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Make your plans for the 2024 Okoboji Blue Water Festival

Plans are coming together for the ninth annual Okoboji Blue Water Festival, which is set for Saturday, Aug. 10 at Preservation Plaza’s green space in Arnolds Park. What better place to hold the foremost clean water event in the state than on the shores of West Lake Okoboji?

Co-chair and organizer, Greg Drees said he and his co-chair Julie Peterson are excited for this all-day clean water celebration.

Plea agreement signed by third former Armstrong city clerk

•Former mayor, police chief still scheduled for trial

A third defendant has pleaded guilty to allegations which stemmed from a 2017 financial audit of the city of Armstrong.

District 3 supervisor race to see GOP face-off in June

• Remainder of local races to be uncontested on primary ballot

The District 3 seat on the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors is the only local race expected to have a contested primary this June.

Incumbent Republican Jeff Thee of Spirit Lake has been challenged by fellow GOP member Stephen Dullard of Spirit Lake for the party's nomination.

The primary election will take place on Tuesday, June 4.

H-LP hosts War Eagle Academic Banquet

Harris-Lake Park Schools recently hosted the War Eagle Academic Banquet, which honors the top 5 percent of juniors and seniors from the conference's 11 schools. Organizers with H-LP said they were honored to host and invite all the conference schools for the banquet, which they said is a special night for the War Eagle Conference.

 

Youth in Philanthropy seeks donations to earn matching funds

The Youth In Philanthropy students from the Okoboji Foundation recently met at the Pearson Lakes Art Center to discuss the 2024 Community Needs Grant submissions. The meeting provided a platform for students to reflect on past achievements and plan for the future.

Bob Kirschbaum, director of the Pearson Lakes Art Center, shared updates on the center's progress since receiving a $65,000 grant from the foundation in 2022 for the Art Smart room, setting a tone for the evening.

Okoboji High School has successful large group speech season

Congratulations were recently extended to Okoboji High School’s large group speech team. At the district contest, 11 of the 12 events received Division I ratings and advanced to state. At state contest, the team earned 10 Division I ratings and 1 Division II rating.

OHS featured during regional honor band, Hallengren earns scholarship

Congratulations were extended to the 11 Okoboji High School students who performed at the Northwest Iowa Honor Band concert on Saturday, Jan. 6 at Morningside University. The concert featured world-renowned composers and conductors Aaron Perrine and Andrew Boysen, Jr.

Sirens 03-28-24

Brooke Nicole Judd, age 33, of Lake Park was charged with domestic abuse/assault at approximately 7:58 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 in the 200 block of Market Street in Lake Park. A criminal complaint said Judd assaulted her ex-husband "by swinging a backpack, striking him in the upper torso and facial area," during a child exchange in front of Lake Park City Hall. Judd was served a warrant on Wednesday, March 20 and was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 9:45 p.m. the same day.

Community Briefs 03-28-24

Campus Women's Club to host Easter Egg Hunt

The Campus Women’s Club will host their annual Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. The hunt will take place inside the parish center for three age groups — ages 0-1, age 2-3 and ages 4-5. Children should bring their own bags or baskets to gather eggs. Each child will receive eggs and a gift sack of candy and a toy.

Iowa Lakes introduces expanded HVAC Technology Program

The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees convened on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the Snap-On Conference Room within the Iowa Lakes Community College SERT Building in Estherville.

Nominations open for ABI's Coolest Thing Made in Iowa competition

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry and MidWestOne are partnering for the first annual Coolest Thing Made in Iowa competition. Organizers said the initiative not only brings attention to all the cool things made in Iowa, but also the outstanding career opportunities available in manufacturing – an industry that employs more than 225,000 Iowans.

Iowa Lakes appoints Ahrens as executive director of HR

Iowa Lakes Community College recently announced the appointment of Trudy Ahrens as its new executive director of human resources. Ahrens, who has been a part of Iowa Lakes since 1997, will officially assume her new role on June 1, 2024.

Milford Memorial Library News 03-28-24

Milford Memorial Library now has Iowa and Federal 1040 tax forms and the Federal 1040 tax instruction booklets. Federal forms and booklets are available in English and Spanish. MML will be charging for coping and printing tax forms. Blank tax forms will cost 10 cents per page and filled-out tax forms will cost 20 cents per page.

Spirit Lake Library News 03-28-24

The Spirit Lake Public Library will host the presentation “Hospice 101 with Gentiva Hospice” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 8. The speaker for the evening will be Christine Hindt. This will be an opportunity to learn about the history, mission and purpose of hospice services. Hospice, as a service, has evolved greatly over the past few decades. This educational program will explore myths and facts surrounding hospice eligibility and practices.

Tickets for ILCC production of Tarzan now available

 Iowa Lakes Community College recently announced ticket sales have opened for the college's upcoming production of Disney's Tarzan. The musical will be on stage April, 11-13 at the Janice K. Lund Performing Arts Center.

"We've been fortunate to bring together an incredibly talented cast from our community, comprising both fresh faces and familiar voices," said director Carol Ayres Stueven. "I'm confident their performances will captivate audiences, resonating deeply with many."

Groups seek to delay Iowa pipeline decision after expansion announcement

State regulators should pause their final deliberations over Summit Carbon Solutions’ pipeline permit so they can review how the company’s recently announced expansion plans will affect it, the influential Iowa Farm Bureau Federation says.

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