeks to balance material progress with spiritual well-being...

Don't put the shovels away (12/17/08)
Those of you dreaming of a white Christmas: Feel free to wake up any time now. We're good. Tuesday started with little flakes, but the area got the full snow globe effect as classes dismissed early in the afternoon. Spencer was expected to get up to 5 inches as the system made its way north and east. It was enough for the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, S.D., to issue a winter weather advisory for much of northwest Iowa...

Holiday Weekend Happenings (12/13/08)
Due to the weather and the cancellation of Grand Meander the ice sculptures were put on hold. The wonderful volunteers that were planning to carve the ice have all agreed to do the carving this Saturday. Today, the ice sculpture (left) will be done -- locations for the sculptures starting at 9 a.m. will be at Arts on Grand, Bogenrief's Studio, Toads Coffee and The Hen House...

Bo celebrating successful transplant anniversary (12/11/08)
Bohdan "Bo" Kiyanchuk is marking the one-year anniversary of his successful kidney transplant today. After news came last May that the 17-year-old, who hails from the village of Sadki in Ukraine, was critically ill and his remaining kidney would not last much longer, Dr. Ken and Karen Hunziker, who have served as Bo's local proxy parents over the last few years as he's undergone various hospitalizations and treatments, began working to ensure that a transplant could happen...

Related subjects