The Heerde Family of Spirit Lake recently provided local nonprofit Hope Haven with a farm estate gift of approximately $2.5 million. The nonprofit held a ceremony Thursday, April 11 to recognize the family's sizable contribution.

The Milford Police Department was dispatched to the 3200 block of Highway 71 in Milford at approximately 4:33 p.m., Wednesday April 10 in regards to a car accident. An investigation made on scene determined that a 2012 Chevy Captiva driven by 61-year-old Gary De Wolf of Milford was following a 2015 Hyundai Tucson driven by ​​23-year-old Kassandra Toben. Toben slowed to turn when De Wolf struck the vehicle from behind.

The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors gave final approval this week to establish county zoning ordinances for hazardous liquid pipelines.

Organizers recently announced this year's keynote speakers scheduled for Saturday, August 10 at Preservation Plaza Green Space in Arnolds Park along the shores of West Lake Okoboji.

Two more pieces of the puzzle have come together for this year's Okoboji Blue Water Festival.

Iowa Lakes Community College students Emma Foxhoven and Sarah Riesberg recently returned with top honors from the Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference held in Des Moines held earlier this year.

Foxhoven, a sophomore in the business specialist program from Emmetsburg, earned first place in integrated office applications and intermediate word processing, and she received an honorable mention in administrative support concepts.

The Okoboji High School Debate team is near the end of another season under coaches Troy Greiner and Cheri Satto.

At the Dec. 2 Johnston tournament, Anna Quanbeck and Aliviah Bibler earned speaker awards in Novice LD, while Declan Donovan earned a speaker award in Novice PF.

The Okoboji Middle School Speech Team wrapped up their season with a performance on Monday, April 1. Coaches Erin Frerichs and Deborah Clark directed the team in a one act play, a pair of readers theatre pieces, a literary program individual piece and four group improv performances. The coaches expect there will be plenty of talent heading toward the OHS speech program over the next couple years.

Lakes Regional Healthcare is hosting a baby shower event at Lake Okoboji Resort and Conference Center (formerly Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center) from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 27 for area women. It will be a free come-and-go event for hopeful, expectant and new moms. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to learn about pregnancy, labor and delivery from physicians, nurses, new moms and more.

The Lakes Area Farmers Market in Spirit Lake will be open from 7:30 a.m. to noon every Wednesday and Saturday, June 1 through Sept. 28. The market is located on the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Spirit Lake. The Lakes Area Farmers Market is made up of about 28 vendors selling home-grown and handmade goods, including fresh produce, baked goods, jams and jelly, handmade soap and lotion, honey and other handmade products.