Early Dismissals Due To Heat
Early Dismissals Due To Heat
Month: August 2023
Winneshiek County Supervisors Meeting – August 21, 2023
Agenda
Pledge of Allegiance
0:00:45 – Jeffrey Peel
Re: 360th St Right-of-Way discussion0:12:15 – Nick Rissman – Interim County Engineer
Re: Horn Hollow Rd retracement, Happy Hollow Road request, & other road matters0:33:00 – Public Hearing – Proposed plans, specs, form of contract, and estimates for the Festina Sewer Project
– Consideration of comments0:42:00 – Resolution approving and confirming plans, specs, form of contract and estimates for the Festina
Wastewater Treatment Facility0:44:45 – Consideration of bids for the Festina Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvement Project
& Resolution awarding contract for the Festina Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvement Project0:57:47 – Miscellaneous
– Health Insurance Fund Discussion
– Set Public Hearing for transfer of property to Fjelstuls
– RFQ for Engineer Search firms1:01:00 – Andy Van Der Maten – County Attorney
Re: legal questions regarding agenda & other issues
Be part of the Walking/Biking School Bus Program
Safe Routes to School is getting ready for another year of coordinating Walking and Biking School Buses -a fun and healthy way for students to get to/from school with supervision. Anyone interested in volunteering or having their kids join the Walking/Biking School Bus is encouraged to fill out the following survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SZZ2W7L
Questions can be emailed to Upper Explorerland’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator April Bril at abril@uerpc.org.
Luther College restoration of Nelson Woodlands aims to maintain a healthy native habitat for humans and wildlife
August 18, 2023
DECORAH, IOWA—This summer, the Dr. Donald H. Nelson Woodlands was a focus of landscape restoration efforts on the Luther campus. Led by Luther Professor and Natural Areas Manager Molly McNicoll, Luther College Land Stewardship community volunteers and interns worked together in June to plant more trees in this developing woodland, where restoration work started in 2012. The multi-year restoration process holds many benefits for environmental and community health.
“Nelson Woodlands is an important restoration from a human and a wildlife perspective,” McNicoll said. “People benefit from the improved water quality, as the permanent vegetation holds and develops soils, especially in this flood prone location along the Upper Iowa River. Trails within the plantings allow people to connect with the land and access river and pond fishing.”
Located south of the Upper Iowa River and west of U.S. 52, the Nelson Woodlands is open to the public with mowed trails for hiking access.
“The site has been a great place to experiment with restoration; we’ve planted prairie wildflowers beneficial to pollinators that also compete with weeds. Over time, the trees will grow and replace the prairie vegetation,” McNicoll said. The anticipated time for the restoration to look like a forest is at least 20 to 30 years, McNicoll said.
The Dr. Donald H. Nelson Woodlands property in 2011 before any trees were planted.
Luther has owned the land for decades, renting it to farmers for row crops for many years. After the 2008 Upper Iowa River floods inundated the land, Luther placed the land under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, a federal program that reimburses efforts to stabilize soil, capture flood water and improve wildlife habitats.
Stian Krogstad, a Luther environmental studies major and land stewardship intern, worked on this year’s tree planting. “I personally find this work to be beneficial because it allows me to give back not only to the environment, but also to the previous land stewards to ensure their work and legacy live on towards a more eco-friendly future,” Krogstad said.
Dan Gibson (right), plants the first trees at the restoration Dr. Donald H. Nelson Woodlands in 2012
Those previous land stewards included Dan Gibson, class of 2016, who remains involved in the project. One of the original land stewardship interns who planted the first trees on the Nelson Woodlands in 2012, Gibson now works in habitat restoration for Jensen Ecology in Madison, Wisc. Gibson facilitated a donation of oaks, river birch, basswood and maples from Jensen Ecology to Luther College this summer so that forest restoration work could continue.
Current students continue to learn from this project. “The Nelson Woodlands project taught me the importance of restoring floodplains from an ecological perspective, as well as the importance of involving and educating the community on these practices,” said land stewardship intern Josie Meyer, who is majoring in environmental studies and biology. “Not only is it fun to get to work with volunteers on a project like this, but it is also so valuable to be able to spread knowledge about habitat restoration.”
Unlocking History: One-Day Workshop for National Register of Historic Places Nominations in Decorah – October 20th
One-Day National Register of Historic Places Workshop to be Hosted in Decorah on October 20th.
Are you interested in nominating a property to the National Register of Historic Places? If so, please join us for a one-day workshop in Decorah, Iowa hosted by Winneshiek County Historic Preservation Commission and the State Historic Preservation Office. The workshop will take place on Friday, October 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be held at Decorah Lutheran Church (309 Winnebago Street, Decorah, IA).
Workshop participants will learn about the nomination process, how to complete the necessary forms and get an inside look at a successful nomination case study from experts in the field of historic preservation. Workshop speakers include Allison Archambo, State Historic Preservation Office; Lorinda Bradley, State Historic Preservation Office; Rebecca Conard, Consulting Historian; Shay Gooder, Bear Creek Archeology; and Steve Johnson, Winneshiek County Historic Preservation Commission.
Early Bird Registration of $30.00/person runs through October 6. After October 6, registration increases to $35.00/person.
To register, please mail your registration form and check payment to Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce c/o WCHPC, 507 West Water Street, Decorah, IA 52101. Checks should be made payable to Winneshiek County Historic Preservation Commission.
The registration form along with the full agenda, workshop speaker bios and driving directions can be found at the following link: https://winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-NR-Workshop-Final.pdf. A registration form can also be requested by contacting Steve Johnson at johnsonfamily5852@gmail.com or 563-380-0606.
DCSD Welcomes New Teachers and Paraeducators
The Decorah Community School District is proud to welcome sixteen new teachers and ten new paraprofessionals. The new teachers include Kendall Reagan – John Cline Special Education, Makenzie Olson – Carrie Lee Social Worker, Grace Syverson – Decorah Middle School English/Language Arts, Addie Sadler – Decorah High School English/Language Arts, Sarah Christopher – St. Benedict Special Education, Megan Slessor – 1st Grade John Cline, Julie Giese – English Language Learners (ELL), Sara Blake – Carrie Lee Special Education, Savanna Mosbach – 4th Grade Carrie Lee, Amanda Huinker – Decorah High School Reading, Annika Krieg – 3rd Grade Carrie Lee, Felecia DeJong – Decorah High School Special Education, Megan Reinhardt – John Cline Special Education/Interventionist, John Fretham – Decorah High School Social Studies, Caleb Barnes – Decorah High School Business, Joshua Fenske – Decorah High School Social Studies.
Serving as new paraeducators for the district include MiKenna Martin, Alec Zwanziger, Ashley Smith, Amy Danielson, Joshua Stello, Dawn Kinson, Jaclyn Zidlicky, Carrie Hovey, Amber Fogle, and Danial Dawley.
New teachers for the Decorah Community School District
Front Row (l-r): Kendall Reagan – John Cline Special Education, Makenzie Olson – Carrie Lee Social Worker, Grace Syverson – Decorah Middle School English/Language Arts, Addie Sadler – Decorah High School English/Language Arts
Middle Row (l-r): Sarah Christopher – St. Benedict Special Education, Megan Slessor – 1st Grade John Cline, Julie Giese – English Language Learners (ELL), Sara Blake – Carrie Lee Special Education, Savanna Mosbach – 4th Grade Carrie Lee, Amanda Huinker –Decorah High School Reading, Annika Krieg – 3rd Grade Carrie Lee, Felecia DeJong – Decorah High School Special Education
Back Row (l-r): Megan Reinhardt – John Cline Special Education/Interventionist, John Fretham – Decorah High School Social Studies, Caleb Barnes – Decorah High School Business, Joshua Fenske – Decorah High School Social Studies
New paraprofessionals for the Decorah Community School District
Front Row (l-r): MiKenna Martin, Alec Zwanziger, Ashley Smith, Amy Danielson, Joshua Stello
Back Row (l-r): Dawn Kinson, Jaclyn Zidlicky, Carrie Hovey, Amber Fogle
Missing from photo: Danial Dawley
WinnMed holds annual community picnic Thursday, August 31
WinnMed will hold their Grand Community Picnic on Thursday, August 31 from 4-7 pm on the WinnMed campus.
Thomas Marquardt, D.P.M., WinnMed Chief Medical Officer, says, “The Community Picnic has become a staple for many individuals and families in the region as summer winds down and the fall season begins. We are honored to host such an event that brings people together. We are inspired daily by the communities we serve, and as we grow with new services and facilities, want to continue to share our thanks to those who trust us with their health care. We hope everyone joins us for the picnic!”
Free Community Picnic Attractions
- BBQ pork sandwich, chips and a beverage
- Game/activity area for kids
- Popcorn from the Lion’s Club
- Pokey Pete rides
- Face Painting
- Live music by Mike McAbee
- Garden tours
- Emergency vehicle tours
- And more!
Moo-Mobile shakes will be available for $2 each throughout the evening. The WinnMed Foundation, in connection with ReRooted Connections, will also hold a cut stem sale featuring flowers from the WinnMed garden.
More Information
The picnic is made possible with the help of staff volunteers from WinnMed, the WinnMed Auxiliary and WinnMed Foundation, and will be held rain or shine.
Convenient parking will be available, with regular Earl Bus rides from WinnMed parking lots to the event site. Information on the WinnMed Grand Community Picnic is also available at www.winnmed.org/event/grand-community-picnic. For additional information on the picnic or other WinnMed activities, please call the WinnMed Marketing & Communications department at 563-382-2911 or email communityrelations@winmedical.org.
2024 Pool Season Passes- Important Note
| Decorah Pool Pass Members, Thank you to everyone who purchased a pass for the 2023 season. A reminder that our last day of Public Swim is Sunday August 20th.IMPORTANT NOTE: Please keep ALL of your physical season passes (key cards) you purchased for this season. Key cards from the previous year can be reused with a purchase of a 2024 season pass. All lost and misplaced cards will be charged an additional $5 to be replaced in 2024. Mallory McArtor Blake Moen |
The post 2024 Pool Season Passes- Important Note appeared first on Decorah Park & Recreation Department.
Winneshiek County Supervisors Meeting – August 14, 2023
Agenda:
Pledge of Allegiance
00:00:46 – Jeff Kuboushek – Road Superintendent
– Set PH for Horn Hollow Rd vacation & other road matters00:30:20 – Dan Bohr – Trailtwisters President
– Use of Happy Hollow Rd00:45:31 – Andy Van Der Maten – County Attorney
– Interim Engineer Contract, RFQ for Engineer Search consultant, and other county issues01:06:01 – Miscellaneous
– 28E for CSSConsent agenda: approve minutes, approve claims, accept and file departmental reports, approve liquor licenses, approve fireworks permits. Any matter on the Consent Agenda will be removed from the Consent Agenda and discussed as a regular agenda item upon the request of any Board member.
Committee reports
Open House for Historic Weiser Home
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (timed in order to increase attendance at the August 27 event)
Decorah Historic Preservation Commission
Contact: Mark Z. Muggli, DHPC Chair (historicpreservation@decorahia.org; 612-720-5795)
August 27 Centennial Open House for Historic Weiser Home
Decorah, Iowa (August 14, 2023) — The owners of the 609 W. Broadway Weiser house, Susan and Dale Goodman, and the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission (DHPC) invite the public to an open house on Sunday, August 27, 1-4 pm, in order to celebrate the centennial of the home’s 1923 construction. The architect was Charles Altfillisch, and the builder was A. R. Coffeen.
Refreshments will be provided on the home’s outdoor patio. A newly-printed brochure highlights the home’s features and identifies three other Charles Altfillisch designed homes within the same block of the Broadway-Phelps Park Historic District.
The Goodmans said they were inspired by the enthusiasm they saw at the November 2022 reception at the Altfillisch Mound Street home. Said Dale, “The Weiser home was built on land first owned by George Phelps and then Ben Bear. The house itself has been part of this community for 100 years, and we wanted to share its distinctive, well-preserved interior with the wider public.”
“We appreciate the Goodman’s public-spirited generosity,” said DHPC chair Mark Z. Muggli. “They have done painstaking restoration on the house, and now they are opening the house to the public, are providing most of the refreshments, and are funding this new open-house brochure.”
Charles Altfillisch
A Bellevue, Iowa, native, Altfillisch was the most important architect and engineer in Decorah’s history. He also designed many buildings across the upper Midwest, including numerous schools, the Allamakee County Courthouse, and three buildings at the University of Iowa.
The Dutch Colonial Revival Weiser home, built in 1923 for Charles Weiser and his bride Dorothy Reeves as a wedding gift from his parents, was one of Altfillisch’s early projects. It includes distinctive interior woodwork, built-ins, and generous natural lighting.
Altfillisch designed three other upper Broadway homes that reflect his developing aesthetic and his clients’ changing taste:
- The 1929 English Cottage/New England Farmhouse style William B. and Sophia (Larson) Ingvoldstad home (704 W. Broadway).
- The 1941 International Style Edward F. and Laura Mae (Barthell) Hagen home (302 Upper Broadway).
- The 1960 Midwest Modern style Hjalmar and Helen (Arnold) Carlson home (303 Upper Broadway).
The exteriors of these three homes are described in the new brochure and can be visited on August 27, but the interiors will not be open to the public.
Said Nan St. Clair, a new DHPC member and co-owner of the 1860s West Broadway J. T. Relf house, “The four Altfillisch houses on Broadway near our house provide a striking overview of twentieth-century architectural history and are a reminder that ‘historic’ buildings come in many different flavors.”
The DHPC Altfillisch project, which includes a printed brochure with four tours and extensive on-line materials, was in June awarded a “Preservation At Its Best” award at the annual state-sponsored preservation conference in Sioux City, Iowa. This brochure will also be available at the August 27 event.
DHPC
The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission is a state-certified city board established in 2007 to promote the public’s educational and economic welfare through the recognition of historic sites. Contact: historicpreservation@decorahia.org.
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