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New staff to greet CC/E students Aug. 20 (08/16/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff When the bell marking the start of the 2008-09 school year rings on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 20, Clay Central/Everly students will be greeted in their respective buildings and classrooms by a handful of new staff members...

Laboranti taking the helm of CC/E High School (08/16/08)
As soon as he begins speaking, it's easy to tell that the new Clay Central/Everly High School principal is a native of Massachusetts. Albert "Al" Laboranti's accent is a bit different than that of a native northwest Iowan's. While his desire to cultivate strong students and teachers is on-target with that of other administrators nationwide, it's Laboranti's truly motivational outlook on life, and achieving success in all areas of it, that make him so likable. His enthusiasm is catchy...

Collective literacy focus 2008-09 goal for Spencer (08/15/08)
Thursday was their "warm-up" day. It marked the first official day of the 2008-09 school year for Spencer teachers and support staff members. After being treated to a catered breakfast sponsored by the Spencer Community School Foundation in the middle school commons area, "class" began at 8:15 a.m. in the building's gymnasium...

City of Spencer safe routes to school program (08/14/08)
The City Council of Spencer is committed to enabling and encouraging children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school. They aspire to make walking and bicycling to school safe and more appealing, and to facilitate the planning and development and implementation of projects that will improve safety, and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools...

SMS auditorium talks underway (08/14/08)
As Spencer school board members, Friends of the Auditorium representatives and a Sioux City architect met Wednesday morning to broach the topic of what will be done with the auditorium area of the old Spencer Middle School at 104 E. Fourth St., they negotiated costs and responsibilities, and, in the end, reconnected as potential partners in restoring the "gem" to its original historic state and making it a better-functioning facility...

Activity transportation fees not imposed (08/13/08)
As Spencer parents and guardians registered their children for classes on Monday and Tuesday, those enrolling middle and high school students were treated to a surprise: They were not charged a new "activity transportation fee." As approved by board members early last month, the $25 and $35 fees for secondary-level students were designed to cover a portion of activity transportation costs, as well as pay for the cost of a student's activity ticket...

Spencer district welcomes new staff (08/13/08)
New Spencer Community School District staff met with administrators and board members Tuesday noon. They include, front row from left: Brian Sand, a Transition I teacher at Lincoln Elementary, Stephanie Anderson, a reading teacher/assistant elementary principal, and Teresa Goehring, a teacher assistant/guidance counselor at Johnson Elementary. ...

Chicago theater unites four Spencer grads (08/12/08)
In what seem to have been several "fated" coincidences, four Spencer High School graduates, all of whom were bitten locally by the theater bug, have connected in Chicago. Known for its intimate "storefront" theaters that seat between 30 and 100 people, Josh Odor, Ben Fuchsen, Aaron DeYoung and Eric Van Tassell can all testify to the inner workings of the "The Windy City's" theaters...

Lakeside Lab expands service for water testing (08/08/08)
By Caroline Rusk Special to the Daily Reporter Water testing in the Iowa Great Lakes region just became quicker, easier and more accessible for residents. Iowa Lakeside Laboratory and Regents Resource Center (ILLRRC) and the University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL) celebrated their new partnership to expand water quality services during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and program on Friday, Aug. ...

Classroom Collections to benefit over 490 students (08/06/08)
Classroom Collection - an annual project spearheaded by Southpark Mall and the KICD radio stations - once again will service the needs of Spencer area youth, collecting school supplies for over 490 students. Total cash contributions to the project totaled $4,300 and the items were unloaded at the Spencer Middle School Tuesday afternoon. ...

Pettitt birdie clinches sudden death title (08/05/08)
There were really two stories at work Sunday as the 87th Annual Northwest Am Golf Tournament entered the final 18 holes of play in the championship flight. Could Wade Pettitt and Trent Peterson continue to battle stroke-for-stroke for another round in the humid weather, with a heat index topping 100 degrees?...

Weary legs build long term character (07/30/08)
What started out 10 years ago as a run to raise money for a recreation center called "The Centre" serving several small communities in northeast Iowa has transformed into something much bigger. Approximately 20 to 25 runners, support vehicle drivers and chaperones, ranging in age from 9 to 54 spent the night in East Leach Park in Spencer, after having completed day eight in their state of Iowa run. ...

New educators to greet Spencer students Aug. 19 - 20 (07/29/08)
As Spencer high school and middle school students commence the 2008-09 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 19, they'll be greeted by a handful of new teachers, including Nicole Stauffer and Amy Metcalf. Elementary students, who'll mark a day of parent-teacher conferences that day, will meet up with new teachers Stephanie Anderson, Teresa Goehring, Brian Sand, John Hansel and Laura Van Otterloo in their respective classrooms on Aug. 20th...

School districts notified about budget course (07/29/08)
Statewide coverage Monday, surrounding a letter issued in March, raised some eyebrows about school budget deficits. The Okoboji School District received one of 60 Iowa Department of Education letters regarding a perceived trend toward negative unspent balances. The form letter was cited in news coverage Monday from Des Moines...

Ideas offered to trim district's transportation budget (07/25/08)
The Spencer school district's new transportation director presented several recommendations Thursday night aimed at trimming the district's transportation budget and combating high fuel prices. As Julie Nemmers reported to board members that Spencer's in-town bus system is often referred to locally as "a glorified taxi service," she then encouraged eliminating 16 of the over 140 bus stops within city limits...

Board to ready for 2008-09 school year Thursday (07/23/08)
Following a two-hour work session designed to review the new superintendent evaluation form, the Spencer Community Schools Board of Education will convene its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24 in the board room of the central administrative offices, located at 23 E. Seventh St...

Weekend poker ride nets ILCC scholarship dollars (07/22/08)
Over 200 participated in the sixth annual Iowa Lakes Foundation Scholarship poker ride. Saturday's event traversed from the college's Algona campus to its Emmetsburg, Spencer, Spirit Lake and Estherville campuses. "We raise anywhere from about $7,000 - $10,000 from this; so it's a nice fundraiser for us," said Shan Ray, Iowa Lakes Community College's executive director of institutional advancement. ...

Briefs 7-22-08 (07/22/08)
Young people and their families are invited to "Bee" at the library tonight at 6:30 p.m. for the "Pockets Full of Fun" program. Join Lisa Laird of Orange City, and her friends from "Pockets Full of Fun" as they learn about some interesting creatures in the insect world. ...

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...

Spencer native earns Buffett teaching award (07/15/08)
Initially, William "Bill" Scarborough believed the call notifying him that he was being honored with a prestigious teaching award was a joke. "I didn't believe it. I thought it was a joke because it's such an outstanding award for a teacher or an educator to receive," the physical education instructor at Burke High School in Omaha said of the Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award for 2008 he received recently...

Around Campus (07/14/08)
Augustana College's Dean's List for the 2008 spring semester cites the academic achievements of 520 students. Full-time students with grade point averages of 3.5 or higher are eligible for the Dean's List. Among them: Elizabeth Marie Davis of Spencer...

Spencer store hosting Aug. 2 Teacher Appreciation Day (07/14/08)
Staples wants to make it easy for teachers to have the tools they need to do their job by hosting a Teacher Appreciation Day at store locations across the country. Each year, teachers spend an average of $475 of their own money on classroom materials and supplies, according to a report, Teacher Buying Behavior 2006-2007, from Quality Education Data, Inc...

Celebrate and remember cancer survivors at the 5th annual Relay for Life (07/10/08)
When a doctor mentions "cancer" the world seems to come to an abrupt halt. Cancer, the second leading cause of death in this country, affects individuals at all ages and has no remorse. On July 12-13, the fifth annual Dickinson County Relay for Life will join cancer survivors with supporters and community members at the Okoboji High School Track. ...

Local soldiers to return home Friday (07/10/08)
After nearly a year on a peacekeeping mission to Kosovo, local soldiers are scheduled to come home Friday. With several local members of the military set to return to the area, parents, husbands, wives and children of soldiers are looking forward to having their loved ones home again...

Celebration Iowa Singers and Jazz Band to present show in Spirit Lake (07/09/08)
Celebration Iowa Singers and Jazz Band (formerly known as the State Fair Singers and Jazz Band), an elite ensemble of Iowa high school musicians, is pleased to announce their upcoming performance in Spirit Lake on Wednesday, Aug. 6. The show begins at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts...

School board filing period begins (07/08/08)
Candidates can begin filing for open seats on their local school board, but changes in Iowa law may affect how long they stay in office. The state moved away from holding school board elections annually following legislation passed in the 2008 session. Under the new law, school board elections will be held only in Septembers of odd-numbered years...

International banker McAlpine finds 'something more' in priesthood (06/20/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff It took Rev. Harry McAlpine a few years to respond to God's call. "I had other plans," the retired priest said with a smile this week while seated in his Spencer living room. Before entering the seminary 25 years ago, the Sheldon native spent nearly 25 years working for the former Northwestern National Bank, currently known as Wells Fargo. ...

Iowa Lakes soccer coming to Spencer (06/07/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff "When" is only half the story for local soccer fans: Starting in the fall of 2009, Iowa Lakes Community College will field mens and womens soccer programs. "Where" is a first for the college. The Lakers will play their games at the Spencer Soccer Plex, which is along 10th Avenue East near the site of the current Spencer Middle School...

Around Campus (06/02/08)
Missouri State University recently awarded scholarships to incoming students for the 2008-09 academic year. These students were selected from those who applied based on their ACT (American College Test) scores, standing in graduating class and leadership shown in the community and school activities...

Supervisors race features six candidates (05/31/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Republicans have a choice on the ballot as the party tries to find two nominees for a pair of available seats on the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Del Brockshus of Spencer is near the end of his fourth term. He has filed to run again...

The Parkersburg tornado:Former Royal woman's family starts again (05/30/08)
Home can't be home again until a structural engineer says it's OK to go back in. The family's show cattle are a source of pride -- and more than half of them are lost Dirt and water have likely ruined the furniture. The garage is gone. The in-laws, a mile away, lost their home completely...

Central Academy yields third round of goal accomplishers (05/30/08)
Seventeen Central Academy students observed a life accomplishment during a graduation celebration which took place Thursday evening in the Spencer school district's central administrative offices. Central Academy Instructor Anne Roberts opened the evening's proceedings with the story of a pancreatic cancer survivor who had been given six months to live, but recently marked his ninth month battling the disease...

Student volunteers recognized (05/30/08)
Spencer Middle School students who participated in the RSVP Student Service Project were recently recognized for their volunteer contributions to the community. Forty seventh and eighth graders contributed over 500 hours to non-profit organizations and public agencies during out-of-school time over the past school year...

SHS named 'School of the Year' by EF Foundation (05/29/08)
Spencer High School (SHS) is one of 32 schools nationwide to be recognized as a 2007-08 School of the Year by EF Foundation for Foreign Study. This award is given annually to high schools that make hosting exchange students a top priority and that foster environments of international awareness and cultural celebration...

Ambassadors thank board members for their efforts (05/29/08)
Spencer school board members Dean Mechler, Ed Ver Steeg, Barb Van Wyk and Les Zobrist, seated from left, along with Superintendent Greg Ebeling, back row far right, were appreciated Tuesday evening by members of the Spencer Ambassadors. "We're here to appreciate you for the thankless job you do," Tom Nelson told the volunteer board members. ...

One last celebration (05/27/08)
With an alarm blaring in the background, senior Abby Salton said the words that the class of 2008 had been waiting 13 years to hear one last time, "Class dismissed." Sunday afternoon, during commencement exercises in The Fieldhouse, the Spencer High School graduating class of 2008 shared a few laughs, some final tears and a resounding cheer as they launched their caps high into the air, signifying the "freedom" that only a high school graduate can understand...

History Day at Sacred Heart School (05/24/08)

Local athletes competing in Special Olympics Iowa games (05/23/08)
The Special Olympics of Iowa (SOI) will be holding its State Summer Games May 22-24 in Ames. Opening ceremonies, which commenced Thursday night in Hilton Coliseum, had Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy speaking, along with Special Oympics Global Messengers Tyler Leech and Shannon Hickey...

Local preschool teacher retiring after 26 years (05/23/08)
After 26 years of service to the Spencer Family YMCA Preschool, Marlis Kuiper is retiring from teaching. Over 1,800 area students are estimated to have been taught in Kuiper's classroom during her 33-year career as a Spencer educator. The gentle-natured 61-year-old, who is frequently described as being patient, kind and caring, was hired as a third grade teacher in the Spencer Community School District after graduating from Northwestern College in Orange City. ...

Iowa Lakes president makes Spencer stop (05/22/08)
Iowa Lakes Community College President Harold Prior said his institution's role in an emerging industry could be an economic development boost in the region. His remarks, about wind energy, came as part of a presentation Tuesday to the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Iowa Lakes has campus locations in Estherville, Spencer, Emmetsburg, Spirit Lake and Algona. Prior said he makes periodic stops to keep the region's five county boards of supervisors informed about the progress of the college...

Hand retires from college board (05/21/08)
The Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes Community College met in special session Tuesday to act on the retirement of a fellow trustee. The trustees accepted the retirement of John Hand, effective June 15. Hand served for two decades representing the Emmetsburg area...

Students encouraged to develop relationship with Jesus Christ (05/21/08)
Spencer High School seniors took part in Baccalaureate services held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Sunday evening. The service, which was conducted primarily by the student body, featured a message from middle school teacher and coach Wilson Hookfin who encouraged each one of the soon-to-be-graduates to make sure that among the many things they do as they move forward in life, that they make time to build a relationship with Jesus Christ. ...

Ruthven-Ayrshire mints 26 graduates (05/20/08)
Family members and friends joined Ruthven-Ayrshire High School faculty and administration Sunday afternoon to celebrate commencement exercises for the senior class of 2008. Twenty-six students were handed diplomas and shifted tassels -- marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives...

Meetings 5-20-08 (05/20/08)
The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 8 a.m., today in the conference room of the Administration Building on the Estherville campus. The board is scheduled to accept a retirement, and designate board authority to signs checks and contracts...

Iowa's Lighthouse Study: Improving student learning from the school board table (05/19/08)
What role does a school board play in improving student achievement? Spencer school board members have been exploring the answers to that question as participants in Iowa's Lighthouse Study this school year. The Lighthouse Study is the research done in Iowa that defines what school boards do in districts that have increased student achievement. Provided below are two important things that the Spencer school board is doing to have a positive effect on student learning...

Meetings 5-17-08 (05/19/08)
The Spencer City Council will hold a Committee of the Whole session at 5:15 p.m., Monday, May 19 in the conference room at City Hall. On the agenda: City Manager evaluation. --- The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 8 a.m., Tuesday, May 20 in the conference room of the Administration Building on the Estherville campus. The board is scheduled to accept a retirement, and designate board authority to signs checks and contracts...

Two 'High School Musical' stars to perform at Clay County Fair (05/17/08)
Corbin Bleu a star of Disney's High School Musical and High School Musical 2 and Drew Seeley, who co-starred with Bleu in the High School Musical: The Concert, will be appearing at the Clay County Fair, Sept. 13 -- the final Saturday night of the fair...

Spencer Honors English: National Writing Contest Winners (05/16/08)
Spencer High School's Honors English students have been named "Best Class" in the national writing contest sponsored by Penguin Books. The contest "Confessions of a Word Nerd" required students to submit personal essays of 1,500 to 3,000 words and correctly utilize 60 SAT vocabulary words. ...

Trustees set tuition at Iowa Lakes for upcoming year (05/15/08)
Tuition and fees for the 2008-2009 college year were approved by the Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes Community College at their meeting Tuesday afternoon in Spirit Lake. Student tuition for Iowa Residents (and Minnesota Residents) will be $120 per credit hour -- up $7 per credit hour from last year. ...

Spencer school retirees to be honored this afternoon (05/14/08)
Twelve Spencer school representatives have announced their decisions to retire at the end of the 2007-08 school year. With the upcoming departures of Macrina Tesch, Betty Brennan, Becky Dettmer, Noreen Meyer, Mick Ketchum, Maggie Nicks, Alan Pierce, Joe Enderlin, Penny Goedicke, Jan Johnson, Jo Ann Merrill and Pat Morisch, the school district will lose 301 years worth of service...