🌱 How a growing Okoboji retreat is inspiring 350 aspiring storytellers

Good morning Okoboji! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a growing Okoboji retreat is inspiring 350 aspiring storytellers

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Okoboji Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile - America's Best Mobile Network, according to Ookla Speedtest. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Okoboji Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Cooler; breezy in the morning, with a high of 64 and low of 42 degrees.
• Friday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 62, low: 46.
• Saturday: Windy; a shower in the p.m., with a high of 65 and low of 47 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Okoboji retreat draws hundreds of writers, songwriters to Iowa Great Lakes (ktiv.com) — A growing Okoboji-area writers and songwriters retreat at the Iowa Great Lakes just wrapped up three days of seminars, drawing 350 attendees and 60 industry professionals. Participants honed projects from memoirs to newsletters, learned about platforms like Substack, and heard from founder Julie Gammack, who encourages anyone with a story to consider attending next year's retreat.
   

📸 Around Okoboji

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday October 1
• Volleyball: Harris-Lake Park vs Remsen St. Mary's (Junior High)
  Remsen St. Mary's High School Gym
  4:00 pm
• Football: St. Edmond vs GTRA (Varsity)
  Graettinger-Terril Elementary School Terril, IA 51364
  7:00 pm
Sunday October 4
• Omelet Brunch →
  Camp Okoboji, 1531 Edgewood Drive, Milford
  9:30 am
• Omelet Brunch (1st Sunday of the Month May-October) →
  Camp Okoboji, 1531 Edgewood Drive, Milford
  9:30 am
Monday October 5
• Football: Harris-Lake Park vs GTRA (Junior High)
  Ruthven-Ayrshire Athletic Complex
  4:00 pm
• Volleyball: South O'Brien vs Harris-Lake Park (Junior High)
  Harris-Lake Park Elementary Gym
  4:15 pm
• Volleyball: TLC JV VB Quad (Junior Varsity)
  Graettinger-Terril Elementary School Terril, IA 51364
  5:30 pm
• Football: Harris-Lake Park vs GTRA (Junior Varsity)
  Ruthven-Ayrshire Athletic Complex
  6:00 pm
Tuesday October 6
• Volleyball: North Union vs Harris-Lake Park (Junior High)
  Harris-Lake Park Elementary
  4:15 pm
• Girls Cross Country: KP JH Cross Country Invitational (Junior High)
  Brookside Golf Course
  4:15 pm
• Girls Cross Country: Kingsley-Pierson Cross Country Invitational (V
  Brookside Golf Course
  4:45 pm
• Girls Cross Country: Dick Bell (Varsity)
  Graettinger-Terril Elementary School Terril, IA 51364
  4:55 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Coast to Coast Merchandising & Installations posted a job opening for Merchandiser / Auditor Position Available - Okoboji IA in Okoboji. Apply here.
• Walmart posted a job opening for Apparel Team Supervisor in Spirit Lake. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Okoboji here.

🗞 Nearby News

Arnolds Park

• Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire/Rescue Responds to Three Back-to-Back Calls (northwestiowanow.com)
• Arnolds Park City Council Awards Pump House Demo Bid; Talks Park Study & Approves Library Staffing Proposal (exploreokoboji.com)
• Rain Didn't Stop More Than 300 Bicyclists From Participating In This Year's U Of O Oktoberfest (exploreokoboji.com)

Spirit Lake

• Updated Flu Vaccine Now Available in Dickinson County (northwestiowanow.com)
• Fierce Competition at Algona Cross Country Invite (northwestiowanow.com)
• ABA Nominates Officers Board for 2026 2027 (aba.com)

Ok Okoboji! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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