Following an interview process, the Spencer Hospital board of trustees unanimously voted on Tuesday to offer current Senior Vice President of Patient Care and Operations Brenda Tiefenthaler the position of hospital president. If she accepts, Tiefenthaler would officially assume the position later this year, following current President Bill Bumgarner's retirement.

“Watching the goodness of God in action is our passion,” Karen Liko said.

She and her husband, Emil, have spent the last two decades, offering prayer and ministry through their outreach, Roadside Ministries.

In early May, the Liko’s Roadside Ministries, a long existing missions outreach began making appearances in Spencer on the south side of The Commons parking lot, near the South T occasionally on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Upper Des Moines Opportunity announced the launch of the UDMO Battle of the Businesses Food Drive, aimed at rallying local businesses to join forces in fighting hunger within our community. The kickoff event is scheduled for Aug. 28, with the delivery date set for Tuesday, Sept. 5. This initiative aims to foster a spirit of friendly competition while making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and families in need.

DES MOINES — Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Raymond Wagner received the most votes in each of their political parties in Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s 2023 State Fair Straw Poll. Throughout the Iowa State Fair, more than 4,700 votes were cast for preferred presidential candidates at the Iowa secretary of state’s booth.

Northwest Iowa Counseling will be in a new location by the beginning of next year. Currently located at 20 W. Fourth St., the counseling services will move into the building at 20 W. Sixth St. by January 2024 at the latest.

Registration for the Healthiest State 13th Annual Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, is now open. On Wednesday, Oct. 4, thousands of Iowans across the state will participate in organized walks at schools, workplaces and in their communities. The Spencer walk will be hosted on the hospital campus.

The Town and Country Innovation Department will celebrate its eighth year of competition at the 2023 Clay County Fair, powered by SMU, Sept. 9-17.

The fair’s newest competitive department, which began in 2015, started from the back of every Successful Farmer magazine, specifically, the page headlined as “All Around the Farm.” After three successful years, the department has changed its name to incorporate more opportunities for people to exhibit their greatest creations.

With over 40 divisions, there is a bit of everything for everyone who want to enter their kitchen creations to win blue ribbons and cash prizes at the 2023 Clay County Fair powered by SMU, Sept. 9-17.

The Spencer Family Aquatic Center was open Saturday for a swim with the whole family — including the family dog. Hosted by People for Pets and the Spencer Family YMCA, last weekend’s “Doggie Dip” was an aquatic adventure for man’s best friend. All proceeds from the event went toward the animal shelter. (Photos by Celia Brocker)

First-time Clay County Fair vendor AgriBrink USA will be showing its tire pressure adjustment system at the 2023 fair by the Small Animal Barn. The system will allow farmers to change their tire pressure on the go as their vehicles travel from road to field.

Founder Jake Kraayenbrink and his family saw a need to protect the soil from high-pressure tires. Though tires require high pressure traveling down the road, the same amount of pressure will damage the soil on the field.

Iowa Lakes Community College announced two captivating third-age college classes designed mainly for seniors to enrich participants' understanding of politics and cinema, offering unique perspectives on democracy and films directed by Baz Luhrmann. Third-age classes promote life-long learning for individuals between middle age and old age and will be provided on the Spencer Campus starting in September.

Elderbridge Agency on Aging announced that its CommUNITY Kindness Project received a 2023 Aging Achievement Award from USAging, one of the highest honors presented by USAging to its members. CommUNITY Kindness Project, which is a volunteer project that does outdoor chore for seniors, was among 50 local aging programs to receive honors during USAging’s 48th Annual Conference and Tradeshow, July 16-19, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The 2023 edition of the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association annual tour will feature several diverse stops that should provide something of interest to all attendees regardless of their connection with the breed or the cattle industry. The event is scheduled for Sunday in northwest Iowa.

Another Black Tie Black Leather Affair, and another silent auction build by the Mini Bees, the children’s fundraising arm of the Shalya Bee Fund. Set for the evening of Saturday, Aug. 26, the sold out event will be hosted at Okoboji Classic Cars in Milford, with record-setting ticket purchases for 2023.

Arts on Grand hosted another installment of their Voices on Grand series Monday night. Assisted by the Spencer Art Alliance, the gallery welcomed four speakers and one musician from Clay County to share their stories with the community.

Monday evening’s program was the fifth installment of Voices on Grand, a program the art gallery started last summer.