Professional Football

Spencer to celebrate homecoming next week (10/01/08)
Spencer students, residents and volunteers alike are expected to be "wild with pride" during this year's homecoming celebrations, which officially begin on Monday and last through next Saturday. School-sponsored activities during the 2008 homecoming week include theme days in each of the school buildings, sports activities, the annual homecoming coronation at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the Spencer High School (SHS) fieldhouse, and next Friday's 7:30 p.m. football game against MOC-Floyd Valley...

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. ...

Worlds unite at SHS (09/19/08)
With the arrival of a German, Brazilian and a Tanzanian student, boundaries are being broken in the hallways of Spencer High School (SHS) this year. Carl Hieronymi, who hadn't visited the United States before arriving on July 31, said his stay in Dickens as a foreign exchange student will not only allow him to expand his English, it will also give him the opportunity to play football. The outgoing 17-year-old German currently plays tight end and tackle for the SHS Tigers...

LaBounty picked for community development program (09/18/08)
Doug LaBounty, president of Community Housing Initiatives, Inc., in Spencer, has been selected to participate in the Neighbor-Works Achieving Excellence in Community Development program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. LaBounty is one of 47 leaders selected for this Achieving Excellence class -- a prestigious and highly selective training program offered by NeighborWorks America through the Kennedy School of Government...

CC-E to celebrate homecoming next week (09/17/08)
Teachers, administrators, volunteers and residents expect a fun, memorable and safe experience during Clay Central-Everly's 2008 homecoming celebrations, which will begin Monday, Sept. 22 and last through Friday, Sept. 26. School-sponsored activities during homecoming week include theme days in the school buildings, sports activities and the annual homecoming coronation at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24 in Everly's old gymnasium...

Mediacom's Big Ten Network launch includes northwest Iowa (09/12/08)
Viewers from the Iowa Great Lakes to Spencer and from Emmetsburg to Estherville will have a chance to see the Iowa State-Iowa football game after all. Mediacom Communications on Thursday announced that customers in 15 northwest Iowa counties will be able to see Saturday's intrastate football game on Mediacom, and that the company is moving forward on its next phase of a channel launch that will permanently place the Big Ten Network on its family cable line-up...

Tailgate raises funds for Tailtwisters (09/05/08)
Clark Cunningham, with Community State Bank of Spencer shakes hands with Dana Anderson, president of the Spencer Tailtwisters organization following a very successful tailgate party Friday night prior to the Spencer High School football team's home opener. The feed grossed approximately $1,250 for the club. Community State Bank picked up all the costs associated with the event, allowing all of the profit to be collected by the club...

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...

Chicago theater unites four Spencer grads (08/12/08)
In what seem to have been several "fated" coincidences, four Spencer High School graduates, all of whom were bitten locally by the theater bug, have connected in Chicago. Known for its intimate "storefront" theaters that seat between 30 and 100 people, Josh Odor, Ben Fuchsen, Aaron DeYoung and Eric Van Tassell can all testify to the inner workings of the "The Windy City's" theaters...

Briefs 7-31-08 (07/31/08)
Registrations for the Spencer 3-6 grade teams, part of the Midwest Youth Football League, will only be accepted until tonight. A final registration will take place at Scharnbrg Park's shelter house from 6-8 p.m. tonight. At that time, late registrations who haven't had their sizes taken yet will be fitted. ...

Ambassadors visit Heyings new location (07/30/08)
The Spencer Ambassadors visited the new home of Jake and Alana Heying, and Heying Tax and Financial Services, now sharing a building with Dean Barnes and the Affordable Healthcare Network at 201 W. Seventh St. The Heyings celebrated their first year in business in Spencer over the weekend, offering payroll, accounting and tax services. They indicated that the new location offered a more intimate client setting, and the two businesses provide a draw for one another in the same location...

Briefs 7-30-08 (07/30/08)
The Spencer Area Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday and Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Southpark Mall parking lot. Come see the homegrown, fresh produce for sale. --- It's a "Salad Luncheon Prayer Connection" at 12:30 p.m. today at the Arnold's Park City Hall in Arnold's Park. ...

Briefs 7-29-08 (07/29/08)
The American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held at Hope Reformed Church, 919 N. Grand Ave. on Tuesday, July 29 from 11-5 p.m. Ice cream sundaes will be served and all who come to donate can register to win one of two $25 gas cards to be given away each day...

PSY among 24 community programs to receive federal drug free funds (07/26/08)
By Randy M. Cauthron Managing Editor Senator Chuck Grassley announced Thursday that the Office of National Drug Control Policy has awarded $2,208,689 in Drug Free Communities Support Program continuation grants to 24 Iowa communities. Among those communities, Spencer's Positively Spencer Youth group was awarded the top funding amount of $100,000...

Briefs 7-25-08 (07/25/08)
The Spencer Family YMCA will be hosting its annual carnival today at the YMCA. It is open to all Spencer kids in kindergarten through sixth grades only. All playground parks will be closed that day and will meet at the YMCA. Also, any child in Kids Kamp or childcare at the YMCA will be able to attend. Kids can purchase tickets at the YMCA or through any park counselor...

Briefs 7-24-08 (07/24/08)
Registrations for the Spencer 3-6 grade teams, part of the Midwest Youth Football League, will only be accepted until Thursday, July 31. After that time only people who have newly moved to this area will be allowed to register. Fee is currently $150 per player, which includes all of his football gear as well as jerseys with names on the back the players get to keep. All players will have the opportunity to participate in six games...

Board to ready for 2008-09 school year Thursday (07/23/08)
Following a two-hour work session designed to review the new superintendent evaluation form, the Spencer Community Schools Board of Education will convene its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24 in the board room of the central administrative offices, located at 23 E. Seventh St...

Briefs 7-23-08 (07/23/08)
The Spencer Area Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday and Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Southpark Mall parking lot. Come see the homegrown, fresh produce for sale. --- Don Piper, a best-selling author, speaker and minister, will share his message of hope and healing beginning at 7 p.m. ...

Trustees learn about fire facility (07/16/08)
The Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes Community College held their monthly meeting Tuesday in Emmetsburg and learned about the recently completed Regional Emergency Response Training Center. Steve Dobbins, Fire, EMS and Health programmer, thanked the advisory committee on this project by offering their insight into the needs of area emergency services personnel...

Klinkenborg meets with Spencer fans (06/04/08)
Former Iowa Hawkeye defensive standout Mike Klinkenborg, who played his high school ball at Central Lyon in Rock Rapids, made a stop in Spencer Tuesday at U.S. Bank downtown to meet and greet his fans. Klinkenborg signed autographs on a variety of Hawkeye gear, including a hat for Kaleb Stover (above) who wore Klinkenborg's number as a player in Spencer's youth football league. ...

Former Hawkeye Klinkenborg at U.S. Bank (06/03/08)
U.S. Bank of Spencer will host former Iowa Hawkeye football player Mike Klinkenborg at its 126 Grand Ave. branch in Spencer. Area residents are welcome to attend the event at the bank from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. today. "Mike will sign autographs for his fans," said David Cronk, regional president for U.S. Bank. "In addition, the U.S. Bank team will be on-site to assist people who are interested in finding out about U.S. Bank products and services that will best serve them."...

Briefs 05-31 (05/31/08)
Final opportunity to register for fall football Two final opportunities to register for the MYFL Spencer Youth Football League will take place from 1-3 p.m. today at League Director Randy Cauthron's home, 207 35th Ave. W. These will be the last two opportunities to get equipment sized and register before jerseys are ordered and the league fee increases by $50. ...

Briefs 5-30-08 (05/30/08)
register for fall football Two final opportunities to register for the MYFL Spencer Youth Football League will take place tonight from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at League Director Randy Cauthron's home, 207 35th Ave. W. These will be the last two opportunities to get equipment sized and register before jerseys are ordered and the league fee increases by $50. ...

Iowa Lakes president makes Spencer stop (05/22/08)
Iowa Lakes Community College President Harold Prior said his institution's role in an emerging industry could be an economic development boost in the region. His remarks, about wind energy, came as part of a presentation Tuesday to the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Iowa Lakes has campus locations in Estherville, Spencer, Emmetsburg, Spirit Lake and Algona. Prior said he makes periodic stops to keep the region's five county boards of supervisors informed about the progress of the college...

Briefs 05-17 (05/17/08)
Kid's Fish Day The Upper Great Plains Muskie Club and Spirit Lake Kiwanis will be hosting a Kid's Fish Day from 1-3 p.m., today at the Spirit Lake Hatchery. The event is open to all kids, ages 6 and over. Kids 6-12 need adult supervision. A free afternoon meal of hot dogs, chips and pop is included. Free t-shirts to the first 100 kids registered by 2 p.m. Teaching stations will be set up on the hatchery grounds to present a wide range of fishing principles by area anglers...

Spencer school retirees to be honored Wednesday (05/13/08)
Twelve Spencer school representatives have chosen to take an early-retirement option offered by district officials this year. Together, _Joe Enderlin, Penny Goedicke, Jan Johnson, Jo Ann Merrill, Pat Morisch, Macrina Tesch, Betty Brennan, Becky Dettmer, Noreen Meyer, Mick Ketchum, Maggie Nicks and Alan Pierce_ represent 301 years of service within the school district...

Arnold Motor Supply supports Guard and Reserve (05/08/08)
Continuing to stand by the citizen soldiers who work with them and protect them, Arnold Motor Supply Company on Tuesday signed 53 Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve certificates. This number represents every one of the company's locations and its Spencer headquarters...

Keeping the memory of a hero alive (05/08/08)
Dayton Peters, a third grade student at Fairview Elementary in Spencer, has spent hours gazing at the 945 football, baseball and a few Star Trek trading cards he recently received from the mother of a fallen hero. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Issiac Holt, Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Tim Irwin and punter Harry Newsome, and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell rank among his favorites...

Smith named 'All-American' (05/07/08)
Madella Smith has earned one of the highest honors possible for a high school student involved in speech and debate. The daughter of Brett and Mary Jo Smith of rural Dickens, a Spencer High School senior, has been named a National Forensic League (NFL) All-American. To achieve this honor, Smith earned 750 NFL points, had a 3.8 grade point average or higher, and scored at least 27 on her ACT test...

Briefs 05-03 (05/03/08)
Spencer fall youth football sign-ups today Registration for the Midwest Youth Football League fall session, for Spencer students entering the third through sixth grades will take place from 2-4 p.m., today in the Sacred Heart Catholic School gym. Registration forms will be available on site and participants will be fitted for helmets and shoulder pads at that time...

Briefs 05-02 (05/02/08)
Spencer fall youth football sign-ups Registration for the Midwest Youth Football League fall session, for Spencer students entering the third through sixth grades will take place from 2-4 p.m., Saturday, May 3 in the Sacred Heart Catholic School gym. Registration forms will be available on site and participants will be fitted for helmets and shoulder pads at that time...

2007 Citizens of the Year - Tom and Wendy Van Tassell named Citizens of the Year (04/03/08)
-Pair united in their mission to help others- One child. One family. One smile at a time. The 2007 Citizen of the Year honorees, Tom and Wendy Van Tassell, have worked to improve this corner of the world since joining the Spencer community in 1997 as co-pastors of First Congregational Church...