Professional Soccer

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. ...

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...

Ambassadors visit Iowa Lakes soccer coach (09/03/08)
The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors paid a visit to new Iowa Lakes Community College soccer coach Kevin Farley on Tuesday. Farley, a Texas native, is charged with building the Iowa Lake soccer program from the ground up. The college's program, and Farley, will be based at the Spencer campus of Iowa Lakes. The program will officially begin its first season in the fall of 2009...

Board hears Spencer 'in need of improvements' and in a 'watch year' (08/27/08)
As Spencer school board members learned that 2007-08 marked a second year specific groups of students have either placed the district's buildings "in need of improvement" or on a "watch year" list Tuesday night, Assistant Superintendent Kathy Elliott outlined part of an answer in a new professional development focus and a new monitoring and accountability plan, both of which have taken shape in 2008-09...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Iowa Lakes soccer coming to Spencer (06/07/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff "When" is only half the story for local soccer fans: Starting in the fall of 2009, Iowa Lakes Community College will field mens and womens soccer programs. "Where" is a first for the college. The Lakers will play their games at the Spencer Soccer Plex, which is along 10th Avenue East near the site of the current Spencer Middle School...

RiseFest brings Mercy Me to northwest Iowa (06/06/08)
RISE Ministries, Inc. will host the fourth Annual RiseFest on June 21 in Orange City, at the Northwestern College Soccer Complex. This year's Christian music festival is bringing you Mercy Me for only $15 a ticket (children 10 and under are free). Admission to the day-long event also includes the popular bands Go Fish, Addison Road, and DecembeRadio...

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...

Briefs 5-16-08 (05/16/08)
The two-person alternate shot glow ball golf tournament at the Spencer Municipal Golf Course has been cancelled due to chilly weather and graduations. Watch for a later date this summer. --- McDonald's will be hosting the Spencer Cruise In, from 6:30-9 p.m., tonight. All old cars and trucks are welcome. Customs, street rods, classics and antiques are invited to participate. Drive down and look the vehicles over and chat awhile. Rain date: May 23...

Trustees set tuition at Iowa Lakes for upcoming year (05/15/08)
Tuition and fees for the 2008-2009 college year were approved by the Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes Community College at their meeting Tuesday afternoon in Spirit Lake. Student tuition for Iowa Residents (and Minnesota Residents) will be $120 per credit hour -- up $7 per credit hour from last year. ...

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...

D.A.R.E. role models (04/28/08)
Hello, my name is Dennis Linn. I am a member of the Clay County Sheriff's office. I am also a School Resource Officer for Clay Central-Everly and South Clay schools. I have taught D.A.R.E. at these schools for the past 15 years. During those years I have gotten to know the kids and experience what I believe each of the classroom teachers feel about their classroom students. ...

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...

Mercy Me to headline northwest Iowa's RiseFest (04/02/08)
RISE Ministries and Northwestern College will co-sponsor the fourth annual RiseFest on June 21 with musical headliner MercyMe, Go Fish, several other bands, an extreme sports area, Kids Zone, seminars and speaker Rob Roozeboom. The event will take place at the Northwestern College soccer complex and will begin with a 5K/10K run at 8 a.m...