It was too fast for anyone without a camera ready.

County officials voted Tuesday to award a multimillion dollar contract to Steffes Companies of Milford for the construction of a large-scale public park in Okoboji.

Annual ride raised $400,000 to combat human trafficking

Even passersby could sense the building excitement Friday afternoon as supporters of the Break the Cycle 200 Okoboji Ride watched for dozens of cyclists to take their final turn of the annual ride. The group pedaled about 200 miles from the Des Moines area that day, in an effort to raise funds to combat human trafficking.

Spirit Lake Walmart Store Manager Jordan Butler and staff recently presented a check for $2,000 to the YMCA of the Okobojis. This gift, made possible by a Walmart Giving grant, will help the Y provide healthy snacks to kids in the Y-Kids program during the school year. (Photo submitted)

Members of the University of Okoboji Corvette Club recently presented a check for $3,000 to the Okoboji Foundation to assist in annual grant funding opportunities. The donation was a result of proceeds from the annual annual Autocross and Vettes in the Park events.

A beautiful display of fireworks by J&M Displays will light up the sky over West Lake Okoboji for all to enjoy at 10:07 p.m. Tuesday, July 4.
For more than 45 years, the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chambers and their donors have helped provide the display over the lake every Fourth of July. The chamber is asking for the public's help to spark joy and keep the yearly tradition alive.

Jace Michael Muilenburg, age 22, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 9:51 p.m. Wednesday, June 21 on the charge of second-degree harassment. Bond was set at $1,000. Online court documents show a criminal complaint was filed Friday, June 2, accusing Muilenburg of sending the victim a text message threatening bodily hard. The victim told law enforcement "this has been an ongoing issue with the defendant over a civil issue," according to the complaint.

RDI of Milford recently announced its secured the No. 31 position on the prestigious Channel Futures MSP 501 list for 2023.

Remember to turn in your Summer Reading Program log each week for a prize. From the stack of each week’s logs, we will draw names for bigger prizes. All children up to eighth grade are eligible to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Also, remember the Bouncelandia Finale. You must turn in at least four of the six logs by noon on Tuesday, July 11 to earn a ticket to that event. A parent or guardian will need to fill out a waiver as well.

Milford Memorial Library will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. We will reopen at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 5. Have a fun and safe Fourth of July holiday.  

The Lakes Libraries have only two programs left during this year's Summer Reading Program. Our last presenter is the talented cartoonist Tim Read, with his show called Silly Library Monsters. There will be two programs at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 12 at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. He will talk about his cartooning process, as well as teach the kiddos how to create various cartoon creatures. Our last program will be the program's End Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Dickinson County Driver’s License Station will begin charging a $10 convenience fee for issuance of a driver’s license or identification card to anyone who is not a resident of Dickinson County, unless the resident pays property taxes here. This will go into effect on July 1, 2023, per an Iowa Code change.  

More than 6,400 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students were recently named to the Deans' List for the spring semester of the 2022-23 academic year. Among them were Max Bower of Spirit Lake, a sophomore in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts who is pursuing a degree in music education, and Kole Carstens of Arnolds Park, a junior in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources pursuing a degree in PGA golf management.

Mobile Food Pantry returns in July
 

As summer temperatures continue to rise, Boji Bay swimming pools in Milford are about to open their gates again to the public. Opening day is set for July 1.