Social Affairs

Vote Tuesday! (09/06/08)
Tuesday is school board election day. You don't have to serve on the board or run for school board, but you might think a bit harder about at least casting a ballot for your candidate or candidates of choice. Of the five surrounding school board elections, Spencer is hosting the only contested race. ...

SL school board hearing continued (09/05/08)
Following a series of delays for professional and personal conflicts, a hearing on a motion to dismiss in the non-jury trial for Spirit Lake School Board President Beth Will and Vice President Ann Goerss is now scheduled to take place Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. in Courtroom A of the Dickinson County Courthouse...

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...

Farm expo planned at Iowa Lakes Community College Farm Lab (09/04/08)
The Farm Lab of Iowa Lakes Community College will host its annual Farm Field Day and Expo on Thursday, Sept. 4. All area residents, as well as past alumni of Iowa Lakes, are invited to tour the Palo Alto Corn and Soybean Growers Association plot, various agricultural exhibits and the Farm Laboratory starting at 4:30 p.m...

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...

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...

AREA SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES PROFILED - Two vie for two Ruthven-Ayrshire board seats (08/29/08)
It's an uncontested race in the Tuesday, Sept. 9 election for the two seats available on the Ruthven-Ayrshire school board. Incumbent Dave Forey, of 1809 Carr St. in Ruthven has filed for re-election. Matthew Graves, of 1408 Rolling St. in Ruthven, is seeking the second available seat around the board table, left vacant by current board member Jill Williamson. If deemed winners in September, both men would hold office until 2011...

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. ...

AREA SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES PROFILED - Okoboji school board race an uncontested one (08/28/08)
It's an uncontested race in the Tuesday, Sept. 9 school board election for the two seats available on the Okoboji Community School Board of Education. One-term incumbents Mark Hale, of 1408 15th St., and Christopher Stein, of 1407 14th St., both of Milford, have each expressed an interest in taking on the two at-large seats available. If deemed winners in September, both men would hold office until 2011...

'Up to the Down Staircase' announced as SHS fall production (08/28/08)
"Up the Down Staircase" has been announced as the Spencer High School Drama Department's fall production, according to Larry Untiet, theater director. In 1964, "Up the Down Staircase" by Bel Kaufman first appeared on the shelves of book stores across the nation as a best-selling novel, with millions of copies going into the hands of American people...

Dean's future comes one election at a time (08/28/08)
W. Chris Dean didn't expect an Indiana roadmap to come with the Cornell College degree he received in May. But a presidential candidate's campaign of "change" has thrown a few curve balls Dean's way this summer. The 2004 Spencer graduate was recently hired as a paid field organizer in northeast Indiana for the Barack Obama campaign. His three-county region includes the hometown of former Vice President Dan Quayle. Needless to say, the Democratic message isn't a automatically an easy sell...

Payne escapes prison time in conviction (08/27/08)
Despite an emotional appeal from the victim and her mother in court Monday, Kyle Dean Payne will serve no prison sentence for his conviction on three crimes related to an incident in which he partially stripped an unconscious fellow Buena Vista University student, photographed himself fondling her body, and later installed the images and video on his computer...

AREA SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES PROFILED - South Clay board write-in tackles Q-and-A (08/27/08)
Three positions with the South Clay school board are up for grabs in the upcoming Sept. 9 election. Board members Amy Burkhart, Mike Hildebrand and Troy Mayland have all formally expressed an interest in retaining their positions around the South Clay board table...

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...

National Anthem tryouts for Corbin Bleu concert (08/27/08)
Friday, Sept. 12, National Anthem tryouts for area high school students will be held in the 4-H Auditorium during the Clay County Fair. The winner of the competition will perform the National Anthem before the Corbin Bleu and Drew Seeley concert on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m...

Spencer student interns for Grassley in Washington (08/26/08)
WASHINGTON --Cale Kassel, son of Julie and Paul Kassel of Spencer, has just finished spending six weeks in Washington, D.C. working as an intern in Senator Chuck Grassley's office. Kassel is a 2007 Iowa State graduate and is currently a student at the University Of Iowa Carver College Of Medicine...

AREA SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES PROFILED - CC/E candidate answers questions (08/26/08)
One position with the Clay Central/Everly school board is up for grabs in the upcoming Sept. 9 election. Clay Central/Everly candidate Brad Phelps, of 209 S. Washington in Everly, is featured today. The one-term board member has filed nomination papers for another one-year term for the District 2 seat he currently holds...

Board to commit financially to SMS auditorium design study (08/23/08)
The Spencer Community Schools Board of Education will convene its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 in the board room of the central administrative offices, located at 23 E. Seventh St. Approval of consent items, including minutes from the July 24 and Aug. 13 board meetings, bills, student open enrollment applications, and personnel recommendations will be sought...

'Safe Routes to School' study underway (08/22/08)
Public reaction to recommendations to occur Sept. 17-18

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...

Opening day of school (08/21/08)
The first day of classes for the 2008-09 school year at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Spencer commenced Wednesday with students and staff members parading outside to witness a flag presentation and flag-raising ceremony. The tradition began in 1970, when the building was officially opened and the late Bob Conlon, an Army corporal who served in World War II, presented a flag to school representatives and students...

Agriprocessors supervisor faces additional charge (08/20/08)
DES MOINES -- A supervisor arrested after a massive immigration raid at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday to charges he knowingly hired illegal immigrants, according to court filings. Juan Carlos Guerrero-Espinoza is expected to plead guilty to charges he conspired to hire illegal immigrants and aided and abetted the hiring of illegal immigrants...

New staff to greet CC/E students Aug. 20 (08/16/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff When the bell marking the start of the 2008-09 school year rings on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 20, Clay Central/Everly students will be greeted in their respective buildings and classrooms by a handful of new staff members...

Laboranti taking the helm of CC/E High School (08/16/08)
As soon as he begins speaking, it's easy to tell that the new Clay Central/Everly High School principal is a native of Massachusetts. Albert "Al" Laboranti's accent is a bit different than that of a native northwest Iowan's. While his desire to cultivate strong students and teachers is on-target with that of other administrators nationwide, it's Laboranti's truly motivational outlook on life, and achieving success in all areas of it, that make him so likable. His enthusiasm is catchy...

Collective literacy focus 2008-09 goal for Spencer (08/15/08)
Thursday was their "warm-up" day. It marked the first official day of the 2008-09 school year for Spencer teachers and support staff members. After being treated to a catered breakfast sponsored by the Spencer Community School Foundation in the middle school commons area, "class" began at 8:15 a.m. in the building's gymnasium...

Briefs 8-14-08 (08/14/08)
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hartley, is sponsoring a community-wide benefit for the family of Jan Hall to help defray medical bills incurred during Jan's battle with illness. The free-will dinner and auction will be held at the Hartley Community Center today. ...

City of Spencer safe routes to school program (08/14/08)
The City Council of Spencer is committed to enabling and encouraging children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school. They aspire to make walking and bicycling to school safe and more appealing, and to facilitate the planning and development and implementation of projects that will improve safety, and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools...

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...

Briefs 8-13-08 (08/13/08)
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hartley, is sponsoring a community-wide benefit for the family of Jan Hall to help defray medical bills incurred during Jan's battle with illness. The free-will dinner and auction will be held at the Hartley Community Center on Thursday, Aug. ...

Activity transportation fees not imposed (08/13/08)
As Spencer parents and guardians registered their children for classes on Monday and Tuesday, those enrolling middle and high school students were treated to a surprise: They were not charged a new "activity transportation fee." As approved by board members early last month, the $25 and $35 fees for secondary-level students were designed to cover a portion of activity transportation costs, as well as pay for the cost of a student's activity ticket...

Spencer district welcomes new staff (08/13/08)
New Spencer Community School District staff met with administrators and board members Tuesday noon. They include, front row from left: Brian Sand, a Transition I teacher at Lincoln Elementary, Stephanie Anderson, a reading teacher/assistant elementary principal, and Teresa Goehring, a teacher assistant/guidance counselor at Johnson Elementary. ...

Briefs 8-12-08 (08/12/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

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...

Lakeside Lab expands service for water testing (08/08/08)
By Caroline Rusk Special to the Daily Reporter Water testing in the Iowa Great Lakes region just became quicker, easier and more accessible for residents. Iowa Lakeside Laboratory and Regents Resource Center (ILLRRC) and the University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL) celebrated their new partnership to expand water quality services during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and program on Friday, Aug. ...

Classroom Collections to benefit over 490 students (08/06/08)
Classroom Collection - an annual project spearheaded by Southpark Mall and the KICD radio stations - once again will service the needs of Spencer area youth, collecting school supplies for over 490 students. Total cash contributions to the project totaled $4,300 and the items were unloaded at the Spencer Middle School Tuesday afternoon. ...

Briefs 8-06-08 (08/06/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Pettitt birdie clinches sudden death title (08/05/08)
There were really two stories at work Sunday as the 87th Annual Northwest Am Golf Tournament entered the final 18 holes of play in the championship flight. Could Wade Pettitt and Trent Peterson continue to battle stroke-for-stroke for another round in the humid weather, with a heat index topping 100 degrees?...

Briefs 8-05-08 (08/05/08)
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. --- Sacred Heart School Registration Registration for all Sacred Heart Elementary School pre-kindergarten through sixth grade students will be held from 12-6 p.m. today, in the school library...

Thrivent supports Ecumenical VBS (07/31/08)
Clay County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans donated $500 in supplemental funds to the Ecumenical Vacation Bible School held this summer in Royal. Thrivent board members Linda Yungbluth and Dennis Galloway presented the check to Betsy Brugman one of the coordinators of this year's Bible School. ...

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. ...

Weary legs build long term character (07/30/08)
What started out 10 years ago as a run to raise money for a recreation center called "The Centre" serving several small communities in northeast Iowa has transformed into something much bigger. Approximately 20 to 25 runners, support vehicle drivers and chaperones, ranging in age from 9 to 54 spent the night in East Leach Park in Spencer, after having completed day eight in their state of Iowa run. ...

New educators to greet Spencer students Aug. 19 - 20 (07/29/08)
As Spencer high school and middle school students commence the 2008-09 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 19, they'll be greeted by a handful of new teachers, including Nicole Stauffer and Amy Metcalf. Elementary students, who'll mark a day of parent-teacher conferences that day, will meet up with new teachers Stephanie Anderson, Teresa Goehring, Brian Sand, John Hansel and Laura Van Otterloo in their respective classrooms on Aug. 20th...

School districts notified about budget course (07/29/08)
Statewide coverage Monday, surrounding a letter issued in March, raised some eyebrows about school budget deficits. The Okoboji School District received one of 60 Iowa Department of Education letters regarding a perceived trend toward negative unspent balances. The form letter was cited in news coverage Monday from Des Moines...

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...

Ideas offered to trim district's transportation budget (07/25/08)
The Spencer school district's new transportation director presented several recommendations Thursday night aimed at trimming the district's transportation budget and combating high fuel prices. As Julie Nemmers reported to board members that Spencer's in-town bus system is often referred to locally as "a glorified taxi service," she then encouraged eliminating 16 of the over 140 bus stops within city limits...

Piper's 90 minutes in heaven shared with Spencer audience (07/24/08)
An overflowing crowd heard Don Piper explain how his decision to turn right instead of left on his way home from a 1989 church conference, and the ensuing fatal head-on collision he endured with a semi-trailer truck, is his enduring testimonial of hope and healing today. The best-selling author of "90 Minutes in Heaven -- a True Story of Death and Life" relayed his death-defying tale to an estimated 1,200 people Wednesday night at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer...

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...

Weekend poker ride nets ILCC scholarship dollars (07/22/08)
Over 200 participated in the sixth annual Iowa Lakes Foundation Scholarship poker ride. Saturday's event traversed from the college's Algona campus to its Emmetsburg, Spencer, Spirit Lake and Estherville campuses. "We raise anywhere from about $7,000 - $10,000 from this; so it's a nice fundraiser for us," said Shan Ray, Iowa Lakes Community College's executive director of institutional advancement. ...

Briefs 7-22-08 (07/22/08)
Young people and their families are invited to "Bee" at the library tonight 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. ...

Spencer nets grant for Freeman Schoolhouse project (07/18/08)
The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) announced Thursday it awarded 32 Historical Resource Development Program (HRDP) grants totaling $626,275 to 30 organizations and individuals across Iowa for historic preservation, museum and documentary collections projects...