Northwest Financial Corp. has been awarded a 2022 Top Workplaces USA. This award celebrates nationally recognized companies that make the world a better place to work together by prioritizing a people-centered culture and giving employees a voice. The Top Workplaces USA award is based entirely on feedback from an employee engagement survey completed by employees of participating workplaces. Northwest Financial Corp.

Private family services for Bradley Klinefelter, 64, of Peterson, will be conducted at a later date. Klinefelter passed away Monday, March 1, 2022, at Spencer Hospital. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

Live Healthy Iowa is partnering with 12 communities across Iowa to host the eighth annual Live Healthy Iowa 5K. The events, scheduled for Saturday, April 23, will be held in Spencer, as well as Anamosa, Bondurant, Carroll, Decorah, Dickinson County, Dike, Fort Dodge, Hancock County, Sergeant Bluff, Sibley and Storm Lake. A virtual option is also being offered. Proceeds from the events will benefit local wellness efforts in these communities, as well as Live Healthy Iowa Kids initiatives.

**Lone occupant escapes, calls 911
A destructive blaze left little of the Hurst Salvage building Tuesday afternoon as the fire burned the structure to the ground, along with most of the items inside.
According to Spencer Fire Deputy Chief Mark Stover, the one person working inside the building at the time the fire occurred recognized the fire and escaped safely with no injuries before calling 911.

The first discussion of contract between the Spencer Education Association and the Spencer Community School District for the 2022-23 school year took place in a special Board of Education meeting Monday evening. After presenting their initial proposals to each other, the meeting went into closed session to discuss an agreement of salary for the upcoming academic year.

Funeral services for Joe Hamrick, 80, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Hope Reformed Church in Spencer. Rev. Jay Van Gelder will officiate the service. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m., Tuesday, at the church with family present from 4-7 p.m. Burial will take place at North Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Spencer. Hamrick passed away Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2022, at his home in Spencer. A memorial has been established for Hamrick.

**IFA names Northwest Bank as a Top Mortgage Lender

Sylas Alan Blakeslee was born to Matt Blakeslee and Taylor Pritchard, of Spencer, on Feb. 22, 2022, at Spencer Hospital. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces at birth. Grandparents are Amber and Brent Unrau, of Spirit Lake; Kirk and Jaci Pritchard, of Sioux Rapids; and Beth and Randy Baker, of Sioux Rapids. Sylas is welcomed home by big sisters: Aycee and Haizley.

A group of Spencer Wrestling Club participants (front) Xavier Luna, Payton Sutherland, Gage Heying, Hayden Johansen, (back) Tanner Pierce, Tate Zinn, Logan Wurm and Easton Beehler, along with Jacob Schipper (not pictured), will participate in the upcoming Iowa AAU State Wrestling Tournament at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The young Tiger wrestlers earned a spot at the AAU state meet by qualifying at the recent district meet.

The 2022 Knights of Columbus District Level Free Throw Championship was held Sunday, Feb. 20, at St. Joseph's Gym in Granville. The Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local, district, regional and state competitions.

The Spencer FFA Chapter is celebrating National FFA Week with special dress up days, including Farmer Day and Forever Blue Day. The students helped with Ag Outlook last week and had a booth there, explaining what FFA is all about. A group of three chapter members (Autumn Erdman, Elizabeth Findling and Conner Essick) presented to the Ag Committee about Spencer FFA, and the group placed third out of five northwest Iowa chapters.

MWI marketing coordinator Shannon Clark presented a check for $1,000 to the Stolley Park Trails fundraising committee at the Monday Spencer City Council meeting.

**Tornadoes next up for the Tigers Thursday

When you purchase a license and/or permit through the system, you may be asked if you would like to upgrade to a durable card for $5. This optional, durable card is a valid form of proof of purchase that will not be damaged by water, sun, dirt or regular wear and tear like the traditional paper document. The card is made of credit card-like material that contains your customer and license information on one side, and features artwork from Iowa artists on the other side.

Mike Bryan, president and CEO, is pleased to announce Evan Kooiker has accepted the position of CFO at Farmers Bank. Kooiker has been in the banking industry for almost 15 years, starting as a consultant and employee with the FDIC during the banking crisis, and then as a controller and chief financial officer with other community banks in Iowa and North Dakota. In his new role, Kooiker will be responsible for the oversight of all major financial accounting functions within the bank.