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2015-16 open enrollment information

Parents or guardians considering the use of the open enrollment option to enroll their child or children to another public school district in the state of Iowa should be aware of the following dates:
March 1 -- Last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2015-16 school year.
Sept. 1 -- Last date for kindergarten students for the 2015-16 school year.

The Hall falls short

With all the fun we've been having around here with blizzards, full on whiteouts and temperatures believed only to exist north of The Wall (That's a "Game of Thrones" joke ... it means it's cold.), it's nice to remember that other seasons actually exist, most notably, summer.
I don't know what you think of when you think of summer (swimming, camping, road construction), but shooting to the top of my list are golf and baseball.

The Perfect Fit

**Spencer ADs practice aid invention goes nationwide
The world's greatest inventions have all been created out of necessity. For some coaches there's nothing more important than constant productivity in practice. Players may not always have the most talent, but a commitment to staying on task for a full practice period can be the difference between winning and losing.

Ruth Siple

Services for Ruth Siple, 94, of Sanborn, formerly of Le Mars and Spencer, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Rev. Kay Hooper will officiate the service.
Visitation will be conducted beginning one hour prior to the service at the Warner Chapel in Spencer.
Burial will be conducted at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.
Siple passed away Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Prairie View Nursing Home in Spencer.

Walz family touched by community support

SPIRIT LAKE -- Win each day, hour by hour.
Joy Walz's battle with cancer has not been a lonely one. Not only has her family stuck by her side, but the whole community has shown support through words of encouragement, donations and clothing drives.

FEARLESS: Newell child prepares for transplant, chance for a healthy life

STORM LAKE -- The dark-eyed 5-year-old looks matter-of-factly at the older woman, who is holding back tears.
"You can't be afraid, Grandma," she said, "because I'm not."
True enough, when the nurses prick Aliyah to take her blood, she doesn't flinch. She is usually too busy giggling.

DVD drive keeps younger students in mind

OKOBOJI -- Jack Hines, Will Hoffman and Caleb Miller aren't losing days to doctor's appointments.
They don't have to stay overnight in a strange room next to large machines.
They don't have to watch hours go by without the comforts of home.

Police say Storm Lake Arby's post was fabricated

** Man arrested for angry Facebook messages
STORM LAKE -- Storm Lake Police say they have completed an investigation into alleged bullying of a special needs worker by other employees at the Storm Lake Arby's restaurant, and found that a Facebook post about the incident that caused great concern in the community was unfounded. Officers then arrested one man who reportedly responded to the Facebook post with threatening messages against the restaurant and employees.

Spencer K-9 Unit receives ballistic vest, first aid kit

In 30 to 60 days, the Spencer Police Department's K-9 Officer Mennox will receive a ballistic vest that is both bullet and stab resistant to wear while on duty.
The vest was made possible by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and an anonymous donation of $950. Officer Patrick Westfall, K-9 handler for the Spencer Police Department, said the special vest for Mennox is a "vital piece of equipment."

Diversity training to prepare city for changing culture climate

Over the last year, the Spencer City Council set a goal of exploring the culture of the changing diversity in Spencer. In response to that goal, the city will bring in Mark Grey, professor of anthropology at the University of Northern Iowa to present a diversity training seminar to the employees, board members and commission members of city works.

Tax filing season opens Jan. 20

There's good news for those who have all of their tax information gathered and ready to go: the date to file taxes has moved up from the last several years to Jan. 20.
"It's earlier than the last few years, but it's by no means out of the ordinary," said Gary Peters, a CPA with Winther Stave & Co. in Spencer. "Typically the filing season begins somewhere between Jan. 15 and Jan. 20.

Trout stocking postponed
Sex offender registry

**Cory Luong Baccam, b. June 20, 1989
710 6th Ave E., Spencer
**Michael John Blake, b. Dec. 23, 1988
505 4th Ave E., Apt. 3, Spencer
**Griffin Todd Clark, b. April 25, 1983
128 E. 1st St., Apt. 3, Spencer
**Timothy Dwayne Elder, b. Nov. 3, 1981
2200 W. 11th St., Apt. 3, Spencer
**Dennis James Elliott, b. Dec. 27, 1958
1202 McNaughton Way, Apt. 3, Spencer
**Kyle James Fueston, b. April 15, 1987
127 E. 21st St., Spencer

Ruth Siple

Services are pending for Ruth Siple, 94, of Le Mars, formerly of Spencer, who passed away Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at the Prairie View Nursing Home in Sanborn.
Ruth Arlene Siple, the daughter of Arthur and Eleanore (Hansen) Elder was born Oct. 9, 1920, in Parkersburg. Her childhood years were spent in the Terril area, where she attended school.

Jerry Tamisiea

Dr. Jerry X Tamisiea, 88, of Spirit Lake, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at the Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Spirit Lake.

Gene Merrill

Services for Gene Merrill, 87, of Spencer, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer. Rev. Paul Kaldahl will officiate the service.
Visitation with the family present will be conducted beginning 5 p.m. Friday at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer.
Burial will be conducted at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.

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