Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Schueller will fill the shoes as chief deputy after Zach Larsen retired from the position effective Jan. 2. Larsen took the end of 2024 off with remaining vacation time.

“Zach will truly be missed as he cared about the citizens in our communities and gave 110% every day,” said Chris Raveling, Clay County sheriff.

He added, “We wish him the best as he opens a new chapter in his life.”

The Spencer Family YMCA will host a Movie Night with a showing of “Wild Robot” at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, at the facility location on the corner of 11th Street West and West 11th Avenue. Charge is $5 and includes popcorn, water and candy.

A Spencer resident arrested last summer for threatening a pair of local police officers by swinging a sword has been ordered to seek mental health treatment and complete probation.

A Spencer man has been arraigned on three felony sex abuse charges in Clay County court.

Nathen Michael Kuster, 42, was arrested early in December 2024 after investigators filed three criminal complaints accusing him of separate incidents of sexually abusing a child under the age of 14. A trial Information document filed Dec. 9, 2024, describes the three charges against Kuster as sexual abuse in the second degree, a Class B felony carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

ARNOLDS PARK ― The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association recently added new members to represent specific regions in the state to their board of directors including Ric Jenson, SW Region; Becky Brockmann, NW Region; Kirk Webb, SW Region; and Ted Poulsen, Central Region, all became directors in December of 2024.

The Spencer Chamber of Commerce announced dates for the 2025 Eggs & Issues Legislative Forums. These forums, in the Spencer City Hall Council Chambers, run from 9-10:30 a.m. on Saturdays, Jan. 25, Feb. 15 and March 29, offer residents of northwest Iowa the opportunity to connect with local legislators in a Q&A format.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was sworn in as president pro tempore of the Senate, Friday. The president pro tempore is a constitutional office customarily bestowed on the longest serving member of the Senate majority party. As president pro tempore, Grassley is now the second highest-ranking official in the Senate — behind the vice president, who serves as president of the Senate — and follows the vice president and speaker of the House in the line of presidential succession.

Cherokee Regional Medical Center announced its first baby of 2025. Baby boy Elias was born at 3:24 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 1, to Yaritza and Martin Salazar, of Cleghorn. He was delivered by Dr. Timothy Rice, weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches long. He is welcomed at home by big sister, Kataleya. Spencer Hospital has already had its first baby of the year whose mother declined recognition according to a hospital spokesperson. (Photos submitted)

Community Health Center of Fort Dodge Inc. will expand into Spencer in 2025 with the opening of a new Federally Qualified Health Center. A FQHC is a health care provider that receives federal funding to offer comprehensive services to underserved communities.

• Scott Richard Johnson, 63, of Albert City, was held on an arrest warrant at 1:09 a.m. on Dec. 25.
• Jonathan Arthur Idtensohn, 33, of Spencer, was held on mittimus at 5:05 p.m. on Dec. 26.
• Devin Alexendar Larue, 23, of Spencer, was charged with domestic abuse assault — first offense at 9:34 a.m. on Dec. 27.
• Brianna Morgan Anderson, 26, of Harris, was charged with two arrest warrants at 10:39 a.m. on Dec.

Tom Petersen and Mark Japenga were inducted recently as new Spencer Hy-Noon Kiwanis members thanks to longtime Hy-Noon Kiwanian Allen Batschelet. (Above) Hy-Noon President Levi Morris, Batschelet, Petersen and Japenga. (Photo submitted)

Monday, Jan. 13, District 6 Rep. Megan Jones, of Sioux Rapids; District 10 Rep. John Wills, of Spirit Lake; District 3 Sen. Lynn Evans, of Alta; and District 5 Sen. Dave Rowley, of Spirit Lake, return to their respective chambers in the Capitol building in Des Moines. The elected officials — all Republicans — will be representing the constituents in Clay County and neighboring northwest Iowa counties.

Iowa’s manufacturing exports were down again, and prices were up as 2024 came to an end.

According to the latest Mid-America Business Conditions Index, the state’s manufacturers saw a $1.4 billion or 9.9% decline in exports compared to 2023.

Effective Jan. 1, a number of changes went into effect affecting motor vehicle transactions. Citizens will be able to do most of their motor vehicle transactions in any county in Iowa. This includes titling cars and trucks, getting replacement titles, salvage titles, dealer titles, junking certificates, adding security interest notations on titles among other transactions. Originally transactions were restricted to the county of residence.

The response to the City of Spencer’s four locally funded flood recovery micro-grant programs was strong, but according to data from the Planning Department, not all of the available money has been spent.