General Elections

Notice to proceed at Lower Gar set for Sunday, task force expects little local impact (03/20/10)

'Where's the flood?' (03/19/10)
On Wednesday, Governor Chet Culver signed a disaster declaration for the Army Corps of Engineers to provide assistance in Dickinson County. Thursday morning, representatives from the Corps' Omaha office were on site at Lower Gar, just northeast of Milford, meeting with potential contractors and local utility providers as a group of very unhappy Lower Gar area residents and Milford Mayor Don Lamb looked on...

Flood warning continues for Spencer (03/19/10)
Although the Little Sioux River appears to be receding for the time being, a flood warning remains in place. At 9 a.m. Thursday, the river's stage was 14.9 feet, nearly 5 feet above flood stage. It is expected to drop to 14.4 feet by 7 a.m. Friday. At 14.5, County Road B40 southeast of Spencer begins flooding...

Semi collision blocks beltway (03/18/10)
A collision involving a pair of semi trucks at the intersection of B24 and M50 on Spencer's east beltway limited traffic for approximately two hours Wednesday afternoon on the busy bypass. Details were limited at press time Wednesday evening, but according to responders on the scene, a Schuster semi cab out of LeMars was hauling a Bomgaars trailer, traveling west on B-24 toward Spencer when he crossed in front of the UPS semi truck after properly stopping at the intersection. ...

RIVERS ON THE RISE - Little Sioux projected to reach 14.6 feet by Friday (03/16/10)
The Little Sioux River is exhibiting the effects (above and below) of a combination of rain and snow melt in recent days as it floods the bike trails and West Leach Park near the Grand Avenue bridge in downtown Spencer. A flood warning was issued shortly after noon on Sunday. ...

Rain increases flood concerns (03/11/10)
Flood concerns in Clay County have been well-documented. With more than .7 inch since Saturday and about an inch of rain expected through Sunday, those concerns are expected to elevate, just as the rivers rise. "We have forecasts that are sending some rivers to moderate and even major flooding," National Weather Service Meteorologist Aubry Wilkins said...

Three teens injured in Monday's accident (03/11/10)
Despite crinkled cars, none of the teens involved in a collision Monday afternoon received life-threatening injuries. The accident happened at 3:37 p.m. when a 1992 Jeep driven by Nicholas Dischler collided into the 1996 Ford Taurus driven by Raymond Foerster. Dischler was westbound on E. Park St. when Foerster, headed southbound on Eighth Ave. E., failed to yield the right of way...

Conlin concerned about health care (03/09/10)
The availability of health care is a top priority for U.S. Senate candidate Roxanne Conlin, largely because she can relate to those without insurance. When she was 14, she got an ear infection. With no money for medication, no insurance and no car to take her to a doctor, she was forced to let the infection run its course, resulting in permanent, partial hearing loss in her left ear...

Blaze destroys Crescent Electric building (03/09/10)
Spencer volunteer firefighters were on the scene of a fire Saturday for 10 hours, but were unable to save the Crescent Electric building at 419 E. First St. The building and its contents are considered a total loss, with damages that could exceed $2 million...

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...

City, county officials launch task force (03/05/10)
As the sun shines and the snow melts, not only are water levels in area rivers and streams expected to rise, but flood concerns will be rising, as well. To alleviate some of those concerns, Spencer and Clay County officials have formed the 2010 Flood Outlook Task Force...

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. ...

Everly native safe in Chile (03/04/10)
At 3:30 Saturday morning, Martha Thomas was awakened by her host brother and rushed to the strongest door frame in the house, where she huddled with her Chilean host family. Shortly after she joined them, the house shook violently, knocking pictures and other possessions to the floor...

Flooding likely, severity will depend on multiple factors (02/27/10)
In light of all the flooding experienced to some degree or another last year in the state of Iowa, the last thing most people want to start talking about before March is the possibility of high waters. But the discussion is well under way -- the result of the large volume of snow that continues to cover the ground...

Castillo-Alvarez back in Clay County Jail (02/26/10)
"He's back." Those words, spoken by Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow, referenced the return of Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez to the Clay County Jail. Clay County Sheriff' deputies transported Castillo-Alvarez from Newton's state prison back to the Clay County holding facility on a felony charge for furnishing an intoxicating beverage to inmates at a detention facility during his previous year-and-a-half stay. ...

Milford man dies in two car accident (02/25/10)
A Tuesday afternoon accident claimed the life of a Milford man and injured another in the 2900 block of Highway Blvd. in Spencer. Twenty-nine-year-old Jacob Ralph, of Milford, was traveling southbound on Highway Blvd. when, according to the Spencer Police Department report, apparently lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and struck an oncoming vehicle -- driven by 31-year-old Kevin Schley, also of Milford...

Castillo-Alvarez case moves to Minnesota (02/25/10)
A 40-year-old former Estherville restaurant owner will face Minnesota charges after his Clay County murder and kidnapping convictions were thrown out on appeal in the fall of 2009. On Friday, Jackson County Sheriff Roger Hawkinson said he and the Jackson County Attorney's Office would file Minnesota charges of second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault and second-degree assault against Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez...

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...

Implications of local charges far reaching (02/20/10)

Gas line rupture cause of General Traffic Control fire Saturday (02/18/10)
A joint investigation between the Spencer Fire-Rescue Department and the Iowa State Fire Marshals office has ruled the Saturday fire at General Traffic Control in south Spencer as accidental. No intentional sources for the fire were determined, instead the investigators discovered the fire was located in a furnace room in the south office area of the the building. ...

Firefighters battle blaze in midst of winter storm (02/16/10)
Snow began falling early and really picked up in the evening Saturday as firefighters from the Spencer and Royal volunteer fire departments battled a commercial fire at General Traffic Controls, south of Spencer along Highway 71 -- spending approximately six hours on site and using 15,000 gallons of water to get the blaze under control...

Ruthven man victim of fatal crash (02/11/10)
Brian Hoover, 32, of Ruthven, died as the result of a collision with a semi one-half mile south of Graettinger early Tuesday morning. At 6:15 a.m., Hoover was traveling southbound on Highway 4 in his 2007 Ford Focus when a 2007 Freightliner operated by Scott Spillers, 45, of Adel, collided into the driver's side of his vehicle...

Spencer YMCA evacuated due to gas leak (02/06/10)
The Spencer Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched Friday afternoon to the Spencer Family YMCA for a gas leak on the roof. According to Brian Kretz, operation supervisor for the local Black Hills Energy office, the weight of a combination of snow and ice on the roof resulted in a fitting to break on the fuel line. ...

Sales of winter supplies up (02/06/10)
Snow was falling more than two months before winter officially started. Since then, northwest Iowa has been dealt more than its fair share of snow and ice. It should come as no surprise, then, that mechanisms to deal with those menaces have been hot-selling items in local stores...

Woman killed in semi-car crash (02/05/10)
Deborah Weideman, 18, of Estherville, was the victim of a fatal accident four miles north of the intersection of Highways 4 and 18 Thursday morning. Weideman was driving northbound on Highway 4 when she lost control of her vehicle and crossed the center line. Her vehicle was struck by a semi with a grain trailer driven by Todd Travis, 45, of Mallard, forcing both vehicles into the east ditch...

Iowa students tiring of snow days (01/29/10)
With the five area school districts averaging two late starts and five snow days so far this winter, the students enrolled in their classes are beginning to realize the fun they had away from their classrooms those days will only mean a longer school year -- and shorter summer vacation. ...

Roberts concerned about spending (01/29/10)
"Money doesn't grow on trees... Until I was first elected to the Iowa House, I thought all adults were like that," Rod Roberts told a small, vocal group of about 25 individuals at the Clay County Regional Events Center Thursday night. "(Other elected officials) began making decisions and acting like there's an orchard out back the capitol."

Winter weather pounds the pavement (01/28/10)
Sick of Old Man Winter's pestering ways? Grand Avenue and the other Spencer streets are. Not only does winter's freeze-thaw cycle make roads slicker for drivers, but it is also responsible for another nuisance for those drivers: potholes. "That freeze-thaw cycle is the worst on streets," Spencer Public Works Director Mark White explained. "Water will leak into crevices or cracks and freeze and pop pavement out."...

Caucuses kick off election season (01/26/10)
What a difference two years can make. On Jan. 3, 2008, about 900 Democrats met across Clay County and more than 600 Republicans convened to participate in the Iowa Caucuses. While Saturday marked the 2010 Iowa Caucuses, participation numbers were anemic with eight Democrats gathering at Iowa Lakes Community College as about 60 Republicans assembled at the Clay County Regional Events Center...

High Court: Castillo-Alvarez case won't be reviewed (01/22/10)
Clay County Attorney Michael Houchins on Friday confirmed a decision from the Iowa Supreme Court to deny further review of the 1997 gang-related murder of Estherville teenager Gregory Sky Erickson. Judge Don Courtney found former Estherville restaurant owner Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez responsible for orchestrating Erickson's death, based on a January 2008 ruling at the Palo Alto County Courthouse in Emmetsburg...

Spencer: The 'one place to get all things Dewey' (01/22/10)
The popularity of Dewey Readmore Books, Spencer Public Library's late resident feline, spans the world today. In addition to the countless tours of his former home and town occurring locally, plans are currently in the works to boost his appeal to even more visitors to northwest Iowa's newest destination city. ...

Rants emphasizes lowering property taxes (01/21/10)
A perfect storm is brewing in Iowa, gubernatorial candidate Chris Rants, R-Sioux City, told a group of about 50 people at the Clay County Regional Events Center Tuesday night. The former Speaker of the House identified a lack of job development, escalating taxes and an outdated, unconstitutional school aid funding formula as the three biggest problems currently facing the state at the Informed Voter Forum sponsored by the Clay County Tea Party Patriots...

Heilstedt pleads guilty to 2008 arson charge (01/21/10)
On Tuesday, during a scheduled hearing, Brenda Lee Heilstedt of Spencer, withdrew her not guilty plea with regards to arson charges stemming from a fire that broke out at a home she owned on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008; and pled guilty to arson in the second degree, a Class C felony...

Wintery mix predicted for Spencer area (01/19/10)
Numerous rumors have been circulating about yet another dose of winter weather this week. Different models render different versions of the impending storm, KICD Weather Director Mark Bruggom said. The North American Mesoscale model shows freezing rain beginning in northwest Iowa Wednesday afternoon and continuing through Thursday at 6 p.m., which would result in about a quarter inch of ice accumulation...

' ... We're going to win in November, (01/14/10)
"We're going to win in June, then we're going to win in November, then we're going to lead." Those words at the conclusion of Iowa GOP Gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats presentation to a small group of voters Tuesday night drew a round of applause. ...

Milford man detained on drug, murder charges (01/12/10)
Samuel Blue Lint was still being held in Spirit Lake's Dickinson County Jail on $10,000 bond Tuesday as attorneys in northwest Iowa decide if, and when, the 18-year-old Milford man will be transported to Sioux Falls, S.D., to face charges of armed robbery and murder...

Local Tea Party members bring GOP candidates to Spencer (01/08/10)
Local Tea Party Patriots are calling for the area citizenry to "get informed and get involved." And they are offering a way to do it. Plans for two voter forum opportunities with a pair of the GOP gubernatorial candidates have been announced by the Tea Party Patriots, organizers of the event...

Whiting second to announce plans for District 6 seat (01/05/10)
Spirit Lake native Zach Whiting announced Monday that he will seek the Republican nomination for the District 6 seat in the Iowa House of Representatives. The seat is currently held by Mike May, who has announced that he will not seek re-election in November...

The unbreakable bond of friends (01/04/10)
Before South Clay, there was Gillett Grove Consolidated School. Four students from the former school's class of 1939 remain steadfast comrades to this day. They've also stayed avid supporters of the northwest Iowa community they grew up in. ...

SMU, fire departments suggest digging out (12/31/09)
Due to large amounts of snow received in the Spencer area over the holiday weekend, Spencer Municipal Utilities would like to remind customers to dig out their electric and water meters. Likewise, Dave Schipper with the state fire marshal's and the Spencer Fire Department reminded residents who have fire hydrants near their property to try and make them accessible as well -- a measure that will save crucial time in case of a fire on the block...

A storm to remember (12/29/09)
The 2 feet of snow accompanied by ice and wind which buried northwest Iowa residents over the extended Christmas holiday weekend caused havoc for many area families. But despite the problems which reared their ugly heads, those impacted worked together to remove snow, handle power outages and help dig each other out. ...

Spencer police charge area man with abuse, possession (12/29/09)
Spencer Police officers were forced to kick in a door and taser 19-year-old Terrell Ramon Alfaro after responding to a call in the 2100 block of 10th Avenue East at 3:37 a.m. on Dec. 24. The entry led to multiple charges include domestic abuse and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver among others...

Snow emergency issued, holiday travel discouraged (12/24/09)
The second winter storm to hit Spencer this month is looking like a grinch for those who had Christmas travel plans. "We're asking you to be aware of this as holiday plans begin to unfold," said meteorologist Todd Heitkamp who issued a storm update through streaming video on the National Weather Service Web site in Sioux Falls, S.D. "Travel will be impossible and not recommended across much of the Upper Midwest this holiday season."...

Major storm could threaten Christmas travel (12/22/09)
"The storm probably couldn't come at a worse time," said Greg Harmon, the meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, S.D. His agency already has a winter storm watch in place or all of the northwest Iowa counties it serves, including the Spencer, Spirit Lake and Storm Lake areas...

Gas Leak fears empty Wal-Mart (12/15/09)
Don't blame a door-busting deal for the mid-morning commotion at the Spencer Wal-Mart Superstore over the weekend. The big box retailer had to be evacuated in the heart of the holiday shopping season Saturday. Wal-Mart staff became concerned about an odor near the west entrance, or grocery area of the store. The smell was similar to the kind of odor associated with a natural gas leak.

Transportation projects roll on despite cuts (12/15/09)

Wahpeton home a total loss after weekend fire (12/15/09)
A home on West Lake has been deemed a complete loss following a fire on Sunday evening. Milford firefighters were called to 1000 West Street in Wahpeton shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 for a report of smoke in the residence and a possible chimney fire...

The big dig: Season's first winter storm is a whopper (12/10/09)
Nine inches of snow, and it didn't want to stay in one place. That was the challenge faced Tuesday and Wednesday by the law enforcement officers and road crews in the aftermath of the season's first winter storm. A blizzard warning remained in place for much of the region Wednesday morning. By mid-afternoon, the warning area was being trimmed from west to east, with a wind chill advisory in its place...

Justice: At what cost? (12/10/09)
Need a sign of the times? Look for one taped on the locked clerk of court's door, below a holiday wreath, at the Clay County Courthouse. "Iowa Court Offices Closed," it said, on the first of 10 days targeted by the judicial branch for a cost-saving shutdown...

WEATHER UPDATE: Blizzard warning issued; sheriff calls for no travel (12/08/09)
A winter storm warning was cancelled for the area and a blizzard warning was put in its place by the National Weather Service at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow urged residents to stay home, saying deputies will only respond to "medical, life-or-death situations" as the sun goes down...

Related subjects