(Estherville)--No one was injured in a house fire this(Friday) morning on the west side of Estherville.

Estherville Fire Chief Travis Sheridan says shortly before 7:50 am, the Estherville Fire Department responded to a rental home at 626 West 6^th Avenue North.

Sheridan says he was the first to arrive on scene and found smoke coming from a bedroom window that was cracked open. He says firefighters entered the home and found heavy smoke coming from behind a bedroom door. Firefighters exited the house and fought the fire from a defensive position. They were able to knock down  the fire in about 20 minutes.

Sheridan says the lone occupant of the home escaped before firefighters arrived on scene. He says the bedroom was heavily damaged and there was smoke damage throughout the rest of the home.

Sheridan says the cause of the fire is believed to be electrical in nature.

Firefighters were on scene for about an hour and a half.

Assistance was provided by the Estherville Police Department, Wallingford Fire Department and the Red Cross.

(Spencer)--The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation hosted a proclamation signing Thursday to kick off Manufacturing Month in the Corridor Region. Several local mayors and county supervisors participated in the proclamation signing from across the region. October 2026 was proclaimed as Manufacturing Month in Buena Vista, Clay and Dickinson counties as well as the cities of Alta, Lake Park and Spencer.

Manufacturing Day is recognized on the first Friday each October. It is an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association as a founding partner. It’s meant to inspire the next generation to start careers in manufacturing through a series of events scheduled in October each year.

According to the corridor region’s 2025 Laborshed Analysis from Iowa Workforce

Development, the manufacturing industry employs 11.4% of individuals in the Corridor’s Laborshed area. It is the 3rd largest industry in the Corridor region after Retail and Healthcare.

(West Bend)--Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident Monday afternoon near West Bend.

The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened around 2:55 pm at the intersection of 535^th Avenue and 475^th St. After an investigation, it was determined that a 2006 Buick Lacrosse driven by a 17-year-old juvenile, was westbound on 475th St. The juvenile was using an electronic communication device and looked up as he was approaching 535th Ave. A 2005 Toyota Corolla, driven by 27-year-old Kaighcy Jo Origer of West Bend, was westbound ahead of the LaCrosse, and was slowing down to turn north onto 535th  Avenue. The Lacrosse was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the Corolla, sending it rolling into the ditch, before coming to rest on all four tires.

Origer and a 7 month old baby were transported by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.

Damage was estimated at $8,000 for the Buick and $10,000 for the Corolla. The 17-year-old was issued a citation for Use of Electronic Communication Device.

The Palo Alto County Sheriff's Office was assisted on scene by the Iowa State Patrol, West Bend Fire and Ambulance, Wickman's Towing, and West Bend Ford.

(Estherville)--A rendering plant south of Estherville has entered into a consent order with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for repeated discharge violations of its wastewater treatment agreement with the city of Estherville. 

The order requires Central Bi-Products to pay a $10,000 administrative penalty. The DNR says within 30 days of the Order’s effective date, Central Bi-Products shall either decide to comply with the terms of the treatment agreement, or negotiate higher treatment agreement limits with the City of Estherville. If the Central Bi-Products facility requires pretreatment upgrades, then Central Bi-Products must submit a construction schedule for approval.

The order also says within 90 days, Central Bi-Products will provide the DNR with the conclusions reached by the professional engineer investigating the source of the discharge. Central Bi-Products will also include a schedule for correcting any deficiencies.

(Estherville)--Iowa native and Emmy® Award-winning performer Shaun Johnson visited  Estherville on Thursday to work with ELC high school students ahead of his concert at Iowa Lakes Community College later this month. Johnson says he worked with choir students in the morning and jazz choir students in the afternoon.

Funding was provided by the ELC Patrons of the Fine Arts Cultural Enrichment Grant. Johnson will return to Estherville on October 25th to perform Shaun Sings Country -’90s Edition as part of the Estherville Performing Arts Series.

Johnson was asked why 90s country is so popular.

The concert will be on Sunday, October 25th from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the Janice K. Lund Performing Arts Center. Tickets for Shaun Johnson Sings Country-‘90s Edition can be purchased by going to lowalakes.edu/performing arts.

(Sioux Center)--Agricultural lenders, consultants, farm financial advisors and producers are invited to attend the 2026 Siouxland Agricultural Lender’s Seminar on Thursday, October 29th at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center. Fred Hall, ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Specialist, says this is the 7^th year for the event.

Hall says the topics for the seminar are chosen in part based on a survey of the previous year’s attendees.

He outlines some of the other topics that will be covered during the conference.

Other topics include non-traditional ag partners, a farm bill update and a dairy market outlook. Hall explains how to pre-register for the conference.

The deadline to pre-register is October 23^rd. For more information contact Fred Hall at 712-737-4230.

(Mankato, MN)--An Elmore woman was injured in a two vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon in Blue Earth County.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the accident happened shortly after 4:25 pm at the intersection of Highway 60 and Highway 169.

The patrol says a 2014 Chevrolet Traverse driven by 34-year-old Stacia Coonradt of Elmore was eastbound on Highway 60 and a 2023 Nissan Altima driven by 71-year-old Gary Strong of Eagle Lake was southbound on Highway 169 when the two vehicles collided in the intersection.

Coonradt was taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital in Mankato with non-life threatening injuries. Strong was not injured.

(Spirit Lake)--Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake will soon begin construction on a new Emergency Department. A public groundbreaking ceremony is being planned for early November. LRH President and CEO Jason Harrington says the current facility no longer accommodates the growth in patient volumes.

Harrington says the expansion project will double the capacity of the ER.

He says the project is being built in two phases.

Site work will begin early this month. The total project cost is estimated at $20 million. Harrington says they are in the midst of a capital campaign to pay for a portion of the project.

The LRH Foundation has secured almost $2 million in gifts and pledges to date. LRH will remain fully open throughout construction and all services will continue as usual. Patient and visitor parking will remain the same.

(Graettinger)--The Graettinger-Terril and Ruthven-Ayrshire school districts will be exploring the possibility of whole grade sharing to address the budget woes facing the two districts. GTRA Interim Superintendent Jeff Dicks says the issue was discussed by both boards during their September meetings.

Dicks says both the Graettinger-Terril and Ruthven-Ayrshire school districts overspent their budgets in the last fiscal year.

In addition to saving money, Dicks says there would be some other benefits to whole grade sharing.

Dicks says both boards will meet on October 21^st to approve the intent to enter into a whole grade sharing agreement.

Dicks made his comments on the GTRA Superintendent Spotlight Program which can be heard every Wednesday at 5:45 pm on KILR FM 95.9.

(Arnolds Park)--The Arnolds Park Public Library will be holding their annual fall festival on Sunday, October 11^th from 2 to 5 pm at Wildcat Stadium. Library Director Kara Rice says this is the 5^th year for the event.

Rice says the Fall Festival will feature several other events.

Admission is free. For more information, visit the Arnolds Park Library Facebook page.

(Algona)--The Algona Fire Department is encouraging all households to participate in Operation EDITH on Thursday, October 8 at 6 p.m.

Operation EDITH, or Exit Drills In The Home, is a safety activity for all ages in the household to participate. Held annually in October during National Fire Prevention Week, Operation EDITH provides a time to practice how to exit the home safely during a fire. Algona Fire Department trucks will be driving through town as residents practice their home’s safety plan.

To learn more, contact the Algona Fire Department at 515-295-3642 or follow the department on Facebook.

(Jackson, MN)--The Jackson County Central School Board Monday evening was told that Riverside Elementary School in Jackson would likely close if the district’s operating levy referendum fails in November.

JCC Superintendent Mike Neubeck says the school’s gymnastics program would likely be cut as well, and funding for the indoor pool and several school activities, including cheerleading, FFA, speech and drama.

If the operating levy referendum fails for the 2^nd consecutive year, the school’s administration team would recommend to the school board cutting at least $800,000 from the budget.

Neubeck says the cuts mentioned are at the top of the list, as well as the ones that would probably affect the community, students, and staff the most.

The closure of Riverside Elementary School in Jackson would mean kindergarten through sixth grades would be housed at the Lakefield school building, with seventh through 12th grades at the high school campus in Jackson.

(Estherville)--The annual Champions in Education Banquet presented by the ELC Schools Foundation will be held this Saturday, October 3^rd at the Elks Lodge in Estherville beginning at 6 p.m. Andrea Nelson with the ELC Schools Foundation says this year’s honoree is Julie Bates.

Nelson highlights the schedule for the evening.

The cost for an individual ticket is $30 or a table for 8 people can be purchased for $200. Nelson says the banquet is the main fundraiser for the foundation.

Nelson says they also fund special projects.

Tickets for the Champions in Education Banquet can be purchased on the ELC Schools Foundation Facebook page, from any foundation member or at the door. Nelson spoke with Dave Van Roekel Tuesday morning on KILR FM 95.9.

(Estherville)—High school students interested in attending Iowa Lakes Community College are encouraged to attend one of the fall visit days next week on the college’s Estherville and Emmetsburg campuses. Iowa Lakes Director of Admissions Annie Kalous says the fall visit days will be held on October 8^th at 1 pm on the Emmetsburg campus and on Friday, October 9th at 10 am on the Estherville campus.

Kalous says students and their parents are encouraged to sign-up in advance.

She says it’s a great way for parents to get comfortable about sending their kids to Iowa Lakes.

For more information, contact Annie Kalous at -712-852-5254.

Kalous says another program in high demand is aviation.

Kalous spoke with Dave Van Roekel Tuesday morning on KILR FM 95.9. For more information, visit iowalakes.edu

(Jackson, MN)--Jackson County will hold a public grand opening for its new jail, law enforcement center and government center next Tuesday, October 6th from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The new facilities are located adjacent to the Jackson County Courthouse at 405 Fourth Street in Jackson.

Construction of these facilities started in the summer of 2024. The government center is already occupied and providing services. The jail and law enforcement center will open in late October.

The current county jail is fifty years old and has been in violation of numerous state regulations since 2005 due to a wide range of problems such as cells that are too small, lack of medical space and outdated systems. The Minnesota Department of Corrections warned the county that ongoing compliance violations at the jail could eventually lead to its closure.

The new government center will consolidate the county assessor, auditor/treasurer and recorder's office into a shared service division called Property & Public Services. This consolidation aims to enhance service delivery and efficiency. The center will offer services such as veteran services, driver's licensing, passport services and more.

(Welcome, MN)--A South Dakota man was sent to the hospital after a single vehicle accident Monday morning on Interstate 90 in Martin County.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the accident occurred about 9 am west of the Welcome exit. The patrol says a 2006 Chevrolet Colorado driven by 20-year-old Omar Abdi Omar of Sioux Falls was eastbound on I-90 when it left the roadway, crossing both eastbound lanes before coming to rest in the center median.

Omar was taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital in Fairmont with non-life threatening injuries.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Sherburn and Welcome Police Department and Welcome Fire assisted at the scene.

(Spencer)--A Former Finance Assistant for the city of Spencer was sentenced Monday on charges of felony theft and credit card fraud.

The case arose after the State Auditor’s Office released a report on February 18^th of this year detailing a special investigation identifying that 53-year-old Lavonne Bell had stolen $46,098 during the period of January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2024, from the City of Spencer.

Due to a conflict of interest with the Clay County Attorney’s Office, Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Iowa.

Just prior to the sentencing, Bell pled guilty to Theft in the First Degree, a class C felony and credit card fraud, an aggravated misdemeanor.  The Court then sentenced Bell to serve a 10-year prison sentence but suspended it and ordered she successfully complete a term of probation not to exceed three years along with successfully completing financial counseling classes. Bell was also sentenced to serve 365 days in the Clay County Jail with all but 30 days suspended, with work release permitted by the jail’s rules, to begin on October 5th. Finally, Bell was ordered to pay full restitution of $106,098.

(Estherville)--The Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Awards Banquet. Chamber Executive Director Lexi Ruter says they are accepting nominations in four categories.

Ruter says there are only a few requirements for nominations.

She says you still have plenty of time to submit a nomination.

Nomination forms can be found online at estherville.org. On another topic, Ruter says the chamber is introducing a new event next month,

Again, the first Coffee and Connections will be held on Thursday, October 22^nd at Williams and Company from 9 to 10 am.

(Spencer)--Local business and economic development officials will have the chance in early November to hear from the Vice President for Economic Development and Industry Relations at Iowa State University. Larry Wajda, Regional Director for the Northwest Iowa Small Business Development Center, says David Spalding will speak at 10:00 am Monday, November 2nd at the Spencer Campus of Iowa Lakes Community College.

The presentation is more than a month away but Wajda encourages those interested to sign-up as soon as possible.

He explains how to sign-up for the presentation.

Spalding’s office at ISU also serves as the state headquarters of America’s SBDC Iowa.

For more information call 712-580-8619.

(Arnolds Park)--The Arnolds-Park Okoboji Fire and Rescue Department had a busy few hours today(Monday) responding to three different emergency calls. AP-O Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth says the first call came in shortly after 11:40 am.

Yungbluth says water and gas were shut off while repairs were made and no one was hurt. He says they were then called to an injury accident.

One person was transported to Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. Yungbluth says with so many calls in such a short period of time they had to split up crews.

He says they were cleared from the accident scene about 1:30 pm. No further details on the accident are available at this time.

(Okoboji)--Learn about the history and progress of wastewater management in the Iowa Great Lakes region during the next Kenue Coffee Hour this Thursday at 10:30 am at the Maser Monarch Lodge.

This month’s speaker will be Steve Anderson, district superintendent for the Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary  District. Anderson will discuss the history of sewage entering the Iowa Great Lakes and how wastewater treatment has evolved over time to protect our water quality.

“Clean water is incredibly important to our community, but many people may not realize how much  work happens behind the scenes to protect the Iowa Great Lakes,” said Amy Heibult, community  relations coordinator for the Dickinson County Conservation Board.

The program is free for adults to enjoy, and complimentary coffee will be provided. Registration is not  required to attend. For more programs offered by the Dickinson County Nature Center, visit www.dickinsoncountynaturecenter.com.

(Estherville)--The Estherville Lincoln Central Marching Bank took home top honors in the Class 2A competition Saturday at the North Central Iowa Marching Band Competition in Ft. Dodge.  ELC received 82.5 points to finish first out of four teams.

The ELC Marching Band won the awards for Best Color Guard, Best Brass, Best Woodwinds, Best Drum Line and Best Marching. Also ELC Senior Zeke Funston won the award for Best Soloist.

The ELC Marching Band will next compete at Algona Band Days on Saturday, October 3^rd.

(Estherville)--The city of Estherville will collect fall yard waste effective Monday, October 5th and continuing through Monday, November 23rd.

Residents taking advantage of this free service must use biodegradable paper leaf bags which need to be securely fastened and placed at the curb.

Residents must refrain from placing household waste, landscaping items such as planters and pots and pet waste in with the leaves and lawn rakings. Bags with unacceptable items will be left at the curb.

Collection will begin on Mondays each week, extending into additional days if needed to cover the entire city.

If you have any questions, call the city office at 362-7771.

(Spirit Lake)---A proposed recreational trail on the former railroad right-of-way from Orleans to just west of Superior has been awarded state funding. Erin Reed is Executive Director of the Dickinson County Trails Board.

Reed provides details about the project.

She says the state grant paves the way for the trail board to seek additional funds for the project.

Reed says they hope to begin work on the project in 2027.

The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors last week approved a resolution supporting federal funding for the project.

(Washington, D.C.)--Farmers are hoping the full Senate will take action soon on a new farm bill. The bill was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this month on a party line vote. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is a member of the Ag Committee.

Grassley says the lack of bi-partisan support for a farm bill is very unusual.

He says the disagreement is on the error rate in the SNAP or food stamp program.

Some political observers say the Senate may delay action on the Farm Bill until after mid term elections.