Science

Iowa Department of Education releases state report card (09/19/08)
The Iowa Department of Education (DE) released the state report card for No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Thursday. The report shows a change in the state's proficiency targets, which is the percent of students across the state that must be proficient in reading and math...

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...

Student assessment data reviewed (09/18/08)
Local school administrators and teachers now have data from several different types of student assessments at their fingertips, allowing them to work toward the differentiated instruction of individual students. Spencer School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) members were presented with the latest reports this week. ...

ILCC students aid in data collection (09/11/08)
Fairgoers will be able to offer their opinions on just how good the Clay County Fair is when they complete a survey at the fair this year. Iowa Lakes Community College, the Clay County Fair and the Clay County Auditor's office will be cooperating for the 11th year in a row to survey fairgoers about their opinions...

ISU Extension Connections at the Clay County Fair (09/05/08)
The public is invited to make an ISU Extension Connection during the 2008 Clay County Fair, Sept. 6-14. Visit the Ag Learning Center (Stub's Stable Building) just west of the small animal barn and connect with ISU Extension staff from northwest Iowa. ISU Extension Field Specialist and County Directors will be on hand to share information, answer questions, and visit with you about what ISU Extension can do for you...

Bogenrief to design ICCC sculpture (09/05/08)
When the doors to a new facility on the Iowa Central Community College campus open next July, work from local artists will be featured in it. Jesse Bogenrief of Bogenrief Studios in Spencer has been commissioned to complete an indoor sculpture for the Bio-Science Health Science Center on the Fort Dodge campus...

4-H non-livestock projects displayed at the State Fair (09/03/08)
The following Clay County 4-H members had non-livestock projects selected to represent the county at the Iowa State Fair. The exhibits were judged in Des Moines and exhibited throughout the run of the event. They will also be on display at the 4-H Exhibit Building at the Clay County Fairgrounds during the Clay County Fair...

ISU Extension Connections at the Clay County Fair (09/02/08)
The public is invited to make an ISU Extension Connection during the 2008 Clay County Fair, Sept. 6-14. Visit the Ag Learning Center (Stub's Stable Building) just west of the small animal barn and connect with ISU Extension staff from northwest Iowa. ISU Extension Field Specialist and County Directors will be on hand to share information, answer questions, and visit with you about what ISU Extension can do for you...

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...

Clay County Growers annual field day (08/29/08)
Following a steak dinner, the 2008 Clay County Growers' "field day" featured Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Iowa State University College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, Dr. Palle Pedersen, an ISU soybean specialist, plot manager Dave Hessman and Paul Kassel, an ISU Extension area agronomist, as speakers Thursday evening in the Clay County Regional Events Center. ...

ILCC's Estherville campus points to environmental studies (08/21/08)
The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees convened Tuesday on the Estherville campus and learned about the long-time success of the Environmental Studies program. Professor Gary Phillips was introduced to the trustees by Executive Dean Mary Larscheid of the Estherville campus...

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...

Third Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute set for Aug. 3-8 (07/16/08)
The first week of August will be filled with young people - middle-school and college students - learning about entrepreneurship in the Iowa Lakes Corridor region. The third Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute will take place Aug. 3-8 at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory on West Lake Okoboji. Thirty-two students from the Regents universities, Buena Vista University and Iowa Lakes Community College will participate in advanced study of entrepreneurship that will include an entrepreneurial simulation,...

Soybeans decline as warm weather boosts planting (06/24/08)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Soybean prices declined Monday as dry Midwest weather allowed farmers to resume planting after massive flooding that engulfed fields and drove agriculture futures to record highs. Other commodities traded mixed, with crude oil gaining and gold, silver and copper prices falling...

Around Campus (06/02/08)
Missouri State University recently awarded scholarships to incoming students for the 2008-09 academic year. These students were selected from those who applied based on their ACT (American College Test) scores, standing in graduating class and leadership shown in the community and school activities...

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...

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...

Werk to join the Clay County Fair Staff (05/28/08)
Robyn Werk, a West Central Minnesota native and recent South Dakota State University graduate, will take on the position of assistant to the secretary manager of the Clay County Fair. Werk graduated with a degree in agriculture journalism and a minor in animal science...

Beach Monitoring at State parks (05/28/08)
The Iowa DNR began monitoring the water quality at Iowa's 37 state beaches on May 19th and will continue to do so through the month of September. In additon to the state parks being monitored, 60 county-and-city run beaches will begin monitoring water quality as well...

Helpful tips on how you can lose weight and keep it off (05/20/08)
Losing weight seems to be everybody's goal. We all want to look better, feel healthier and ward off illness. However, for most people losing weight is a huge struggle and keeping it off is an even bigger problem. Research shows that almost 95 percent of repeat dieters fail and ultimately regain any weight they initially lost...

County Growers Field planted (05/15/08)
One hundred corn hybrids were planted in the Clay County Growers Field earlier this month. This marks the 21st year for the corn plot. Projects other than the Corn Hybrid evaluation are a Planting Population study and the use of Fungicide on corn. The corn is on land owned by David and Jan Hopkins and farmed by Al Patten...

'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. ...

Essick proud to join family farming operation (04/29/08)
(Women in Agriculture: Part One of a Four-Part Series) Stephanie "Steph" (Harves) Essick, who ranks among the nation's female farmers, doesn't view herself as an agricultural anomaly. Like many Midwestern youth, Essick and her older sister grew up on their Clay County farm riding the bean bar, cultivating row crops and hauling bales of hay...

Around Campus (04/28/08)
Nolan Goeken, a graduating senior at Spencer High School, has been named one of approximately 560 semifinalists in the 2009 Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from more than 3,000 candidates on the basis of superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character, and involvement in community and school activities...

CF Industries' minigrants bringing students closer to agriculture and the environment (04/02/08)
Students in Spencer schools will develop an appreciation and awareness for natural resources through water testing, aquatic insect and bird identification, pond dredging and designing, and planting an outdoor classroom thanks to CF Industries' classroom minigrant program...