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District Court Judge Nancy Whittenburg signed off on a new trial date for Ann Marie Vanderpool who faces two counts of vehicular homicide related to drunk driving. She was originally scheduled to stand trial June 26. The new trial date is Aug. 28. The 49-year-old Milford woman entered a "not guilty" plea on April 11. She is accused of causing a crash that claimed the lives of 48-year-old Travis Mier of Spirit Lake and his 5-year-old son, Elliot...

The Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club is excited to announce the date of its second annual Boji Brew Craft Beer Festival to be held on Aug. 4. Twenty craft breweries from around the region, including our two local breweries — Okoboji Brewing Company and West O Beer, will participate in the beer festival...

Mike Butterworth is a Spirit Lake native and co-leader of Iowa rock band, The Nadas. The group, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is being inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and released its 11th studio album, titled "One Louder," in January. One of the album’s tracks is called "Henry James," written about Butterworth’s son Henry, who is living with autism...

The circuit of school blood drives ended where it should have begun Friday. Blizzard conditions caused Okoboji High School to postpone its March 6 blood drive — intended to be the first of three drives hosted by the county's school districts — but OHS students and staff were finally able to give of themselves approximately a week ahead of spring commencement.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and 10 agriculture leaders from across the state sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer urging him to quickly resolve the Section 301 trade dispute with China. The administration accepted public comments through May 11...

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory was founded by Dr. Thomas MacBride with the idea of promoting "The study of nature in nature." That was in 1909, but the mission remains the same today. Eighth grade students with the Lakeland talented and gifted group flocked to Lakeside Labs Wednesday to learn about the natural sciences and related careers from local and state experts during the lab's annual event, Touched by Science. ...

Many a high school student is told the sky's the limit when choosing their career path. Few take it literally, but about 75 students set foot on the Estherville Airport runway last week to do an academic surface check before taking off on their career trajectory...

Memorial Day traditionally marks the beginning of boating season in Clay County and the Iowa Great Lakes region, but some boaters get a head started hitting the lake as soon as the ice cleared. "Especially at the beginning of the season, everybody is so excited to get out on the water," Iowa DNR conservation officer Joe Yarkosky said. ...

Dickinson County Deputy Joshua Roberts and Lt. Matt Grimmius competed in the 7th Annual Sniper Competition on May 3, hosted by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in Hibbing, Minnesota. Deputy Roberts took first place, and Lt. Grimmius took second place. ...

The Judicial Nominating Commission for the 3A Judicial District has nominated District Associate Judge Charles Kenneth Borth of Spencer and Algona attorney Conrad Francis Meis to succeed retired Judge Patrick Carr on the bench. A total of six applicants were considered for the position...