DES MOINES — The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years.

The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.

AMES — The 2024 Farm Transitions Conference will be held Feb. 8-9 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames.

More than 15 presenters including attorneys, farm management experts and farmers will offer two full days of presentations on a wide variety of topics related to farm transitions and estate planning. The conference theme is “Sowing Success,” and the event is hosted by the Beginning Farmer Center at Iowa State University.

SUTHERLAND — The Little Sioux Watershed Conservation Partnership proudly announces the successful execution of its Cedar Tree Cutting Workday, which took place at O’Brien County Conservation Board’s Dog Creek Park on Jan. 4. This collaborative effort brought together a dedicated group of community members, volunteers and environmental enthusiasts to address the specific conservation needs within the watershed.

The fading smell of baking bread mingled with the scent of fresh coffee, and the Carroll’s Bakery doorbell jingled steadily though the winter sun had yet to rise on a chilly Thursday morning.

Fridley Theatres, a Des Moines-based movie theater company, on Thursday, released new information about its planned remodel and expansion of the Southpark 7 movie theater in Spencer.

The Spencer City Council, on Tuesday, sent an ordinance that would create a new system to allow businesses and organizations to use public roads for events to the council’s Public Safety and Public Works Committee for further review.

The Spencer Reporter asked Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, five questions in advance of the upcoming 2024 legislative session. The questions we asked and Jones’ responses are printed below.

Q: What are your priorities for the 2024 legislative session?

SPENCER — Spencer Hospital’s Birth Center initially had a quiet start to the New Year; that is until Jessica Rojas and Juan Lopez arrived unexpectedly on Tuesday evening, Jan. 2, with Jessica in active labor. At 4 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3, little baby Liam Lopez made his arrival into the world, earning him the distinction of Spencer Hospital’s first baby of 2024.

EVERLY — Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigated a two-vehicle crash about 2 miles south of Everly Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 2.

According to a report from the sheriff’s office, Robert Raymer, no age given, from Spencer, was driving south in a 2019 Subaru and crossed over the center line and collided with a northbound 2018 Freightliner tractor-trailer owened by NEW Cooperative and driven by Dustin Vander Bush, no age given, from Spencer.

Kroll makes Mount Marty dean’s list

YANKTON, S.D. — Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota, announced that Benjamin D. Kroll, of Spencer, qualified as a member of fall 2023 semester dean’s list. The dean's list includes full-time undergraduate student completing a full-time load of graded course work with a minimum term GPA of 3.5.

Locals earn degrees at NCC

Students at Spencer High School reported feeling less emotionally safe than most of their peers, according to the district’s 2023 Iowa School Performance Profile.

The Spencer Fire Station was filled with the sound of children in awe on Friday, Dec. 29, as local firefighters read stories and offered tours of the station and their fire trucks to several dozen area preschoolers.

Irene Leu’s parents haven’t met her children — at least the face-to-face.

“They have a relationship with Babusia and Diduce 15 minutes at a time,” Irene’s husband, Jeremy, said. “… We haven’t seen them since 2019 because of COVID and the war.”

On July 14, Axaholics in south Spencer, hosted a lemonade stand, under a white tent — with cookies and bracelets available — designating all proceeds to the Shayla Bee Fund. It’s the culmination of two weeks of hard work, fundraising for the local nonprofit which serves families of ill children. But the 14 days were not without hurdles.

Booked into the Clay County Jail