(Algona)--Libraries in Kossuth County are facing nearly 200-thousand dollars in budget cuts. Kossuth County Library Association president Lany  Mitchell says that cut in county funding means each of the county's 12 libraries will get about seven-thousand dollars in county support in the next fiscal year. She says  that will be  a death knell for at least four of the libraries in the county.  The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors met with area residents for nearly two hours Monday afternoon to hear their concerns. Library officials learned just last week that the county would be reducing their funding. Mitchell is director of the public library in the small community of Wesley.

In the current fiscal year, Kossuth County provided over 270-thousand dollars for libraries in 12 communities. For several facilities, that county funding is the vast majority of the library's budget. Cutting library hours is not an option for many, as state funding gets cut if a library isn't open for at least 20 hours a week. Board Chairman Kyle Stecker says budget cuts would have to be made to restore funding for the county's libraries.

Kossuth County library leaders say that leaves them in limbo, not knowing whether the budget cut will be rescinded and they'll be able to stay open.

(from Radio Iowa)

(Des Moines)--The Iowa Association of Business and Industry has revealed all 68 nominees for the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa, including several made in the KILR listening area.

Every nominee is now up for first-round voting from now until April 30. The nominees will then be paired down to a “Sweet 16” bracket. After five rounds of voting, the winner will be announced on June 5.

The competition looks to highlight Iowa’s manufacturing industry, according to a release.

Local nominees include AERO 59 Series NASCAR Wheels made by AERO Race Wheels Inc. of Estherville, Butter Braid Pastries made by Country Maid Inc. of West Bend, Single Barrel Straight Bourbon made by Century Farms Distillery of Spencer and The Iowa Candle made by Candle Creek Farms of Mallard.

You can vote online at coolestthingia.com.

(Emmetsburg)--Iowa Lakes Community College will hold a ribbon cutting and open house at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday for a new outdoor Fitness Court® situated next to the Arthur and Audrey Smith Wellness Center in Emmetsburg.

Funding for the project was made possible through partnerships with a $30,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign and local community partners.

The new Fitness Court® is designed to be inclusive, catering to adults aged 14 and older of all fitness levels. Considered the world's best outdoor gym, the Fitness Court® allows users to leverage their body weight to complete a workout using seven stations. To further enhance the experience, users can download the free Fitness Court App, a platform that transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience. The Fitness Court App is available for iOS and Android.

(Des Moines)--Before adjourning the 2024 session over the weekend, Iowa lawmakers approved changes to the state’s income tax code. The bill is the product of negotiations between Republican lawmakers and the governor on how to proceed with speeding up the 2022 income tax cuts. Area State Senator Dave Rowley, a Republican from Spirit Lake, says the bill is projected to save Iowa taxpayers $1 billion.

Rowley says lawmakers advanced two constitutional amendments on income taxes.

He says lawmakers also approved three bills he managed related to insurance.

Rowley says lawmakers failed to approve a bill to extend the moratorium on new casinos in the state.

The Legislature approved a nearly $9 billion state budget for the next fiscal year.

(Estherville)--The Estherville City Council held a brief special meeting Monday evening to approve the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. The budget includes an increase of about $2,245,000 to $27,350,000. The primary reason for the increase is due to capital projects at the wastewater treatment plant and the airport. Estherville City Clerk and Finance Director Beth Burton says the general fund budget increased by 10-percent to $489,285.

Burton says the property tax levy is $16.68 per thousand dollars of taxable valuation, a decrease of 42-cents compared with the current year’s budget. For a house with an assessed valuation of $100,000, that will mean a decrease of $19. The city’s taxable valuation went up by $18.6 million, but Burton says that figure is misleading.

Overall, Burton says the city budget is in very good shape. No one spoke at a public hearing on the budget.

(Lakefield, MN)--Four people were sent to the hospital after a two vehicle collision Sunday afternoon in Jackson County near the Iowa-Minnesota border.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the accident happened around 4:20 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 86 and 720^th Street in Minneota Township. The patrol says a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 46-year-old Shellie Williams of Round Lake was stopped to turn and a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by a 17-year-old juvenile female from Round Lake was traveling northbound on Highway 86 when the two vehicles collided.

Both drivers and two juvenile passengers in the Williams’ vehicle, a 17-year-old female and a one-year-old male, were taken to Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Lakes Regional Healthcare Ambulance and Lakefield Ambulance assisted at the scene.

(Algona)--The Kossuth Palo Alto County Economic Development Corporation is searching for a new executive director. Maureen Elbert, who has led the organization since 1998, has announced plans to retire by the end of the year. Elbert explains why she decided to retire.

Elbert says a succession plan has been in place for more than a year.

She was asked about highlights of her 26 years leading the organization.

Elbert says one of the keys to success is getting the counties and communities to work together.

Elbert says she has agreed to help the new director get acclimated to the position. Her last day will be before the end of 2024.

(Spencer)--Four young ladies will compete for the title of Clay County Fair Queen on Sunday, April 28, at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer. This year marks the 20^th Anniversary of the Clay County Fair Queen Contest.

Contestants include Linnea Bloom of Marathon, the daughter of Stephen and Melanie Bloom; Aubrie Stell of Spencer, the daughter of Jason and Melissa Stell; Hannah Tessum of Everly, the daughter of Tyler and Ashley Tessum; Addison Wyman of Spencer, daughter of Leah Wyman.

The candidates will participate in individual interviews, workshops, and the Queen Pageant. The Queen Pageant will start at 7:00 p.m. and will include introductions, the self-expression portion, and the crowning of the 2024 Clay County Fair Queen. Doors open to the public at 6:30 p.m.

The Queen will represent the Fair at area parades and selected celebrations during the summer, represent Clay County during the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest, and participate in the Clay County Fair in September.

Candidates will be judged on personality, attitude and awareness, leadership and citizenship, contribution to the community, overall appearance, charm, poise, and self-expression.

(Estherville)--Kindergarten Round-Up will be held later this week in the Estherville Lincoln Central School District. ELC Superintendent Tara Paul provides details.

Paul says parents are also invited to attend.

For more information on kindergarten round-up, call Demoney Elementary School at 362-2181.

(Spirit Lake)– A Sioux Falls man charged with sexual abuse has been arrested on a bench warrant after failing to show up for a court appearance in Dickinson County.

According to online court documents, 46-year-old Waylon Willard is charged with three counts of sexual abuse in the 3rd degree, all class C felonies, intent to inflict serious injury and violation of a no contact order.

Willard is accused of performing a sex act against the victim’s will or by force in August of last year at a residence in Arnolds Park.

According to online court records, Willard pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was released November 7^th after posting a $10,000 surety bond. The bench warrant was issued after Willard failed to show up for an April 1^st  court hearing. He was taken into custody on Wednesday and is being held in the Dickinson county jail on a $10,000 cash only bond.

(Spirit Lake)--Gillnetting operations have wrapped up for the season in the Iowa Great Lakes. Kim Hawkins, manager of the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery, says gillnetting was faster than normal this year.

Hawkins says the quality of the walleyes caught was very good.

She says the spawning of walleyes was completed last weekend.

Hawkins says they collected 990 quarts of walleye eggs or about 135 million eggs.

Hawkins says the Fish Hatchery has returned to normal operating hours now that the gillnetting season is over.

(Spencer)--Spencer Municipal Utilities has earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2023. The utility earned a gold award in the category for utilities with 30,000-59,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.

More than 150 utilities entered the annual Safety Awards for 2023. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records and overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2023.

The Safety Awards have been held annually for more than 65 years.

(Sioux City)--A Spencer man who had a previous federal drug conviction has been sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for Northern Iowa, 57-year-old Todd Williams of Spencer received the prison term Wednesday after pleading guilty to the charge last November. Williams had previously been convicted of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute meth in 2004.

The US Attorney’s office says evidence showed on March 4, 2023, after receiving information that Williams was possessing and selling meth, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence in Spencer.  During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized approximately 2.7 pounds of meth and approximately $50,000 in cash.  Williams was not present during the execution of the search warrant but was observed by law enforcement driving by the residence.  Law enforcement attempted to stop Williams who then led law enforcement on a short pursuit driving at speeds up to 100 mph before being stopped and arrested.

Williams was sentenced in United States District Court Chief  in Sioux City to 158 months in federal prison. He must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

(Emmetsburg)--An Emmetsburg man is facing additional charges after he was arrested on a warrant earlier this week.

At around 2:00 A.M. Monday, the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office and Emmetsburg Police Department went to 3406 7th Street in Emmetsburg in an attempt to serve a Woodbury County arrest warrant on David Specketer of Emmetsburg.  The arrest warrant was for a controlled substance violation and failure to affix drug tax stamp.  Bail was set in the amount of $50,000 cash or surety. 

After he was taken into custody, Specketer was arrested on additional charges of interference with official acts and possession of drug paraphernalia by the Emmetsburg Police Department.  The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office applied for a search warrant of the residence.  Following an investigation and search of the residence, Specketer was also charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance-methamphetamine, a class B felony, and failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a class D felony. 

Specketer was transported to the Palo Alto County Jail, where he was placed to await his initial appearance before a judge.    

(Estherville)--This week’s rains have put a temporary damper on spring field work. Northwest Iowa Extension Agronomist Gentry Sorenson says farmers were making good progress before the rains came and some had even started planting.

Sorenson says this week’s rain was welcomed by farmers.

He says the pace of planting should pick up when farmers return to the fields next week.

(Okoboji)--The deadline is approaching to apply for grants funded by the proceeds from Walleye Weekend. Kiley Zankowski with the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce says the deadline to apply for the grants is May 3^rd

Zankowski says five projects were awarded grants last year.

She explains how to apply for a grant.

Zankowski also reminds anglers to register for Walleye Weekend.

For more information, visit okobojichamber.com.

(Spencer)--A dog was injured in a kitchen fire this(Thursday) morning in Spencer.

Shortly after 9:10 am, the Spencer Fire Department responded to a structure fire with animals in the house at 1013 West 5^th St. Fire Chief Jesse Coulson says the Spencer Police Department and Clay County Sheriff's office were on scene first and extinguished the flames from a stove fire with an extinguisher. Spencer firefighters arrived to confirm extinguishment, ventilated the house and checked for any extension. A dog was transported for medical care to Animal Medical Centers.

Coulson says the fire was due to an accidental activation of a stove top burner that ignited items setting on the stove top.

Firefighters were on scene for about an hour and 20 minutes.

The Spencer Hospital Ambulance also assisted on scene.

Firefighters were on scene for about an hour and 20 minutes.

The Spencer Hospital Ambulance also assisted on scene.

(Fairmont, MN)--A Blue Earth woman was sent to the hospital after a single vehicle accident early Tuesday in Fairmont.

According to Fairmont Police, the accident occurred around 6 am near the intersection of East Blue Earth Avenue and Home Street. Police say a car driven by 20-year-old Marianna Rincon of Blue Earth, went out of control, struck a light pole, and overturned.

Rincon was taken by ambulance to Mayo Clinic Health System Fairmont for treatment of possible injuries.

(Estherville, Iowa) The Iowa Lakes Community College Dance Team competed at their first National competition: Dance Team Union’s 2024 College Classic National Championships, held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The team competed in the Open Pom and Hip Hop categories, securing a runner-up position in the Junior College Hip Hop category and third place in Pom.

The Iowa Lakes Community College Dance Team is comprised of Brenna Evans, Grace Lutat, Elizabeth Peta, Lillian Nitchals, Adele Reinhardt and Audree Reinhardt all of Estherville, Mara Koenck of Graettinger and Abigail Tibken of Anita.

(Washington, D.C.)--Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee including Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley are introducing legislation to strengthen crop insurance and make higher levels of coverage more affordable for producers. Grassley says the bill is called the Federal Agriculture Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience or FARMER Act.

Grassley says the proposal would only come up as part of the farm bill.

On another topic, Grassley says he’s hopeful the Senate will take action this year on bills to reduce prescription drug prices.  He says four bills have passed out of committees.

Grassley says the bipartisan bills are currently sitting on the desk of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

(Estherville)--The demand for game developers and the growth of the gaming industry is expected to continue at a rapid pace. Iowa Lakes Community College offers a two year degree in game design and development. Weston Miller is Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for Computer Programming and Game Design and Development at Iowa Lakes.

Miller details what students learn in the Game Design and Development program.

He says job opportunities in the industry remain strong.

Miller says many graduates of the Iowa Lakes program are now working in the industry.

For more information on the Game Design and Development program, visit iowalakes.edu.