Occasions

Celebrating Lutheran Schools Week in hats, with cake (03/06/10)
To mark the final day of Lutheran Schools Week, to honor its "For a Lifetime of Service" theme and to celebrate his 60th birthday, Principal Dewey Torkelson served birthday cake to staff and students at Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School Friday afternoon. ...

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. ...

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...

Female bull rider's spirit honored with Try Award (01/07/10)
Alyssa Vanderhoff lived life to the fullest. She did it her own special way in what some believe to be a man's world. The 15-year-old's spirit -- and passion for bull riding -- was honored recently during a special tribute at the Extreme Bullriding Tour's finale. The finals championship hosted New Year's Eve in Madison, Neb., celebrated the conclusion of the 2009 season for the Extreme Bullriding Tour.

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.

75 years and still in love (12/03/09)
Hjelmer and Dorothy Huberg are rapidly approaching the celebration of another milestone in their lives. The couple, from Royal, plans to quietly mark their 75th wedding anniversary with family and friends later this month. Both clearly remember the day they wed as if it were yesterday. ...

A home for the holidays (11/28/09)
Amber Quail has two families to be thankful for this holiday season. One includes her daughter, Aubrey, who playfully scooted along the floor of her new home on a Sunday afternoon. It also includes Amber's father, Steve. He brings tears of gratitude to his daughter's eyes whenever she thinks of all the work that went into the house at 12 Hillside Boulevard...

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...

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. ...

75 years and still in love (10/16/09)
It's safe to say that Bob and Evelyn Lathrop "get along pretty good." The couple has weathered a lifetime of experiences, including the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and the dawning of a new millennium together. The Spencer pair, who have been together for over 75 years, recently celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary with family members, which includes four children, 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. ...

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. ...

Labor of love results in win (09/19/09)
A garment sewn with love earned its creator the top prize, Best Overall, in the Textile Division of the Creative Living Center of the Clay County Fair. Cindy McGranahan, who's daytime job is director of the Parker Historical Society of Clay County, took the honor with a wedding dress, designed and sewn for her son's fiancé...

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...

Sales tax holiday continues through Saturday (08/07/09)
Retailers are used to the routine by now, but the weekend's "sales tax holiday" in Iowa can still cause a bit of confusion, according to Iowa Department of Revenue spokeswoman Renee Mulvey. "First of all, it's just two days," she said. "It's only Friday and Saturday. It's not Sunday."...

'Patriots' return to protest health care reform (07/30/09)
A visit by Nathan Vander Plaats, staff member for Sen. Tom Harkin, to conduct a listening post on the issue of health care reform at the Spencer Public Library Wednesday morning, served as a call to arms for a small group of area Tea Party Patriots...

Eagles Club to close its doors (07/30/09)
A good night at the Eagles Club brought in $400. A really good night brought in $1,000. But there weren't enough of them. On Wednesday, organization leaders confirmed plans to end the local charter and close the Eagles Club at 422 First Avenue East...

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. ...

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)

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...

Graduation weekend arrives for area schools (05/16/09)
It's a weekend for punch bowls, sheet cakes and maybe a few tissues as diplomas are handed out to the Class of 2009. The Spencer School District is one of four area schools set to hold commencement Sunday. The 155 seniors in Spencer's 122nd graduating class will be recognized at the Spencer High School Fieldhouse. Doors will open one hour before the 2:30 p.m. event...

Spencer High School Prom and Clay Central-Everly Prom (04/24/09)
The junior class of Spencer High School requests the pleasure of your company for the Junior-Senior Prom on Saturday, April 25. A public viewing of "On the Cat Walk" will be offered from 2-3 p.m. at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer...

Hundreds join tax protest at Clay County Courthouse (04/16/09)
Wednesday's national tax day, tea party government spending protests weren't limited to state capitols and major metropolitan areas. About 275 people filled in around a makeshift podium on the courthouse square in Spencer for a local version of the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party. The event was organized by Kris Thiessen of Everly, who co-owns White Glove, a janitorial business in Spencer...

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.

Zellaha preparing for Afghanistan deployment (04/09/09)

Five SHS seniors encourage peers to attend alternative send-off (04/08/09)
Parents attended them in their high school days. Students today still look forward to them. The annual senior party has become a passage of sorts over the past few decades. The end-of-the-year gatherings orchestrated by graduating high school seniors tend to be larger than parties hosted throughout the school year. ...

Support being sought for new Senior Send-off party (04/08/09)
Following dismissal from their final high school class on May 14, the 181 Spencer High School, Central Academy and home-schooled seniors in the class of 2009 have the opportunity to take part in an alternative senior send-off get-together being sponsored by their parents. This first annual event is scheduled from 7:30-11:30 p.m. at Oneota Park in Spencer...

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. ...

Nominees sought for outstanding Iowa Lakes alumni award (01/09/09)
The Iowa Lakes Community College Alumni & Friends Association is seeking nominations for the 18th annual Jim Hall Outstanding Alumni Award. The association presents this award annually at the college's spring commencement ceremony at the Estherville campus to a past graduate who is outstanding in service to community, business, school and/or service club...

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...

Closed for the holiday (12/24/08)
The Daily Reporter office will close today at noon for the Christmas holiday, and doors will reopen again a 8 a.m. Friday morning. There will not be a paper on Christmas Day, but delivery will resume on Friday.

Thunder Bridge: Holiday-lit attraction marks 10th year (12/23/08)
Spencer's Fourth Street West hosts a well-known landmark during the holiday season. Beginning at dawn and lasting until dusk, Thunder Bridge is illuminated with Christmas lights. "We think it's a great thing to have. And, of course, the bridge is something that's highly noticeable. It's a good entrance from the west and it gets people in a holiday mood," Bob Rose, the Spencer Chamber of Commerce and Spencer Mainstreet Program director, said of the annual holiday mainstay...

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...

Holiday Adoption final drop off date Saturday (12/19/08)
The time is here! Ninety families are already on their way to a merrier Christmas, thanks to the generosity of Northwest Iowans. Now it's time to gather the gifts in anticipation of delivery by the Spencer Volunteer Firemen, UPS drivers and Spencer Rotary members...

'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...

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