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RiseFest to include Asbury

SHELDON — RISE Ministries has announced Cory Asbury will be joining an already great lineup for RiseFest 2023.

"We couldn’t be more exçited to have Cory lead worship at RiseFest 2023,” founder and President Rob Roozeboom said. “Cain, Anne Wilson, We The Kingdom, Ben Fuller, Crowder and now Cory. The festival is shaping up to be awesome.”

RiseFest 2023 is scheduled for June 9-10.

County levy rates decrease for '24

The Clay County Board of Supervisors approved the fiscal year 2024 budget and certification of taxes on Tuesday.

County Auditor Ann Baschke reported the countywide levy rate is approximately $9.8 per $1,000 of taxable value. The county levy rates have decreased by 10 cents from fiscal year 2023 levies.

“A decrease of 9 cents is going to be in Debt Service, and the County Assessor will decrease by just one penny,” Baschke said.

Trail project expected to have July bid date

Clay County’s portion of what will become a continuous trail running from Spencer through the Iowa Great Lakes Area is anticipated to have a bid letting date of July 18. Engineer Brian Schmidt from Kruse, Cate and Nelson — the engineer for Clay County’s portion of the trail — informed the Clay County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday the earliest the project was expected to be let out for bids was July.

County recognizes Child Abuse Prevention Month, Government Month

On Tuesday, the Clay County Board of Supervisors proclaimed April to be Child Abuse Prevention Month. The request was made by representatives from Upper Des Moines Opportunity — Jesse Hansen, KIDS Program director and 1st Five Project director, and Teresa Ball, 1st Five Project coordinator.

Tennis court project moves forward

A tennis court project at Spencer Middle School shared between the city of Spencer and the Spencer Community School District will begin construction this year. The project plans, contract and an agreement between the city and the district was approved by the Spencer City Council on Monday.

Odor control on west end of town delayed

City officials received an update on odor control from an egg processing plant owned by Symrise during Monday night’s Spencer City Council meeting. Complaints about the odor coming from the plant in the Industrial Park on the west side of town arose last spring, and this January the city gave Symrise until April 15 to begin eliminating the odor by covering its tank.

Potential speed zone changes on the way

Several speed zone changes might be coming to the city of Spencer. The city’s Public Safety Committee made a recommendation to the Spencer City Council on Monday night to alter the speed zones in three different areas.

Police Chief Mark Warburton informed the committee he had been contacted by First English Lutheran Church — located on East 18th Street — about putting in a school zone in the area to protect the church’s students.

UDMO Housing Program expanding services with HUD’s $1.4 million

The Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. Housing Program, in collaboration with the Iowa Balance of State Continuum of Care, will be awarded $1,491,339 over three years.

Basement fire costs resident possessions, pets

A basement fire in the 600 block of West Seventh Street, in Spencer, Wednesday, took 19 members of the Spencer Fire Department 1 1/2 hours to contain.

The resident of the home, Allyson Ernst, reportedly lost everything in the blaze, including her pets. Ernst was living in her mom’s home who was hospitalized at the time of the fire.

Seasons Center to host events featuring Golden Gate Bridge suicide survivor

STORM LAKE — On Friday, May 12, Seasons Center for Behavioral Health will host two free events featuring keynote speaker and Golden Gate Bridge suicide survivor, Kevin Hines. Both events will take place at King's Pointe Resort in Storm Lake.

Okoboji Blue Water Festival plans released

The eighth annual Okoboji Blue Water Festival, the foremost clean water event in the state of Iowa. Held at the Preservation Plaza green space in Arnolds Park on the shores of West Lake Okoboji, the free day is one huge all-day clean water celebration.

Naig, IEDA lead trade mission to Vietnam, Philippines

DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and a 15-member delegation have just returned from a trade mission to Vietnam and the Philippines. The mission, coordinated by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, included representation from Iowa’s livestock and grain organizations as well as other agricultural associations. The purpose of the mission was to encourage trade development, bolster partnerships and identify opportunities to expand export markets.

Local memoir writers to hold writing workshop

Local memoir writers Steve and Mary Steele will be leading a memoir writing workshop at the Iowa Lakes Community College this month. Titled “Who Will Tell Your Story?” the workshop will be available on April 20 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at ILCC’s Spencer campus.

“I really felt it was important for people to write their stories to pass on to their children and grandchildren,” Mary said. “I also found (memoir writing) to be therapeutic, and very enjoyable.”

Large turnout for library’s 'Lessons of the Holocaust'

The Spencer Public Library was filled with patrons Thursday night for a presentation on the Holocaust. Retired teacher and current member of the Iowa Holocaust Council Brad Wilkening taught his program “Lessons of the Holocaust” to library patrons.

Celebrating 50 years of service

The Hap Ketelsen Community Center was a full house Sunday to celebrate the birthday and retirement of Roger “Lefty” Ginger. After serving the Everly Fire & Rescue for the past 50 years, there was no shortage of co-workers and community members wanting to express their appreciation for the volunteer firefighter.

Sounding off in Des Moines

Last week, Clay County Attorney Travis Johnson spent a day at the Iowa Capitol, voicing support for Senate File 525, a bill which seeks to make several changes to criminal rules, two of which he claims of large concern to his office.

According to Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, the bill failed to advance out of a House subcommittee before Friday and is effectively and procedurally dead for the legislative session.

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