Dozens of area farmers gathered, on Tuesday, south of Dickens for a “Combine Bee” to harvest the last 200 acres of their friend and neighbor Dale Langner’s corn.

In many ways, the gathering was a chance for Langner’s neighbors to say goodbye. Langner died last April at the age of 66, leaving behind his wife, Sandy, and two adult sons, Luke and Jeremy. But Langner had also been a fixture in northern Clay County for decades.

Spencer High School will present the new musical “Anastasia” this weekend at the Larry M. Untiet Theatre. The show opens on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.; with additional performances on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Nov. 12.

American Legion Glen Pedersen Post No. 1 Commander Jody Wilkerson will serve as master of ceremonies Saturday as regional residents come together to celebrate and honor veterans at the National Guard headquarters in Spencer. The indoor Veterans Day ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and featured speaker will be retired U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Galen “Andy” Anderson.

Todd Williams, 57, from Spencer, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He had previously been convicted of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in 2004.

BOOKED INTO THE CLAY COUNTY JAIL

A Spencer woman is set to be arraigned, on Nov. 20, in Clay County on four charges after Spencer police say she tried to steal more than $3,000 worth of merchandise from two local retailers.

Spencer Rotary Club will be wrapping up its annual Book Sale inside the Clay County Regional Events Center this weekend. Friday, the sale will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., book prices continue to drop and children’s books are free. The final day, Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m., there is no admission charge into the venue and books will be available by the bag. Funds raised go to support various Rotary local endeavors. (Photo submitted)

Workers started clearing the way, this week, for the first new business in Spencer’s “North Y” business development, a Kwik Star convenience store and gas station stop. The Spencer City Council purchased 40 acres of land southeast of the intersection of U.S. Highways 71 and 18 late in 2022. Soon after the city’s purchase was finalized, work began to make the land suitable for commercial development.

• Part 1 of 2: Part 1 looks at the results of a court case outcome regarding the death of Roland Taylor in April this year when he was thrown from his tractor after it was struck by a truck driven by Jon Hjelm. Hjelm admitted he was looking at his phone contacts just prior to the collision.

“How do you measure the impact of a loss this great? The loss of the head of our family?”

Fourteen percent of the 11,625 registered Clay County voters turned out to their local polling locations Tuesday to cast ballots in the city and school board elections. Among the various public measures on the docket, two involving the Spencer Library reduced the number on the board from nine to seven, and term limit from six to four years — passing with 76% and 90% respectively.

SPENCER SCHOOL BOARD

CEDAR RAPIDS — Doug Krejci has an eye and ear for quality music and arts. The internationally award-winning media producer, lifelong percussionist and theater designer has parlayed the skills he uses every day into a new line of giving back that takes him across the U.S. — as a judge and clinician to high school band, speech and drama programs. In 2021, he judged speech in Spencer.

On Tuesday, Oct. 31, a few members of the Sioux Central FFA Chapter loaded the bus to head to the National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. The chapter rode overnight to the convention center where lessons were learned, friends were made and career paths were explored.

EMMETSBURG — Iowa Lakes Community College announced the establishment of the Laker Cornhole Club, a new organization dedicated to bringing together students who share a passion for the game of cornhole. Iowa Lakes is the first community college in the country to join the American Cornhole League and establish a cornhole club. The Laker Cornhole Club officially launched on Oct. 10, and is open to all full-time students, including traditional and nontraditional students.

Teaching: High school math.

Education: I graduated from Dordt University with a secondary mathematics teaching endorsement and a special education endorsement.

Q: What is your teaching background?

A: This is my first year teaching.

Q: What are the strongest skills sets you bring to the position?

The Spencer Messiah Board invites the public to attend 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. The Festival of Lessons and Carols is presented in the non-Messiah years for the benefit of the community by area singers.

Allison Oyler will direct the choir in one of Handel’s most famous works.