A huge thank you to our book sale volunteers. The success of the Friends of the Milford Memorial Library’s Book Sale is due to your dedication and efforts.  We are grateful to our amazing volunteers for spending their time organizing, moving and selling the collected materials. The Milford Memorial Library and the Friends of the Milford Memorial Library appreciate all the work put into the book sale and we are looking forward to seeing everyone next year.

Iowa Lakes Community College was one of six community colleges to receive a $150,000 grant from the Lumina Foundation to improve and expand its digital presence and mobile outreach capabilities to better connect with potential students.

South Dakota State announces spring 2023 graduation list

The following students graduated after the spring 2023 semester at South Dakota State University. More than 1,400 students completed all requirements for a degree and/or certificate program, and those requirements have been verified by the appropriate college.

Katelyn Loring of Harris graduated with a Bachelor of Science from SDSU's College of Education and Human Sciences.

Mobile Food Pantry to return in August

As promised, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has appealed a judge’s decision that blocks the state from enforcing a new law that seeks to ban almost all abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.

The injunction was issued July 17, three days after Reynolds signed the measure into law. Because of that injunction, abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy is currently legal in Iowa while a lawsuit challenging the new law’s constitutionality works its way through the courts.

Milford's annual Pioneer Days celebration is drawing ever-closer, and organizers are busy finalizing details ahead of the weekend's official kickoff.

Susan Reiser, member of the Pioneer Days Executive Team, said the yearly festivities serve as a sort of homecoming for former residents, friends and loved ones.

"It's a time to revisit your families and have a town celebration to bring everybody together," Reiser said.

They turned over some new ground last week — new to them anyway.

State Archaeologist John Doershuk and his team of students discovered items both old and relatively modern as they completed a second archaeological study of the area around the Abbie Gardner Cabin Museum in Arnolds Park. A similar study was conducted by Doershuk and his team last year amid discussions of improving and preserving some of the buildings on the cabin site.

The Shayla Bee Fund recently received a donation from area youngsters. The children at Lindsey Borthwick-Brown Daycare hosted a lemonade stand on June 30 at the daycare in Spirit Lake — the Borthwick-Brown family received support from the Shayla Bee Fund in 2008, and the daycare happens to serve the Bosma triplets, who were welcomed into the Shayla Bee family in April of 2022. The young entrepreneurs at the daycare were able to raise $1,142.

The Campus Women’s Club will sponsor its annual Kiddie Parade Friday, July 21 during Milford’s 55th annual Pioneer Days Celebration. Organizers reminded the public it’s time for parents to start thinking about a costume for their child(ren). Line-up for the parade will begin at 6 p.m. that day at the Milford Acura Care Center. The parade will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. and travel down H. Ave. to Florence Park.

Dylan Short, a recent Iowa Lakes Community College graduate, attended the 2023 Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute, a weeklong experience focused on entrepreneurship and teamwork.

Jon Gunderson of rural Lake Park was named Dean of the 2023 Dickinson County Fair during the fair's festivities Sunday night at the Expo Building on the fairgrounds in Spirit Lake. Gunderson (right) was honored for decades of service to the 4-H youth of Dickinson County. Presenting him with his U of O cap and gown was Gib Zahren (left), president of the Dickinson County Fair Board. (Photo by Doris Welle)

Update: As of July 26, organizers have postponed Thursday's "Stroll Back in Time" due to particularly high temperatures. A future date for the event has yet to be announced.

A familiar face is returning to Camp Foster to help wrap up the 2023 camping season and provide leadership for campers and camp counselors moving forward.

Josh Carr is returning to Camp Foster in his executive director role, effective Aug. 7. Josh was previously the executive director at Camp Foster from 2008 to 2022, when he left the organization to pursue his calling of leading youth ministries at First Lutheran Church in Milford.

The Northwest Iowa Concert, directed by Rich Nicklay, will present its annual summer concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 23, at the Majestic Pavilion in Arnolds Park Amusement Park. This will be the 31st year the band has performed a summer concert at the park. The band is made up of volunteers from area communities, including Armstrong, Emmetsburg, Estherville, Ringsted, Spirit Lake and Jackson, Minnesota. Music selections will include marches, overtures, patriotic and sing-a-longs.

Jason Lynn Woodard, age 49, of Milford was charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, possession of a controlled substance — third or subsequent offense — and no valid drivers license at approximately 5:21 p.m. Tuesday, July 11 in the 1400 block of Highway 71 in Okoboji.