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Briefs 10-2-08 (10/02/08)
Join us at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) from 9-11 a.m. today at Hope Reformed Church in the Fellowship Hall. This year's theme "Adventure" will be featured at the meeting. Come find out what it is all about. There will be an abundance of fun and fellowship, with food and drinks provided by the Steering Committee...

Briefs 10-1-08 (10/01/08)
Join us at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2 at Hope Reformed Church in the Fellowship Hall. This year's theme "Adventure" will be featured at the meeting. Come find out what it is all about. There will be an abundance of fun and fellowship, with food and drinks provided by the Steering Committee. If you have any questions, please contact one of the MOPS co-coordinators, Cassie McCreary 240-0298 or Andrea Crew. Childcare is provided starting at 8:45 a.m...

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. ...

ILCC wind tech students may transfer to UI under agreement (09/19/08)
The University of Iowa College of Engineering and Iowa Lakes Community College of Estherville, Iowa, have signed an agreement that will allow some Iowa Lakes students to transfer to either the UI Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering or the UI Department of Mechanical Engineering, effective fall semester 2009...

Iowa Lakes Corridor announces success attracting new residents (09/11/08)
One late night back in May, Aaron Schulz, former resident of Lakeville, Minn., sent an e-mail to Shaun Arneson, vice president with Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation inquiring about jobs here in the region. The next morning, his resume was sent to more than 70 employers. By the end of the day, Aaron had two job interviews scheduled...

Briefs 9-05-08 (09/05/08)
Fair booster tickets will be sold individually for $5 each, a savings of $2 from the regular daytime gate admission price for adults. Individuals and businesses may take advantage of the savings by purchasing tickets from a fair booster ticket location or a fair booster representative prior to 5 p.m. ...

Briefs 9-04-08 (09/04/08)
Arts on Grand will host an "open mic" event at 7 p.m. tonight. This is an excellent opportunity for local artists to share their talents in a casual, supportive environment. Interested musicians, poets, or anyone else who would like to take part may sign up in advance at Arts on Grand or just show up that evening...

2008 Clay County graduates score above national average on ACTs (09/02/08)
While average scores on the ACT college entrance exam dipped slightly for the high school class of 2008 as the number of students taking the exam on the national scene jumped by 9 percent compared to last year, students' composite scores increased slightly in Iowa...

Briefs 8-29-08 (08/29/08)
A retirement coffee for Elmer Williams, city of Spencer street superintendent, will take place from 2-4 p.m. today in council chambers at City Hall. --- The Photography Department will be accepting entries from 12-7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. The photography department is now located just east of the Pork Producers Chop Shop and directly south of the outdoor horse arena. Pre-registration is encouraged...

Payne escapes prison time in conviction (08/27/08)
Despite an emotional appeal from the victim and her mother in court Monday, Kyle Dean Payne will serve no prison sentence for his conviction on three crimes related to an incident in which he partially stripped an unconscious fellow Buena Vista University student, photographed himself fondling her body, and later installed the images and video on his computer...

AREA SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES PROFILED - CC/E candidate answers questions (08/26/08)
One position with the Clay Central/Everly school board is up for grabs in the upcoming Sept. 9 election. Clay Central/Everly candidate Brad Phelps, of 209 S. Washington in Everly, is featured today. The one-term board member has filed nomination papers for another one-year term for the District 2 seat he currently holds...

Board to commit financially to SMS auditorium design study (08/23/08)
The Spencer Community Schools Board of Education will convene its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 in the board room of the central administrative offices, located at 23 E. Seventh St. Approval of consent items, including minutes from the July 24 and Aug. 13 board meetings, bills, student open enrollment applications, and personnel recommendations will be sought...

Briefs 8-19-08 (08/19/08)
The Iowa Great Lakes Region Antique Automobile Club will be on display through Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Southpark Mall in south Spencer. Car enthusiasts and history buffs will enjoy this display. On Aug. 24 The Hands of Harmony Swinging Seniors will be entertaining us at 2:30 p.m. Come enjoy the display and entertainment...

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...

Briefs 8-13-08 (08/13/08)
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hartley, is sponsoring a community-wide benefit for the family of Jan Hall to help defray medical bills incurred during Jan's battle with illness. The free-will dinner and auction will be held at the Hartley Community Center on Thursday, Aug. ...

Briefs 8-12-08 (08/12/08)
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...

Car enthusiasts showcase beauties (08/12/08)
The Old Iron Company's 30th Annual Micro-Mini Nationals celebration brought hundreds of drivers and passengers of classic, custom, street rods and muscle cars to Spencer and Arnolds Park this past weekend. Over 200 registrants from Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas and Arizona arrived in Spencer Friday night for a kickoff party and car show, where this gray 1937 Chevrolet owned by John Vetter of Ames and this red 1957 Chevrolet owned by Jim and Paulette Tuton of Spencer were displayed. ...

Will rural public safety be pinched by FCC action? (08/07/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff Law enforcement officials, like many individuals today, depend on cell phones to keep in contact with others. But if this form of communication is not supported adequately by cell phone towers and other related-infrastructure, which occurs in some rural areas yet today, individuals may find themselves placed at a disadvantage...

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...

Soybean producers invited to Everly event (08/05/08)
Interested farmers from Crop District 1 in northwest Iowa are invited to hear from two Iowa State University (ISU) experts at a special event sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and the Iowa Pork Producers Association on August 19. The event, which is part of ISA's All in a Day's Work program, will feature ISU Climatologist Elwynn Taylor talking about crop weather in 2008 and beyond and Professor of Economics Dermot Hayes on balancing food and fuel and the prospects for pork exports...

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...

Advocates push for revamped drug penalties in Iowa (07/16/08)
DES MOINES (AP) -- Some Iowa lawmakers and legal advocates say state drug laws that include methamphetamine and crack cocaine penalties need to be revamped. A legislative study committee agreed Wednesday to take steps that could lead to a major revision to the state's drug laws. Some say the laws are unfair or racially biased...

Jack and the Beanstalk opens July 8 (07/09/08)
In this age-old story, Jack and his mother are struggling as prices and taxes rise. During Jack's search for help he climbs an enormous beanstalk and discovers a giant's world! Jack must rescue the singing harp and goose that lays golden eggs before the giant discovers him...

2008 Clay County Pork Producers scholarships awarded (05/30/08)
The Clay County Pork Producers recently awarded eight high school seniors with scholarships totaling $4,200. These scholarships, which are awarded at the beginning of the second semester of college, were awarded to: Heather Clark, the daughter of Steve and Jolene Clark of Hartley. She is a graduate of Clay Central/Everly (CCE) High School and plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa and major in biology...

City marks 44th Memorial Day program (05/27/08)
From the War for Independence to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the sacrifices of fellow Americans span more than 230 years. Monday was a day to pay tribute to the nation's fallen war heroes. In Spencer, cars lined up along the streets leading to Riverside Cemetery -- site of the city's 44th Memorial Day program. Maj. Neil Schroeder was on hand as the keynote speaker...

Schroeder to keynote 44th Memorial Day ceremonies (05/24/08)
By Amy Quail Daily Reporter Staff Maj. Neil Schroeder will be the keynote speaker at this year's Memorial Day ceremony at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. The graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. is a trained computer and information officer and has assisted on several operations, including Operation Allied Force, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. ...

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. ...

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...

Hospital to unveil Women's Center (05/06/08)
Susan Zulk, Public Relations and Marketing Director...

Goeken named Presidential Scholar (05/02/08)
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spell-ings announced Thursday the selection of Nolan R. Goeken of Spencer, who attends Spencer High School in Spencer, as a 2008 Presidential Scholar. Goeken is one of 139 outstanding American high school seniors who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and service at school and in their community. ...

SMS spring vocal concert tonight (04/22/08)
Spencer's seventh and eighth grade choirs will present a spring vocal concert tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the old Spencer Middle School auditorium. Seventh grade soloists will include: Heaven French, Taylor Glover, Courtney Heikens, Deb Hoffman, Laura Thiesse, Natalie Thiesse, Daly Tighe and Hanna Zinn. ...

Council green lights sewer study (04/22/08)
A Storm/Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study was given the go ahead during Monday night's Spencer City Council meeting. The study will serve as the first step in an extensive process designed to help the city comply with an EPA mandate handed down approximately eight months ago, requiring the city to eliminate its combined storm and sanitary sewer systems...