Every can counts: Emmet County Animal Shelter runs on its redemption center

Estherville Rotary Club members didn’t just hear about the Emmet County Animal Shelter on Sept. 24. They stood in it, while cats wandered between their feet and a few dozed on a hallway bench. …

Supervisors discuss splitting costs

It won’t affect taxpayers, who will still be footing the bill, but Emmet County Courthouse departments could find themselves having to pick up part of the bill for some costs for the …

What’s a free press worth? Americans say a lot — with conditions

On a Monday evening in mid-September, the Estherville Parks and Recreation Board spent about 15 minutes debating whether to pay lifeguards an extra dollar an hour. The guards had stuck with the pool …
Local News
State Senator Dave Rowley and Independent challenger Rachel Gravert are running against each other in Iowa Senate District 5. They spoke two weeks apart last month to two very different audiences, …
The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office released Sept. 24 information about the discovery of a deceased man at Ft. Defiance State Park. The discovery was made the morning of Sept. 11. Cole H. Lacko, 26, …
The Emmet County Planning & Zoning Commission in a Thursday, Sept. 24 work session in the Emmet County Courthouse boardroom hashed out details of a draft of an ordinance to address utility scale …
Scott Wallace, grandson of the Iowa-born vice-president and Secretary of Agriculture, says diesel and consolidation are crushing farms, and admits his own years on the board of Pioneer Seeds were …
North Star Nights Kiwanians at their monthly meeting heard how the Centers Against Abuse & Sexual Assault are helping victims in Emmet County. Carson Waddell, sexual assault advocate for Emmet, …
Obituaries
Phyllis Ann (Origer) Harms, daughter of Vernon Origer and Vera (Grems) Origer, was born on Jan. 8, 1945, in Estherville, Iowa Phyllis passed away on Sept. 6, 2026, at the age of 81. She was …
A memorial service for Mark Larsen of Ringsted will be held on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the Christiansen-Bonnicksen American Legion in Ringsted, Iowa with Pastor Kent Madison officiating. …
Celesta M. Johnson, 96, formerly of Swea City, passed away at Valley Vue Care Center in Armstrong on September 28, 2026. A memorial mass will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 10a.m. at St. …
  A funeral service for Larry Kelly, 86, will be held on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estherville with Pastor Jackie Ziemer officiating. A visitation …
Local Sports
ELC’s defense gangs up to stop an Okoboji ball carrier on this play on Friday.

Pioneers pull out win in fourth quarter

Estherville Lincoln Central entered the fourth quarter with a 28-26 lead, but couldn’t hang on as Okoboji won the final period 10-0 to leave town with a 36-28 win last Friday. While the Midgets …

Midgets wrap up 2026 season at region tournaments

The Estherville Lincoln Central girls tennis team wrapped up its season last week with Class 1A individual and team tournaments on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. ELC’s doubles team of …
Dalton Lutat is one of the seniors on this year’s ELC cross country team.

ELC netters battle through tough week

The Estherville Lincoln Central volleyball team had a tough week of play last week. The Midgets lost 3-1 to Okoboji last Thursday. They then traveled to Spencer for a tournament on Saturday, losing …

ELC netters battle through tough week

The Estherville Lincoln Central volleyball team had a tough week of play last week. The Midgets lost 3-1 to Okoboji last Thursday. They then traveled to Spencer for a tournament on Saturday, losing …
From the opinion pages

Iowa voters must elect candidates who prioritize of property rights

To the Editor: Five years ago, Summit Carbon Solutions rolled out its plan for the Midwest Carbon Express, a 2,000-mile pipeline designed to transport carbon dioxide collected from ethanol plants in …

Advocating for a 10 MPH speed limit on sidewalks

To the Editor: Our city council recently passed the first of three required readings to set a 10 MPH speed limit on wheeled vehicles on our city sidewalks. The ordinance, if passed, would apply to …

CO2 pipeline easements are forever

To the Editor: Last week, Summit Carbon Solutions received yet another setback for its proposed CO2 pipeline when a North Dakota judge revoked its permit for the sequestration site, declaring it …

Local columns

Boundless a treasure trove of Native art and literature

For eons, Native art has held the fascination of all cultures. Lisa A. Crossman and Heid E. Erdrich have compiled a stunning volume of indigenous work in the book Boundless, based on an exhibition by …

Book recalls lives of servicemen before ultimate sacrifice

Anyone who has seen the film We Were Soldiers starring Mel Gibson has seen how war impacts the personal lives of not just those who went to war but also the families who stayed behind and prayed for …

A modern day version of ‘Pride and Prejudice’

  Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” focused on manners and goodness, two virtues sometimes forgotten today. Shortly before the novel was published, our Founding …