Sports Business

Clay County collector, retrofitter farms with 'working antiques' (10/03/08)
When Lindell "Pete" Petersen began combining Monday night, he was excited to also initiate the process of familiarizing himself with a new implement. The Clay County farmer, who had traded his combine in two months ago, was recently told his former piece of equipment is now harvesting crops in Mexico...

Ambassadors visit JT Toads (10/02/08)
Jim and Loretta Schooley welcomed the Spencer Ambassadors to their new business, JT Toads at 521 Grand Ave. Jim said the business has a goal to provide the best coffee beans that Iowa has to offer. The business is a micro-roaster, importing beans from around the world, using all organic beans, free from flavoring or chemicals. ...

Bailout passes Senate, House foes soften (10/02/08)
WASHINGTON -- After one spectacular failure, the $700 billion financial industry bailout found a second life Wednesday, winning lopsided passage in the Senate and gaining ground in the House, where Republicans opposition softened. Senators loaded the economic rescue bill with tax breaks and other sweeteners before passing it by a wide margin, 74-25, a month before the presidential and congressional elections...

Briefs 10-2-08 (10/02/08)
Join us at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) from 9-11 a.m. today at Hope Reformed Church in the Fellowship Hall. This year's theme "Adventure" will be featured at the meeting. Come find out what it is all about. There will be an abundance of fun and fellowship, with food and drinks provided by the Steering Committee...

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...

Briefs 10-1-08 (10/01/08)
Join us at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2 at Hope Reformed Church in the Fellowship Hall. This year's theme "Adventure" will be featured at the meeting. Come find out what it is all about. There will be an abundance of fun and fellowship, with food and drinks provided by the Steering Committee. If you have any questions, please contact one of the MOPS co-coordinators, Cassie McCreary 240-0298 or Andrea Crew. Childcare is provided starting at 8:45 a.m...

Obama, McCain argue over taxes, federal spending (09/27/08)
OXFORD, Miss. -- Barack Obama accused presidential rival John McCain of supporting Bush administration policies that produced the current economic crisis Friday night in their first debate of the campaign for the White House. Both men readily agreed Congress must act soon to prevent millions of Americans from losing their jobs and homes...

Harkin calls for close look at bailout plan (09/27/08)
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin on Thursday cautioned Congress against being "stampeded" into a massive bailout of the nation's financial system. His concerns came as an Iowa legislative leader said he was worried that a severe economic downturn could hurt a state budget already under pressure...

People for Pets receives donation to purchase building (09/26/08)
People for Pets, a non-profit animal shelter and pet adoption center in Spencer, has received a $125,000 donation to purchase the building they had been renting. The donation was made by Steve Pearson and Lori Thomas of Spirit Lake. The donation was given in memory of Steve's sister, Maribeth Pearson, who loved all animals...

Bailout deal stalls as GOP lawmakers revolt (09/26/08)
WASHINGTON -- A Repub-lican revolt stalled urgent efforts to lash together a national economic rescue plan Thursday, a chaotic turnaround on a day that had seemed headed for a success that President Bush, both political parties and their presidential candidates could celebrate at an extraordinary White House meeting...

SWOT celebrate Women of Today week (09/25/08)
Spencer Women of Today Kila Meissner, Rhonda Dean, Jenna Grimmius, Teri Chinn, Cheri Prange, Tracey Malm, Kerrie Lode, and Jennifer Malm joined Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson as he signed a proclamation for Women of Today Week. Sept 21-27 is Women of Today Week and the group has activities scheduled each night of the week including a picnic at Scharnberg, Adpot a Block, Membership/Extension Night, Family Night, Santa's Workshop, and Support Your Football Team (game night), and dinner and a movie. ...

New law will assist disabled hunters this fall (09/25/08)
Rep. Mike May (R-Spirit Lake) discussed a new Iowa law that will promote many more nonresidents, age 21 years and younger and who are disabled or terminally ill, to hunt deer and turkey in the state. According to May, a growing number of national and community organizations have begun catering to disabled young hunters in recent years. ...

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. ...

Spencer showcased in 'Great Places' presentation (09/23/08)
From strolls downtown to evenings of theatre, more than 200 Spencer residents wanted to show the Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board what they have to offer. City leaders did that Monday afternoon at the SCT Playhouse. If their hour-long presentation was successful, Spencer could receive a state "Great Places" grant of $250,000-$500,000. The city would disperse the money to about six different projects...

Changing of the guard to occur Tuesday (09/20/08)
The Spencer Community School Board of Education will convene its regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 in the board room of the central administrative offices, located at 23 E. Seventh St. The evening will begin with a meeting in which the "retiring" board will approve consent items, including minutes from the Aug. 13 and Aug. 26 board meetings, bills, open enrollment requests, a transportation agreement with South Clay Community School District and personnel recommendations...

Displays sought for Festival of Trees (09/20/08)
Festive displays are being sought for the fifth annual Festival of Trees sponsored by the Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundation. The events will be held at the Clay County Regional Events Center Nov. 13-15 with a Festival Tour of Homes on Nov. 15. Businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations are welcome to create a display for the Festival. ...

Spencer citizens called on for Great Places presentation (09/20/08)
The preliminary work has been done and Monday, a committee delegation comprised of Great Places Citizen Advisory Board members and Department of Cultural Affairs representatives will be in Spencer for a key step in the Iowa Great Places designation process...

'Safe Routes' plan to pave the way for students (09/20/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff Children today are much less active than their counterparts of 39 years ago. While 50 percent of America's children walked to school in 1969, that number has dropped to 15 percent in 2008. As a result of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program that's taken shape recently, a Spencer delegation is focused on changing this trend...

Green Plains announces grand opening ceremony (09/19/08)
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. will host a grand opening celebration at its ethanol plant in Superior on Saturday, Sept. 20. The festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and include food and refreshments, courtesy of local livestock producers...

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...

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...

Abben Cancer Center construction progresses (09/18/08)
Construction on an addition to Spencer Hospital's Abben Cancer Center continues to progress, but current work will require those receiving services at the center to modify their arrival a bit. "The project is right on schedule and we're excited as we move closer to completion; however, many times the progress of construction creates a little inconvenience," said Doug Doorn, Spencer Hospital president and CEO. ...

Briefs 9-17-08 (09/17/08)
Okoboji Women's Connection, a division of Stonecroft Ministries, will have a luncheon at the Inn at Okoboji at 12:30 p.m., today. Cost for the event is $10. Featured speaker is Dee Fero of Tonka Bay, Minn. An author of four books, who has lived in the British West Indies, published monthly devotionals and went back to work after flunking retirement...

Deerfield Park grant application not funded for third time (09/17/08)
"We came close, but we didn't hit the money," Spencer Park and Recreation Director Delray Bredehoeft told Spencer Park Board members Tuesday night as he informed them a Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) grant application for the development of Deerfield Park was not funded for a third time...

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...

Spencer council to discuss use of city's railroad spur (09/13/08)
By Randy M. Cauthron Managing Editor When the Spencer City Council comes together for its first meeting of September, at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 15 at city hall, a full agenda will greet it. The city staff has been working with an existing company to explore the possibility of utilizing the city's railroad spur that would allow it to expand its services. One of the challenges to accommodate it request allowing them to utilize the spur could potentially reclassify the spur as a short line...

Spencer Merchants flex their muscle (09/13/08)
A local slow-pitch softball team flexed its muscle on the national stage earlier this summer, placing seventh at the USSSA Central Division Men's E National Tournament on Aug. 30 at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines. Made up of a core group of Spencer men, combined with a number of additional players from northwest Iowa, the Spencer Merchants finished with a 3-2 record at the national tournament. ...

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...

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...

Iowa Lakes Corridor announces success attracting new residents (09/11/08)
One late night back in May, Aaron Schulz, former resident of Lakeville, Minn., sent an e-mail to Shaun Arneson, vice president with Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation inquiring about jobs here in the region. The next morning, his resume was sent to more than 70 employers. By the end of the day, Aaron had two job interviews scheduled...

Competitive markets group to host fair event (09/11/08)
A shrinking number of seed companies has some lawmakers and industry groups concerned about escalating costs in the seed industry. State Rep. Marcie Frevert of Emmetsburg is one of the hosts for an event titled "Taking it Back: Bringing Fairness and Competition Back to the Seed Industry for Our Farmers."...

Outlaws invade the Fair - Schatz wins second straight at 'The Fair' (09/11/08)
It seems Donny Schatz has taken a liking to the Clay County Fair Speedway. Although, at this point, racing fans would be hard pressed to find a 3/8-mile track Schatz doesn't like. The winner of last year's inaugural World of Outlaws race at the Clay County Fair Speedway made his second straight trip to victory lane Wednesay, overtaking pole sitter Kraig Kinser to win for the fifth time in 16 season races on 3/8-mile tracks...

World of Outlaws returns to fair (09/10/08)
Spencer, IA -- After the largest crowd in the history of the Clay County Fair Speedway took in all of the action of the inaugural Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event at the track last season, the series will return to the 3/8-mile on Wednesday for a full night of racing...

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...

Briefs 9-05-08 (09/05/08)
Fair booster tickets will be sold individually for $5 each, a savings of $2 from the regular daytime gate admission price for adults. Individuals and businesses may take advantage of the savings by purchasing tickets from a fair booster ticket location or a fair booster representative prior to 5 p.m. ...

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...

Publisher interviewed for CBS Sunday Morning 'Dewey' segment (09/05/08)
Daily Reporter Publisher Paula Buenger is interviewed by CBS Sunday Morning's Martha Teichner for a segment that will air later in September regarding the impact of Dewey Readmore Books on the city of Spencer. The piece is tied to the release of former Spencer librarian Vicki Myron's novel, "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World." Myron will be signing copies of the book during the Clay County Fair...

BatschStein Salsa to add zest to fair (09/04/08)
Iowa's "fine home-made" BatschStein Salsa is now a limited liability corporation. Company founders Ethan Batschelet, 18, and Tyler Steinkamp, 20, began making their Clay County-based concoction when they amassed an extra-bountiful harvest of vegetables in 2006. Today's fine-tuned BatschStein Salsa recipe comes in mild, medium, hot and "super nova" varieties. The duo estimate they've prepared 600 pint jars of salsa between this spring and late summer...

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...

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...

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...

Business climate healthy in Corridor region (09/03/08)
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation has released its second annual report of interviews conducted with 25 existing industries throughout the Corridor region. The conclusion from this year's interviews is that the region's business climate is healthy...

City commissions study to track retail trends (09/03/08)
What Spencer residents buy, and what they leave town to buy, are part of what could be a revealing study approved Tuesday night by the Spencer City Council. Council members approved a $45,000 "Customers Retail Analysis Project" by the market research firm Buxton. The company typically researches buying trends for companies with an interest to locate in a specific community...

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...

Council to consider "Historic Restoration" classification tonight (09/02/08)
A 5:30 p.m. Personnel and Finance Committee meeting, followed by a Committee of the Whole session at 6:15 p.m., and regular council meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. will make for a long evening for Spencer's governing body. The council will review the final filing of a proposed ordinance that will provide for a new section to the city code pertaining to substandard buildings; providing for an "Historic Restoration" classification...

Former Congressman Bedell named chairman of Hubler's campaign (09/02/08)
COUNCIL BLUFFS -- Berkley Bedell, who served western Iowa in the U. S. House of Representatives for 12 years, will serve as General Chairman of the Hubler for Congress Committee, it was announced today by the Hubler campaign. Bedell, who founded Berkley and Company in Spirit Lake in 1945 after returning from World War II, will join Hubler on Wednesday on a six-city swing the campaign is calling the "Bringing Back Real Representation Tour." Hubler, the Democratic nominee for Congress in Iowa's 5th district, has used "Real Representation" as his campaign slogan.. ...

Lawson: No impact on Spencer cameras (09/02/08)
DES MOINES (AP) -- The Iowa Supreme Court, in a split ruling on Friday, upheld the city of Davenport's use of traffic cameras to catch speeders and drivers who run red lights. The ruling involved the case of a man who challenged the city's ordinance, which authorized the use of cameras and sensors to catch motorists who violate traffic laws...

OCM to host event at Clay County Fair (08/29/08)
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is sponsoring a major event to raise awareness about concentration of market power in the seed industry and the impacts on rural Iowa. The event, "Taking It Back: Bringing Fairness and Competition Back to the Seed Industry for Our Farmers," will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, in the 4H building at the Clay County fairgrounds in Spencer...

Briefs 8-29-08 (08/29/08)
A retirement coffee for Elmer Williams, city of Spencer street superintendent, will take place from 2-4 p.m. today in council chambers at City Hall. --- The Photography Department will be accepting entries from 12-7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. The photography department is now located just east of the Pork Producers Chop Shop and directly south of the outdoor horse arena. Pre-registration is encouraged...