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Evans wins in Iowa Senate District 3 primary

The Iowa Senate District 3 primary election featured a battle with two legislative newcomers, with Lynn Evans winning the Republican nomination Tuesday night. The former school administrator and Buena Vista University instructor from Aurelia will enter the November general election unchallenged by any Democrat candidate for the district's senate seat.

The LOVE of the Irish

Irish eyes were smiling. When Gregg and Stephanie Ries were united in marriage Saturday in front of more than 100 family and friends, his Irish heritage played a prominent role in the ceremony and celebration.

The Irish-themed nuptials, which occurred at Oneota Cabin, included bag pipes, a poem, hand fasting — and of course — a kilt.

“Every clan in Ireland and Scotland had their own special color and pattern of their tartan and coat of arms,” Gregg said.

Garays become 224th Shayla Bee family

A small collection of motorcycles followed by a caravan of vehicles rumbled into Scharnberg Park Saturday shortly after 5 p.m. as Shayla Bee welcomed its 224th family, the Garay’s, of Spencer. They met the family at the open shelter house. In May, the Shayla Bee Board received a nomination from Bobbie Perez for the Hector and Kristen Garay family, of Spencer. The couple’s new baby boy, Luka, was born 10 weeks premature. He was born septic, with pneumonia and was vented.

UDMO board announces Edwards as new executive director

The Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. board of directors announced Julie Edwards as the organization’s new executive director. Edwards began her executive director duties in April 2022 as an experienced leader in community action. She brings to the position 27 years as a progressive leader, first as the UDMO Early Childhood Programs coordinator in the Spencer Early Childhood Center and most recently, as the UDMO Early Childhood Programs director.

'Sound of Music' fills Arts on Grand

It was a night of Broadway classics at Arts on Grand last Friday. In collaboration with the gallery, Coffee Beanz Theatre Group (above) performed a series of iconic musical theatre numbers in "Ten Minutes Ago: A Rodgers & Hammerstein Cabaret.” The show starred Spencer High School alumni Natalie Kroll (right) and Ryan Busch, and featured Chandler Todd (below), Kyle Goeken and Makenna Pierce.

Sirens
  • Timothy Scott VanderHaag, 57, of Spencer, was charged with public intoxication at 10:39 p.m., May 19.
  • Jayden Alexander Joenks, 19, of Rossie, was charged with minor use of tobacco/vapor product at 9:41 p.m., May 20.
  • Christopher Clark Abel, 44, of Spencer, was charged with contempt — violation of a no contact order and contempt — disobey tribunal court at 12:32 a.m., May 21.
  • Lonnie Lavoy Richardson, 54, of Spencer, was charged with third-degree harassment at
Unchallenged primary incumbent Sand touts office’s accomplishments

Before the primary election on June 7, incumbent Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand spoke to several Spencer locals at Sunset Park on Saturday. Sand is one of three candidates, and the only Democrat, running for the state auditor’s office.

Commenting on the accomplishments during his time in office, Sand reported the auditor’s office has uncovered more misspent money in the last four years than any other four-year period in the office, $25 million out of the investigative division.

CCH participating in Iowa Museum Week

Clay County Heritage will be joining in a statewide celebration of Iowa’s museums by participating in Iowa Museum Week, June 6-12. Iowa Museum Week is a social media event, raising awareness of the value of museums, with a different theme each day. We encourage everyone to participate by following Clay County Heritage on Facebook, visiting the Heritage Center during the week, and attending the Parker Museum Open House on Sunday, June 12.

Governor gets inside look at Pressed

As part of her 99 county tour, Gov. Kim Reynolds made a stop at Pressed on Monday. The governor received a tour of the building, and chatted with owners Eric and Kristen Meeter about what it's been like navigating a business in rural Iowa and expanding their business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plots remaining for Community Gardens

As local enthusiasts begin planting personal gardens for the spring season, less than 10 Spencer Community Garden plots are yet to be filled. Anyone interested should contact Gary Hoefling at 260-9834.

Learning historical perspectives of the 19th century and today

Spencer community members will have the chance to learn how history effects modern-day practices Wednesday, as Kathy Wilson of Historical Perspectives will present Straight-Laced Girls, Uptight Ladies & Loose Women at the Spencer Public Library from 6-7:30 p.m. The program is the first of a three-part series Wilson put together focusing on the development and formation of the middle class in the 19th century.

Outdoors: Spring turkey season ends on a high note

Despite some challenging weather conditions, Iowa’s wild turkey hunters reported harvesting nearly 12,000 birds through the mandatory registration system. While similar to 2021, the 300 additional birds registered represented and overall state increase in harvest of around two percent.

Iowa’s spring turkey seasons began April 8 with the youth season and ended on May 15. Hunters purchased nearly 52,500 spring turkey tags.

Outdoors: INHF to host open house to celebrate protection of The Narrows Preserve

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is excited to celebrate with the Iowa Great Lakes community this summer now that the last private, undeveloped piece of shoreline on East Lake has been permanently protected. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of individuals, area businesses, community groups and foundations, this 2,020-foot span of lakeshore will benefit wildlife, water quality and people for generations to come.

 

A LOOK BACK

Outdoors: Ducks Unlimited works on clean water efforts in Dickinson County

The Iowa Great Lakes Watershed consists of approximately 90,631 acres in northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota. Each lake in the system is affected by specific sub-watersheds. Driving around this entire system, you can see tiles and waterways that are moving water eventually to our lakes. You can also see best management practices, conservation efforts, that have been enacted to help clean the water flowing into each of the Iowa Great Lakes.

Research, demonstration farm reports available for 2021

AMES — The latest version of Iowa State University’s Research and Demonstration Farms summary reports are now available online and in print.

Nine farm reports are available, with a new look that includes larger headings, expanded tables and color photography.

Feenstra, state reps tour Morton Buildings

During their tour of northwest Iowa, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, and Sen. Dave Rowley, R-Spirit Lake, stopped by Morton Buildings in Spencer on Tuesday. The congressional representatives received a tour of the facility, and discussed inflation and supply chain issues with management and staff.

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