Community News Stories

Shopping for a Cause is an annual event held in the spring coordinated by April McQuade. For each event the vendor fees and proceeds are donated to a family in need within our community. This event will benefit the family of Ashley Plagman.

Saturday, November 28^th, 2020 Ashley passed away unexpectedly at the age of 27 after suffering from a blood clot. She left behind her 3 year old son Keeegan, daughter Brayleigh, just 3 months old at the time, and boyfriend Jeff Haas. Since Ashley’s passing Jeff has taken on the role of single dad. Proceeds from this event will help cover the kid’s daily expenses.

The event will be held Saturday, March 13^th from 10am-2pm at the Waukon Banquet Center. There will craft and vendors selling products with a portion of their sales being donated to the family. We will also have a free-will offering bake sale and a raffle.

New this year, BE Catered will be offering a meal for carry-out. You’ll be able to pre-order your dinner; meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy, ham, corn, and dinner roll for $10. $2 from every meal will be going to the family. Watch this event and BE Catered’s Facebook page for more details.

A special thanks to the Waukon Banquet Center for donating the use of the facility.

Anyone interested in being a vendor can contact April McQude (563-794-0672). Details for bake sale donations to follow.

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville

Spring Festival

Drive Thu Meal

Sunday, April 11

10:30 to 1

Swiss Steak and Pit Ham

Real Mashed Potatoes w/gravy

Freezer Corn – Cole Slaw

Dinner Roll – Bar – Water

Raffle tickets available – Drawing at 1:15

Adults $12 – Children 5-10 $6 and Children 4 and younger Free

Tickets available the day of.

Extending project another day:

Winneshiek County will be doing brush removal on Co Rd W20/Bluffton Rd that would have temporary closure for the following location, if local traffic could find alternative routes that would be greatly appreciated:

We will be closing the road 1 mile north of Scenic River Rd on Bluffton Rd January 8^th 8:00am-2:30pm.

Waucoma Fire Department is hosting a Grilled Boneless Iowa Chop Dinner drive-thru on November 15th, 11AM-2PM.

Drive-thru only at the Waucoma Fire Station

Meal Includes: Grilled Boneless Iowa Chop, Green Beans, Baked Potato, Roll and Dessert

First 600 meals, No advance tickets available.

Price is $10.00 per meal

September 22, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month”

Helping Services for Youth & Families’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center (DARC) is hosting Domestic Violence Awareness during the month of October. In Iowa and around the world, October is a month to create awareness around domestic violence, using the color purple to symbolize the cause.

Throughout the month of October you will notice areas that highlight domestic violence awareness. We have a few ways you can support local survivors of domestic violence:

1. Throughout the month of October, Pivo Brewery & Blepta Studios in Calmar will be donating 20% of their online sales to DARC.
2. On Saturday, October 17, Luna Valley Farm in Decorah will be providing 20% of pizza sales to DARC. All pizza orders need to be made in advance.

Last year, the Helping Services’ DARC team of advocates and volunteers assisted 223 individual survivors of domestic abuse in the 7 counties the team serves (Allamakee, Bremer, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek). Staff and volunteers also answered 1,728 calls on our Resource Line and provided 88 transportation trips for clients.  For more info about Helping Services’ DARC please call 800-383-2988 or visit www.helpingservices.org to access our chat option with an advocate.

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CIA Insurance, CUSB Bank, CUSB Wealth Management Solutions, and Thomson Charitable Foundation donates 6,700 masks and shields to area school districts

CUSB Bank, CIA Insurance, CUSB Wealth Management Solutions, and the Thomson Charitable Foundation are proud to partner to provide masks and shields for the Howard-Winneshiek, Notre Dame, Riceville, Osage, Charles City, Immaculate Conception, and LeRoy-Ostrander school districts as they return to learn this Fall.

J. Scott Thomson, CEO and President of CUSB Bank and CIA Insurance said, “As a community-minded bank we have reinvested in the financial well-being of our communities and now we are re-investing in the personal well-being of our youth and educators. We’re proud to donate 6,700 masks and shields to area school districts as they return to school.”

Washable and adjustable adult and children masks, personalized by school district in school colors, have been donated to each school for distribution. Youth face shields have also been purchased and given to schools for distribution. Donations of masks have also been made to area day care centers for their employees to use.

Caring and family are core values of CUSB Bank, CIA Insurance, and CUSB Wealth Management Solutions. Thomson said, “As community-minded institutions, we feel a deep responsibility towards supporting the communities that we are fortunate to serve. Our communities and our families have been greatly impacted by COVID-19 and we want to show our support as the transition back to school starts. Many of our employees are parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles and we wanted to help provide a layer of protection for their loved ones and yours as they start a new school year.”
Be sure to tag CUSB Bank and CIA Insurance on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) in your back to school masked photos.

Picture descriptions
Brian Midthus Pic
CIA Insurance Agent Brian Midthus is pictured with his wife, Michelle, a teacher at Crestwood Elementary, and their two daughters, Madison, and Mackenzie.

Cindy Butikofer Pic
CIA Insurance Agency Manager Cindy Butikofer (second row, right) has her grandchildren (Cole, Lawson, Aiden, Kyra, and Carver) all masked and stacked up, ready for school at Crestwood Schools.

Dan and Janice Ollendick
CUSB Vice President Dan Ollendick and his wife, Janice, are pictured with their granddaughters, Oaklee and Etta, who are ready for school at Notre Dame Elementary.

Jeanne Voyna
CUSB Employee Jeanne Voyna is pictured with her three children, Emily, Brock, and Trenton, ready for school at Crestwood.

Face Shields and Masks
CUSB Bank, CIA Insurance, CUSB Wealth Management Solutions, and the Thomson Charitable Foundation are proud to partner to provide 6,700 masks and shields for the Howard-Winneshiek, Notre Dame, Riceville, Osage, Charles City, Immaculate Conception, and LeRoy-Ostrander school districts as they return to learn this Fall.

Eight Candidates Pursue
Title of 67th Iowa Dairy Princess
2020-21 Iowa Dairy Princess to be Crowned August 6

ANKENY, Iowa – Eight young women involved within the Iowa dairy community will compete to win the title of 67th Iowa Dairy Princess Thursday, Aug. 6, at 2 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott in Ankeny. The princess and her alternate are charged with helping consumers learn more about dairy products and the farm families who tend the farms and cows that provide them.
The contestants are:
• Brooke Courtney, 18, daughter of Scott and Amy Courtney of Ridgeway, representing Winneshiek County;
• Amber Engelken, 18, daughter of Tom and Cherrie Engelken of Earlville, representing Iowa Holstein Association;
• Kaylee Gibbs, 17, daughter of Chris and Kerri Gibbs of Waterville, representing Allamakee County;
• Megan Gronau, 21, daughter of Todd and Karen Gronau of Durango, representing Dubuque County;
• Meghan Hettinga, 20, daughter of Jason and Mary Hettinga of Orange City, representing Iowa Jersey Cattle Club;
• Abby Klstermann, 18, daughter of Chris and Michelle Klostermann of Dyersville, representing Delaware County;
• Raegan Kime, 17, daughter of Dann and Annette Kime of Waucoma, representing Iowa Guersney Breeders Association;
• Megan Kueker, 18, daughter of Gary and Karol Kueker of West Union, representing Fayette County;
The winners are chosen on the basis of their knowledge and enthusiasm about dairy, personality and communication ability during judging which begins Wednesday, Aug. 5. Both the princess and alternate will receive scholarships from Midwest Dairy, which sponsors the contest and princess program on behalf of Iowa’s dairy farmers.
The outgoing 2019-20 Iowa Dairy Princess is Julie Hammerand, daughter of Jerry and Lois Hammerand, and the Alternate Princess is Faith Palmer, daughter of John and Meghan Palmer of Waukon. Their reigns will be completed at the end of the month, and the new Princess and Alternate will begin their duties Sept. 1.
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Midwest Dairy™ represents 7,000 dairy farm families and works on their behalf to build dairy demand by inspiring consumer confidence in our products and production practices. We are committed to Bringing Dairy to Life! by Giving Consumers an Excellent Dairy Experience and are funded by farmers across a 10-state region, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. For more information, visit MidwestDairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.

—
Mariah Busta
Iowa Dairy Princess Program Coordinator

Although the Winneshiek County Historical Society’s office has been closed to walk-in traffic since the pandemic emerged in late March, work has continued both outside and inside the office.
The entrance to the WCHS office at 302 S. Mill Street is sporting a new look. Porch columns, ceiling, door, and window trim have been stripped, repaired, caulked, primed and painted by Ron and Sandy Stover. The Stovers are also continuing to strip, caulk, prime, and paint the rest of the trim on the first-floor windows and doors, with west and south sides completed. Historic metal work has been stripped of paint and restored by the Stovers, and vintage hooks on the front porch have been stripped and given a baked historic coating to preserve their metal finish by David Wadsworth. Shingling and roof repair, soffit, and fascia repair are slated for late summer, and attic insulating and other efforts to conserve energy will also be accomplished before the winter heating season.
When the office reopens to foot traffic, it will be easier for patrons to locate. A new sign at the office entrance directs patrons to the Winneshiek County Heritage Center, the new designation for the Winneshiek County Historical Society headquarters. The sign was painted by Elizabeth Lorentzen and recently installed by Jerry Thompson and Ron Stover. Improvement and maintenance of the grounds also continues with Ron and Sandy Stover heading up that project.
Work has also been carried on inside the office. The Historical Society volunteers have continued to research questions that people have emailed or called in, as well as accepting donations of family histories, photos, and other historic memorabilia. Some interesting photos of vintage homes, historic photos of local families and their stories have been received, and the WCHS research database and offerings continue to grow. The Society’s newsletter is sent out regularly keeping members apprised of current happenings.
The Historical Society looks forward to the day when they can again serve patrons face-to-face. Until that time, they can be contacted with questions and research requests via their email, winneshiek.historical.society@gmail.com or their office phone, 563-382-4166. Their website, www.winneshiekcountyhistoricalsociety.com updates current WCHS happenings. Patrons can also explore the digitized vintage county newspapers online at http://winneshiekcounty.advantage-preservation.com produced as a project in collaboration with the Luther College Library. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Winneshiek County Historical Society may contact them by calling or emailing the WCHS office.

Decorah Park and Rec 2020 Swimming Info

Decorah Parks and Recreation will follow guidance from the CDC and the Iowa Department of Public Health to protect swimmers, staff, and patrons.

The 2020 pool experience will be completely different in Decorah and across the nation. The health and safety of patrons and staff will be our highest priority. Below you will find a summary of actions Decorah Parks and Recreation pledges to initiate to help lower COVID-19 risk as much as possible while also allowing swimmers and patrons to enjoy the water.

All staff and swimmers will be screened and temperatures will be taken before admittance. No one with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater will be allowed into the facility.
When not in the water all staff and patrons are encouraged to wear masks when interacting with others.
The 2020 Decorah Swimming Pool capacity will be limited to 388 people to allow for social distancing. Capacity was determined by a formula using the area of the pool and is 37% of the facility’s normal operating capacity.
The facility will be cleaned and sanitized above and beyond CDC guidelines.
Efforts will be made to help with social distancing through signage and markings that note where patrons should stand when waiting in line to enter the facility, to use diving boards and to go down the slide. Staff will mark out areas on the deck and grass to help patrons to spread out.
The Decorah Municipal Swimming Pool will be open 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm daily for public swim.
Family time has been added for this season and will run from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm daily. Children must be accompanied by an adult to come during this time. This is an excellent time for parents wishing to work on teaching some basic swimming techniques with their children or bring younger children to enjoy the pool in a quieter setting.
Lap swim and water walking hours have been expanded to safely accommodate and maximize the number of patrons served. Lane reservations will be taken online.
Season passes can be purchased online. Prices have been prorated. Daily admission prices will remain the same as previous years.
Concessions will not be provided and food will not be allowed in the pool area. Staff and patrons are encouraged to bring their own water bottle with their name on it.
Swimming lessons will not be provided by Decorah Parks and Recreation this season (this includes both private and group lessons). Effective lessons require close contact between instructors and participants, which is not feasible while social distancing.
Pool parties will not be scheduled this year.
A new group of adult volunteers, Decorah Swimming Pool Ambassadors, is being formed to help Decorah Parks and Recreation navigate the pool season. The Decorah Swimming Pool Ambassadors will help pool staff by answering questions, assisting with registration at the front door and educating patrons about social distancing out on the pool deck. This will allow the life guards to concentrate on guarding. If you are interested in volunteering as part of this program please direct any offers or questions to the DPR office, 382-4158 or email parkrec@decorahia.org. Volunteers must be adults.
The status of the pool will be reviewed daily and guidelines will be updated as needed.

2020 Fair Special Edition: Iowa 4-H and FFA Livestock Show Information

2020 Fair Special Edition: Iowa 4-H and FFA Livestock Show Information

In the spirit of tradition, the Iowa State Fairgrounds are excited to host the 2020 Fair Special Edition: Iowa 4-H and FFA Livestock Show. Held with the same prestige and competition found at the Iowa State Fair, this 2020 Special Edition will showcase the superior showmanship, hard work, and determination of Iowa’s 4-H and FFA youth. This Special Edition show will follow all Iowa Department of Public Health and CDC recommendations for social distancing, hand washing and sanitization, so although it will be held in August and on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, you may notice some “special” considerations for this stand-alone event.

Purpose: To support the mission statement of the Iowa State Fair by providing an opportunity for Iowa 4-H and FFA youth to showcase their hard work and livestock projects.

Eligibility: Open to Iowa 4-H and FFA exhibitors that have nominated livestock projects for the 2020 Iowa State Fair. Shows will be available for the following:

FFA Beef
FFA Horse
FFA Meat Goat
FFA Poultry*
FFA Rabbit*
FFA Sheep
FFA Swine
FFA & 4-H Dairy Cattle
FFA & 4-H Dairy Goats
4-H Beef
4-H Horse
4-H Meat Goat
4-H Poultry*
4-H Rabbit
4-H Sheep
4-H Swine
*nomination not required

Schedule: The attached schedule allows more room for exhibitors to obey social distancing recommendations. The separation of the shows allows for the Fairgrounds to be cleaned thoroughly between sessions.

**Some shows and competitions will not be offered for 2020. This includes the 4-H Dog Show, all carcass and/or performance contests including FFA Performance Beef, 4-H Beef of Merit, Sheep and Swine Carcass Contests, Livestock Skillathons, and non-show competitions (no poster presentations, etc.) and no Showmanship classes will be conducted this year. Just simply the livestock shows themselves.

Attendees: For crowd control purposes each exhibitor will receive 3 wristbands total.

A limited number of wristbands will be available to show supporters. A $100 donation to the show will grant the donor 2 wristbands good for all three sessions August 6-22. Click here to donate.

Wristbands will be required to access the Fairgrounds. Wristbands will not be available on site.

No additional fees for admission or parking will be charged.

Entry: 4-H exhibitors will enter thru 4-H Online.
FFA exhibitors will work with their advisor to enter thru the Fair entry system.
Both systems will open on Monday, June 22.

Entry Deadline: July 10, 2020

Entry fees are as follows:

FFA Beef $35
FFA Horse $25/head + $5/class
FFA Meat Goat $15
FFA Poultry $5
FFA Rabbit $5
FFA Sheep $15
FFA Swine $15
FFA & 4-H Dairy Cattle $30
FFA & 4-H Dairy Goats $15
4-H Beef $35
4-H Horse $25/head + $5/class
4-H Meat Goat $15
4-H Poultry $5
4-H Rabbit $5
4-H Sheep $15
4-H Swine $15

Exhibitor Communication: Follow show information on Facebook under 2020 Fair Special Edition: Iowa 4-H and FFA Livestock Show or text SHOW to 75782

Generators: No auxiliary generators will be provided.

Parking: Parking will be allowed on the fairgrounds in designated areas at no cost. All persons in the vehicle must have a wristband to enter the Fairgrounds. Wristbands will not be available on site.

Trailer Parking: Trailers parking will be available on grounds in designated areas at no cost.

Premiums and Ribbons: The Danish Ribbon systems will still be used – exhibitors will receive the typical Purple, Blue, Red, White in each class. However, monetary premiums will be paid only to the top 3 placings in each class across all divisions.

Rules: Premium books with full rules will be available by end of day June 19 at www.iowastatefair.org/participate/competition/how-to-enter/

Exhibitors will notice some key changes for 2020 in certain species. For instance, due to no market outlet, market swine will not be loaded out for harvest. All shows will be non-terminal with the exception of the following animals that will be processed at Iowa State University Meat Lab: Grand and Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer; Grand and Reserve Grand 4-H Champion Market Heifer; Grand and Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Hog; Grand and Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Lamb; Grand and Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Broiler (Special); Grand Champion 4-H Market Meat Goat; Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion FFA Market Lamb; Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion FFA Market Hog; Grand Champion FFA Market Meat Goat.

Due to physical distancing requirements, reduction of interactions and lack of resources, carcass classes will not be available.

Other Amenities: A small variety of food and show supply vendors will be available.

No overnight accommodations will be allowed in the barns or the Youth Inn.

Camping is available in the Fair campgrounds. More information may be found here: https://www.iowastatefairgrounds.org/camping/off-season-camping/

COVID-19 Precautions:

All employees, exhibitors, vendors, and patrons must closely follow all rules, guidelines, and advice set forth by the United States Federal Government, CDC, State of Iowa Governor’s Office, Iowa Department of Public Health, ESA (Event Safety Alliance), and the IISC (Iowa Illinois Safety Council).

It is strongly encouraged that volunteers, participants, and families use face coverings and practice physical distancing.

Some rows or sections of seating may be blocked off in order to space people at least 6 feet apart.

Lines or queues will be eliminated where possible or people will be encouraged to stay at least 6 feet apart by providing signs or other visual cues such as tape or chalk marks.

Frequent hand washing with soap and water is greatly encouraged. If soap and water is not available hand sanitation stations will be placed throughout the barns and show arenas.

Cleaning and sanitization of all frequently touched surfaces will occur during the set-up and throughout the duration of the events.

For further information, please contact the Competitive Events Department at competitiveevents@iowastatefair.org or 515.262.3111 x207