When Nat Kroll speaks, it’s evident she has a passion for cultural diversity.

“The groups on campus that I often talk about are very close friends, and we have definitely found a home here at (Nebraska Wesleyan University) because in our classes and with our professors, we feel very open with dialogue and communication to speak from our backgrounds and learn more from people with other backgrounds.”

DES MOINES — The Spencer High School Tigerettes dance team will join dancers from across the state at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Nov. 29 through Dec. 1, for the country’s largest high school dance team competition.

Spencer will perform at 10:25 a.m. in Class II Kick, and 11:28 a.m. in Class XII Pom in Wells Fargo Arena.

Spencer city councilors, on Monday, took the first step toward extending the lifespan of three different types of city building permits.

Spencer’s city employees are asking for 10% across-the-board pay raises each year for three years as part of their next collective bargaining agreement.

The Spencer Parks Department has removed nearly 350 ash trees from city property over the last two years as part of the city’s response to an infestation of emerald ash borers.

On Sept. 17, at approximately 3:40 p.m., Spencer Police were dispatched to the intersection of Fourth Avenue East and East Fourth Street for a report of a two-vehicle accident.

Select Spencer High School musicians rehearsed and performed in the Iowa All-State Music Festival at Hilton Coliseum in Ames Saturday evening. Tiger participants included Braxton Nachtigal, baritone saxophone; Molly Moser, cornet 1; Annabelle Thompson, clarinet 1; Abby Schmidt, soprano 1; and Maggie Moser, oboe. Spencer directors are Jackson Smith and Jackie Bryan. (Photo submitted)

Teaching: English Language Learner (part-time) at the middle school.

Education: B.S. and M.S. in elementary education, SpEd in curriculum and instruction, Ed.D. in educational administration.

Q: What is your teaching background?

A: I taught middle school for eight years at Mason City CSD, and served BVU for 12 years and Prairie Lakes AEA for 10 years

DES MOINES — The Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church held its final special session to vote on proposed Disaffiliation Agreements between the Iowa Annual Conference and United Methodist local churches seeking to leave The United Methodist Church. The session was held on Zoom.

The Spencer Messiah Board welcomes everyone to join them for this year's Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m., at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer. The board is made up of area churches and presents the Messiah in Spencer every three years. Our next Messiah Concert will be held in 2025. The Festival of Lessons and Carols is presented in the non-Messiah years for the benefit of the community by area singers.

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors visited Faith Lutheran Church Tuesday morning to hear from Rev. Ben Unseth, Bill Neiderheiser and Cheryl Jackson about their new nondenominational after-school program, LifeKids. The LifeKids program is aimed at KinderKids through fifth grade and includes activities such as a daily Bible lesson, independent reading, community service projects, field trips, games, and arts and crafts. For more information on the program, visit lifekidsspencer.com.

It’s not easy being an entrepreneur. Just ask Abby Rutledge, co-owner of Drivensole, a small boutique on Fifth Street about half a block west of Grand Avenue in Spencer.

Rick Steuben, chairman of Clay County Soil & Water Conservation District, congratulated Blaire Cooley, of Spencer, for being selected as second to third grade regional winner of the 2023 Conservation Districts of Iowa Poster Contest in Region 2, which includes 13 northwest Iowa counties.

After years of talking and advocating by Spencer residents, the city parks board has taken official steps to build a splash pad.

The board met last week to discuss a timeline for the project, which would coincide with improvements to the Spencer Aquatic Center and the creation of a new city-owned campground. Parks Director Bob Fullhart said Des Moines-based engineering firm Bolton Menk has been contracted to study the feasibility of the project and create an initial concept.

SIOUX CITY — Middle School Mock Trial Regional Day, Thursday in Sioux City, saw the Spencer squads set a new record as all three teams competing — Mustard, Peacock and Plum — collectively finished undefeated at 6-0.

First place finisher, team Peacock, will go on to state in Des Moines; while the other two teams placed third and fourth, and even though they did not lose, will be done for the season.