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With the presidential election remaining in the news for last several days, now is a good time to review the important election reforms recently implemented in Iowa. These reforms ensure all legal votes are counted and only legal votes are counted. Over the last four years, Senate Republicans led on policies to provide security and protection for elections and voters in our state...

The victim of a fatal fire in the city of West Okoboji has been identified by his family. Former KELO-TV reporter and telecommunications executive Dennis Francis Flanagan passed away Nov. 4 during the fire at the family's cottage near the shore of Browns Bay on West Lake Okoboji. The State Fire Marshal's Office was asked to investigate, according to the Milford Fire Department, but no foul play was suspected and initial reports from the fire department indicated the fire was accidental...

The Iowa DNR Natural Resource Commission voted Thursday not to create a rule that would have specifically kept groups of boats from congregating en masse within Millers Bay on West Okoboji. A group of about 20 home owners in Wahpeton submitted a petition to the DNR in hopes it would cut down on the number of boats anchoring or rafting — a term for tying several vessels together — in the nearby bay. ...

A pair of Spirit Lake residents were booked into the Dickinson County Jail Nov. 18 on multiple drug charges after police responded to a report of multiple gun shots. Spirit Lake Police officers were called to 1502 Memphis Avenue Lot 23 around 10:26 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18. The address was listed as the residence of 28-year-old Shyanne Ranee Delgado in the subsequent criminal complaints...

The rate of positive COVID-19 tests in Dickinson County broke 15 percent as the month began, opening up the potential for local school districts to move at least some education online. The rate broke 20 percent Thursday, which allows districts to move fully online. Both changes would require schools to file a waiver with the Iowa Department of Education but, most districts in the county said they have no current plans to move classes online...

The Spirit Lake Fire Department kept a vehicle fire near the Spirit Lake Police Department from spreading on a night that would drop several inches of snow on top of freezing rain across on the Lakes Region. Spirit Lake Assistant Fire Chief Chris Hoerichs said crews were paged around 5:50 p.m. ...

Enjoy Iowa’s natural landscapes fishing Iowa’s rivers and streams this fall. A unique angling challenge is hidden around every bend. “You are never far from one of Iowa’s many rivers,” said Greg Gelwicks, interior rivers research biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Fall is a great time to give them a try.”...

Enjoy what’s left of the spectacular colors and cool weather fishing in northeast Iowa’s hundreds of miles of trout streams this fall. From easily accessible streams in state or county parks, to those found in Iowa’s most wild and remote natural spaces, there are plenty of places to catch rainbow, brown and brook trout...

Health officials in the Iowa Great Lakes are seeing a record number of COVID-19 tests at the Test Iowa site in Spirit Lake — and the number of positive cases have pushed Dickinson County past the 1,100 mark. Dickinson County has 1,121 positive cases of COVID-19, according to statistics posted Tuesday night on the coronavirus.iowa.gov website. The count includes a 69-case total recorded Monday, Nov. 9. Lakes Regional Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Jeremy Bolluyt said the Test Iowa Clinic in Spirit Lake set a single-day record that day by providing 328 tests. Local health officials say 11 Dickinson County residents have died as a result of COVID-19.

On New Year's Day 1960, 2-year-old Tina Marie Brandon was killed in an accident in Dallas. Thirty years later, she came back to life — or at least it appeared she had. In 1990, Deborah Lester was able to falsify a birth certificate for Tina and get a Social Security number, according to Colorado Springs police. Lester held Tina's identity for 28 years, opening multiple business, bank accounts and credit cards and applying for government benefits, police allege...