Community News Stories

Prom is just around the corner! Are you looking to buy a prom dress for 2024? Are you looking to make some money from a previously worn prom or semi-formal dress that you no longer need?

The Allamakee Music Boosters are hosting a prom dress sale on Friday Jan 12th from 6-8pm, and Saturday Jan 13th from 9AM- 2PM at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion (705 Allamakee St. NW, Waukon, IA). There will be hourly door prizes and drawings for prizes for dress buyers and sellers.

The dress drop off dates are Thursday Jan 11th from 6-8PM, and Friday Jan 12th from 4-6PM. All area students are welcome to sell dresses. Dresses must be clean and in gently used condition, bagged and hung on a hanger. All lengths of prom and semi-formal dresses will be accepted. Each dress will be charged a non-refundable $5 handling fee, payable at drop-off. Dress sellers determine the sale price, and will keep 90% of the sale price, with the Allamakee Music Boosters receiving the balance. Any dresses not sold must be picked up between 3 and 4PM on Saturday Jan 13th, or they will become property of the Allamakee Music Boosters. The Allamakee Music Boosters are not responsible for loss or damages.

We hope to see all Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin dress sellers and shoppers at the 2024 Allamakee Music Boosters Prom Dress Sale!

Giving Tuesday 2023 at the Depot Outlet was a great example of strangers joining together as a community to make huge things happen. Hundreds of people donated thousands of items; around 60 staff and volunteers sorted, priced and stocked items; and about 450 people shopped for and purchased those items on November 28th. The Depot Outlet pledged 50% of Giving Tuesday’s total sales. As a result of everyone’s contributions they were able to donate $2669.32 to ArtHaus.

ArtHaus is a center for the visual and performing arts located in Decorah that brings quality classes and events to the community, making creative arts accessible to all. They provide a Founders Scholarship to those in need that desire to take a creative arts class, no proof of income required. Learn more and sign up for classes at arthausdecorah.org.

The Depot Outlet would like to thank all of their supporters for helping them to help others and for making Giving Tuesday and every day such a wonderful community achievement.

Recently an article by the Stars and Stripes (November 13, 2023) was published worldwide to our military bases with an article honoring our Winneshiek County Veterans Memorial.  Here is the link to the article:

https://europe.stripes.com/lifestyle/honoring-winneshiek-county-veterans.html

Santa will be coming to town, or should we say to the farm! A Drive-Thru Santa on the Farm event will be held at Iowa’s Dairy Center on Friday evening, December 8 from 5-7 p.m. Iowa’s Dairy Center is located at 1527 Hwy. 150, Calmar.

Visitors will be able to meet Santa from their vehicles. The drive-thru event will take visitors right through the farm’s freestall barn to see a close-up view of the milking cows. Pre-packaged cookies and milk will be served right to your vehicle and visitors will also receive a fun holiday goody bag which includes dairy educational activities. This family-friendly event is free to the public and donations are appreciated. The event will be weather permitting. For up-to-date information or questions, visit the Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation’s Facebook page or email info@iowadairycenter.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joe Jayjack, Communications Director, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

jjayjack@inhf.org, 515-288-1846

Heine ending term of service on INHF board

DECORAH — Decorah resident Kirsten Heine is ending her term of service on the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) board of directors after 17 years as an advisor and then board member for the nonprofit conservation organization.

Heine has used her love of northeast Iowa, her passion for conservation and her background in fundraising to support the mission of INHF, which is to protect and restore Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. During Heine’s tenure with the organization, INHF has protected more than 100,000 acres across Iowa, including thousands of acres in the Driftless region.

“Kirsten is so community-minded, and INHF has benefitted from her expertise, her connections in the community and her desire to see land preserved,” said INHF President Joe McGovern. “We are grateful for her service.”

Heine has been essential in INHF’s efforts to protect land along the Upper Iowa River, including a recent campaign to purchase Heritage Valley, a 1,200-acre nature preserve between Decorah and Waukon that includes a picturesque 3-mile stretch of river winding between the woodlands and hill prairies.

Heine’s family has also protected their own land along the Upper Iowa River with multiple conservation easements, permanently preserving land for wildlife habitat, water quality and scenic views.

“It truly has been a joy and honor to serve on the board of INHF and help to uplift its inspiring mission,” Heine said. “For my husband David and me, INHF is a deeply personal connection and passion. We believe in the impactful mission and vision — as it is “Good and True” and benefits all Iowans — and even more importantly it ensures that same benefit for the  generations to come. This service has been most meaningful for me, and I look forward to continuing to be an ambassador and advocate for INHF.”

INHF board and staff will be in Decorah Oct. 26-27 for a celebration of a Forest Legacy program easement at Heritage Valley, an INHF donor reception and their board of directors meeting, which is held every other month in different locations around the state.

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit conservation group that works with private landowners and public partners to protect and restore Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. Since its founding in 1979, INHF has helped protect more than 195,000 acres of Iowa’s natural resources. Learn more at www.inhf.org

RSVP of Northeast Iowa and the American Red Cross are holding their “Battle of the Badges” Blood Drive Friday, October 27^th from 12 noon until 5 pm at Stone Ridge Community Church, 1111 Montgomery Street in Decorah. Respond to the call to give blood during this time of critical need and vote for your favorite public service department – EMS, Fire or Law Enforcement. In addition to receiving a $10 e-gift card, all donors who come to give during the time frame will also be automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 prize. There will be one winner each week, for a total of three winners.  See rcblood.org/team. Donating blood is an act of kindness you can carry with you!

For an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org, click “Find a Drive”, and enter code DECORAH. Or, simply call Pete at 309-236-2382. If you prefer to donate at a different location or on a different date, you can find a blood drive online that meets your needs also by visiting redcrossblood.org.

Respectfully submitted,

Pete Vogel

309-236-2382

Guardians of Northeast Iowa will be holding an online fundraiser starting on October 18 and ending on November 1st. Some of the items to be auctioned off are many theme baskets (Sports related, food, season’s, games, movie, etc.), tickets to a UNI basketball game, a set of cornhole boards, and much more. We have over one hundred items, so there is something for everyone. Go to our Facebook page on October 18 – November 1 and start bidding!  https://www.facebook.com/events/1018940549296830/?ref=newsfeed

Guardians of Northeast Iowa is continuously providing pro bono services to our clients and as a non profit, we rely on fundraisers and donations from supportive people like YOU!

Hope to see you October 18 – November 1!

We are a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Guardians of Northeast Iowa will be holding an online fundraiser starting on October 18 and ending on November 1st. Some of the items to be auctioned off are many theme baskets (Sports related, food, season’s, games, movie, etc.), tickets to a UNI basketball game, a set of cornhole boards, and much more. We have over one hundred items, so there is something for everyone. Go to our Facebook page on October 18 – November 1 and start bidding!  https://www.facebook.com/events/1018940549296830/?ref=newsfeed

Guardians of Northeast Iowa is continuously providing pro bono services to our clients and as a non profit, we rely on fundraisers and donations from supportive people like YOU!

Hope to see you October 18 – November 1!

We are a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Lime Springs United Methodist Church will be holding their annual Harvest Auction – this Monday Sept 25, 2023  at 7 pm in Church Basement. This is the 94th Annual Auction – featuring Pies, Baked goods, fresh produce and craft items