The list of 2023 Okoboji Summer Theatre productions will be unveiled at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Okoboji Bible Conference in Arnolds Park. This will be the 65th season Stephens College of Columbia, Missouri, has operated the Okoboji Summer Theatre. Four musicals and three non-musicals will be part of the 2023 season. The announcement will be made by Okoboji Summer Theatre Executive Director Ruth Ann Burke and Director of Production And Operations Michael Burke.

An open meeting of the Board of Trustees for the Milford Memorial Library will take place at 5:30 p.m.  Wednesday, Feb 1 in the Milford Community Center. The agenda will be posted on MML’s website and front bulletin board at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend and offer their thoughts in order to make MML a better library.

Iowa Lakes Community College releases fall 2022 honors lists

Iowa Lakes Community College released its fall 2022 honors lists, recognizing students who were named to the president's list or dean's list.

*Indicates a 4.00 (A) GPA

Arnolds Park

Cassie Hinshaw, dean's list

Lake Park

 Kyle Bensley,* president's list

 Lucas Gunderson, dean's list

Fool House to play at Roof Garden

Each of them looked the way one would expect a firefighter to look — sturdy helmets, thick pairs of gloves and reflective strips around the cuffs of their coats and pants. But underneath all that bulky bunker gear was a group of Spirit Lake High School students, not yet old enough to volunteer for the job, but the Spirit Lake Fire Department hopes they will one day.

It's all about math and time for Ed Monk.

The co-owner of Last Resort Firearms Training took to the stage in the Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts on Monday during a public presentation on responses to active shooter scenarios. Monk had given a similar presentation to staff at Spirit Lake Schools earlier that day.

Officials, as of Monday, had yet to release the names of two individuals who were pronounced dead following what authorities believe may have been a kitchen fire on the north side of West Lake Okoboji.

Wheels are once again in motion for a project which is expected to close a central bridge in the Lakes Area for several weeks this fall.

Members of the Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce stopped in Jan. 11 at T-Mobile's Spirit Lake location to cut a ceremonial ribbon. Dena Pavlo, T-Mobile's market manager for southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, said the Spirit Lake location opened Dec. 30, shortly after the company opened a location in Spencer, and she said both stores are doing well. Pavlo said T-Mobile has been taking steps to improve its cellular network in smaller communities and establish local stores as it does.

Congratulations were extended to the 10 Okoboji High School students who performed at the Northwest Iowa Bandmasters High School Honor Band Festival on Saturday, Jan. 7 in Eppley Auditorium at the Morningside College Campus in Sioux City.

Approximately 190 high school musicians from 46 area high schools were chosen through auditions, which were held Nov. 5, in Sioux Center. There were approximately 350 entries.

Northwest Bank locations in Milford, Arnolds Park and Spirit Lake organized efforts to raise money and gather food items for the Okoboji and Spirit Lake Schools Backpack Programs. These programs help supply food to youth and families in need.

Area boys and girls competed in the 2022 Knights of Columbus “Keep Christ in Christmas” Poster Contest. Iowa Great Lakes Council 5043 sponsored the creativity contest over the holidays. The local contest winner was 9-year-old YoYo (Annie) Tran, a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Spirit Lake. She is the daughter of Quennie Nguyen and Tie Tran of Spirit Lake.

Minor injuries after rollover south of Milford

The Dickinson County Sheriff's Office responded to a rollover accident around 5:59 p.m. Jan. 10 at the intersection of Highway 71 and County Road A43.

The Spirit Lake Public Library was recently gifted a like-new Merlin Desktop Electronic Magnifier. This useful tool was given by the Mary Newton Family of Okoboji. The library would like to thank the Newton Family for such a welcome donation.

Okoboji High School and the Okoboji Fine Arts booster club are hosting the District Individual Speech Contest on Saturday, Feb. 25, and organizers are seeking volunteers.

The event has more than 130 slots to fill. Volunteers may sign up for the entire day and get lunch for free. Other available shifts last half the day or just one to two hours.