News

Spencer Municipal Utility’s renewable energy goal was increased by the SMU Board of Trustees during their most recent meeting after it was revealed that the utility is expecting to participate in a planned wind farm being built in the state of Kansas...

(DIRECTION) Smoke blanketed the area surrounding the Clay County Fairgrounds Livestock Pavilion Sunday evening after a truck, housed inside the pavilion, caught fire. The Spencer Fire Department, Spencer Police Department and Spencer Hospital responded to the scene at approximately 8:45 p.m. No injuries have been reported at this time. Clay County Fair officials said they would release an official statement regarding the fire Monday. “The guys that forced entry on the corner noticed a natural truck fire, they couldn’t see it at first,” Spencer Fire Chief John Conyn said. “(They) suppressed it the rest of the way, forced the hood and had a fire in the cab as well. Just imagine having a truck fire in a garage but the garage is 300 (feet) by 700 (feet) so the smoke had everywhere to go and, if it wasn’t for the sprinkler system we would still be fighting a fire. The sprinkler system saved the structure very much.” (DIRECTION) Firefighters inspect a truck housed inside of the pavilion’s north side which appeared to have been damaged by fire. (DIRECTION) After the fire was extinguished, crews continued working to help ventilate the area and to catch up on much needed fresh air and water. Three SFD fire engines, one ladder truck and a rescue vehicle responded to the fire, which included more than a dozen firefighters on scene.

5 longtime firefighters retire from Spencer Fire Department The Spencer Fire Department fire house was packed Thursday night to celebrate and thank five Spencer firefighters who were retiring. Combined, the quintet’s service to the community of Spencer totals 142 years. Firefighters Jiggs Jorgensen, Gary Johannsen, Jeff Huckfelt, Todd Huckfelt and Terry Peterson all said they enjoyed serving the community and the camaraderie of firefighting...

Human trafficking speaker to present to Spencer PTO Shared Hope International volunteer ambassador Kim Smith wants to educate parents on how to keep their children safe and smart online. Smith will offer tips to area parents as part of a program on domestic minor human trafficking awareness from 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, April 22, at the Spencer Schools Administration Building...

A pair of local organizations hosted family friendly Easter-themed events in Spencer Saturday. (DIRECTION) The Spencer Jaycees welcomed area children and parents to its annual Easter egg hunt at Goal Kick Indoor Soccer Arena. Children ages one to 11 gathered eggs for the opportunity to receive prizes. (DIRECTION) Foundation Church hosted a new program, "Rise Up with Jesus," for children 3 years old to fifth grade. Children participated in events such as a blindfolded tour into Jesus' tomb meant to engage the senses and an Easter egg hunt (DIRECTION).

Former Compass Pointe therapist finds new home in GACO For mental health and substance abuse therapist Ryan Jensen, offering his expertise to those in need is a personal mission which started as he moved past his only battles with addiction. Jensen is looking to continue to pay forward the help he received...

Ty Schoelerman of rural Everly was chosen as the Star in Agri-science in FFA Stars Over Iowa competition during the 91st State FFA Leadership Conference held in Ames on April 15-16. Schoelerman's three research projects were completed during the last five years and involved raising and managing sheep and cattle and 388 research hours. His project was selected from 725 Iowa degree candidates. Accompanying him on stage (left to right) Spencer High School Principal Elli Wiemers, Clay Central-Everly FFA Chapter Advisor Betsy Schoelerman, Spencer FFA Chapter Advisor Jason Holt, Schoelerman and his parents, Dr. Jim and Denice Schoelerman.

EMMETSBURG — The Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes Community College gathered in Emmetsburg Tuesday, April 16, for the regularly scheduled monthly meeting and learned about the boat and watercraft mechanics program, formerly known as marine service technology...

Spencer FFA Chapter will host its annual banquet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Spencer High School. To RSVP contact nreiman2020@spencerschools.org or Kaitlyn Essick at 712-584-5600. --- Clay Central-Everly Community School District would like to invite all perspective preschool and kindergarten students and their parents to round-up for the 2019-20 school year. ...

Longtime community member Bob Rose recently read the book, "Casey at the Bat," to second grade students at Fairview Elementary. As part of the program, students received baseball-shaped cookies.

The trials of a working poor family on the verge of homelessness ALTA — First, the bank tried to lock them out. Then, the Buena Vista Sheriff’s Office knocked on their door. Turns out, their landlord of three years hadn’t been paying the mortgage, even as she collected the rent checks...

STORM LAKE — The Storm Lake Police Department arrested the victim of two separate 2017 and 2018 violent crimes after he allegedly pointed a gun at people outside Walmart, following what police say was an altercation involving illegal drugs. Christian Eberle, 21, of Laurens, allegedly pointed a 9 mm semi-automatic weapon with an attached green laser sight. Police were called to respond to the incident shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday...

Free meals available to area children at Johnson, Fairview Spencer Schools will add fresh fruits and vegetables to its free summer lunch options starting June 10 at Fairview and Johnson Elementary. "It is called FFAVORS, it is a program put on by the government where they have fruits and vegetables we get during the year," Spencer Schools Food Service Director Chris Hogge said. ...

City adopts small cell siting policies, passes 2nd filing for sidewalk cafes Two actions by the Spencer City Council may impact how the city looks in future years. The Spencer City Council on Monday passed the second filing of an ordinance allowing the establishment of sidewalk cafes and adopted policies addressing how fifth generation, or 5G, wireless infrastructure would be developed in the city...

Class of 1972 Spencer High School graduate David Sprague has made a career in architecture out of passion and inspiration he discovered at a young age in Spencer. That career allowed Sprague to influence projects from store planning in Mankato, Minnesota, to locations across the world like the Esmeralda Recreation Center in Saudi Arabia...

Spencer Jaycees will host its annual easter egg hunt beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Goal Kick Indoor Soccer Arena in Spencer. There will be hunts for multiple age groups between the ages of 1-11. All are welcome to this free event.

Spencer Hospital nurses Melissa Brent, Colleen Hart and Jolie Threlkeld have been selected as three of Iowa’s 100 Great Nurses for 2019 and will be honored at a May 5 celebration in Des Moines. The 100 Great Iowa Nurses program identifies 100 outstanding nurses every year whose courage, competence, and commitment to patients and the nursing profession stand out above all others. ...

Clay County Sheriff’s deputies came to Spencer Community Schools classrooms during the week to discuss safe play and how to handle strangers while playing outside during the summer. (Above) The deputies had a good exchange with first grade students.

When a child stays at Spencer Hospital, they may end up being comforted by a creation from local Girl Scout Troop 10499. The girl scouts recently met with Spencer Hospital staff to officially complete their bronze award project, delivering more than two-dozen newly created blankets for child patients who visit the hospital...

Motor sports action will make its debut in the Sleep Number Grandstand at the 2019 Clay County Fair with national touring ATV Big Air Tour. The show will fly into action at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. “This will be a great night of family-friendly entertainment as our fairgoers will enjoy these high-flying performers,” fair manager Jeremy Parsons said. “ATVs, motorcycles and BMX bikes will be soaring off the big ramps located in front of the Sleep Number Grandstand.”...

The following corporate sponsors are helping to make possible the annual CAASA Women’s Night Out event, set for Friday, April 26, from 5-8 p.m. The event, which will be held at the Clay County Regional Events Center, will feature an array of vendors, hors d’oeuvres, silent and live auction, raffle and live music. Tickets are available at Farmers Trust and Savings Bank, Northwest Bank and CAASA and at the door the evening of the event. For more information, call CAASA at 712-262-4612...

DICKINSON COUNTY — The county's emergency communication center logged multiple 911 calls and traffic was shut down Wednesday, April 10, along about a mile of Highway 86 after two semitrailers collided. The past week's sudden return of frigid winds, ice and freezing rain played a major role in the accident, according to the Dickinson County Sheriff's report. No injuries were reported, and traffic resumed around 12:45 p.m. on April 10, according to Dickinson County Emergency Management...

MILFORD — The Enhance Iowa Board included a local project as part of $675,000 in Community Attraction and Tourism grants on April 10. MillStone Park in Milford will receive $82,500 from the state board, to be used toward the estimated $412,971 project. The park will be located at the intersection of Highway 71 and county road A34 near St. Joseph Catholic Church...

STORM LAKE — Mark Prosser, Storm Lake chief of police and director of public safety, is urging Iowa lawmakers to relay the importance of permanent protections for Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protected Status immigrants, whose futures remain in limbo...

MILFORD — Two of the region's biggest convenience store pizza suppliers are going into the food business together. Land Mark Products and Orion Food Systems on April 4 announced a merger that brings competing brands under one umbrella. Milford-based Land Mark's signature product is Piccadilly Circus Pizza. Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Orion gives its convenience store partners Hot Stuff Pizza as an offering...

Foundation Church, in Spencer, will host an Easter event called “Rise Up With Jesus” on Saturday at 11 a.m. The morning features activity stations for 3-year-olds through fifth grade youth, including an egg hunt, an interactive drama and prize drawings for kids and adults. The church is located at 1410 W. 18th St. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.

ARNOLDS PARK — To kick off the new Roof Garden, Arnolds Park Amusement Park will be hosting a Grand Opening Concert Series. Tommy James & The Shondells will start the series with a concert on Friday, Aug. 2. Billy & The Downliners will perform on Wednesday, Aug. 7, for the VIP Inaugural Concert. Glenn Miller Orchestra will play on Friday, Aug. 9. The Romantics perform on Wednesday, Aug. 28, and Grand Opening Series will conclude with the performance of Head East on Friday, Aug. 30...

JOHNSTON — Iowans can experience their state in new ways during Iowa Public Television's new three-part series, “Iowa Land and Sky.” Leveraging the latest advancements in aerial drone cinematography and interviews with experts, this limited series brings viewers a unique bird's-eye perspective of the state's landforms, waterways and towns from the Loess Hills in western Iowa to the Mississippi River on the state's eastern border. ...

The Spencer Family YMCA hosted the annual Live Healthy Iowa 5K, part of the state’s Live Healthy Iowa initiative, Saturday morning. More than 50 runners from all age groups ran in the event. Owen and Patty Manwarren(right) celebrate after finishing the 5K, with Elsie Rosacker (left) making sure to award each runner with a medal to commemorate the run. Results were unavailable by press time Wednesday.

Legislative proposals which would establish caps to revenue growth for cities and counties, impact levies and change city finance law were formally opposed by the Spencer City Council Monday on the grounds they would have a negative impact upon the city’s ability to deliver services. City officials referenced one specific piece of legislation — House File 773 — which was recently introduced on the House floor...

Local law enforcement and the Iowa State Patrol are partnering to increase impaired driving enforcement efforts heading into April 20, or 420, a day some choose to celebrate by smoking marijuana. "We are setting up an extra enforcement project, which means across the state and other states, we are trying to apprehend impaired drivers on April 19 and 20," Iowa State Patrol trooper Nick Erdmann said. ...

The legal case involving the Clay County Board of Supervisors, Drainage District No. 37 and three landowners from the district has had a trial date set. Plaintiffs Allen McGranahan, David Wyatt and Robert Swan are seeking to reverse actions taken by the Clay County Board of Supervisors approving an estimated $3.6 million in improvements for Drainage District No. ...

Arts on Grand’s newest exhibit, the “Spencer Student Art Show,” is now on display. The exhibit is a collection of works from Spencer Middle School and High School students. Arts on Grand officials said for this year’s exhibit they decided to only display an exclusive selection of works, which would then be judged in competition with each other...

For new Elderbridge Agency on Aging Chief Operations Officer Stacia Timmer, returning to the agency where she began assisting the over 60 population as an elder rights specialist presents an opportunity to build on more than 20 years of human services experience and 10 years working with the aging network in northwest Iowa...

Dawn Fletcher was recently recognized by Gov. Kim Reynolds and Main Street Iowa as Spencer Main Street’s recipient of the 2018 Leadership Award during the 33rd annual Main Street Iowa Awards ceremony in Des Moines. Fletcher is a volunteer on the Spencer Main Street Promotions Committee and spends a lot of hours behind the scenes prepping for promotions and working during the event. She is such a valued member of the Main Street volunteer family. (Above) Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Reynolds, Fletcher, Spencer Main Street Director Nancy Naeve and Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham.

The Spencer Women of Today recently conducted its annual donation night. Those receiving funding from SWOT include: Clay County Sheriff K-9, Spencer EMTS, Michael Rohan Foundation, Atlas, Spencer Fire Department, Spencer Police, Spencer Police Department K-9, Reins of Hope, Birthright, Feed Our Children, People for Pets, Upper Des Moines Food Panty, Respite Angels, Spencer Archery, SYSBA, Classroom collections, Relay for Life, Clay County Pals, Spencer After Prom, NWIASA, Spencer Special Olympics and Cherish House.

Dawn Sassman recently joined as a member of the Spencer Rotary Club.

U.S. Air Force Airman Austin Palmer graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills. ...

AG BRIEFS U.S. products gain new market access in Tunisia WASHINGTON — U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Wednesday that the government of Tunisia and the United States have finalized U.S. ...

The Spencer Ambassadors visited Verizon BeMobile Tuesday morning to meet new manager Brandon Hietala. Hietala joined the company in November 2018 and took over as manager of the Spencer location in January. Prior to working with Verizon BeMobile, Hietala, a University of North Dakota grad, served with the 1-188 ADA Unit of the Army National Guard out of Grands Forks, North Dakota. He participated in three deployments during his service. The Spencer Verizon BeMobile location current has a six person staff and operates from 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. The store is located at 700 11th St. SW.

Anti-bullying activist delivers message of kindness, empathy Around the time of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in the spring of 1999, anti-bullying activist and author Jodee Blanco realized "America didn't get it" when it came to bullying. That realization caused her to tell her story as a survivor of bullying in the pages of "Please Stop Laughing at Me," and she continued sharing her message of kindness and empathy in the face of bullying in Spencer Schools last week...

CC-E, SHS experience similar success The state of Iowa recorded an all-time high graduation rate for 2018 of 91.4% and similar success has been experienced at both the Clay Central-Everly and Spencer school districts. "The support provided to students to earn the diploma first begins with highly effective teachers teaching quality curriculum," Spencer High School Principal Elli Wiemers said. ...

Spencer Schools will be celebrating the careers of four longtime district employees on May 15 with a reception in the district's central office starting at 4 p.m. Lincoln teacher's associate Jeri Langenfeld, now in her 43rd year, began with the district during the 1976-77 school year; Johnson TA Julie Graham has served the district since the 2001-02 school year; fourth grade teacher Diana Koppen started her 30-year career with the district in 1989; and elementary TA Liz Stevenson will conclude her 13 years with the district at Lincoln at the end of the school year.

Spencer City Council members decided to continue a public hearing to a later date and table related agenda items for a project to improve a city roadway after council members expressed a desire for further discussion on the project. “The project has two parts,” City Engineer Ross McWhirter said. ...

Although Spencer received an "Iowa Great Place" designation 11 years ago, on Monday Spencer's City Council approved a resolution supporting application for the redesignation of Spencer as an Iowa Great Place. Spencer resident Braden Falline, a member of the governor appointed Iowa Arts Council Board of Directors, said the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs program had been "revamped" in recent years. The program was originally created by the Iowa Legislature in 2005...

Terril residents add drug charges in stolen property search TERRIL — A search warrant in search of stolen property, executed by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office on a residence in Terril on Tuesday, April 9, resulted in a pair of arrests on both stolen property and drug charges...

STORM LAKE — All indications are for a stellar fishing season coming up on Storm Lake. Iowa Department of Natural Resources' crews have been busy over the past several nights netting walleye on Storm Lake, collecting eggs to use in raising fish for stocking around the state...

STORM LAKE — Homebound Storm Lake senior citizens rely on volunteer drivers to get their meals, and there just aren’t enough of those volunteers to go around. Jan Hallengren, site manager at the Storm Lake Senior Center, said that about 30 people currently depend on the home-delivered meals...

Officials discuss flooding and future of ag; former state Sen. David Johnson takes the podium The final Eggs and Issues of 2019 brought the Spencer City Council chambers to maximum capacity as politicians and constituents met for the triannual political forum. ...

With the adoption of fifth generation, or 5G, wireless system technology utilized by the mobile phone industry expected to begin in the near future, officials at the city of Spencer and Spencer Municipal Utilities are preparing for possible changes. SMU CEO Steve Pick shared with the utilities board the city’s initiative to craft an ordinance related to 5G infrastructure as suggested by the National League of Cities and the FCC...