The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing to welcome bikers, beer-connoisseurs, and families to the 32nd Annual University of Okoboji Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 30. New to this year’s festivities is an enhanced registration option, which includes a custom U of O Oktoberfest bike jersey.

John Goede, with Century21 ProLink in Le Mars, was awarded the Emeritus award by the National Association of Realtors. Krista Stafford, executive officer of the Iowa Great Lakes Board of Realtors, presented Goede the award. The Emeritus award is given to agents who have been a realtor for 40 years. Goede has been very involved on committees with the national, state, and local realtor associations, as well as teaching education classes to new and renewing agents. (Photo submitted)

Stephen Michael Badding, age 33, of Carroll was charged with public intoxication at approximately 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, June 13 near the intersection of 155th Street and Landings Avenue in Spirit Lake. A criminal complaint said Badding's blood alcohol concentration was found to be more than three times the legal limit to operate a vehicle in Iowa.

Paint Night at the Library will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 27 at the Arnolds Park Library. This month we will be painting a succulent pot with several succulents included. All of the supplies will be provided by the libraries. There are only 30 spots available so pre-register at the Arnolds Park Public Library, Spirit Lake Public Library or the Milford Memorial Library. The cost is $15 for registration. Registrants will need to pay prior to the event to secure their spot.

Seven years ago. Lakes Regional Healthcare became the first in the region to bring orthopedic robotic-assisted surgery to patients in northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota and southeast South Dakota. The purchase of a Mako orthopedic robot enabled accurate alignment and placement of implants for total hip replacement, total knee replacement and partial knee replacement surgeries. Two years later, LRH expanded robotic surgery to include the da Vinci X robot.

Local students named to Augustana University spring 2023 dean’s list

Augustana University recently announced the students who have been named to the dean's list for the spring semester of the 2022-23 academic year. Among the honorees were
Courtney Marie Cohrs of Spirit Lake and Mikia Rose Kriener of Okoboji. The dean's list recognizes 845 full-time students who have a minimum of 12 credit hours with grade-point averages at 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale.

Linley to speak at ILUUF

Brenda Linley will be the guest speaker for the June 25 Iowa Lakes Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hybrid service. Her message is entitled “Whose Body Is It Anyway?”

An enthusiastic crowd of around 40 people gathered Thursday to witness the ground-breaking ceremony for Aspen Seemann Memorial Park, which is to be constructed south of the Little League fields near Spirit Lake Schools.

The mascot of Spirit Lake Schools will remain unchanged after a 4-1 vote Monday evening.

The Harris-Lake Park Community School District recently announced the hiring of Gary Richardson as the district's new half-time superintendent. Richardson will begin his duties as of July 1, 2023.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley recently met students from Spirit Lake Middle School on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Grassley answered questions from the students on any topic, including enjoying Dairy Queens in Windsor Heights, his schedule in Iowa and in Washington and athletics – such as his push-up record, the girl’s state basketball tournament and the age-old debate of Cyclones versus Hawkeyes. Grassley said he was glad to welcome the local students to Washington D.C.

Okoboji Summer Theatre is once again offering discount booklets for admission to its performances this season. The booklets can also be purchased at Northwest Bank locations in the Lakes Area, Liberty National Bank in Okoboji, Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Arts on Grand in Spencer or by emailing ostavoucherbooklet@gmail.com. Each Discount book is $140 and includes eight vouchers for OST's main stage shows, which begin June 27.

Dickinson County woman charged with fraudulent submissions, forgery and identity theft

The YMCA of the Okobojis recently recognized and thanked the Good Neighbor Fund for the donation given to the Y, which impacts both the Bedell Family YMCA and Camp Foster YMCA.