General News

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. ...

No fireworks in final Eggs & Issues session (03/16/10)
With Democrats Sen. Jack Kibbie and Rep. Marcie Frevert -- both of Emmetsburg, -- absent from the final Eggs & Issues session Saturday, Spencer City Council chambers never really heated up with back-and-forth dialogue. Rep. Mike May who was participating in his final Spencer Chamber of Commerce legislative event, took the opportunity to thank those he has served in District 6...

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...

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.. ...

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. ...

Public's input sought on district facilities (02/25/10)
Local representatives believe the Spencer school district is in need of a new long-term facility plan. And, they're searching for a few people who'd like to offer their input on the matter. "The district needs to have a plan for how we handle our district facilities, what needs to be improved, what needs to be upgraded and for what the vision for the future with our facilities is," Superintendent Greg Ebeling told school board members Tuesday night...

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)

Lt. Gov. Judge emphasizes jobs (02/19/10)
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Reporter Thursday, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge focused on jobs from start to finish, as she discussed items she and Gov. Chet Culver hope to see accomplished during a shortened, 80-day legislative session. "We're very much aware -- as everyone in the state is -- that we're in the midst of a worldwide recession and people are concerned, and rightfully so," Judge said. ...

Poet to expand in Emmetsburg (02/18/10)
While the parking lots outside resembled pickup truck sales lots, the ballroom featuring Northwest Iowa Ag Outlook keynote speakers inside the Clay County Regional Events Center touted the simultaneous messages of using alternative energy, making money, creating jobs and reducing the nation's dependency on foreign oil this week. ...

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. ...

Will Iowans get "Fair Share"? (02/16/10)
Saturday's Eggs and Issues legislative forum at Spencer City Hall had a common theme threaded through it: unions. Sen. Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg; Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan; and Rep. Mike May, R-Spirit Lake discussed everything from same-sex marital unions to "Fair Share" Legislation, which would require all employees to pay fees to unions for negotiated benefits. ...

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...

Early morning gas leak attributed to roof collapse at RR Donnelly (02/16/10)
The hole wasn't visible from the street, but the smell that it caused stretched out for blocks early Monday morning. A roof collapse at the vacant RR Donnelly building on Third Avenue East during the overnight hours resulted in a 4:15 a.m. wake up call for an already weekend battle-weary Spencer Fire Department (see General Traffic Controls fire story)...

Snow removal takes big bites out of budgets (02/13/10)
Snow and slush flies out of the way as Tom Walker maneuvers his snowplow through Spencer's streets. He and his coworkers in Spencer's street division have spent a lot of time on those streets this winter. Clay County road workers can say the same about their routes...

Early-retirement package approved by school board (02/12/10)
As Spencer school board members approved offering a new early-retirement package to eligible teachers Thursday night, they stressed it will be a one-time offer that could help "make ends meet" if enough apply. The benefits authorized would give qualified teaching staff a severance payment of 30 percent of their 2009-10 teaching contract, to be paid in November, and single medical insurance coverage for a maximum of seven years, or until the applicant is eligible for Medicare. ...

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...

Budget, street projects top council meeting (02/02/10)
Before diving into a department-by-department breakdown of Spencer's budget at Monday's city council meeting, City Manager Bob Fagen made one thing clear. While the tax rate is not increasing, the amount of taxes paid by residents will increase due to a change in the state of Iowa rollback.

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. ...

Multiyear contract proposed to Spencer teachers (01/28/10)
For the first time, representatives for the Spencer school district have proposed a multiyear contract to members of the Spencer Education Association (SEA). Superintendent Greg Ebeling opened Wednesday's open session with SEA representatives Scott Rettey and Duane Davis by saying, "This initial proposal is reflective of the district, state and nation's current economic crisis. The board does not believe that typical raises are responsible under these circumstances. ...

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."...

Negotiations commence for Spencer's certified school staff (01/26/10)
The Spencer Education Association (SEA) presented its initial contract proposal for the 2010-11 school year to officials with the Spencer Community School District Monday afternoon. The SEA, which represents full- and part-time teachers in the district, requested a 4.96 percent total package increase totaling $489,634.

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...

Licht joins Reporter news staff (01/19/10)
New Spencer Daily Reporter staff writer Gabe Licht never intended to be a journalist. In fact, his first experience with journalism did not come until he transferred to Dordt College in 2007, when he took Introduction to Journalism, a prerequisite for his communications major...

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...

Cycle Country chairman resigns amidst allegations of misappropriated funds (01/12/10)
Cycle Country Accessories Corp. announced Friday that it uncovered a misappropriation of funds by its Chairman of the Board of Directors L. G. (Bob) Hancher, Jr. The discovery occurred in connection with the audit of the company's financial statements for the period ending Sept. ...

Parker Museum celebrates 50 years (01/09/10)
For Cindy McGranahan and many others associated with the Parker Museum, the recent signing of paperwork securing the purchase of the former Johnston Automotive building on Grand Avenue is a wonderful 50th anniversary gift. The local museum, which houses many significant artifacts, historical information and stories associated with the history of Spencer and Clay County, turns 50 years old on Jan. ...

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. ...

Mitchell to take over editor job at DCN (01/04/10)
Spencer native Russ Mitchell, a staff writer at the Daily Reporter, has been promoted to the position of editor with the Dickinson County News. Mitchell will assume his new duties beginning Jan. 4. ...

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...

Mediacom: No Insight Bowl after all (12/30/09)
Iowa State-Minnesota bowl game blacked out The Mediacom customers in Spencer and Iowa Great Lakes won't be able to see the Insight Bowl at home on New Year's Eve after all. The 5 p.m. game matches Iowa State and Minnesota and is only being carried in central Iowa -- with permission from NFL Network...

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...

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