A rural Laurens man is scheduled to be arraigned next week on charges of livestock abuse.

Brent Svuba, 39, was issued a summons to appear in court in late September after Clay County Sheriff’s deputies say they found starving, dehydrated and dead cattle belonging to him.

Arts on Grand announced its current gallery exhibit, “Christmas in the Gallery.” The exhibit will run through Thursday, Jan. 4.

A free come-and-go open house will take place featuring Paper Moon Jazz Quartet from 6-8 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 15. The public is invited to enjoy background music while wandering through the gallery.

In 1986, the downtown merchant association introduced what has become a tradition to kick off the season in Spencer, Grand Meander. Monday night, from 5-7 p.m., Grand Meander will be transformed into a northwest Iowa winter wonderland.

The Spencer City Council gave city employees permission on Nov. 20 to demolish a house that has fallen into disrepair.

The house in question is located at 302 W. 12th St. in Spencer. City officials say the building has not been adequately maintained and has become a danger to the community.

“This was not a close question,” Spencer City Attorney Don Hemphill said.

DES MOINES — The Iowa Association of School Boards presented two Spencer School Board members and the superintendent with 2022-23 annual Board Awards on Thursday, Nov. 16, during the IASB Convention.

Board members Shelby Haak and Bob Whittenburg each received the Individual Achievement Award; while Superintendent Terry Hemann was acknowledged with the Award of Honor.

The Spencer School District is in line for roughly $200,000 worth of federal grants to improve school security, but first, the district must adopt new rules.

After its late summer move from West Leach Park to River View Park, the Spencer disc golf course is due for a facelift, city officials say.

"They will soar on wings like eagles" — Isaiah 40:31.

The motto of Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School was demonstrated when it was recognized as an award winning school.

Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School was among nine Iowa schools chosen to receive the inaugural Yass Award for Education Freedom to enable the school to serve more students.

Iowa Lakes women’s wrestler and freshman Morgan Griffin will have her name in the Iowa Lakes women’s wrestling history books forever. In the team dual last week against No. 2 Iowa Central, Griffin picked up a pin in the 170-pound match against the Tritons Olivia Fausnaugh. With the victory, she became the first women’s wrestler to win a match in school history. (Photo submitted)

The Everly dance sponsored by Dance 4 Fun, will be held on Saturday at the Hap Kettleson Community Center in Everly. The doors are open at 6:30 p.m., the dance is from 7:30-10:30 p.m. The band will be The Itty Bitty Boji Band. Feel free to bring snacks to share. Singles and married couples are welcome.

The October Rotary Student of the Month is Spencer High School senior Van Munson. He plans to go to Cornell College, run cross-county, and has yet to decide on a major yet, but is considering engineering or a research scientist. Rotarian Greg Rasch presented Munson with the honor at a recent Spencer Rotary Club Meeting. (Photo submitted)

Teaching: Seventh grade science.

Education: Bachelor of Science in human growth and development, early childhood and gerontology, fine and studio art from University of Nebraska at Lincoln, teaching degree from College of Saint Mary Omaha.

Q: What is your teaching background?

A: I have taught consumer science, English, reading, art and yearbook journalism.

The Festival of Lessons and Carols will be presented on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer. The concert presents readings from the Bible with musical selections paired with each reading. The 60-person community choir is made up of area singers with a freewill offering used to support the Messiah production will be held again in 2025. (Photo submitted)

The Jolly Old Elf himself, Santa Claus, made his first appearance at the Southpark Mall on Good Friday and the subsequent weekends through the Christmas celebration to greet Spencer area children and receive their gift wishes ahead of his worldwide journey Dec. 24. Santa’s Mailbox will also be at the mall and he will respond to all letters with an address included. All children are invited to come visit Santa from noon to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. (File photo)

After several years and over $70,000, a raft of updates and improvements are nearly complete at the Stolley Park trail system in northwest Spencer.

Over the last three years, an effort led by Bob Rose and Mike Harleman has resulted in big improvements to the Stolley Pit Trail, a roughly 1.3-mile loop around a small lake that used to be a sand and gravel quarry. The trail is located in Stolley Park near the intersection of West 18th Street and 32nd Avenue West.