Students of the Spencer High School Mock Trial program demonstrated exceptional skill and determination in their 2025 competition season, according to first-year co-coach Knut Brown.

SPENCER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 18

Spencer High School Field House

Class Motto: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” — Theodore Roosevelt

Class Colors: Amethyst Purple & Blonde Yellow

Class Flower: Magnolia

Class Song: “Daylight” by Maroon 5

On May 14, Spencer Mayor Steve Bomgaars (center) signed a proclamation declaring May 23, 2025, the American Legion Post 1 Auxiliary’s annual Poppy Day. The American Legion Auxiliary distributes handmade crepe paper poppy flowers in exchange for donations to help fund American Legion efforts to support veterans and their families.

The Clay County Board of Supervisors took a critical step toward declaring emergency medical services an essential service during its May 13 regular meeting.

That big step was holding the first of two required public hearings for the essential service declaration resolution. No comments were received from the public. Following the hearing, the board, minus chairman Allen Batschellet, who was absent, voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

The Arnolds Park City Council held a special meeting Tuesday to revoke the liquor license at Boji Nites, a now-shuttered adult entertainment club along West Broadway Street in Arnolds Park.

The council decision came after a multiagency raid at the club earlier in the day.

On Saturday, May 10, shortly after 6 a.m., the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a single motorcycle accident in the 2900 mile of U.S. Highway 71. Upon investigation at the scene, authorities discovered Ryan Reineke, 21, of Spencer, lying conscious in the ditch near a motorcycle. It was determined that Reineke was northbound at a high rate of speed when he lost control of a newly purchased 2008 Kawasaki ZX1000E motorcycle.

The community of Royal is the beneficiary of generosity provided by four students in the Spencer High School No Boundaries Program and two lifelong residents of the Royal area. Four Spencer High School students — Luca Swanson, Joseph Trierweiler, Wyatt Heying and Irie Leggett — participated in the Royal Hometown Pride project with assistance from project partner Lynn Cronk, of Royal.

Chi Chapter President Mary Thunhorst presented the Chi Chapter Grant-in-Aid certificate and check to Okoboji High School senior Faith DeWild during the April 12 chapter meeting. DeWild is a fourth-generation family member to attend Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She will be majoring in elementary education with a possible emphasis in reading and coaching.

• ORANGE CITY ― Local students were among 270 graduates to receive bachelor’s degrees at Northwestern College during commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 10. Twenty-six students received Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, while the rest of the graduating seniors were granted Bachelor of Arts degrees.

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors visited Upper Des Moines Opportunity Tuesday to celebrate its grand reopening after the June 2024 flood. After being in their new building for just over a year, last summer’s flood forced them to start over, but thanks to an outpouring of community support, they’re back and busier than ever.

DES MOINES — Iowa’s high school graduation rate climbed nearly a full percentage point, reaching 88.3% for the graduating class of 2024, according to figures released today by the Iowa Department of Education. This marks the first time since 2020 that Iowa’s graduation rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The Spencer Planning and Zoning Commission is set to hold a public hearing this week on an ordinance that would make keeping chickens within city limits easier.

Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat to currently hold statewide office in Iowa, announced his campaign for governor Monday.

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra filed paperwork Monday to launch a bid for governor, the first high-profile Republican to do so in the open GOP primary field.

Feenstra filed the paperwork for “Feenstra for Governor” with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board Monday, a needed step to launch a gubernatorial campaign. It came hours after Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, filed the same report for his campaign for governor, which he announced earlier Monday.

WEBSTER CITY ― Ryan Melton officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District on Friday. Melton, the Democratic nominee in both 2022 and 2024, is launching his 2026 campaign after suggesting he improved his performance in 33 counties while remaining steady in the other three in the last election. He vowed to continue his rejection of any corporate PAC money.