Residential Landscaping

Little Lola wouldn't wait (02/05/10)
Most American babies have a hospital or clinic listed as their birthplace. Not Lola Snow Johnson. She was simply too impatient to wait for her dad Ira to navigate through rush-hour traffic and a construction zone from their home in Conifer, Colo., to a midwife clinic in Denver, where her mom, Robyn, was planning to have her delivered...

Heilstedt pleads guilty to 2008 arson charge (01/21/10)
On Tuesday, during a scheduled hearing, Brenda Lee Heilstedt of Spencer, withdrew her not guilty plea with regards to arson charges stemming from a fire that broke out at a home she owned on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008; and pled guilty to arson in the second degree, a Class C felony...

Snow, cold can wreak havoc on roofs (01/16/10)
Mother's Nature's gift of nearly 50 inches of snow over the past month has left piles everywhere - on streets, sidewalks, parking lots and on roofs. The thick blankets of snow covering business and residential buildings can cause problems big and small...

Grand opening at remodeled SMS (01/15/10)
The "familiar partners" who chose to collaborate in "unfamiliar territory" on Spencer's newest $5 million rehabilitation project officially celebrated their endeavor being completed "on time and on budget" Thursday in downtown Spencer. Those partners -- the Spencer school district, the Friends of the Auditorium group, Community Housing Initiatives (CHI) and the Spencer Area Activity Center (SAAC) -- gathered with other key participants and members of the general public to mark the grand opening of the Spencer School Apartments and the town's senior center in the former Spencer High School and Spencer Middle School building located at 104 E. Fourth St. ...

Old classroom becomes new home (01/12/10)
Lois Beck is excited about her new home in a Spencer historical landmark. Eager to move Friday afternoon into her brand new apartment in the former Spencer Middle School building, she's already splurged on a new television set to accentuate the space's open floor plan. She's also purchased a Christmas tree, which she plans to proudly display in her dwelling's large set of windows next holiday season. Beck will formally claim the space as her own when her Candlewick and Copenhagen Christmas plates, and the cup and saucer collection started years ago by her mother-in-law are placed in her daughter's former classroom. Cheryl Hurst, Beck's daughter, taught English in the same room that has now been remodeled into her mother's apartment. ...

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. ...

Save the dates! (12/19/09)
A public open house commemorating a newly-renovated Spencer landmark is set for the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010. Beginning next month, the former Spencer Middle School building located at 104 E. Fourth St. will host apartments owned by Community Housing Initiatives on the second and third floors. ...

Busy construction site (12/17/09)
Like the distinguished Hollywood starlet who wants to prolong her career, the Spencer Community Theatre building has gone in for a nip here and a tuck there. The region's theater fans can expect to see better performances from the ol' girl as a result...

Wahpeton home a total loss after weekend fire (12/15/09)
A home on West Lake has been deemed a complete loss following a fire on Sunday evening. Milford firefighters were called to 1000 West Street in Wahpeton shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 for a report of smoke in the residence and a possible chimney fire...

A home for the holidays (11/28/09)
Amber Quail has two families to be thankful for this holiday season. One includes her daughter, Aubrey, who playfully scooted along the floor of her new home on a Sunday afternoon. It also includes Amber's father, Steve. He brings tears of gratitude to his daughter's eyes whenever she thinks of all the work that went into the house at 12 Hillside Boulevard...

THRIVENT BUILDS (11/24/09)

Plea agreement reached in Spencer arson case (11/06/09)
Judge Patrick Carr has scheduled a Jan. 19 hearing to consider a guilty plea from a Spencer woman accused of arson 11 months ago. Brenda Lee Heilstedt is expected to plead guilty to a charge of second-degree arson, a Class C felony, as part of the agreement struck by attorneys...

Habitat house dedicated (10/31/09)
The cheerful yellow house across the road from Dairy Queen in Milford is now home to Kassi Cherry and her three daughters Amanda, Haley and Brandie Bushee. The Northwest Iowa Corridor of Habitat for Humanity dedicated the home on Sunday, Oct. 25. Ground was broken March 29...

J&G shows green not just for John Deere (10/01/09)

Back Porch Vintage offering whimsical occasional sales (09/15/09)
Sisters Renae Rosenberg and Kay Rose purchased the quaint, yellow house with a porch entry last winter. "We knew it had a lot of potential with a great location close to downtown Grand Avenue in Spencer," Rosenberg said of their newly-opened business located at 9 E. Second St...

Less E. coli in Little Sioux: Grant, loan to help treat Sioux Rapids wastewater (07/24/09)
Sioux Rapids is among 15 Iowa communities to receive more than $24 million in federal recovery funds under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The city received a $225,000 Community Development Block Grant and a $227,422 low-interest loan to improve the quality of treated wastewater going from Sioux Rapids into the Little Sioux River...

Terril home project taking shape (07/18/09)
A home repair and rebuilding ministry aimed at assisting lower-income Clay and Dickinson County families has officially taken off. The work currently being accomplished on a Terril home -- the first project house in need of major repairs approved by local Fuller Center for Housing (FCH) partner board members -- began occurring in May...

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. ...

Extreme Makeover crowns Galm 'big winner' (04/28/09)
For Kay Galm entering the Extreme Home Makeover's "American Home Edition" contest was a no brainer. "I habitually enter contests, so I entered this one," Galm said. Winning however was an entirely new experience. "I entered it, but then I kind of forgot about it. I never win," she continued. "Finally, I get a call from ABC, saying I'm a finalist. I just screamed . I was so excited...

Ver Steeg turns over construction reins (04/25/09)
Ed Ver Steeg recently placed ownership of his construction company's assets in the apt hands of Mark and Cindi Hinton. Circumstances are what prompted the 36-year-old Spencer man, who'd spent the last nine years running his namesake, to let his friends assume responsibility of the charge he loved. Circumstances such as family, job loss, legal issues and perceived growth. Another determining factor was trust. All parties involved in the business transaction are confident their friends, as well as the area at large, will benefit from Ver Steeg Construction becoming Crown Inc.

Spencer Main Street earns two awards (04/22/09)
The Spencer Main Street program secured awards for "Best Education/Preservation Design Committee Project" and for "Outstanding Volunteer" during the 22nd Annual Main Street Awards Ceremony, held April 17 in Des Moines. The education/preservation award recognized Spencer Main Street's efforts to catalog 39 historic buildings in its downtown historic commercial district. A plaque explaining the historic significance of each building is displayed at of the properties...

Habitat for Humanity, Lowe's challenge women builders (04/10/09)
In the days leading up to Mother's Day, construction crews of women volunteers, including recording artist Trisha Yearwood, will be pounding nails and raising walls at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 2-10. Lowe's and the Northwest Iowa Corridor Habitat for Humanity are looking for local women volunteers to work one day on the Milford Habitat construction site May 2...

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. ...

Milford Habitat for Humanity groundbreaking scheduled for Sunday (03/26/09)
The local alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans continues to build hope for low-income families as the mortgage crisis unfolds nationwide. Since 2005, this alliance has given thousands of families across the nation an opportunity to achieve the American dream of homeownership...

Briefs 3-14-09 (03/14/09)
A bird house workshop will be held at 1 p.m. today at Lost Island Nature Center, north of Ruthven. To build a wren house, just bring a hammer. Call (712) 837-4866 for more information. --- A bake sale will be held today at the Southpark Mall. The groups will be: "People to People Ambassador Program" for Devan McCord Fund Raiser and DreamTeam...

Property valuations can lead to questions (03/13/09)
While national statistics show otherwise, properties in Clay County and indeed throughout the state of Iowa have seen increases in value over the past two years. That contradiction could cause some extra headaches over this year for county officials charged with valuing your home or businesses for tax purposes. The public perception and the market realities can be very different...

Briefs 3-13-09 (03/13/09)
A soup and pie fundraiser will be held from 5-8 p.m. tonight at DaySpring Assembly of God Church, 1410 W. 18th St., Spencer. Chef Dr. Darrel Forslund will be serving home-style chicken noodle soup, "27 Spice" chili, and an international selection: Mongolian hot pot soup. Many...

Briefs 3-12-09 (03/12/09)
Spencer City Councilman George Kruger will host a Ward 1 meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Spencer Public Library. Bob Fagen, Spencer's city manager, will be the featured guest speaker. --- Spencer Hospital will be holding classes for individuals considered to have "pre-diabetes" -- those with blood sugar levels higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be considered a diabetic. ...

Royal annexation, drainage issues raise concerns (02/25/09)
Royal Mayor Pam Virelli joined the Clay County Supervisors Tuesday morning as the governing board was asked to moved forward with a process that may eventually annex multiple properties in Royal to deal with drainage district issues. Frank Rouse, the county's drainage engineer, explained to Virelli and the board that the discovery of some properties currently utilizing Drainage District 108 are not being charged for the service and are not currently being charged with any associated drainage ditch. ...

Cherish Center volunteers making a difference (02/24/09)
Volunteers are key to the success of any community program, and that includes the building of Cherish Center in north Milford. Pictured above are just some of the people from Dickinson, Clay, Emmet, and Osceola counties who have been volunteering to do the sheetrocking of the 7,500 square feet building which will house the offices of Cherish Center and Thee Garage Sale. ...

Northwest Iowa Home Show begins today (01/16/09)
The 6th Annual Northwest Iowa Home Show returns to the Clay County Regional Events Center tonight and will continue through the weekend. The free event offers a variety of exhibits and seminars showcasing the latest in home landscaping, building and remodeling products and services...

SCT reprises hit show 'Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story' (01/10/09)
Spencer Community Theatre has been invited to reprise the hit musical "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story," as part of the Winter Dance Party festivities celebrating the life and music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" premiered at SCT in February 2008 to sold-out houses and an extended run. ...

Arson ruled as cause of Spencer fire (12/30/08)
A Spencer woman faces first-degree arson charges after allegedly starting a fire at the house where her daughter lived. Brenda Heilstedt was booked into the Clay County Jail on a Class B felony after a fire broke out at 12:03 p.m. Sunday at 209 West Park Street in Spencer. When firefighters arrived, smoke and flames were venting out of the first floor east windows and the south front window...

Northwest Iowa Home Show set for Jan. 16-18 (12/23/08)
The 6th Annual Northwest Iowa Home Show returns to the Clay County Regional Events Center Jan. 16-18, 2009. Enjoy free admission and a variety of exhibits and seminars showcasing the latest in home landscaping, building and remodeling products and services...

Regional housing agency to move (12/19/08)
Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority, a rent assistance agency serving nine counties, will be relocating its regional offices before the end of the year. The office will remain in Spencer but will move to 2016 Highway Boulevard, which is near the Gateway North Center in north Spencer. The offices are currently located at 919 Second Ave. SW in Spencer...

Fire guts Arnolds Park home (12/17/08)
The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue was dispatched to 584 Dam Rd. at approximately 11:24 p.m. Saturday night for a possible electrical fire. Once the police department arrived at the location they reported a fully engulfed house fire. Upon arrival, the fire department encountered a large volume of fire exiting from a chimney chase on the west side of the house. ...

Clay County housing needs receive a boost (12/11/08)
Nearly $3.3 million in grants approved by the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) board of directors will soon have a direct effect on thousands of Iowans' housing, including those in Clay County. Designed to aid in the development and preservation of affordable housing throughout the state, the State Housing Trust Fund's Local Housing Trust Fund Program grants will impact Iowa families through 17 local housing trust funds across the state. ...

Old SMS building to host seniors (12/09/08)
In addition to agreeing to offer an early-retirement package to certified staff next year, Spencer school board members authorized moving forward with a "good-will effort" deemed "worth the investment." Before the board directed Superintendent Greg Ebeling to put specifications from Cannon Moss Brygger & Associates for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) for the old Spencer Middle School (SMS) building's first floor out for bid Tuesday night, the superintendent informed them that City Manager Bob Fagen has been working hard behind the scenes to see that a partnership -- aimed at earmarking money for potential improvements, such as the implementation of a handicap-accessible restroom in the building -- is established between the school district, city, county and Clay County Community Foundation.. ...

Culver touts wind energy in Philadelphia (12/04/08)
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver used a private meeting with President-elect Barack Obama to emphasize the need for wind energy as part of federal infrastructure packages. Culver met with Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden during a meeting with fellow governors in Philadelphia...

Iowa Lakes RC&D adds Osceola, O'Brien counties (11/25/08)
Des Moines -- Iowa Lakes Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) is adding Osceola and O'Brien Counties to its existing five northwest Iowa counties. Iowa Lakes RC&D is one of 17 councils in Iowa that works to create jobs, protect the environment and improve the quality of life in rural communities...

Authorities conclude fatal fire investigation (11/25/08)
Investigators have confirmed smoke inhalation as the cause of death after a Spencer man was found in a house fire in the overnight hours leading into Friday. The Spencer Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at 513 West Fifth Street. Upon arrival firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire, which could be seen coming from the front of the building...

Space heater suspected in fire death investigation (11/22/08)
Fire chief Doug Duncan has renewed a warning about residents who supplement their homes with space heaters after a Spencer man's body was found inside a house fire early Friday. At 12:11 a.m. firefighters were called to the Wayne Weier Sr. residence at 513 West Fifth Street. Some fire and heavy smoke could be seen from the front of the building when firefighters arrived...

Trailer fire intentionally set: Criminal charges pending investigation (11/14/08)
Fire and law enforcement officials continue to investigate the cause of a trailer fire, which they believe was intentionally set at 310 Second St. in Dickens. Emergency crews were called out at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The fire destroyed a lead-in porch to the trailer...

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...

Local group addresses housing needs (09/04/08)
A group of local residents and community leaders are banding together to help meet the need for affordable housing throughout Clay County. The Clay County Local Housing Trust Fund, Inc., was created to assist low income individuals, families and the elderly through grants and low- or no-interest loans to rehabilitate the county's aging housing stock...

Spike in fire deaths alarms state officials (08/22/08)
State Fire Marshal Jim Kenkel is concerned.

SCT fund drive underway (07/29/08)
SCT board member, John Rahn, calls them "the Godfathers of SCT." And he means that in the best way possible. Everyone else calls them Jack Easter, Stan Schoelerman and Toby Shine. They are three of the original five SCT Trustees who raised the funds to purchase the vacant Spencer Grocer warehouse in 1981 and to transform it into Spencer Community Theatre. ...

Briefs 7-19-08 (07/21/08)
Young people and their families are invited to "Bee" at the library on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. for the "Pockets Full of Fun" program. Join Lisa Laird of Orange City, and her friends from "Pockets Full of Fun" as they learn about some interesting creatures in the insect world. ...

Fire claims Spencer couple's home (07/19/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff The Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross has been contacted to help a Spencer couple who lost their home in a trailer fire Friday afternoon. An officer with the Spencer Police Department spotted smoke and called for assistance at 2:41 p.m. Friday. The officer saw flames as he approached the trailer on lot 4 of the trailer park at 317 West 18th Street...

Briefs 7-18-08 (07/18/08)
The Fifth Annual Cruise In will be held from 6-9 p.m. tonight in the McDonald's parking lot at the Southpark Mall in Spencer. Plaques for the first 75 cars. Registration from 6-7:30 p.m., with awards given at 8:30 p.m. Trophies for the top three "peoples choice." Prizes also. Rain day has been set for Friday, July 25...

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