Spencer students, residents and volunteers alike are expected to be "wild with pride" during this year's homecoming celebrations, which officially begin on Monday and last through next Saturday.

School-sponsored activities during the 2008 homecoming week include theme days in each of the school buildings, sports activities, the annual homecoming coronation at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the Spencer High School (SHS) fieldhouse, and next Friday's 7:30 p.m. football game against MOC-Floyd Valley.

"Our intent for homecoming is that it's a safe week of high school activities. We want the police department not to have any interaction with the students because of unruly or illegal behavior. And, we're hoping that the progress we've made over the last four years continues in terms of the number of calls in regard to vandalism and damage as results of homecoming activities," Spencer Police Chief Mark Lawson said Tuesday afternoon.

Lawson referred to 2003, when several non-sanctioned activities raised concerns. According to Lawson, between $12,000 and $13,000 in damages were compiled that year. In response, neighborhood meetings were held and law enforcement activity has been heightened during ensuing Spencer homecomings.

"The response from the schools, parents and students the last four years has been outstanding and the statistics bear this out," Lawson said. "Incidents of property damage, trespassing, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and assaults have dropped dramatically. As a result of fewer complaints, fewer arrests have been made. However, now is not the time to relax and allow the strides made be allowed to take steps backward."

"Having zero tolerance means zero tolerance," he added. "There will be extra law enforcement out as in years past. And, again, hopefully, their interaction with students will be kept to a very, very low minimum."

In an effort to continue keeping activities in check next week, Lawson is also advising Spencer residents to:

* Turn on backyard lights and front-porch lights to help deter the use of dark areas to hide, as well as to make the identification of individuals easier.

* See and be seen.

* Report suspicious activity. Instead of intervening or putting yourself at risk, be advised to use a cell phone and call the Spencer Police Department if something is witnessed that you feel warrants further investigation.

The Spencer Police Department, Clay County Sheriff's Department, SHS and Positively Spencer Youth (PSY), meanwhile, are collaborating in order to bring a simulated impaired driving experience (SIDNE) to SHS students Monday through next Thursday. Students will be allowed to drive the computer-operated go cart, which allows drivers to experience both normal and impaired driving conditions.

A 7:30 p.m. homecoming coronation will be held Monday evening, with five senior girls -- Alison Dillard, daughter of Rod and Trish Dillard, Kelly Gerdeman, daughter of Bill and Colleen Gerdeman, Laura LoVan, daughter of Toun and Bea LoVan, Hannah Maertens, daughter of Tom and Char Maertens, and Shayna Zellaha, daughter of Shane and Diana Zellaha -- vying for the honor of being crowned homecoming queen. King candidates are Aaron Brockshus, son of Todd and Barb Brockshus, Sam Brockshus, son of Ross and Beth Brockshus, Taylor Chapman, son of Michael Chapman and Peggy and Duane Bates, Craig Cunningham, son of Clark and Kathy Cunningham, and Tyler Kacmarynski, son of Dennis and Mary Kacmarynski. Students Chris Coffman and Weston Miller will serve as the masters of ceremonies during the coronation, which will be held in the SHS fieldhouse.

A free movie for all high school students, sponsored by Spencer area churches and PSY, will be held next Wednesday night. The 7 p.m. showing of "The Longshots" -- a true story of an 11-year-old who became the first female to play in the Pop Warner football tournament -- will take place at Spencer 3 Theatres, 504 Grand Ave. Although SHS is not sponsoring this as an official homecoming-related school event, the school does endorse it.

Activities by the "Midnight Marauders" group, which has included SHS senior females who've signed up to participate in nighttime activities such as toilet papering approved senior football players' houses, are still pending this year.

"We have a meeting with them (today). We'll set down some rules," Lawson advised. "We had a few issues last year. In fact, the only complaints we had last year were the girls involved in (Midnight) Marauders. Again, we'll have a meeting with them and see if they can convince me that they're going to be better than last year's group. If they can't, then they may not be allowed to do it."

In other 2008 Spencer homecoming-related activities, the Friday of homecoming week will be packed with an afternoon of events at the high school. A talent show, pep rally and tug-of-war will be held from 2:10 -- 3:20 p.m. in the fieldhouse. The Tigers will take on the MOC-Floyd Valley Dutchmen that night on the football field.

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2008 Spencer High School Homecoming

Theme: Wild with Pride

9 a.m. - Window decorating at downtown businesses

9 a.m. - Freshmen volleyball tournament

4:30 p.m. - Freshmen volleyball at Western Christian

5 p.m. - Junior varsity football vs. Storm Lake

7:30 p.m. - Coronation in SHS fieldhouse

4:30 p.m. - Cross country at Eagle Grove

5 p.m. - Girls swimming at Fort Dodge

(Freshmen: Blue; Sophomores: Green;

Juniors: Orange; Seniors: Pink)

5:30 p.m. - Powder puff football

7 p.m. - Free movie and popcorn at

Spencer 3 Theatres

5-6:30 p.m. - Talent show participants

present to administration

5:30 p.m. - Volleyball vs. Sheldon

8:30 p.m. - Boys volleyball, following the

varsity volleyball match

2:10-3:20 p.m. - Talent show, pep rally and tug-of-war

7:30 p.m. - Spencer football vs. MOC-Floyd Valley

9 p.m.-12 a.m. - Dance in SHS student center