Environment And Nature

Democrats rally local troops on eve of national convention (08/26/08)
Clay County Democrats gathered at the Oneota Park shelter house Sunday evening for their annual fundraising steak fry. The meeting, coming just a day after Barack Obama named Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate via a much hyped text message to supporters, had County chairman Bob Whittenburg's stressing organization to his fellow Democrats...

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

ILCC's Estherville campus points to environmental studies (08/21/08)
The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees convened Tuesday on the Estherville campus and learned about the long-time success of the Environmental Studies program. Professor Gary Phillips was introduced to the trustees by Executive Dean Mary Larscheid of the Estherville campus...

Council approves breed-less animal ordinance (08/19/08)
After lengthy discussions at two previous city council sessions, followed by a meeting with Dr. Tom Beall of Homestead Small Animal Practice, Monday night the Spencer City Council passed the final filing of an amended amendment dealing with unrestrained vicious animals in public...

Vicious dogs back on a agenda (08/18/08)
The Spencer City Council will consider a more defined ordinance to deal with vicious dogs as part of its 6:30 p.m. meeting Monday in council chambers. But committee work suggests specific breeds won't be singled out in the ordinance language. Some residents were concerned about language that specifically mentions the Staffordshire terrier breed, American pit-bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, or any dog which has the appearance and characteristics, or being predominantly of those breeds.. ...

Local competitors 'fair' well (08/16/08)
Several Clay County residents participated in judged events at the Iowa State Fair. Here are some of the local results: Breeding Beef Dustin Biedenfeld, Peterson, Limousine, Purple- Reserve Champion and Blue; Jenna Biedenfeld, Peterson, Limousin, Purple;...

VeraSun to fire up Hartley plant (08/16/08)
VeraSun Energy Corp. on Thursday announced the startup of its 110 million gallon per year ethanol biorefinery near Hartley. The Hartley plant is the 13th VeraSun biorefinery in operation. The opening pushed the company's annual production capacity to more than 1.3 billion gallons. "We are pleased to bring our Hartley ethanol biorefinery into production," said VeraSun CEO Don Endres, in a statement. "It is one of the largest and most efficient facilities in the nation...

Living History Farms sells plot to developer (08/14/08)
DES MOINES (AP) -- Living History Farms has sold 40 acres of its land to create an endowment that would help finance the museum's operations. Polk County Recorder records show the sale was finalized at the end of July to S&S Heritage Park LLC, which paid nearly $7.2 million for the property...

City of Spencer safe routes to school program (08/14/08)
The City Council of Spencer is committed to enabling and encouraging children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school. They aspire to make walking and bicycling to school safe and more appealing, and to facilitate the planning and development and implementation of projects that will improve safety, and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools...

Milford woman wins Iowa Lottery promotion (08/13/08)
DES MOINES -- A northwest Iowa woman drove away from the Iowa State Fair in a new, 2008 four-wheel drive Chevy Tahoe Hybrid®, the grand-prize in the Iowa Lottery's "Set of Wheels" promotion. Nancy Fear of Milford was selected as the grand-prize winner in the promotion drawing Thursday on the Susan Knapp Amphitheater stage at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Fear said she was excited to share the news with her adult children...

Corridor presents 'Priority Road Projects' to IDOT Commission (08/13/08)
A delegation of 18 people from the Iowa Lakes Corridor region traveled to Sioux City today to present priority projects and updates to the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) commissioners during their public input meeting. The delegation consisted of representatives of each of the four counties -- Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet -- as well as Sen. David Johnson and Rep. Mike May...

Monsanto Mobile Technology Unit stops in Spencer (08/13/08)
Monsanto's unique Mobile Technology Unit made a stop in Spencer and will remain in town through today as part of its tour through the United States, showcasing innovations in plant breeding and biotechnology to support farmer success. The new 53-foot-long traveling unit, (top right) with 1,000 square feet of exhibit space, will remain in place just west of the Clay County Regional Events Center in the parking lot through today, extending tour offers to groups throughout Clay County. ...

Briefs 8-12-08 (08/12/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Chicago theater unites four Spencer grads (08/12/08)
In what seem to have been several "fated" coincidences, four Spencer High School graduates, all of whom were bitten locally by the theater bug, have connected in Chicago. Known for its intimate "storefront" theaters that seat between 30 and 100 people, Josh Odor, Ben Fuchsen, Aaron DeYoung and Eric Van Tassell can all testify to the inner workings of the "The Windy City's" theaters...

Harkin 'dismayed' by McCain's Paris Hilton ad (08/08/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Large infrastructure projects and energy cost concerns were part of the discussion as U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin held a "Moving Iowa Forward" café stop Thursday morning at the Family Table Restaurant in Spencer. Along with local concerns, he also talked about national politics as the national nominating conventions approach for the major parties...

King among lawmakers refusing to accept vacation (08/06/08)
Congressman Steve King didn't get to visit the wheelhouse of the Storm Lake dredging boat on Monday as planned. Instead, the western Iowa U.S. Representative raced back to Washington to join about 24 other Republican House members in an unprecedented efffort to guide a vote on a comprehensive energy bill through treacherous waters...

Briefs 8-06-08 (08/06/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Anglers Bay dedication celebrates conservation success (07/31/08)
The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources invite the public to join in the dedication of the state's new Anglers Bay Wildlife Management Area on Saturday morning, Aug. 2. The dedication will be held at the project site on the northeast side of Big Spirit Lake, nestled between Hales Slough to the south and Sandbar Slough to the north...

Spencer site selected for DNR forum (07/31/08)
The Spencer Public Library will be the site for one of six meetings around the state to update area residents about changes to Iowa' water quality policy. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the library, which is located at 21 East Third Street. The forum is intended to inform regulated industries and cities about requirements to protect and maintain existing water quality from unnecessary pollution...

Innovative national sheep event set for Spencer (07/25/08)
Sheep producers seeking more return on rising feed and fuel costs are relying on proven genetic tools, like the National Sheep Improvement Program(NSIP) to enhance profitability. Producers using NSIP data can earn a greater return on their sheep operations, since top NSIP sheep are expected to produce more prolific, productive offspring in less time on feed...

Public land grazing could be allowed (07/25/08)
Gov. Chet Culver on Thursday announced steps that the Iowa Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation are taking to assist farmers affected by this year's flooding and severe weather. The governor said he will encourage the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to consider the value of haying and grazing as an alternative to burning and for control of brush invasion into grassland areas...

Experience Boji Fest Aug. 22-24 (07/24/08)
Partake in nature, water activities, rock walls and conservation with your family at Boji-Fest, Aug. 22-24 in the Great Lakes region of northwest Iowa. Fun-filled and age-appropriate activities are planned for the whole family. On Friday, youth can participate in mini-golf, Frisbee golf, volleyball, mine-digging, gold sifting and more, courtesy of Ranch Okoboji Amusement Park...

King touts domestic energy solutions (07/22/08)
On a Friday afternoon when travelers were planning their weekend getaways, U.S. Rep. Steve King also was on the road. The congressman included Spencer in a series of stops around the region. "I need to put my ear to the ground constantly to pick up the voice of the people," he said...

Briefs 7-22-08 (07/22/08)
Young people and their families are invited to "Bee" at the library tonight at 6:30 p.m. for the "Pockets Full of Fun" program. Join Lisa Laird of Orange City, and her friends from "Pockets Full of Fun" as they learn about some interesting creatures in the insect world. ...

Briefs 7-19-08 (07/21/08)
Young people and their families are invited to "Bee" at the library on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. for the "Pockets Full of Fun" program. Join Lisa Laird of Orange City, and her friends from "Pockets Full of Fun" as they learn about some interesting creatures in the insect world. ...

Meet Your Neighbor: The 'Dew Drop Drill' inventor (07/19/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff It's lucky for naturalists that a "gadget freak" is located in northwest Iowa, the heart of tallgrass prairie country. Dewey Stouffer, founder of the Little Sioux Prairie Company, is the self-proclaimed gadget freak. The aptly-named Dew Drop Drill he designed is one of his latest gadgets...

Briefs 7-18-08 (07/18/08)
The Fifth Annual Cruise In will be held from 6-9 p.m. tonight in the McDonald's parking lot at the Southpark Mall in Spencer. Plaques for the first 75 cars. Registration from 6-7:30 p.m., with awards given at 8:30 p.m. Trophies for the top three "peoples choice." Prizes also. Rain day has been set for Friday, July 25...

DNR officials pleased with Milford turnout (07/18/08)
About 60 area residents attended a wide-ranging public forum hosted by the state's top conservation official Wednesday night. Richard Leopold, director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, held the forum at the Gull Point State Park lodge. "I think the tone was pretty positive for the most part," said Tammie Krausman, the public affairs coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "Sometimes those public meetings can be quite contentious."...

Thrivent calls on county groups to help with tornado relief effort (07/16/08)
The Clay County Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Chapter is challenging the communities and the congregations of Clay County to help those with lost homes and property near the tornado-ravaged vicinity of Parkersburg. Thrivent will leverage any community donations with supplemental funding. All funds raised will stay in Iowa to be used by Lutheran Disaster Relief to help the families who are still trying to piece their lives back together after the storm...

Scam e-mails seek donations to help Chinese earthquake victims (07/15/08)
Scam E-Mails Seek Donations to Help Chinese Earthquake Victims The FBI is asking people to beware of e-mails claiming to be raising money to help victims of the recent earthquake in China. Tragic incidents such as 9/11, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Minnesota Bridge collapse, the Virginia Tech shootings and the victims of the horrific tornados have all prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions for a charitable organization and/or a good cause. ...

Briefs 7-10-08 (07/10/08)
Arts on Grand will present Music in the Gallery at 7 p.m. tonight. This week's featured musicians will be Tim and Amanda, and possibly a few special guests. They will perform music for guitar and voice with a country flavor, including covers of songs made famous by such groups as Creedence Clearwater Revival. A $5 donation is requested, with proceeds going to the artists...

Briefs 7-09-08 (07/09/08)
The Spencer Area Farmer's Market will be held every Wednesday and Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Southpark Mall parking lot. Come see the homegrown, fresh produce for sale. --- Weekend Program at Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center will feature "Terrific Trees" at 10 a.m. on July 12...

Lawmakers look to free up grazing land (07/09/08)
Policy-makers in Des Moines and Washington, D.C., are looking for some alternatives to flooded pastureland throughout the state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released Conservation Reserve Program acres for grazing in Iowa's Presidential Declared Disaster counties because of flooding. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley wrote to Secretary Ed Schafer last month asking for the early release...

Environmental protection commission to meet July 8 (07/08/08)
DNR will update the Environmental Protection Commission on the status of flooding events in Iowa and summarize its response efforts to the flood at the monthly EPC meeting July 8. They will also discuss how land use practices can contribute to flooding...

Fire creates smoky scene near Fostoria (06/20/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff The Heikens family is due for a little luck -- the good kind. First came the tornado outbreak of June 2004, which took out a barn on the farm. Another storm, two years later, took down half of their garage. And there's the December burglars who broke into the house a couple of years ago...

City Info 6-5-08 (06/05/08)
The City of Spencer has numerous boards and commissions that serve the citizens of Spencer. The mayor would like to keep on file a list of persons who would be interested in serving on a city board or commission. From time to time positions become vacant and are filled by appointment of the mayor, with council approval...

Nature photography instruction (06/05/08)
The Northwest Iowa Center for Photography, in conjunction with CR Gallery and Lost Island Lake Prairie Wetlands Nature Center, would like to invite interested photographers to sign up for a day of nature photography instruction to be given by Stan Buman, a nature photographer from Carroll. ...

Briefs 6-4-08 (06/04/08)
All area women are invited to the "Let's Have Flowers" prayer connection at 10 a.m. today in the home of Bonnie Neisess, Treasure Village on Highway 86. It is a time of sharing and supporting each other with prayer and fellowship. Okoboji Women's Connection is a part of Stonecroft Ministries...

The Parkersburg tornado:Former Royal woman's family starts again (05/30/08)
Home can't be home again until a structural engineer says it's OK to go back in. The family's show cattle are a source of pride -- and more than half of them are lost Dirt and water have likely ruined the furniture. The garage is gone. The in-laws, a mile away, lost their home completely...

Briefs 5-29-08 (05/29/08)
Single Spirits will hold its next meeting tonight at the Spirit Lake Public Library. A potluck is set for 6:30 p.m., with a meeting to follow. Activities for the next five weeks will be planned. Single Spirits is an organization open to singles of all ages in the area...

Werk to join the Clay County Fair Staff (05/28/08)
Robyn Werk, a West Central Minnesota native and recent South Dakota State University graduate, will take on the position of assistant to the secretary manager of the Clay County Fair. Werk graduated with a degree in agriculture journalism and a minor in animal science...

Beach Monitoring at State parks (05/28/08)
The Iowa DNR began monitoring the water quality at Iowa's 37 state beaches on May 19th and will continue to do so through the month of September. In additon to the state parks being monitored, 60 county-and-city run beaches will begin monitoring water quality as well...

Briefs 5-28-08 (05/28/08)
Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School students will present their annual end-of--the-year musical titled "Livin' Inside Out in an Upside Down World," based on Psalm 51:6, at 7 p.m. tonight at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 500 Fourth Ave. S.W., Spencer...

Briefs 5-27-08 (05/27/08)
The Clay County Relay for Life "Out of the Blue" team is sponsoring a dog show. "Paws for the Cause" will be held at Oneota Park in Spencer from 2 - 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 8. Activities will include a costume pet parade, an agility competition, and a retrieving and obedience contest. Trophies and prizes will be awarded...

Gypsy Dave and The Stumpjumpers at Shaky Tree (05/22/08)
Led by a young songwriter and charged by a powerful and artistic band, Gypsy Dave and The Stumpjumpers will be playing Spencer's Shaky Tree Coffee House at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 7. They have been compared to everyone from Arlo Guthrie and Neil Young to alternative country heroes Uncle Tupelo. But don't try to pigeonhole this group. To put it simply, they write and play what they feel. They leave their emotions hanging on the line between the tall oak trees in their yard for everyone to see...

Meetings 5-17-08 (05/19/08)
The Spencer City Council will hold a Committee of the Whole session at 5:15 p.m., Monday, May 19 in the conference room at City Hall. On the agenda: City Manager evaluation. --- The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 8 a.m., Tuesday, May 20 in the conference room of the Administration Building on the Estherville campus. The board is scheduled to accept a retirement, and designate board authority to signs checks and contracts...

City Info 5-17-08 (05/19/08)
The city has gone to regular pick up on tagged bags of grass and brush on the following days: Thursday -- west side of Spencer, and Friday -- east side of Spencer. --- Open burning within the corporate limits of Spencer is not allowed by ordinance. To dispose of leaves, grass clippings, other lawn waste or any household waste by burning is illegal. You may be subject to a fine...

Building an eco-savy generation (05/15/08)
Over 200 sixth graders from Spencer, Clay Central-Everly and South Clay schools took part in Wednesday's "Outdoor Classroom" -- a program that has been presented to the Clay County students for over two decades, coordinated by the Clay County Soil & Water Conservation District. ...

County Growers Field planted (05/15/08)
One hundred corn hybrids were planted in the Clay County Growers Field earlier this month. This marks the 21st year for the corn plot. Projects other than the Corn Hybrid evaluation are a Planting Population study and the use of Fungicide on corn. The corn is on land owned by David and Jan Hopkins and farmed by Al Patten...

Governor signs renewable fuels bill (05/14/08)
Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed a bill to expand the use of renewable fuels at the Statehouse on Monday. The bill, House File 2689, encourages more retailers to sell ethanol and biodiesel and also encourages Iowans to use more renewable fuels. State Representative Marcie Frevert of Emmetsburg, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, is shown here third from the right at the bill signing...