Lakes Regional Healthcare is no longer requiring the use of masks for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission as of Oct. 12, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance regarding masking, which LRH officials said was one of the primary reasons for the change.

In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Dickinson County announced that the Veterans Memorial Tower outside the courthouse would be illuminated green Nov. 7-13 as part of Operation Green Light, a new national collaborative initiative of the National Association of Counties.

Northwest Bank in Arnolds Park recently announced Jessica Garvin has accepted the position as retail manager for the bank's Arnolds Park and Milford locations. Garvin's new role includes promoting bank products and services, building customer relationships and leading the retail team.

The Iowa Lakes softball team will be hosting a four-week softball academy for athletes in grades K-12. The 2022-23 softball academy will be held on four Sundays — Oct. 16 and 23, and Nov. 6 and 13 — at the Christensen Building on the Estherville Campus.

The softball academy for grades K-6 will focus on offensive and defensive skills, with sessions for grades K-3 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and for grades 4-6 from 12:45-1:45 pm. The session price for grades K-6 is $100.

Billy Joe Doran, age 43, was booked into the Dickinson County Jail at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 on a previous court decision. He is scheduled for release Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022.

Daniel Emrey Klemme, age 40, of Spirit Lake was charged with shoplifting at approximately 3:18 p.m Tuesday, Oct. 4 at the Spirit Lake Walmart.

Milford Memorial Library will be closed for staff development on Wednesday, Oct. 19. We look forward to seeing everyone starting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20.

Iowa Lakes Community College receives a $587,298 grant to develop a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on the Estherville and Emmetsburg Campuses. The center, funded by a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education, will support the success of veteran-students by coordinating services that address academic, financial, physical and social needs.

The Iowa Lakes Community College Music Department will host area high school choirs for the eighth annual Heartland Honor Choir at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, in the Janice K. Lund Performing Arts Center in Estherville. The performance will feature more than 100 local singers, the Iowa Lakes Concert Choir and the guest choir, Spirit Lake High School's Meistersingers under the direction of Luke Miller.

Buena Vista University recently congratulated more than 140 students who graduated in the summer of 2022. The graduates included four Spirit Lake students — Quinn Hussey, who received a Bachelor of Science in computer science, Tawni Hanson who received a Bachelor of Arts in business, Parker Hays, who received a Bachelor of Arts in business and Jana Christians, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education.

Dickinson County News office to be closed Oct. 14

Due to staff commitments, the Dickinson County News office will be closed Friday, Oct. 14. Those with urgent business may contact the Spencer Daily Reporter at 712-262-6610. The Dickinson County News office will be open for business as usual on Monday, Oct. 17.

MCC plans downtown Trick or Treat

The YMCA of the Okobojis recently announced Kevin Godfredsen, Camp Foster’s Property Manager, is retiring after 40-plus years of service.

•Decision on date and location yet to come

Editor's note: The Oct. 6 edition of the Dickinson County News had already been sent to press by the time the Oct. 5 hearing took place. The Oct. 6 edition will contain coverage of the defense's request for a change of venue ahead of the hearing.

There was almost no rainfall in Iowa this past week, and the risk of fires associated with harvest are elevated in the western part of the state, according to the National Weather Service.

There now are “very high” risks of cropland fires in areas of northwest Iowa, the service says.

At one time, Jerry Clark could fit his collection of local historic items in a single room. Later, they merited an entire building — and then another. The Milford resident received one more item Friday afternoon, which he says will have to be put on prominent display.

The State Auditor's Office has completed its annual report on Dickinson County's financials. They didn't find any questionable expenditures, instances of non-compliance or weaknesses in the county's control over its major programs, but state auditors did have a few suggestions for county officials.