Three rural clinics of Spencer Hospital in Hartley, Milford and Sioux Rapids will eventually transition into federally qualified health centers. The action was approved by the Spencer Hospital board of trustees on Thursday with the hopes of increasing health care access throughout the region.

The Spencer Fire Department was part of a team that helped put out a barn fire in Fostoria this Thursday. The Fire Department received a phone call at approximately 12:15 p.m. about a fire on 180th Avenue in Clay County. Assisting fire departments from Fostoria and Everly, the fire was subdued and the Spencer crew left at approximately 2 p.m. More information to come. (Photo by Celia Brocker)

Fourth graders of Sacred Heart Catholic School and Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School received a special presentation Tuesday. Erik Erikson from the Spencer Americans with Disabilities Act Council stopped by Sacred Heart to teach the students about living with a disability.

“I love doing this,” Erikson said about speaking to the kids. “I don’t want the kids to feel sorry for me, I just want the message to be that it’s OK to be different.”

Historical video interviews part of Occasions programming

Occasions is now offering video interviews of Spencer citizens on Fridays at 1 p.m. The 52 DVD interviews are part of a project that LuAnn Cunningham and the Parker Museum produced in honor of the state of Iowa’s 150th birthday.

Feel the energy of hundreds of amazing student performers, representing 90 participating Iowa high schools, as they share highlights from their award-winning school musicals during the 2023 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase. Iowa PBS is proud to present an exclusive livestream of the full event on iowapbs.org on Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. A two-hour highlights special will air Friday, July 14, at 8:30 p.m. and be rebroadcast Sunday, July 16, at 1 p.m.

YANKTON, S.D. — Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota, is pleased to announce the spring 2023 dean's list honorees. A dean's list honoree at Mount Marty University is defined as a full-time undergraduate student completing a full-time load of graded coursework with a minimum term GPA of 3.5. The list includes Jacob Kueny, of Rembrandt.

The first place posters in this year's ADA Poster Contest were displayed at both Spencer Public Library and Arts on Grand after the winners were selected. (Posters submitted)

An official ribbon cutting and first donation with the Spencer Chamber Ambassadors on Tuesday morning for a pop tab house part of a No Boundaries project at Spencer Community Schools. The project, “Calling All Pop Tabs,” worked to create a Ronald McDonald Pop Tab House starting with the journey of KinderKids student Zeke Bieber and the No Boundaries team. Donation houses will be available the Spencer High School and public library. (Photo submitted)

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, production of next week's first edition of the Spencer Reporter will be moved back one day, and delivery will occur on Wednesday, May 31. The Friday edition will be published as normal. Please note that this will also be the case with the first edition of the week during the July 4 week and Labor Day week. Distribution will also be on Wednesday that week.

"Never let the words of the masses, or even your smallest groups, dictate who you are, or what you become,” Spencer graduate and commencement speaker Malachi Carlson said.

He cautioned, “Be cautious of what you perceive and consume from our media. A sheep follows the herd, and we are nothing like that."

Spencer High School theater department will participate in the 2023 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance Companies, in honor of the school's achievements for its November production of “Matilda.”

In conjunction with Older Iowans Month, the Spencer Public Library will be hosting an event providing free legal information to elders on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. The “Lawyers in Libraries: Celebrating Older Iowans” will focus on financial power of attorney, health care power of attorney, living wills and the Final Disposition Act.

After serving as the Spencer fire chief for seven years, John Conyn retired from his position on Friday. The retired chief has had a career as a firefighter spanning 48 years.

Conyn joined the Spencer Fire Department in 2016 after serving in Webster City, North Chicago, Illinois, and Racine, Wisconsin. During his seven years of service in Spencer, Conyn was happy to recall the growth he’s seen in the community.

Three new members have been elected to serve on the board at Occasions. Per Clarke, Vicky Treimer and Randy Plagman are the newest members to serve on the board. (Photo by Celia Brocker)

The long-awaited groundbreaking at the area known as the Spencer North Y took place Friday. City and Clay County officials, state representatives and project stakeholders braved the chilly weather to celebrate the highly anticipated expansion project.