(Algona)--The 27^th annual Founders’ Day celebration gets underway Thursday in Algona. Avery Pederson, Executive Director of the Algona Area Chamber of Commerce, says  there are some new events for this year’s celebration.

Museum tours will be held each day. Pederson says Friday begins at 9:30 am with the weekly Chamber Coffee with the Kossuth County Historical Society at the Wells Fargo Building on Dodge Street, Celebrating Kossuth’s 175th Birthday and America’s 250th Birthday

Pederson says Saturday begins with Yoga on the Lawn at The Mansion beginning at 8:30 am.

The day will end with an Absolute Pro Wrestling Live Show on State Street beginning at 8 pm. Pederson says the celebration will wrap-up on Sunday.

A complete schedule of events can be found online at algona.org or the Algona Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

(Algona)--Funeral arrangements have been set long-time Algona Mayor Lynn Kueck, who passed away this past weekend at the age of 81.

Kueck was born and raised in Algona and returned to his hometown after college to begin a teaching career that spanned 35 years. He was first elected Mayor in 1997 and served until 2008. He was elected again in 2010 and served through 2019.

Kueck also spent 33 years on the Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees. The Algona Campus of Iowa Lakes bears his name. The industrial park east of Algona is also named in his honor, as is the Lynn and Sherry Kueck Algona Betterment Fund, which was established in 2017 through the Kossuth County Community Foundation.

Lynn Kueck’s funeral will be held Saturday at 10:30 am at First Presbyterian Church in Algona. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4 to 6 pm at the First Presbyterian Church.

(Arnolds Park)--Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue had a busy 4th of July holiday weekend.  AP-O Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth says the department responded to 15 medical calls and came in contact with 22 patients and had four Fire Boat responses for water medical emergencies. Youngbuth says they were also on stand-by for four events including three concerts at Arnolds Park and an EMS crew on a Personal Water Craft for the Lake Affect concert.

In addition, Yungbluth says AP-O Fire and Rescue responded to two residential fire alarms, two fireworks debris fire calls, and three dumpster fires for improper disposal of fireworks debris. Yungbluth says one of those calls is suspicious. They also responded to the plane crash Saturday near the Dickinson County Nature Center. 

Yungbluth says he would like to thank those volunteers who responded to calls, stood by at events, or hung out at the station to ensure a rapid response to emergencies over the holiday weekend.

(Spirit Lake)--A growing number of algae blooms are being reported in the Iowa Great Lakes. Andrew Carlson, Fisheries Biologist with the DNR Office in Spirit Lake, says the algae blooms are common this time of year.

Carlson offers some advice for those planning to swim in the lakes.

In addition to warm weather, Carlson says wind can also have an impact on algae blooms.

Carlson says algae blooms will be an off and on concern for the remainder of the summer.

(Des Moines)--Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for Osceola County in response to severe weather that occurred on June 29th and continuing.

Reynolds’ proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of these storms and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program. The proclamation is effective immediately and will remain in effect for 30 days unless terminated or extended.

(Lakota)--The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office has released details on a motorcycle accident that seriously injured a Lakota man.

The Sheriff’s Office says at around 3:30 pm on June 24^th, 59-year-old Joseph Schutter of Lakota was driving a 2010 Harely Davidson motorcycle northbound on 183^rd Avenue, north of Lakota,  when he left the roadway while negotiating a curve and entered the west ditch. Schutter was ejected from the motorcycle.

Schutter was found by his wife almost an hour after the accident. He was transported by Kossuth EMS to the Titonka area, where a landing zone was secured for Mercy Air Med to transfer him to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City.

Kossuth County and Titonka EMS assisted at the scene.

(Estherville)--The Estherville City Council Monday evening approved a pair of engineering agreements with Bolton and Menk for the design of a new grass parallel taxiway at the Estherville Airport. City Administrator Penny Clayton says the two agreements are for different segments of the project.

The FAA portion of the project is $116,600 with 95-percent of the cost covered by federal funds. The DOT portion of the project is $105,200 with the state covering 70-percent of the cost. Clayton says the project is needed to reduce congestion at the airport.

In other business, the council accepted the low bid of $178,210 from Boland Recreation of Marshalltown to replace the surface at the city’s Ninja Park which was damaged by flooding. After tabling action on the project at their last meeting to explore other options, the council decided to go ahead with the original bid.

Clayton says most of the project will be covered by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The city’s share of the project will come from park department revenue and general fund reserve. The council also approved the 2^nd reading of an ordinance to make South 17^th St One-Way from 1^st Avenue South to 3^rd Avenue South. The third and final reading will be considered at their next meeting on July 20^th.

(Spirit Lake)--A Spirit Lake man is facing felony drug charges after he was caught trying to flush drugs down a toilet at his residence.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Spirit Lake Police, 53-year-old Nathan Egdorf barricaded himself inside a bathroom in his house this past Thursday. When police made forcible entry, they found Egdorf flushing drugs down the toilet. Police say some methamphetamine was recovered from the toilet and some had already dissolved in some baggies. About five grams of a crystal substance was recovered from the residence along with drug paraphernalia and a large amount of cash. Egdorf is accused of possessing what’s believed to be meth and cocaine with intent to deliver.

An officer sustained an ankle injury while another received a laceration on his arm as they were trying to break down a door.

Egdorf is charged with two felony counts of a controlled substance violation, possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense, a class D felony, interference with official acts causing bodily injury; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Egdorf was booked into the Dickinson County Jail where he was being held on a $75,300 bond.

A preliminary hearing is set for July 13^th in Dickinson County District Court. A bond review hearing is set for July 20^th.

(Alton)--A Milford woman is facing multiple charges after a traffic stop last week near Alton.

According to the Orange City Police Department, at around 7:30 pm on June 29^th, a 2013 Chrysler Sebring driven by 34-year-old Laurel Rowland of Milford was driving slowly in the left lane of the Highway 60 expressway about a mile northeast of Alton.

Police say Rowland admitted there was marijuana in the center console of the vehicle, and two baggies of marijuana plant material and a THC vape during a consent search.

Rowland was charged with first-offense possession of a controlled substance-marijuana, driving while barred, and driving while her license was denied, suspended, canceled, or revoked.

(Estherville)--Crops around northwest and north central Iowa are doing well after getting a boost from recent rains. ISU Extension Agronomist Gentry Sorenson.

In some cases, the rain was accompanied by hail and high winds and Sorenson says there were some scattered reports of crop damage.

Sorenson says so far there have been few reports of disease or insects.

He says there have been a few reports of tar spot in corn around the state but none so far in northwest Iowa.

(Fostoria)--One person was sent to the hospital after a two vehicle accident this past Thursday near Fostoria.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened shortly before 2:20 pm at the intersection of Highway 71 and 280^th St. Deputies say a 2015 Chevy Silverado driven by 42-year-old John Olsen of Milford was northbound in the west lane of Highway. 71.  A 2017 Subaru Crosstrek driven by 66-year-old Linda Flaharty of Dickens was stopped at the yield sign facing east on 280th St in the middle of Highway 71.  Olson approached 280th St and saw Flaharty entering the intersection.  Olson swerved to avoid a collision but struck the Flaharty vehicle.  The Olson vehicle then struck two stop signs at the intersection before coming to rest in the northeast ditch.  The Flaharty vehicle spun approximately 180 degrees and came to rest halfway on the northeast lane and halfway on the northeast shoulder. 

Flaharty was taken to Spencer Hospital for treatment of possible injuries.

Flaharty was cited for failure to yield from a yield sign.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Spencer Hospital, Dickens Fire and Rescue, the Iowa State Patrol and Bud’s Service.

(Spencer) -The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association will host a music workshop and community concert that will take place Saturday, July 18th in Spencer. Association Board member Jill Barr says the Classic Rock Experience is a great opportunity for students interested in learning more about the music business.

Barr says students will also learn about careers behind the scenes.

She says one of the guest musicians will be Kirk “Skinny’ Webb.

The day will conclude with a concert at Spencer Community Theatre at 7 pm.

Tickets are available at: events.humanitix.com/theclassicrockexperience and the SCT Box Office. Tickets are $20 General Admission and $25 the day of the show. A portion of the proceeds will be directed to Iowa Rock’s Scholarship Fund.

(Okoboji)--OkoboTree, an endeavor of Spirit of Okoboji, has reached a significant milestone with the completion of its 25th sculpted tree, including six new sculptures added in 2026 alone. This puts the Iowa Great Lakes more than halfway toward becoming the largest community in the United States for sculpted trees. Carrie Meyer. Artistic Director of OkoboTree, says one of the new sculptures is located at Arnolds Park Amusement Park.

The other sculptures are located at private residences in Spirit Lake and Okoboji and at Nektar in Arnolds Park.  Meyer says their goal is to surpass the current record of 43 sculpted trees in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Meyer explains how the public can help with the project.

For more information, visit okobotree.org.

(Primghar)--A Spirit Lake man originally charged with attempted murder has entered into a plea agreement in O’Brien County Court.

According to court documents, 33-year-old Johnathan Oldenkamp has pleaded guilty to one count of reckless use of a firearm and two counts of assault on persons in certain occupations - bodily injury.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on May 25, 2025 in Hartley. Authorities say Oldenkamp allegedly pulled alongside a vehicle driving westbound on Highway 18 and shot at the driver of vehicle. The driver, Fernando Curiel, turned around to get away but the suspect vehicle turned around and shot at him again. Curiel was struck but managed to drive to the Sheldon Hospital. Authorities say Curiel was Oldenkamp’s Supervisor at AMPI and Oldenkamp had recently been terminated.  

When he was arrested in December 2025, Oldenkamp allegedly kicked O’Brien County Sheriff Bruce Devereaux and a deputy.

As part of the plea agreement, Oldenkamp will be sentenced to five years in prison on the firearms charge and five years for each assault charge. The assault charges will be served concurrently so Oldenkamp faces a total of ten years in prison.

Oldenkamp initially pleaded not guilty to the two counts of assault on persons in certain occupations - causing bodily harm but decided to plead guilty to those charges last Monday.

(Arnolds Park)--One person was sent to the hospital after a golf cart accident Friday night in Arnolds Park.

Arnolds Park Police say shortly before 10:30 pm. 49-year-old Lisa Anderson of Lake City was driving a golf cart on East Broadway at Highway 71 when she lost control, causing it to roll onto its side on the street.

Anderson and four passengers, two adult males and two juvenile males, were ejected from the golf cart. Anderson sustained an incapacitating injury and was taken by ambulance to Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. The four passengers declined transport to the hospital.

Police say the incident remains under investigation and charges may be pending.

Arnolds Park Police were assisted Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue, Lakes Regional Healthcare Ambulance and paramedics and Boji Tow Service.

(Okoboji)--No one was injured when a plane crashed Saturday morning near the Dickinson County Nature Center.

Shortly before 10:45 am, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported plane crash northeast of the Spirit Lake Airport. Authorities say 71-year-old Kenneth Kemna of North Fort Myers, Florida had just taken off from the Spirit Lake airport in Okoboji and had some sort of mechanical failure. Kemna set the plane down in a field north of the airport. No injuries were reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.

Other agencies responding to the scene include the Spirit Lake, Okoboji, Arnolds Park and Milford Police Departments, Iowa State Patrol, Dickinson County Emergency Management, Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire and Rescue and Lakes Regional Healthcare Ambulance.

(Estherville)—Highways across Iowa and nationwide will be very busy during the 4th of July holiday weekend. Iowa State Trooper Kevin Krull says state and local law enforcement will be conducting stepped-up enforcement during the holiday weekend.

Krull says a major emphasis will be cracking down on impaired driving.

He says hot weather can increase the effect of alcohol on your body.

Krull says eight people were killed on Iowa roads during last year’s 4^th of July weekend.

(Estherville)--While many people enjoy fireworks on the 4^th of July, the loud noises can be very stressful for pets. Emmet County Animal Shelter Director Kristy Henning says there are some things you can do to lessen the stress for your cats and dogs.

Henning says dogs tend to be more sensitive than cats to the sound of fireworks. She says if you kennel your dog, make sure the kennel is securely closed.

Henning says if your cat or dog does get out, it’s important they have identification.

For more information, visit the Emmet County Animal Shelter Facebook page.

(West Bend)--The city of West Bend will be observing the 4^th of July with a three day celebration.  Organizer Jillian Hansen says the fun begins on Friday with a couple of events.

Hansen says a full day of events is planned for Saturday.

She says activities will continue into the evening.

The final event from 8 am to noon on Sunday morning is a breakfast buffet at the West Bend Fire Department put on by the West Bend-Mallard Cross Country team.

(Terril)--A house fire late Tuesday afternoon near Terril caused extensive damage and claimed the lives of several pets.

At around 4:45 pm, the Terril and Dickens Fire Departments were paged to a house fire located at 2970 290th Street, southwest of Terril.

Terril Fire Chief Jarod Fischer says upon arrival, firefighters made entry into the residence, completed an interior fire attack and started positive pressure ventilation.

The Milford and Wallingford Fire Departments were also called for mutual aid resources, water and firefighters. The Wallingford Fire Department was canceled enroute.

Fischer says the fire started in the basement of the residence near a couch. Extensive fire damage was located in the basement including smoke, and fire soot damage.

Fischer says the occupants of the house were able to make it out safely. Unfortunately, four animals, 3 dogs and 1 cat died in the fire.

Assistance was also provided by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Spencer Ambulance and the  Clay, Dickinson and Emmet County 911 Communication Dispatchers.

(Algona)--The city of Algona has issued a scam alert.

According to a news release, fraudulent emails from scammers posing as City of Algona staff have been recently received by area residents. The emails requested payments related to site plan applications and board of adjustment applications.

Residents are advised emails from the City of Algona will not come from a Gmail account, or other free email services such as Yahoo or Hotmail. Emails from staff at City Hall will be from an address ending in @algonaiowa.gov.

The City of Algona does not utilize email billing or request payments through a wire transfer. Online payments are available for Algona Recreation Department activities and park shelters, but those payments would be completed on the website platform and not as an email request. Payment requests, building permits, nuisance abatements and other communication that would require a payment are typically sent in the mail or handled in person and would not be sent via email or text message.

Residents are urged to stop by city hall or call 515-295-2411 to confirm any emails or requests from the City of Algona that seem suspicious.

(Okoboji)--The Dickinson County Nature Center is giving couples the opportunity to reconnect outdoors with an evening designed just for outdoor lovers. Amy Heibult, Community Relations Coordinator for Dickinson County Conservation says Nature Night Out: Campfire Cooking will take place on Friday, July 10th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Maser Monarch Lodge.

Heibult says child care will be available.

She explains how to sign-up for the event.

For more information, call the Dickinson County Nature Center at 712-336-6352.

(Bancroft)—Area residents are invited to enjoy the annual 4^th of July celebration in the city of Bancroft tonight-Saturday. Head volunteer Laura Arndorfer says the celebration gets underway this evening with a Street Dance at 8 pm outside the Main Street Pub featuring the band IV(4) Play. Arndorfer says events continue on Friday afternoon.

The day will conclude with another Street Dance at 8 pm featuring the band Midland Vibe Arndorfer says a full day of fun is planned for Saturday.

She says there are also some new events for this year.  

The celebration will conclude with the annual Fireworks Display.

A complete schedule of activities can be found online at: funinbancroft.org.

(Estherville)--A host of new state laws went into effect Wednesday in the state of Iowa. One of them raises the speed limit on two lane state highways and paved county roads from 55 to 60 mph. Iowa State Trooper Kevin Krull urges motorists to use caution when it comes to the new speed limit.

Krull says the new speed limit will also require other changes.

He hopes the speed limit isn’t raised any higher in the future.

Krull says there’s also a new law regarding window tint. The new law reduces the amount of light required to come through the front windows.

Krull spoke with Dave Van Roekel Wednesday morning on KILR FM 95.9.

(Emmetsburg)--The 4^th of July Celebration in Emmetsburg gets underway Thursday evening with the city’s fireworks display at 10 pm over Five Island Lake.  Officials say the display is being held Thursday evening do to the high fireworks demand for America’s 250^th Birthday celebration. Leading up to the fireworks, the band Birdchild will perform at the Shores at Five Island Lake beginning at 7 pm. Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce Director Christy Willmore says there will also be an event at Mural Park.

Willmore says the Chamber will then be hosting a July Jamboree on Saturday at Soper Park.

She says the vendors and food trucks will be open from 10 am to 2 pm.

For more information, visit emmetsburgchamber.com.

(Estherville)—The Emmet County Board of Supervisors Tuesday heard an appeal from CAASA Executive Director, Stephanie Henrich, regarding the board’s decision not to provide funding to the organization in Fiscal Year 2027. CAASA had received $2,500 in the 2026 Fiscal Year. Henrich says CAASA is currently providing services to nearly two dozen sexual assault survivors in Emmet County.

Henrich says CAASA is recognized by the state as the sexual assault agency for northwest Iowa.

Henrich says Emmet County is one of only two counties not to provide funding for CAASA. The other is Clay County which discontinued funding after the 2024 floods. The Supervisors did provide funding to the Family Crises Centers which deals with domestic and sexual abuse victims.

Supervisor Jeff Quastad said it was a difficult decision but the county is in a tough place due to the budget.  The board discussed the possibility of CAASA using office space in the courthouse for their local advocate when space becomes available as the Engineer’s Office will be moving to its new building later this summer.

(Des Moines)--Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced the expansion of the Streamside Buffer Pilot Project to include farmers and landowners living in all 22 counties in the Greater Des Moines Watershed. The expansion is part of the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program, a targeted initiative to accelerate and scale up the use of conservation practices in counties upstream from the Des Moines metro to improve water quality. Emmet, Clay, Dickinson, Kossuth and Palo Alto counties are part of the Des Moines Watershed.

Funding for the project expansion is provided by the Farm to Faucet water quality package signed into law on June 1.

The Streamside Buffer Pilot Project was launched in August 2025 to help farmers and landowners establish perennial buffers along streams, rivers, creeks, and drainage ditches to reduce nutrient runoff and soil erosion and improve water quality.

(Washington, D.C.)--Iowa 4^th District Congressman Randy Feenstra has announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has awarded more than $27 million in federal disaster recovery funding to communities across Northwest Iowa following devastating flooding, severe storms, and other natural disasters.

The funding will support critical recovery efforts, including facilitation of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and voluntary home buyouts of 247 properties throughout Northwest Iowa. Additionally, there is a release of Public Assistance program funds for helping families, local governments, and communities rebuild stronger while reducing future flood risks.

The funding includes the purchase of 104 properties, and release of over $22 million in support for the city of Rock Valley; more than $3.5 million for the City of Rock Valley for debris removal and repair; the purchase of one property, and the release of over $149,000 in support for the city of Sioux Rapids; more than $208,000 for Palo Alto County’s Drainage District; and the purchase of two properties, and the release of over $360,000 in support for the city of Hawarden.

(Estherville)—The nomination period is now open for local Farm Service Agency county committee elections. Palo Alto County FSA Executive Director Lisa Forburger says the nomination period will run through August 3rd.

Forburger says the county committees are a critical component of the day to day operations of the FSA.

A county committee is composed of three members with each member serving a three year term. Forburger explains how to submit a nomination.

The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available online at fsa.usda.gov/elections. 

(Estherville)---The Estherville Aquatic Center will open for the season tomorrow(Wednesday).

The aquatic center was unable to open as scheduled this year due to the discovery of nearly a dozen leaks when crews attempted to fill the pool.  Officials say a contractor was able to the repair the leaks and the pool will open tomorrow(Wednesday) from 1 to 7 pm.

Season passes are on sale at 50-percent off. For more information, visit esthervilleia.myrec.com.