Zeejay Xander Zaxton, age 18, of Spirit Lake was charged with simple assault at approximately 4:32 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3 in the 1900 block of Boston Avenue in Spirit Lake. Court records indicated Zaxton had struck a Lakes Lifeskills staff member after an argument regarding money.

The Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club is partnering with the Dickinson County Behavioral Health Coalition to hold its first Move for Mental Health walk on Saturday, Aug. 26. The event will start at 8 a.m. at Tatanka Ska Trace Trailhead in Spirit Lake and will feature 2.5K, 5K and half-mile team walks. Teams of four can register online at IowaGreatLakesRotary.org and are encouraged to do so by Aug. 17 to guarantee a walk t-shirt for each member of their team.

Thank you to all of the young adults who participated in MML’s 2023 Young Adult Summer Reading Program. Your hard work and dedication will show this coming school year. We are looking forward to how much you will achieve next year. Thank you to the Friends of the Milford Library Foundation for sponsoring the 2023 Young Adult Summer Reading Program.

Beck Engineering, Inc., with offices in Cherokee, Clive, Orange City, Sheldon and Spirit Lake was recently named to the 2023 PSMJ Circle of Excellence as one of the top-performing architecture and engineering firms in the nation for the sixth straight year.

Zalabowski receives scholarship to work in long-term care

Iowa DNR to host open house on Gull Point improvement plans

The occupants of a vehicle which ignited in flames along Highway 71 were able to escape without injury before firefighters arrived to douse the flames.

The Spirit Lake Fire Department was called to a vehicle fire around 9:28 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 near the intersection of Highway 71 and 255th Street — just outside Spirit Lake city limits.

The Iowa Utilities Board rejected a request to meet next week to discuss a schedule that will dictate the remainder of Navigator CO2 Ventures’ carbon dioxide pipeline permit process, according to board documents.

Navigator is the second company to propose a sprawling pipeline system to transport captured carbon dioxide away from ethanol plants and other facilities. It suggested a schedule last month that includes a start date for its final evidentiary hearing in June 2024.

The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors didn't plan on hearing about a proposed wind turbine moratorium again this week, but hear about it they did.

State launches pilot program in trio of counties

Members of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry likely didn't expect to hear Iowa's Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg talk about Israeli ambulances during ABI's executive forum in Okoboji last week — but Gregg said there may be new opportunities for local businesses to support EMS responses in their communities.

Iowa AG sues EPA over delayed ethanol decision

The Lakes Area played host to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley last week, as he stopped in Arnolds Park to speak with members of Fuel Iowa, an advocacy group for Iowa's fuel industry.

While summer weather is upon the Lakes Area, and winter is far from the minds of many, planning for the University of Okoboji Winter Games has already begun. The festivities, scheduled for Jan. 25-28, 2024, will mark the 44th annual celebration of this winter tradition.

A group of 20 children enjoyed a tennis camp Aug. 1-3 in Spirit Lake. Local tennis coaches Bob O’Hara, Dan Taylor, Bryan Loven, Peter Straus and Catherine Straus were on hand to help.

“It was a great way to introduce new kids to the sport and help sharpen the skills of those already playing tennis,” said Straus, who played on the Spirit Lake High School tennis team. “The support from the University of Okoboji was wonderful, and we hope to do this event again next summer."

The Dickinson County Museum and many downtown Spirit Lake businesses will be opening their doors to the past from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10 during “A Stroll Back in Time.” Within these businesses and the museum, many photos and stories of days gone by will be shared by knowledgeable and engaging narrators.

Dave Petrick of Spirit Lake recently earned a photographic craftsman degree from Professional Photographers of America. The degree will be presented to Petrick by PPA president Kira Derryberry at the association’s annual convention to be held in January of 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.