Saugstad to speak at ILUUF

Allan Saugstad will preside over the April 28 Iowa Lakes Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hybrid service. His message is entitled “Liberal Christianity.”      

A pair of local students are to be awarded scholarships from the Grand Lodge of Iowa, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. A statement from the lodge said Okoboji High School student Emily Quanbeck will receive a $5,000 scholarship, and Spirit Lake High School student Fran Travis will receive a $2,500 scholarship. A total of 26 high school students were selected from a pool of 335 across Iowa to recieve the scholarship funds, according to the lodge.

Volunteers Week is from April 22-26, and Lakes Regional Healthcare is celebrating and extending gratitude to the individuals who dedicate their time and talents to support the organization’s patients, visitors and staff.

Volunteers at LRH take on a wide variety of tasks, from hospice care and hospital operations to offering critical Medicare guidance.

 Join Arnolds Park Public Library, Milford Memorial Library and the Spirit Lake Public Library at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 at the Milford Community Center for a presentation on the History of the University of Okoboji. Learn how this mythical university came to be and what they continue to do for our community. This is a free event and no registration required. Refreshments will be provided.

The Okoboji School Board unanimously approved a proposal to seek voter approval for a bond in the upcoming November 2024 election.

Northwest Iowa Retired Senior Volunteer Program recently announced the renewal of an AmeriCorps grant, ensuring three more years of funding for the local RSVP Program and a continued partnership with Iowa Lakes Community College. The college has been Northwest Iowa RSVP's local sponsor of  since 1977.

The Okoboji Education Association has been granted $1,500 via three Community Outreach Grants from the Iowa State Education Association. ISEA President Mike Beranek said the organization was honored to join the Okoboji Education Association in its efforts.

Van Meter teen accused of recording girls changing at local show choir event

    It’s time to garden! Hopefully you’ve been doing your plotting and planning while the earth has been sleeping this winter. But even if you are just starting to think about digging in the soil, it’s not too late. The Spirit Lake Public Library has a diverse selection of gardening books for you to check out.

The Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis Club will be sponsoring and hosting the 2024 Live Healthy Iowa Kids Track Championships Thursday, May 16. Check in starts at 3:30 p.m. while the events begin at 3:45. All area boys and girls ages 7-12 are invited to participate. Students from surrounding communities who are not enrolled in these school districts are also invited to attend. First and second place athletes in the meet will advance to the state championships in Marshalltown on Saturday, June 1.

The newest draft of proposed zoning changes related to local wind turbine development is heading back to the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors for approval.

The Heerde Family of Spirit Lake recently provided local nonprofit Hope Haven with a farm estate gift of approximately $2.5 million. The nonprofit held a ceremony Thursday, April 11 to recognize the family's sizable contribution.

The Milford Police Department was dispatched to the 3200 block of Highway 71 in Milford at approximately 4:33 p.m., Wednesday April 10 in regards to a car accident. An investigation made on scene determined that a 2012 Chevy Captiva driven by 61-year-old Gary De Wolf of Milford was following a 2015 Hyundai Tucson driven by ​​23-year-old Kassandra Toben. Toben slowed to turn when De Wolf struck the vehicle from behind.

The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors gave final approval this week to establish county zoning ordinances for hazardous liquid pipelines.

Organizers recently announced this year's keynote speakers scheduled for Saturday, August 10 at Preservation Plaza Green Space in Arnolds Park along the shores of West Lake Okoboji.

Two more pieces of the puzzle have come together for this year's Okoboji Blue Water Festival.