Political Unrest

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...

Caucuses kick off election season (01/26/10)
What a difference two years can make. On Jan. 3, 2008, about 900 Democrats met across Clay County and more than 600 Republicans convened to participate in the Iowa Caucuses. While Saturday marked the 2010 Iowa Caucuses, participation numbers were anemic with eight Democrats gathering at Iowa Lakes Community College as about 60 Republicans assembled at the Clay County Regional Events Center...

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...

The unbreakable bond of friends (01/04/10)
Before South Clay, there was Gillett Grove Consolidated School. Four students from the former school's class of 1939 remain steadfast comrades to this day. They've also stayed avid supporters of the northwest Iowa community they grew up in. ...

Paying tribute to a SHS 'stairwell hero' (11/12/09)
The new picture of a Spencer High School "stairwell hero" was dedicated during a Veterans Day program held Wednesday on Dale Norton Field. The students and staff members who filled the bleachers overlooking the SHS football field learned of Leonard Borchard Jr. during the ceremony. An older, faded picture of the 1966 SHS graduate had graced the stairwell leading from their building's student center to its first floor classrooms.

Fourteen sentenced in lakes region meth ring (11/06/09)
"Drug dealers out there, we're coming to a town near you." This message provided courtesy of Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow in the aftermath of sentencing that will result in over 2,000 months of combined jail time for 14 individuals associated with a drug trafficking ring in northwest Iowa...

Local guard units alerted for deployment (10/23/09)
Local guard members have received word they may be part of the largest single unit mobilization of the Iowa National Guard since World War II. The call-up alert for deployment in the fall of 2010 includes units in Spencer, Storm Lake, Estherville, Sheldon, Algona and Le Mars. About 3,500 soldiers around the state from the 2nd Brigade of the 34th Infantry Division were alerted over the weekend, according to guard spokesman Maj. Michael Wunn. A formal announcement was made Tuesday...

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." ...

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."...

2004 'Citizen of the Year' Veitch passes (07/02/09)
Just a month before he was named the 2004 Spencer "Citizen of the Year," Don Veitch was interviewed and shared a philosophy that identified the kind of person he was: "There are no bad days. Some days are just better than others." Wednesday, Spencer lost one of its icons. Veitch, 91, passed away at Spencer Hospital. Funeral arrangements are pending at Warner Funeral Home of Spencer...

More on Don Veitch (07/01/09)
The Greenville native, with expressive eyes and a subtle smile, can paint a rosy picture for even the grimmest of tales. Don Veitch's long-held philosophy is: "There are no bad days. Some days are just better than others." The 86-year-old Spencer resident was handed a "real low number" over six decades ago, which meant he didn't have very long to wait before being drafted...

Spencer grad touts skills learned in debate (06/09/09)
Mark Woolsey credits a Spencer High School teacher and his 1976 start in debate with opening several of the most important doors in his life. Several of those doors have extended onto the international level. The 49-year-old son of Joanne Woolsey, who formerly served as the director of nursing at Longhouse Nursing Home, and the late James Woolsey, who served as a podiatrist in Spencer, has worked the past seven years as a speech and debate instructor at Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz. The 1979 SHS graduate also debated in college on scholarship. Woolsey met his wife, Denise, while both were members of the collegiate debate team. On his way to rebuild flood-damaged homes in Cedar Rapids this past weekend with Sara Krogshede, the foreign exchange student from Denmark the Woolseys have hosted this past school year, the two stopped at Mel and Jan Myers' place in Spencer. There, he fondly recalled the interaction he'd had with other high school students as a debater, deeming it a "great cultural learning experience" for him. ...

Hundreds pay tribute to fallen soldier (05/05/09)
American flags surrounded Army Staff Sgt. LeRoy Webster's old high school, and the graying soldiers of wars past arrived by the busload Saturday to honor the Hartley man who lost his life while serving his country. In all, about 700 people attended Webster's memorial service at the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School gym. ...

Bond package concludes 2009 session (05/02/09)
The best thing about the 2009 Legislative session? The adjournment, according to the state senator and state representative serving Spencer and the Iowa Great Lakes. "The winners are the Iowa taxpayers because we're now out of session," said Assistant Republican Leader David Johnson. "We can't do any more damage than we already did."...

Governor: Flags to be flown at half-staff for Webster (05/01/09)
Gov. Chet Culver ordered that all flags in the state be flown at half-staff Saturday from 8 a.m. until sunset in honor of 28-year-old Staff Sgt. LeRoy Webster who died April 25 while serving in Iraq. Staff Sgt. Webster graduated in 1999 from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High school. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn gymnaisium. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley...

Remembering Sgt. Webster (04/30/09)
An Army soldier from northwest Iowa made the ultimate sacrifice on Saturday, April 25 after being shot while on a dismounted patrol near Kirkuk, Iraq. Sgt. LeRoy Webster, 28, of Hartley, is known as a "hero" by his wife, Jessica, and their three daughters: Natasha, 9, Kaydence, 5, and Jadyn, 2...

Hartley native killed in Iraq (04/28/09)

Officers lobby for sex offender law reforms (04/22/09)
Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow was among the group of officers and prosecutors Monday night who called on the Legislature overhaul Iowa's sex abuse laws. Krukow supports a proposed bill, which divides persons convicted of a sexual offense into three tiers. ...

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...

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

Leading by example (02/28/09)
Laying in a hospital bed with nothing to look at but the ceiling for two months would drive most men crazy. It took its toll on Broghan Hawley, too. Just ask him. Two weeks into basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, Hawley slipped from the top of a 30-foot rope, burning his hands all the way down, and breaking bones in his left leg as he hit the ground. ...

Briefs for 2/18/09 (02/18/09)
Join the Okoboji Women's Connection at the Inn at Okoboji at 12:30 p.m. today for "Heart of the Occasion." Cost for the luncheon is $10. Jan Ostroot of South Haven, Minn., will be the speaker with her talk "Peace in any Circumstance." Learn how to overcome life's difficult situations from a woman who discovered the secret to contentment no matter the crisis. ...

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)...

Lincoln to commemorate 16th President's 200th birthday (02/13/09)
Stan DeHaan, impersonator of the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, walked in to the hushed gymnasium in a stately manner at Albert City Truesdale School last week; the resemblance was uncanny. He spoke softly, sharing bits and pieces of Lincoln's life, stressing his involvement in the Civil War and reciting the Gettysburg Address and a portion of the inaugural address and his farewell speech given as he left his home in Springfield, Ill. ...

Ralph E. Miller (11/28/08)
Ralph Edward Miller, 86, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Jackson, Minn., passed away Monday, Nov. 24, 2008, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. A celebration of Ralph's life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake...

Many weather snow to honor veterans (11/12/08)
With inclement weather stretched across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, many scheduled Veterans Day ceremonies were cancelled. But with snow falling all around him, Brigadier General Allen J. Smith, retired Commander of the Iowa Air National Guard reminded those gathered at the Clay County Veterans Memorial, just north of Spencer Municipal Utilities on Grand Avenue, that those that were being honored Tuesday had endured far worse...

Vietnam veteran proud of family's military service (11/11/08)
An upstairs room in Gerald "Gerry" Johnson's Clay County farmhouse is filled to the brim with items representing well over 100 years of family military service. The wall jutting from the room's door frame proudly hosts three framed, embroidered military patches of Johnson's late father and two late uncles. ...

Briefs 11/08/08 (11/08/08)
A bake sale will be held by the Friends of Collin Hanson as a fundraiser at Southpark Mall today. --- The First Christian Church at 701 E. 18th St., Spencer, is hosting the Angel Food Ministry. Boxes of food may be ordered containing fresh meats, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, and staple items. ...

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...

Dardis plans recovery before retirement (11/08/08)
Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis isn't exactly easing into retirement. Thank the governor for part of that: Following the floods of 2008, Gov. Chet Culver appointed Dardis to serve as the Chairman of the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission. "General Dardis was one of the first people I turned to in order to lead our efforts to rebuild Iowa after this year's historic storms, and we are all fortunate that he will continue to serve in this important role for our state," Culver said...

Time to pick a president (11/04/08)
Polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, in Clay County for the 2008 General Election. Voting will take place at 13 voting precincts as follows: - Lake/Freeman -- at Dickens Community Center, 302 Main St., Dickens - Meadow/Sioux -- at VFW Club, 15 East 21st St., Spencer...

Briefs 9-26-08 (09/26/08)
"Artisans Road Trip: Before and After," currently on display at Arts on Grand, showcases over twenty-five of the regional artists involved in Artisans Road Trip 2008, which takes place on the weekend of Oct. 4--5. The artists reception for the exhibit will be at 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, with a gallery talk at 5:30 p.m. The public is cordially invited to come and meet some of the artists for conversation and refreshments...

'Dewey' story debuts at No. 13 (09/26/08)
Boba Fagena. Sounds like a character from the Star Wars franchise. In actuality, it's the name of the Spencer City Manager in the Polish version of "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World." Other Spencer residents have "owi" attached to their names in the foreign version...

New school board members welcomed, former SMS first-floor study approved (09/24/08)
The past service of two one-term Spencer school board members was recognized as two new people took their positions around the board table Tuesday night. In the presentation of the Sept. 9 election abstract for the two at-large board director positions up for grabs, it was reported that Dean Mechler and Les Zobrist received 274 and 210 votes respectively. ...

Briefs 9-12-08 (09/12/08)
The Dickinson County Friends of CAASA are proud to present their Second Annual Sweet Escape on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 7-10 p.m. at the Pierson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji. Local dessert makers will be preparing succulent desserts that will be judged by attendees. Local artists will be offering special pieces for auction with, and area musicians win providing entertainment...

Briefs 9-11-08 (09/11/08)
The Clay County Farm Service Agency will host USDA informational meeting at 1 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 11, at Frederick's of Royal, located at 303 Main St. in Royal. The meeting will provide information on SURE (Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program), which was enacted as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), to provide supplemental disaster assistance...

Candidate for Congress makes fair stop (09/10/08)
Congress "doesn't look at the problems, they don't answer the problems," according to Rob Hubler, the Democratic nominee who will challenge U.S. Rep. Steve King for the 5th District seat serving western Iowa in Congress. Hubler made his remarks Tuesday morning during a visit to the Clay County Democrats booth on the Clay County Fairgrounds...

Veterans honored in special ceremony (09/09/08)

Former Congressman Bedell named chairman of Hubler's campaign (09/02/08)
COUNCIL BLUFFS -- Berkley Bedell, who served western Iowa in the U. S. House of Representatives for 12 years, will serve as General Chairman of the Hubler for Congress Committee, it was announced today by the Hubler campaign. Bedell, who founded Berkley and Company in Spirit Lake in 1945 after returning from World War II, will join Hubler on Wednesday on a six-city swing the campaign is calling the "Bringing Back Real Representation Tour." Hubler, the Democratic nominee for Congress in Iowa's 5th district, has used "Real Representation" as his campaign slogan.. ...

Obama sketches promise of America (08/29/08)
DENVER -- Barack Obama cast his presidential nomination as proof that no dreams are too high, savoring a historic moment for himself and the nation Thursday before setting out on a difficult struggle to break another barrier for a black American. Obama's success in obtaining the Democratic nomination was indeed a remarkable achievement, reached despite the misgivings of some Americans uncomfortable with electing the son of an African immigrant -- not "the typical pedigree," as he put it...

Biden no stranger to Spencer Democrats (08/26/08)
U.S. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware hoped for the top spot on the ticket less than a year ago when he stopped at the Clay County Fair. Friday he was selected as presumptive nominee Barack Obama's running mate. Democrats hope Biden's expertise in foreign policy and his blue-collar appeal will be a draw for voters in the Nov. 4 general election...

Official: Obama picks Biden for veep (08/23/08)

Briefs 8-21-08 (08/21/08)
The Spencer Family Aquatic Center will now only be open on the weekends of Aug .23-24 and Aug. 30-31. It will also be open on Monday, Sept. 1, Labor Day until 5 p.m. at which time it will close for the season. --- A new Spencer Area Singles group will meet at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Pederson Park concession stand. Questions, call Tim at 260-0616...

Opening day of school (08/21/08)
The first day of classes for the 2008-09 school year at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Spencer commenced Wednesday with students and staff members parading outside to witness a flag presentation and flag-raising ceremony. The tradition began in 1970, when the building was officially opened and the late Bob Conlon, an Army corporal who served in World War II, presented a flag to school representatives and students...

Funny Barn favorite Foss returns (08/14/08)
West Virginia native Tom Foss will return to the Funny Barn for a third straight year. Foss will entertain from the local stage, beginning Friday night, for a four show run concluding Saturday night. Prior to his return in 2006, Foss toured the Middle East with a group called, "Comics on Duty," performing for the United States troops. ...

Harkin 'dismayed' by McCain's Paris Hilton ad (08/08/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Large infrastructure projects and energy cost concerns were part of the discussion as U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin held a "Moving Iowa Forward" caf� stop Thursday morning at the Family Table Restaurant in Spencer. Along with local concerns, he also talked about national politics as the national nominating conventions approach for the major parties...

Briefs 8-06-08 (08/06/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Ride with American pride (07/28/08)
Support all of America's military, past and present, by joining in today's road trip. From a 10: 30 a.m. start at the American Legion in Le Mars, the ride will trek to the VFW in Cherokee and the American Legion in Storm Lake before finishing around 5 p.m. ...

Rare Boeing 40C crashed in Oregon in 1928 (07/26/08)
By Jim Camden Spokesman-Review staff writer When the big Boeing biplane lifts off from Felts Field this afternoon, its open cockpit and wood-paneled passenger cabin will carry the history of American aviation back into the skies. It will fly again after nearly 70 years on a mountainside, a few years in a horse trailer, and nine years in a hangar at Felts, where some 61 volunteers spent about 18,000 hours meticulously restoring it to life...

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