By Jared Strong - Iowa Capital Dispatch

The water at a Spirit Lake beach recently had the highest concentrations of bacteria detected so far this year at any state beach in Iowa and also an unhealthy amount of blue-green algae toxins, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Crandall’s Beach water last week had more than 100 times the amount of E. coli bacteria than the concentration that typically can trigger warnings about swimming at state beaches.

Butterflies, bees and even a goat will be making their presence known at Dee’s Bee and Butterfly Festival this year. The public is invited to check out the festival from 4-7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji.

“The festival has been an annual event in Dickinson County for over 15 years," said community relations coordinator Jackie Jerge. "I can’t wait to see the community celebrate with us.”

Members of the Operation Barnabas Group of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake designed and dedicated a special bench with the goal of providing a place for rest, reflection, gratitude and prayer for those who use the bike trail passing by in front of the church. The words, “Greater love has no one than this,” are engraved in the bench.

The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees met Tuesday afternoon for their regularly scheduled board meeting in Estherville.

Johnathen Dreu Lowery, age 35, of Spirit Lake was charged with domestic abuse/assault — first offense — and child endangerment at approximately 8:03 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 in the 1200 block of 29th Street in Spirit Lake. A criminal complaint accused Lowery of slapping his wife in the back of the head during an argument and said the incident was witnessed by five children. Another complaint noted the victim was uninjured. Lowery was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 9:25 p.m.

Correction: The article entitled "'Loving one another means all those in the world' - Community comes together to feed Ukrainian refugees," which was published in the Aug. 11, 2022, edition of the Dickinson County News contained an error. The article mistakenly stated the group of Ukrainian refugees who volunteered with The Lakes Project were residing in Cedar Rapids, rather than Sioux Rapids. Staff regrets the error.

 The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is again partnering with Kemin Industries for the ninth year of the Iowa STEM Teacher Award. Nominations opened Aug. 21 and will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11.

The Dickinson County Extension and Outreach is offering free hands-on workshops in September at the Milford Memorial Library. All classes are currently full, but there is a possibility of more classes in October. Brief descriptions of the workshops are below.

Sept. 13: Salsa Making Basics: Take home a jar of salsa you preserved using the hot water bath canning method after learning safe methods.

Morningside University recently announced its May and summer graduates for 2022. Elizabeth Stokee of Spirit Lake was among them, earning a Master of Science degree in nursing. The college bestowed degrees on 196 undergraduate students and 241 graduate students on Saturday, May 14 during a commencement ceremony held at Elwood Olsen Stadium on Morningside's campus.

Mobile Food Pantry returns in September

The mobile food pantry from the Food Bank of Iowa is returning again. The free distribution will take place from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, in the Good News Estherville Church parking lot. Recipients are asked not to arrive before 4 p.m. and to remain in their vehicles — do not line up at the door, because the building will be closed.  At the August Food Bank, 500 individuals (206 families) received 7,132 lbs. of food.

Correction Aug. 19. 2022: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the group of Ukrainian refugees who volunteered with The Lakes Project were residing in Cedar Rapids, rather than Sioux Rapids. The story has been updated to correct the error.

Community comes together to feed Ukrainian refugees

By Seth Boyes - News Editor

By Seth Boyes - News Editor

Some recent tweaks to plans for a large-scale public park in Okoboji may help preserve a natural rarity.

Lee Sorenson, executive director of the Dickinson County Conservation Board, said about 8 acres of what is believed to be remnant prairie was discovered on a northern portion of what is expected to become Sherwood Forest — a 72-acre public park on the former golf course once associated with The Inn.

By Seth Boyes - News Editor

Heavy equipment may have already begun moving earth at Camp Foster YMCA, but camp officials celebrated during last week's ceremonial groundbreaking outside the camp's dining hall.

The ceremony marked another milestone in the area YMCA's Igniting a Healthy Legacy Campaign — a multi-million project aimed at long-term sustainability of the local YMCA through facility improvements, debt reduction and endowment growth.

By Steve Weisman - Outdoor Editor

All day, all free and all about clean water in the Iowa Great Lakes, organizers and attendees felt the Saturday's Okoboji Blue Water Festival was a model for the entire state of Iowa.

The green space at Preservation Plaza near the shores of West Lake Okoboji became the centerpiece for the state's premiere clean water event.

Co-organizer Julie Peterson was ecstatic about the event, describing the entire day as incredible.

Representatives of both the Spirit Lake and Iowa Great Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce headed over to Burger & Co. in Spirit Lake Thursday afternoon to cut a ceremonial ribbon in recognition of the restaurant's new owners. Jason and Jordan Battern took possession of the eatery in July — Jason Battern was formerly Burger & Co.'s general manager and has 15 years of experience in the restaurant business.