Calling all Pokémon trainers! You are invited to Pokémon Card Trading and Training from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 15. Milford Memorial Library is excited to welcome Ryan Schmidt from Okoboji Sports and Collectibles, who will be teaching how to play Pokémon, how to trade and how to collect. Participants will receive a free pack of cards.

Lakes Regional Healthcare Foundation recently announced one of its annual fundraisers, Roses Just Because, has begun. They have teamed up with Ferguson’s Floral and Garden Center again to host the fundraiser. Individuals may purchase a dozen long-stemmed roses for only $25 and help support the area of greatest need within LRH Foundation at the same time. A selection of colors will be available; however, orders for specific colors are not available.

The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association recently announced the 20th Anniversary season of Rock the Roof. The Iowa Great Lakes tradition features a full slate of 12 concert/dances this summer at the Roof Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park.

Iowa Lakes Community College will offer a four-hour cosmetology license recertification class on “Styling Your Way to Greatness” and a two-hour law and sanitation class on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at the Spencer Campus.

Paityne Gehring and Faith Norris, both of Spirit Lake, were recently named to the deans' and president's Lists at Drake University. To be eligible for the deans' list, students must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the fall 2022 semester at Drake. To be eligible for the president's list, students must have earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the fall 2022 semester at Drake.

H-LP FFA to host blood drive

The Harris-Lake Park FFA chapter will be hosting a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 8 in the Lake Park Community Center — 903 S. Market St. Those seeking to donate are asked to call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: HARRISLAKEPARK to schedule an appointment.

Local DNR meeting cancelled

Area residents were battling Mother Nature once again last week when she decided to drop several inches of snow on top of what seemed to be the beginnings of a thaw.

A jury has found Steve Verne Titterington of Milford not guilty of sexually abusing an Okoboji High School student while the 72-year-old was employed as a school bus driver.

The jury reached its decision Tuesday morning, after less than an hour of deliberation.

"It's sad, but this case should never have gotten to this point," defense attorney Chris Sandy said during closing arguments. "Law enforcement should have done their job."

Jury expected to begin deliberations tomorrow

Attorneys expect to give their closing arguments Tuesday in the case against a former area school bus driver accused of inappropriately touching a student.

Defense argues allegations were fabricated

Testimony began Friday in the case against a former area school bus driver accused of inappropriately touching a student.

New legislation that was introduced in the Iowa House on Monday to limit eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines got preliminary approval Tuesday from a subcommittee.

“Private property rights have to mean something,” said Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, who is a co-sponsor of the bill and led the House Judiciary subcommittee hearing Tuesday morning.

Update: The Dickinson County Courthouse closed Wednesday, Feb. 22 due to weather, delaying that morning's continued jury selection.

Attorneys expect sex abuse trial to carry into next week

The Harris-Lake Park School Board received another update Monday on possible improvements to its school buildings — this week's update included rough cost estimates to help guide the board's decision.

County officials were glad to read a district court judge's recent decision regarding a dispute between an area homeowners association and Dickinson County Drainage District 45.