The Spirit Lake School Board unanimously voted Monday night to approve the final draft of its emergency response plan. The plan has drawn both support and criticism since August, when the board initially voted 4-0 to take steps toward training and arming up to 10 non-teaching staff members to respond in the event of an active shooter situation.

The annual Milford Holiday Fantasy celebration will take place later this week. The public can expect seasonal merriment at several of Milford's staple downtown locations. The schedule of events runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 this year, as the Milford community hosts its quintessential prelude to Christmas.

A judge's pending decision on whether to admit certain testimony and evidence regarding a fatal shooting in Milford could affect the length of the case's upcoming trial.

Attorneys are arguing an Emmet County jury intended to find a Rockwell City man guilty of a misdemeanor charge, rather than a felony, when they found him guilty last month of contributing to the death of an Estherville man.

American Midwest Ballet, along with Iowa Great Lakes Nutcracker, is excited to present The Nutcracker Ballet Dec. 9 and 10 at the Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts in Spirit Lake. Show time for Dec. 9 is 7:30 p.m. with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 10.

With the holidays right around the corner, the Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis‘s club always strives to ensure that families are able to have a wonderful holiday no matter what their circumstances are.

This year, the Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis Club was honored to donate $1,500 to Upper Des Moines Opportunity of Dickinson County and the Hunger Coalition of Dickinson County. Both entities provide food for individuals and families in need in the community.

Experience the timeless holiday story of "It’s a Wonderful Life" at Arts on Grand this December.

More than 70,000 women educators from 17 countries are members of the professional honorary Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Their mission is to promote professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. The 15 members of the Northwest District Chi Chapter includes current and retired women educators from Clay, Dickinson, Emmet and Palo Alto counties who meet six times between August and April.

Brianna Price, age 28, of Spirit Lake was charged with vandalism at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 near the intersection of 23rd Street and Highway 71 in Spirit Lake.

The first event of December will be Block Party for our Preschool Patrons from 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. It’s a nice social time for the kids and their grown-ups.

You are invited to Milford Memorial Library’s Holiday Open House from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 3. Join us for kid crafts (make and take or to go), Santa’s visit, Festival of Tree voting and treats provided by the Friends of the Milford Library. We are looking forward to starting the holiday season with you.

Okoboji city audit available

A district court has decided not to grant 27-year-old Allison Marie Decker a new trial in the murder of a Lake Park woman. Decker's defense attorney previously asked the court to reopen the trial record and consider what the defense felt was new evidence. The court heard arguments for and against the proposed evidence last month and even heard from some of the witnesses but ultimately declined in a ruling Friday to grant the defense's request.

Recently, Harris-Lake Park students in Heidi Tufte's second grade class had the chance to tell the Dickinson County News what they are thankful for ahead of Thanksgiving. The students expressed their thanks for many things, from family to pets and even veterans. Here are their responses:

I am thankful for the arme because they are kind, hlpfl, nise and loyel. - Emmy

The details are still somewhat fluid, but a number of organizations are moving forward with plans to establish a large public park on the campus of Spirit Lake Schools.