Iowa Lakes Community College announces the upcoming Stay Active in Learning program with two new enriching courses designed for lifelong learners that will be held on the Spencer campus starting in January 2025, with registration available now.

ORIGIN OF CIVILIZATION

Class ID: 7969

Instructor: H. Schar

Dates: Monday, Jan. 13 to May 5

Time: 9-11:30 a.m.

Farmers Bank hires Hagedorn for e-services

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors visited the new Thrivent Financial office on West Seventh Street. Jason Jacobs has been with Thrivent for about 2 1/2 years. (Photo submitted)

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday, Dec. 2, announced her appointment of Kristi Busse as a district associate judge in Judicial District 3A.

Busse, of Spencer, is an assistant county attorney for Clay County. She received her undergraduate degree from Buena Vista University and her law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Manufacturers in Iowa have had a tough year, according to the latest mid-America Business Index report from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Since December of 2023, Iowa manufacturers have seen their exports drop by 8.5% or roughly $1.1 billion, according to the November business index report. The state’s overall business conditions index — a measure of economic growth — showed a continued economic decline.

Downtown Spencer was buzzing with commerce on Saturday, Nov. 30, as area residents spent quality time and hard-earned cash with local businesses, craftspeople and artists during the annual Shop Small Saturday celebration. Shoppers were able to get three pages worth of coupons from locally-owned businesses in the Grand Avenue Corridor. Meanwhile, at the Shop Small headquarters located in Arts on Grand, shoppers could pick up some free refreshments. (Photos submitted)

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health is excited to announce a ribbon cutting and open house for our brand-new crisis stabilization center on Thursday, Dec. 5. The ribbon cutting will take place at 10:30 a.m. with the open house to follow until 1 p.m. The facility was created as part of a remodel project at Seasons Center’s Administrative office located at 201 E. 11th St. in Spencer.

A Spencer man was set to be arraigned on Monday, Dec. 2, after police say he stole a wallet and up to $1,000 last summer.

The Festival of Lessons and Carols will be presented Sunday, Dec. 8, at 3 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. The concert is sponsored by area churches as part of the Spencer Messiah Board. The board is sponsored by the Daybreaker Kiwanis and St. Luke Homes and Services. The concert will feature a children's choir this year along with a handbell group from Bethany Lutheran Church and a 45-member community choir all under the direction of Allison Oyler.

DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the sign-up for the state’s Crop Insurance Discount Program is now open and available. Farmers who planted cover crops this fall can apply for a $5 per acre discount on their spring crop insurance premiums.

The sign-up period opened on Monday, Dec. 2, and will close on Friday, Jan. 24. Farmers and landowners can enroll by visiting Apply.CleanWaterIowa.org or by contacting their crop insurance agent.

For Tyler Mar and Aria Volz, the path to the skies began long before they set foot on the Iowa Lakes Community College campus in Spencer. But it is here in rural northwest Iowa where they will hone their skills and earn the certifications they need to make their dreams of careers in aviation into reality.

Mar, a first-year student, found his calling for flight while serving in the U.S. Air Force.

The Spencer Community School District fared well on its latest school report card issued by the Iowa Department of Education.

SPENCER — A state-owned bridge that was so heavy damaged in the June 22 flash flood it had to be replaced has reopened.

The bridge over Stoney Creek on U.S. Highway 18 northwest of Spencer suffered catastrophic damage in the flooding, with most of an abutment washed away. It was closed immediately.

AMES — Despite the financial challenges facing consumers — lingering inflation, growing unemployment and higher interest rates for federal student loans — holiday shoppers appear to be in fairly high spirits leading up to the 2024 holidays. According to TransUnion's 2024 Consumer Holiday Shopping Report, more than half of holiday shoppers (57%) plan on spending the same as last year with 38% planning to spend less this year.

The Spencer Community School District is looking to secure $3.3 million in bond financing to help cover the costs of ongoing flood recovery efforts.