Holidays

Martin Luther King Jr. Day observed locally (01/19/10)
To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, students at Fairview Elementary in Spencer started Monday in their school building's hallways, hearing a choral reading from King's famous "I have a dream" speech and then joining hands -- right over left to symbolize right over wrong and a peaceful protest -- and singing several verses of "We Shall Overcome."...

Old classroom becomes new home (01/12/10)
Lois Beck is excited about her new home in a Spencer historical landmark. Eager to move Friday afternoon into her brand new apartment in the former Spencer Middle School building, she's already splurged on a new television set to accentuate the space's open floor plan. She's also purchased a Christmas tree, which she plans to proudly display in her dwelling's large set of windows next holiday season. Beck will formally claim the space as her own when her Candlewick and Copenhagen Christmas plates, and the cup and saucer collection started years ago by her mother-in-law are placed in her daughter's former classroom. Cheryl Hurst, Beck's daughter, taught English in the same room that has now been remodeled into her mother's apartment. ...

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."...

Office closed, no paper Christmas Day (12/24/09)
The Spencer Daily Reporter office will close at noon on Thursday, Dec. 24 and will remain closed Friday, Dec. 25 to allow our staff to celebrate the Christmas holiday. There will be no paper on Christmas Day, but regular service will resume on Saturday, Dec. 26...

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...

A gift of Christmas cheer (12/18/09)
Something classic, something new, something borrowed, and lots for you. That's what the Oak Ridge Boys will deliver when they roll into town on Sunday for the next to last date on their 2009 Christmas concert tour. The show will get under way at 7:30 p.m...

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.

Area children flock to Santa's workshop (12/10/09)
Santa Claus' workshop was busy with elves catering to area children's gift lists needing to be filled Saturday. The workshop, which was hosted for the 25th year by Spencer Women of Today members, offered clientele aged 3 - 12 years old an opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts ranging from 50 cents to $6 for special individuals and pets.

Haunted hike benefit set for Baby Javin (10/24/09)
Ghosts, goblins and other things that go bump in the night are sure to be out and about during a haunted hike benefit slated for an area infant. Organizers guarantee the hike -- which is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. Halloween night -- will be scary. Set to begin in the rural Dickens garage of Marvin and Rhonda Smith, the baby's maternal grandparents, hikers will proceed through a lit series of twists and turns certain to strike fear in them. ...

Halloween Comes Early (10/08/09)
Children ages 12 and under are encouraged to grab their Halloween costumes and candy bags for a special early night of trick or treating at Scharnberg Park from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Participants are encouraged to begin at the park's shelter house and make their way through the decorated campground, collecting treats and perhaps some treats from the guests. ...

Spencer's second religious liberty draft policy (09/10/09)
Any discussion of the place of religion in public education must be grounded in the principle of religious liberty, or freedom of conscience, particularly as embodied in this nation's First Amendment to the Constitution, which states that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or...

Good old fashioned 'Fourth' (07/07/09)
(Top) Two-year-old Baker Teepe, son of Casey and Darcy Teepe of Linn Grove, just couldn't get enough of the free watermelon served by the Hy-Noon Kiwanis during Saturday's Fourth of July festivities at the Clay County Fairgrounds. Teepe was one of many to enjoy the watermelons donated by Fareway Stores. ...

Fallen soldiers remembered (05/26/09)
In 44 years of service to the community, Jerry Dean never sought recognition for his effort to bring about the Avenue of Flags in Spencer. Dean saw it as a personal remembrance of his father and all those other soldiers who so bravely served the country through the generations...

Spencer's first Naval woman honored on Memorial Day (05/23/09)

Winners announced in Southpark Mall coloring contest (04/11/09)
Southpark Mall held it's annual Easter Egg Coloring Contest for Spencer students in Kinderkids, Kindergarten, First and Second Grades. Kindergarten: Molly Crew, Carter Spiess, Avarie Knaak; First Grade: Rebecca Stallcup, Ryan Nielsen, Andrea Kabrick; Second Grade: Nicole Benson, Kade McKeever, Jake Vos...

A little hip-hop (04/11/09)
Young Tate doesn't seem the least bit intimidated by a five-foot Easter Bunny as he settles in for a picture Friday afternoon. The Easter Bunny is expected to be on hand at the Southpark Mall again Saturday for additional pictures.

Krukow, guest bring smiles to children at hospital (04/04/09)
Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow escorted the Easter Bunny (above) to Spencer Hospital on Friday to visit children receiving care, during which time he presented a pack of crayons to Aidan Branblett, one of the patients. The Easter Bunny Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Florida, teams up with Sheriff Departments across the nation to visit hospitalized children at Easter-time, in an effort to help bring a smile to the faces of the kids like Wyatte Buchanan (right). ...

Briefs 3-14-09 (03/14/09)
A bird house workshop will be held at 1 p.m. today at Lost Island Nature Center, north of Ruthven. To build a wren house, just bring a hammer. Call (712) 837-4866 for more information. --- A bake sale will be held today at the Southpark Mall. The groups will be: "People to People Ambassador Program" for Devan McCord Fund Raiser and DreamTeam...

Briefs 3-13-09 (03/13/09)
A soup and pie fundraiser will be held from 5-8 p.m. tonight at DaySpring Assembly of God Church, 1410 W. 18th St., Spencer. Chef Dr. Darrel Forslund will be serving home-style chicken noodle soup, "27 Spice" chili, and an international selection: Mongolian hot pot soup. Many...

Briefs 3-12-09 (03/12/09)
Spencer City Councilman George Kruger will host a Ward 1 meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Spencer Public Library. Bob Fagen, Spencer's city manager, will be the featured guest speaker. --- Spencer Hospital will be holding classes for individuals considered to have "pre-diabetes" -- those with blood sugar levels higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be considered a diabetic. ...

Gas leak disrupts holiday shopping (12/24/08)
A pair of fire trucks and members of the Spencer Police Department were stationed near the main entrance Tuesday night at the Southpark Mall following the report of a gas leak in one of the stores. A malfunction in a rooftop heating unit caused the gas to leak into the Fashion Bug, one of the stores near the center of the mall...

Holiday gifts distributed (12/23/08)
Spencer volunteer fire fighters and UPS drivers braved the elements Sunday to deliver Holiday Family Adoption gifts throughout Spencer. Ninety families in Clay County will have a merrier Christmas, thanks to the giving spirit of area residents. Spencer Rotary members delivered gifts to residents outside of Spencer. The program has been a part of Clay County Christmas seasons for nearly 30 years...

Burning of the Greens drop of locations announced (12/23/08)
Drop-off points have been designated for Christmas trees donated for the University of Okoboji Winter Games "Burning of the Greens." These trucks will be in place Christmas Eve for those dismantling their trees immediately after Christmas. Trailers will be provided by Polaris Industries in Spirit Lake at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds near the Community Building and in the Arnolds Park Amusement Park parking lot. ...

Briefs 12/19/08 (12/19/08)
Please join us at a "Come-and-Go" reception to wish Kitty Conover the best in her retirement from Iowa Lakes Community College and to welcome Mary Mohni, chief academic officer and new campus administrator. The reception will be held from 2:30-4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19 at Iowa Lakes Community College at Gateway North in Spencer. At the request of the honorees, please no cards or gifts...

'Why Go Back?' campaign expanded to holiday season (12/18/08)
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is extending its 'Why Go Back' campaign message from summer visitors to those visiting or coming home for the holidays. Launched just before the 4th of July holiday in 2007 targeting visitors and posing the question - Why go back? - the same question is being communicated throughout the region this holiday season. ...

Lend your voice to a country church sing-along (12/13/08)
The drapes at Zion United Methodist Church will be lifted Sunday night, with lit candles glowing in the windows. The picturesque country church scene in rural Spencer, similar to one found on a Terry Redlin-inspired Christmas card, will host an annual tradition area residents have looked forward to, and others return to take part in...

Holiday Weekend Happenings (12/13/08)
Due to the weather and the cancellation of Grand Meander the ice sculptures were put on hold. The wonderful volunteers that were planning to carve the ice have all agreed to do the carving this Saturday. Today, the ice sculpture (left) will be done -- locations for the sculptures starting at 9 a.m. will be at Arts on Grand, Bogenrief's Studio, Toads Coffee and The Hen House...

Johnson celebrates holidays tonight (12/11/08)
Students from Johnson Elementary School rehearsed for tonight's winter concert Wednesday afternoon. The performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the old Spencer Middle School Auditorium. The concert, which will feature a collection of holiday music, will conclude the K-3 elementary concerts for the winter season. The high school band and vocal winter concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday night at the Spencer Fieldhouse...

12/11/08 Briefs (12/11/08)

Holiday dangers for your pets (12/06/08)
As fun as the holiday season is for people, it can be highly dangerous for pets if proper precautions are not taken. Each year during the holidays, thousands of pets are seriously injured or become very ill. With the hustle and bustle of activity with the planning, shopping, cooking, baking, rushing to parties and hosting get-togethers that four-legged friends often take a back seat to holiday fun...

Four days of holiday activities begin tonight (12/04/08)
Begin the holiday season by attending an Evening Gala Premier at Parker Museum, 300 E. Third St., from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, where you're invited for a first look at 11 holiday-decorated rooms; and wrap up the weekend with the Festival of Choirs on Sunday afternoon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church...

IGLLS students serve Thanksgiving feast (11/28/08)
Adorned in homemade hats and collars, kindergarten students in Noreen Bohl's class at Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School took a break Wednesday afternoon before serving their parents a Thanksgiving feast at school. The class chose and made everything on the day's menu, which included spaghetti, carrots, jello, french bread and oreo ice cream dessert...

Special enforcement under way (11/25/08)
Area law enforcement agencies are once again trying to instill a little caution in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. The Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau is coordinating efforts with more than 300 law enforcement agencies across the state in an effort to make the holiday safer...

Festival offers early dose of the Christmas spirit (11/18/08)
The fourth annual Festival of Trees sponsored by the Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundation provided the necessary holiday kick-off atmosphere for the large numbers of families who stopped by to enjoy the collection of decorated Christmas trees, bid on some auction items, and allow the children an opportunity to spend the morning with the Clauses and some local elves. ...

There is hope: MOMS offers support (11/18/08)
It took the taking of their children and deeper brushes with methamphetamine for Kristi Wolthuis and Joey Thompson to seek a relatively-new form of support in the area. The two women, who each began the process of recovery in 2004, are both actively participating in the local Moms Off Meth Support (MOMS) group...

Center continues to demonstrate uses (11/15/08)
From wedding receptions to WWE main events; from bridal shows to Ringling Bros. Circus; from Lorie Line's and Kenny Rogers holiday stage performances to live political debates and appearances; from the Spencer Chamber of Commerce's Ag Outlook to one of the top touring acts in Christian music, Toby Mac -- the Clay County Regional Events Center has housed all of it and so much more in a very short five year span of time...

Festival of Trees continues through Saturday (11/13/08)
The fourth annual Festival of Trees sponsored by the Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundation will be held at the Clay County Regional Events Center through Saturday with the Festival's Tour of Homes on Nov. 15. his event provides enjoyable activities for people of all ages, including a "Festival Luncheon," Morning with Santa," "Holiday Tour of Homes" and, of course, opportunities to view many splendidly decorated trees as well as festive tables and holiday displays...

Former Air Guard commander to speak at Veterans Day event (11/08/08)
In addition to Spencer's Veterans Day Celebration, which will begin at 11 a.m. at the Clay County Veterans Memorial, just north of Spencer Municipal Utilities office on Grand Avenue; VFW Post 3159 and Auxiliary will provide coffee and rolls to honor of the veterans from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11. All veterans and spouses are welcome...

Scharnberg trick or treating returns (10/02/08)
The Clay County Conservation Board is inviting children ages 12 and under to come to the campgrounds between 6-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 for its annual trick or treat early Halloween event. Children, accompanied by a parent, will walk the campground where campers will be waiting with decorated campsites and lots of candy. ...

Worlds unite at SHS (09/19/08)
With the arrival of a German, Brazilian and a Tanzanian student, boundaries are being broken in the hallways of Spencer High School (SHS) this year. Carl Hieronymi, who hadn't visited the United States before arriving on July 31, said his stay in Dickens as a foreign exchange student will not only allow him to expand his English, it will also give him the opportunity to play football. The outgoing 17-year-old German currently plays tight end and tackle for the SHS Tigers...

Swiss educator returns to Spencer (09/12/08)
A former German teacher visited with Spencer High School (SHS) students this week, minimizing the distance between northwest Iowa and Switzerland. Michele (Keller) Rogger, a former flight attendant and teacher, is a stay-at-home mother today to her 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. ...

Extra enforcement planned for Labor Day (08/22/08)
Area law enforcement agencies are once again stepping up patrols in advance of the Labor Day holiday weekend. Chief Deputy Duane Bates of the Clay County Sheriff's Office is coordinating the year's fifth and final wave of sTEP, the special traffic enforcement program. The enforcement effort is being held in conjunction with "Over the Limit. Under Arrest," a national drunk driving awareness campaign...

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