Family Travel

Briefs 10-1-08 (10/01/08)
Join us at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2 at Hope Reformed Church in the Fellowship Hall. This year's theme "Adventure" will be featured at the meeting. Come find out what it is all about. There will be an abundance of fun and fellowship, with food and drinks provided by the Steering Committee. If you have any questions, please contact one of the MOPS co-coordinators, Cassie McCreary 240-0298 or Andrea Crew. Childcare is provided starting at 8:45 a.m...

Spencer artists' studios open (10/01/08)
The upcoming Artisans Road Trip provides a unique opportunity for the art-loving public to see working artists' studios that are located in Spencer. During the weekend of Oct. 4 and 5, 10 Spencer artists open their studios or develop expanded exhibitions to offer a wide variety of new work for viewing and for sale at this special yearly event...

Briefs 9-27-08 (09/29/08)
H & N Chevy, Asher Motor Company, Don Pierson Ford, and Motor Inn of Spencer will have new cars at the Southpark Mall in south Spencer through Sunday. Sept. 28. This is a great opportunity for the public to see the newest line of automobiles. --- Shaky Tree Coffee will be hosting a Saturday night concert featuring critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Mat d. ...

SHS German: Broadening student, classroom horizons over the ICN (09/27/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff When Spencer school board members slashed approximately $1.1 million from the 2008-09 school year budget, they introduced a new manner of instruction for Spencer students. The long-distance alternative has been received very well, in turn, by Spencer High School (SHS) students and staff alike...

Briefs 9-26-08 (09/26/08)
"Artisans Road Trip: Before and After," currently on display at Arts on Grand, showcases over twenty-five of the regional artists involved in Artisans Road Trip 2008, which takes place on the weekend of Oct. 4--5. The artists reception for the exhibit will be at 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, with a gallery talk at 5:30 p.m. The public is cordially invited to come and meet some of the artists for conversation and refreshments...

Morrison's works to be featured during ART (09/26/08)
Professional artists will welcome guests into their studios to discover and purchase quality original works during the fifth annual Artisans Road Trip (A.R.T.) on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4 & 5, Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from12 p.m.-5 p.m. The free tour will include 42 Northwest Iowa Artists representing 8 counties...

Briefs 9-25-08 (09/25/08)
Spencer Northwest Iowa Singles will meet at 7 p.m. tonight in the Southpark Mall Food Court for dinning and a short meeting. The club is open to singles 30 and above, widowed or divorced. Come and join us. n Call Tim at 260-0616 for more information...

Briefs 9-24-08 (09/24/08)
Iowa High School Speech Association Judges' Certification Meeting Here at Spencer High School. A judges' certification meeting of the Iowa High School Speech Association will be held at Spencer High School at 7 p.m. tonight in the Spencer High School little theatre and the adjoining room 120. Prospective judges attending this meeting will be certified to judge both Large Group Speech and Individual Speech for the Iowa High School Speech Association...

AOG offers ART preview (09/19/08)
"Artisan Road Trip: Before & After" opened at Arts on Grand in Spencer on Sept. 18. The exhibit showcases over 25 of the Road Trip artists, including Karen Cooper's "Tea and a Book at the Unicorn," (above), who produce works in wood, clay, oils, watercolor, photography, pastels, glass, and metal. ...

Elliott will showcase talents during ART (09/18/08)
Iowa artist Chad Elliott will be featured as one of the 40 artists opening their studios, workspaces or galleries as part of the 2008 Artisans Road Trip. Elliott will be hosting his art and music at Shaky Tree Coffee in Spencer during the event from 9 a.m.-5 fp.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 and 12-5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5...

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...

Clay County Fair Museum celebrates fair's 90th year (09/12/08)
Ninety years ago, the Clay County Fair Association hosted the first Clay County Fair on the new fairgrounds located on Grove Street. While the CCFA was incorporated in 1917, it was too late in the year to construct buildings and present a high-quality exposition. By the following year, a grandstand, woman's building, speed barns and the east entrance gate had sprouted up where corn had once grown...

Hessman honored by the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame (08/21/08)
Dave Hessman, former Clay County Extension Education Director, was inducted into the 2008 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 17. Eighty-two Iowa counties have participated this year and selected inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H...

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...

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...

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 8-02-08 (08/04/08)
The American Legion Hall in north Spencer will be hosting an omelet breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 3. Enjoy omelets, homemade cinnamon rolls, coffee, juice and milk. Open to the public. Free will offering. --- The Spencer Area Farmers 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...

Ride with American pride (07/28/08)
Support all of America's military, past and present, by joining in today's road trip. From a 10: 30 a.m. start at the American Legion in Le Mars, the ride will trek to the VFW in Cherokee and the American Legion in Storm Lake before finishing around 5 p.m. ...

PALS take part in Heritage Workshop (07/26/08)
Clay County PALS recently participated in a Heritage Workshop at Parker Museum designed to be an opportunity for hands-on learning of the art of baking bread and pies and to experience wash day with a wringer washer. Museum volunteers, Marilyn Meyer and Barb Chenhall shared their knowledge of bread baking with the attendees who mixed up bowls of bread dough and shaped it into a variety of rolls and loaves. While those baked it was time to move on to wash day with a wringer washer...

Rare Boeing 40C crashed in Oregon in 1928 (07/26/08)
By Jim Camden Spokesman-Review staff writer When the big Boeing biplane lifts off from Felts Field this afternoon, its open cockpit and wood-paneled passenger cabin will carry the history of American aviation back into the skies. It will fly again after nearly 70 years on a mountainside, a few years in a horse trailer, and nine years in a hangar at Felts, where some 61 volunteers spent about 18,000 hours meticulously restoring it to life...

Ride with American Pride (07/23/08)
Local motorcycle riders are encouraged to support all of America's military, past and present, Saturday, July 26, by jumping on board their bikes and joining in on the "Ride With American Pride" road trip. Bikers will begin the day at the American Legion in LeMars at 10:30 a.m. ...

Spencer nets grant for Freeman Schoolhouse project (07/18/08)
The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) announced Thursday it awarded 32 Historical Resource Development Program (HRDP) grants totaling $626,275 to 30 organizations and individuals across Iowa for historic preservation, museum and documentary collections projects...

Briefs 06-21 (06/21/08)
Farmer's Market Wednesdays and Saturdays 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. Mercy Me to headline northwest Iowa's RiseFest...

Area artists asked to help design AOG entry light (06/05/08)
The Spencer Area Arts Council and Arts on Grand are currently holding a contest for area artists to design a new light fixture for the front foyer of Arts on Grand in Spencer. The winning design will receive a $3,500 prize. The contest is open to all artists who are members of Arts on Grand, artists' gatherings, Artisan Road Trip, and/ or ArtsLIVE...

Rock the Roof concert season to begin June 12 in Arnolds Park (06/05/08)
A salute to volunteers opens the 2008 Rock the Roof concert season in Arnolds Park on Thursday, June 12. For 10 consecutive Thursday nights, free concerts will be presented in the Roof Garden from 6-8:30 p.m. This family entertainment highlight of the summer is a gift from the Iowa RockNRoll Music Museum and its supporters to the public...

Living History Day to highlight Father's Day events at Parker (06/03/08)
Bring the family to Parker Museum from 1-4 p.m., on Father's Day, June 15 for an afternoon of family fun at Living History Day. The afternoon will feature displays and hands on activities about the Amazing Grain--Corn. Admission to the museum grounds will be $5 for adults and $3 for children 5-12 years, 4 and under are free or a family admission of $15...

Gates at Arnolds Park open this weekend (05/15/08)
The gates of Arnolds Park Amusement Park will open at 11 a.m. this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18 for the season. Enjoy the ups and downs of the famous Northwest Bank Legend roller coaster and the spectacular view from the Bank Midwest Ferris Wheel. New bumper cars are one of the many new features of the park, while the new addition of double go-karts complete the go-cart renovations at Arnolds Park Raceway...

Airshow features high-flying talent (05/14/08)
Spencer Airshow Coord-inator for 2008, Gayle Brandt, announced the airshow entertainment line-up for the June 15 annual Flight Show and Flight Breakfast. This year's event, which helps conclude the community's Flagfest activities and also falls on Father's Day, will feature high flying performers Chandy Clanton in her Edge 540, Doug Rozendaal with the "Gunfighter" P51 Mustang, and Kyle Franklin in his "Mystery Ship" Waco...

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...