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Milford's MillStone Park receives state grant (4/16/19)The Enhance Iowa Board included a local project as part of $675,000 in Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants on April 10. MillStone Park in Milford will receive $82,500 from the state board, to be used toward the estimated $412,971 project. The park will be located at the intersection of Highway 71 (Okoboji Avenue) and county road A34 near St. Joseph Catholic Church... -
Land Mark officials announce major merger (4/16/19)Two of the region's biggest convenience store pizza suppliers are going into the food business together. Land Mark Products and Orion Food Systems on April 4 announced a merger that brings competing brands under one umbrella. Milford-based Land Mark's signature product is Piccadilly Circus Pizza. Sioux Falls-based Orion gives its convenience store partners Hot Stuff Pizza as an offering... -
Semi collision blocks Highway 86 traffic (4/16/19)The county's emergency communication center logged multiple 911 calls and traffic was shut down Wednesday along about a mile of Highway 86 after two semis collided. The past week's sudden return to frigid winds, ice and freezing rain played a major role in the accident, according to the Dickinson County Sheriff's report. No injuries were reported, and traffic resumed around 12:45 p.m. on April 10, according to Dickinson County Emergency Management... -
Seasons Center rallies to take on Compass Pointe caseload (4/11/19)With the sudden collapse of the Compass Pointe program, which has provided addiction and prevention treatment for the nine-county region, comes a rapid ramp up for the new provider that has stepped up to take on the caseload left behind. "First and foremost, it’s sad when another provider closes," Seasons Center CEO Kim Scorza said. "We mobilized pretty quickly when we learned that Compass Pointe was going to have to shut down."... -
Mostly smoke for Wednesday fire at Polaris (4/11/19)Spirit Lake Fire Chief Patrick Daly said crews responding to a Wednesday morning fire at Polaris were immediately confronted with heavy smoke, but the actual fire was relatively minimal. Firefighters were paged at around 10:15 a.m. the chief said, and entered the building soon after arriving... -
Compass Pointe to close doors April 15 (4/9/19)The doors were still open and clients were still being served Tuesday at the Spirit Lake Compass Point office — but staff members at the Dickinson County location are scrambling after a Tuesday afternoon conference call among Compass Pointe board members. The teleconference resulted in a unanimous vote to disband the private, nonprofit agency. Compass Point provides substance abuse treatment and prevention services to clients in a nine-county area in northwest Iowa... -
Local veterans groups see need for younger recruits (4/9/19)Storm damage from last fall has caused some American Legion members in Dickinson County to consider giving up their post – close to 100 years after the national organization's founding. "Our building was damaged beyond repair in that storm in September, so we don't really know what we're going to be doing," Dennis Jackson, officer with the Terril American Legion Walsh Post 432, said. "We may just disband, because there's not many of us left."... -
Rotary car drops after sellout fundraiser (4/9/19)One official on site called it the Lakes Area's version of Punxsutawney Phil. Indeed, the beginning of spring for many in the Lakes Area just hasn't quite arrived without the Iowa Great Lakes Rotary car falling through the frozen surface of Smith's Bay. The car slipped beneath the surface of West Lake Okoboji at 4 p.m. April 2 this year — a few weeks ahead of last year... -
Another bellringer (4/9/19)Members of the Okoboji High School Jazz Band triumphantly returned to campus Wednesday afternoon from the Iowa Jazz Championships in Ames, where the students retained their title as 2A state champions. The district seems to have a knack for back-to-back championships. In fact, the band has never taken home a first place trophy without following it up with another top-ranked performance the next year. This win makes for the third back-to-back championship in the band's history... -
Olympian Shannon Miller to keynote 15th Lakes Health Conference (4/9/19)Seven-time Olympic medalist Shannon Miller was announced Thursday as the keynote speaker for the 15th Annual Lakes Health Conference in Okoboji. "Going for the Gold" is the health conference theme for 2019. Programs will take place June 6-7 at the Arrowwood Resort and Convention Center... -
County agreement tees up future for Brooks Golf (4/3/19)An agreement finalized by the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors will keep things operating as usual at Brooks Golf in Okoboji. The county conservation board in early March announced the purchase of the 230-acre golf course, thanks to an anonymous $3 million donation to the Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County. ... -
Okoboji residents look for new homes after Sunday blaze (4/3/19)"Everything is bad today," Renee Evans said, as she loaded some of her belongings into a van Monday morning. A fire heavily damaged portions of her Okoboji apartment building mid-Sunday, and officials say the extensive damage displaced all of the residents. The cause of the fire was found to be improperly discarded smoking materials, according to Okoboji/Arnolds Park Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth. The fire department said five of the building's six units were occupied at the time... -
U of I team puts numbers to Lower Gar options (4/3/19)A team of scientists from the University of Iowa returned to the Lakes Area last week to share some of their findings regarding the Lower Gar outlet's role in containing local flooding. The Iowa Great Lakes Association hired Dr. Larry Weber, of the University of Iowa's hydroscience and engineering department, and his team to apply a complex mathematical model to the local watershed to better understand major flooding events. ... -
High-profile kidnapping case moves forward in Dickinson County (4/3/19)A Dickinson County jury may still be tasked with determining whether an Ackley man is guilty of subjecting his son to neglect and torture at the family's home in Hardin County. District Court Judge James Ellesfson moved the Alex Shadlow trial out of Eldora — and to the Dickinson County Courthouse in Spirit Lake — in an effort to find a jury that might be unfamiliar with the case and its details. Shadlow is now scheduled to stand trial at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30... -
Heartland Forum brings Democratic focus to rural America (4/3/19)The Democratic Party seems to know one thing for certain: that the road to winning in 2020 runs through rural America. Storm Lake's Buena Vista University became an intersection on that highway in the party's route to 2020 — in one of five Midwest states that flipped from voting for Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016... -
Growers rally for 'Farmers Bill of Rights' in Storm Lake (4/3/19)"Let's keep the country in the family, let's keep the family in the country." That was the theme — and words to a song crooned enthusiastically by the crowd of around 200, at the Family Farm Action rally Saturday in Storm Lake. The event pitched a "Farmers' Bill of Rights" and made it clear that members of several farm groups were fed up with their treatment by Washington politicians... -
Residential solar catching on in northwest Iowa (3/27/19)This article was inserted into the Dickinson County News as part of the Northwest Iowa Publishing Spring Home Improvement section. A wave of solar energy began rising in eastern Iowa several years ago, and is beginning to light up the western portion of the state today, according to officials with Simpleray — formerly Iowa Wind and Solar... -
Local experts suggest 8 ways to make the summer great (3/27/19)This article was inserted into the Dickinson County News as part of the Northwest Iowa Publishing Spring Home Improvement section. The snow piles may linger a little longer than we'd like in 2019, but a new season brings new ways to make a house a home. Some time-tested tips can help save time and money in the four-season climate of northwest Iowa:... -
Milford officials set to unveil city's newest park (3/27/19)A new park at one of Milford's busiest intersections may just inspire visitors to slow down and enjoy what the community has to offer. Milford officials and business leaders took a moment away from the hustle and bustle of Pioneer Days in 2018 to let the idea of a park capture their imaginations... -
Maye readies for Okoboji concerts (3/27/19)Years go by and miles add up, but nothing seems to get in the way of Okoboji's master of jazz and American standards. Marilyn Maye turns 91 at the start of April, but fans will still find concert dates in Minneapolis, Omaha and New York City on her schedule... -
Lake Park pool finds its niche in a county of lakes (3/27/19)The arrival of summer will mark the 46th season since community boosters threw Allen Arnold, Chief of the Lake Park Service Board, into the deep end of the new Lake Park Municipal Pool. Fortunately, water plant employees made sure he had a soft landing — the pool took about 24 hours to fill and needed some staff overtime to be ready for the July 11, 1973, opening... -
The rebirth of the Dickinson County Courthouse (3/27/19)The completion of Dickinson County's current courthouse is still one of former County Supervisor Paul Johnson's proudest moments — though he stressed he was but one of many who made the project a success. For Johnson, it was a promise made to the public and a promise kept by he and the rest of the county staff... -
Two family histories mix in local Coke business (3/27/19)"Come and see how Coca-Cola is bottled by modern automatic machines," read an ad in the Lake Park News. "See how the purity and wholesomeness of Coca-Cola is protected with scrupulous care and cleanliness." It was June of 1939, and seven months of construction on the "new" Spirit Lake Coca-Cola plant had been finished earlier that March. The building, with its product's unmistakable logo set in relief on the facade, still stands today along Highway 71... -
Queen II prepares for 2019 schedule (3/27/19)Today's Queen II excursion boat rides harken back to the late 19th century, when steamboats were relied on as a form of mass transit in the Iowa Great Lakes. Large steamers — including the original Queen — were commissioned to transport visitors. The Queen was ultimately retired in 1973 — after 89 years on West Lake Okoboji. -
$1.7M 'Pollinator Paradise' takes flight (3/27/19)The monarchs in Dickinson County have moved out of their butterfly house and into a new palace on the north side of the Dickinson County Nature Center. Kiley Roth, the community relations coordinator for the Dickinson County Conservation Board, hopes the $1.7 million Pollinator Paradise will call attention to the importance of pollinators and reverse the trend of dwindling populations. The project total includes a $1.2 million capital campaign and a $500,000 endowment...
Community
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Deadline for donated Habitat house nears (4/16/19)The deadline for applications to the Northwest Iowa Corridor Habitat for Humanity's newest build is fast approaching. The Habitat Board has set April 19 as the application deadline for families wishing to be considered for this summer's build. Applications can be found at Spirit Lake, Arnolds Park and Milford's public libraries or on the national Habitat for Humanity website... -
Spirit Lake examines light pole corrosion (4/16/19)The city of Spirit Lake has discovered some of the 30-foot street lighting poles in the city are experiencing issues with corrosion. Two poles came down in windy weather, according to Spirit Lake City Administrator Gregg Owens, and the city has an engineering firm involved to analyze the situation. ... -
'Easter Wonderland' to benefit local Humane Society (4/16/19)The Easter Bunny will be in town on Saturday, April 20, hiding thousands of candy filled eggs for children to find at an Easter Wonderland event in Spirit Lake. The gate to Easter Wonderland will open at 12:30 p.m. and include various events for children ages up to 12. ... -
Dickinson County Nature Center plans trivia night (4/16/19)Good trivia, good beer and a good cause — the Earth Day Celebration Trivia Night promises all three. Support the Dickinson County Nature Center by participating in a free nature-themed trivia night with UpDog Trivia 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at West O... -
Milford Library News (4/16/19)MML’s adult craft series will help you create a comfortable place for reading with a "Reading Pillow." Join this class from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at the Milford Memorial Library. Registration for this event is required and the cost to participate is $5. Contact the Milford Memorial Library for more information at 712-338-4643 or info@milford.lib.ia.us... -
GriefShare returns (4/16/19)GriefShare is returning to the Iowa Great Lakes region April 22. GriefShare is an internationally-known video seminar series which features some of the nation’s foremost Christian experts on grief and recovery topics. This program features teaching that focuses on grief topics associated with the death of a loved one... -
Districts unite for Acceptance for All (4/16/19)Elementary, middle school and high school students from Spirit Lake and Okoboji and Spencer High School took part in the Acceptance for All event April 5 at the Bedell Family YMCA. The theme this year was "Peace, Love, and Happiness." Students were treated to lunch provided by Pizza Ranch, Chris Pratt with Frito Lay and Walmart. From there, each student was introduced and shared in the limelight before they watched and listened to Pockets Full of Fun ventriloquist Lisa Laird from Orange City... -
This week at Lakeside Lab (4/15/19)"Crowdsourcing" is a way to get a big project done through small actions by many people. Scientists are increasingly using crowdsourcing, called Citizen Science, to accomplish research. Dr. Lori Biederman of Iowa State University will share details behind Lakeside Lab's "Bringing Lakeside Dark Data to Light" project, including amazing discoveries such as the oldest bird discovered in the collections at Lakeside — a purple martin from 1879. ...
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This week at Lakeside Lab (4/9/19)The public is invited to free events on April 11-12 designed to bring awareness to a critical issue facing Iowa agriculture today: farmland transfer. The play, "Map of My Kingdom: Who is Going to Get the Farm?" written by Iowa native and poet laureate Mary Swander, will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. ... -
Milford Libary News (4/9/19)Students in preschool through fourth grade are encouraged to join MML's Youth Librarian, Miss Becca, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, for a fun afternoon of stories, a simple craft, activities and coloring pages. This month, youth will create a beautiful rainbow butterfly in excitement of warmer, spring weather. Everything is provided at no cost to the students, and there is no pre-registration... -
Arnolds Park announces 2019 Roof Garden 'Grand Opening Series' (4/9/19)Arnolds Park Amusement Park has announced the lineup for its 2019 Grand Opening Series at the new Roof Garden. To kick off the new Roof Garden, Arnolds Park Amusement Park will be hosting a Grand Opening Concert Series. Tommy James & The Shondells will start the series with a concert on Friday, Aug. ... -
Kiwanis donate to Cares Carnival (4/9/19)Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis presented a $500 donation to the Cares Carnival to be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Expo Center in Spirit Lake. This is a fun family annual event to help raise funds for Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault (CAASA) and Family Crisis Centers (FCC)... -
Inaugural Iowa Lakes Music Hall of Fame announced (4/9/19)Iowa Lakes Community College Music Department recently announced its first Iowa Lakes Music Hall of Fame. The event will include a banquet and concert featuring alumnus, Mark Lair. This celebration will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, in the SERT Facility located on the Estherville campus of Iowa Lakes...
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Winter Games 40 Concept Contest (4/9/19)The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber is already looking ahead to the 40th Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games. The Winter Games Committee is seeking design concept ideas for this year's games scheduled for Jan. 23-26, 2020. The design concept will be used on all Winter Games merchandise as well as print advertising, entry forms, social media, mailings, and website promotions...
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LRH to maintain ties with Medicaid contractors (4/9/19)Recent news about UnitedHealthcare's decision to discontinue providing Medicaid coverage in Iowa has caused some concern among Medicaid beneficiaries. According to Lakes Regional Healthcare Patient Financial Services Manager Pat Holdorf, several patients have been calling the hospital, concerned about their coverage at Lakes Regional Healthcare and the local Avera family physician clinics...
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Get on board model railroad fun (4/9/19)Model railroading is known as The World's Greatest Hobby. Find out why by attending the annual spring gathering of the Prairie Lakes Division of the National Model Railroad Association. Model railroaders and members of the public interested in trains and model railroads are invited to the event 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the Dickinson County Expo Center, 1600 15th St. in Spirit Lake...
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Spirit Lake Library News (4/9/19)Did you know … Your library has almost 70,000 visits per year. Your library provides summer reading programming to over 400 children. Your library provides outreach to daycares, preschools and senior living centers. Our community room is used more than 500 times per year. ...