Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. Executive Director Julie Edwards recently announced the awarding of two Iowa First Five Healthy Mental Development Initiative competitive grants. UDMO is now the First Five Local Contact for Collaborative Service Areas 1 — which includes Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Palo Alto, O’Brien and Osceola Counties —  and CSA 4  — which includes Calhoun, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster and Wright Counties.

The KonMari Method was created by Marie Kondo, author of the bestselling book, "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" and star of the popular Netflix series "Tidying up with Marie Kondo." This style of tidying focuses on decluttering and organizing your space by keeping only those items you love. By visualizing the home and lifestyle you dream of, you can finally let go of unnecessary items causing clutter and truly live a life that Sparks Joy.

Okoboji High School and the Okoboji Fine Arts booster club will be hosting the Individual Events District Speech Contest on Saturday, Feb. 25. The contest starts at 8 a.m. and the competition is expected end before 4 p.m. Organizers invite the community to come see the speech competition and support students from all over northwest Iowa.

They are also still seeking volunteers to help with the event.

Milford Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of Presidents’ Day. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association released its annual list of hall of fame inductees last month. The association amended that list in a Feb. 9 press release. Many of the names in the various hall of fame categories remained unchanged, while a few names were added or replaced.

Iowa Lakes Community College has measured enrollment growth for the 2022-2023 academic year, moving the college’s enrollment closer to pre-pandemic figures.

The Dickinson County Nature Center is inviting all nature-lovers to attend Family Nature Night: Love Bugs at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24. Visitors will investigate the characteristics of insects and learn what makes an insect an insect. The free event will take place at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Kenue Park, where attendees will learn how these small animals play a big role in the environment.

The Dickinson County Nature Center invites the public to think about summer. The nature center is offering summer camp programs, and registration begins at 8 a.m. March 1.

“Summer camp is an excellent way to build friendships, connect to nature and enjoy hands-on activities," naturalist Britney Snell said.

Sandbulte named to dean's list at George Fox University
 

Storm Spotter Training planned for next month

The annual Clay/Dickinson County Storm Spotter Training class will be held from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 29 at the Milford Fire Station. The class is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not necessary. The session will be taught by the Sioux Falls National Weather Service and coincide with Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa, which runs March 27-31.

An increasing demand for low-carbon fuels will imperil ethanol producers unless there is widespread adoption of equipment to capture emissions from ethanol plants, the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association said Tuesday.

“I honestly don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that capturing and sequestering carbon will be life or death for most ethanol plants over the next five years,” Monte Shaw said at the organization’s annual summit in Des Moines.

The White House released this transcript of President Biden's 2023 State of the Union Address, as prepared for delivery. It was delivered Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Mr. Speaker. Madam Vice President. Our First Lady and Second Gentleman.

Members of Congress and the Cabinet. Leaders of our military.

Mr. Chief Justice, Associate Justices, and retired Justices of the Supreme Court.

And you, my fellow Americans.

They didn't know they'd be called heroes that Saturday afternoon, but a group of five spectators at the annual Okoboji Vintage Snowmobile Races — including a 17-year-old Okoboji High School student — were credited with saving a Milford man whose Jeep had fallen through the ice.

Staff at the Dickinson County News were once again pleased to have made a solid showing Thursday at the Iowa Newspaper Association's annual convention in Des Moines.

Dickinson County was once home to three Gar Lakes. Upper and Lower Gar still exist today, but the third, once known as Middle Gar Lake, was renamed Minnewashta in the late 1800s in reference to a native man who aided the region's settlers during turbulent times.

Archives of the Spirit Lake Beacon said E.R. Woley of Maquoketa built a cottage around 1885 on the shores of what was then Middle Gar Lake.