In a special meeting on Friday, the Spencer School Board approved some personnel changes for the upcoming academic year, including the principal and band teacher's positions at Spencer High School.

Cornwell, Frideres, Maher & Associates PLC, CPAs recently released an audit report on the Spencer Community School District in Spencer.

After seven years of serving the city of Spencer, Fire Chief John Conyn will soon be hanging up his Spencer Fire Department uniform. It was announced on Monday the fire chief will be retiring on May 15.

“For the past seven years, Chief Conyn has been an invaluable asset to the city of Spencer,” Mayor Steve Bomgaars said. “He has provided valuable leadership to the Spencer Fire Department and to the city as a whole.”

Spencer Hospital is hosting a special health and wellness event for women this week. The Ladies Night Out will take place on Thursday from 5-7 p.m.

The event provides a chance for women to take time for themselves and their health, VP of Marketing at Spencer Hospital Susan Zulk said.

In conjunction with Youth Art Month, Arts on Grand’s current exhibit displays youth art created at Camp Autumn. Campers from the past year visited the gallery last Saturday to see their artwork on display, and potential new campers were eager to tour the exhibit as well. The camp provided by Seasons Center for nine weeks during the summer — and some Saturdays throughout the year until April — provides a blend of therapy, skill development and fun for kids.

This year, the Spencer Community School Foundation awarded nearly $135,000 to 68 deserving seniors on Sunday, March 19, at the Clay County Regional Events Center. A total exceeding $1,400,000 in scholarships has been awarded since 2000. This is all due to the generous benefactors as well as annual contributions from those choosing to make a difference for students, the school and the community. SCS Foundation Board Member Nancy Naeve welcomed the recipients, donors and parents.

• Dible to be Alburnett superintendent, new band teacher at SHS

In a special meeting on Friday, the Spencer School Board approved some personnel changes for the upcoming academic year, including the principal and band teacher's positions at Spencer High School. 

A small group of Spencer constituents attended a Wednesday presentation at Spencer Public Library by independent online media voice, Jacob Hall, owner and operator of The Iowa Standard. Hall was there to speak to share his thoughts on what he referred to as the "indoctrination" in schools and gender ideology.

A group of German students are bringing their innovative mobile exhibit about climate change to Spencer, as part of their efforts to raise awareness and spark meaningful discourse on this pressing issue.

A Spirit Lake man was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison for three sexual abuse charges filed in three separate, local counties.

Fifty-four-year-old Stacy Lee Lind was charged with multiple offenses in Dickinson, Clay and Osceola counties. He pled guilty to one charge in each county on Jan. 9 as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors.

An increase to solid waste rates for the city of Spencer was recommended by the Spencer Finance Committee on Thursday. The committee will recommend to the city a rate increase of 6.5% for the 2023-24 fiscal year, effective on July 1.

The city of Everly is considering allowing its residents to raise chickens within city limits. Members of the Everly City Council discussed the possibility with several community members during a special council meeting on Tuesday.

“We talked about chickens at our last council meeting and decided to table it to come up with a yea or nay strategy, or a plan to put in place if we decided to move forward,” Everly Mayor Ron Thompson said.

A proposal for an emergency housing coordinator position in Clay County has been presented to city officials for consideration. The Spencer City Council heard several funding requests on Monday night as they reviewed the budget for fiscal year 2024, including the proposal for a position to assist with homeless crises in the area.

With recent resignation by Tara Brown as Arts on Grand executive director, Theresa McKee has been hired to fill the position. Beginning her work in February, McKee has been working along side Brown to facilitate a smooth transition.

On Monday night, the Clay County Community Foundation hosted its annual grant awards night at the Clay County Regional Events Center. Twenty-three nonprofit organizations were awarded a total of $128,674, with grants ranging in amount from $535 to $10,000.