(Des Moines)--The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 843  new positive cases of  COVID 19 for the 24 hour period ending at 11 am today(Sunday) for a total of 312,811.  More than 274,000 cases have recovered. There was just one additional death for a total of 4,488.

Locally, Clay County reported the most new cases with 9 followed by Kossuth County with 5.

Dickinson County added 4 new cases and Emmet and Palo Alto counties each had 1 new case.

 (St. Paul)— The Minnesota Department of Health today(Sunday) reported 1,196 additional positive COVID 19 cases for a pandemic total of 454,989.  Officials reported 32 additional virus related deaths for a total of 6,095. 

In this area, Faribault County reported 6 new cases, Martin County had 2 new cases and Jackson County had no new cases.

(Okoboji)—Reservations are now being taken for the new Maser Monarch Lodge in Kenue Park.

Dickinson County Conservation spokesperson Daria(Dar-ee-uh)Mather says construction on the

Lodge began in July 2019.

Mather says through the years many people have asked about renting the Dickinson County Nature Center for gatherings and parties.

She says events can be held at the lodge beginning April 1st but reservations will be taken online starting February 1st.

To see photos, view rental guidelines or reserve the Maser Monarch Lodge, visit: dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com.

(Spirit Lake)-- Dickinson County Public Health has announced it plans to move to the next phase of COVID-19 vaccinations beginning next month.

Lakes Regional Healthcare Director of Population and Public Health Katy Burke says effective February 1st, those in tier 1 of group 1B will begin receiving vaccine. That includes those 65 and over, first responders including firefighters, police officers and child welfare workers, along with Pre-K through 12th grade school staff, early childhood education and childcare workers.

Burke says plans for vaccination clinics are currently being determined, and that those eligible to receive the vaccine will receive phone calls or emails beforehand so they can schedule appointments.

Dickinson County has been receiving an average of 200 doses of vaccine each week.

(Spencer) - The Clay County Fair announced Friday that this year's edition of Family Fest, originally scheduled for March 6th, has been cancelled.

According to a statement by the Family Fest organizing committee, they feel that "due to the COVID-19 mitigation measures that are in place, they are not able to put on the same quality of event that everyone deserves and expects."

The committee added they are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Family Fest on March 5th, 2022.

(Spirit Lake)--The Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce has announced in a post on their Facebook page that the Snowball Drop scheduled in conjunction with this year's U of O Winter Games, won't be held.

In the post, chamber officials state their board of directors made the decision based on COVID-19 and the current proclamations for indoor and outdoor events.

(Arnolds Park)--Arnolds Park Amusement Park has announced its schedule of activities for the University of Okoboji Winter Games to be held January 28^th-31^st. Marketing Director Paul Plumb says there will be events for all ages to enjoy.

Paul says there will be a couple of new events taking place on Saturday.

Another new event this year on Preservation Plaza is the Snowball Fights starting at 1 pm. Plumb highlights some other newer events taking place on Saturday.

Other things happening include food trucks from 11 to 6, the polar plunge at 3 p.m. and the annual burning of the greens at 6:30. Plumb says there will also be concerts at the Roof Garden Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

For a complete list of Winter Games events go to uofowintergames.com.

(Des Moines)--The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 1,319 new positive cases of COVID-19 for the 24 hour period ending at 11 am Friday for a total of 310,596. More than 273,000 cases have recovered. There were 32 additional deaths for a total of 4,478.

Locally, Clay County reported the most new cases with 8 followed by Kossuth County with 5.

Dickinson County added 4 new cases, Palo Alto County had 3 new cases and Emmet County reported just one new case.

(St. Paul)—The Minnesota Department of Health Friday reported 1,525 additional positive COVID-19 cases for a pandemic total of 452,268. Officials reported 21 additional virus-related deaths for a total of 6,032.  

In this area, Faribault County reported 6 new cases, Jackson County added 3 new cases and Martin County had 2 new cases.

(Sioux Falls, S.D.)--Three suspects have now been charged  in the fatal shooting of a former Spencer resident December 30th on a Sioux Falls street.

Sioux Falls police says 27-year-old Michell Houchins had been lying the middle of the street for 25 minutes before police were called. 

21-year-old Josue Hernandez and 28-year-old Crystal Mousseau were arrested last week. Both were charged with 1st degree murder. Another suspect, 29-year-old Susan Sanchez, was charged with accessory to murder.

Police say Hernandez and Mousseau had fled to Colorado following the shooting. They were arrested on warrants last week after returning to Sioux Falls. They say Hernandez was arrested following a pursuit in Sioux Falls.

Court documents make reference to a drug deal that had gone bad.

(Des Moines)—Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds held her first COVID-19 press conference of 2021 Thursday, delivering an update on the vaccine progress.

Reynolds said that starting Feb. 1, Iowans age 65 and older will be eligible for the vaccine. That will cover around 500,000 Iowans.

However, the demand will far exceed the supply.

Currently, Iowa is receiving around 19,500 vaccinations per week. That number is expected to rise to 39,000 per week the week of Feb. 9.

Reynolds said that in early February, law enforcement, first responders, teachers and child care workers will be eligible to receive the vaccine. She said that accounts for around 130,000 Iowans.

(Ruthven)--Minor injuries were reported in a two vehicle accident Wednesday near Ruthven.

The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened around 5:35 pm in the 3700 block of 360th Street.  Upon investigation it was determined a 1998 Dodge Ram pickup had went into the south ditch on Tuesday.  Subjects were attempting to pull the pickup out of the south ditch and had stopped traffic in the roadway.  69-year-old Sandra Iwen of Emmetsburg was eastbound on 360th Street and had stopped in the roadway allowing the pickup to be pulled from the ditch.  31-year-old Angel Nieves Carballo of Emmetsburg was driving a 1999 Ford Explorer, did not see traffic was stopped and rear-ended the Iwen vehicle. 

Iwen complained of possible injuries at the scene and was transported to the Palo Alto County Hospital.

Damage was estimated at $3,500 to the Iwen vehicle and $4,500 to the Nieves Carballo vehicle.

The Ruthven Ambulance Service, Ruthven Fire Department, Emmetsburg Ambulance Service, Wickman Towing, and the Iowa State Patrol assisted at the scene.  The accident remains under investigation. 

(Estherville)--Districts for ELC's Large Group Speech were held in a private judging for ELC students in the high school Little Theater on Wednesday. Receiving I ratings and advancing to Large Group Speech State are:

Readers Theatre: Eragon with Kai Li Dong, Blake Bixby, Carly Grange, Allison Young, 

Ethan Masters, Cullen Bixby, Rhett Goebel, Cathryn Houge, Brendan Finley, 

Braxton Shryock, Ally Irwin, and Miyah Paulson.

Improvisation: Duitsman Improv Group with Parker Duistman, Eli Ross, and 

Caleb Lausen.

Improvisation: Templin Improv Group with Jaden Templin, Brei Christoffer,

Kaylyn Domek, and Saige Hengeveld.

Radio Broadcast: AME with Maggie Domek, Anthony Rivera, and Ehren Masters.

Radio Broadcast: DAYT with Lily Anderson, Emily Paulson, and Jocelyn Hovinga.

Ensemble Acting: Bad Words with Saige Hengeveld and Grace Johnson.

Ensemble Acting: Dueling Phobias with Bryan Peterson and Ely Jones.

Short Film: On the Ledge with Blake Bixby, Cullen Bixby, Ally Irwin, and Eli Jones. 

Short Film: Into the Headlights with Angie Palmer, Madi Ayers, Ceasar Diaz, Amy 

Huang, Grace Ruschy, Ehren Masters, and Jaden Templin.

One Act: Lives in the Wind with Grace Ruschy, Adrienne Rosfjord, Cole Danner, Scott 

Whitacre, Anthony Rivera. Emma Ross, and Carly Grange

(Estherville)--The Iowa Lakes Board of Trustees discussed a variety of topics Tuesday afternoon at their regularly scheduled board meeting. Board President Janice Lund conducted the annual process of appointing Trustees to serve on various committees for the 2020-2021 Board.

A Public Hearing was held and the board voted to move forward with the replacement of HVAC system #5 on the Estherville Campus by accepting the low bid of $161,702 by Christians Sheet Metal of Spencer. 

The Board received and approved the Fiscal Year 2020 Audit as presented by Daniel Dekker of Williams and Company, P.C. The Public Hearing date for the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Published Budget was set for February 16^th.

Executive Director of Facilities Management Delaine Hiney also provided an update on the construction progress with the College Farm Building Project and the Cosmetology Lab, both located on the Emmetsburg Campus.

(Emmetsburg)--Voters in Palo Alto County will head to the polls on March 2nd to decide the fate of a referendum to build a new Public Safety Center. Palo Alto County Sheriff Lynn Schultes says the current structure housing the sheriff’s office, jail and communication center was built in 1908.  Schultes says the state jail inspector describes the current facility as outdated and says it poses a safety and security concern for the prisoners, staff and the public.

Schultes describes another problem with the current facility.

He says the new facility would consist of a modern 18 bed jail with expansion capabilities,

The $5.62 million facility would also include a 911 Communication Center, Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management Office and State Probation facilities. Shultes says the referendum does not require a tax increase.
 

The new facility would be built on the site of the current jail. Schultes says if the referendum is approved construction would begin in the fall depending on the weather.

(Estherville)—While many colleges and universities are restricting visitors due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Iowa Lakes Community College is encouraging prospective students to call and set up a time to visit the campus. Iowa Lakes Director of Admissions Annie Kalous.

Kalous says the goal of the visits is to make students feel comfortable about attending Iowa Lakes.

She says the college will be holding a couple of special visit days in February and March.

For more information, visit iowalakes.edu.

(Des Moines)—The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 1,332 new positive cases of  COVID 19 for the 24 hour period ending at 11 am today(Wednesday) for a total of 307,568. There were 62 new virus related deaths bringing the state’s total to 4,394. More than 270,000 cases have recovered. 

Emmet County reported 4 new cases for a total of 1,108. 954 of the cases in the county have recovered. The seven day positivity rate declined to 6.3 percent.

Kossuth County reported the most new cases in the area with 22 followed by Clay County with 16 new cases. Dickinson County reported 9 new cases and 1 additional death and Palo Alto County added 4 new cases and one additional death.

(St. Paul)— The Minnesota Department of Health today(Wednesday) reported 1,237 additional positive COVID 19 cases for a pandemic total of 449,492. Officials say there were 34 new virus related deaths for a total of 5,979.

In this area, Martin County reported 9 new cases, Faribault County added 8 new cases and Jackson County had 2 new cases.

(Sioux City)--A Carroll man who possessed a gun after a previous attempted burglary conviction was sentenced Tuesday to more than 2 years in federal prison.

19-year-old Buomkuoth Lol received the prison term after  pleading guilty last August to possession of a firearm by a felon.

At the guilty plea, Lol admitted on May 8th, 2020 he possessed a gun and .40 caliber ammunition.  Lol admitted to knowing he was prohibited from possessing guns after being convicted of attempted burglary in Buena Vista County on November 5, 2019.  

Lol was arrested last May in Spirit Lake after he allegedly ran from police when officers responded to a 9-1-1 call. Lol was charged in Dickinson County with carrying weapons, possession of a firearm by a felon, interference with official acts and possession of a controlled substance. Some of those charges were later dropped so Lol could stand trial in federal court.

Lol was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to 27 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

(Canton, S.D.)--A Spencer man is facing multiple charges following a pursuit on Monday in Iowa and South Dakota.

The Lincoln County, South Dakota Sheriff’s Office was notified by Lyon County authorities late Monday morning of a stolen vehicle pursuit. The vehicle entered South Dakota reportedly reaching 110 miles per hour at times and at one point driving through a field until it was eventually stopped using a PIT maneuver two miles south of Parker.

The driver, 25-year-old Christopher Macleod of Spencer, was taken into custody without further incident and booked into the Minnehaha County Jail. He was charged with aggravated eluding, possession of stolen property, driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia along with other traffic offenses

There was no word on where the vehicle was taken from or what initiated the pursuit, but authorities say Macleod was on probation at the time.

(Spencer) – Seasons Center for Behavioral Health is offering a Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for the public that will be held virtually on Tuesday, January 26^th from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The course will be led by Camp Autumn Director Adam Lybarger. Prevention and Education Coordinator Taylor Prather explains what the course entails.

Prather says the course is available to anyone 18 years and older.

She talks about some of the topics that will be covered in the training.

Prather says the training will occur in two parts.

Social Work Continuing Education Units will be available. To register for the course, visit Seasons Center for Behavioral Health’s Facebook page.

(Estherville) – The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation heads into 2021 with plenty of optimism for future and current business owners in the Corridor region. In a meeting Monday night with the Estherville City Council, the Iowa Lakes Corridor introduced Brian Dalziel, who will be the interim President and CEO. He takes over the duties of Kiley Miller, who is resigning from the organization in February. In an interview with KILR News, Dalziel says two new entrepreneurship programs will be introduced to the area soon.

The second program is called Match-Learn-Launch.com.

He says the Corridor has been active in bringing more businesses to the region.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor provides professional economic development services for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties.