Every Monday and Friday — 1 p.m.

Geri-Fit: Senior Chair Fitness — Limited space available.

Dec. 1-31 — December Reading Round-up

Adult Reading Wrap-up: Beanstack Reading Challenge

Jan. 1 to Feb. 28

Farmers Trust and Savings Bank announced the addition of Alexis McCallum to its team as a real estate lending assistant. She brings a customer-first approach to the role. McCallum will be part of a team responsible for streamlining the lending process, supporting borrowers throughout their home-buying journey, and ensuring efficient communication between clients, lenders and real estate professionals.

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors visited FNIC Insurance, Thursday, for the company’s grand reopening. Dave Jacobsen and his team have been working from home since the flood and are thrilled to be back in their offices again now that renovations are finished. The FNIC office downsized and moved from the east side of the building to the west, taking over the former St. Croix office space.

The Spencer Community School Board has approved a plan that would see the district join what would become a 16-member Siouxland Athletic Conference.

The City of Spencer might become the first community to integrate real-time flood monitoring data from the Iowa Flood Center into its new city app.

The 2024 Michael Rohan Memorial Fund raffle quilt winner is Jill Larson, of Spencer. She was very excited to receive the phone call that she won this year's quilt and received the quilt a couple days after. This funds raised from the quilt auction is a small part of what keeps Michael's Fund able to keep providing swimming lessons for children and grandchildren. (Photo submitted)

The Okoboji School District Board of Eduction on Wednesday reached an agreement with Alburnett Superintendent Will Dible to be the Milford-based school’s next lead administrator. Pending board approval Jan. 8, Dible will succeed Todd Abrahamson who has guided the Okoboji School District since the 2016-17 school year.

Dible will officially begin his new role on July 1. He graduated from Okoboji High School in 2004.

Monday afternoon, Spencer Fire & Rescue responded to a call about a house fire at 1710 Fourth Ave. W.

Sixteen firefighters and five emergency vehicles answered the at 4:54 p.m. along with five Spencer Police Department officers and Spencer Municipal Utilities.

On scene, light smoke was showing, prompting the engine crew to enter the back door of the residence. They quickly located the fire in the kitchen on the stove and extinguished the fire.

Spencer Police Department officers will see their wages increase between 4% and 23% depending on rank and seniority under a new pay plan approved on Dec. 16.

The Spencer City Council has approved a plan to redirect $1.3 million of federal COVID relief funds from the planned West 18th Street bridge replacement and use the money for flood relief.

The Clay County Community Foundation shared its 2024 Year-End Report, highlighting its commitment to improving the quality of life for residents of Clay County through grant making, community engagement and strategic partnerships. The foundation’s impact has been felt across a wide range of sectors, from education and health to arts, culture, and local infrastructure.

The Iowa State Bar Association and the Iowa State Bar Foundation announced the winners of the Sesquicentennial Celebration Essay Contest. Held in honor of the ISBA’s 150th anniversary, this contest provided Iowa high school students with a unique platform to explore the impact of law on their lives, communities and the history of the state of Iowa.

In the Christmas spirit, the annual drives for the Spencer Reporter’s Holiday Family Adoption and the Jaycees' Tree of Joy bring smiles to faces of families additionally. The longtime traditions both receive support from public donations. (Above) Spencer Fire & Rescue and UPS workers volunteered to deliver items to homes last Sunday to homes around the area after loading the packages from The Depot on the Clay County Fairgrounds.

Spencer High School senior Lilly Gross was honored as the Spencer Rotary Club's December Student of the Month. Gross is in National Honor Society and swimming. For college she is leaning toward UNI or Iowa majoring in nursing with an emphasis in dermatology. (Photo submitted)

Iowa Lakes Community College celebrated the achievements of Carol Ayres Stueven and Tim Ireland, who were honored with awards during the Second Annual Convention and Tradeshow hosted by Community Colleges for Iowa on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Des Moines. The awards recognize the exceptional contributions of faculty and staff who exemplify excellence in education, leadership and service.

Both were presented with the Outstanding Faculty Award.