Production Facilities

Public's input sought on district facilities (02/25/10)
Local representatives believe the Spencer school district is in need of a new long-term facility plan. And, they're searching for a few people who'd like to offer their input on the matter. "The district needs to have a plan for how we handle our district facilities, what needs to be improved, what needs to be upgraded and for what the vision for the future with our facilities is," Superintendent Greg Ebeling told school board members Tuesday night...

Poet to expand in Emmetsburg (02/18/10)
While the parking lots outside resembled pickup truck sales lots, the ballroom featuring Northwest Iowa Ag Outlook keynote speakers inside the Clay County Regional Events Center touted the simultaneous messages of using alternative energy, making money, creating jobs and reducing the nation's dependency on foreign oil this week. ...

Early morning gas leak attributed to roof collapse at RR Donnelly (02/16/10)
The hole wasn't visible from the street, but the smell that it caused stretched out for blocks early Monday morning. A roof collapse at the vacant RR Donnelly building on Third Avenue East during the overnight hours resulted in a 4:15 a.m. wake up call for an already weekend battle-weary Spencer Fire Department (see General Traffic Controls fire story)...

Parker Museum celebrates 50 years (01/09/10)
For Cindy McGranahan and many others associated with the Parker Museum, the recent signing of paperwork securing the purchase of the former Johnston Automotive building on Grand Avenue is a wonderful 50th anniversary gift. The local museum, which houses many significant artifacts, historical information and stories associated with the history of Spencer and Clay County, turns 50 years old on Jan. ...

Canine improving lives through service (12/31/09)
More often than not, Katie is a welcome addition whenever she visits. In fact, the 3-year-old Golden Retriever owned by Jim and Judy Taylor, of Spencer, generally elicits welcoming cheers, smiles and extended hands wherever she goes. Over the last couple months, the therapy dog and her certified handlers have become regular visitors to the hospital, a local elementary school, the library and care centers throughout Spencer. ...

Lakes group seeking regional help with ice arena (12/19/09)
Ice ice baby. That's the idea being promoted by a group of area winter sports enthusiasts who are seeking to add ice hockey and figure skating to the various seasonal sports offerings available to Lakes region youth and adults. Mitch Brandt and Brett Hetland, representing the Lakes Area Hockey Association, appeared before the Clay County Board of Supervisors this week proposing the "Rink of Dreams" -- a multipurpose ice and recreation center for the Iowa Lakes Corridor community...

Armory to be re-dedicated Sunday (12/04/09)
The light's been on but nobody's been home at the 168th Infantry Unit's operating facility in Spencer. Since the transition from the 194th field Artillery Unit to the 168th Infantry Unit took place in 2005, the facility has been a very quiet place. Now the soldiers are ready to open the doors once again to the public to celebrate its official re-dedication...

Local company increases footprint in Spencer (11/12/09)
Maurer Manufacturing officials on Wednesday confirmed the purchase of a neighboring lot and expansion along 38th Avenue West in Spencer's industrial park. The company is acquiring the former Shopper's Supply warehouse, which is north of the current three-lot, 18-acre Maurer site. About 90 employees work at the Spencer plant...

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

Parker Historical Society to gain downtown presence (10/02/09)
It seems very appropriate that a business with long ties to the Spencer community has helped to pave the way to a new home for a local organization dedicated to preserving the county's history. A purchase agreement was signed this week between the Parker Historical Society and the owners of Johnston Automotive, which will allow the society to move its offices and exhibition area to the company's Grand Avenue location...

Egg industry responds to 'Hatchery Horrors' video (09/03/09)
"The footage you are about to see was recorded with a hidden camera at Hy-Line hatchery in Iowa, the world's largest hatchery for egg-laying breed chicks," the narrator begins. Footage follows of chicks being "roughly" sorted by sexers who separate the male chicks from the females. The females have their heads clamped and a portion of their beaks removed by a laser...

Egg company accident claims Alta man (07/14/09)
The Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office on Sunday released the name of a 24-year-old Alta man who died after falling into a semitrailer tanker being loaded with liquid egg product. An investigation at Rembrandt Enterprises is ongoing, but deputies think Israel Garduno Gonzalez may have been working on top of the semi and accidently fell into the tanker at about 7:30 p.m. Friday...

Volunteer help, financial donations being sought for new clubhouse (05/22/09)
Just as the new clubhouse being built on the Spencer Municipal Golf Course nears fruition, the course's superintendent is requesting assistance in order to complete the project's finishing touches. Anticipating contractors will be done with their work on the clubhouse in early July, plans are for the building to open for business by the first part of August...

Board commits $1.5 million for capital projects (04/07/09)
Spencer school board members committed $1.5 million in physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL), city and state sales tax revenues for 31 capital projects over fiscal year 2009, which ends June 30, and fiscal year 2010 Monday night. As Superintendent Greg Ebeling noted Spencer is one of a few districts in the state to have city sales tax revenues to draw funding from, he also indicated the district took out an approximately $2.4 million loan against this specific source of funding to pay for the Energy Service Group facility improvements it has undertaken districtwide over the last few years. ...

It's official: VeraSun now Valero Renewable Fuels (04/02/09)
The Sioux Falls-based ethanol company that made a bright, but brief, splash in northwest Iowa was officially purchased by San Antonio refiner Valero Energy. VeraSun, the country's second largest ethanol producer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October and on Wednesday, a Delaware bankruptcy court approved the sale of an Indiana development site and five VeraSun ethanol plants, including the Hartley location...

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. ...

Work continues on golf course clubhouse (12/04/08)
Favorable weather has allowed site staff with Everly Construction to continue work on the new clubhouse at the Spencer Municipal Golf Course in south Spencer. The building is beginning to take shape with the frame in place on the new facility which will be located in the northwest corner of the course. Moderate fall and winter temperatures, matched with minimal moisture have allowed for work to progress into December. These photos were taken on Tuesday...

Council asked to facilitate block grant for Sunshine (11/29/08)
Following a Public Works Committee meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. Monday night, the Spencer City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall for the first of two scheduled meetings during the month of December. A public hearing has been scheduled, immediately following the consent agenda, on a proposal to submit a Community Development Block Grant application for an estimated $350,000 to the Department of Economic Development on behalf of Sunshine Services...

Center continues to demonstrate uses (11/15/08)
From wedding receptions to WWE main events; from bridal shows to Ringling Bros. Circus; from Lorie Line's and Kenny Rogers holiday stage performances to live political debates and appearances; from the Spencer Chamber of Commerce's Ag Outlook to one of the top touring acts in Christian music, Toby Mac -- the Clay County Regional Events Center has housed all of it and so much more in a very short five year span of time...

Green Plains announces grand opening ceremony (09/19/08)
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. will host a grand opening celebration at its ethanol plant in Superior on Saturday, Sept. 20. The festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and include food and refreshments, courtesy of local livestock producers...

'Iowans statewide have been affected by severe weather' (08/20/08)
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver on Friday asked the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to consider 82 counties in a Secretarial Disaster Designation due to damaged plants and production losses in 2008. Iowa State Emergency Board members met Aug. 12 in Des Moines to review damage assessments and loss reports from county officials...

VeraSun to fire up Hartley plant (08/16/08)
VeraSun Energy Corp. on Thursday announced the startup of its 110 million gallon per year ethanol biorefinery near Hartley. The Hartley plant is the 13th VeraSun biorefinery in operation. The opening pushed the company's annual production capacity to more than 1.3 billion gallons. "We are pleased to bring our Hartley ethanol biorefinery into production," said VeraSun CEO Don Endres, in a statement. "It is one of the largest and most efficient facilities in the nation...

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...

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...

SCT seeks community support on major renovation plan (06/07/08)
As part of opening night for "Anne of Green Gables" at Spencer Community Theatre Friday evening, members of the SCT staff and administration announced plans for a $1 million-plus effort to renovate the existing facility which has housed a wide variety of entertainment and events over the years...

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...

Three Dog Night coming to Wild Rose (05/15/08)
Wild Rose Casino and Resort announced recently that Three Dog Night will perform at Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Emmetsburg, on June 20. This is an outdoor event, the gates will open at 6 p.m. and the concert will start at 8 p.m. The Palo Alto County Cattleman will be grilling steak sandwiches and beef burgers through the event...

'Plants to Cherish' (04/29/08)
May 1 marks the start of the seventh annual Plants to Cherish Sale, which benefits Cherish House, a maternity home for teen mothers located in the Okoboji area. There are more new plants than ever before, including perennials, hostas, and a wide variety of annuals and vegetable plants. ...

'Casino Royale' at CC/E (04/29/08)
Clay Central/Everly prom-goers were treated to a night at "Casino Royale" Saturday. With the Everly gymnasium decorated with a Monte Carlo flair, a crowd was on hand to admire the students during the Grand March, and to view the crowning of prom king and queen. ...

Divers help in weapons search (04/22/08)
Members of the Clay County Sheriff's Office received some specialized help with a year-old rural residential burglary investigation. The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department Dive Team was called at about 8:45 a.m. Sunday to Stolley's Gravel Pit in west Spencer. Lt. Jason Kirschbaum of the dive team said the exercise doubled as a training opportunity for the volunteers who form the unit...

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