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Untied Way kicks annual fundraising campaign

The annual fundraising campaign for United Way of Spencer officially kicked off this week. Fundraising efforts for the 2023 Campaign Drive will last until Sept. 15.

Members of the United Way Board and leaders of several community organizations gathered at Grand Avenue Community Outreach on Wednesday. Board Treasurer Julie Weaver explained the Campaign Drive’s kick off takes place every year at the end of August.

Power not fully restored at local trailer park

Power is still not fully restored at a trailer park on the west side of town over a year after it was first shut off. Due to safety concerns for the electrical system at the park on West 18th Street, power was turned off last July, though power has been restored to some of the park’s mobile homes since then.

Sirens

 

CLAY COUNTY COMMUNICATION CENTER CALLS

 

TUESDAY, AUG. 29

Spencer cools down at Ice Cream Social

Spencer residents fought the heat with ice cream treats at Spencer Main Street's Ice Cream Social this week. After being rescheduled from last week due to excessive heat, families gathered at the Clay County Courthouse lawn on Wednesday for a scoop. Once they finished their treat, several outdoor activities and were also available for families to enjoy. (Photos by Celia Brocker)

FFA Day returns to Clay County Fair

FFA chapters from Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska will have the opportunity to participate in a day of leadership opportunities and a college fair on FFA Day, Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the 2023 Clay County Fair powered by SMU.

FFA Day will feature three specific activities — all free, including gate admission — for the FFA chapter members and their advisors:

 

Nonprofits make housing deal

Two nonprofit organizations will be moving into Spencer locations in the coming weeks. Discovery House and Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault signed an official agreement for Discovery House to use CAASA’s previous Spencer location.

Discovery House, a transitional housing service in Spirit Lake, will be opening its secondary location at 309 W. Sixth St. CAASA’s new location will be at 521 S. Grand Ave.

Gallery exhibit temporarily postponed

The upcoming exhibit “Highways, Byways and Pathways” at Arts on Grand, initially scheduled to open Friday, has been temporarily postponed due to some emergency building problems and repairs. No rescheduled date is available yet.

Local Kindermusik named top early childhood music education

OKOBOJI — Kindermusik at the Lakes has been named a Top Program for the third year in a row by Kindermusik International, the world’s leading provider of music-based education for infants, toddlers, and young children.

ILCC nursing grads produce perfect NCLEX pass rate

EMMETSBURG — In a remarkable display of achievement, every graduate from Iowa Lakes Community College's nursing program from the December 2022 and May 2023 classes passed the National Council Licensure Examination, a standardized assessment required for nurses across the United States to obtain their nursing licenses.

Get to Know ...

 

New Spencer teacher — Justine Kelley

High School math, Algebra 1

 

What is your educational background?

BVU undergraduate and GCU graduate.

 

What is your Teaching Background?

Three years at Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire as a business teacher

 

Any additional highlights to share?

Communication skills and problem solving skills.

 

SCT appoints pair to lead transition

The board of directors of Spencer Community Theatre have appointed Steve Deutsch and Connie Goeken as co-chairs of the Transition Committee that will be guiding the theater through a period of strategic planning for the future. Deutsch is the current board president and Goeken retired from the position of SCT executive director in 2016, capping off a 25-year history of employment at the theater.

Annual fundraiser breaks attendance record

Local nonprofit Shayla Bee had record-breaking attendance with its annual fundraiser at Okoboji Classic Cars on Saturday. The seventh annual Black Tie Black Leather fundraiser had 630 attendees contributing to Shayla Bee’s mission.

Sirens

BOOKED INTO CLAY COUNTY JAIL

Goodwill branch turns 100

Spencer’s Goodwill is set to join a storewide celebration from Goodwill of the Great Plains. As part of its 100th anniversary, Goodwill of the Great Plains has been hosting customer appreciation celebrations at all of its locations. Spencer’s location will host its celebration Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Special days highlight 2023 fair

There is something for everyone at the 2023 Clay County Fair powered by SMU, Sept. 9-17.

“Each day the fair is packed full of activities for fairgoers of all ages,” fair manager Jerome Hertel said. “However, some activities are scheduled only on a special day, which makes each day at the Fair a very unique experience.”

DeSantis takes presidential campaign to Spencer

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida traveled to northwest Iowa on Friday as a guest at Never Back Down hosted events. Several members of the Spencer community gathered at the Iowa Lakes Community College campus to hear DeSantis speak about his plans and policies should he receive the Republican nomination for president.

DeSantis insisted the United States is in decline, and over the next 18 months Americans will be faced with a choice in how they want to address the matter.

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