Community News Stories

The Last Homecoming –The Final Roundup
Members of the extended North Winneshiek School community are planning a big party to celebrate the decades of North Winn. Plans are being finalized for The Final Roundup on Friday, May 10-Sunday, May 12, 2019 with activities for families and friends of the school.

The Alumni Celebration Committee formed to commemorate those 55 years of excellence with an all-school reunion weekend. Proceeds from the Last Homecoming—The Final Roundup will be used to establish a scholarship fund for a graduating senior at Decorah Community Schools and at Mabel/Canton School, who has a connection to North Winneshiek. Donations can be sent to North Winn Scholarship Fund at PO Box 241, Decorah, Iowa 52101 or made in person at the Last Homecoming.

On Friday afternoon, May 10, beginning at 3:30pm, current kindergarten through sixth grade students at North Winneshiek will welcome visitors to view the North Winn Timeline they have created with stories and memorabilia on display. Visitors will find supper at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, just down the road from North Winn at 1966 337th Street or at Barney’s at 3607 236th Ave in Burr Oak. At 6:30pm-8pm on Friday evening, there will be a kick-off for the weekend with classmates meeting in the NW gymnasium for group photos, reminiscing, viewing the Timeline and preparing for the Saturday events. Everyone is invited to bring materials to decorate mini-floats or tractors and wagons for Saturday’s festivities.

Running the Block, Saturday, May 11 will be a 4-mile fun run/walk, following the route that many NW athletes will remember fondly or painfully. Organizers Tricia Ryan and Tiffany  Dahlberg will begin check-in and registration at 7am and the walk/run fundraiser will begin at the softball diamond at 8am. Registration for the event is $25 (12 and under $5). Send  registration forms to Barney’s at 3607 236th Ave. Decorah, IA 52101 (Checks made out to N.W. Scholarship Fund) or http://www.north-winn.k12.ia.us or register on the morning of the  event.

The North Winn Benefit Tractor Ride will start on Saturday, May 11 at 9:30am in the South driveway at North Winneshiek with check-in beginning at 9am. Registration forms are available online at http://www.north-winn.k12.ia.us or at Barney’s, Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Letterwerks, or the NW School office. Entry Fee is $15.00 per driver/rider age 16 or older. Ages under 16 $5.00. Sign up on event day $15, Under 16 $5.(Checks made out to N.W. Scholarship Fund) If you have questions, contact committee chairs Andy Hageman or Stacy Knight.

The 17-mile ride through Hesper and Locust will loop back to North Winneshiek, rain or shine, in time for the county’s largest and tastiest potluck dinner at noon in the North Winn.  cafeteria. Bring a dish to pass, table service, and a lawn chair. Lemonade will be available. Dishes can be delivered to the kitchen before the Fun Run/Walk or Tractor Ride.

The Last Homecoming Pep Rally will be held at 1pm on Saturday in the NW Gym. There will be introductions, cheers, songs, and the Spirit Stick. Classes are welcome to prepare and display tricycle and wagon floats for a mini-parade. The Pep Talk will be given by North Winn. graduate Dwight Seegmiller, CEO of Hills Bank in the Iowa City area. Members of the audience will be  invited to share brief reminiscences and join the choir to sing the NW classic “It’s Time for Moving On.”

Donations are being accepted at North Winneshiek for a NW Scholarship Auction to begin at 3pm on Saturday with auctioneer Steve Darrington. North Winn memoriablia, home-made  items, including a NW quilted wall-hanging, and valuable items will be sold in the auction. The auction will be followed by opportunities for group photos for classes, families and friends.

Attendees are welcome to bring photos and memorabilia to display on Friday and Saturday or sell on Saturday at the auction. There will be a Memorial Wall for displaying photos of past  North Winners.

Saturday evening activities will include a NW Benefit BBQ dinner at Barney’s in Burr Oak beginning at 5:30pm. The cost will be $8 for adults, Patty Snell will be the cook and her family will be serving with funds to go to the NW Scholarship Fund and Miaja Quandahl’s trip to DC Fund. Visiting and food will be available at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery until 7:30pm. From 7:30pm-11pm, there will be music at Barney’s by the North Winn favorite classic Country Cousins Band.

The weekend celebration will end on Sunday, May 12, 2019 with Brunch at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery from 10am to 1pm. This event is by reservation only by phone 563-735-5809.

The price is $11 adults, $5.50 11-yrs and under.

Members of the Last Homecoming Committee are chair Nancy Sojka; marketing Laura Smith, Beth Guizman, and Tiffany Dahlberg, Tractor Ride Andy Hageman, Brian Hageman, and Stacy Knight; Run/Walk Trisha Ryan and Tiffany Dahlberg; BBQ meal Tammy Brink and the Snell Family; Fund-raising Lisa Bullerman, Brenda Falck, and Tammy Brink; Auction Melissa Wicklund, Lisa Bullerman, and Andy Hageman; Merchandise sales Brian Peterson; Pep Rally Tammy Brink, Mary Arneson, and Melissa Wicklund. Information is available on the North Winneshiek School website: http://www.n-winn.k12.ia.us or contact Nancy Sojka at 563-419-1828.

DECORAH, IOWA – Run a 50K / 25K / 10K / 5K or kids 1Mi in a 470 million year old crater – 5 routes offer a gnarly challenge when you sign up for one of Decorah’s Driftless Discovery Trail Runs.

The 6th annual, Driftless Discovery Trail Run on June 1st, 2019 happens within the trail systems of Barnhart-Van Peenen, Palisades, Ice Cave Hill and Dunning Spring Parks. Those with a strong desire, craving, or undeniable urge to run trails will experience up to 5,500’ of total elevation gain. Sought after spoils are raffled off post-race thanks to The Decorah Hatchery, PIVO Brewery, Body Logics, Hibbett Sports, The Sugar Bowl and other supporters. Seriously, of all the paths you might take in life, make sure a few of them are the dirt trails of Decorah. You won’t regret it.

All 25K / 50K runners must register at www.DDTR.us by May 30th, NO exceptions. Stop by the Decorah Hatchery on Friday, May 31st between 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., register online or the day of to enter the 1M, 5K, or 10K. Proceeds benefit the Northeast Iowa Montessori School [NEIM], Decorah Park & Rec, and Decorah Human Powered Trails.

Contact the Kelly or Scott Searcy if you are interested in volunteering for this event. driftlessdiscoverytrailrun@gmail.com | 516.732.5751

LACE UP & GET LOST, it’s a vacation you don’t have too pay much for.

Register today: www.DDTR.us

For more information, please contact DDTR Coordinators by email at driftlessdiscoverytrailrun@gmail.com or visit us at facebook.com/driftlessdiscoverytrailrun

The Iowa Beef Industry Council is pleased to announce that May is Beef Month in Iowa. Governor Kim Reynolds has signed the May Beef Month proclamation in recognition of the importance of Iowa’s beef industry to the state’s economy. The Iowa Beef Industry Council is pleased to present the following proclamation.

Whereas Iowa is a major beef producing state with nearly 4.00 million head of cattle on January 1, 2018; and

Whereas the beef industry contributes greatly to our economy by generating in excess of $6.3 billion annually, and creating jobs for 32,317 Iowans; and

Whereas today’s beef is a naturally nutrient-rich food providing protein, iron, zinc and B-vitamins with more than 30 beef cuts that meet the government’s definition for “lean”; and

Whereas beef producers are the original environmentalists working to conserve the soil and making optimum use of natural resources; and

Whereas Iowa is a leader in the export of value-added agriculture products, shipping high-quality Iowa beef to other countries around the world; and

Whereas there is an ever-increasing need for better understanding of the benefits that the beef industry provides to all Iowans;

Now therefore, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2019 as Beef Month in Iowa, and urge all citizens to appreciate the contributions Iowa’s beef industry continues to provide to our state.

The Winneshiek Medical Center Auxiliary recently awarded scholarships to seven local students pursuing health care professions at its annual spring brunch.

Receiving Auxiliary scholarships were Kasey Buchheit, NICC for Nursing; Marianne Stalberger, Chamberlain University for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Brooke Herold, Allen College for Nursing; Augusta Casterton, University of Minnesota – Rochester for Echocardiography; Brandi Hageman, University of Iowa for her Doctor of Pharmacy; and Payton Stock, University of Northern Iowa for Athletic Training.

This year, an individual wanted to honor long-time Decorah Clinic nurse, Mary Meyer, RN, by offering a scholarship in her name to a deserving student entering the nursing field. Kaleb Michel, attending Hawkeye Community College for Nursing, received this one-time scholarship.

The Winneshiek Medical Center Auxiliary offers their annual Health Career Scholarship to residents of Winneshiek County pursuing a health care profession. The applicant must be accepted into an accredited health career program to be eligible. Proceeds from the Auxiliary’s bakeless bake sale, spring brunch and holiday bake sale went toward the 2018 scholarship fund.

Cresco, IA | Rushford, MN (12:30 p.m. April 25, 2019)— MiEnergy Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Trust Board met in March and elected to donate $5,250 to the following local organizations:

• $500, Commonweal Theatre Company, Lanesboro, Minn., to support the Student Matinee performances which make field trips to the theatre accessible for all area schools.
• $500, Quilters for Veterans, Castalia, Iowa, for long-arm quilting of quilts to honor veterans.
• $500, Quilts of Honor, Spring Grove, Minn., for long-arm quilting of quilts to honor veterans.
• $450, Horse and Soul Ranch, Decorah, Iowa, to help provide program assistance to those in need.
• $450, Thunder Rode Inc., Decorah, Iowa, to help purchase a weatherproof, portable mounting block that helps wheelchair bound veterans get on to horses.
• $400, Bundles of Love, Chatfield, Minn., to help basic supplies for diaper bags given to families in need in Fillmore, Houston and Winona counties.
• $400, Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation, Cresco, Iowa, to provide educational opportunities for high school students with a focus on environment and agriculture.
• $400, Riceville WA TAN YE, to assist with the removal of trees that are at risk of damaging the historic one-room schoolhouse.
• $300, Fillmore County DAC, Preston, Minn., to purchase supplies for an enrichment program.
• $300, Kindred Family Focus, Rochester, Minn., to help foster families in Fillmore and Winona counties with basic needs.
• $300, Lanesboro Arts, to support Surprise Sculpture, a summer art educational opportunity, for students.
• $300, Root Prairie Lutheran Church, Fountain, Minn., to help purchase an automated external defibrillator.
• $250, City of Spring Grove, to support the Spring Grove Area Active Living Trail Planning Project.
• $100, Howard County Energy District, Cresco, Iowa, to support energy efficiency related events.
• $100, St. Charles Trap Team, to help with expenses for establishing a team for students.

Operation Round Up is funded by donations made by members of MiEnergy Cooperative who voluntarily have their electric bill round up to the next dollar. About 1,800 members currently participate with the average donation being $6 a year per member.

The program is based on the idea that small change adds up. Currently, the program gives away about $10,000 each year to local organizations.

The Operation Round Up Trust Board chooses where the funds get donated and the amount of the donation based on an application process. The trust board members include: John Bronk, of Winona, Minn., president; Janelle Mahr, of Lime Springs, Iowa, vice president; Margaret Knutson, of Houston, Minn., secretary/treasurer; Larry Hafner, of La Crescent, Minn.; Allen Hanson, of Preston, Minn.; Arlene Hegge, of La Crescent, Minn.; Shannon Schmelzer, of Cresco, Iowa; and PerryO Sliwa, Decorah, Iowa.

Donations to Operation Round Up are tax deductible. Organizations receive grants through an application process. The next application deadline is August 15. To learn more about Operation Round Up or to round up your electric bill, visit www.MiEnergy.coop or call 1-800-432-2285.

MiEnergy Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative and is the result of a merger between Hawkeye REC, of Cresco, Iowa and Tri-County Electric Cooperative, of Rushford, Minn. in 2017. It maintains 5,500 miles of power lines covering most of Fillmore, Houston and Winona counties in Minnesota and Chickasaw, Howard and Winneshiek counties in Iowa. The cooperative also serves small pockets bordering those counties. It provides electricity to more than 18,700 members in northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. MiEnergy is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

In recognition of Better Speech and Hearing Month in May, Winneshiek Medical Center is offering a free hearing screening on Friday, May 17. The screening is for people age 5 and older who are not currently being treated for hearing matters.

“Early detection of hearing loss is critical to preserving quality of life. We encourage anyone who has trouble hearing conversations in noisy environments, is unable to hear people talk without looking at them, or has a constant ringing or pain in the ears to consider making an appointment for this free screening,” says Cynthia See, Au.D., Mayo Clinic Health System audiologist at Winneshiek Medical Center Decorah Clinic.

Appointments are required for the free hearing screening. Call 563-382-2911 to schedule your appointment today. For more information on Audiology services at Winneshiek Medical Center, visit www.winmedical.org/Audiology

DECORAH, IA– Luther College Admissions will hold a Spring Open House on Friday, May 3, to give high school sophomores and juniors an introduction to Luther College.

The day includes a campus tour, an admissions workshop, complementary lunch, a trolley tour of Decorah and optional student life and music session.

The event’s schedule and registration are available at https://connect.luther.edu/register/grp-spring-open-house-5-3-2019.

Located in Decorah, Iowa, Luther College is a four-year liberal arts college that is nationally recognized for academic excellence, exceptional study abroad experiences, an outstanding music program and successful NCAA Division III athletics.

Learn more about Spring Open House and other Luther College visit events at: visit.luther.edu.

The Northeast Iowa Tourism Association has organized a self-guided Northeast Iowa Greenhouse Tour for April 26-28th

Join us Friday, April 26, Saturday, April 27th and Sunday, April 28th for the 2019 Northeast Iowa Greenhouse Tour! We have worked together with over 40 Greenhouses to bring you a weekend of fun.

Connect with local producers on a self-guided greenhouse tour across the seven counties of Northeast Iowa. Participating greenhouses will be selling produce, fresh flowers, shrubs, succulents, seeds, trees, and a variety of gardening supplies.

Participating Winneshiek County Greenhouses:

• River Root Farm | Decorah
• Humble Hands Harvest | Decorah
• Seed Savers Exchange | Decorah
• Decorah Greenhouses |Decorah
• Henzler’s Garden Shop | Decorah
• Canoe Creek Produce | Decorah
• Pinter’s Gardens and Pumpkins | Decorah
• Ladybug Landscapes and Decorah Floral | Decorah
• Benjegerdes Greenhouse | Postville
• G It’s Fresh |Calmar

Hours vary by location.

Will you soon be eligible for Medicare? Are you already receiving Medicare benefits and want to better understand your options? Do you help a family member with Medicare issues?

Winneshiek Medical Center is pleased to host a free “Welcome to Medicare” seminar on Monday, May 20 from 6-8 pm. This two-hour seminar, offered by the Winneshiek Medical Center Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors, will be held in WMC’s lower level conference rooms. The free seminar will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.

Registration is required by May 9. Please register online at www.winmedical.org/shiip or by calling 563-387-3036.

SHIIP is a service of the State of Iowa. SHIIP counselors are trained by the state and do not sell or promote any insurance companies, policies or agents. Winneshiek Medical Center is a local sponsor for SHIIP in Winneshiek County.

DES MOINES – In anticipation of the 100th anniversary of Iowa state parks in 2020, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources; the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs; and Iowa State University are bringing 20 artists to 20 state parks this summer.

From April through August 2019, faculty and graduate student artists from three of Iowa State University’s colleges — Design, Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Liberal Arts and Sciences — will each be matched with a state park, creating artwork that reflects their time as artists-in-residence.

“The 20 Artists, 20 Parks program highlights two important contributors to quality of life in Iowa — arts and the outdoors,” said Todd Coffelt, chief of the State Parks Bureau at the DNR. “By focusing on the unique natural and cultural aspects of our state parks, we are able to tell their story in a new and inspirational way.”

Paintings, sculpture, textiles and other art forms inspired by the park will be organized into an exhibit that will travel to at least three art venues in 2020. Additionally, each artist will return to his or her park to share a program about the artist-in-residence experience.

“We can’t wait to see what these 20 Iowa artists create through this unique collaboration to mark the state parks’ centennial,” said Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer, who oversees both the Iowa Arts Council and the State Historical Society of Iowa. “The 20 Artists, 20 Parks program is such a creative and authentic way to celebrate our state’s art, history and natural beauty.”

“No other state better understands the intimate relationship between humans and the natural environment,” said Luis Rico-Gutierrez, dean of the ISU College of Design. “As we look to the future of that symbiotic relationship, Iowa State University artists and designers will invite the public to engage, enjoy and admire our state parks, and in the process pose insightful questions, imagine alternative futures and, of course, create beauty.”

Iowa’s park system began 100 years ago when Backbone State Park was dedicated on May 28, 1920, and has grown to encompass more than 70 parks and forests across the state. The DNR is planning a yearlong celebration highlighting the importance of state parks to the quality of life in Iowa, including outdoor recreation, historic preservation, arts and culture, and natural resources.
Parks selected for the arts project represent diverse ecological, geological and cultural experiences that make Iowa unique.

“We are thrilled to partner with ISU and the Department of Cultural Affairs to showcase Iowa state parks in such an impactful format,” said Coffelt. “We hope to engage Iowans and inspire new visitors to parks for the next 100 years.”

The 20 parks that are included in the new project are featured on the Iowa Culture mobile app, a free and interactive tool to discover arts, history and cultural destinations across Iowa. More information about how to visit the parks is on the app, which the public can download for free from Google Play and the App Store. Visitors can also find state park information on the DNR website.

Featured State Parks and Iowa Artists

• Backbone State Park, Dundee – Kimberly Moss
• Brushy Creek State Park, Lehigh – Austin Stewart and Omar De Kok-Mercado
• Gull Point State Park, Okoboji – Paula Streeter
• Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, Keosauqua – Nancy Thompson
• Lake Darling State Park, Mt. Pleasant – Rob Wallace
• Lake Macbride State Park, Solon – Firat Erdim
• Lake of Three Fires State Park, Bedord – Amy Harris
• Maquoketa Caves State Park, Maquoketa – Brent Holland
• Mines of Spain State Park, Dubuque – Joe Muench
• Palisades-Kepler State Park, Mt. Vernon – Celinda Stamy
• Pilot Knob State Park, Forest City – Christopher Yanulis
• Pikes Peak State Park, McGregor – Barbara Walton
• Pine Lake State Park, Eldora – Jennifer Drinkwater
• Rock Creek State Park, Kellogg – Anna Segner
• Stephens State Forest, Chariton – Clark Colby
• Stone State Park, Sioux City – Carol Faber
• Viking Lake State Park, Stanton – Olivia Valentine
• Walnut Woods State Park, West Des Moines – Deborah Pappenheimer
• Wildcat Den State Park, Muscatine – Kristen Greteman
• Yellow River State Forest, Harpers Ferry – Nathan Edwards