WASHINGTON ― The Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, announced that Sheriffa Jones, executive director of the Spencer Chamber, recently completed her third year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at Winter Institute located at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

DES MOINES ― Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented this week on the 2023 Iowa Crop Production Annual Summary released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The national summary and state summaries are released in January each year.

Iowa Republicans will, once again, start the official U.S. presidential election cycle when they gather on Jan. 15 at locations around the state to choose who they’d like to see run against current Democratic President Joe Biden.

Garret Larson spends most of his time surrounded by bows, arrows and all manner of bow and crossbow accessories.

It’s part of his job at Southern Archery, a slight bow and gun shop on the south side of Spencer. But it’s also his passion. The Spencer native grew up as a bow hunter thanks to his dad and has spent plenty of time in the woods. But Larson has developed another bow-related passion, too — competition archery.

The National Weather Service predicts another round of snow and high winds will slam the Spencer area starting late on Jan. 11 and into Jan. 12.

The Clay County Fair Association, on Tuesday, asked the Clay County Board of Supervisors for $82,000 to help support the county fair and the Regional Events Center.

The request came during the Board of Supervisor’s regular meeting held Jan. 9 as part of an annual process in which area nonprofits ask for taxpayer support. Organizations requesting support during the meeting included People for Pets, Arts on Grand and the Clay County Fair.

SPENCER ― David Stephen Keith, DO, a family physician with Avera Medical Group Spencer, has achieved the Degree of Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the national medical association representing nearly 127,600 family physicians, residents and medical students.

WASHINGTON ― A Casey’s General Store in Spencer is among 111 of the Iowa-based chain’s operations to be selected to receive federal funding to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels.

According to a press release from the USDA, this project will install 456 dispensers of E15 ethanol at selected stations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

The grant is for $4,999,992, the release stated.

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors visited Hope Church on Tuesday to welcome their new pastor, James Runcorn. James joined the Spencer community in October from Idaho Falls. The Hope Church staff discussed programming for young children through high schoolers at the church and the many outreach events they host throughout the year as well as their hopes to work with other area churches to create community wide initiatives in the future. (Submitted photo)

NCC invites you to nominate an alum

BROOKINGS, S.D. — National Day of Giving can be the nonprofit equivalent of retailer's Black Friday. However, many smaller agencies don't have the manpower to engage in a robust social media campaign.

SPENCER POLICE DISPATCH

Monday, Jan. 8

Officers made three traffic stops and issued a municipal infraction, a written warning and a verbal warning; and handled two complaints about parked vehicles. Among the calls were:

SPENCER — Recent winter weather caused blood drive cancellations impacting the community blood supply. LifeServe Blood Center is urging community members to roll up a sleeve and give blood donation a try as soon as possible!

One blood donation has a huge local impact. In one hour, a single blood donor will help save or enhance the lives of up to three hospital patients in local medical centers.

Local blood drives will be:

RUTHVEN — Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies answered a call regarding a two-vehicle crash in the 3300 block of U.S. Highway 18 Monday, Jan. 8, at 10:20 p.m.

According a sheriff’s office report, Ally Montgomery, 23, of Arnolds Park, was driving a 2011 Toyota Camry west on Highway 18, and John Marcum, 39, of Graettinger, was driving east in a 2003 Ford F-150 pickup. When the drivers met, they collided due to slippery road conditions.

Minor injuries were reported.

Meteorologists said on Monday afternoon that they expected the first major winter storm of 2024 to blanket the region with 4 to 8 inches of snow beginning and bring air temperatures down to near zero by Wednesday night.