News

Drivers incapacitated following head-on incident Two drivers involved in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 18 near Del’s Garden Center Tuesday afternoon had to be transported to Spencer Hospital by EMS units with what were determined to be incapacitating and potentially serious injuries...

During Monday night’s Spencer City Council meeting, council members approved a resolution updating the regulations for Spencer’s parks. The ongoing regulations were first written approximately 30 years ago. Spencer Parks Director Delray Bredehoeft discussed the key changes with the council, which included new language specifically stating non-keg alcoholic beverages were permitted “in and on park facilities, except as prohibited by specific rule.”...

Ag experts: What makes deadly tractor rollovers likely, how to avoid them In less than two weeks, multiple people have been killed in tractor rollover incidents in northwest Iowa counties. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach officials said while the total number of fatalities in the state have decreased from approximately 30 fatalities to around 11 annually over a 30-year span, additional measures can be taken to prevent or decrease the chance of suffering a tractor rollover...

Former workers, guests and community members are invited to remember the Tangney Hotel, and its lasting legacy in Spencer at two events scheduled for this weekend. The hotel, once housed in the Grand Avenue Community Outreach building, welcomed guests to Spencer for almost 80 years...

Spencer grad prepares for next chapter in Saint Petersburg after years of self-study Twenty-year-old Kyla Chester has found her niche with Russian language and culture. As Chester continues preparing to make her dream of working in education, interpretation and translation a reality, she will return to the city of Saint Petersburg with new confidence gained through years of self-study and driven pursuit...

The Clay County Fair Textiles, Crafts, and Arts Department will again showcase memorable creativity in the Creative Living Center at the 2019 Clay County Fair, Sept 7-15. “We always look forward to the wide variety of exhibits brought to the fair, and this year there are a few new changes to the sponsors,” said Superintendent Terri Chalstrom. ...

Dickinson County jurors will not have to hear evidence surrounding the abuse and isolation of an 8-year-old boy from Ackley. The boy's father, 31-year-old Alex Shadlow, agreed to a Class C felony-level charge of kidnapping and two Class C felony charges of child endangerment July 8...

Efforts to repair the flood-battered Linn Grove Dam, and restore the Little Sioux River to its original channel, are getting underway. Divers explored under the dam last week, checking to see if erosion has undercut the landmark that dates to the 1870s. Local officials have not yet seen the report from the dive...

The Spencer Ambassadors joined Ryan and Amanda Bare, owners of Century Farms Distillery, for a ribbon cutting Tuesday morning. The Bare’s new operation, located at 2304 Highway Blvd., has been a work in progress for quite some time, drawing a great deal of attention along a busy stretch of roadway along U.S. ...

DES MOINES ― Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig reminds farmers and landowners that they can still sign-up for 2019 cost share funds to help install nutrient reduction practices around the state. The funds can be used to off-set the cost of cover crops, no-till/strip till or a nitrification inhibitor, which help improve soil health, reduce erosion and improve water quality. ...

Will Dible is accepting his membership certificate from sponsor Dr. Bill Phelps and congratulated by Spencer Hy-Noon Kiwanis President Maureen Oechslin after being introduced to the local service club as a new member. Dible is with the Spencer schools and directs the program called No Boundaries.

Wayne Johnson, president of the University of Okoboji Corvette Club, presented Jeff Vierkant of Arnolds Park Amusement Park with a donation of $1,600. The car club has their annual car show at the amusement park every summer. “We are looking forward to our event again this year on July 27th,” Johnson said. “The park makes a great setting for our show, allowing the club members and guests to enjoy the facilities and all that the Okoboji area has to offer.” Kathleen Johnson is also pictured.

Laurens native and Pilot-Tribune alum Dean Hopkins crossed an item off his bucket list on Friday, taking part in the Running of the Bulls during the Fiesta de San Fermin celebration in Pamplona, Spain. The event has been taking place since 1591. Hopkins said he not only completed the run safely, but managed to collect some dirt from the Plaza de Toro floor as a momento...

What was reported as a head-on collision between a car and truck near Del's Garden Center on U.S. Highway 18 in south Spencer resulted in at least one individual being transported to the hospital with undetermined injuries. Local emergency responders were called to the scene shortly after 1 p.m. Tueaday. Additional details will be available following release of information from the Spencer Police Department...

Spencer will have to wait until May of 2020 to make a second attempt at attaining its “Iowa Great Place” redesignation through the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Spencer first received an Iowa Great Place designation 11 years ago, however the program was rebooted requiring cities to redesignate before qualifying for funds available through the program on a cyclical basis...

Dickinson County Supervisors, at the behest of several citizens, approved a letter to the Iowa Department of Transportation requesting an expanded study of the intersection of Highway 71 and Nature Center Road in Okoboji. The crossroad was the scene of a collision in May which claimed the life of a long-time area volunteer...

OKOBOJI – Four weeks and counting! The Okoboji Blue Water Festival, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, is truly the signature clean water event in the state of Iowa. The Festival is an “all day-all free” event held at the Preservation plaza of Historic Arnolds Park designed to raise public awareness of water quality issues, while at the same time celebrating the significant clean water efforts in the Iowa Great Lakes...

Spencer Community Schools will have early registration for the 2019-20 school year from July 22-25 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Conference Room B at the Central Office, 23 E. Seventh St. Regular registration will be at the middle school on Tuesday, August 6 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Aug. 7 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The district newsletter with registration information will be mailed July 25...

Iowa musician anticipates studio this year amid busy concert schedule OKOBOJI  — For singer/songwriter and Okoboji native Damon Dotson, balancing a busy summer concert schedule with the responsibilities of being a young father presents its challenges, but it also affords an opportunity for inspiration...

WEBB – A legal case surrounding a parking ticket issued by the city of Webb has sparked a number of smaller sized towns in Clay County to review their city codes. The case, Webb vs. Travis Lee Grote, centered around Grote as allegedly violating Webb’s truck parking ordinance. ...

Sioux City East High School assistant principal and activities director BJ Koch said his approach to cultivating young leaders starts with encourage. The 1998 Spencer High School graduate has been recognized for that approach as the 2019 Iowa Association of Student Councils High School Administrator of the Year...

Dr. Mandi Ward of Spencer Physical Therapy has recently achieved her Therapeutic Pain Specialist certification through the International Spine and Pain Institute. Ward has been practicing as a physical therapist since 2001 in a variety of settings but has found a passion for revolutionary pain relief for those suffering from ongoing, long-term chronic pain conditions. ...

DES MOINES ― Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig reminds farmers and landowners that they can still sign-up for 2019 cost share funds to help install nutrient reduction practices around the state. The funds can be used to off-set the cost of cover crops, no-till/strip till or a nitrification inhibitor, which help improve soil health, reduce erosion and improve water quality. ...

SHS grad works with wounded, ill and injured service members through Warrior Games competition When a service member or veteran is confronted with a life-altering injury or illness, finding a way to compete athletically can often be a challenge. Master resilience trainer and performance expert with the Warrior Games Joel Druvenga has been helping wounded athletes find creative ways to once again take on challenges in a competitive environment...

Clay Central-Everly assistant superintendent, Jeff Scharn, and superintendent, Scott Williamson officially took over leadership of the district on July 1. As the district transitions to an elementary only system with the beginning of the 2019-20 school year, the administrators are working to assess the immediate and long-needs of the district and introducing themselves to the communities...

City to be subject of ICMA documentary The city of Spencer will be the subject of a short documentary film created by a division of the International City/County Management Association and premiered during the organization’s annual conference in Nashville which is expected to be attended by approximately 6,000 from its 17 country membership...

Whether it’s putting a name to a parcel of land or mapping new changes in terrain, Clay County Geographic Information System Coordinator James Worm is the person to turn raw information into the many maps used throughout Clay County. Worm recently updated the Clay County Board of Supervisors regarding the creation of the United States National Grid map of Clay County, which fire departments in the county have begun training with and will likely be used to assist in emergency efforts such as search and rescue operations.. ...

Dan Wardell, host of Iowa Public Television's Kids Clubhouse, visited the Spencer Public Library July 9. Wardell joined the library's story time as part of the summer reading program, "A Universe of Stories." Wardell incorporated actions and song into his reading of "Over in the Garden," by Jennifer Ward.

Western Iowa Congressman Steve King is pressuring President Trump to defy the Supreme Court and force a U.S. Census question requiring citizenship information. “U.S. Census does require name, phone number, date of birth, sex, ethnicity, race, unmarried partner, and biological or adopted son or daughter. But can’t ask if you are a citizen?,” King said in a recent Twitter post. “Judicial activism and utterly biased decision. @RealDonaldTrump force this issue—by Executive Order.”...

IOWA CITY — Delta Kappa Gamma International Chi Chapter members awarded the $150 Grant-in-Aid Scholarship to Emily Herum, an Estherville-Lincoln Central High School senior, who plans to major in music education at the University of Iowa. She was one of six seniors from five schools who applied for Grant-in-Aid. ...

With new themes and a new sponsor, now is a perfect time to begin sorting through all of the photos you have taken since the 2018 Fair and enter them in one of the many photography competitions at the 2019 Clay County Fair. Photographers may enter up to 12 photographs with one entry per class. Divisions include color photographs or black and white photographs of people, places, landscape, things, plants, or animals/insects world...

ARNOLDS PARK — It's a lot more fun than darts. At least, that's what Michael Schupbach said his customers keep telling him. He and co-owner Rich Emrich opened The Throwing Post June 1 in Arnolds Park. The co-owners said it's the area's first axe bar and was once the Arnolds Park Post Office — making for a clever reference in the business name. ...

STORM LAKE — Iowa Central Community College officials and Storm Lake community leaders gathered for a ceremonial ground-breaking for the $2.8 million new Industrial Technology Training Center Tuesday, even as heavy machinery growled in the background, already leveling the site for construction...

Fair weather and crowds of families and friends packed the Clay County Courthouse Square Thursday evening for the first Mainstreet Market event of the year. “It was a really great turnout,” SPACE President Braden Falline said. (Above) Elsie and her grandmother peruse the interesting items on display in Jim Schooley’s booth. (Below) The Denny Nelson Band played a number of country classics to the crowd gathered around the center of the courthouse square Thursday. The next Mainstreet Market will be held on July 18, headlined by Jack Ryan and Friends.

ROYAL — After discovering a city ordinance on file which entails a permitting process to allow fireworks use, Royal City Council members discussed whether to enforce the previously lost ordinance or continue to only enforce state law, while also deliberating over a number of written and verbal complaints about fireworks being shot within city limits...

With the departure of Brian Mohr as Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy president earlier this month, Clay County Heritage’ representative on the SPACE board, Braden Falline, has been elected as Mohr’s successor. Falline first joined the arts organization in 2016, and has assisted with the organization’s Mainstreet Market events and the selection of public art pieces established in Spencer...

Twenty-five-year-old Jaci Hermstad continued her battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as ALS, Thursday morning when she received her third infusion of Antisense Oligonecleotide, as known as ASO. Each treatment Jaci has received has increased by a factor with her the latest infusion representing three times the amount of the original. Jaci is the first to receive this experimental treatment. The family stated that both prayers and financial support are welcome. Contributions can be made at http://bit.ly/HelpSaveJaciALS.

SHS assistant principal to take military leave for 2019-20 school year Jade Beehler, deputy commander of the 196th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) with the South Dakota Army National Guard in Fort Meade, South Dakota, and Spencer High School assistant principal, will begin strategic studies classes at the United States Army War College Resident Education program in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 2...

Iowa DNR official calls the site one of the area's 'most used public resource' When Iowa Department of Natural Resources conversation officer Joe Yarkosky receives calls from visitors from outside of the county inquiring about local activities, he said the most frequently discussed topic is the public shooting range on the outskirts of Spencer...

Catholic Charities of the Sioux City Diocese announces the hiring of a new therapist for the office in Spencer, located at 607 First Ave. W. Lejeana Anliker is a board certified licensed mental health counselor with over nine years experience. She received her bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University and her master’s degree from Walden University in Minneapolis. ...

STORM LAKE — A Storm Lake 19-year-old was rescued and hospitalized after flipping the car he was driving on West Milwaukee Avenue shortly before 1 a.m. on the morning following the Fourth of July. He now faces multiple charges. Storm Lake Police and firefighters responded to 516 W. Milwaukee Ave. after a report of an accident victim trapped inside an overturned Ford Edge in a business driveway. The driver, Annyjay Eliou, was extricated and transported by ambulance to the medical center. Police allege they could detect the odor of alcohol on and near the driver. The SLPD obtained a search warrant for the driver’s blood which will be submitted to the Iowa DCI Crime Lab for analysis. The SLPD cited Eliou with no valid driver’s license, failure to maintain control, minor in possession of alcohol and striking fixtures upon a highway. Additional charges are pending crime lab analysis.

STORM LAKE — Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is a supporter of President Donald Trump, but not of his tariff policies. “People who trade, don’t war,” he stressed during a visit to Merrill Manufacturing in Storm Lake last week. “The president likes tariffs,” he said in response to a question from an employee who deals in international marketing, but noted that tariffs during the World War II era had “shut down the world.”...

DES MOINES ― Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig reminds farmers and landowners that they can still sign-up for 2019 cost share funds to help install nutrient reduction practices around the state. The funds can be used to off-set the cost of cover crops, no-till/strip till or a nitrification inhibitor, which help improve soil health, reduce erosion and improve water quality. ...

There are approximately 30 judicial mental health advocates who serve the 99 counties of Iowa. Clay County’s mental health advocate, Abby Wallin, initially served the needs of six counties including Clay, but now serves a total of eight, with her office located in the O’Brien County Courthouse...

New director hopes to foster 'patient, accountable, cooperative' creative space After taking over as interim executive director of Spencer Community Theatre in February, Liz McNea will continue on as the organization's ongoing leader. For McNea, the "dream" opportunity represents the marriage of an education in the performing arts, years of business experience and a passion for volunteering at SCT...

Now entering its sixth year of raising funds for the local Drug Abuse Resistance Education, D.A.R.E. 5K Fun Run organizer, Spencer Police Department Lt. Kyle Van Otterloo, is "shooting high" with a goal of as many as 175 participants for the upcoming event. The Fun Run has added a bike component in an effort to help reach that goal...

The city of Spencer will begin accepting applications to participate in its new substandard housing rehabilitation grant program, starting Monday. The program was created to expedite and address the need for improvements in substandard properties in the city, being modeled after federal programs the city has participated in over a number of years...

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 11-13 — 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 14 — 2 p.m. Tickets: $12 for adults, $6 for students --- Photos by Colin Van Westen Students celebrate getting accepted in the New York School of Performing Arts, the P.A., in the musical number "Hard Work."...

The 2019 Clay County Fair Home Wine and Craft Beer Department will include 15 divisions in the wine category and eight divisions in the craft beer category. “No matter your skill level, entering your wine or beer exhibit into the fair is a great way to receive professional feedback on what you’ve brewed,” superintendent Kristen Hartwig said. “As home brewing of wines and beers becomes more popular, this is a great opportunity to win prizes and gain experience; and it’s really easy to enter.”...