Month: February 2025
ZUMBA!
We are excited to partner with certified Zumba Instructor Carrie Nimrod and Sunflower Child Development and Discovery Center to offer ZUMBA!
Trail Conditions- Use Caution
As we near warmer weather, please note there are still areas of trails that have snow/icy coverings. The Parks and Recreation Dept. is working to clear sections of the trails as much as possible, without damaging the trail and it’s surrounding areas.
Luther College welcomes best-selling guidebook author Rick Steves on April 27
Luther College is pleased to announce that Rick Steves, a popular public television host, a best-selling guidebook author, and an outspoken activist who encourages Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel, will be speaking at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 at the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. Tickets will go on sale to the general public through the Luther Ticket Office and online at tickets.luther.edu starting Friday, March 7.
Rick Steves
“We are excited to welcome Mr. Steves to campus this spring,” said Maren Johnson, director of the Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies and associate professor of Nordic Studies. “His life’s work has focused on the power of human connection through travel. As the grandson of Norwegian immigrants, his message and life’s work align with Luther’s commitment to study away and global education.”
His lecture titled “Travel with a Norwegian Sensibility” will reflect on his own heritage and the importance of continued connections across a global society. Steves will share photos, stories and insights from more than 50 years of traveling outside of the United States. Steves was 14 years old when his parents, Dick and June Steves, took him to visit his relatives in Norway.
“Visiting the house of my great-great-grandmother’s birth, I imagined the courage it must have taken to leave Norway and her entire family for America a century ago,” Steves wrote in “How Travel Pried Open My Hometown Blinders.”
As the first U.S. college founded by Norwegian immigrants, Luther is proud to host this event as part of a yearlong commemoration of the first organized migration from Norway to North America 200 years ago.
“As Luther commemorates the bicentennial of Norwegian immigration to North America, Mr. Steves’ visit will be a great kick off to reinforce the power of human connection in the global society,” Johnson said.
Spring Off Road Trail Etiquette & Information
Spring weather has arrived and we are all ready to get outside and enjoy the trails, but unfortunately many off road trails are not ready for bike or foot traffic just yet. Each spring the off road trails go through freeze thaw cycles and walking or riding trails too early in the season can cause significant immediate as well as long term damage. This can also occur after rain, which results in muddy trails.
Knowing Nature: Owls
Take on the Knowing Nature Challenge in 2025! Each Knowing Nature quiz features species found in Winneshiek County. By the end of the year, we’ll have experience identifying over 100 different types of plants, animals, and fungus!
Hoo-hoo hoo hoo… have you heard? Many owls mate in late winter and early spring, so now is a great time to listen at night for these incredible birds. Nine species of owls call Iowa home, but three are most common in Winneshiek County. Can you tell them apart?
Take the quiz here: Knowing Nature – Winneshiek County Owls
Want to dive deeper into learning about the wildlife of Winneshiek County? Track seasonal changes and natural wonders with our YouTube playlist: “Noting Nature.”
Thank you to Luther College professor, Birgitta Meade, for compiling these “Knowing Nature” quizzes and allowing us to share them with the wider public. Most of the photos in these quizzes were taken by Winneshiek County Conservation naturalist Larry Reis.
Luther College announces 2025-26 Fulbright Program semi-finalists
Luther College is proud to announce that four students have been selected as 2025-26 semi-finalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. All four students received nominations for English teaching assistantships.
The Luther College semi-finalists are:
- Lydia Gruenwald, class of 2025, English Teaching Assistantship in Germany
- Alexia Murano, class of 2025, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
- Cassandra Norton, class of 2024, English Teaching Assistantship in Germany
- Mark Severtson, class of 2025, English Teaching Assistantship in Germany
Luther College is proud to announce that four students are semi-finalists in the 2025-26 Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The Luther College semi-finalists are (from left to right): Lydia Gruenwald, Alexia Murano, Cassandra Norton, and Mark Severtson.
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program places recent college graduates and young professionals abroad as assistant English teachers in classrooms from primary through university level.
Last year, two Luther graduates were selected as Fulbright teaching assistants in Germany.
The finalists for 2025-26 will be announced this spring.
These students were approved by the National Steering Committee and selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.
Operating in 160 countries world-wide, the Fulbright program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. The primary goal of the program is to increase mutual understanding between U.S. residents and people from around the world.
Decorah High School Wins the Sweepstakes Award Given by the Iowa High School Speech Association
At the IHSSA All-State Large Group Festival held on February 22 at the Iowa State Center in Ames, Decorah High School won the prestigious E. Wayne Cooley Sweepstakes Award, given to the school with the most entries performing at the All-State Festival. Decorah previously earned this recognition in 2003 and 2005.
133 Iowa high schools had groups selected as “Outstanding All-Staters” at the 50th anniversary of the All-State Large Group Festival. Approximately 24,000 students started at the district level from 484 school memberships, and approximately 2000 students earned the right to be named as Outstanding All-State Nominees.
DHS speech students are coached by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, Carrie Kauffman, Lyra McKnight, Kristen Underwood, and Johanna Bergan. They remarked, “We are over the moon with pride regarding this recognition of our students and program. Many long hours of preparation, practice, and collaboration have gone into creating art that resonates with spectators and judges. Our students are incredible, and this is a testament to all 130 or so who participated in the Decorah large group speech program this year. We would also like to extend our gratitude to our community, parents, school district, and the Decorah Performing Arts Boosters for the continued support we have been given in order to build a successful program.”
Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors Meeting 20250224
Agenda: Pledge of Allegiance 9:30 a.m. Krista VandenBrink – Public Health Director Re: Home Health clarifications and budget …
Announcing the Dr. Kevin Locke EMS Provider Endowment
Cy and Ramona Nelson of Decorah have established the Dr. Kevin Locke EMS Provider Endowment Fund with the Winneshiek County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.
The Nelson’s wish to recognize and sincerely thank Dr. Kevin Locke and the dedicated Winneshiek County EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Provider’s efforts in saving Cy’s life from a cardiac arrest.
On December 6, 2023, Cy and his friend Kevin Locke, M.D., were together at Cy’s home when he collapsed on the driveway. Dr. Locke called 911 and began chest compressions. The 911 call activated Winneshiek County emergency responders. “This was a team effort that led to saving Cy’s life. The law enforcement, paramedics and emergency staff all knew their role, and it works best when everyone performs their role.” says Dr. Locke.
The endowment will enable the WinnMed Foundation to continue providing essential EMS equipment, training and covering other expenses to support EMS services and staff. All gifts to the fund are tax-deductible and may qualify for the Endow Iowa 25% Tax Credit.
WinnMed Foundation works with donors, like Cy & Ramona, in fulfilling their philanthropic wishes. For more information on the WinnMed Foundation, click here.