After catastrophic flooding for Dickinson County, what's next for locals?

After an incredibly wet month with more rain to come, citizens of Dickinson County have been hard at work assessing the damages to their homes and local businesses. The historic flooding has had a lasting impact on residents who are now doing what they can to recover from the catastrophic event.

DISASTER IN NUMBERS

A fatal car accident just outside of Lake Park resulted in the death of one teenager and the severe injury of another.

In an attempt to boost proficiency, encourage attendance and prioritize academic achievement, Spirit Lake Community School District has made a few adjustments to its policy 505.6 regarding student promotion, retention and acceleration. The changes to the policy will apply to grades pre-k through eighth.

The All-Town Garage Sale is a returning favorite to Milford’s Pioneer Days scheduled for July 26-27 in Milford. To register your garage sale, please contact Cherish Again, formerly Thee Garage Sale, in Milford, at (712) 338-3334. Deadline to register and be listed on the Pioneer Days All-Town Garage Sale Map will be Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

The Dickinson County Nature Center is partnering with local kayak instructor Mark Foss to bring visitors Intro to Kayaking. Lessons will go from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and occur on July 22, 24, and 31.

Environmental Education Coordinator Danika Cox anticipates that attendees will take advantage of the classes to build their skill set and become comfortable on the water.

The public is invited to join Dickinson County Nature Center staff for Kenue Coffee Hour at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 11. As always, there will be a light coffee bar at the Maser Monarch Lodge and plenty of conversation.

Daizon Mikhal Martin, age 30, of Round Lake, Minnesota was arrested on charges of driving without a valid drivers license, speeding, failure to provide proof of insurance and six counts of a controlled substance violation at approximately 7:15 p.m. Friday, June 28 near the corner of 13th Street and Highway 71 in Milford.

Allan Saugstad will preside over the 10 a.m. July 14 Iowa Lakes Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hybrid service. His message is entitled “Which Way, UUA?.

Recently there have been calls for President Joe Biden to step down from the race for President from media, politicians like Iowa’s own former Senator Tom Harkin, and others. This is a dangerous precedent to set when millions of votes have been cast for President Biden in primaries and caucuses. Having been told that policies I have voted on to make our elections safe and more secure were voter suppression bills, I can’t even explain how I feel when people are talking about nullifying million

The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to form a committee Monday, July 1 in order to tackle the ongoing flooding affecting the area. The committee will consist of two members of the Clay and Dickinson County Boards of Supervisors, the Dickinson County Engineer, Spencer Mayor Steve Bomgaars, Mike Hawkins, Milford Mayor Steve Anderson and Bill Anderson. Their first private meeting was held 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 2.

Megan Fuhrman Wheeler is a clinical herbalist and the owner of Megan & Co. in Spirit Lake, an herbal apothecary shop that seeks to provide support and assistance for various ailments, from the common cold to digestive health and more.

"As a clinician, I can assist the public in a one-on-one setting," Fuhrman Wheeler explained. "My schooling is a certified clinical herbalist, so I can develop protocols and formulas to support your whole body."

Stating that "time is crucial," Okoboji Mayor Mary Vander Woude called to order a special city council meeting on Friday, June 28. The room was filled to capacity with residents and business owners who heard City Administrator Michael Meyers explain the purpose of the meeting.

“We need to somehow adjust our lakeshore landscape ordinance in order to stabilize the hazardous condition of our shoreline,” he said. “The sheer drop-offs are catastrophic.”

Northwest Iowa RSVP and Iowa Lakes Community College proudly announce that Leonora "Leah" Streeter of Spirit Lake has been honored with a Governor's Volunteer Award from Volunteer Iowa and presented by Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held on June 25 in Ankeny.

Streeter received a Length of Service award for her 30 years of volunteer service with the Dickinson County RSVP program.

TOPS state first-place motivational skit winners from Sheldon will perform their winning entry at the Spirit Lake TOPS meeting scheduled for 10 a.m.o Friday, July 12. The local TOPS members are inviting former members, spouses, kids and grandkids to attend the event, which will take place at Paige Hall at the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church, one block east of the Dickinson County Courthouse.

The Iowa Great Lakes Knights of Columbus Council 5043 invites the entire community, as it holds its monthly pancake breakfast for a very special cause. Proceeds will be donated to flood victim relief in Spencer, Rock Rapids and Estherville. The breakfast starts at 8 a.m. and continues until noon Sunday, July 21 at St. Mary’s Parish Hall, 1005 Hill Ave., Spirit Lake.