•Question of victim consenting to alleged tasing left for a jury

A district court judge has granted separate trials for three defendants in a case stemming from a 2017 audit of the city of Armstrong, saying it is the court's duty to ensure each receives a fair trial.

On Wednesday, Jan. 17, State Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) welcomed staff members from Spirit Lake Schools to the Iowa House. Pictured (from left) are the school district's insurance agent Bill Cochran-Bray, Spirit Lake STEM and Business Partnership Coordinator Angela Olsen, Spirit Lake School Board President Teresa Beck (seated), Spirit Lake High School Associate Principal Josh Bolluyt, Spirit Lake School Board member Jeromy Mouw and Rep. Wills. (Photo submitted)

Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps will host its annual marriage retreat Feb. 9-11. The weekend experience, traditionally held near Valentine’s Day, includes an evening banquet, evening entertainment, a breakfast café, optional free time activities and sessions led by guest speakers which focus on creating and sustaining healthy marriage relationships. Activity options include a craft activity, pickle ball, escape room, outdoor options as permitted by the weather and more.

Orange City man steals truck from hospital after threatening father

The Youth In Philanthropy program, an initiative of the Okoboji Foundation, is embarking on a mission to raise $75,000, marking their highest fundraising target to date. Members said the January 2024 meeting of the YIP students helped underscore the importance of expressing gratitude to donors who have contributed to the program, as students wrote thank-you letters to acknowledge the donations made in each of their names.

Have you had enough of winter yet? Ready to learn a new language and travel to somewhere new? We can help you with that. There are two resources on our website that are funded by the Friends of the Spirit Lake Public Library — A to Z World Travel and Transparent Language. They are provided in memory of Sr. Cliff Hinderman, who was a beloved Spirit Lake High School Spanish teacher and a great traveler.

To access A to Z World Travel, follow these steps:

• Go to slpublib.com.

Did you get a new device for the holidays? Have questions about how to use it? Want to know more about the Libby App from the library? Join us for Tech Help Hour from 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, for help with your new device or help setting up Libby. Patrons will get a limit of 15 minutes of help if there are others waiting.

The Iowa Lakes Community College Music Department recently announced the results of the 2024 Jazz Band Contest, which was held Jan. 18-19 at the Janice K. Lund Performing Arts Center. Many local high school bands performed jazz classics throughout the competition.

Judges Rod Shedenhelm and Steve Citta scored the jazz bands based on ensemble playing, rhythm section, style comprehension, solos, improvisation and programming.

Local students graduate from University of Iowa

The University of Iowa awarded nearly 1,700 undergraduate, graduate and professional students degrees at the close of the 2023 fall semester. Among them were:

OST to announce 2024 summer season productions Saturday during Winter Games

The volume of applause at the mention of former President Donald Trump's name during Monday night's Dickinson County Republican Caucus was an early indicator of the results to come. Local GOP members selected the former president as their preferred candidate in the upcoming presidential race — earning more than twice the support as his nearest contender at both the local and state caucuses.

A pair of issues the public has been watching closely are making their way to the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors. The Dickinson County Planning and Zoning Commission voted Monday to pass along a pair of recommendations to the board regarding wind turbines and liquified carbon pipelines. The P&Z's recommendations are scheduled to be heard by the board of supervisors the morning of Feb. 13.

State officials voted last week to award $200,000 in Community Attraction and Tourism grant funds to the Iowa Great Lakes Trails Board. The funds will be used to complete the final segment in a trail from Spirit Lake to Lake Park — part of what's become known as the Tatanka Ska Trace.

Iowa’s farmland values rose again, albeit at a slower pace than the last two years, according to the annual Iowa State University Land Value Survey, but that wasn’t the case in Dickinson County and several surrounding counties.

Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation President and CEO Curt Strouth (right) visited Keelson Harbour in Spirit Lake and spoke with Keelson Harbour’s Community Director Kelsey Mergen about possible growth options for the facility, along with advice to grow within the community. Strouth toured the Spirit Lake facility on Jan. 11 with guidance on several opportunities the Iowa Lake Corridor provides for the area. (Photo submitted)