The Spirit Lake Music Boosters will host the sxith annual Shake the Lakes Jazz and Show Choir Competition on Friday, Feb. 16 and Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts, located at 612 28th Street, Spirit Lake.

More than 50 groups will perform over the two-day event which showcases school groups from Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

State Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) welcomed a group representing the Family Development and Self-Sufficiency program to the Iowa House on Thursday, Jan. 25.

Minor injuries reported in highway crash

The Dickinson County Sheriff's Office investigated a two vehicle accident which occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22 along Highway 9 west of Spirit Lake.

Are you a person who enjoys puzzling? Maybe you have put together every single puzzle from your supply. Or perhaps you would like to put together a puzzle in the peace and quiet of the library. Come to the Spirit Lake Public Library, and we can help you out with all of the above.

MML’s Blind Date with a book is back. All you will know is the genre and some written information. It could be a little bit funny, a little bit sad, or make you a bit glad to have picked it up. You will either tell everybody this is your book or you are never ever getting it again. A bookmark is located in each book. Return the completed bookmark to the library to be placed into a drawing. Drawing prizes are sponsored by the Friends of the Milford Library.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and Dickinson County Public Health has important information to share that can help those in our county. This year the American Cancer Society expects there will be roughly 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer in the United States and that about 4,360 women will die from it. Most women are diagnosed with cervical cancer between ages 35 and 44, although 20 percent of diagnoses are in women over age 65.

Lux named to Mount Mercy University's fall 2023 dean's list
 
Annie Lux of Spirit Lake was recently named to Mount Mercy University's fall 2023 dean's list. Students with a semester grade point average of 3.60 or better and who are graded for six or more semester hours are eligible for inclusion on the dean's list.

Bower named to fall dean’s list at Nebraska

LRH audit report released

Lakes Regional Healthcare recently received its audited financial results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. LRH ended the year with a net loss of $70,972, which was a 0.1 percent negative margin from operations. LRH’s cash and unrestricted investments were $35,858,813.

Nearly 300 people took a plunge into the ice-cold waters of West Okoboji as part of the 44th annual University of Okoboji Winter Games held this past weekend on the Iowa Great Lakes. The polar plunge is held annually to raise funds for Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue. (Photos by Matt Heinrichs)

Final arguments over Summit Carbon Solutions’ pipeline permit have concluded, and the Iowa Utilities Board is set to decide whether to approve the controversial project.

Summit says its expansive carbon dioxide pipeline system in Iowa would benefit the public economically and by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Because of that, eminent domain should be used to acquire land easements to build it, the company argues.

The Iowa Republican Party on Jan. 24 released the official allocation numbers of delegates for the party’s presidential nomination at the 2024 Republican National Convention.

•Grieving family shares son's story to shine spotlight on mental health

Angie Ove of Spirit Lake says she's still finding scraps of paper around her home, each bearing lyrics written by her son Lucas — an aspiring hip-hop musician and local alumnus who took his own life last month at the age of 23.

Officials with Summit Carbon Solutions encouraged Dickinson County officials to hold off on passing a proposed zoning ordinance which Summit says would leave little if any room to construct its proposed carbon pipeline. The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors took no formal action following Summit's update Tuesday, and approval of the ordinance is expected to be on the board's Feb. 13 agenda.

•Mild December can't deter Lakes Area tradition

Frosted festivities are once again at hand in the Iowa Great Lakes as the 44th annual University of Okoboji Winter Games draw ever nearer. This year's games are scheduled for Jan. 25-28, and the 2024 schedule is as packed as ever with events and activities for the public to enjoy.