***77-year-old driver cited for failure to yield
STORM LAKE -- A school bus driver has been charged following an early-morning accident Monday as one Storm Lake school bus rear-ended another. Two district employees and two students suffered minor injuries.

GRAETTINGER -- Palo Alto County Sheriff's deputies charged a pair of Spencer men along with four others following the report of suspicious activity near the catholic church in Graettinger at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday.

OKOBOJI -- Expect to see a giant 160-foot-long snail crawling across the ice during the annual Peoples Environmental Art Project at Iowa Lakeside Lab during the upcoming 35th Okoboji Winter Games. The design, created by Ruth Wolterstorff, was selected as the winning image from over a dozen submissions.
"This is a real honor," Wolterstorff said. "I have been part of this event many times, but never dreamed I would be the artist."

The newest exhibit at Arts on Grand brings an unprecedented cultural experience to the local gallery. In cooperation with the Waterloo Center for the Arts, "Hammer Strikes and Stitches" includes hammered metal and beaded fabric pieces from Haiti.
"The metal sculptures are made from steel drums," said Jennifer Galm, director of Arts on Grand. "The beaded pieces are like flags, big fabric pieces with lots of beads and sequins."

The Spencer Family YMCA will conduct a free informational session on infant child care options in the east studio across from member services at 5 p.m. Jan. 15
Gretchen Hutson, Spencer YMCA child care director said the meeting is targeted toward expecting parents and those considering starting a family.

***15 in '15
<em>With a new year beginning, the Daily Reporter offers a list of 15 people, in no particular order, to watch in 2015 as they lead local developments and changes. This is the first story in the series.</em>
One of Spencer's most long awaited developments, Hobby Lobby, opened Jan. 1 and conducted a huge grand opening event Jan. 5. There to lead the store into the year ahead is store manager Ric Guerrero.

A list of 24 inductees including bands from Milford and Sibley will join the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association Hall of Fame on Labor Day weekend.
The induction will be part of ceremonies Sept. 4-6 in Arnolds Park.

**Booked into the Clay County Jail
Nathaniel McPherson Broadhead, 27, Spencer
Possession of controlled substance
Carrying weapons
Possession of contraband in correctional facility
Drug paraphernalia
Theft, fifth degree
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Jayson Nieman, 33, of Rock Rapids
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
Theft, third degree
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Lisa Marie Nieman, 35, of Rock Rapids
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor

When I first moved to town, almost three years ago already, Randy brought Gabe (who used to write for the paper as well) and I to a Hy-Noon Kiwanis meeting to introduce us to the other Kiwanians and to tell them a little bit about what we do here at the paper.

<em>Of the 45 percent of Americans who usually make New Years resolutions, about 8 percent of them successfully achieve the resolution by the end of the year. Over the course of the next five weeks, Take Care 2015 will look at local resources to help community members successfully achieve their resolutions in health, finances, education and employment, community involvement and environmental consciousness.</em>

Preparing and filing 2014 taxes will be a little more complex this year due to the Affordable Care Act.
Those who were without minimal essential insurance coverage in 2014 will have to make an additional payment with their taxes. While the federal government refers to this payment as a Shared Responsibility Payment, CPA Gary Peters, with Winther, Stave & Co., LLP., said it is basically a penalty for being without health insurance.

For this year's graduating seniors, one of the two new scholarships available is the Michael Fischer scholarship, established in the memory of Michael Fischer, who passed one year ago and who spent many evenings photographing athletic events throughout the district.
"The scholarship doesn't have a specific focus," said Michael's daughter, Sarah Fischer. "The scholarship asks applicants to talk about one of his favorite quotes."

Healthy decision making and following God's plan for purity is again the focus of Cherish Center's annual event: No Apologies. Dynamic and engaging national youth speaker, Jeffrey Dean will be the speaker for all the No Apologies events in 2015. Joining Jeffrey at the teen event will be comedian, Daren Streblow, and Improv group, 321 Improv.

SPENCER -- It is the responsibility of property owners to remove snow and ice accumulations from the public sidewalks adjacent to their residence or place of business after a snow event. A snow event can include blowing snow that causes drifting, as well as snowfall. In the Spencer downtown commercial district, 12 hours is allowed after a snow event. In all other areas of the city, 24 hours is allowed.

I haven't stepped foot into my office at work since 2014. I literally walked out the door, with a bit of a limp, around noon on New Year's Eve. And I haven't been back since.