As part of the Spencer Public Library's Summer Reading Program, Explore Beyond the Beaten Path, the library had a visit from the Blank Park Zoo last Thursday. Kids learned about how to be a good explorer and how to recognize different animals in their natural habitat. A few animal friends even came along for the children to meet.

Spencer Mayor Steve Bomgaars signed a proclamation declaring World Elder Abuse Day, June 15, in Spencer. He was joined for the official signing in council chambers at Spencer City Hall by Nancy Ketcham, elder rights specialist at Elderbridge Agency on Aging; Tara Anderson, Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services; Shelly Sindt, CEO of Elderbridge Agency on Aging; Adam Severson, planning; Alek Schulz, planning director; and Anna Harmon, planning supervisor.

“If there’s a place you can get lost in Iowa, this is it,” said Curt Kemmerer, wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Maquoketa Wildlife Unit, while bushwhacking through White Pine Hollow State Preserve in northwestern Dubuque County.

Fourteen members of the Spencer Hy-Noon Kiwanis were recently recognized during a visit from former Kiwanis International President Jane Erickson as members of the Kiwanis Legion of Honors.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, met with the Young family, of Spencer, during their vacation visit to Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 9. Grassley said, “I enjoyed visiting with the Young family. I appreciate the opportunity to meet face-to-face, hear concerns and answer questions from Iowans.” The family spoke with Grassley about a variety of issues and current events.

ABATE of Iowa District 8 Toy Ride, took place Saturday. Toys collected on the ride were donated to Upper Des Moines of Spencer. The ride began in Paullina at 2 p.m. and ended in Spencer at Flagfest’s Christian Motorcycle Association’s Bike Show. UDMO staff gladly accepted the gifts.

Nothing beats the taste of a delicious mouth-watering burger. There are tons of great burgers out there, but have you ever wondered where the home of the best burger is? The Iowa Beef Industry Council and New York Beef Council are sending forth their state’s best burger to answer that exact question.

On June 9, the Spencer Chamber Ambassadors participated in a ribbon cutting for the newly renovated North Central International. The company increased its size to 15,000 square feet and employs 16 full-time employees. NCI serves a 30- to 40-mile radius and caters to agricultural market.

With a total of 4,764 ballots cast countywide in the race for the three seats open on the Clay County Board of Supervisors ballot, unofficially, Republican voters chose to return incumbent and board chair Barry Anderson to the November general election ticket along with newcomers Courtney DeLoss and Allen W. Batschelet.

The site work for the return of the long-awaited Rocket Slide kicked off this week. After awarding the contract and the performance bond for the project to Midstates Builders, the contractor began working on the site right away. The planned completion date for the site work is Aug. 1.

After spending the past few months going over a drafted ordinance that would allow urban chickens within city limits, Spencer’s Planning and Zoning Commission decided during their meeting on Wednesday to hold a public hearing at their next meeting on July 13.

Patrons of the Spencer Public Library were able to attend a lecture by historian Kathy Wilson, Straight-Laced Girls, Uptight Ladies and Loose Women. Wilson taught attendees about the religion, clothing and capitalism of the 19th century, and how those practices and beliefs formed the middle class of today.

Spencer city officials were given updated preliminary numbers for a sewer extension project on 25th Street Southwest and 11th Avenue from project engineers Kruse, Cate & Nelson at Monday’s Spencer Committee of the Whole meeting. The project was prompted by residents in the area of the two streets presenting a petition to have service brought out to their neighborhood.

A new funding request from the Clay County Fair and Events Center was discussed by city officials during a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday night. The request was split into two parts — a remaining portion of previously allocated funds, and a new request for the marketing and advertising of future events.

HARTLEY — The family medicine clinic located within Hartley’s Community Memorial Health Center will transfer operations from MercyOne to Spencer Hospital later this summer.