Community News Stories

Aase Haugen Senior Services announced today that the company has postponed it’s annual meeting, previously scheduled for March 17, 2020, in light of the general recommendations from public health authorities to restrict large group gatherings. “Our highest priority is the health and safety of our residents,” said Orson Bauder, Aase Haugen administrator. “We are taking this pandemic very seriously and delaying this event is the right thing to do at this time.” Aase Haugen will announce a revised date for the Annual Meeting as soon as practicable.

Aase Haugen has been taking precautionary measures, focused on prevention, to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “We know this time in our society can be difficult for families, but we will do all we can to protect our residents,” says Bauder. The nursing home has put an action plan in place for communication with families that includes iPad skyping and facetiming with residents. “We thank our staff, families, and community for the dedication they have shown for the safety of our residents,” says Bauder. If you have any questions concerning access to Aase Haugen, please call the main phone at 563-382-3603.

“As a safety precaution, the LUTHER COLLEGE WOMAN’S CLUB MARCH 17th meeting IS CANCELLED due to the coronavirus epidemic.”

Northeast Iowa Wellness & Recreation Center located at 313 W. Post Street Postville, Iowa

Will hold it’s annual Women’s Day Event on Saturday ~ April 18th from 9 AM to Noon

The event will feature a Vendor Shopping Fair, Free Group Fitness Classes:

9 AM – Water Aerobics

10 AM – Princess Yoga

11 AM – Cycling

~~ Canvas painting and sign making classes will also be offered with preregistration and class fee~~

Ames, IA – The Best Burger Contest is not only a great way to celebrate Iowa’s 25,000 beef farmers, it’s also a great way to increase business for participating restaurants and draw visitors to Iowa communities.

“Winning the 2019 Iowa’s Best Burger Contest put our restaurant on the map and garnered new customers from all over the state. We went from serving 200 burgers a week to 200 burgers a night,” says Oskaloosa’s Wood Iron Grille. “Our burgers have always been our best-selling menu item, but after winning the contest nearly every guest that dined at our restaurant ordered a burger.”

The contest is sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) and occurs in two phases. In the first phase, Iowans are encouraged to nominate their favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style. Nominations will be accepted between February 10 and March 10, 2020.

OFFICE OF THE IOWA SECRETARY OF STATE
MEDIA RELEASE: Office statement from Secretary Pate regarding Iowa Caucuses

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate released the following statement today regarding the Iowa Caucuses:

“The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office and county auditors have no official role in the Iowa Caucuses. They are run by the political parties. Although the caucuses are the kickoff of the presidential nominating process, they are not elections. Iowans do a terrific job of vetting the candidates and I congratulate the tens of thousands of citizens who turned out on caucus night and made their voices heard.
The accuracy of the Iowa Democratic Party’s vote totals is much more important than the timeliness of releasing the results. I am glad to hear they have a paper trail for their votes, just as we use paper ballots in all official elections in the State of Iowa. I support IDP while they take their time and conduct checks and balances to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the votes.”

Tuesday, February 4

Story Time, 10:30am

Stay & Play, 11am

Wednesday, February 5
World Read Aloud Day, 10am-8pm

Special Story Time, 10:30am

Thursday, February 6

Tech Tutor, 10am-12pm

Saturday, February 8

Matinee Movie: Million-dollar Duck, 1:30pm

Tuesday, February 11

Story Time with Ross: River Otters, 10:30am

Library Board Meeting, 4:30pm

Thursday, February 13

Tech Tutor, 10am-12pm

Pinterest Projects: Pulled String Art, 5:30pm

Monday, February 17

Teen Advisory Board (TAB), 4pm

Tuesday, Feburary 18

Story Time, 10:30am

People’s Law School: Elder Abuse, 5:30pm

Thursday, February 20

Tech Tutor, 10am-12pm

Foundation Book Sale, 2-6pm

Book Club: Thrift, Gift, or Used Book, 6pm

Tuesday, February 25

Story Time, 10:30am

After School with Ross: Animal Relationships, 3:30pm

Thursday, February 27

Tech Tutor, 10am-12pm

Live & Learn:Cultivate Hardwood Log Mushrooms, 5:30pm

More info… https://www.waukon.lib.ia.us/download_file/force/2184/1395

Maple Crest Campus in Fayette will be having a job fair 2/26/20 from 10a-6p. We will have tours, open interviews, child care available during your interview/tour, refreshments and more! Please plan to join us! Come and see what Maple Crest Campus has to offer!

Decorah, IA (January 16, 2020) – The City of Decorah is notifying residents that a snow emergency will be in effect starting Saturday, January 18th at 8:00 AM. The snow emergency will be in effect until Sunday, January 19th at 12:00 PM.

Residents are reminded that during a snow emergency, all vehicles shall be parked on the side of the street where buildings bear even numbers, until such time as the snow has been plowed from the opposite side of the street (where buildings bear odd numbers). Vehicles shall then be moved to the side of the street where buildings bear odd numbers.

Please contact the Street Department at 382-2157 with any questions.

DECORAH, Iowa — Be inspired by budding folk artists and Scandinavian traditions at Vesterheim, the national Norwegian-American museum and heritage center, during an open house for students from the “Scandinavian Fine Handcraft” January Term course at Luther College. This free community event will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 28, in the museum’s Main Building.

During the open house, students from the class will demonstrate carving and exhibit their class projects. Refreshments will be served.
The class is taught by Harley Refsal, Luther professor emeritus of Scandinavian folk art. Refsal is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist who has taught Scandinavian figure carving throughout the United States and Norway. He was honored by Norway’s King H. M. Harald V with the St. Olav Medal of Honor for his efforts in reinvigorating Scandinavian figure carving in both the United States and Norway.

Vesterheim, the national Norwegian-American museum and heritage center, in scenic Decorah, Iowa, showcases the best in historic and contemporary Norwegian folk and fine arts, and explores the American immigrant experience. This national treasure includes world-class exhibitions and 12 historic buildings. It is also a center for folk-art education, offering a wide variety of classes in authentic Norwegian folk art every year. For more information on the museum’s exhibitions, classes, events, membership opportunities, and ways to donate, check Vesterheim’s website at vesterheim.org, call (563) 382-9681, or write to Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 502 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101-0379
A national liberal arts college, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 60 majors and pre-professional programs. For more information about Luther visit the college’s website: www.luther.edu.
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For your information, the first “check-plans” for Decorah’s 2020 Locust Road Improvement Project have been posted to the Iowa DOT website and available for your public review and comment through the Iowa DOT website.

Please follow the link and information below.
Let us know if you have any questions locally, but engineering and design questions will flow through the DOT’s site.

Posted at https://iowadot.gov/contracts#notices

CHECK PLAN FOR INFORMATION, LOCUST ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, City of Decorah, Winneshiek County
Project Details: PCC Pavement – Replace, In the City of Decorah, on Locust Road From College Drive 0.87 Miles to Pine Crest Drive – PCC Pavement Replace – Bid Alternate: Pine Crest Drive to Highland Drive
Project Number: STBG-SWAP-1867(617)—SG-96
Proposed Letting: April 21, 2020

Brief Description: This project involves full reconstruction of Locust Road in Decorah, Iowa from College Drive north to Highland Drive. The project also includes storm water and drainage improvements to the entire corridor, and the addition of new sidewalk from College Drive north to Shady Lane Drive and a little North of the intersection of Shady Lane. The Section from Pine Crest Drive to Highland Drive is a bid alternate and will be awarded if bids come within range of City estimate.

Plans are provided for information and comments only and are subject to change. Please contact Jeremy Bril (cityengineer@decorahia.org) or Chad Bird (citymanager@decorahia.org) with any comments/questions.

This is the Tentative project schedule and timeline:
The following is a possible schedule for the Locust Road project.
January 13th Street Committee meeting, plan review with Engineers (McClure Engineering to meet with the Street Committee to review plans and engineer’s estimate of cost. Open House / public review of final plans, (NO council action)
January 20th (Final Plans due to DOT on January 21st)
April 20th: Resolution for public hearing in front of Council for consideration and approval.
April 21st: Project is Bid, Notice of Public Hearing is sent for publication to Decorah News.
April 21st through May 1st: Information from DOT to City/McClure about bids received, contract forms, etc.
May 4th Public Hearing, followed by Council consideration and approval to award work to low bidder (with or without Bid Alternate 1: Pine Crest Drive to Highland Drive)