News

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Jill Barr, of Spencer, earned the honor of representing Iowa’s married women at Mrs. America. Barr was crowned Saturday, June 24, at the Mrs. Iowa America Pageant conducted at the Bloomington Center for the Arts in Bloomington, Minnesota...

Spencer Fire Chief John Conyn and members of the Fire Department provided some added firepower to the Spencer Public Library’s water fight event. Part of the library’s summer reading program, “Building Better Worlds,” a few dozen of Spencer’s youth met in the public parking lot across the street from the library for a huge water fight as a way to beat the summer heat. Participants employed water hoses, water guns and water balloons to beat the heat. The library and Fire Department will be hosting a second water fight at 2 p.m. Thursday at the library. (Photos by Joseph Hopper)

GREENVILLE — The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Spencer Police Department executed a search warrant on the person of Justin Ries, his 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a property located at 1108 Main St. in Greenville on Monday, June 12. Ries and his vehicle were found in an alley in the 100-block of W. ...

Since April, Carroll's Bakery has been competing for the title of “Sweetest Bakery in America.” The competition began in February and placed Carroll's Bakery up against bakeries of all sizes across the country. The ingredient supplier and event sponsor, Dawn Foods, launched its first “Sweetest Bakery in America” competition in February as a way to promote business for the smaller scale bakeries they serve across the country...

Fairgoers have the opportunity to save through several pre-fair deals as they make plans to “Come Home” for the Centennial Clay County Fair. Advance adult gate admission tickets are available for $7, saving fairgoers $3 before the gates open Sept. 9. ...

Last week (right) crews completed the removal of asbestos from the Agriculture Building on the Clay County Fairgrounds, preparing the historic property for demolition which began Tuesday (above). The building, which was the second oldest structure on the fairgrounds was removed due to structural concerns. In order to refurbish the building, it would have to become ADA compliant, which would involve installing running water and plumbing for bathrooms, adding a complete sprinkler system and ensuring handicap accessibility throughout the facility. The antiques center, vendors and agriculture displays will all be relocated to new homes for the coming centennial fair celebration in September. The space occupied by the Agriculture Building will be used for space as part of the new Centennial Plaza development, offering a green space with seating and a park-like setting and children’s playground where families can relax while attending the fair. (Photos by Randy M. Cauthron)

Alex Olson was introduced as the new principal of Fairview Elementary at Tuesday night's Spencer Community School Board meeting. "Throughout the interview process it was amazing the support I was seeing from the community, from the staff and the administration. That made this job even more attractive to me than it already was. I see a lot of support. I am really excited to be a part of the community and to help out anyway that I can," Olson said...

As Community State Bank celebrates its 20th anniversary in Spencer, Albert City and Webb, the local financial institution announced Monday plans to purchase its first new branch site since opening its doors to service area clients in 1997. Community State Bancorporation, of Spencer, the parent company of Community State Bank, has entered into an agreement to purchase Little Sioux Bancshares, of Sioux Rapids, the majority shareholder of First State Bank, located at 123 Main St. ...

Tuesday, officers with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources were called to dispatch a mountain lion from a farm near Galva, in northeast Ida County. The situation arose after a neighboring livestock producer discovered a dead calf that showed evidence consistent with an attack by a large cat late last week. Repeated calls were placed to 911 Monday evening by a nearby landowner who discovered the cat...

Many people know the feeling of their first car, the sense of freedom and responsibility rolled into one, that is the same feeling one Vietnam veteran got when he got his first helicopter in 1970. Those emotions came back to him as Bob Rohlfson, a retired teacher and Vietnam pilot, was reunited in mid-June with that same helicopter at the Fort Douglas Army Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, after one of his former pilot friends, Doug Wilson, found the helicopter that Rohlfson had bonded with during his 362 days in Vietnam. ...

The Clay County Federated Garden Club met on Tuesday, June 6, at Arts on Grand. The program was presented by Al Phillips, environmental educational coordinator with the city of Spencer. His main focus was on composting, from the beginning to using the product of compost on gardens. ...

Whitney Christensen has returned to her old stomping grounds in northwest Iowa. Christensen was hired as store leader at Spencer’s Verizon BeMobile location, 712 11th St. SW in February. The South O’Brien graduate grew up in the Sutherland and Peterson area, before going to school at the University of Northern Iowa. After college she went out to the West Coast and began her sales management career. She returned to Iowa and eventually returned to the northwest Iowa area to take the Verizon position. Currently the location employs seven. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Verizon BeMobile can be reached at 346-0040. (Photo by Randy M. Cauthron)

The Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundation recently received a gift of $3,000 in support of cancer care for the Abben Cancer Center., representing proceeds raised during the annual Golf for a Cure tournament held May 6 at Emerald Hills Golf Club. “We are pleased each year by the generosity shown by so many,” said Donna Janssen, a two-time cancer survivor, who co-chairs the annual event with Judy Wendell and Kim Butler. ...

As Community State Bank celebrates its 20th anniversary in Spencer, Albert City and Webb, the local financial institution announced Monday plans to purchase its first new branch site since opening its doors to service area clients in 1997. Community State Bancorporation, of Spencer, the parent company of Community State Bank, has entered into an agreement to purchase Little Sioux Bancshares, of Sioux Rapids, the majority shareholder of First State Bank, located at 123 Main St. ...

The Spencer Municipal Band under the direction of co-director Janet Boyens welcomes everyone to join them for another concert of band music this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the bandshell at East Leach Park. This will be the fourth in a series of six concerts the band will present. This week’s concert will feature a variety of songs from movie soundtracks to Italian classics...

Some minor changes to Iowa election laws will go into effect July 1, while major changes to the election laws will be occurring in the next two years. Among the minor changes, voters not registered to vote in the precinct where they live will need to provide proof of residence, as well as identification, when they vote at the polling place...

Spencer Public Library hosted Maker Fest Saturday afternoon. The event was designed to celebrate the “maker” in everyone. Community members and librarians came together to share their creative skills with Spencer residents of all ages. (Above) Lily Beaver, Samantha Beaver and Arianna Mills walked Cecelia and Marielle Burns, ages 5 and 3, through how to create slime at home using common household products. (Right) Roby Johnson and Bianca Lekwa worked to design frosting flowers on graham crackers. (Below) Jackie Petty, with Jackie’s Craft Design, supplied the ingredients for guests to create their own bath bombs. Other demonstrations included how to color like a pro, fun with a green screen, button making, corner bookmarks, origami lights, how to use Google Home, “Minecraft” and stop motion animation. The concept behind the event is to allow the audience to participate to either take home an item they created or take home new knowledge about science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. (Photos by Randy M. Cauthron)

GRAETTINGER — Attempts to resuscitate a 16-year-old male by Palo Alto County emergency responders were unsuccessful after the Graettinger teen allegedly fell from a vehicle after midnight Sunday. Specific circumstances surrounding the cause of death of Noah M. Flaherty remain under investigation by the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office, but initial reports suggest Flaherty had fallen from the back of a vehicle while it was in motion...

For Josh, the project idea was an easy one, serving both the troop that supports him, and any who would follow in his footsteps. He chose to build a shelter in Kindlespire Park, the stomping grounds of local Boy Scout Troop 123. “Usually if you’re in the Boy Scouts (in Clay County), this is where you go camping,” Josh said. “(The least I can do is give back) and put something beautiful here. If it rains, or if it’s snowing (it will be well utilized) because no one wants to cook in the snow.”...

MILFORD — Three juveniles were arrested recently on charges of second-degree felony arson, and a pair of misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief in connection to a pair of vandalisms in Milford earlier this month. On June 10, the Milford Police Department took a vandalism report involving multiple fires started in bathrooms and a dumpster located in Florence Park. ...

OKOBOJI — Boaters, swimmers and anglers were hopeful a major blow had been dealt to curlyleaf pondweed in East Lake Okoboji when an aquatic harvester cut paths through the thick, matted patches of the invasive plant in May. However, the weed is still causing problems for swimmers and boaters this month. It has clogged motors and brought summer fun to a standstill for some...

The Textiles, Crafts and Art department will again showcase people’s blue ribbon creativity in the Creative Living Center at the 2017 Clay County Fair, Sept. 9-17. Three new classes of competition, two which are based on the fair’s centennial theme of “Come Home,” will also create new opportunities for exhibitors to bring home ribbons, gift certificates, special awards and cash premiums...

It has been announced, Iowa Lakes Community College President Valerie Newhouse will receive the Outstanding Chief Administrator Award from the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees. Newhouse was selected for the award based on her outstanding leadership and will receive the award at the annual trustees conference near the end of July...

Eaton has donated five military stones to the American Legion Post No. 1. "When I heard Eaton was closing I decided to contact the people I knew out there and I said I was interested in accepting the stones if they wanted a place for them," said Darrel Tonderum, Eaton retiree and American Legion Post 1 finance officer. "They thought about it and a corporate decision was made so we could display them in front of our post."...

ROYAL — “Go in peace,” Deacon Kenny Lindquist told the congregation at Saint Louis Catholic Church. It’s a close to Mass the local Catholics have heard for years, but Sunday those words took on special significance. Lindquist concelebrated the final scheduled Sunday Mass at the Royal church, effectively bringing to an end the church’s function as the spiritual hub to the 62 registered families and estimated 170 members it has served in recent years...

During the Spencer Hospital Board’s monthly session Thursday, board members approved the purchase of six new, cutting-edge anesthesia machines, in an effort to phase out aging equipment for the hospital’s health infrastructure. The hospital employs thousands of anesthetic treatments annually, and anesthesia machines are considered by the hospital an essential element for day-to-day operations...

State party leaders, local elected officials, potential Republican candidates and state and federal legislators gathered on the Clay County Fairgrounds Saturday evening to meet with local GOP supporters at the first fundraising event conducted locally in many years...

The Clay County Federated Garden Club hosted its 2017 Garden Tour Friday evening. Seven gardens belonging to Tom and Kate Nelson, Dawn Wigen, Lee and Nancy Schoenewe, Dennis and Sara DeWitt, Diane Binder and Terry and Jacque Heinrichs (pictured) were featured on the tour. The self-guided tour began at the Spencer Hospital Grand Avenue Park where maps were distributed to participants. The event was offered free of charge. (Photos by Randy M. Cauthron)

Steve Waller, president of Clay County Heritage Center, recently received a corporate financial donation from Scott Threlkeld, manager of Spencer’s Hy-Vee location, to defray admission charges for the general public visiting the museum in Spencer. Members of the Clay County Heritage Board presented a plaque to Threlkeld recognizing Hy-Vee for its donation and support to the museum. Threlkeld (center) received the plaque from Heritage Center Director Ryan Odor. (Photo submitted)

Arts on Grand will be hosting a series of three adult pottery classes from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights June 27, July 11 and July 18. The classes will be taught by local artist Gene Polson. "I have been doing pottery for 40 years. I took a class in college. ...

SPIRIT LAKE — Spirit Lake Police responded to a report of a stabbing in the 900 block of 22nd Street in Spirit Lake at approximately 5 p.m. Thursday. Officers arrived on scene and 29-year-old Nicholas Everett Thompson, of Spirit Lake, attempted to leave the area. Officers briefly gave chase before Thompson was arrested...

With fireworks now legal in Iowa there will be even more celebrating for the Fourth of July and the preceding weekend. Unfortunately, that celebrating too often includes misuse of alcohol which may lead to drunk driving. Because the high fatality rate over the recent Fourth of July holidays there will be additional law enforcement on Iowa’s roads as well as the entire nation...

STORM LAKE — The Storm Lake Sears store will be closing permanently on July 21. Seven jobs will be lost. According to store management, the decision was announced to employees about a week ago, and was not unexpected. The store is part of Sears Hometown tier of smaller operations, which are privately owned. With a management agreement expiring, the owner is choosing to retire from the business. Attempts to sell the store were unsuccessful, though a new investor could still purchase the site...

MUSCATINE — Deluxe Feeds Inc., a division of Kent Nutrition Group in Muscatine, announced plans Thursday for an expansion to its Sheldon location which it claims will allow the plant to better serve customers and offer a wider variety of products and services...

JOHNSTON — The Iowa Corn Promotion Board will conduct elections in Crop Reporting Districts 1, 3, 6 and 9 on July 18. District 1 Crop Reporting candidates are Kelly Nieuwenhuis, O'Brien County and John Schott, Pocahontas County. District 1 serves Buena Vista, Clay, Cherokee, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas and Sioux counties. ...

Community State Bank announced the promotion of Sandra Krummen to commercial and ag loan officer. She has been working at Community State Bank in various positions since 2013. Krummen graduated from Iowa State University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business and animal science. She also farms row-crop and has a livestock operation with her husband, Neil, near Linn Grove...

MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Office of the Registrar at Northwest Missouri State University announced the names of students named to the academic or president’s honor roll at the end of the 2017 spring trimester. On the list, Cheyanne N. Kopera, of Milford...

Adam Sikora and Ashton Wooten Rose Clarken, Taylor Gilmore, Jack Henry Meyer and Mackenzie Schnetzer Shayla Doran, Lily Mueller, Austin Ness, Bailey Sankey, Cameron Sankey and Cade Steams Maya Cacek, Christopher Conlon, Jacob Conlon, Lauren Josephson, Katie Long, Madison Schnetzer, Eric Sundall and Sayde Weller...

The ISU Extension and Outreach Clay County 4-H Youth Development Program offered two days of learning and creativity to area youth in fourth to 12th grade. The event, Paper Painting through the Ages, introduced youth to the world of art while they took a journey through history, learning about important art movements and discovering artists from those times. The youth also had a chance to learn many painting techniques and created their own fun pieces. Those involved included (back row) Bailey Swanson, Caitlyn Mueggenberg, Molly Moser, JD Bumgarner, (front row) ISU educator, Monica Figueroa, Victoria Bussell, Chloe Bumgarner, Abby Goeken and Riley Herman. For more information about Clay County 4-H and SpIn Events call 262-2264. (Photo submitted)

Geoffrey the Gopher Family Fun Day aims to bring positivity to Spencer. The event will be conducted at the Clay County Fairgrounds, north of the Depot Building, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. "It is important to the area because with all the stuff going on right now, with Polaris closing and Eaton's closing, people need something so they don't fall into negativity. People need something positive," event organizer Chad Bressman said...

The Northwest Bank Stage will bring nine days of quality entertainment to the Clay County Fair Sept. 9-17, just a portion of the $180,000 in free entertainment that will be offered to fairgoers as part of the fair’s centennial celebration. “Our free entertainment stages have always been popular spots for our fairgoers because of the incredible options that are provided,” fair manager Jeremy Parsons said. “This year’s Northwest Bank lineup will definitely continue that tradition.”...

Spencer Public Works Committee and various city officials met with consulting firm Barker Lemar representation, regarding the potential for training local and regional fire departments to handle landfill fires, citing the city’s landfill south of Graettinger as an example where a potential fire might occur...

Members of Community Housing Initiatives from all across Iowa traveled back to where the nonprofit organization began as a part of the team’s yearly retreat. The retreat included performing various repairs and improvements to CHI properties in the city of Spencer. Members paved sidewalks and improved landscapes at Spencer Manor Apartments and put the finishing touches on a playground in the middle of the 30-apartment Southern Pointe Apartments, CHI’s newest facility...

ROYAL — Saint Louis Catholic Church in Royal will celebrate its final parish Mass at 10:30 a.m. Sunday after 107 years of serving parishioners from the area. Rev. Francis Makwinja will concelebrate the final Mass with Deacon Kenny Lindquist for the church which will be designated an Oratory Status facility effective June 30. Rev. R. Walker Nickless, Bishop for the Sioux City Diocese signed a decree on June 10 creating an extinctive union merging Saint Louis into Sacred Heart Parish in Spencer. Special activities at the church commemorating the final Mass will be part of the day’s celebration which will be followed by a banquet and program at the Clay County Fair and Events Center. Invitations were sent out to all former church parishioners who could be located and local church leadership are anticipating attendance numbering more than 270 based on RSVP returns. Coverage of the final Mass will appear in Monday’s Daily Reporter. (Photo by Randy M. Cauthron)

EVERLY — Only minor injuries were reported after one car wound up on its roof in a ditch and another vehicle came to rest in a field following a two-car accident Tuesday afternoon. At approximately 4:11 p.m., Joe Hartmann, of Everly, was eastbound in his 2004 Chevrolet Silverado in the 1500 mile of U.S. Highway 18. As he slowed to make a right turn into a field drive, a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, driven by David Porreca, of Spencer, rear-ended the Silverado...

GRANGER ― Covering 1,600 acres, Jester Park near Granger is a weekend destination providing adventure and learning conveniently located less than an hour from our state's capital. Jester Park pairs technology with nature with the Guide by Cell program the park has incorporated into its system. ...

Clay County Heritage Center announced the Parker Museum will be open several Sundays this summer. The Parker Museum is located at 300 E. Third St. The museum will be open at no charge from noon to 4 p.m. June 25, July 30 and Aug. 27. The Parker Museum is an example of the arts-and-crafts style of architecture, featuring quarter sawn oak woodwork, colonnades with stained glass, leaded glass china closets, six-over-three windows, Steuben glass light fixtures etched with an Art Nouveau pattern and a porte cochere. ...

The Spencer Public Library hosted Dennis Wilson who presented “The History of the Orphan Train” Wednesday afternoon. Wilson, an advocate for orphan train history recognition, presented to a group about the train that carried orphaned children across the country. The Orphan Train Movement was a welfare program that transported orphaned and homeless children from the crowded Eastern cities to mostly rural Midwestern towns including Spencer...

This is part of a series of weekly updates from the 2017 Spencer RAGBRAI Committee leading up the July 23 overnight stay in Spencer. Look for the weekly updates and information exclusively on the Entertainment page in future Daily Reporter editions...

The Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy and Spencer Main Street Inc. announce the dates and live music scheduled for the fine arts, farmers market and entertainment events for summer 2017. Mainstreet Market events open to the public at 5 p.m. each Thursday night beginning July 13 and continuing through Aug. 10. Music performance will begin at approximately 6 p.m. and conclude at 8 p.m. A rain date has been added on Aug. 17...