Friday night, as the Spencer Tigers prepared to take the field for the squad’s homecoming game with Le Mars, Tiger Weston Johnson carried the American flag. Teammates Cael Schueller and Dylan Timmer — both sons of Clay County Sheriff’s deputies — carried out law enforcement flags on a night where fallen Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram was recognized and a donation was collected for his family. (Photo by Sondra Hookfin)

Having outgrown its office on West Fourth Street, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Clay County has been working on its new building for several months. Monday evening, the site for the new office at West 18th Street was visited by ISU President Wendy Wintersteen to celebrate the progress made thus far.

On Friday, Sept. 15, the Spencer Police Department applied for arrest warrants for 35-year-old Candido Miguel Trejo-Gonzalez, of Bridgewater, South Dakota.

The warrants stem from an investigation by the Spencer Police Department alleging that Trejo-Gonzalez had inappropriate contact with a child. He was subsequently located and arrested in Mitchell, South Dakota, on Sunday, Sept. 17, and transported back to the Clay County Jail Thursday.

Participants in the Spencer Reads Pack the Park line up in front of the Spencer firetruck Sunday afternoon at East Leach Park. Groups were encouraged to come to the park and read with family, friends of individually and enjoy a bite to eat.

A couple of younger readers took advantage of the opportunity for lunch and literature.

Several families came together to enjoy some time reading in the outdoor atmosphere.

Despite the rainy weather, Spencer High School continued their homecoming celebrations Friday with an indoor pep rally. With special performances from the marching band and cheerleaders, and with some themed games, the tigers were able to put some pep in their steps. (Photos by Celia Brocker)

A familiar Spencer golf tournament is being brought back as a fundraiser for the first time in years this week. The Spencer Municipal Golf Course will host its Chili Open tournament this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Chili Open was always used as a fundraiser for the golf course in the past, Director of Golf Operations Brian Mohr said. It stopped being a fundraiser after a new clubhouse was built and opened in 2009.

Candidates for Clay County’s city and school board elections were released Friday following Thursday afternoon’s filing deadline.

Three will compete for two Spencer at large school board positions with current board member Brea Schmidt and fellow incumbent Philip J. Bieber facing a challenge from former longtime board member Dean Mechler.

MILFORD — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host the second annual Northwest Iowa Parkinson’s Disease Conference on Thursday, Oct. 26, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Lakeshore Center at Okoboji in Milford.

The 2023-24 Spencer High School named King Dalton Flikkena and Queen Tyriana Vail (center) Wednesday evening during coronation ceremonies in the Larry Untiet Auditorium in Spencer High School. The entire royal court include (left to right) Adrian Castillo, Weston Johnson, Ross Carlson, Jaxon Heffner, King Flikkema, Queen Vail, Alicia Graettinger, Emma Fassbender, Julia Gastelum and Sadie Kahley. A special homecoming section is inserted in today’s Daily Reporter. (Photo by Celia Brocker)

Several trees were planted in several Spencer locations this Thursday thanks to a team of Farmers Bank and city of Spencer employees. A partnership between the city, Farmers Bank and Del’s Garden Center will see 100 trees planted in town over the next two years.

The city has recently had to remove several decaying ash trees due to the arrival of the emerald ash borer in the area. The larva was first found in the area last December, and was identified in Spencer last March.

The Spencer School Board plans to have a meeting with Iowa legislators who represent their district next week to discuss goals for the 2024 Legislative Session. Reps. Megan Jones and John Wills, and Sen. Dave Rowley are all scheduled to attend the meeting.

AMES — The Conservation Learning Group, a think tank based at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and dedicated to addressing conservation and environmental challenges, has published its Water Issues in Iowa report and associated infographic. The report provides insights and priorities expressed by Iowans regarding water quality across the state and tracks changes in perceptions of water quality issues among Iowans over the past 15 years.

Homes from Habitat for Humanity may be coming to Spencer in the next few years. City Manager Dan Gifford informed the Spencer City Council on Monday the nonprofit is looking to build houses in two city lots.

With the help of the Spencer Chamber Ambassadors, the ribbon was cut on the new location for Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault on Wednesday. Now located at 521 S. Grand Ave. with signs proudly displaying CAASA’s logo, the organization is visible on the main road through town.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — James “Jim” Dover a seasoned health care executive with more than 30 years of experience serving in leadership positions across a wide array of hospital and health systems, has been named the next president and chief executive officer of Avera Health, one of the largest not-for-profit rural health care systems in the Midwest. His first day with Avera will be Oct. 23.