The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce has drop-off points for the area’s natural evergreen trees and wreaths. Visit lots at Arnolds Park Amusement Park (seen here) and the Dickinson County Expo Building. (Photo by Russ Mitchell)

• Donations also have a fire safety benefit

The Burning of the Greens is a popular tradition of Winter Games, and the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce needs help to make it happen.

RECYCLING COMMISSION AUDIT REPORT

Winther, Stave & Co. has recently released an audit report on Dickinson County Recycling Commission in Milford.

The Commission's receipts totaled $149,814 for the year ended June 30, 2024. Operating disbursements for the year for business-type activities totaled $126,065. Nonoperating receipts totaled $985. Cash balances increased by $24,734 during the year.

This year Lakes Regional Healthcare Foundation will hold its 12th annual Grape Escape fundraiser to celebrate the advancements in healthcare in the Iowa Great Lakes and to raise funds toward future projects.

The event will be held Friday, Feb. 7, at the Roof Garden Ballroom. The evening begins with hors d’oeuvres and Prosecco and bourbon tasting upon arrival followed by three plated courses— paired with select wines — and prepared by the Hi-Lo Supper Club and Catering.

Learn about the evidence animals leave behind during the winter at Homeschool Ed-ventures. This free program offered by the Dickinson County Nature Center provides science and environmental education support to children ages 5-12.

Lakes Regional Healthcare offered congratulations to Madyson Bergendahl and Dakotah Fisher of Estherville. They are the proud parents of Tucker, Dickinson County’s New Year’s Baby. Tucker was born at 7:03 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, at Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH).  9 pounds, 3 ounces and 21 inches in length.

Madyson and Dakotah weren’t too surprised to have the New Year’s Baby because they had a planned c-section delivery scheduled for the day after New Years.

Does your child not have school on Monday, Jan. 20? The Dickinson County Nature Center is offering several No School Day Camps for grades 4-8.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the students can enjoy “Outdoor Day at Horseshoe Bend.” Campers will learn about Dutch oven cooking by using the equipment, making a recipe, and savoring the final product!

Troy William Coy, age 53, is set to make an appearance on Jan. 16 as the court considers a revocation of his probation. He was originally charged with third or subsequent offense of operating while under the influence, driving while barred, operating a vehicle without the owner's consent and two violations of probation for an incident occurring at approximately 8:52 p.m. Monday, May 27, 2024, near Highway 71 in Spirit Lake.

The University of Okoboji Winter Games unfolds each year over the last weekend in January and the 45th edition of the Games  take place Jan. 23-26.

Participants will find many registration forms at uofowintergames.com. For more information, contact the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber via: morgan@okobojichamber.com or 712-332-2107.

WINTER GAMES BRIDGE TOURNAMENT

The rain kept coming in the overnight hours of Friday June 21 into Saturday, June 22 and Dickinson County residents, business owners and parks officials woke up to major damage.

Homeowners scrambled to mitigate sewer backups and tourism slowed to a crawl due to high water levels in the Iowa Great Lakes. More than a dozen homes within 48 hours of the flood, according to Dickinson County Emergency Management (DCEM)'s Mike Ehret.

Voters in two Dickinson County school districts backed a total of $87.6 million in school construction projects in the last two election cycles. Dignitaries broke ground on a Harris-Lake Park Elementary School construction project in October. A month later, Okoboji School District voters gave a $69 million bond referendum 63% approval.

In addition, Spirit Lake’s Parents in Education group continues to raise funds for a $1 million elementary school playground proposal.

COMPILED BY RUSS MITCHELL

FROM DCN & IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH REPORTS

The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors continued to face a two-front challenge in 2024 as issues surrounding the Summit carbon pipeline and the Red Rock wind turbine project continued to pepper board agendas.

SUMMIT CARBON SOLUTIONS

COMPILED BY RUSS MITCHELL

FROM DCN REPORTS

Red ribbon replaced orange pylons at the end of a major — and majorly cumbersome — Iowa Great Lakes highway project in 2024.

Construction phases in March and September at long last brought the $19.6 million in Highway 71 construction to an end for motorists.

Whether it was wind turbines, pipelines or property taxes, Dickinson County voters seemed ready for a change in 2024. Incumbents went 0-for-2 as voters considered two seats on the five-member Dickinson County Board of Supervisors.

SUPERVISORS DISTRICT 3

The June 4 GOP primary was a harbinger for the 2024 election cycle as Steve Dullard took the District 3 nomination over incumbent Jeff Thee.

Have an announcement to share with the Iowa Great Lakes? Send dean's list honors, college graduation announcements, company arrivals, awards or promotions, birth announcements and milestone birthdays to news@dickinsoncountynews.com with the subject line "People in the News."

MILFORD’S KONDRATH AMONG GOLDMAN SACHS GRADUATES

MOBILE FOOD PANTRY RETURNS IN JANUARY