Deputies are still looking into the disappearance of 120 market hogs, which were stolen from a hot confinement in the area of Silver Lake near the Clay County border.

Investigators think the hogs disappeared sometime between May 29 and July 10. The animals had a combined valued of $18,720.

The owner has offered a $2,000 cash reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.

* Anyone with information also may contact the Palo Alto County Sheriff's Office at 712-852-3535.

Bar scuffle leads to charges

The Spencer Communications Center received a call that several people were fighting near the front door of Sneakers Lounge in Spencer. When officers arrived, five people were located at the front entrance to the bar on Thursday, July 17.

After further investigation it was determined that there had been a physical altercation among several of the subjects, but none of them wanted to press charges.

Also during the investigation, 28-year-old Bill Hill of Spencer became uncooperative toward a Clay County Deputy and was arrested. He was taken to the Clay County Jail and was booked in for public intoxication. Hill was held to appear before the magistrate. No other charges were filed in this incident. The Spencer Police Department was assisted by the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

Omaha man faces drug charges

A concerned citizen's tip led to the arrest of a Omaha, Neb., citizen suspected of driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana at 3:33 a.m. Friday, July 18.

Deputies said 26-year-old Michael Anthony Markey was reported as a possible intoxicated driver by a concerned citizen. A deputy and Spencer Police Officer then responded to the area of the complaint and saw a vehicle run a stop sign. Markey then began heading south in the northbound lanes of Highway 71.

Markey then drove his vehicle through the grassy median and he stopped on the other side of the four-lane highway without incident. He was charged with first-offense driving while intoxicated. He was placed in Clay County Jail without incident.

It was also discovered there was drug paraphernalia in the back seat of the vehicle. He was charged with operating while intoxicated, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.

Traffic charges include reckless driving, failure to obey a stop sign and driving the wrong way on a one-way highway.

He was held in jail to appear before a magistrate.

Octogenarian crashes into post office

Shirley Rae Thoreson thought her brakes were bad. Spencer Police Officers think she may have hit the gas pedal when her 1999 Buick crashed into the Spencer Post Office at 3:28 p.m. Sunday.

The collision caused $10,000 damage to the building and the 81-year-old Thoreson was taken by ambulance to Spencer Hospital. She was treated, released and cited for failure to maintain control of her vehicle.

She was traveling northeast in the U.S. Post Office parking lot and attempting to park in a handicap space near the northwest entrance of the building. The Buick struck the curb and continued east across the sidewalk.

The left-front portion of the vehicle then struck a large rock in the planting bed and the right front part of the car struck the handicap parking sign and an overhanging support pillar.

Both front airbags deployed. Thoreson was sent to Spencer Hospital because of blood on her right arm. The officer then checked the car and verified solid brake pressure. The Buick sustained $10,000 damage.