Spencer Municipal Utilities has recently hired a few new team members. James Mammen joined SMU as a water operator. Mammen brings several years of experience as he previously worked for the city of Wahpeton and Milford Utilities.
Ben Maurer joined SMU as an operations customer service member and brings over 13 years of customer service experience.

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors paid a visit to Grace United Methodist Church on Tuesday to officially welcome Rev. Tim Frasher, who joined the church leadership on July 1. A native of the Cedar Rapids area, Frasher has been a pastor for 12 years. He and his wife have three children. The church has doubled attendance since the pandemic and added a contemporary service in the newly remodeled fellowship hall.

The Spencer Rotary November Student of the Month is Abby Horst. Horst plans to go to University of Iowa and is considering going into to pediatric dentistry. Representing both Rotary and the Spencer School District was Elli Wiemers.

Sacred Heart students teamed up with Catholic Daughters to celebrate the Advent season by warming the hearts of others through a sock drive for Upper Des Moines Opportunity. Students collected socks throughout Advent and celebrated their large collection by having a crazy sock day. Students below are pictured with Catholic Daughters who came to pick up the socks and deliver to Upper Des Moines Opportunity.

**GACO distributes meal baskets
Volunteers at the Grand Avenue Community Outreach distributed holiday food baskets to visitors who registered to receive them ahead of Christmas next week. The baskets included turkeys and all the holiday fixings. The baskets were designed to fill the stomachs of the recipients, as well as their spirit, with the spirit of holiday joy.

A rare but welcome 60-plus-degree respite in the middle of December transitioned quickly as the sun began to set Wednesday afternoon. A line of severe storms moved rapidly through northwest Iowa, bringing with it siren-triggering tornado warnings followed by thunder and lightning, and high winds that blew long into the night after the storms had passed. Communities in the region also heard sirens sounding and several lost power temporarily.

In light of an alleged nationwide social media threat, calling Friday, Dec. 17, "American School Shooting Day," Spencer Community School District Superintendent Terry Hemann sent a message out Thursday afternoon, noting that many school districts he is aware of are issuing similar responses.

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Retired military leader Allen Batschelet is welcomed to the Hy-Noon Kiwanis Club. His sponsor John Rahn shakes his hand and Hy-Noon President Andrew Hasley joined them for the photo. The Spencer native grew up in Spencer and attended Clay Central before joining the Iowa National Guard. After graduating from ISU, he began a 35-year Army career, rising to the rank of major general.

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We are working to solve this problem, and will have the online version of the Daily Reporter live as soon as possible.
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Funeral services for Cheryl Hurst, 72, of Arnolds Park, formerly of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, at Hope Reformed Church in Spencer. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will take place at a later date. The family encourages masks be worn at the service. Hurst passed away Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, at Lakes Regional Hospital in Spirit Lake. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Mr. Irvin Lee Stevenson, 84, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Visitation will begin after 3 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with family present from 5-7 p.m. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. Stevenson passed away Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, at his residence. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

**Christian vocalist brings redemptive hits, Christmas favorites to first holiday tour
Contemporary Christian singer Zach Williams will make the fourth stop of his 12 city "I Don't Want Christmas to End Tour" at the Clay County Regional Events Center at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Anne Wilson, whose "My Jesus" will open the show with a set of her own.
Williams joked, "We should have worked all the kinks out by then.

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors were on hand Tuesday morning to cut the ribbon on Phase 1 of the Westfield by IGL development west of Spencer. The first 10 units are on the market, with finishing touches wrapping up. Eight more units are beginning construction this winter, with a target of 57 upon completion of the project. The development features affordable, energy-efficient and low maintenance homes, with quality features included.