The first place posters in this year's ADA Poster Contest were displayed at both Spencer Public Library and Arts on Grand after the winners were selected. (Posters submitted)

An official ribbon cutting and first donation with the Spencer Chamber Ambassadors on Tuesday morning for a pop tab house part of a No Boundaries project at Spencer Community Schools. The project, “Calling All Pop Tabs,” worked to create a Ronald McDonald Pop Tab House starting with the journey of KinderKids student Zeke Bieber and the No Boundaries team. Donation houses will be available the Spencer High School and public library. (Photo submitted)

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, production of next week's first edition of the Spencer Reporter will be moved back one day, and delivery will occur on Wednesday, May 31. The Friday edition will be published as normal. Please note that this will also be the case with the first edition of the week during the July 4 week and Labor Day week. Distribution will also be on Wednesday that week.

"Never let the words of the masses, or even your smallest groups, dictate who you are, or what you become,” Spencer graduate and commencement speaker Malachi Carlson said.

He cautioned, “Be cautious of what you perceive and consume from our media. A sheep follows the herd, and we are nothing like that."

Spencer High School theater department will participate in the 2023 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance Companies, in honor of the school's achievements for its November production of “Matilda.”

In conjunction with Older Iowans Month, the Spencer Public Library will be hosting an event providing free legal information to elders on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. The “Lawyers in Libraries: Celebrating Older Iowans” will focus on financial power of attorney, health care power of attorney, living wills and the Final Disposition Act.

After serving as the Spencer fire chief for seven years, John Conyn retired from his position on Friday. The retired chief has had a career as a firefighter spanning 48 years.

Conyn joined the Spencer Fire Department in 2016 after serving in Webster City, North Chicago, Illinois, and Racine, Wisconsin. During his seven years of service in Spencer, Conyn was happy to recall the growth he’s seen in the community.

Three new members have been elected to serve on the board at Occasions. Per Clarke, Vicky Treimer and Randy Plagman are the newest members to serve on the board. (Photo by Celia Brocker)

The long-awaited groundbreaking at the area known as the Spencer North Y took place Friday. City and Clay County officials, state representatives and project stakeholders braved the chilly weather to celebrate the highly anticipated expansion project.

Spencer Community School District students are busy counting down the days to the end of the school year. Likewise, longtime musical instructors Kurt Schwarck and Janet Boyens are as well. The district’s familiar duo will both walk away from their familiar positions leading the high school and middle school position at year’s end.

What prompted Boyens to end a career locally which has spanned three decades.

One hundred seventy-eight Spencer High School seniors are projected to walk across the stage during the scheduled commencement exercise in the Spencer High School field house starting at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 21.

Among those crossing the stage, 30 will graduate with honors, 25 with excellence and 50 with distinction; and 57 member of the National Honor Society will collect their diplomas.

Summit Carbon Solutions donated $1,000 and volunteer labor Ed Lyon, director of Reiman Gardens, on Thursday. Staff from both Summit Carbon Solutions and Reiman Gardens were present for the public event. The $1,000 will go toward the cost of new gardening tools for volunteers at Reiman Gardens. Twenty to 30 volunteers from the company worked together on site, May 16-18. (Photo submitted)

Mayor Steve Bomgaars signed a declaration designating National Poppy Day on Friday. The American Legion Post 1 in Spencer will be working as a team to hand out poppies throughout town. Locations include the Spencer Post Office, Fareway, Hy-Vee, Bomgaars and Sister’s Cafe. Poppies will be distributed for a for a volunteer contribution by volunteers Jan Tanner, Ardythe Harris, Sharon Krile, Ben Grimmius and Norma Miller, along with Darlene Prather, Joan Waller and Lyn Wee (not pictured).

Walls shook, windows rattled and the ground moved shortly before 10 p.m., Wednesday evening. The event resulted in startled panic among some and blew up social media with those searching for answers.

Spencer Police Chief Mark Warburton said, “When I looked back at the calls for service, dispatch just made up one call for service but noted that she had received several calls.”

Clay County Sheriff Chris Raveling admitted he had “no idea what caused it.”

May 25, at 2:30 p.m., the Spring Lawyers in Libraries Program, sponsored by The Iowa State Bar Association Elder Law Section in honor of Older Iowans Month, will be conducted at the Spencer Public Library. This program will focus on financial power of attorney, health care power of attorney, living wills and the Final Disposition Act.

Lawyer Dalton J. Kidd of Kidd Law Firm will talk about the legal topics listed above and answer questions that may come up.