For the first time in over two months, Spencer residents can see movies on the big screen Friday when Southpark 7 reopens to the public. Movie theaters had been closed to the public since March 17 as part of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’s orders to slow community spread of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. Reynolds...
DejaBrew’s last day in business in Spencer will be June 12. The coffee shop, located at 24 W. Park Street, announced it would be closing in a Facebook post earlier this week. “We would like to thank those of you who have shown us so much support over the last 11 months and especially that...
Gov. Kim Reynolds on May 26 signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency until June 25, 2020. As previously announced, the proclamation permits bars, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and social and fraternal clubs may reopen on May 28 with the same public health measures as restaurants in place. The proclamation also permits the...
The unemployment rate in Clay County climbed to 10.5% in April, showing how COVID-19 closures and related workforce changes have affected area jobs. April’s rate is a significant increase from the 3.7% rate in March. Clay County’s unemployment rate in April 2019 was 2.7%. Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend said last week that April...
A Mason City architecture firm will begin preparing design guidelines for the Grand Avenue Historic Commercial District. The Spencer City Council on Monday approved with a 7-0 vote an agreement with Bergland and Cram to create the guidelines. The discussion about the need for guidelines began, City Manager Amanda Mack told the council, after a...
The Spencer City Council approved the second filing of an ordinance that would increase residential rates for solid waste charges by $0.73 per month beginning July 1. The council will need to approve the ordinance for a third filing before it goes into effect. The rate increase is for one year as city staff looks...
DES MOINES – Today, Governor Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency. The proclamation permits summer school activities, including baseball and softball, to resume on June 1. And effective this Friday, May 22, Movie theaters, zoos, aquariums, museums, and wedding reception venues will be permitted to reopen with appropriate public health...
DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency. The proclamation permits salons, barbershops, and massage and tattoo establishments to reopen throughout Iowa in a limited fashion with appropriate public health measures in place. It also permits restaurants (but not bars), fitness centers, libraries, and race tracks to...
DES MOINES – The number of initial claims in Iowa, filed between Sunday, May 3, and Saturday, May 9, was 16,735. There were 15,411 initial claims by individuals who work and live in Iowa, and 1,324 claims by individuals who work in Iowa and live in another state. The number of continuing weekly unemployment claims...
Fareway Stores, Inc. recently announced a $200,000 donation to the Iowa Chamber of Commerce Executives (ICCE). The donation provided for $1,000 or more in gift cards to ICCE chamber of commerce members in the communities Fareway serves. ICCE distributed the Fareway gift cards to its chamber of commerce members. The Spencer Chamber of Commerce received...