Teen Welfare

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

Kardell sisters donate to Locks of Love (08/06/08)
Sisters Liz and Gabby Kardell both donated to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially-disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss, Tuesday afternoon. The pair, who mark Bruce and Gwen Kardell of Spencer's eldest and youngest of five children, trusted Sam Madison of Design Masters to shear them as their mother, grandmother Shirley Wheeler and friend Jake Kluver watched...

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...

Representative daycare (07/10/08)
State Rep. Mike May (R-Spirit Lake) accepted the invitation of local childcare provider Judy Elliott to attend her special deep sea daycare event at her home which also doubles as Elliott's Home Family Child Care. May, with the assistance of Elliott (above), had the opportunity to sit down and be involved in a sing-a-long with the children present, sharing a story accompanied by music about the creatures in the water. ...

Thee Garage Sale expands to Tuesdays (06/06/08)
Thee Garage Sale, a well-known and popular thrift store in the lakes area, is expanding their hours to include Tuesdays effectively immediately. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., every Tuesday through Saturday. Built upon a strong volunteer base, the store helps to raise funds for Cherish House, a maternity home for teen mothers located in the lakes area. ...

GriefShare: Returning program assists those dealing with loss of loved one (05/30/08)
It's an undeniable fact - it hurts to lose a loved one. A continuing program in Okoboji is hoping to help those struggling find support, strength and peace. GriefShare, a biblically based support group seminar, is returning to the Lakes area this summer...

Student volunteers recognized (05/30/08)
Spencer Middle School students who participated in the RSVP Student Service Project were recently recognized for their volunteer contributions to the community. Forty seventh and eighth graders contributed over 500 hours to non-profit organizations and public agencies during out-of-school time over the past school year...

Longhouse-Northshire celebrates Nursing Home Week (05/22/08)
The American Health Care Association has designated May 11-17 as National Nursing Home Week. Longhouse-Northshire, LTD has celebrated this week by recognizing the tremondous service the facilitiy employees provide to those needing short term or long term care. ...

Senior Briefs 5-20-08 (05/20/08)
Those who wish to play in the senior's league at the Spencer Municipal Golf Course should call Wayne Burnham at 580-3057. New members are always welcome. League play will begin May 22. --- The Senior Health Fair will take place from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Thursday, May 22 at the Gateway North Mall in Spencer. ...

Castillo-Alvarez files appeal (05/16/08)
Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez wants the Iowa Supreme Court to take a fresh look at convictions stemming from his involvement in the death of an Estherville teenager 11 years ago. Judge Don Courtney found the former Estherville restaurant owner guilty of second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony Jan. 25 at the Palo Alto County Courthouse in Emmetsburg. The guilty verdict came after a trial that spanned parts of three days in September...

Mayor declares Nursing Home Week (05/12/08)
Cheri Prange, Shirley Johanson, Emma Exner, Teri Stevenson and Edith Lopez of St. Lukes Lutheran Home joined Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson to proclaim May 11-17 as National Nursing Home Week.

Local teen finds success in pageant world (05/12/08)
In a little over two months, Spirit Lake High School freshman Alexandria "Lexi" Schuchert will be onstage speaking, modeling and interviewing to the best of her ability in front of hundreds of people. This July, Lexi, daughter of Chad and Jennifer Schuchert, will travel with her family to the windy city of Chicago to compete in the Miss Teen International Pageant...

Ambassadors meet with PSY reps (05/07/08)
The Spencer Ambassadors met with Amy Simpson and other representatives of Positively Spencer Youth to learn about how the volunteer operated program is serving the needs of the young people in Spencer. The organization has partnered with the schools and other area organizations in the community to put on a series of informative and relevent seminars for teens and parents regarding the dangers on the internet and various types of substance abuse in today's teen culture, the group has also offered several fun activities for families and children to take part in, brought in a variety of positive speakers and worked with other groups such as After Prom and the Extreme Am to add more benefit to those served by each project. ...

Pepper makes a new friend (05/06/08)
Doggie kisses. Can't beat them. At least that's what Shirley Tutt, a resident at Northshire, thought after getting a big, wet doggie kiss from Pepper - one of the many animals at the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa in Milford. The pets and their handlers paid a visit to both Northshire and St. ...

Deputies press King for federal grant support (05/03/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Funding for the Iowa Great Lakes Task Force was a central point of conversation Friday as U.S. Rep. Steve King met with Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow in Spencer. Krukow is concerned about cuts to the Byrne-JAG (Justice Assistance Grant) program. The grants were established in 2005 to allow states and local governments to support improvements to the criminal justice system...

Making the transition easier (05/01/08)
Volunteer students from the Spencer Middle School RSVP Volunteer Program, who volunteer at non-profit or public agencies during out-of-school time, spent their early out Wednesday packing up various bags and backpacks for "The Foster Care Emergency Bag Project." The emphasis behind the project was to make the Foster Care transition a little bit easier. ...

'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. ...

Cruising for Kyuss: Raising awareness for autism (04/26/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff April, which has been designated National Autism Awareness Month, seems the perfect time for Damon and Leah Hintz of Spencer to announce that they're the proud parents of two children: Kyuss will mark his sixth birthday in July and Miles Hintz will turn 18 months old on May 3. The eldest of their two sons was diagnosed with autism as a 3-year-old...

Hearing date set in Castillo-Alvarez case (04/03/08)
District Court Judge Don Courtney has set the hearing date for a former Estherville restaurant owner who was convicted for his role in the disappearance and death of an area teenager. Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez's attorney, Mike Williams, filed a motion on March 7 asking Courtney to vacate guilty verdicts on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. Castillo-Alvarez wants a new trial...

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...

Ambassadors meet Seasons director (04/02/08)
The Spencer Ambassadors visited the Seasons Center for Community Mental Health to meet new Director, Carrie Baker. Carrie spent 54 years in Ohio before venturing out of state to take the opportunity at Seasons Center. She's been working locally for the past five weeks, overseeing the youth, adult, elderly and special programming services offered by Seasons Center. ...

Briefs 4-02 (04/02/08)
Spencer schools early dismissal Spencer Community Schools announces that there will be an early dismissal at 12:30 p.m. today for teacher in-service.  n If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kathryn Elliott at the Central Office Administration Building at 262-8950...

Briefs 4-01 (04/01/08)
Visually Impaired/Blind Self-Help Group The Spencer Area Visually Impaired/Blind Self-Help Group will hold its monthy meeting at 1:30 p.m., today in the round room of the Spencer Library. n For information call Kay at 264-8911. Spencer schools early dismissal...