Ambassadors recently celebrated Brianne Blom for her receipt of the Iowa Association of Naturalists Award for Outstanding Efforts by an Environmental Educator. Blom's accomplishment highlights her strong commitment to conservation and environmental education in Iowa, shown through her creation of programs that benefit Clay County's youth and community for the past seven years.

A column of black and white smoke rose into the sky on Sunday, betraying the firestorm engulfing a small patch of restored prairie a few miles northwest of Silver Lake in southeast Clay County.

A Fostoria man was due to be arraigned Monday on multiple drug charges involving methamphetamine and marijuana.

Lucas Gene Richardson, 41, was arrested on March 19 after police say he attempted to sell 28 grams of methamphetamine and was found to have baggies, a scale, five marijuana plants and guns in his home in Fostoria.

Clay County has hired a new director for the county Veterans Affairs office.

On April 2, the county board of Supervisors approved the hire of Katie Ginger who will take over the VA office on May 28. Ginger was the best of 10 total candidates who submitted applications for the job being vacated by the retiring Darla Sheasley.

Celebrating The Masters professional golf tournament, this past weekend, establishments along Grand Avenue hosted participants for the annual Masters on Main Street golf event. There wasn’t much driving or chipping involved, but putting was at a premium as obstacle ladened mini-golf strips afforded the amateurs an opportunity to test their skills. Colbert Blazek (right) had the low score, 12, who embraced the Ultra Golf Bag, from Doll Distributing, which he claimed as his trophy.

April 8, at 10:20 p.m., Richard Christiansen, 46, of Hartley, was driving his 2014 Ford Edge westbound in the 1800 mile of 350th Street when he struck a deer that entered the roadway.

Christiansen sustained minor injuries from the seat belt during the collision and was seen by the Spencer Hospital Ambulance Services.

The estimated damage to the vehicle is $4,500.

In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie (Mikalah Prickett), an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage — until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, “Radium Girls” traces the efforts of Grace Fryer (Sophie Munson), a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court.

The Iowa Mortgage Association announced several mortgage professionals from Northwest Bank were accepted into the IMA’s 2023 President’s Club and Winner’s Circle. Locals include Jason Warren into the President’s Club. The President’s Club and Winner’s Circle is an ongoing recognition program to recognize outstanding mortgage loan production in Iowa. Spirit Lake’s Angie Peterson was selected for the Winner’s Circle.

Developing true American “spirit” with Iowa corn, Spencer native Terry Cook and Mark Gus Scott hope veterans programs will benefit from the sale of their American Premium Vodka.

Citing the ever-growing divide between Democrats and Republicans, the two men hope one brand is making strides to bring the country back together, one drink at a time. American Premium Vodka is launching its new brand in Iowa and in doing so, hope to pay tribute to U.S. military veterans.

Working with local marketing agency F8 Creative, the Spencer Chamber of Commerce has published a pair of new promotional videos aimed at attracting visitors and potentially recruiting new residents to the area.

Sunday, Hope Church in Spencer will transform its auditorium gathering area into a large fundraising site for Sara Schmidt, of Spencer. From 4:30-6:30 p.m., a benefit meal and live auction will also include a live performance by local band, “She’s With Us,” in an effort to generate additional funding toward her growing medical expenses.

The undertaking is being organized by Schmidt’s longtime friend and relative Marlana Tewes.

MILFORD — Wednesday, just after 4:30 p.m., Milford Police Department were dispatched to the 3200 block of U.S. Highway 71 in Milford, responding to a personal injury accident.

Spencer Main Street hosted national downtown revitalization leadership from Main Street America to help strengthen the local Main Street program. Main Street America is a national organization that seeks to revitalize downtowns through preservation-based economic development, and this visit is part of a partnership with Main Street Iowa. Jackie Swihart, program officer for Revitalization Services, visited Spencer on Tuesday.

The Spencer City Council is set to make some big and expensive decisions during its regular meeting on Monday, April 15.

A Minneapolis, Minnesota, man pleaded not guilty on April 10 to forging checks and stealing more than $5,000 from a Spencer business.