(Milford)--One person was sent to the hospital after a two vehicle accident Thursday evening in Milford.

According to the Milford Police Department, the accident occurred shortly before 5:20 pm at the intersection of Highway 71 and 202nd Street in Milford. Police say a 2019 Hyundai Tucson driven by 64-year-old Timothy Jordan of West Des Moines and a 2026 GMC Sierra driven by 37-year-old Codey Christensen of Milford collided at the intersection.

Jordan was transported to Lakes Regional Heathcare in Spirit Lake. No injuries were reported to Christensen. The accident remains under investigation.

The Milford Police Department was assisted on scene by the Arnolds Park and Okoboji Police Departments, Milford and Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire Departments and Lakes Regional Healthcare Ambulance

(Graettinger)--Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. is launching a summer community fundraiser called, “One Dollar Difference: One Week. One Goal. One Community.” UDMO Director of Program Development, Compliance and Reporting Shakira Meyer says the fundraiser will be held June 15^th-19^th.

Meyer says residents are invited to give $1 for every person UDMO assisted last year in its 12 county service area.

Meyer highlights some of the many services offered by UDMO.

She says they offer many other specialized services.

You can drop off a donation at any UDMO office or go online to udmo.com/donate.

(Estherville)--The 45th annual Reggie Schive Jazz Camp at Iowa Lakes Community College will be highlighted by six concerts next week featuring the headlining musicians, camp participants, jazz camp staff, and camp alums. Jazz Camp Director Carol Ayres says one of the featured performers is drummer Joey Gulizia of Omaha, Nebraska, who’s been at the camp every year but one. Ayres details the other performers.

Ayres says the first headliners concert will be Monday evening in Estherville.

She says the concert on Tuesday evening will be in Spirit Lake.

She says there are three concerts on Thursday, June 18^th.

For more information on the camp and headliners, visit reggieschivejazzcamp.com.

(Lake Park)--The Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of Knights of Columbus recently presented a $500 check to Lake Park Mayor Matt Carstensen, owner of Carstensen’s Meat and Grocery, for his work with Lake Park Dinner date.

Lake Park Dinner Date distributes meals over a large area, including Spirit Lake, Estherville, Lake Park, Sibley, Ocheyedan, Sutherland and Peterson. Carstensen works with Scott Neppl and coordinates the meal delivery with Elderbridge Agency on Aging.

Iowa Great Lakes Council has contributed more than $30,000 over the past few years to help meet local community needs, including Hope Haven, Iowa Helping Hands Fund, Special Olympics, American Wheelchair Mission, the Grotto of the Redemption, Cherish House and to local family, community and parish needs.

(Swea City)--A Minnesota woman escaped injury in a single vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon near Swea City.

The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office says 21-year Breanna Gonzalez-Nielsen of Trimont, Minnesota was traveling northbound on 20^th Avenue west of Swea City when she experienced a medical episode, causing her to lose control of the 2013 Chevy Impala she was driving.

Gonzalez-Nielsen crossed the centerline and entered the west ditch, where her vehicle struck a No Passing sign. She was wearing a seatbelt and did not report any injuries.

Damage was estimated at $3,000 to the car $300 to the road sign.

(Fairmont, MN)--The annual Interlaken Heritage Days Celebration will be held this weekend in Fairmont. Billy Gunther with the Interlaken Heritage Days Committee says the celebration kicks-off this evening with a concert by the Beatles tribute band, A Hard Days Night, beginning at 7 pm at Fairmont High School. Gunther says the fun will continue on Friday evening.

Gunther says a full day of events is on tap for Saturday.

The United Congregational UCC Church in Fairmont will host a breakfast on the lawn from 8 to 10 am and a Pie and Ice Social with barbecue sandwiches from 11 am to 2 pm.  

A complete schedule of events can be found at ihdfairmont.org.

(Arnolds Park)—Spirit of Okoboji has been awarded a grant from the Okoboji Foundation to support the restoration and reinstallation of the historic 1909 Okoboji Swing Bridge. The Swing Bridge is a rare and iconic piece of Iowa Great Lakes history that will serve as a pedestrian and golf cart crossing at Emerald Hills Golf Course in Arnolds Park. Drew Hage with Spirit of Okoboji says the bridge will be located at one of the new holes on the golf course.

Hage says Nick Christensen, who is in the process of purchasing the golf course, suggested a bridge that was located at a local marina.

Hage says Butch and Debbie Parks donated the bridge. He says they hope to have the project completed by late summer.

The bridge was originally built in 1909 by Clinton Bridge and Iron Works of Clinton, Iowa,

(Spencer)--The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating a vehicle involved in a sideswipe accident Tuesday afternoon on Highway 18.

The Sheriff’s Office says just before 2:40 pm, a 2025 Nissan Pathfinder driven by 64-year-old Jeanette Barslou of Algona was traveling westbound in the 2700 block of Highway 18 and a 2^nd vehicle was eastbound on Highway 18. The 2^nd vehicle crossed the center line and sideswiped the Nissan causing damage to the driver’s side mirror. Authorities say the 2^nd vehicle, believed to be an older white Chevy Suburban, would possibly have damage to the driver side door or driver’s side mirror.

If anybody has information or knowledge of the unknown second vehicle, contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at 712-262-3221.

(Sioux Falls, SD)--)--The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living has announced that 22 Good Samaritan locations, including two in the KILR listening area, have received the 2026 Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award.

Good Samaritan Society of Estherville was recognized in the skilled nursing category. The Pines in Jackson earned the award in the assisted living category.

This recognition signifies a location’s commitment to improving the lives of residents through quality care. This distinction is the first of three progressive award levels through the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living National Quality Award Program. The program honors long-term and post-acute care providers across the nation that have demonstrated their dedication to enhancing quality care for the residents they serve.

(Spencer)--The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the city of Spencer and the Spencer Community School District about $5.5 million in the latest round of disaster relief funding due to the 2024 flood.

The Spencer Community School District is receiving nearly $3.2 million for building repairs, including those at Johnson Elementary School. The city of Spencer has been awarded a little more than $2.3 million for repairs at city parks and 17 wastewater lift stations.

Also in northwest Iowa, Rock Valley will receive about $2 million to repair damage at the city’s library; the Rock Valley First Reformed Church is getting $370,000 for building repairs and the Sioux County Conservation Board was awarded $164,000 to repair park buildings, roads, culverts and trails.

(Graettinger)--The Graettinger-Terril and Ruthven-Ayrshire School Boards met in a special session Tuesday evening in Graettinger to discuss discrepancies identified during an internal review of shared-service financial records. The discrepancies were identified in fiscal years 2023-2026. Prior to taking any action the board took comments from the public. Amanda Mart of Terril, a former employee at Terril Elementary school, says she open enrolled her kids out of GT schools due to concerns about the district’s leadership. 

Also speaking was Roweda(Ro-way-duh) Lair of Terril.

After the public comments, the board heard a presentation from Murray Stanley of Trust Point who said he would work with the two districts to reconcile what had been billed with what should have been billed. Stanley said the process would take a couple of days. The board then hired Trust Point to review the shared financial records. GTRA Superintendent Marshall Lewis.

Lewis was asked if the public should be concerned about the future of each school district.

The board adjourned after approving the agreement with Trust Point. Tuesday night’s meeting lasted about 15 minutes.

(Spencer)--Community members are invited to experience the healing benefits of massage therapy while supporting the next generation of massage professionals through Iowa Lakes Community College's Massage Therapy Summer Clinical program.

Summer clinical appointments are now available at both Iowa Lakes locations, with appointments offered on Wednesdays at the Algona Campus and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Spencer Campus. Students provide professional massage services under the supervision of a licensed massage therapist as part of their state-approved training program.

All massages are performed by massage therapy students completing a state-approved training program and are supervised at all times by a licensed massage therapist in accordance with Iowa Board of Massage Therapy regulations.

Appointments may be scheduled online at: massagebook.com/therapists/iowa-lakes-massage.

(Estherville)--The Emmet County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved the canvass of last week’s primary election results.  There were a total of 982 votes cast for a voter turnout of 15.8 percent. That’s above the turnout of 13.6 percent for the 2024 primary and 10.1 percent for the 2022 primary. A total of 181 absentee ballots were cast either by mail or in person.  No ballots were received after election day.

Election Deputy Roxanne Budach says they received positive comments from residents who voted at the new West Administration Building. Three incumbent Republicans advanced to the general election. Supervisor John Pluth, County Treasurer Lisa Rosburg and County Recorder Diann Quastad Minion were unopposed in the primary. 

There were not enough write-in votes to qualify any candidate to move on to the General Election.  Budach mentioned that Supervisor Jeff Quastad had submitted nomination papers to run for re-election as a No Party candidate.

In other business, the board approved fuel bids for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year. Bids were received from New Century FS, New Cooperative, NuWay-K & H Cooperative and Pro Cooperative. The board approved low bids, both from New Century FS of Manson, in the amount $385, 271 for fuel  $8,992 for 7500 gallons of LP.

(Spencer)--The 41^st annual Flagfest Celebration is set for later this week in Spencer. Blake Goss, Events and Programs Coordinator for the Spencer Area Chamber of Commerce, says Flagfest is a celebration of community and patriotism. Goss says events get underway Friday with a golf tournament at Spencer Golf and Country Club.

Goss says a full day of events is on tap for Saturday beginning with the Chamber 5k fun run and walk at 6:30 am.

He says events will continue in the afternoon.

Goss says more family fun is planned for Sunday.

For a complete schedule of events visit: spenceriowachamber.org.

(Spencer)--Two people were sent to the hospital after a two vehicle collision early this(Tuesday) morning east of Spencer.

The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened around 6:40 am at the intersection of Highway 18 and County Road M-54.

The patrol says 30-year-old Sidanth Paillai of Spencer was driving a 2021 Acura southbound on M-54 and ran the stop sign. A 2020 Chevy Equinox driven by 36-year-old Tyle Olson of Ayrshire was westbound on Highway 18 and struck the Acura broadside.

Both drivers were taken to the Spencer Hospital by Spencer Ambulance.

Paillai was cited for failure to obey a stop sign.

The patrol also assisted at the scene by the Dickens and Spencer Fire Departments and Spencer EMS.

(Spirit Lake)--The Iowa DNR is conducting surveys of the fish population in the state’s lakes and streams. Fisheries Biologist Andrew Carlson with the Spirit Lake District Office says the surveys are conducted three times during the year.

Carlson says they use different methods depending on the time of year.

He says surveys of the walleye population about four years ago led to changes in the slot limit on the Iowa Great Lakes.

Carslon says the change has been beneficial to the Walleye population.

(Okoboji)--The Westport Schoolhouse Museum in Okoboji opens today for the summer season.

Operated by the Dickinson County Conservation Board, the historic one-room schoolhouse will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through the end of August. Visitors are invited to explore this unique piece of local history and experience what school was like for rural students more than a century ago.

Knowledgeable guides will be present each day to welcome guests, provide guided tours, and answer questions about the school's history. The museum features several original artifacts that remain in the schoolhouse today, and additions from other one-room schoolhouses.

The schoolhouse is located just down the road, west of the Dickinson County Nature Center at 22531 Nature Center Road. For more information, contact the Nature Center at 712-336-6352.

(Washington, D.C.)--Supporters of a long-stalled push to expand year round sales of higher-ethanol E-15 ?gasoline are pursuing ways to get the bill passed through a divided Senate before the end of the year. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said late last week that a vote on a standalone E-15 bill is a possibility.

Grassley says year round E-15 could also be included in a larger bill.

The House passed a year round E-15 bill in late April.

On another topic, Grassley says he's making progress with forcing eight major technology companies to improve how they report possible cases of online sexual exploitation of children. Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, says tech giants like Meta, Snapchat and TikTok need to be held accountable to ensure they're rooting out and forwarding these cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Grassley had sent letters to the companies earlier this year.

Meta says it removed nearly 135-thousand Instagram accounts for leaving sexualized comments or requesting sexual images from minors, as well as another half-million linked Facebook and Instagram accounts.

(Dickens)--Two people were sent to the hospital after a single vehicle accident Sunday morning near Turnbull Lake.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened shortly before 9:15 am in the 3300 block of 310th Ave. or County Road N-14. Upon investigation, it was determined that 30-year-old Nyamukal Lual of Storm Lake was driving a 2014 Chevy Sonic southbound on N-14 when she left the roadway and struck the ditch.

Lual and one passenger were transported to Spencer Hospital. Lual reportedly received incapacitating injuries. The remaining two passengers were checked by ambulance crews and released.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Spencer Hospital Ambulance, Ruthven Fire and Rescue, Dickens Fire and Rescue, Iowa DNR and Iowa State Troopers.

The accident remains under investigation.

(Milford)--Multiple injuries were reported in a two vehicle accident early Sunday in Milford

At approximately 2:25 am, the Milford Police Department was dispatched to the intersection of Highway 71 and 13th Street in regards to a personal injury accident. A 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 and a 2012 Chevy Silverado collided at the intersection resulting in multiple injuries. One occupant suffered incapacitating injuries and was transported to a Sioux Falls Hospital and one was transported to Lakes Regional Hospital in Spirit Lake. No further details are available. The accident remains under investigation.

The Milford Police Department was assisted on scene by the Arnolds Park Police Department, Okoboji Police Department, Milford Fire Department, Lakes Regional Ambulance and Boji Towing.

(Estherville)--The Resource Enhancement and Protection Program or REAP will be the focus of 19 meetings across the state this summer, where Iowans can share ideas and visions for their county and communities. KILR Outdoors Expert Steve Weisman says the REAP program was established in 1989.

Weisman says REAP has funded numerous projects in Emmet County.

He says the REAP meeting in northwest Iowa will be held on July 23^rd at Maser Monarch Lodge, in Okoboji.

For more information on REAP, go to iowareap.com.

(Spencer)--Seasons Center for Behavioral Health will be hosting a Free Family Fishing Event on Sunday, June 14^th from 2 to 4 pm at Stolley Park in Spencer. Seasons Vice President of Marketing & Fund Development Stephanie Pohar.

Pohar says prizes will be awarded.

She says fishing is good for your mental health.

Pre-registration is not required. Every child who attends will receive a free rod and reel combo courtesy of the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club.

(Algona)--After years of dedicated service to the citizens of Kossuth County, K9 Kovu is preparing for a well-earned retirement. Throughout his career, Kovu has been an invaluable member of the Sheriff’s Office team, helping protect our communities, assist in investigations, and stand beside his handler through countless hours of service.

The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office has begun fundraising efforts to purchase and train Kovu’s successor, ensuring that the K9 program continues to serve Kossuth County for years to come.

Donations will help fund: acquisition of a highly trained K9 partner; specialized training for both the new K9 and handler, essential K9 equipment and vehicle modifications; veterinary care, certifications, and startup costs for the new K9 unit.

Donations can be made payable to: Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, 121 West State St,

Algona, IA 50511. Put K9 Fund on the memo line.

(Spencer)--Area photographers can showcase their creativity, technical skill, and unique perspective at the 2026 Clay County Fair, powered by SMU

The Photography Department features 15 divisions, including Color Photography, Black-and-White Photography, and Creative Photography, as well as 12 sponsored divisions that offer exhibitors additional opportunities to compete for awards and recognition.

In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, many of the sponsored divisions will feature patriotic themes in 2026, encouraging photographers to capture the people, places, traditions, and moments that reflect the American spirit. From hometown celebrations and community traditions to scenes of everyday life, exhibitors are invited to explore what patriotism means through their own lens.

Several divisions will feature unique themes, including "Helping Our Wildlife" in the Conservation Division and "Streetscapes" in the Film Division. New for 2026, the Spencer History Division, sponsored by the City of Spencer's Historic Preservation Commission, will feature the theme "Patriotic: Telling Spencer's Story."

Exhibitors should consult the 2026 Exhibitor Handbook for complete requirements. The handbook is available online at claycountyfair.com or may be picked up at the Fair Administrative Office.

(Spirit Lake)--The Spirit Lake Police Department is in the process of updating its after-hours contact information for local businesses. This information is used for things such as alarm calls, open doors, or other issues that may require contacting someone with access to the building after business hours.

A form on the department’s Facebook page can be printed and emailed to the police department with the requested information. Or, you may directly email this information to brevik@spiritlakepolice.com. If emailing directly, make sure you include the name of your business and at least two contact numbers.