AMES — Farmers who depend on custom work or provide custom services can review rates charged by others across the state in the latest Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey.

The 2024 report was published in the March edition of Ag Decision Maker and includes 130 responses and 2,805 custom rates provided by Iowa farmers, custom operators and farm managers.

A patch of green space on the east side of the Clay County Fairgrounds was filled with shouting, laughter and Easter eggs on March 30 for the annual Jaycees Easter Egg Scramble. Dozens of children and their parents gathered to snatch up colorful plastic eggs, some of which contained prizes.

Despite coming home without a trophy from the 2024 State Mock Trial competition, coach Travis Johnson couldn’t be prouder of his Spencer High School squads.

“Both teams did extremely well,” he said. “Our varsity team went 2-1. The round they lost, was only by half a point which is extremely close. … These kids, they fought hard and it was pretty awesome to be a part of it.”

CEDAR RAPIDS — Alliant Energy named 41 Iowa communities which will receive grants totaling nearly $145,000 through the company’s Community Tree Planting program, part of its One Million Trees initiative.

Across Iowa, communities are eligible to apply for grants up to $5,000 to fund new trees.

Some candidates will face a challenge on the Clay County ballot in the Iowa primary on June 4, while others will cruise on through to the November general election.

Iowa’s U.S. 4th Congressional District Rep. Randy Feenstra will have to take on Kevin Virgil for the right to face Democrat Ryan Melton, running unopposed in the general election.

The Clay County Fair Charitable Trust will host the third annual Farm-to-Fork FUNdraiser at the Clay County Regional Events Center on Thursday, April 18. The event will feature a four-course meal prepared with locally sourced ingredients, musical entertainment provided by Ryan Sather, auctions, a quilt raffle and a 50/50 raffle.

America’s supply of donated blood is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and area blood banks are still struggling to maintain adequate supplies of blood, plasma and platelets.

A Spencer man was due to be arraigned on April 1 on a charge of armed robbery following an incident that occurred in late February.

BOOKED INTO CLAY COUNTY JAIL

Clay County Community Foundation’s mission statement reads, “Connecting donors who care with causes that matter.” In the case of most of these grants presented, the “donor” is the state of Iowa. In 2005, any county that did not have a licensed gaming facility was offered the chance to share in that revenue by forming a county foundation, which Clay County did. Seventy-five percent of those dollars allocated to us from the State each year are distributed in the form of grants to nonprofits.

What happens in Clay County when there’s a three-car pileup with multiple severe injuries on County Highway B14, 4 miles west of Fostoria, and 20 minutes later, someone gets their arm caught in a piece of equipment on a farm outside of Royal?

While some claim there’s nothing to see in flyover country, a new book suggests otherwise. A closer look allows the viewer to discover Iowa is home to more than just cornfields. In fact, those traveling the state will find many hidden gems and secret spots.

Faith Lutheran Church constructed this Lenten Cross of Loss, one canvas at a time, beginning on Ash Wednesday. The central canvas, the first, was painted by everyone who came on Ash Wednesday. There were eight colors of paint to correlate with eight temptations: anger, self, control, greed, putting God last, pride, inaction and bitterness. Everyone daubed one color on the canvas, identifying a temptation that causes them loss of strength or purity.

Last Saturday, the Spencer Family YMCA opened its doors and filled its east gym with obstacles and barricades — turning mothers and sons loose against one-another for the battle of all ages — the highly anticipated Nerf War. (Photos submitted)

(Above) Hudson and Beth Henningsen geared up for the event.

(Below) Nichole Poncy lines up to fire.

FOSTORIA — Amber Wells and Lucas Richardson — both of Fostoria — were each charged with multiple felony drug charges following a Clay County Sheriff’s deputy response to a call at their residence and subsequent search warrant.