Personnel

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...

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...

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.. ...

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. ...

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. ...

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. ...

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.

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. ...

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.

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...

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. ...

Governor appoints Clay County native IDED director (12/29/09)
DES MOINES -- Governor Chet Culver continued his efforts to reorganize state government by making two new appointments for key government positions. In addition, the Governor took further steps to streamline state government by moving a key housing program from the Department of Economic Development to the Iowa Finance Authority...

Shine Bros. receives DOT rail grant (12/12/09)
The Iowa Department of Transportation on Tuesday included funding for a Spencer scrap recycling company in its latest round of Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant program awards. A total of $311,071 was awarded to the Shine Bros. Corporation at an Iowa Department of Transportation Commission meeting Tuesday. The funding package includes a $206,071 loan and a $105,000 grant...

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...

City, employees agree: 1 percent increase (12/08/09)
The city and the Spencer Employees Association concluded negotiations Monday night following Spencer City Council approval of a one-year contract. The agreement received unanimous support and calls for a 1 percent across-the-board increase in the salary matrix for city employees...

36 ag jobs saved by union vote, department to look at program cuts (12/08/09)
As he trudges through the mud at his farm east of Spirit Lake, one has to wonder if Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is drawing comparisons to the muddy condition of Iowa's finances. "We'll do what we have to do," he says with a glint of optimism. "Our businesses and citizens in the state are hurting because of the current economy, so obviously the state has less money as well."...

State cuts taking a toll on NW Iowa (12/05/09)
"The first cut is the deepest," muses a classic song. The global economic crisis has hit home belatedly, but with full force, in Iowa and local communities this season. The bleeding can be felt from the slashes in school budgets to the trauma of sudden job losses...

Freudenberg-NOK to close Spencer plant (10/14/09)

Group advancing Silver Lake improvements (10/09/09)
Although there are four Silver Lakes in Iowa -- in Dickinson, Worth, Delaware and Palo Alto counties -- a group interested in the 640-acre body of water in Palo Alto County formally organized this week, with intentions of making more improvements around their recently-developed lake. The group met until the late hours of Monday night, deciding it's time to incorporate as a nonprofit organization in order to see this goal through...

J&G shows green not just for John Deere (10/01/09)

Ribbon cutting Tuesday for newest Clay County green facility (09/26/09)
With the assistance of Iowa Lakes Resource Conservation and Development, J&G Regional Services, Inc. and its owners, Julie and Gary Hoefling, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. The event celebrates J&G Regional Services, Inc., located at 1601 35th Ave. W. in Spencer, the newest green facility in Clay County...

Bomgaars expanding, moving south in Spencer (09/24/09)
The former Kmart building in south Spencer is getting new life. Sioux City-based Bomgaars Supply announced plans to relocate its Spencer store from the current spot on the north edge of Spencer to the former Kmart location. Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2002. The Spencer location, across from the Southpark Mall, was closed in July of that year. It reopened as a storage and distribution warehouse for a time, but has recently been vacant...

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...

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...

School board expected to ratify agreements reached (05/23/09)
A portion of the Spencer school board meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening will have board members contemplating approval of tentative agreements reached with the district's teachers, administrators, non-union staff members and supervisors for next school year...

Asher Motors spared in Chrysler restructuring (05/15/09)
Two kinds of letters went out to Chrysler's 3,200 dealerships Thursday. Asher Motor Company President Ken Kahley got the better one. "We are pleased to inform you on May 14th, Chrysler designated your Sales and Service Agreement(s) to be assumed and assigned to a new company that is purchasing the primary operating assets of Chrysler," it said...

City may end recycling contract (05/05/09)
Spencer City Council members voted to end a recycling contract and moved forward with a 3 percent pay raise for some city staff as part of its meeting Monday night. Last July, Complete Recovery, the city's recycling partner, agreed to take recycling materials at no charge and agreed to pay the city 40 percent of the cardboard revenues...

City salaries on council agenda (05/02/09)
Members of the Spencer City Council will consider a 3 percent pay increase for some city employees as part of Monday night's regular meeting. A finance and personnel committee meeting begins at 5:30 p.m., with the council meeting to follow an hour later at Spencer City Hall...

Two year contract approved with support staff (05/01/09)
Spencer school board members ratified a two-year contract with the district's support staff for 2009-10 Thursday night. The 1.71 percent, or $45,090 total package increase, approved for members of Local 821 of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Union (UE) includes $15,606 to age the salary schedule next year and $29,484 to add $756 to insurance...

Two-year contract approved with Spencer's support staff (05/01/09)
Spencer school board members ratified a two-year contract with the district's support staff for 2009-10 Thursday night. The 1.71 percent, or $45,090 total package increase, approved for members of Local 821 of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Union (UE) includes $15,606 to age the salary schedule next year and $29,484 to add $756 to insurance. Spencer's superintendent and board members all expressed their appreciation for the union members' response during the current tightly-stretched budget times.

Spencer students compete at NASA (04/25/09)
With funding from the Spencer Schools Foundation, eight Spencer High School students and two teachers traveled to NASA in Houston, Texas. Abby Bedore, Aaron Brockshus, Craig Cunningham, Sara Dillard, Tyler Kramer, Mary Krull, Nick Lewis and Andrew Upah, chaperoned by teachers Dave Munson and Elli Wiemers, joined approximately 180 other students and chaperones from 24 northwest Iowa schools on a five-day trip to the Space Settlement Design Contest at Johnson Space Center in Houston...

Spencer Hospital narrows CEO search (04/17/09)
Board of trustees chairman John Rahn said Spencer Hospital could be less than two weeks away from naming its next chief executive officer. Rahn and Neal Conover are the board representatives on a committee that reviewed eight resum�s supplied by the executive search firm Witt/Kieffer, from a field of 130 prospects...

Same-sex couple looking forward to marriage in northwest Iowa (04/14/09)
Lee and Tony are eager to celebrate their 15th anniversary together. Ecstatic about an April 3 Iowa Supreme Court ruling unanimously rejecting a state law restricting marriage to a union between a man and woman, the same-sex couple hope to formally mark April 18, 2010, with their wedding...

IOSHA safety training available in Spencer (03/28/09)
Iowa Workforce Development has announced a training course as part of an effort to reduce incidents of injury or illness to workers by enhancing the ability to identify and control safety and health hazards. Employers can learn about potential hazards at their worksites and improve their occupational safety and health management systems by using IOSHA's consultation services and training opportunities...

Hospital CEO search narrows (03/14/09)
A search that began with about 130 inquiries for the Spencer Hospital CEO position appears to be narrowing quickly. Witt/Kieffer consultants Janet Oppenheimer and Beth Nelson, from the executive search firm's Oak Brook, Ill. office, presented eight resum�s to the hospital's search committee Wednesday night...

County, former employee settle federal lawsuit (03/05/09)
A former Clay County employee will receive a $105,000 settlement from the county's insurance provider to settle a dispute over her 2007 dismissal. Sally L. Becker, a former employee in the Clay County Treasurer's and Recorder's offices, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the county on Dec. 27, 2007, at the U.S. District Courthouse in Sioux City...

Board makes final budget decision (02/27/09)
With a few tears shed, a handful of harsh words exchanged and plenty of emotional public input, Spencer school board members voted to keep nine items above the cut line for 2009-10 Thursday night. At a cost of $348,176, these included an elementary classroom teacher, a vocational agriculture instructor and FFA sponsor position, the debate program, the mock trial and boys swimming programs, a high school social studies instructor, two middle school basketball coaches' salaries, a $103,593 package tied to full-time benefits for 15 teacher and library associates, and Activities Director Roger Johnson's position.. ...

Spencer administration to take hit in 2009-10 budget cuts (02/25/09)
As Spencer school board members readjusted potential items and positions they plan to reduce next school year to keep the district's general fund balance in the black during a work session held last night, two people's positions -- a maintenance person and the activities director role -- and a portion of a third person's were dropped below the cut line. The moves, which followed feedback received during a public hearing held Saturday, would put potential reductions at the $700,000 mark...

Board suggests residents pay for some transportation (02/21/09)
Spencer school board members threw a late twist in their 2009-10 budget-cutting discussions Thursday night as they moved to reduce discretionary in-town busing and turn it into a pay-for situation. The very last motion made during the evening work session -- approved 3-2, with Todd Korbitz and Marti Bomgaars dissenting, -- moved the $25,127 discretionary transportation item below the proposed cut line...

School board considering $1.09 million for potential reduction (02/18/09)
As Spencer school board members prepare to enter a work session focused on potential budget cuts associated with next year's budget Thursday night, they added to the paperwork and insights they've compiled to date with additional input garnered last night from local residents who've volunteered to serve on a budget reduction input committee (BRIC)...

Eggs and Issues No. 2: Labor issues and taxes (02/17/09)
Labor issues and taxes, which are taking center stage this week as the Iowa Legislature enters its sixth week, also were at the center of several heated comments made during Saturday morning's Eggs and Issues session as the political ideologies of Sen. Jack Kibbie (D-Emmetsburg) and Rep. Marcie Frevert (D-Emmetsburg) differed with those of Sen. David Johnson (R-Ocheyedan) and Rep. Mike May (R-Spirit Lake)...

STATE'S ISAC BOARD SWORN IN (02/07/09)
Gary Anderson, Appanoose County Sheriff, was elected to serve as the 2009 President of the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Board of Directors during the ISAC Fall School of Instruction. Anderson's term as President began on Jan. 1, 2009. Iowa State Senator Paul McKinley (Senate District 36) swore in Anderson and other members of the ISAC Board of Directors during the association's January board meeting in Des Moines...

School board to discuss student expulsions, fuel tank addition (01/24/09)
The Spencer Community Schools Board of Education will convene its regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 in the board room of the central administrative offices, located at 23 E. Seventh St. Under consent items listed on the agenda, the board is scheduled to consider approval of its Dec. 18 and Jan. 8 meeting minutes, bills and financial reports, open enrollment requests, and personnel recommendations...

Eaton: Furloughed workers won't be coming back (01/22/09)
Company officials with industrial parts and systems maker Eaton Corp. on Wednesday confirmed plans to eliminate 129 positions at the Spencer plant. The new cuts will include the 103 Spencer employees who received an involuntary layoff notice from the company in late December...

Residents to start tackling school budget cuts Monday (01/17/09)
The 25 "additional" budget packages being offered for consideration by community residents at 7 p.m. Monday night (See "2009-10 Spencer School Additional Budget Packages" on Page 2) total a potential $823,000 worth of staff positions and programs which could be trimmed from Spencer school district's 2009-10 budget...

RR Donnelley closing, Spencer to lose 160 jobs (01/14/09)
R. Scott Bigelow, the vice president of human resources at RR Donnelley, on Tuesday informed city leaders that the company plans to close its Spencer location. The decision will leave 160 employees out of work. "RR Donnelley regretfully has reached the decision to permanently close our facility located at 520 Second Avenue East," Bigelow said, in the company's letter to Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson. ...

Library seeking replacement for Walk (01/14/09)
Spencer Public Library Director Kay Larson, who was authorized to purchase a laptop computer for patron use recently, is currently fielding a "pretty good list of candidates" for the position formerly held by Mary Walk. Walk, who officially shelved her last children's book as the Spencer library's children's librarian on Dec. 31, 2008, was recognized for her 33 years of service at the library with a come-and-go coffee held the afternoon of Jan. 6...

No more pets at Spencer Public Library (01/09/09)
Even though Spencer Public Library representatives have received numerous "offers, requests and inquiries" about hosting another potential resident library cat -- all of which have been turned down -- board members voted unanimously Thursday night to establish a "permanent prohibition against having pets in residence at the library."...

School's budget reduction timeline set (12/19/08)
As Spencer school board members were presented with a timeline and process to trim at least $340,803 from the district's 2009-10 budget, one potential budget-reduction action was taken in agreeing to offer an early-retirement policy for next school year. The board was then alerted to another financial snafu...

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