(Swea City)--A domestic abuse investigation last Sunday evening resulted in the arrest of a Swea City man.

The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office says at around 9:15 pm,  Deputies received a call requesting assistance at a residence in Swea City. Upon arrival, Deputies conducted a brief investigation and arrested 31-year-old Michael Limon on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault of a Pregnant Person with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury, a Class D Felony.

Limon was booked into the Kossuth County Jail to await an initial court appearance.

A no contact order has been issued to prevent Limon from having any contact with the alleged victim in the case.

Limon is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on May 2^nd in Kossuth County District Court.

(Mankato)--Construction on the Highway 4 project from Sherburn to St. James is expected to begin next week.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the project commences on Monday from Sherburn to Ormsby, and will be completed in phases,

During the initial stage of construction, Highway 4 from Sherburn to Watonwan County Road 8 near Ormsby will be closed and traffic detoured to Martin County Road 8 near Dunnell, Martin County Road 13, Interstate 90, Martin County Road 27, and Watonwan County Road 8 near Ormsby until late August.

Additionally, Highway 4 through Sherburn will be closed starting Monday for approximately three weeks, with traffic detoured to Martin County Road 13 and Interstate 90.

Construction on Highway 4 from St. James to Watonwan County Road 8 will begin later this summer, with traffic detoured to Watonwan County Roads 27 and 8 until late August.

The Highway 4 project between Sherburn and St. James includes roadway, bridge, and drainage improvements. In addition to resurfacing approximately 25 miles of roadway, the bridge over Cedar Run will be replaced and multiple bridges will be repaired. Pedestrian accommodations in the cities of Sherburn and Trimont will also be improved.

Construction on the project is expected to be complete in late August, weather permitting.

(Sheldon)--The line-up is set for this year’s Risefest Christian Music Festival in Sheldon on June 7^th and 8th. RISE Ministries President and Founder Rob Rozeboom says this year’s line-up features several artists making their first appearance at Risefest.

Rozeboom says early bird tickets are still available.

He says nearly 1,200 volunteers are needed to help put on the event.

Risefest has been held every year but two since 2005. Rozeboom describes how the event has grown over the years.

Again, to purchase tickets for Risefest, go to: riseministries.com. Rozeboom spoke with Dave Van Roekel Wednesday morning on KILR FM 95.9.

(Estherville)--Grants are now available for drainage districts to finance water quality projects. Iowa Drainage District Association President John Torbert says about $10 million dollars in grant funds is available for water quality projects.

Torbert says under Iowa code, drainage district members cannot be assessed for water quality projects.

He details the types of projects that are eligible for funding.

Torbert made his comments at this week’s meeting of the Emmet County Board of Supervisors.

(Wallingford)--The Wallingford Fire Department was paged to a grass fire this(Wednesday) morning on 250th Street southwest of Wallingford.  The fire was reported shortly after 10:30 am. Fire Chief Jarrod Fisher says the fire was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported.

(Fairmont, MN)--One person was sent to the hospital after a two vehicle accident Tuesday in Fairmont.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the accident occurred shortly before 11:40 am at the intersection of northbound Highway 15 and Interstate 90. The patrol says a 2019 Ford transit van driven by 35-year-old Derek Vonbank of Waseca was northbound on Highway 15 and a 2013 Chevrolet Impala driven by 88-year-old Everett Hanning of Granada was exiting westbound Interstate 90 when the two vehicles collided. The transit van rolled after the collision.

Vonbank was taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital in Fairmont with non-life threatening injuries. Hanning and a passenger in the Impala were not injured.

The Fairmont Police Department and Mayo Ambulance assisted at the scene.

(Estherville)--As National Volunteer Appreciation Month unfolds, Northwest Iowa RSVP seeks to illuminate "Food Pantry Support" as a cornerstone in the organization's mission to support community welfare and combat food insecurity locally.

Food insecurity continues to be a growing concern nationwide. To alleviate this concern, RSVP volunteers age 55 in the 5-county area of Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, and Palo Alto, give generously of their time to help ensure food reaches those in need through volunteer opportunities with food deliveries, in food pantries, and with hot meals programs.

Food pantries in the region include Upper Des Moines Opportunity locations, food box pickup locations, multiple mobile food pantries, and pantries operated by various non-profit entities.

Volunteers support hot meal programs at area senior centers and entities like Grand Avenue Community Outreach (GACO) in Spencer. Lakes Area Activity Center in Spirit Lake, Occasions in Spencer, Algona Senior Center, or Estherville Senior Center Dinner Date.

For more information about volunteering, contact your Northwest Iowa RSVP Coordinator or visit www.iowalakes.edu/RSVP.

(Estherville)--The Emmet County Board of Supervisors Tuesday received an update on the Red Rock Wind Energy Project in Emmet and Dickinson counties. Joe Crowley is Project Developer for Invenergy, the company building the wind farm. Crowley says Dickinson County is in the process of rewriting its wind turbine ordinance which has delayed the project.

Crowley says they originally planned to build 83 turbines in Dickinson County but due to the expected changes in setback requirements, the number of turbines will be reduced by 12 to 15.  Invenergy plans to build 18 turbines in Emmet County. Crowley says they are happy with Emmet County’s wind turbine ordinance.

Crowley outlines the work the company has been doing in Emmet County.

He says the project could result in a $20 million benefit to the county.

In other business, the board approved the county budget for 2024-25 fiscal year. The budget includes total expenditures of about 13-million-409 thousand dollars, an increase of about $800,000 compared with the current year. The property tax levy for rural areas is $9.37 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, an increase of about 13 cents. The rate for urban areas is $6.02, an increase of three cents.

(Des Moines)--Area lawmakers were pleased with the 2024 Iowa Legislative session which wrapped up early this past Saturday. Education issues played a major role in the session, according to area State Representative John Wills, a Republican from Spirit Lake.

Wills was also pleased lawmakers approved a bill to allow school staff to be armed.

He says certified staff would have qualified immunity.

Wills says another highlight of the session was raising teacher pay.

(Algona)--Libraries in Kossuth County are facing nearly 200-thousand dollars in budget cuts. Kossuth County Library Association president Lany  Mitchell says that cut in county funding means each of the county's 12 libraries will get about seven-thousand dollars in county support in the next fiscal year. She says  that will be  a death knell for at least four of the libraries in the county.  The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors met with area residents for nearly two hours Monday afternoon to hear their concerns. Library officials learned just last week that the county would be reducing their funding. Mitchell is director of the public library in the small community of Wesley.

In the current fiscal year, Kossuth County provided over 270-thousand dollars for libraries in 12 communities. For several facilities, that county funding is the vast majority of the library's budget. Cutting library hours is not an option for many, as state funding gets cut if a library isn't open for at least 20 hours a week. Board Chairman Kyle Stecker says budget cuts would have to be made to restore funding for the county's libraries.

Kossuth County library leaders say that leaves them in limbo, not knowing whether the budget cut will be rescinded and they'll be able to stay open.

(from Radio Iowa)

(Des Moines)--The Iowa Association of Business and Industry has revealed all 68 nominees for the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa, including several made in the KILR listening area.

Every nominee is now up for first-round voting from now until April 30. The nominees will then be paired down to a “Sweet 16” bracket. After five rounds of voting, the winner will be announced on June 5.

The competition looks to highlight Iowa’s manufacturing industry, according to a release.

Local nominees include AERO 59 Series NASCAR Wheels made by AERO Race Wheels Inc. of Estherville, Butter Braid Pastries made by Country Maid Inc. of West Bend, Single Barrel Straight Bourbon made by Century Farms Distillery of Spencer and The Iowa Candle made by Candle Creek Farms of Mallard.

You can vote online at coolestthingia.com.

(Emmetsburg)--Iowa Lakes Community College will hold a ribbon cutting and open house at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday for a new outdoor Fitness Court® situated next to the Arthur and Audrey Smith Wellness Center in Emmetsburg.

Funding for the project was made possible through partnerships with a $30,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign and local community partners.

The new Fitness Court® is designed to be inclusive, catering to adults aged 14 and older of all fitness levels. Considered the world's best outdoor gym, the Fitness Court® allows users to leverage their body weight to complete a workout using seven stations. To further enhance the experience, users can download the free Fitness Court App, a platform that transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience. The Fitness Court App is available for iOS and Android.

(Des Moines)--Before adjourning the 2024 session over the weekend, Iowa lawmakers approved changes to the state’s income tax code. The bill is the product of negotiations between Republican lawmakers and the governor on how to proceed with speeding up the 2022 income tax cuts. Area State Senator Dave Rowley, a Republican from Spirit Lake, says the bill is projected to save Iowa taxpayers $1 billion.

Rowley says lawmakers advanced two constitutional amendments on income taxes.

He says lawmakers also approved three bills he managed related to insurance.

Rowley says lawmakers failed to approve a bill to extend the moratorium on new casinos in the state.

The Legislature approved a nearly $9 billion state budget for the next fiscal year.

(Estherville)--The Estherville City Council held a brief special meeting Monday evening to approve the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. The budget includes an increase of about $2,245,000 to $27,350,000. The primary reason for the increase is due to capital projects at the wastewater treatment plant and the airport. Estherville City Clerk and Finance Director Beth Burton says the general fund budget increased by 10-percent to $489,285.

Burton says the property tax levy is $16.68 per thousand dollars of taxable valuation, a decrease of 42-cents compared with the current year’s budget. For a house with an assessed valuation of $100,000, that will mean a decrease of $19. The city’s taxable valuation went up by $18.6 million, but Burton says that figure is misleading.

Overall, Burton says the city budget is in very good shape. No one spoke at a public hearing on the budget.

(Lakefield, MN)--Four people were sent to the hospital after a two vehicle collision Sunday afternoon in Jackson County near the Iowa-Minnesota border.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the accident happened around 4:20 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 86 and 720^th Street in Minneota Township. The patrol says a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 46-year-old Shellie Williams of Round Lake was stopped to turn and a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by a 17-year-old juvenile female from Round Lake was traveling northbound on Highway 86 when the two vehicles collided.

Both drivers and two juvenile passengers in the Williams’ vehicle, a 17-year-old female and a one-year-old male, were taken to Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Lakes Regional Healthcare Ambulance and Lakefield Ambulance assisted at the scene.

(Algona)--The Kossuth Palo Alto County Economic Development Corporation is searching for a new executive director. Maureen Elbert, who has led the organization since 1998, has announced plans to retire by the end of the year. Elbert explains why she decided to retire.

Elbert says a succession plan has been in place for more than a year.

She was asked about highlights of her 26 years leading the organization.

Elbert says one of the keys to success is getting the counties and communities to work together.

Elbert says she has agreed to help the new director get acclimated to the position. Her last day will be before the end of 2024.

(Spencer)--Four young ladies will compete for the title of Clay County Fair Queen on Sunday, April 28, at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer. This year marks the 20^th Anniversary of the Clay County Fair Queen Contest.

Contestants include Linnea Bloom of Marathon, the daughter of Stephen and Melanie Bloom; Aubrie Stell of Spencer, the daughter of Jason and Melissa Stell; Hannah Tessum of Everly, the daughter of Tyler and Ashley Tessum; Addison Wyman of Spencer, daughter of Leah Wyman.

The candidates will participate in individual interviews, workshops, and the Queen Pageant. The Queen Pageant will start at 7:00 p.m. and will include introductions, the self-expression portion, and the crowning of the 2024 Clay County Fair Queen. Doors open to the public at 6:30 p.m.

The Queen will represent the Fair at area parades and selected celebrations during the summer, represent Clay County during the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest, and participate in the Clay County Fair in September.

Candidates will be judged on personality, attitude and awareness, leadership and citizenship, contribution to the community, overall appearance, charm, poise, and self-expression.

(Estherville)--Kindergarten Round-Up will be held later this week in the Estherville Lincoln Central School District. ELC Superintendent Tara Paul provides details.

Paul says parents are also invited to attend.

For more information on kindergarten round-up, call Demoney Elementary School at 362-2181.

(Spirit Lake)– A Sioux Falls man charged with sexual abuse has been arrested on a bench warrant after failing to show up for a court appearance in Dickinson County.

According to online court documents, 46-year-old Waylon Willard is charged with three counts of sexual abuse in the 3rd degree, all class C felonies, intent to inflict serious injury and violation of a no contact order.

Willard is accused of performing a sex act against the victim’s will or by force in August of last year at a residence in Arnolds Park.

According to online court records, Willard pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was released November 7^th after posting a $10,000 surety bond. The bench warrant was issued after Willard failed to show up for an April 1^st  court hearing. He was taken into custody on Wednesday and is being held in the Dickinson county jail on a $10,000 cash only bond.

(Spirit Lake)--Gillnetting operations have wrapped up for the season in the Iowa Great Lakes. Kim Hawkins, manager of the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery, says gillnetting was faster than normal this year.

Hawkins says the quality of the walleyes caught was very good.

She says the spawning of walleyes was completed last weekend.

Hawkins says they collected 990 quarts of walleye eggs or about 135 million eggs.

Hawkins says the Fish Hatchery has returned to normal operating hours now that the gillnetting season is over.