Spencer Daily Reporter: News

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Notice to proceed at Lower Gar set for Sunday, task force expects little local impact (03/20/10)

Grassley to tour Eaton (03/20/10)
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) announced plans for a 25-county tour during the Congressional recess coming up. Beginning March 29, Grassley will begin working his way around the state. Starting in Indianola and Waukee on March 29, the senator will conclude his tour on Tuesday, April 6, kicking off the day at 7:30 a.m. with an hourlong stop at Eaton Manufacturing in Spencer...

Facility plan begins with look at elementaries, middle school (03/20/10)
Community residents started the process of prioritizing Spencer school district's future facility needs this week. As they attempted to preview what will be the most important facility needs through the year 2025, they focused on the system's K-8 buildings. Items such as a sixth-grade pod being built onto Spencer Middle School (SMS) and enhanced security at each of the elementary buildings ranked as tentative priorities for those attending.

'Where's the flood?' (03/19/10)
On Wednesday, Governor Chet Culver signed a disaster declaration for the Army Corps of Engineers to provide assistance in Dickinson County. Thursday morning, representatives from the Corps' Omaha office were on site at Lower Gar, just northeast of Milford, meeting with potential contractors and local utility providers as a group of very unhappy Lower Gar area residents and Milford Mayor Don Lamb looked on...

Flood warning continues for Spencer (03/19/10)
Although the Little Sioux River appears to be receding for the time being, a flood warning remains in place. At 9 a.m. Thursday, the river's stage was 14.9 feet, nearly 5 feet above flood stage. It is expected to drop to 14.4 feet by 7 a.m. Friday. At 14.5, County Road B40 southeast of Spencer begins flooding...

CROSS WALK TO FEATURE STATIONS OF THE CROSS (03/19/10)
Spencer Community Youth Ministries invite all families and community members to join in the Community Cross Walk during Holy Week. This year's walk will take place on Wednesday, March 31. The walk will begin at Sacred Heart Church at 6:30 p.m. and will conclude at Grace United Methodist Church...

Alaskan author shares adventure, inspires reading and writing (03/19/10)
Author Shelly Gill pumps up her audience of third through sixth-graders about nature, adventure and writing Thursday afternoon. Gill has authored 26 best-selling books, including 12 children's books. Students from Fairview, Lincoln and Johnson Elementary schools listened closely as Gill shared personal adventures she has experienced as an author, adventurer, whale detective, pony wrangler and dog musher on the Iditarod Trail (which inspired her first book Kiani's Iditarod.) Gill's visit was possible thanks to a contribution from the Spencer Community School Foundation.. ...

Semi collision blocks beltway (03/18/10)
A collision involving a pair of semi trucks at the intersection of B24 and M50 on Spencer's east beltway limited traffic for approximately two hours Wednesday afternoon on the busy bypass. Details were limited at press time Wednesday evening, but according to responders on the scene, a Schuster semi cab out of LeMars was hauling a Bomgaars trailer, traveling west on B-24 toward Spencer when he crossed in front of the UPS semi truck after properly stopping at the intersection. ...

That's a mouthful (03/18/10)
Two-year-old Abbey Crew digs into an omelet prepared by her daddy during Tuesday's Ag Breakfast held at the Clay County Regional Events Center. Crew, who lives in rural Spencer, is the daughter of Peter and Andrea Crew. Peter owns and operates Spencer Agronomy Service. ...

Spencer project included in D.C. delegations (03/18/10)
Fifteen delegates. Eight projects. Four counties. Two days. Those numbers paint the picture of recent delegations between representatives of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Region and their representatives in Washington, D.C., last Thursday and Friday. The delegates representing Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties advocated for overall support as well as an estimated $10.4 million in assistance for eight projects. ...

RIVERS ON THE RISE - Little Sioux projected to reach 14.6 feet by Friday (03/16/10)
The Little Sioux River is exhibiting the effects (above and below) of a combination of rain and snow melt in recent days as it floods the bike trails and West Leach Park near the Grand Avenue bridge in downtown Spencer. A flood warning was issued shortly after noon on Sunday. ...

No fireworks in final Eggs & Issues session (03/16/10)
With Democrats Sen. Jack Kibbie and Rep. Marcie Frevert -- both of Emmetsburg, -- absent from the final Eggs & Issues session Saturday, Spencer City Council chambers never really heated up with back-and-forth dialogue. Rep. Mike May who was participating in his final Spencer Chamber of Commerce legislative event, took the opportunity to thank those he has served in District 6...

Mayor, council disagree on tree-trimming refunds (03/16/10)
Of 125 individuals who were not compliant with Spencer's tree-trimming ordinance last fall, 45 have filed affidavits for refunds and another 38 citizens notified the city they wanted their fees canceled, for a total of $7,337.50 in reimbursements, City Manager Bob Fagen said during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday...

Library board considers starting gaming collection (03/13/10)
Spencer Public Library representatives have a plan to encourage more people to enter the doorway of the local library. Thursday night during the monthly board meeting, Director Kay Larson recommended they approve discontinuing the library's CD collection, or at least to stop adding to it, and instead implement an assortment of games...

Corridor delegates meet with Washington representation (03/13/10)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) meets with delegates from the Iowa Great Lakes Corridor of Opportunity including Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen (seated to Harkin's left). The senator discussed upgrading Highway 86 during the Corridor's annual visit. The group also met with Sen. ...

Tree-trimming revisions to be reviewed by council (03/13/10)
Community feedback caused the Spencer City Council to rethink a tree-trimming ordinance last fall. On Monday, the council will meet during a 5:45 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to receive updates on the situation. When the council began enforcing the ordinance, many residents disagreed with the process...

Area entities receive foundation grants (03/12/10)
The Clay County Community Foundation strives "to connect donors who care with causes that matter and to serve as a trusted resource for addressing issues that impact the quality of life in Clay County."...

Ruthven-Ayrshire still searching for CEO (03/12/10)
It's time to advertise for a superintendent to replace the retiring one. That's what Ruthven-Ayrshire (RA) school board members have decided. They'd hoped to share the services of Clay Central-Everly (CCE) Superintendent Monte Montgomery following the planned retirement of Ervin "Erv" Rowlands at the conclusion of the 2009-10 school year, but CCE board members met Monday night and unanimously voted against such an arrangement...

Rain increases flood concerns (03/11/10)
Flood concerns in Clay County have been well-documented. With more than .7 inch since Saturday and about an inch of rain expected through Sunday, those concerns are expected to elevate, just as the rivers rise. "We have forecasts that are sending some rivers to moderate and even major flooding," National Weather Service Meteorologist Aubry Wilkins said...

Library board approves new logo (03/11/10)
After receiving a lot of feedback from the public, Spencer Public Library board members approved a new logo for the city building Thursday night. It does not include a portrait of the library's famous late library cat, Dewey Readmore Books. ...

East Leach Park to host Shakespeare event (03/11/10)
Shakespeare, or at least one of the renowned playwright's works, is set to premiere in East Leach Park this summer. ...

Three teens injured in Monday's accident (03/11/10)
Despite crinkled cars, none of the teens involved in a collision Monday afternoon received life-threatening injuries. The accident happened at 3:37 p.m. when a 1992 Jeep driven by Nicholas Dischler collided into the 1996 Ford Taurus driven by Raymond Foerster. Dischler was westbound on E. Park St. when Foerster, headed southbound on Eighth Ave. E., failed to yield the right of way...

Blaze destroys Crescent Electric building (03/09/10)
Spencer volunteer firefighters were on the scene of a fire Saturday for 10 hours, but were unable to save the Crescent Electric building at 419 E. First St. The building and its contents are considered a total loss, with damages that could exceed $2 million...

Spencer building listed on National Register of Historic Places (03/09/10)
It's official. Spencer's former high school and middle school building at 104 E. Fourth St. is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Administered by the National Park Service, this program is the U.S. government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

Conlin concerned about health care (03/09/10)
The availability of health care is a top priority for U.S. Senate candidate Roxanne Conlin, largely because she can relate to those without insurance. When she was 14, she got an ear infection. With no money for medication, no insurance and no car to take her to a doctor, she was forced to let the infection run its course, resulting in permanent, partial hearing loss in her left ear...