Stories from Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue crews are working with the State Fire Marshall's Office, but the group likely won't be able to determine the cause of a massive structure fire Monday afternoon. Firefighters were dispatched at 3:05 p.m. to 184 Park Place just southwest of the Central Emporium. ...

It's nearly impossible to complete any task these days without checking something on our cellphones, at least for me. Watching a movie, sporting event, TV show or even having a conversation without interruption from the tiny device is pretty much one of the most difficult things. I don't know why it is, but it seems like our cellphones have become an extension of our bodies...

Preparing for a RAGBRAI overnight stop is a marathon, not a sprint, according to RAGBRAI Director T.J. Juskiewicz. Now's the time to lace up the sneakers. The organizing committee for the Okoboji and Iowa Great Lakes overnight RAGBRAI stop is asking local residents to attend an information meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the Sami Center in Spirit Lake...

Friday's gathering of congregations will continue a Lakes Area tradition that goes back more than 35 years. Weekly nondenominational ecumenical services of the 2014 Lenten season are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 7. Area churches in Milford and Arnolds Park have been sponsoring the services since 1978...

Dec. 20, 1917 -- Feb. 17, 2014 A celebration of life for Melvin Bratland, 96, of Spirit Lake and formerly of Bode will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Interment will be at a later date...

Five people were taken to Lakes Regional Healthcare and damage totaled $12,500 following a two-car accident Monday afternoon in Spirit Lake. Police say 24-year-old Nicole Marie Hike had a green light and was traveling west in a 2006 Chevrolet Heritage High Roof wagon when she entered the Highway 71 intersection at 23rd Street near Lakes Regional Healthcare...

There's no such thing as an offseason for Treasure Village Creative Director Deborah Clark and Business Manager Linnea Lambert. While we are raking leaves and taking kids to homecoming week events, Clark and Lambert fit in time polishing three scripts for the upcoming children's theatre season at Treasure Village...