The band students of Spencer High School and Spencer Middle School will be holding special performances next Monday and Tuesday. Two pieces commissioned for the two school bands will be performed by the middle school band on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the middle school and by the high school band at their Spring Awards Concert in the Larry M. Untiet Theatre at 7 p.m.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a challenge to a California animal cruelty law that affects the pork industry, ruling that the case was properly dismissed by lower courts. Pork producers had said that the law could force industrywide changes and raise the cost of bacon and other pork products nationwide.

Postal carriers throughout the region will participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger event, hosted each year on the second Saturday in May. Each year, the U.S. Post Office asks citizens along their route to bag healthy, non-perishable food items and place the bag near the mailbox for carriers to pick up. Items collected will be donated to local food banks. (File photo)

Students of the music department at Spencer High School were recently rewarded for their hard work and efforts this spring. The concert band received Division I ratings from each of their judges and mixed chorus received two Division I ratings and one Division II rating for an overall Division I rating. Treble clef chorus received a Division II rating from each of their judges.

Salaries for the 2023-24 school year were set by the Spencer School Board on Tuesday. In agreement with the Spencer Support Staff, the base wage and increases shall be effective as of July 1 and will remain in effect until June 30, 2026.

Economic development plans were a subject of discussion during a meeting of the Spencer Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday. Preliminary plats for the North Y Gateway and Family Dollar/Dollar Tree development received the commission’s recommendation, and the dollar store plat also received recommendation for its final plat.

In honor of National Travel and Tourism Week, the Iowa Tourism Office recognized Clay County for moving Iowa’s economy forward by contributing to the state’s $9.4 billion tourism industry.

WASHINGTON — Title 42, which Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, claimed allows for the expedited removal of migrants who have illegally entered the country, is set to expire this week. As a result, illegal immigration, Grassley said, is expected to skyrocket and border communities are already bracing for impact.

The cost for a culvert replacement project on Woodland Avenue recommended by the Spencer Finance Committee is projected to go over budget. The lowest bid for the project was from Peterson Contractors for approximately $449,000, which was $113,000 over the city’s budget allocation.

The Clay County Board of Supervisors has declared May 11 through May 17 as Law Enforcement Officers Week. May 15 was also designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice or been disabled in the line of duty. (Photo by Celia Brocker)

An agriculture field day hosted by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance will take place Friday, traveling from Spencer to Milford. The event will begin in Spencer at Chuck White’s farm on 1760 350th St. at 1 p.m. before transitioning to West O Beer at 3:30 p.m.

ARNOLDS PARK — The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association will present two showings of the Paramount+ documentary film, “The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean’s American Pie.” The showings will be at the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Arnolds Park, on June 3-4 — each day at 1 p.m. Admission is free, and freewill donations are welcomed and appreciated.

Two talented Iowa Lakes Community College students, Shelbie Hurdle and Lauri Myers, triumphantly returned from the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference held in Anaheim, California, from April 26-30.

The Knights of Columbus from Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Spencer, traveled to Primghar on Sunday to host an omelet breakfast in the town’s community center as a fundraiser for the Ivarson family. The five-hour event served made-to-order omelets, fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and drinks to an estimated 800 guests. The funds raised will be donated to Annie (Stoll) Ivarson and her six sons who unexpectedly lost their husband and father, Eric, this winter.