Latisha Victoria Mae Black Bull, age 24, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 5:24 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 on the charge of violation of her probation. The county jail roster later listed her charge as failure to appear/contempt of court. Bond was set at $1,000. Online court records say Black Bull failed to appear for an Aug. 3 hearing regarding the revocation of her probation after failing to maintain contact with authorities.

Join MML’s Open Book Discussion Group at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19 to discuss the featured book "The Day the World Came to Town" by Jim DeFede. When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on Sept. 11, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000.

Last month, more than 600 University of Iowa undergraduate, graduate and professional students received their degrees.

Bridge marathon to begin

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford will again host their annual bridge marathon beginning in September 2023 through April 30, 2024. Persons interested in playing bridge on a round-robin schedule are asked to call the parish office at 338-2274 by noon Friday, Sept. 8. This deadline will be strictly enforced. Cost is $10 for the year. A fun night is held in May to announce the winners.

The overall condition of the state’s two primary crops has declined precipitously in the past two weeks amid ongoing heat and dryness, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report on Tuesday.

There was virtually no rainfall in the state last week, State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported. The highest precipitation total was 0.05 inches in Fort Madison.

An Emmetsburg woman charged in the death of a young child was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at Friday.

Hannah Joy Priest faces a charge of child endangerment resulting in death — a Class B felony. 

Addressing mental health continues to be a major topic among law enforcement in northwest Iowa, according to Gov. Kim Reynolds. The governor made a stop in Lake Park on Thursday to speak with sheriffs, police officers and other officials in the region, and she said a majority of their discussion centered around law enforcement's role in responding to mental health needs and substance abuse — two issues which often occur together, the governor noted.

Zoning officials say no applications submitted yet

It didn't take Blurry Bigfoot Coffee Company in Lake Park very long to become a staple gathering place for the community of about 1,200. And the local coffee house recently caught the attention of Iowa's U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, whose office named the Blurry Bigfoot its small business of the week on Aug. 21.

Press and production schedules for the Dickinson County News will be adjusted next week due to the Labor Day holiday. Subscribers can expect next week's edition of the DCN to arrive in their mailboxes Friday, Sept. 8, rather than Thursday, Sept. 7. Staff will likely post the week's news and sports content online earlier in the week — hardcopy subscribers qualify for online access to stories at no additional cost.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are hoping plans for work at Gull Point State Park will get the go-ahead by this December, but officials said it’s too early for the project to have a solid timeline.

DNR staff hosted an informational open house at the Gull Point lodge Aug. 22 to bring the public up to speed on plans to improve several aspects of the park.

Editor's note: Gov. DeSantis also made a Friday stop at West O Beer north of Milford. Event organizers informed the Dickinson County News on Thursday the Lakes Area event was not open to the press. In an effort to include coverage of the presidential candidate's regional tour, the DCN chose to publish coverage of DeSantis' visit to Spencer, which was written by staff at the DCN's sister-paper — the Spencer Daily Reporter.

Kindermusik at the Lakes has been named a top program for the third year in a row by Kindermusik International.

Allison Antoine is a Kindermusik accredited educator and the owner of Kindermusik at the Lakes, which has been serving northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota since 2017. The Kindermusik Top Program award recognizes excellence in spreading the power of music and movement to young children and their families through Kindermusik’s curricula.