Spencer, from page 1

then, they (the village board) had wanted to build a new hall and the old village hall (where the SKG now resides) would just go away. But we said, ‘No, let’s save it and use it for our youth. Make it a place for kids. A safe place for them to go.’” Looking around at the building now, Hoes said, so much has changed. Numerous handprints mark the walls, revealing just how many kids have passed through the SKG doors. Hoes remembers them all, and recalls the memories of seeing each child grow up rather fondly.

“There are handprints on the walls here of kids that I saw and dealt with at the school,” he said. “I know every one of them. This place (the SKG) has done very well with the kids. I’m glad we still have it.”

The Spencer Kids Group has continued over its 25 years of existence to serve and educate the children in the Spencer area. During the banquet, SKG director Erica Schober was also honored by the Spencer Chamber for her work over the past several years in her position as director.