(Spencer)--A Ruthven man is facing charges after the report of a residential burglary in Spencer.

According to the Spencer Police Department, at around 6:20 am Thursday, a report of a burglary in progress was received from a residence in the 1100 block of Grand Avenue. The homeowner reported finding a man in the residence and that some items were missing. The suspect then took off on foot.

Police located 64-year-old Larry Rolling of Ruthven a short time later at a nearby Hy-Vee store. Officers recovered the stolen property and discovered methamphetamine in the process.

Rolling was arrested and was booked into the Clay County Jail on charges of 2^nd degree burglary,  a class C felony, and possession of a controlled substance.

Rolling is being held in the Clay County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

(Des Moines)--Iowa experienced significantly improved conditions through April, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

A particularly wet April brought relief to a large portion of the state. While southeastern Iowa saw significant improvement, dry conditions continue to linger in the northwestern part of the state. Iowa’s preliminary statewide precipitation for April totaled 5.66 inches, or 1.99 inches above normal. This marks the 6th wettest April on record for the state.

In the KILR listening area, all of Emmet and Dickinson counties are in the D-0 or abnormally dry category along with the northwest corner of Kossuth County, the northwest portion of Palo Alto County and all but the southeast corner of Clay County. The remaining portions of Kossuth, Palo Alto and Clay Counties have no drought designation.

(Estherville)--When Emmet County voters go to the polls in next month’s primary election, they will not find a candidate on the ballot for County Attorney. Emmet County Auditor Heidi Goebel says no candidates from either the Republican or Democrat party submitted paperwork to be on the ballot.

Goebel details the number of votes needed for each party.

She says if a write-in candidate receives the nomination at the primary election, that candidate must file an affidavit of candidacy by 5 pm on the seventh day after the canvass.

Goebel says if there is no general election winner, the Board of Supervisors can fill the position by appointment once the vacancy is created.

(Wahpeton)--Donations are being sought to continue dredging operations in the Wahpeton Canal System. Following the successful dredging and restoration work in Turtle Lake, project leaders are focused on adjoining DNR owned canal waterways that connect Turtle Lake to West Lake Okoboji.  Tim Ireland is President of the Lakewood Parks Association.

Ireland says this is a critical time for the project.

Ireland says the DNR has granted permission for the removal of a pedestrian bridge along the Barney Peterson Memorial Trail at Gull Point State Park.

The DNR plans to replace the bridge in Fiscal Year 2028. Ireland says the project is a once in a lifetime opportunity to restore these waterways.

You can make a donation through the Okoboji Foundation by going to okobojifoundation.org/giveboji.

(Bancroft)--Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge has announced the auto tour route will be open from today through Sunday, May 17^th in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day.

Visitors are welcome to drive cars, trucks and side-by-side UTVs on the tour route from sunrise to sunset during those dates. The auto tour route begins at the refuge headquarters and takes visitors along a four and one-half mile drive of wetland, open water, and prairie habitat. Toward the beginning of the tour route, there is an observation platform with two spotting scopes overlooking a large portion of the refuge.

Officials say viewing opportunities are generally best in early morning and early evening as that’s when wildlife is most active.

(Armstrong)--The city of Armstrong recently approved a vicious dog ordinance.

The action comes after numerous complaints over the past several months about dogs running at large and killing small livestock in the Armstrong area.

The ordinance says it is unlawful to keep a vicious dog within the city limits. A dog is deemed to be vicious if it has done any of the following: attacked or bitten any person without provocation or serious injury; more than once without provocation injured a domestic animal while off the owner’s property; if it has once killed, without provocation a domestic animal, pet or livestock while off the owner’s property, or when it has been used primarily for the purpose of dog fighting or the dog is trained for dog fighting.

Any person may file a complaint alleging that a particular dog is vicious. The owner of the dog will be notified by the Sheriff or their designee and an investigation will be conducted.

If the dog is deemed to be vicious, the Sheriff will notify the owner in writing of the finding and the appeal process, and order the dog be removed from within the city limits within 72 hours.

Owners who do not comply can be subject to a fine of $100 per day.

(Okoboji)--The Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji is in the process of applying for a Community Attraction and Tourism or CAT grant to fund an educational treehouse facility that would be built in conjunction with the Tree House Master’s television program. Pearson executive Director Bob Kirschbaum explains how the project came about.

Kirschbaum says they got a quick response after submitting an application to Treehouse Masters.

He says their main requirement was that the treehouse would be handicapped accessible.

Kirschbaum details some of the amenities that would be included in the treehouse.

Kirschbaum says a major donor is helping to fund the project. The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors this week approved a $1,000 donation to the project as a show of support for the CAT grant. Krirschbaum says construction would likely begin in the fall of 2027 and take two to three months to complete.

(Milford)--The Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District is set to begin work on the next phase of a $24 million improvement project for the wastewater collection system.  The project involves replacing 1.5 miles of existing 30-inch diameter pipe and manholes that are at the end of their service life. 

The project starts at the wastewater treatment plant and goes northward, nearly to the Arnolds Park Amusement Park. The existing pipe is being replaced with two 36-inch sewer pipes.  Work on the project is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2027.

To date, approximately 30 percent of the new sewer system has been installed, including sections within the Hunter Hills development and portions in the Emerald Hills Golf Course.

The next major phase of construction will begin on May 11th, when the contractor initiates work to connect the new sewer main to the wastewater treatment plant. This connection will require a full closure of 28th Street in Milford for approximately four weeks.

Officials have been working with emergency responders to ensure access during construction.  There will also be access to the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa during the road closure.

(Sherburn, MN)--The City of Sherburn is warning residents about coyotes being spotted within city limits.

According to a Facebook post from the city, coyotes have recently been observed in the Sherburn area. While sightings are not uncommon and coyotes generally avoid human interaction, officials encourage everyone to remain aware and take a few simple precautions to help keep both residents and pets safe.

They include keeping pets supervised and on a leash when outdoors, especially during early morning and evening hours, not leaving pet food, garbage, or other food sources outside, and maintaining awareness while walking or using local trails and parks.

If a coyote is observed nearby, remain calm, give it space, and do not attempt to approach or feed it. If you notice aggressive behavior or repeated activity in populated areas, contact local animal control or non-emergency public safety services. If it starts becoming aggressive or is out in daylight hours and there’s a concern for safety dial 911.

(Des Moines)--Keep Iowa Beautiful has announced the recipients of the Plant Iowa Beautiful mini-grant program. This initiative, designed to support local beautification efforts across the state, provides funding for projects that enhance publicly accessible spaces and foster community spirit. 
 
Out of 150 organizations that applied, 12 projects were selected to receive a $500 grant. These projects range from tree plantings and community gardens to streetscape enhancements and landscaping in parks

 
Grant recipients in northwest Iowa include: Lake Park Hometown Pride, Storm Lake Hometown Pride and Alta Hometown Pride/City of Alta. 

This program is made possible through sponsorships from Landus Cooperative and Keep America Beautiful.

(Emmetsburg)--Spring Palooza, a community block party and street market hosted by the Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce will be held this Saturday in downtown Emmetsburg. Christy Willmore, Executive Director of the Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce, says this is the 2^nd year for the event.

Willmore says Spring Palooza will take place on 10th Street along Courthouse Square from 9 am to 1pm.

She highlights a couple of other events at this year’s Spring Palooza.

Willmore says there will be a wide variety of vendors for people to check out.

For more information, contact the Emmetsburg Chamber at 712-852-2283.

(Lakefield)--More than a dozen volunteers helped clean-up Kilen Woods State Park near Lakefield this past Saturday, May 2nd.

Sponsored by Federated Rural Electric, 14 volunteers and three park employees helped spruce up Kilen Woods. Andrea Christoffer, Federated’s Marketing & Communications Manager, says volunteers picked up litter and downed branches on the trails and campgrounds. They  also raked leaves at the tent sites and amphitheater, plus pounded rebar back in on the parking spurs from the frost heaves. volunteers also spread gravel around the picnic area fire rings and at the camping pads, along with raking the volleyball sand court.

Federated and the volunteers donating about 48 hours of work as the park opens for camping season this coming weekend. The volunteers received a free hot dog lunch from Federated.

Over the last 25 years 444 Federated GreenTouch volunteers have donated about 1,427 hours to help with the upkeep at Kilen Woods State Park.

(Estherville)--Iowa Congresswoman and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson was in Estherville Tuesday to tour the Sustainable Energy and Resources Technologies building at Iowa Lakes Community College. After the tour, Hinson said she wanted to learn more about workforce development. 

Hinson entered the race for Senate after Joni Ernst announced she would not run for re-election.

Hinson was asked if she supported President Trump’s military action against Iran.

Hinson is running against former State Senator Jim Carlin in the Republican primary. Two candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination: State Senator Zach Walls and State Representative Josh Turek.

(Estherville)--A graduation ceremony for the 2025-2026 Lead the Ville Class will be held next Wednesday, May 13^th  at 10:30 am at the Janice K Lund Performing Arts Center on the Estherville Campus of Iowa Lakes Community College.  Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lexie Ruter says the class of eight members has been meeting monthly since last October.

Ruter says they also learn about city and county government.

She says each class is asked to come up with their own project to benefit the community.

Ruter says they are still raising funds for the project.

Applications for the next Lead the Ville class will be open after next week’s graduation ceremony. For more information, call the chamber at 362-3541.

(Spirit Lake)--One person was injured in a two-vehicle collision late Monday afternoon at the intersection of Highways 9 and 71 and 18th Street in Spirit Lake.

The Spirit Lake Police Department says shortly before 5 pm, 32-year-old Jezzika Guthridge McKee of Milford was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Trax on 18th Street and had stopped at a stop sign when she pulled out and collided with a 2025 Hyundai driven by 64-year-old Karen Morris of Estherville.

Morris was taken by ambulance to Lakes Regional Healthcare.

Damage was estimated at $9,000 to the vehicle driven by Guthridge McKee and $10,000 damage to the vehicle driven by Morris.

Guthridge McKee was cited for failure to yield upon making a left turn.

(Estherville)--The 75th Annual National Day of Prayer will be held this Thursday, May 7th. Locally, the Estherville Area Ministerial Association will be holding a National Day of Prayer observance at the Estherville VFW. Jeff Griffith is Secretary Treasurer of the EAMA.

Griffith says this year’s theme is “Glorifying God among the Nations-Seeking Him in all Generations.”

Again, the National Day of Prayer observance in Estherville will begin around 12:10 pm at the Estherville VFW. For more information, contact Jeff Griffith at 712-209-7219.

(Estherville)--Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim Carlin made a campaign stop in Estherville Monday evening at the Grand Central Depot.  Carlin is an attorney who served in the Iowa Senate from 2017 to 2023.  Carlin explains why he decided to run for the U.S. Senate.

Carlin says one of the first things that needs to be done is to stabilize the value of the dollar.

On another topic, Carlin says he supports President Trump’s military action against Iran.

Carlin also credits Trump with shutting down the southern border but says more needs to be done.

Carlin is running for the Republican nomination against Iowa 2^nd District Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.

(Estherville)—During a 10 minute meeting Monday evening, the Estherville City Council mset a public hearing date of May 18^th at 5 pm for an amendment to the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year budget. Estherville City Administrator Penny Clayton explains why the amendment is needed.

Clayton says the budget amendment is for $3 million.

The council also approved a new five year agreement with the Iowa DOT regarding the maintenance and repair of primary roads in municipalities. Clayton says the agreement runs from July 1^st, 2026 to June 30^th, 2030.

(Spencer)– A Laurens man is facing charges in connection with a robbery that occurred earlier this year at a Spencer convenience store.

The Spencer Police Department says 35-year-old Daniel Douglas of Laurens was arrested Friday by the Pocahontas Police Department. Police say Douglas was wanted in connection with the January 2nd robbery at the Brew Convenience Store at 1001 South Grand Avenue. Douglas allegedly entered the store shortly before 10 pm wearing a face covering and took money from behind the counter. He also allegedly assaulted an employee who confronted him and then fled the scene.

Douglas was charged with 2nd degree robbery, a class C felony. He is being held in the Clay County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

(Spencer)--The Goldstar Amusements Midway is returning to the Clay County Fair, September 12th-20th Advance carnival wristbands officially go on sale today(Tuesday).

Guests can take advantage of advance savings on unlimited ride wristbands before the Fair begins. All-day wristbands, valid only on select days, are available for $30 when purchased in advance. These wristbands are valid for unlimited rides on September 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th, and 20th.

For fairgoers planning to enjoy the Midway multiple days, VIP wristbands are available for $60 in advance and provide unlimited rides every day of the Fair.

Advance wristbands can be purchased online, at the Events Center Box Office, by phone at 515- 244-2771, or at select Godfather’s Pizza locations in Iowa and Minnesota. A full list of participating locations is available on the Fair’s website.

(Des Moines)--The 2026 Iowa Legislative session wrapped up over the weekend. Area State Representative John Wills, a Republican from Spirit Lake, says the legislature passed its top priority, a property tax reform bill.

Wills says another bill passed during the closing hours of the session was the Farm to Faucet Clean Iowa Water Plan.

He says he also supported the Iowa Make America Healthy Again bill.

Wills says a couple of bills he sponsored passed the House but failed to be approved in the Senate. One of those was the REINS Act which would have limited the power of the executive branch.

Wills says he will push for the passage of both bills again next session.

(Arnolds Park)--The 44^th annual Walleye Weekend wrapped up on Sunday.  Blain Andera with the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce says two tagged walleye were caught during the tournament, but neither of them qualified for the $44,000 grand prize.

Andera says overall it was another successful Walleye Weekend.

In the largest walleye contest, first place and second place tied with a large fish of 26.75”, with the deciding factor being the time they were submitted. Blake Mulder took first and Hunter Gill second. For a complete list of winners, visit the Iowa Great Lakes Walleye Weekend on Facebook.

(Spencer)–Four contestants competed for the title of 2026 Clay County Fair Queen on Sunday evening.

Maggie Moser of Spencer, daughter of Jason and Melissa Moser, was crowned the winner. Moser will serve as an ambassador for the Clay County Fair, representing the Fair at area parades and community celebrations throughout the summer. She will also compete in the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest and take part in the 2026 Clay County Fair in September.

First Runner-Up was Madelyn Garcia of Linn Grove, daughter of Verity and Emilio Garcia.

(Austin, MN)--A Fairmont woman was sent to the hospital after a two vehicle accident Sunday evening on Interstate 90 in Freeborn County.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the accident happened around 9:20 pm west of Austin. The patrol says a 2018 Ford Escape and a 2010 Chrysler 300 were both westbound on Interstate 90 when they collided. The driver of the Chrysler, 46-year-old Christina McDonald of Fairmont, was taken by ambulance to the Albert Lea Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the Ford Escape, 22-year-old Gavin Taylor of Bothell, Wisconsin and two passengers in his vehicle, were not injured.

The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, Hayward Fire and Mayo Ambulance assisted at the scene.

(Estherville)--The June 2^nd primary election in Iowa is now less than a month away. Emmet County Auditor Heidi Goebel says early voting will begin next week at a new location for Emmet County residents.

Goebel explains who can vote in the primary election.

She says you must be registered as a Democrat or Republican in order to vote in the primary.

Goebel details the forms of identification voters must present.

She advises to use only trusted sources for election information.

If you have any questions, contact the Emmet County Auditor’s Office at 712-362-4261.

(Armstrong)--The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office has taken a number of complaints over the past several months about dogs running at large and killing small livestock in and around Armstrong.

On October 25th, 2025, Charles Doucet and Josh Gardner were both charged with an Armstrong City Ordinance violation for dog at large.

On February 17^th, 2026, Gardner and Samantha Murrillo were both charged with a city violation for dog at large.

On April 8th, Murrillo and Gardner were both charged with a city violation for dog at large. Murrillo was additionally charged with city violation for number of domestic animals, possession of a controlled substance-marijuana and driving while license suspended.

On May 1^st,  Doucet was charged with a city violation for dog at large and number of domesticated animals. Doucet was also cited for a rabies vaccination violation.

Emmet County Sheriff Justin Schultes says his office has worked diligently investigating all complaints relating to these dogs. The Sheriff’s Office has spoken with the Armstrong City Council, Armstrong City Attorney, and the Emmet County Attorney's Office surrounding these investigations.

The Armstrong City Council is also working on amending the city’s vicious animal ordinance and the animal control ordinance.

(Spencer)--The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation (Corridor) has announced four grant award winners for the Homegrown Talent Initiative recruiting young minds back to the Corridor’s four county region.

The winners are Morgan White-Muller of Emmet County, Tyler Adams of Dickinson County, Dalayna Brugman of Clay County and Clayton Ehlers of Buena Vista County.

The Homegrown Talent Initiative is a program by the Corridor to encourage former students of the region’s schools to come back to the Corridor and fill the high-quality jobs available here.Recipients of the grant receive $6,000 paid over four years to be used toward student loan repayment, mortgage payments, or childcare reimbursement. This is the second year of the program.

Applications were accepted through the winter, and 17 applications were received. The top 12 applicants scored by the Homegrown Talent Committee were invited to participate in in-person interviews with the committee.

(Algona)--The Algona Public Library has been selected to receive a $10,000 grant from the Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities program. The initiative from the American Library Association provides community engagement and accessibility resources to small and rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities. Adult Services Librarian Sonya Harsha explains how the Library plans to use the grant funds.

Harsha says grants will also be used to purchase snow melting mats for the entrances to the library.  She says final decisions will be made after discussions with the public.

Harsha says the grant will build on previous projects to make the library more accessible.

The Algona Public Library was one of 300 libraries selected to participate in the fourth and final round of grant funding.

(Spencer)--Minor injuries were reported in a two vehicle accident early Wednesday north of Sioux Rapids.

According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened shortly after 5:35 am the in the 4600 block of US Highway 71. Upon investigation at the scene, deputies determined that 24-year-old Hunter Wilson of Sioux Falls, SD was driving a 2026 Kia Sportage southbound on Highway 71 when he failed to slow for a legally stopped 2020 Chevrolet Silverado operated by 43-year-old Justin Kingery of Cresco. Kingery was waiting at the temporary traffic light due to bridge construction and was struck from behind by Wilson.

Wilson was transported to the Spencer Municipal Hospital with minor injuries. He was later cited for Failure to Stop with an Assured Clear Distance.

Damage was estimated at $5,000 to the Kingery vehicle and $30,000 to the Wilson vehicle. The Wilson vehicle is considered a total loss.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on the scene by the Sioux Rapids Fire Department and the Spencer Ambulance Crew.

(Emmetsburg)--Iowa Lakes Community College has established a new transfer partnership with Minnesota State University, Mankato through the Maverick Advance Plan, or MAP, creating a streamlined pathway for Iowa Lakes nursing students to continue their education and pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

The Iowa Lakese Practical Nursing program began in 1966, followed by the Associate Degree Nursing program in 1971. The programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, a national organization that sets standards for nursing education.

The new partnership with Minnesota State University, Mankato expands opportunities for graduates to advance their education while supporting both institutions’ commitment to strengthening the regional nursing workforce.