Month: November 2024

DMS Mock Trial Teams Successful at Regional Competition

Decorah Middle School’s four Mock Trial teams competed in regional competition at
Waterloo on November 9 th . The two eighth grade Decorah teams advanced to the state
tournament that will be held in Des Moines, December 2-4.

One team headed to state consists of the following students: Simon Potvin, Isaiah
Bonnet, Ellis Thompson, Kylie Zoulek, Harper Menke, Sofia Hageman, Lula McAbee,
Veda Shimek, Crosby Butler, and Austin Bohner. The other team includes Nathaniel
Crose, Charly Courtney, Rosie Burkholder, Kelbi Schuman, Noah Alexander, Robert
Davis, Abby Stevens, Ruth Kueny, Edith Marable, and June Fassbinder.

Other participants who competed are as follows: Anya Volkman, Haylyn Stowe, Avery
Garcia-Prats, Brent Burkey, Amelia Krueger, Johnny Crose, Elliana Nyanjenga, Carter
Todd, Hattie Sauer, Theo Raabe, Lilly Richmond, Emma McFarlane, Anna Bailey, Iris
Wadsworth, Abby Shaw, Niva Anderson, Elsa Propson, Logan Kuennen, Kellan McGee,
and Eben Tripp.

This year’s competition is based on the fictional civil case set in Hawkins, Iowa. In the
case, the estate of Will Byers has filed a wrongful death claim against Hawkin’s House
of Horrors (H3), alleging that the company’s negligence led to a preventable tragedy.
The case centers on the unsafe design of the haunted house, which was located
dangerously close to a highway and included hazardous elements like strobe lights that

disoriented guests. The plaintiff argues that H3 failed to take reasonable safety
precautions, contributing to Will Byers’s death. H3 denies these allegations, claiming
they met all necessary safety standards and that Byers voluntarily assumed the risks
associated with the haunted house experience. The case will determine whether H3’s
actions were negligent, and if they were a substantial factor in causing Byers’ fatal
accident.

A large number of Decorah students earned outstanding witness and attorney
nominations from judges. Outstanding Attorney Award winners include Rosie
Burkholder, Kelbi Schuman, Robert Davis, Sofia Hageman, Simon Potvin, Kylie
Zoulek, Brent Burkey, Johnny Crose, Amelia Krueger, and Kellan McGee. Outstanding
Witness Award winners include Rosie Burkholder, Austin Bohner, Veda Shimek, Brent
Burkey, Theo Raabe, Elliana Nyanjenga, Iris Wadsworth, Emma McFarlane, and Lilly
Richmond.

“I am proud of how great the students competed. The day was filled with challenges, and
the students responded to each one to ensure their trials were successful,” commented
Mock Trial Coach Dana Hogan.

Many mentors and experts assisted the DMS students in preparing for Mock Trial
competition, including attorney Jeremy Thompson, attorney Andrew Casper, attorney
John Anderson, attorney Bekah Krueger, and attorney Jacob Stock. Retired Extended
Learning Program Teacher Carole Sand shared her mock trial expertise with students
through the season. Numerous high school students also volunteered as high school
coaches and mentors to assist students with writing and delivery. Teams are coached by
Dana Hogan and Scott Boylen. Mock Trial is part of the DMS Extended Learning Program.

DMS Mock Trial State Bound Potvin

DMS Mock Trial State Bound Potvin:

Row One: Simon Potvin, Isaiah Bonnet, Ellis Thompson, Kylie Zoulek

Row Two: Harper Menke, Sofia Hageman, Lula McAbee, Veda Shimek

Row Three: Crosby Butler, Austin Bohner

DMS Mock Trial State Bound Crose

DMS Mock Trial State Bound Crose:

Row One: Nathaniel Crose, Charly Courtney, Rosie Burkholder, Kelbi Schuman

Row Two: Noah Alexander, Robert Davis, Abby Stevens, Ruth Kueny, Edith Marable, June Fassbinder

DMS Regional Mock Trial Volkman

DMS Regional Mock Trial Volkman:

Row One: Anya Volkman, Haylyn Stowe, Avery Garcia-Prats, Brent Burkey, Amelia Krueger

Row Two: Johnny Crose, Elliana Nyanjenga, Carter Todd, Hattie Sauer, Theo Raabe

DMS Regional Mock Trial Richmond

DMS Regional Mock Trial Richmond: Lilly Richmond, Emma McFarlane, Anna Bailey, Iris Wadsworth, Abby Shaw, Niva Anderson, Elsa Propson, Logan Kuennen, Kellan McGee, Eben Tripp

Sixteen DHS Musicians Selected to All State Ensembles

On Saturday, October 26 at Independence High School, 50 Decorah High School musicians participated in the Iowa All-State Music auditions. The students prepared difficult musical selections and then competed for spots in the All-State ensembles with students from East Central and Northeast Iowa, including Dubuque and Cedar Rapids area schools.

Sixteen students were selected as members of the 2024 ensembles:

Oliver Brummel, bass

Liam Chamberlain, bass

Spencer Christensen, tenor

Aitor Cuevas, trumpet

Mikayla Hiner, soprano

Kealy Hines, alto

Liam Huang, violin 

Caleb Krieg, bass

Andy Kruger, tenor

Naomi Kutz, Violin

Jameson LaBelle, tenor alt.

Madysen Lippe, viola

Nina Sessions, string bass

Lauren Severtson, violin

Gwen Thompson, soprano

Ezra Vorvick, string bass

The concert will be broadcast on Iowa PBS on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m. This program is under the auspices of the Iowa High School Music Association and the Iowa Music Educators Association.  

DHS All State 2024

Photo ID (l-r):

Front: Kealy Hines- 12, alto; Madysen Lippe- 11, viola; Gwenyth Thompson- 12, soprano; Mikayla Hiner- 11, soprano; Nina Sessions- 10, string bass; Lauren Severtson- 10, violin; Naomi Kutz- 10, violin

Back: Spencer Christensen- 10, tenor; Jameson LaBelle- 11, tenor alternate; Andrew Kruger- 12, tenor; Aitor Cuevas- 12, trumpet; Liam Chamberlain- 12, bass; Caleb Kreig- 12, bass; Oliver Brummel- 12, bass;  Liam Huang- 10, violin

Missing from photo: Ezra Vorvick- 12, string bass

Luther College choir ensembles chosen for special performances at Minnesota professional conferences

Luther College, home to one of the largest undergraduate music programs in the nation, is proud to announce that its Cathedral Choir and Norskkor were each selected by blind audition for special performances at upcoming professional conferences in Minnesota.

Members of Luther College's Cathedral Choir

Cathedral Choir is the only choir from outside of Minnesota selected to perform at the concert on Saturday, Nov. 23.

For the first time, Cathedral Choir was selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota conference. Cathedral Choir will perform at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. The public is invited to attend and may purchase concert tickets online. Cathedral Choir is the only choir from outside of Minnesota selected to perform at the concert.

“For a non-Minnesota school to be selected to perform at a state conference is a major coup,” said Mark Potvin, conductor of Cathedral Choir and Norskkor. “Since we were offered a premium Saturday morning performance slot, I expect the audience to be filled with supportive yet discerning fans of choral music.”

Cathedral Choir is one of five auditioned choirs at Luther. The ensemble is made up of singers from all voice parts, drawn from the sophomore through senior classes.

Cathedral Choir isn’t the only Luther vocal ensemble chosen to perform at a statewide event in Minnesota.

Norskkor will perform at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Minneapolis Convention Center as part of the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s Midwinter Conference in Minneapolis. The annual professional conference is Minnesota’s largest gathering of music educators.

Potvin noted it is very rare for a choir outside of the North Star State to perform at a Minnesota professional conference. He served as a public school teacher in Minnesota for 16 years.

“Yet, here we are! Norskkor members are flattered to have secured a performance berth and excited to share the stage with a choir from Gustavus Adolphus,” Potvin said.

Roughly half of the Norskkor choir attended high school in Minnesota, so this performance is a bit of a homecoming for the singers. In addition to the special performance, Norskkor will interact with high school singers of Minnesota’s All State Choirs during the conference.

“We’re grateful to the Minnesota Music Educators Association for allowing an Iowa choir to share our program with dear friends to the north,” Potvin said.

Established in 1981, Norskkor is made up of first-year students who sing tenor and bass selected each fall and spring by audition. The word Norskkor is a portmanteau of the words Norsk and Kor from the Norwegian language. This translates to “Norwegian Choir.”

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Winneshiek County Supervisors Meeting – November 18, 2024

Agenda:

Pledge of Allegiance
9:30 a.m. Michael Kueny – County Engineer
Re: No Winter Maintenance resolution & road projects updates

10:00 a.m. Miscellaneous
– Secondary Canvass of Decorah CSD Public Measure WD
– Public Notice for County Treasurer vacancy
– Policy for recording BOS meetings

10:45 a.m. Rachelle Howe – Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission
Re: Program review and budget request

Consent 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.

Community Services Building Updates
Committee reports

Decorah Elementary Schools Host Science, Technology, Engineering,Art, and Math (STEAM) Event

Decorah Elementary Schools recently hosted a family STEAM event.  Nearly 400 participants were engaged with hands-on learning, discovery, and enjoyment of all things science, technology, engineering, art, and math.  

Event coordinator Shanna Putnam Dibble shared gratitude for all involved. “We would like to thank our amazing teachers and staff for volunteering and the following community partners for making this event a success: Decorah Bank and Trust, Keystone AEA, the Raptor Resource Project, Iowa State Extension and Outreach, the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa, Wartburg Science Department, Northeast Iowa RSVP Program, Winneshiek County Conservation, and Decorah High School. It was a phenomenal night of learning and fun!”

Ellie Burras

Ellie Burras and Putnam Dibble discover amazing animals from the Wartburg Biology Department.

Putnam Dibble

Ellie Burras and Putnam Dibble discover amazing animals from the Wartburg Biology Department.

Slime

Students had a spectacular time with slime with Iowa State Extension and Outreach.

Butler and Hoth

RSVP volunteers helped to make this event a success. Violet Butler receives encouragement with Penny Boat Challenges from volunteer Leona Hoth.

Raptor Resource Project

The Raptor Resource Project brought another intriguing animal and taught students about wild birds.

Anawrenn Trytten

Students explored Coding. Anawrenn Trytten works on coding a robot.

Holly Hurst

There was a lot of engineering and building going on in the Free Build Room. Holly Hurst experimented with Ramps and Pathways.

Press Release: State Recreational Trails Grant awarded to City of Decorah

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Decorah City Manager

Press Contact: Travis Goedken, 563-382-3651

 

City of Decorah Awarded $298,795 State Recreational Trails Grant for Carlson Park Project

 

Decorah, IA (November 13, 2024) – Today, the Iowa Transportation Commission approved $3,523,206 for nine State Recreational Trails Program projects. The State Recreational Trails Program was created in 1988 with the purpose of developing and maintaining recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized trail users. The City of Decorah is thrilled to announce the award of a $298,795 State Recreational Trails grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation, dedicated to advancing the Carlson Park Project. This project includes the development of approximately 5.7 miles of mixed-use trails, designed to enhance outdoor recreational opportunities for both residents and visitors.

The Carlson Park Project has been made possible through a collaborative effort with Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) and the Carlson Park Trail Coalition volunteers. Their hard work and commitment were instrumental in securing this funding, which will support the creation of trails accessible to walkers, cyclists, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The Carlson Park trails will provide community members and visitors with improved access to Decorah’s natural landscapes and opportunities for healthy outdoor activities. The project aligns with Decorah’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life through sustainable recreational spaces that encourage wellness, accessibility, and environmental stewardship.

For more information on the Carlson Park Project and the trail development, please contact City Manager Travis Goedken at 563-382-3651.

 

 

This is an official city press release.  Modifications of any kind are prohibited without express written consent of the author.  Any reprint or broadcast of this information must include this entire communication.

 

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