The Spencer Daily Reporter

11/14/2025

Toby Shine

Graveside services for Toby Shine, 82, of Milford, will be conducted at 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at Riverside Cemetery, of Spencer. Rabbi Meir Goldstein will officiate the service. Shine passed away Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at Spencer Hospital. A gathering and luncheon at Shine Brothers Corporation, 225 10th Ave. SE, in Spencer. Warner Funeral Home, of Spencer, is in charge of arrangements.

11/14/2025

William “Bill” Allen Hartig

Funeral services for William “Bill” Allen Hartig, 83, of Spencer, will be Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Hope Reformed Church in Spencer. Visitation will be Sunday from 4-6 p.m. at Warner Chapel in Spencer. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. Hartig passed away Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at home.

11/14/2025

Cara Gerlock and Beth Halverson co-direct “Footloose,” the Spencer High School drama and music department’s fall musical, debuting Friday at 7 p.m. on the Larry Untiet Auditorium stage. The show will continue with shows at 7 p.m., Saturday, and a 2 p.m. matinee, Sunday.

The show, which has been on the big screen twice and on the live stage, includes an Oscar- and Tony-nominated top 40 score, with new songs as well.

READ MORE: https://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/articles/news-spencerreporter-2/everybody-cut-footloose/?pubid=spencerreporter

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11/13/2025

Rehearsals have started for this year’s presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

The “Messiah” was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1741. Its text comes from the King James Bible and is thought to be compiled by Charles Jennens. It also uses text from the Book of Psalms from the Book of Common Prayer. The three-part structure of the work is similar to Handel’s three-act operas, with the “parts” subdivided into “scenes.” Each scene is a collection of individual numbers or “movements” which take the form of recitatives, arias and choruses. There are two instrumental numbers.

Area singers can join the rehearsals on Sundays, at 6 p.m., at the church. Copies of the Messiah are available for purchase at the rehearsals. Additional information can be found on Facebook at “Spencer Messiah.”

READ MORE: https://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/articles/news-spencerreporter-2/messiah-moments-based-on-the-bible-2/?pubid=spencerreporter

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11/12/2025

Spencer’s cemeteries were included in several historic restoration and preservation projects by the Romanzo A. Coates Questers Club and Bob Rose, enhancing Riverside Cemetery on West Fourth Street and Northlawn Memorial Park Cemetery on North Grand Avenue.

One project involved the purchase of metal benches for the Riverside Cemetery Mausoleum, which is currently in the application process of being named to the National Historic Registry. The Riverside Cemetery Mausoleum, built in 1918, also underwent extensive cleaning of the stone floors this past summer.

READ MORE: https://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/articles/news-spencerreporter-2/questers-rose-donate-toward-spencer-cemetery-upgrades/?pubid=spencerreporter

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11/11/2025

A benefit supper and silent auction will be conducted Sunday, Nov. 16, for Doug Johnson, who was involved in a serious accident this summer, from 5-7 p.m., at Faith Pentecostal Church in south Spencer.

Marv Smith, organizer of the event, said, “My family decided to do something to raise money for Doug’s medical expenses.”

Johnson was on his motorcycle on July 15 when a collision fractured his neck and back while also breaking his foot and hand. Since the incident, his hospital bills have surpassed $300,000.

READ MORE: https://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/articles/news-spencerreporter-2/helping-out-a-friend/?pubid=spencerreporter

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11/06/2025

UPDATED: 8 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11:
All 47 of the families the Spencer Reporter was asked to assist in the Upper Des Moines Opportunities Holiday Adoption Program have been adopted. Please watch the Reporter and the Reporter's page for information about dropping off gifts.
If you are interested in adopting a family but missed out on the ones given to the Reporter, please contact Upper Des Moines Opportunities to see if there are others available through that group or other volunteer groups that are assisting.
There are many people who are involved in this wonderful program, and the Reporter is just one that helps.
Thanks to everyone who has decided to make the holidays brighter for local families, regardless of whether it was an adoption through the Reporter or other organizations.

11/05/2025

Clay County Contested Races

Fostoria At-large Council (3)
Rich Menken - 31
Linda Linn - 32
Aaron Rutter - 31
Jerrod Arrowood - 10

Greenville At-large Council (5)
Barb Trierweiler - 18
Kayla Koch - 17
Nicole R. Lange - 13
Lisa Arthur - 28
McKinley Koch - 9
April Marx - 24
Vincent S. Trierweiler - 22

Webb At-large Council (3)
Cavon Riley - 22
Connie L Sylvester - 20
Christian Sylvester - 20
Trudy Ganzevoort - 14

Ruthven-Ayrshire School Board (3)
Emily Grange - 9
Melissa Horst - 3
Jaime Dodd - 7
Amy Loder - 8

Sioux Central Public Measure CJ
Yes - 105
No - 75

11/05/2025

Final Voting Results

Clay County Public Measure EQ - EMS
Yes - 1,604 - 61%
No - 1,022 - 39%

Spencer Mayor
Donavan Wunschel - 1,383
Ron Hanson - 566

Spencer At-large Council
Bradley Allen Bolyard - 135
Brian J. Balk - 623
Becky Peterson - 1,148

Spencer Ward 1
Tom Nelson - 237

Spencer Ward 3
Tracey Larsen - 154
Amy Moser - 246

Spencer Ward 5
Chuck Illg - 358

Spencer Hospital Trustee
Lawrence S. Harden - 1,290
Amanda Bare - 1,514

Spencer School Board
Chad Irvine - 1,392
Shelby Haak - 1,555
Bob Whittenburg - 1,487

11/05/2025

Early Voting Results with absentees counted

Clay County Public Measure EQ - EMS
Yes - 346
No - 218

Spencer Mayor
Donavan Wunschel - 364
Ron Hanson - 144

Spencer At-large Council
Bradley Allen Bolyard - 31
Brian J. Balk - 192
Becky Peterson - 272

Spencer Ward 1
Tom Nelson - 73

Spencer Ward 3
Tracey Larsen - 37
Amy Moser - 54

Spencer Ward 5
Chuck Illg - 112

Spencer Hospital Trustee
Lawrence S. Harden - 347
Amanda Bare - 405

Spencer School Board
Chad Irvine - 379
Shelby Haak - 411
Bob Whittenburg - 413

11/02/2025

11/01/2025