DES MOINES — The Iowa Finance Authority board of directors recently announced the award of a total of more than $12.5 million in grants to 27 Local Housing Trust Funds to support local housing initiatives. The grant awards are made available through the Local Housing Trust Fund program and are expected to assist 2,636 families across all 99 Iowa counties.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation will welcome four new board members for 2025: Katherine Cota, director of the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake; Todd Glasnapp, supervisor at Emmet County; Brett Johnson, city councilman at the City of Spirit Lake; and Matt Ricklefs, city councilman at the City of Storm Lake. Cota, Glasnapp, Johnson and Ricklefs were voted by membership to three-year terms on the board starting Jan. 1.

Summer seasonal positions for 2025 at Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries offices are open for applications until Jan. 10.

Learn about fisheries careers and gain valuable experience while working alongside biologists and technicians. Positions are available in research, management, culture and aquatic invasive species. Six-month positions usually start at the beginning of April and three-month positions start the middle of May.

Abben Cancer Center received a generous donation of over $3,100 from Mr. B's Flooring. During the month of October ― Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mr. B's Flooring partnered with Mohawk to have 20% of their Smart Cushion Carpet Padding sales be given back to the Abben Cancer Center, which will help support various patient needs. Jason and Tammy Brown, owners of Mr.

Every Monday and Friday — 1 p.m.

Geri-Fit: Senior Chair Fitness — Limited space available.

Dec. 1-31 — December Reading Round-up

Adult Reading Wrap-up: Beanstack Reading Challenge

Jan. 1 to Feb. 28

Farmers Trust and Savings Bank announced the addition of Alexis McCallum to its team as a real estate lending assistant. She brings a customer-first approach to the role. McCallum will be part of a team responsible for streamlining the lending process, supporting borrowers throughout their home-buying journey, and ensuring efficient communication between clients, lenders and real estate professionals.

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors visited FNIC Insurance, Thursday, for the company’s grand reopening. Dave Jacobsen and his team have been working from home since the flood and are thrilled to be back in their offices again now that renovations are finished. The FNIC office downsized and moved from the east side of the building to the west, taking over the former St. Croix office space.

The Spencer Community School Board has approved a plan that would see the district join what would become a 16-member Siouxland Athletic Conference.

The City of Spencer might become the first community to integrate real-time flood monitoring data from the Iowa Flood Center into its new city app.

The 2024 Michael Rohan Memorial Fund raffle quilt winner is Jill Larson, of Spencer. She was very excited to receive the phone call that she won this year's quilt and received the quilt a couple days after. This funds raised from the quilt auction is a small part of what keeps Michael's Fund able to keep providing swimming lessons for children and grandchildren. (Photo submitted)

The Okoboji School District Board of Eduction on Wednesday reached an agreement with Alburnett Superintendent Will Dible to be the Milford-based school’s next lead administrator. Pending board approval Jan. 8, Dible will succeed Todd Abrahamson who has guided the Okoboji School District since the 2016-17 school year.

Dible will officially begin his new role on July 1. He graduated from Okoboji High School in 2004.

Monday afternoon, Spencer Fire & Rescue responded to a call about a house fire at 1710 Fourth Ave. W.

Sixteen firefighters and five emergency vehicles answered the at 4:54 p.m. along with five Spencer Police Department officers and Spencer Municipal Utilities.

On scene, light smoke was showing, prompting the engine crew to enter the back door of the residence. They quickly located the fire in the kitchen on the stove and extinguished the fire.

Spencer Police Department officers will see their wages increase between 4% and 23% depending on rank and seniority under a new pay plan approved on Dec. 16.

The Spencer City Council has approved a plan to redirect $1.3 million of federal COVID relief funds from the planned West 18th Street bridge replacement and use the money for flood relief.

The Clay County Community Foundation shared its 2024 Year-End Report, highlighting its commitment to improving the quality of life for residents of Clay County through grant making, community engagement and strategic partnerships. The foundation’s impact has been felt across a wide range of sectors, from education and health to arts, culture, and local infrastructure.