Fifteen students have been selected to participate in the 54th annual Northwest Iowa Middle School Honor Bands Festival. On Saturday, Oct. 16, more than 300 seventh and eighth grade band students from 35 northwest Iowa schools auditioned for a position in two honor bands. Approximately 190 students were chosen through an intense audition process where they had to memorize eight scales and prepare two musical selections.

Services for Alta Mae Claus, 89, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer. Rev. Paul Kaldahl will officiate the service. Visitation with the family will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the Warner Funeral Home in Spencer. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.

Tuesday, at approximately 2:33 p.m., Clay County Dispatch received multiple calls of an active shooter at Maxwell Food Equipment located at 512 Grand Ave. Law enforcement arrived on scene and determined that the calls were fraudulent and Maxwell's had fallen victim to a "Swatting call." Swatting is false reporting an emergency to public safety by a person for the intent of getting a "SWAT Team" response to a location where no emergency exists.

Tuesday, at approximately 2:33 p.m., Clay County Dispatch received multiple calls of an active shooter at Maxwell Food Equipment located at 512 Grand Ave. Law Enforcement arrived on scene and determined that the calls were fraudulent and Maxwell's had fallen victim to a "Swatting call." Swatting is false reporting an emergency to public safety by a person for the intent of getting a "SWAT Team" response to a location where no emergency exists.

A celebration of life for Steve Dewitz, 66, of Spencer, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. A public gathering and time of fellowship, with the family present, will be conducted in the Ben Tena Room at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer immediately following the Celebration of Life service. Dewitz passed away Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at his home in Spencer. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established by the family.

Halloween festivities were underway over the weekend in Spencer. On Saturday, Hope Church hosted Truck or Treat allowing people to offer treats right from their cars. Gathered in the church's parking lot, trick-or-treaters went from car to car collecting candy, each car decked out in costume as well.

A new season for the Spencer Table Tennis Club will begin Nov. 4 and run through the end of May on Thursday nights. Three tables featuring open play will be available from 7:15-8:45 p.m. Participants may practice against a training robot. Spencer Table Tennis Club nights are open to all abilities, everyone is welcome. The club meets at the Fellowship Hall of Spencer SDA Church, located at 1910 10th Ave. E, call 712-262-5766 or 515-320-1545.

The family of Terri Muller, 66, of Hartley, will have a celebration of life service at a later date. Muller passed away Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, at Aspire Nursing & Rehabilitation of Sutherland. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

**Several events planned for Halloween weekend

After serving as the Spencer Public Library director for nine years, Mandie Roberts has retired from her position. During Thursday's board meeting, the library board discussed what the hiring process for a new director would look like.

The second revision of the proposed Iowa redistricting maps were released last week, offering a modified option to the initial release.
On Oct. 21, the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency released the second round of redistricting maps. The Legislature will be meeting in Special Session Thursday, Oct. 28, to vote the maps up or down. The first set of maps were declined by the Iowa Senate on Oct. 5.

The second revision of the proposed Iowa redistricting maps were released last week, offering a modified option to the initial release.
On Oct. 21, the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency released the second round of redistricting maps. The Legislature will be meeting in Special Session Thursday, Oct. 28, to vote the maps up or down. The first set of maps were declined by the Iowa Senate on Oct. 5.

The Spencer Chamber of Commerce announces the winning addresses for its annual Halloween House Decorating Contest. The winners are: 310 E. Second St., first place; 222 W. Fourth St., second place; and 419 E. 19th St., third place. Other contestants included were located at 520 E. Third St., 421 E. Eighth St., 928 E. Ninth St., 1919 W. Fourth St., 516 W. 10th St., 1315 Fourth Ave. W. and 1508 Kristin Drive.

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors paid a visit to the new location of Sears Hometown in Spencer, in the former Staples store at 700 11th St. SW, Unit 6 in south Spencer. The store, which is a corporate-owned location, is being managed by Shawnee Doeden. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Private family memorial services for Marvin Thuringer, 89, of Spencer, will be conducted at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery Columbarium in Spencer. Thuringer passed away Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.