Month: December 2023

DMS Student Nils Peterson Selected into the All-Iowa 8th Grade Honor Band

On , while attending the Northeast Iowa Bandmasters’ Association Honor Band, Decorah Middle School 8th grader Nils Peterson was selected into the All-Iowa 8th Grade Honor Band. In order to audition for this honor band, students must be in 8th grade, be selected into the NEIBA Middle School Honor Band, and prepare a selected etude. In addition, Sophia McGee and Addisyn Ivy were invited for a recall audition to be considered for this honor band. Peterson will perform with the honor band at the Iowa Bandmasters’ Association Conference in Des Moines in May.

Mr. Bliven stated, “This is an extremely difficult honor band to get into, and we had several Decorah students give great auditions. This band is equivalent to the high school All-State band, and I was overjoyed to hear that Nils was selected. He is so talented and he will represent himself and the Decorah Band program so well. I’m excited for him to have this opportunity.”

Nils Peterson 8th Grade Honor Band

Nils Peterson

Luther College international students contributed more than $8 million to economy

Luther College students and Decorah community members at Culture Fest on Sept. 23, 2023, where the campus and community engaged with diverse cultures and traditions through food, performances, art and educational opportunities.

DECORAH, IOWA—A new study from the NAFSA: Association of International Educators shows that Luther College international students contributed $8.2 million to the U.S. economy by supporting 32 jobs during the 2022-23 academic year. Luther also ranked top four in the state of Iowa.

“I know the Luther and Decorah communities are more vibrant, more engaged, more diverse, more connected and more globally aware as a result of the 185 international students from 62 countries who currently live and study with us,” said Jon Lund, director of international admissions at Luther. “I frequently hear from faculty and staff on campus and members of the Decorah community how pleased they are that our international students decided to call this place home for four years.”

Luther ranked fourth for the state for economic impact of its international students, following only Iowa State University, University of Iowa and Grinnell College.

Each year, NAFSA conducts a study on the economic impact of international students. The 2022-23 study found that more than one million international students across the country contributed more than $40 billion to the U.S. economy through more than 360,000 jobs.

International students bring key cultural and academic contributions to Luther and the Decorah community as well.

“Luther’s new strategic framework outlines that the college is ‘grounded and global’ in its approach. This highlights how Luther welcomes international students who are grounded in the Decorah community,” said Karen Hunt, vice president for enrollment management at Luther. “International students both benefit from and contribute to Luther’s distinct and transformative education.”

The study found that for every three international students in the U.S., one job is created or supported. Data also shows that international students’ financial contributions rose almost 10 percent compared to the previous year. In Iowa alone, international students contributed more than $250 million and directly created 765 jobs.

“International students support the local economy and add vibrancy of culture to the community. They cultivate direct and substantial connections between dozens of countries and Decorah. There is not a more authentic way to share Decorah than to have the daily experience told to friends and family abroad,” said Jessica Rilling, executive director for the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce. “Decorah is pleased to welcome students from around the world and appreciates all the ways that they shape the collective narrative of this place.”

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

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Ash Tree Removal

If you have visited Lake Meyer lately, you may have noticed the work we’ve been doing to remove hazardous dead ash trees from recreational areas.

These ash trees died due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive wood-boring beetle. EAB was first discovered in Iowa in 2010 and has since been spread to nearly every county due to people transporting firewood. EAB has attacked and killed ash trees all around Iowa in neighborhoods, parks, and forests. Hundreds of trees in Winneshiek County have been affected by EAB since it was first identified here in 2012. If you have an ash tree at home, it has likely been affected by this wood-boring invasive species.

One of the first signs of distress in ash trees are the sprouts of young branches that grow out of the tree trunk as the canopy branches die, often called “watersprouts.” The tree will continue to die and its bark will flake away to a light tan color as it begins deteriorating (see picture below). Inside the tree, EAB larvae are boring out s-shaped galleries (tunnels) and cutting off the flow of nutrients from the tree’s roots to the canopy. Adult EAB leave the tree through small “D”-shaped exit holes in the bark. EAB can affect ash trees of all sizes and in all areas.

It can be a disappointment when a beloved shade-providing ash tree dies in your yard, but once the tree is dead the best thing you can do is have it professionally removed to prevent further damage. Ash trees attacked by EAB will decline and die within a few years and can become hazards in populated areas as the tree structure is weak and brittle. Dead ash trees should be removed as soon as possible where there is risk of damage to surrounding structures. Standing dead trees is forests or areas where human traffic is minimal are less of a concern and can even provide habitat for woodland animals like woodpeckers and owls. Now is a great time to look around your property and make plans to remove any hazardous dead ash trees near buildings before they cause bigger problems.

When ash trees are removed, they leave quite an empty space to fill. Replace downed trees with a diversity of native alternatives. Try to identify the tree species that grow in your area and pick replacement species that are underrepresented, or opt for planting native prairie instead. Each area poses a unique opportunity to add new life to a changing habitat.

With the help of several grants, Winneshiek County Conservation has added a diverse offering of trees to Lake Meyer Park & Campground and other county parks. Biodiversity helps to strengthen our ecosystems and adds richness to the experience of being out in nature. Next time you stop by a county park, keep an eye out for the positive changes we are making to diversify plant populations and improve the ecosystems within our county.

You can help to spread awareness of EAB and the dangers that dead ash trees can pose by sharing this information with others!

WinnMed’s Transforming Tomorrow project receives Board approval

Exterior rendering of the clinic expansion at WinnMed in Decorah.
Exterior rendering of the expanded clinic space on WinnMed’s campus in Decorah, Iowa.

WinnMed continues to grow to meet the needs of the broader eight-county region. This growth includes the Transforming Tomorrow project, which involves a major facility expansion and remodel on the Decorah campus.

Following a public bidding process that concluded in November, WinnMed leadership presented a recommendation to the Board of Trustees at the December 6, 2023 meeting to proceed with the base bid.  The base bid included all elements of the project except the renovation of the current clinic space, which was bid as an alternate. The Board approved this recommendation through four separate resolutions that allow WinnMed leadership to engage in financing and construction plans.

Transforming Tomorrow project costs are budgeted at $50 million and will be financed in large part by low-interest USDA loans. The remaining balance will be funded by WinnMed dollars and loans from local banks. 

Transforming Tomorrow Highlights

  • A new, fully renovated birthing unit that features all Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum (LDRP) suites, and direct access from Obstetrics to Surgery for patients needing a C-section.
  • An expanded Surgery area to include larger rooms to accommodate new technology and an additional operating room to meet the growing volume of their surgical practice.
  • A two-story addition to house expanded primary and specialty clinics to the north of the current clinic building, allowing for additional access, growth, a better patient experience, and promotion of team based care.  To stay within the project budget of $50 million, renovations of the existing clinic space will be completed outside of Transforming Tomorrow as a capital project, pending the financial feasibility of this additional work in the future.

Next Steps

Once Transforming Tomorrow work begins, Steve Slessor, WinnMed’s Chief Administrative Officer, believes the work will take approximately 2.5 years. He says, “The team is outlining a plan that will allow for work to progress with minimal disruption to patient care activities. Patients will notice the construction, but we will ‘choreograph’ changes so services can continue at or near capacity.”

Chief Medical Officer Thomas Marquardt, D.P.M. says, “We are investing in facilities, staff and technology, and are actively recruiting physicians to join the Mayo Clinic Health System primary and specialty care practice here at WinnMed.  These are exciting times to be part of WinnMed as it grows into the future.” 

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Computers, Monitors, and Televisions

Winneshiek County Recycling does not accept televisions, flat screens, or computer monitors. To dispose of these items, kindly take them to the electronics recycling trailer at the Winneshiek County Landfill during business hours. Please stop at the landfill office first where a $20 fee per unit applies.

Managing Grief During the Holidays

Nancy Haberichter, RN, director of WinnMed Hospice

For many people who are grieving, the weeks and days leading up to the holiday are actually more difficult than the day itself. Nancy Haberichter, RN, director of WinnMed Hospice, shares strategies and tips to help cope with loss.

Tips to cope with grief

1. Understand that the holidays invoke such a sense of family, togetherness and joy. But if you are grieving the sense of family may be altered and there may not be joy surrounding you right now. Give yourself permission to mourn again because the grief seems to become raw again during the holidays when you are missing someone you love.

2. Try to plan ways to honor your loved one. Many times the people around you do not want to bring up your loss because they don’t want you to be sad. It may be easier for them and for you to find ways to honor your loved one. Ways in which other people can participate, which also gives them a sense of remembering for their own healing as well as helping you. (Memory wreath, box of memories, special reminders, quilt, ornaments, Chinese lanterns)

3. Take care of your health and well-being. It is easy to neglect your health and well-being when grieving. Try to eat well and get some exercise. Walking can take your mind to a different place for a while and is good for your overall physical and emotional health.

5. Only do what feels right. Take time to create peaceful surroundings. You may not feel like attending all the festivities that you have in the past. Give yourself permission to skip things or attend for a short period of time, giving yourself a break when you need it. You are not obligated to participate in anything that does not feel doable. Be gentle with yourself and your decisions for what you can handle. On the other hand, you may feel the holiday busyness brings a welcome distraction that may bring joyful feelings and memories in which case immersing yourself in those activities may be welcome to you. There is no right or wrong to how you decide to do the season. It is all OK!

6. Feel joy. Without guilt. Give yourself permission. The heart can feel joy the same time as sorrow, and it helps to balance the sadness. Allow yourself to experience moments of joy without guilt. Your spirit needs it.

8. Heal others. Do something in the community that lifts your spirits. It’s gratifying to help others, and is a good reminder that we are not alone in our struggles. It helps us keep perspective that the holidays can be hard for a variety of reasons, and helping others helps our own heart to heal. (Giving trees, random act of kindness, volunteering, making meals for others, donations to food banks or hospitals)

9. Seek out support. Sharing your emotions and feelings about missing your loved one during the holidays can lift the burden of grief by just talking about it to someone who listens to you. If you have someone in your life that will listen and companion you by letting you share your grief, it can be such a release for the pain. Grief support group meetings are extremely helpful and a safe place to share your feelings if you want. They are also a safe place to just listen to others who may be feeling some of the same emotions that you do.

10. Cry. Give in to the tears. There is no shortage of raw emotions over the holidays, and crying is not a sign of weakness. It’s how we release intense feelings. A good cry can be very healing and serves as an important part of our journey. Give other people permission to cry also. Let them know that can be healing for you as well. But not everyone grieves in this way and may try to avoid the sadness. Allow yourself and others to mourn how and when it suits their own experience of grief.

11. Accept your feelings. Inevitably there will be ups and downs. Grief does not come on a straight road. It is messy with many curves and mountains. Just as you think you have conquered it, it may return to catch you off balance. Do not despair or think there is something wrong, grief comes in like the waves of the ocean and eventually those waves die down and you can see the progress you have made with it more clearly.

12. Plan ahead. Sometimes the anticipation is worse than the actual holiday. You can plan activities that give you comfort ahead of time so that you have something to look forward to, rather than building up dread of the pain that the holiday will bring. You may want to try new activities that do not have previous memories attached. But remember that familiar traditions might be comforting as well, even if you have to adapt them because of your loss.

Habericheter says, “There is not one piece of advice that fits for everyone. People are uniquely different and therefore their grief journey is uniquely different.”

Additional Grief Support

WinnMed Hospice offers grief support group meetings monthly in Decorah and Waukon. Please call with questions on location and times: 563-387-3024.

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Alumni reflect on Luther College experiences with advice for current and prospective students on “The Podeia Podcast”

DECORAH, IOWA — A new podcast presented by Luther College’s Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (The CEPE) in partnership with Luther’s radio station, KWLC, released its first season this spring with seven episodes. Featuring recent Luther graduates, “The Podeia Podcast” aims to reveal to current and prospective students that everyone has difficult or embarrassing moments in college and that these are often vital parts of learning and building community.

“The Podeida Podcast” asks recent alumni to share stories from their time at Luther College.

Planning for the podcast began in the spring of 2022 with the premise to feature alumni who graduated within the last 10 years as guests who recount their awkward moments during their time at Luther and discuss how they handled these moments and  what they learned from the experience.

“I know almost every student listens to podcasts, and the purpose of Podeia is to bring in recent graduates and hear from them. Current and prospective students can relate to their stories in an entertaining and fun way,” said Andy Hageman, director of The CEPE and Luther College professor of English.

The first episode featured Emily Tope, an English major from Luther College who graduated in 2015. She discussed how she handled the situation of not being prepared for her Luther lab elective class and her own experience taking the lab elective. Other episodes discussed how to deal with college decisions from breaking rules to managing loneliness and much more.

Luther students and alumni collaborated on the production of the podcast. Dominique Stringer, class of 2022, hosted, wrote and produced the first season. Asher Elliott Smith, class of 2024, edited “Podeia” and Methembe Moyo, class of 2023, served as the production assistant. Alum Andrew Murray, class of 2018, composed the theme song.

The name “Podeia” is a play on Paideia, which is a longstanding set of core curriculum courses taken by all Luther students, but the show is not affiliated with the curriculum.

“The wordplay of mashing up ‘pod’ from ‘podcast’ with ‘Paideia’ lines up with the audience we’re trying to reach consisting of current and prospective Luther students,” Hageman said.

The second season of the podcast “Podeia” will begin production in January and is set to release episodes in the spring of 2024. The new season will have a new host, as well as group interviews featuring multiple alumni in one episode.

“The Podeia Podcast” is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Luther’s academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

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Alumni reflect on Luther College experiences with advice for current and prospective students on “The Podeida Podcast”

DECORAH, IOWA — A new podcast presented by Luther College’s Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (The CEPE) in partnership with Luther’s radio station, KWLC, released its first season this spring with seven episodes. Featuring recent Luther graduates, “The Podeia Podcast” aims to reveal to current and prospective students that everyone has difficult or embarrassing moments in college and that these are often vital parts of learning and building community.

“The Podeida Podcast” asks recent alumni to share stories from their time at Luther College.

Planning for the podcast began in the spring of 2022 with the premise to feature alumni who graduated within the last 10 years as guests who recount their awkward moments during their time at Luther and discuss how they handled these moments and  what they learned from the experience.

“I know almost every student listens to podcasts, and the purpose of Podeia is to bring in recent graduates and hear from them. Current and prospective students can relate to their stories in an entertaining and fun way,” said Andy Hageman, director of The CEPE and Luther College professor of English.

The first episode featured Emily Tope, an English major from Luther College who graduated in 2015. She discussed how she handled the situation of not being prepared for her Luther lab elective class and her own experience taking the lab elective. Other episodes discussed how to deal with college decisions from breaking rules to managing loneliness and much more.

Luther students and alumni collaborated on the production of the podcast. Dominique Stringer, class of 2022, hosted, wrote and produced the first season. Asher Elliott Smith, class of 2024, edited “Podeia” and Methembe Moyo, class of 2023, served as the production assistant. Alum Andrew Murray, class of 2018, composed the theme song.

The name “Podeia” is a play on Paideia, which is a longstanding set of core curriculum courses taken by all Luther students, but the show is not affiliated with the curriculum.

“The wordplay of mashing up ‘pod’ from ‘podcast’ with ‘Paideia’ lines up with the audience we’re trying to reach consisting of current and prospective Luther students,” Hageman said.

The second season of the podcast “Podeia” will begin production in January and is set to release episodes in the spring of 2024. The new season will have a new host, as well as group interviews featuring multiple alumni in one episode.

“The Podeia Podcast” is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Luther’s academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

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