(Estherville)--The Estherville Police Department was alerted Tuesday that a neighboring law enforcement agency received a report from a concerned person, in regards to a phone call they received from an alleged employee that worked at Bank Plus. 

The phone number came up as the Bank Plus location in Estherville and the male subject advised the reporting party, that their bank account had been compromised.  At this point, the male subject asked the citizen for all passwords associated with their account.  No passwords were given out in this situation.

Police remind residents to never give out any personal information to anyone over the phone. 

In a Facebook post, Bank Plus says fraudsters are impersonating Bank Plus by spoofing its phone number and directing customers to a fake website that looks like the Bank Plus website.

Bank officials say they will never ask for sensitive information like your card number, account number, or online banking information. Do not trust unexpected calls, texts, or links, and do not visit unfamiliar websites. If something seems suspicious, hang up immediately.

Customers enrolled in Online Banking alerts or who use a debit card may still receive legitimate fraud notifications.

If you have any concerns contact Bank Plus at 712-362-5000.

(Estherville)--The Estherville City Council has approved an urban forestry development agreement with JEO Consulting Group in the amount of $23,470. The city had previously been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Iowa DNR for a creating an urban forestry plan. Estherville City Administrator Penny Clayton.

Clayton says the development of an urban forestry plan could lead to more grant opportunities.

She says the percentage of ash trees in the city needs to be reduced.

The council approved the agreement at their meeting on Monday evening.

(Estherville)--The Iowa Lakes Community College Music Department will be hosting the annual Reggie Schive Jazz Camp June 14^th -June 18^th  in Estherville. Camp Director Carol Ayres says this is the 45th year for the camp which started in Storm Lake.

Ayres says the camp has been at Iowa Lakes for about two decades. She says the camp is for students entering the 7th grade and older.

She says the campers will spend five days learning from world-renowned professional jazz musicians and educators.

Ayres says that will be followed by group instrument lessons.

In the evening the guest musicians will perform concerts in Estherville and the surrounding area. For more information, visit reggieschivejazzcamp.com.

(KILR)—Voters went to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in Iowa’s primary election.

There were no contested primaries in Emmet County. The only candidates on the ballot were three incumbent Republicans: Recorder Diann Minion, Treasurer Lisa Rosburg and County Supervisor John Pluth. Write-in votes will determine the 2^nd Republican party candidate and both Democratic Party candidates for the Board of Supervisors. Also each party’s candidate for County Attorney could also be decided by write-in votes. Those results will be announced later today. Voter turnout in Emmet County was 15.8 percent.

Elsewhere around the area: there were two contested Republican primaries for two seats up for election on the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors. Dan Taylor defeated Beth Will by a margin of 295 to 260 for the District One Seat and in District Four, Thaddeus Cook defeated Steven Clark 399 to 183. No Democrat filed for either position. In the Republican primary for County Attorney, Bethany Brands-Lampe received 1,410 votes to defeat Melanie Summers Bauler who received 754 votes.

In Clay County, five candidates were seeking the Republican nomination for the three seats up for election on the Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Barry Anderson received the most votes with 1,144. Also advancing were Sharon Johannsen with 929 votes and Brent Treirweiler with 877 votes. Kim Kroger was 4^th with 684 votes and Brandon Edmonds was 5^th with 489 votes.

In Kossuth County, there were Republican primaries for all three seats up for election on the Board of Supervisors. In District One, Mike Genrich defeated Bruce Pfeffer 214 to 197; In District 3, Gary Miller defeated Christopher Zinnel 284 to 109, and in District Four, Barry Boland defeated Rodney Benken 327 to 149.

There were no contested primaries in Palo Alto County.

In other results, Incumbent Dave Rowley turned back a tough challenge from Stacy Besch for the Republican nomination for 5^th District State Senate. Rowley received 3,638 votes or 52.5 percent compared to 3,277 votes or 47.3 percent for Besch. Rowley will be opposed in November by Rachel Gravert of Estherville who announced Tuesday she has qualified as a No Party candidate.

In State Senate District 3, Incumbent Republican Lynn Evans easily won the Republican primary defeating Shane Bellefy by a margin of 71.5 to 28.2 percent.

In the race for the Democratic nomination for 4^th District Congress, Dave Dawson was the winner with about 39-percent of the vote compared to about 30 percent each for Stephanie Steiner and Ashley Wolf Tornabane. Chris McGowan was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

(Fostoria)--A Spencer man is facing multiple charges after a disturbance late last week in Fostoria.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says at around 3:40 am Friday, deputies responded to 421 1^st Avenue Southwest in Fostoria.

After an investigation, 48-year-old Tyson Robbins  was taken into custody on the following charges: operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent;  criminal mischief in the 4th degree, 1^st degree harassment, 2nd degree attempted burglary, disorderly conduct, interference with official acts, reckless driving, failure to provide proof of financial liability and  no valid vehicle registration.

Robbins was being held in the Clay County Jail pending an appearance before the magistrate.

(Sanborn)—A Milford man is facing a felony drug charge after a traffic stop over the weekend in O’Brien County.

According to court documents, an O’Brien County Deputy initiated a traffic stop around 2:30 Saturday morning near Sanborn for non-functioning taillights. The car’s driver, 44-year-old Travis Miner, of Milford, was placed under arrest for driving while barred and driving with a license that is suspended or revoked.

As Miner was being booked into the O’Brien County Jail, correctional officers searched Miner and allegedly recovered a small Ziploc bag in his shoe that contained a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Miner was subsequently charged with introducing contraband into a correctional facility, a class D felony and possession of a controlled substance-2^nd offense.

(Estherville)--The Estherville City Council Monday evening received an update on the delayed opening of the Estherville Aquatic Center. City Administrator Penny Clayton says due to a mechanical issue, the pool was unable to open as scheduled on Monday.

Clayton says the city will consider giving refunds to people who purchased season passes for the pool.

Clayton says other pools and splash pads around the region are dealing with similar problems. In other business, the council accepted a bid from Griffith Decorative Concrete of Estherville in the amount of $65,000 for concrete improvements at the new public safety facility.

The money will come from the city’s general fund. Clayton outlines when the work will be done,

In other business the council formally approved the sale of land at 520 and 526 South 14^th St. to Kenneth and Lori Molacek for $1,000. The buyers plan to build a duplex on the property.

The council also approved a noise exception application for 2 person live music for a birthday party on July 25^th at 802 West North 7^th Street.

(Arnolds Park)--The 2^nd annual Bras for a Cause to raise funds for cancer awareness is set for June 17^th at the Peacock Lounge and Grill in Arnolds Park. Volunteer Di(die) Lorenzen says the money raised this year will go to the Abben Cancer Center in Spencer.

Lorenzen says the evening will begin with a dinner at 5 pm.

She explains how to make a donation to the event.

Lorenzen says last year’s event raised about $21,000.

(Estherville)--Today(Monday) is the final day for candidates to hit the campaign trail ahead of Tuesday’s primary election in Iowa. Five candidates are vying for the Republican Gubernatorial nomination. One of them, Adam Steen, was interviewed this morning on KILR 95.9.  Steen says cancer rates and water quality are the issues he hears most about from voters on the campaign trail.

Steen says he will bring people together to address the state’s high cancer rates.

Steen was an investment banker for 18 years. He served as the director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services for five years before resigning to run for governor. The other candidates in the race are 4^th District Congressman Randy Feenstra, businessman and farmer Zach Lahn, State Representative Eddie Andrews and former State Representative Brad Sherman. In order for someone to win the nomination they have to receive 35% of the vote in Tuesday’s primary. If that doesn't happen, the GOP nominee will be chosen at the state convention on June 13th.

(Spencer)--From towering corn stalks and giant pumpkins to award-winning floral displays and creative botanical designs, the Fields & Gardens and Floriculture Departments at the 2026 Clay County Fair, powered by SMU, offer exhibitors countless ways to showcase their talents.

Corn growers can compete for top honors in two featured classes. The Special Clay County Award Class is open to corn grown within the boundaries of Clay County. The Special District Award Class is open to all exhibitors regardless of residence.

Visitors will also want to keep an eye on the Department's crowd-favorite oddities contests, including Largest Pumpkin, Tallest Corn Stalk, Tallest Sunflower Stem, and Largest Sunflower Head.

Exhibitors are encouraged to review the 2026 Exhibitor Handbook for complete rules and guidelines. Handbooks are available online at Clay County Fair or may be picked up at the Fair Administrative Office.

Online pre-registration for Open Class Non-Livestock entries closes on August 3. Exhibitors are strongly encouraged to pre-register to help speed up the check-in process and assist departments in preparing for judging.

(Milford)--The Milford Police Department along with many other area police departments, have received numerous complaints about bicycles, scooters and e-bikes in recent weeks.

According to a post on the police department’s Facebook page, the City of Milford does have city ordinances for both scooters and bicycles and the State of Iowa has laws in place for them as well. The post says you are not allowed to be on the sidewalks downtown or in city parks on these devices. You are required to operate them safely and to obey all traffic laws while operating them. In the areas of town that they can be operated on sidewalks, the operator must yield to pedestrians and vehicles.

If the device does NOT have pedals, it is NOT considered an e-bike and is illegal to be operated other than on private property. Also, if the e-bike is more than 750W it is not considered a bicycle and can NOT be operated outside of public property.

(Estherville)--Iowa Lakes Community College will host auditions for the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” on Monday, June 8, the first day of a weeklong summer day camp.  Jessi Strom with the Iowa Lakes Music Department says the Missoula Children’s Theatre puts on productions nationwide.

Strom says auditions will be held next Monday, June 8th at the Janice K. Lund Performing Arts Center from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Students entering grades 1 through 12 are encouraged to audition. No advance preparation is necessary.

Storm says four high school students will have the chance to serve as assistant directors and will assist with backstage responsibilities throughout the week. The Emperor’s New Clothes will be presented Saturday, June 13th at 3 and 5:30 pm at the Janice K. Lund Performing Arts Center.

Again to register, go to our.show/Missoula.

(Okoboji)--The Dickinson County Nature Center is bringing back Nature Explorers this summer by popular demand. Children ages 5-12 can join staff every Wednesday from mid-June through mid-August for an hour of engaging fun and outdoor discovery. Community Relations Coordinator Amy Heibult.

The first session will be held on Wednesday, June 10^th. Heibult details the theme for some of the other sessions.

Participation is free, but preregistration is required for each session by visiting the Programs/Events page and Event List at dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com.

(Arnolds Park)--The early registration deadline is fast approaching for the University of Okoboji Cycling Classic Campus Bike Ride on Saturday June 27th.

Participants can choose from three different events: a 25 miles ride around West Okoboji; a 50 mile ride around West Okoboji, Spirit Lake, and East Okoboji; or a 100 mile ride around the Iowa Great Lakes and University of Okoboji Campus

Officials say the Campus Ride is neither a race nor a test of stamina. It is intended that all participants ride at their own pace and in a safe and responsible manner.

Registration is $30 for all participants, no matter the distance, until this Monday, June 1st. Prices increase on June 1st to $35 and registration will remain open until the day of the ride. To guarantee a race shirt, you should register before June 12^th.

You can register online at okobojichamber.com/u-of-o-campus-bike-ride.

Estherville)--The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) is hosting a Corridor Connections workshop in Estherville this Wednesday, June 3rd, featuring a panel of local marketing professionals to discuss marketing strategies and resources for small businesses and communities.

A moderated panel of local marketing professionals will discuss topics like social media management, branding & logo design, marketing strategy, video production, and other realworld marketing approaches that small businesses can use to get started and put into practice.

Panelists include Jill Harms, owner of Blink Marketing in Milford; Joe Weber, co-founder of F8 Creative in Spencer; Vanessa Moore, owner of Vertical Marketing in Spencer; and Derek Baker, Executive VP of Growth and Innovation at Mills Marketing in Storm Lake.

The Corridor Connections event will be held Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30  a.m. at the Iowa Lakes Community College Room 16 Auditorium in Estherville. This event is free for Corridor investors to attend, but space is limited. Reserve your spot at lakescorridor.com/connect.

(Estherville)—While kids are enjoying summer vacation, educational experts are concerned about the loss of learning that can take place while kids are out of school, known as the summer slide.  GTRA Superintendent Marshall Lewis says kids can enjoy the summer break and learn at the same time.

Lewis says every day activities can also serve as learning opportunities.

He emphasizes the importance of kids having fun while learning.

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

(Estherville)--An Armstrong man was killed and another person injured in a fiery two vehicle accident Friday evening east of Estherville.

The Iowa State Patrol says the accident involving a semi and a pickup happened shortly after 6:40 pm on Highway 9 east of 410^th Avenue

The patrol says a 1996 GMC pickup driven by 41-year-old John James Bumgart of Armstrong was traveling westbound on Highway 9 when it crossed the center line and struck an eastbound 2020 Peterbilt semi driven by 50-year-old Karie Marie Eisma of Hawarden.

Following the collision, the pickup entered the north ditch and the semi entered the south ditch where it burst into flames and became fully engulfed. The Patrol says Bumgart, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at scene. Eisma was injured and transported by Estherville Ambulance to Avera Holy Family Hospital. The patrol says she was wearing a seat belt.

The Estherville Fire Department and Emmet County Sheriff’s Office also assisted at the scene.

(Estherville)--The city of Estherville has announced the opening of the Estherville Aquatic Center will be delayed.

According to a news release, the aquatic center will not open on June 1^st as originally planned due to a mechanical issue.

The city says an opening date will be announced once repairs are completed.

(Brycelin, MN)--A northwest Iowa man was injured in a single vehicle accident Thursday evening on Interstate-90 in eastern Faribault County.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the accident happened around 6:30 pm near the Brycelin exit. The patrol says 85-year-old Mark Erickson of Greenville was driving a 2018-Dodge Ram 250 pickup westbound on I-90 when the vehicle went off the roadway and rolled.

Erickson was taken to the Blue Earth Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Faribault County Sheriff’s Office, Wells Police Department, Wells Ambulance, Brycelin Fire and Walters Fire assisted at the scene.

(Des Moines)--An Emmetsburg attorney has been publicly reprimanded for falsely claiming he had dementia in order to be excused from a case.

According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, court records show that in December 2024, police arrested Mario Delapaz of Storm Lake on charges of harassment and domestic abuse resulting in assault or injury. Delapaz was later convicted of both charges, the records show.

Shortly after the arrest, Emmetsburg attorney Fred Blake Perkins was appointed by the court to represent Delapaz in the case.

Court records indicate that in September 2025, after the court denied Perkins’ request to withdraw from the case, he allegedly renewed his request by filing paperwork informing the judge that he was not competent to conduct legal research and was experiencing symptoms of early-onset dementia.

The Attorney Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Iowa alleges those representations were false

Records in the criminal case show that in his renewed motion to withdraw from the matter, Perkins wrote to the judge and stated that his 81-year-old father was in a nursing home with dementia and that he recognized the “early warning signs” in his own behavior. At the time, Perkins was 55 years old.

(Estherville)--According to a recent Gallup Survey, seven in 10 Americans oppose constructing data centers for artificial intelligence in their local area, including nearly half who are strongly opposed.  Concern about higher electricity rates was one of main reasons cited for opposing data centers. Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative President and CEO Ryan Craig says Iowa Lakes has taken steps to protect its customer-owners from bearing any of the burden if a data center wanted to locate in its service territory.

Craig says the data centers are often built by developers who will then try and sell it to a larger company.

He says there is a growing trend toward building smaller projects.

Craig spoke with Dave Van Roekel Thursday morning on KILR FM 95.9. 

Listen to the full interview below:

(Estherville)--Former Iowa Congressman Steve King was at Bud’s Café in Estherville over the noon hour Thursday to discuss his endorsement of Zach Lahn(Lane) for Governor. Lahn is one of five candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Governor. King explains why he decided to support Lahn.

King says Lahn wants to stop the outward migration of young people from Iowa.

He says Lahn is also a supporter of the MAHA movement.

King says he thinks  Lahn has a good chance of defeating front runner Randy Feenstra in next week’s primary and would be the strongest candidate to go up against Democrat Rob Sand in the general election.

(Iowa)--Pizza Hut is leaning into nostalgia and offering customers a taste of the 90's at some of its restaurants including the one in Estherville.

Pizza Hut's parent company, Yum!, recently published a lisr of the 155 Pizza Hut Classic locations where guests can currently find a retro dine-in experience. That includes the iconic red plastic cups, checkered tablecloths, vinyl booths, Tiffany-style lamps and the red roofs. 

The retro restaurants aren't the only way Pizza Hut is bringing back memories of the '90s. The company is also promoting it's Book It! reading program with free pizza rewards for kids. 

In addition to the location at 2209 Murray Road in Estherville, four other Pizza Hut locations in Northwest Iowa will receive the retro redesign. They are in Sibley, Sioux Center, Storm Lake and Cherokee.

The chain has not announced when the changes will take place.

(Spirit Lake)--The U.S. Senate has approved the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act. The legislation would extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program for another five years. The program benefits 80 rural hospitals in the United States. Four of them are in Iowa including Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. LRH President and CEO Jason Harrington.

Harrington explains how the program works.

He says the program helps ensure the long term sustainability of Lakes Regional Healthcare.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley was one of the sponsors of the bill in the Senate. Iowa 4^th District U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra last week introduced a companion bill in the House.

(Spirit Lake)--The Spirit Lake City Council has paved the way for a new housing project on the west side of town. The council voted 5-0 Tuesday evening to approve the creation of an urban renewal plan for that area along with a developer’s agreement for the Cypress Ridge housing development. City Attorney/Administrator Gregg Owens says the agreement is with developer Lee Seeman.

Owens says even though the land is zoned R-3, the development will only consist of single family homes. He says there will be no traditional condominiums, apartments or townhomes.

Owens says homes will be in the $800,000 range. He says the development will require the construction of a new sanitary sewer lift station.

Owens says he expects the developer to start applying for building permits very soon with construction beginning within several weeks.