Health Care Industry

Area entities receive foundation grants (03/12/10)
The Clay County Community Foundation strives "to connect donors who care with causes that matter and to serve as a trusted resource for addressing issues that impact the quality of life in Clay County."...

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...

Legislators discuss rising health care costs, texting while driving (03/02/10)
When the third Eggs and Issues legislative forum of the season began Saturday morning in Spencer, attendees were encouraged to not ask the three participating state legislators about same-sex marriage or right-to-work issues, common themes of the first two sessions held this year. Even with the majority party not represented at the gathering, Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan; Rep. Mike May, R-Spirit Lake; and Rep. Royd Chambers, R-Sheldon; addressed a variety of issues ranging from oversight of the Department of Natural Resources and texting while behind the wheel to health care concerns and statewide budget cuts. ...

One Man's Perspective: Little picture makes a big impact (02/27/10)
There was no mass marketing campaign. We've been hearing about "Shutter Island" and "The Wolfman" for months leading up to their recent release. TV ads, previews in theaters, radio spots, large ads in major newspapers. And it worked. Viewers flocked to the theater for both and made the film producers and movie studios quite a bit of cash...

Health care, job bills on Grassley's agenda (02/27/10)
Following his participation in a 7 1/2-hour, televised health care summit involving President Barack Obama and 38 lawmakers Thursday, Sen. Chuck Grassley's concerns about sweeping health care reform have not waned. "What's the point of negotiating, you know?" the frustrated Republican from New Hartford asked. "Maybe sprinkle in a couple Republican ideas and you've got a bipartisan bill? Well, I don't think so."...

Tea Party to Iowa legislators: You're not listening (02/19/10)
DES MOINES - Kris Thiessen used to get tired of people who talked politics. Now she's one of them. The Everly business owner was talking politics at the Capitol on Tuesday along with a couple of dozen fellow Tea Party activists. High among their talking points were legislative proposals they say will weaken Iowa's election laws, gun rights and other proposals that expand government and limit freedom...

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. ...

Real heroes share red (02/09/10)
When it comes to heroes, the American Red Cross recognizes them by the pint. The Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross enters the second day of its local blood drive, and many have stepped up to answer the call. Doors at Hope Reformed Church of Spencer's Harbor Room will remain open today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

'I want my, I want my, I want my MTV' (01/14/10)
As the Spencer Municipal Utilities (SMU) cable customers may be chanting the opening line to Dire Straits' popular tune "Money For Nothing," -- "I want my, I want my, I want my MTV." SMU customers could see several channels go dark over the next few days...

New York nanny remembers her roots (01/09/10)
After spending many hours thumbing through the wish book filled with quality educational materials, Missy Lair has practically every page in the latest Lakeshore Learning catalog memorized. Since receiving word that she's won the latest Max and Charlie Garner Grant, the local registered child care provider can finally order the items she and the eight children she watches have been dreaming about. ...

Area producer receives Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Award (01/07/10)
AMES -- A cattle producer and livestock auction market operator was named the 2010 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Award winner for his focus on animal care practices. Morris Larson, Spencer Livestock Sales, of Spencer, was honored at the Iowa Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention in Ames on Jan. 5...

Canine improving lives through service (12/31/09)
More often than not, Katie is a welcome addition whenever she visits. In fact, the 3-year-old Golden Retriever owned by Jim and Judy Taylor, of Spencer, generally elicits welcoming cheers, smiles and extended hands wherever she goes. Over the last couple months, the therapy dog and her certified handlers have become regular visitors to the hospital, a local elementary school, the library and care centers throughout Spencer. ...

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...

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. ...

Providing a safe haven (12/18/09)
People for Pets isn't only a refuge for the dogs and cats found sheltered there, it's also considered a safe, welcoming place by many of the volunteers and supporters who frequent it. ...

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...

DHS program changes to save millions (12/11/09)
In order to slash over $132 million from its budget this fiscal year, Iowa's largest service agency is looking at sizable cuts to jobs, provider rates and service delivery. While an Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) spokesperson describes the impact of the cuts being made as "drastic" and "quite severe," Roger Munns is also trying to assure state residents and DHS clients that the state will make it through and the situation will turn around eventually...

Deer firearm season opens Saturday (12/04/09)
The first round of shotgun-season deer hunters will be heading into Iowa's wooded areas at sunrise Saturday morning. This year's two seasons -- scheduled Dec. 5-9 and Dec. 12-20 -- are expected to once again attract a large crowd. ...

Hospice: 'There is help available' (11/14/09)
Ron Ricketts' cancer started in his lungs, but has metastasized to his brain and into his bones. He was told following a biopsy earlier this year, "There's nothing we can do to help, so you'd be better off just leaving it alone."

Holiday Family Adoption under way (11/10/09)
The Holiday Family Adoption program kicks off today with the first listing of families in The Daily Reporter. The Holiday Family Adoption Program, a Spencer-area holiday staple, allows generous area families, businesses and service groups to share in the holiday spirit and bounty...

Neighbors rally to help one of their own (11/07/09)
The fact that Iowans tend to help one another when trying situations arise is evident once again this harvest season. Clay County farmer Lindell "Pete" Petersen suffered a stroke the evening of Oct. 25, but you couldn't tell it by his cattle or fields, which are being tended to and harvested by friends and neighbors. ...

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.

Local dentists take part in statewide effort (10/30/09)
A pair of local dentists and members of their support teams joined other dental professionals recently to take part in the second-annual "Iowa Mission of Mercy." Drs. Gary Van Hofwegen and Josh Munter, along with portions of their dental teams, traveled to Iowa Speedway in late September to take part in a two-day program serving 1,500 patients free of charge. The volunteer efforts of the 1,200 dental professionals involved was valued at over $800,000...

Rep. King wades into Limbaugh, Rams ownership (10/30/09)
U.S. Rep. Steve King used a Capitol Hill appearance by Roger Goodell to press the NFL Commissioner about conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who was removed from a group trying to purchase the St. Louis Rams. Goodell was testifying before a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday to examine the long-term effects of head injury among NFL players...

Mercy on wheels (10/27/09)
The normally calm neighborhoods of Aurelia were disrupted Saturday afternoon by a distant rumbling that turned into a deafening roar as it approached. As the collection of revving engines rolled past unsuspecting residences, doors opened and neighbors peered through their windows. A leather clad legion of motorcycle riders had invaded the rural Iowa community. ...

Cruise vessel safety legislation passes House (10/24/09)
Advocates for cruise ship safety are applauding House passage Friday of language authored by U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) to improve safety of cruise ship passengers on the high seas. Matsui's Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act of 2009 was included in H.R. ...

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. ...

The Hotel: Iowa's first Dream Center (10/17/09)
If a local church has its way, The Hotel will become a "dream center" for the area. Rev. Kevin Grimes of DaySpring Assembly announced Friday, "KES Properties LLC, the owner of The Hotel on Grand Avenue, has offered to give us all of the stock in the corporation. ...

Public forum will focus on potential mental health service reductions (10/17/09)
Earlier this year, the Iowa Department of Human Services was directed by the Iowa Legislature to assist an appointed task force with an evaluation of the four state mental health institutions (MHI) at Cherokee, Clarinda, Independence and Mt. Pleasant...

End of Life Consortium to focus on information (10/15/09)
It's never easy when an end of life diagnosis or situation occurs. If ever faced with such a life changing event, would you know who to contact? An End of Life Consortium, for the public, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Spencer Senior Center...

Campbell presented 2009 Wedel award (10/13/09)
Longtime broadcaster and current Iowa Great Lakes Red Cross Director Bill Campbell was announced the Jack Wedel Community Service Award winner for 2009 at Monday evening's Spencer Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. "Since the age of 18 this person has been very vocal -- in more ways than one," teased last year's winners Sam and Suzi Harper prior to naming Campbell...

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. ...

The toughest sport on dirt (10/06/09)
The rules are simple. Place a wiry 150-pound cowboy on the back of a hulking, snorting temperamental 2,000 pound bull and see if he can ride the beast for an eternal eight seconds... with one hand strapped to the bull's massive backside. S & G Bucking Productions brings the PBR Enterprise Tour to Spencer on Nov. 20-21...

Ag reps encouraged, warned about future of industry (09/19/09)
While times may be tough, nearly 100 agricultural representatives were encouraged to keep their chins up and focus on the prize during a luncheon held Thursday at the Clay County Fair. ...

Family pursues a 'Lively' fight (09/17/09)
The chances for Jeff Lively, a 34-year-old family man who lives in Laurens, are worth fighting for. Without a heart transplant, his wife Amie, 6-year-old son Orion Jeffrey, 3-year-old daughter Angelina Devine and mother Jacquelene Lively don't know how much longer he'll survive. Because doctors have painted a critical picture and his health is deteriorating on a daily basis, the Lively family is asking for help.

Krause stumps for Grassley's seat at fair (09/15/09)
U.S. Senate aspirant Bob Krause (D-Fairfield) campaigned Saturday at the Clay County Fair. The 59-year-old, who acknowledges he faces stiff odds in his bid to defeat Iowa's senior senator, readily recited the handful of colorful statements his foe has made over the last few months, recited the incumbent's voting record and then forecast "that the winds they are a changing." ...

Lost at sea -- Kendall Carver's crusade (09/12/09)
The days of business cards and power-point presentations were supposed to be in the past for 72-year-old Kendall Carver, a member of the Spencer High School class of 1954. He retired to Phoenix 15 years ago after a successful career as an insurance executive in New York City. It's the stage of life when hobbies, grandchildren and travel should replace the appointment book...

Planning a rally? Better check the fire codes (09/11/09)
The commotion of Barack Obama's presidential campaign and the heat generated by the summer's health care town forums has raised some concerns with Spencer Fire Chief Doug Duncan. He brought up the issue of assembly capacities in public buildings at a recent city staff meeting, saying: "We're going to calculate what the occupancy load factor is, which is the number of people, and that's the way it is going to be."...

Bill Monroe featured speaker at the Spencer Chamber annual meeting (09/11/09)
The Spencer Chamber of Commerce annual meeting is set for Monday, Oct. 12, at the Clay County Regional Events Center. Social time will begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The program, including the unveiling of the 2009 Jack Wedel Award winner, presentation of the Chamber board members and featured guest speaker, Bill Monroe, deputy executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Association, will begin at 7:30 p.m....

Dance joins list of SHS offerings (08/08/09)
As camps wrap up for the summer, one will still be logging 16 hours over the course of the next two days. No, it's not football, they wrapped up their week of daily two-hour sessions on Friday. No, these campers are working through three, eight-hour days to perfect their craft, battling through sore muscles and nagging injuries just like the participants in Spencer High School's more traditional athletic camps...

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...

Emergency grant announced for RR Donnelley workers (07/23/09)
U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis used a central Iowa stop Wednesday to announce a $664,000 emergency grant for Spencer's displaced RR Donnelley workers. R. Scott Bigelow, the vice president of human resources at RR Donnelley, informed city leaders on Jan. 13 that the company planned to close its Spencer location. The decision left 160 employees out of work. Subsequent layoffs occurred throughout February and March 2009...

Briefs 7/21/09 (07/21/09)
The annual Clay County 4-H Achievement Day will be held on Tuesday, July 21 in the 4-H Auditorium on the Clay County Fairgrounds. The event will begin at 8 a.m. and end about 5 p.m. Achievement Day is a mini-fair for Clay County 4-Hers. Due to the fact that our county youth are in school during the Clay County Fair, this event provides an opportunity for 4-H members to bring their project exhibit work to be judged. ...

'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. ...

Fighting back against cancer (06/27/09)

Schools to see rules on nutrition, physical activity (05/30/09)
When the rules take effect in July 2010, students across Iowa will see physical fitness standards, mandatory CPR classes and healthier food choices occur in their local school buildings. The Healthy Kids Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver one year ago, was formulated to combat obesity...

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...

Thuringer retiring after 35 years of tending to area youth (05/19/09)

New Lakes Regional Healthcare CEO (05/09/09)
The Lakes Regional Healthcare Board of Trustees on Thursday named Spencer Hospital's Jason Harrington as its next President and Chief Executive Officer. Harrington was the Vice President of Operations in Spencer since 2005 and served as the interim CEO there since October...

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."

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