March 12, 2024

Picture it: Decorah 2024.

Keeping items clean equals more green

Contaminated recyclables have a cost

By Denise Lana

In a heartwarming display of community spirit and dedication to service, the Turkey Valley FFA and New Hampton FFA have achieved a remarkable goal of producing 100,000 meals for Meals from the Heartland, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating hunger.

Over the past several months, members of both FFA chapters poured their time, energy and resources into the ambitious goal of packaging 100,000 meals to support those in need. Through tireless fundraising efforts, strategic planning and hands-on work, these young individuals embraced the challenge with unwavering enthusiasm. The initiative not only served as an opportunity to make

You have been hired by the city to collect “gizmos” and are paid $90 for every 2,000 gizmos you find. After finding 2,000 valuable gizmos, you place them in a container to keep them safe and clean. You are proud of your hard work and accomplishment, knowing you are helping your city!

When time comes to turn in your gizmos and get paid, you are shocked to discover the container was infiltrated by the foul and impure “widgets”, and your gizmos have been soiled and polluted, rendering them worthless.

Not only do you not receive your $90, but you also have to pay $74 to have your gizmos disposed of properly. How did those widgets even get into your container of gizmos?

A silly story, yes. But in reality, this is what happens every single day at the Winneshiek County Recycling Center.

Not gizmos and widgets, of course, but with assorted recycling materials. Recycling containers designated for paper are polluted by bags of garbage. Buyers of bulk paper who purchase from the recycling center don’t like polluted loads, so now, the garbage paper is worthless. The recycling center, which makes anywhere from $75 to $90 per ton of paper, has now lost that revenue, and instead has to pay a garbage hauler to transport most of the paper-turned-garbage to the landfill, which charges $74 per ton to dispose of the waste – all because garbage was carelessly put in the wrong bin.

On average, the Winneshiek County Recycling Center (WCRC) amasses 10 cubic yards of non-recyclable items every single

LEFT- WCRC employee Steve Lennon is one of four employees who work together simultaneously to sort plastic and metal items into their appropriate categories. Every single item received at the center is touched by human hands, which stresses the importance of those items not being contaminated by food, diapers, hazardous materials, and other dangerous pollutants. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Denise Lana) INSETYogurt containers and plastic shopping bags are two huge culprits that are NOT recyclable and contribute to the loss of revenue at the Winneshiek County Recycling Center. Shopping bags are accepted at area grocery stores and second-hand stores like The Depot.

day. A cubic yard can weigh up to several hundred pounds, and with the landfill charging $74 per ton, that could easily add up to a revenue loss up to $74 per day. That might not seem like much loss, but when it is multiplied by the number of workdays each year, the loss becomes much larger. If one took 251 work days (weekdays minus holidays) and multiplied that by $74, that comes out to a revenue loss of $18,574. Now these calculations are not official numbers from the WCRC, but as a conservative estimate, that’s still a lot of money lost to carelessness.

Evan Neubauer, Waste Reduction and Recycling Educator with Winneshiek County Conservation, discussed the rising issue with cross-contaminated recycling.

“We’ve mainly been seeing things like trash getting thrown into bins – a few days ago, someone threw several trash bags in the center’s cardboard bin at the drop-off shed.”

“Trash, especially food waste, can contaminate an entire load of recyclable material, and the buyers don’t want that load,” Neubauer stressed. “Paper is also really easy to contaminate when paper products containing food are put with regular paper waste.”

Many people aren’t sure what items are acceptable and how to transport or prepare those items. Other people find themselves in a hurry and dump their entire lot of items in one bin, figuring it will be sorted out at the end. And a few folks are just downright lazy and treat the recycling containers like garbage and compost bins.

Oftentimes, items are left outside of containers that are full, or hazardous items are tossed willy-nilly into bins.

“Recently we had someone put a large metal filing cabinet in the center’s paper bin, and when we unloaded that bin, we were expecting paper to come out and the filing cabinet came tumbling out! Not only do we have to pull random items out, but they also could be a safety hazard,” explained Neubauer.

One common misconception, called “Wish-cycling” by Neubauer, is when people feel guilty about throwing things in the trash, so they place random assorted items, most of which is garbage, in recycling bins, hoping they can get recycled. But like contaminated cardboard, garbage has a price. The center has to transport any garbage to the landfill and pay to have it dumped.

“Every item placed in a container is touched by the recycling staff,” Neubauer emphasized.

“The team has to sort through each item in

a tangible difference in the lives of others, but also fostered a sense of purpose within the local communities. Students, teachers and volunteers came together, united by a shared commitment to addressing food insecurity and making a meaningful impact.

The meals produced by Turkey Valley FFA and New Hampton FFA will go on to support Meals from the Heartland’s mission of providing nutritious food to individuals and families facing hunger in Iowa and beyond. Their efforts serve as a reminder that even the most minor acts of kindness and generosity can ripple outward, bringing hope and sustenance to those who need it most.

100,000 meals

FFA members from Turkey Valley and New Hampton worked together to package

for nonprofit organization Meals from the Heartland. (submitted photo)

to Greatness”, “Dreams and Dilemmas: Fort Scott and the Growth of a Nation”, “Water, Sand, and Sky: Sleeping Bear Dunes” and “Pipestone: An Unbroken Legacy”.

intermission halfway through the event.

Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves prehistoric American Indian burial and ceremonial mounds, including

Visitors will have the opportunity to watch one or all the films that will be showing. Light refreshments will be available and there will be an

Southeast Minnesota District Court rules in favor of Phillips

By Zach Jensen

Fillmore County Journal owner ordered to pay $78,000 I’d sold, she asked if she could keep the computer. She was the president of the commercial club, and she had all her files on it,” Phillips said. “And, the computer was really old. So, I said ‘Sure, you can have it,’ and I just gave it to her.”

Four years ago, Jason Sethre agreed to buy six southeast Minnesota community newspapers from now-retired lifelong newsman David Phillips. Sethre subsequently closed all six of those newspapers and merged them into his present publication, the Fillmore County Journal.

But, shortly after sealing the deal, Sethre reportedly stopped paying Phillips, claiming that because of the contents of one old computer and what was allegedly done with that computer, Phillips had violated the terms of their purchase agreement. On Feb. 13, A Minnesota District Court found in favor of Phillips and ordered Sethre to pay the $78,000 owed.

Phillips said he told his employees, at all six of his southeast Minnesota newspapers, about his sale to Sethre in March of 2020.

“Pam Bluhm was the manager at the Chatfield News, and the day I went to tell her

There was just one potential problem: The computer Phillips gave Bluhm contained a subscription list, and when Phillips told Sethre about the gifted computer, Sethre considered that a breach of their agreement.

“The main thing I was concerned about was it had no billing information and no financials in it,” Phillips said. “I never thought about her starting a paper, and at the time, she had no intention of doing that either. And, I never thought the subscription list was worth much, because Jason’s is a free paper, so I didn’t think he’d care about that.”

But, about a month after the sale, Phillips said Chatfield residents, who weren’t happy with the Fillmore County Journal, encouraged Bluhm to reopen

the Chatfield News, which she did in June 2020.

Sethre’s purchase agreement, which he reportedly called a “consulting agreement”, was supposed to start in January 2021, but Phillips said that just one week before the start of the new year, Sethre told him he wasn’t going to pay because of Bluhm’s computer. According to Phillips, Sethre accused Phillips of helping Bluhm reopen the Chatfield News, which was, Sethre claimed, in violation of the non-compete clause in their purchase agreement.

Over the next few weeks, Phillips hired an attorney and filed the lawsuit in Minnesota District Court.

“His argument was that (Bluhm) wouldn’t be in business if it wasn’t for me,” Phillips said, “which we also disagreed on, because she worked there for 40 years, so she could easily start it up again.”

Phillips said the lawsuit likely took longer because Sethre didn’t immediately respond to Phillips’ attorney and because

Fravel to appear in court March 19 relating to death of Madeline Kingsbury

By Denise Lana

Adam Fravel, Mabel, Minn., native and alleged murderer, is scheduled to appear in Minnesota’s Winona County Court March 19-20 for pretrial review regarding his pending trial in the March 2023 death of Madeline Kingsbury.

An omnibus hearing was held Dec. 14, 2023, and a deadline of Jan. 19, 2024, was set to review any pretrial motions. Defense for Fravel had previously filed court documents stating they may seek a change of venue in order to receive a fair trial, and they are also seeking dismissal of Fravel’s aggravated murder charge.

All motions will be heard during the two-day pretrial review, with a third date of April 30 scheduled for any issues that may require further attention.

Fravel is accused of murder in the March 31, 2023, disappearance and killing of Madeline Kingsbury. Kingsbury, who lived in Winona with Fravel and their two children, went missing March 31, 2023,

Kasemeier to appear in court via teleconference

Brandon Kasemeier is scheduled to be arraigned at Allamakee Court Monday, March 11, facing charges of First degree murder in the death of his wife, Jami Kasemeier.

Jami was found deceased in Kasemeier’s Waukon home on Jan. 22, and originally, her death was labeled “suspicious in nature” but was soon considered a homicide. Jami’s estranged husband, Brandon, could not be located for questioning, and a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with Jami’s death.

Kasemeier was located in Colorado Jan. 23, where he was arrested for driving under the influence. When it was discovered he was a fugitive from Iowa, Brandon was jailed without bond and held in a Colorado detention center until he was extradited in late February back to Iowa.

Kasemeier has since been held at the Allamakee County Jail, awaiting arraignment and bond ruling. The hearing will be held via video and telephone conference Monday, March 11, at 1 p.m. As of press time, the hearing was still pending. Visit driftlessjournal.com for hearing results and to read previous articles about the case.

COVID-19 had backed up the court system. He added that the court ultimately decided in his favor, because Sethre couldn’t prove that Bluhm’s reopening of the Chatfield News damaged his business, the Fillmore County Journal, in any way.

“Jason never could show what damage this caused,” Phillips said. “In court, he had all the statistics of how much advertising the Chatfield News had, but he never showed how it affected him. So, what the Chatfield News did was all theoretical, but how did it affect him? He couldn’t prove the damages to his company.”

Phillips said that aside from how long it took, he’s happy with the how the case was resolved. However, in the last month since the ruling, Phillips said he hasn’t yet received any payments from Sethre, which might mean the two could face off in court again, if Phillips’ attorney petitions the court to compel Sethre to pay his bill. Sethre was contacted for this article and refused to comment.

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Kung Fu Panda 4 (PG)

a bin, so think about that – don’t recycle diapers! Not only can one diaper contaminate an entire load of paper or cardboard, but people have to handle that diaper.”

With all the current environmental concerns and the rising cost of living, people want to be known for being sustainable. But, those people must be vigilant about more than just recycling items properly – they need to consider purchasing items that use containers that can be recycled locally.

For example, a new packaged plastic shower curtain may have a recyclable triangle symbol on it, but the package does not define what is actually recyclable. Is it the plastic shower curtain? The paper label?

The cardboard insert? Or maybe only the metal grommet? Neubauer said he can’t stress enough that folks need to check with their local recycling facility first!

Small changes can make big differences

According WCRC employee

Lonnie Pierce, items like shredded office paper are huge cash items for the center. But if the shredded paper is dumped loose along with regular paper items, that value is lost, because regular paper recycling is not worth nearly as

INSET- WCRC employee Olivia Rasmussen is one of four team members working simultaneously to separate garbage plastic and metal from acceptable plastic and metal.

much on the current market, Pierce explained.

Shredded office paper needs to be bagged separately and transported to the center and given to personnel directly.

Pierce stressed, “If a bag of shredded paper is put with regular paper and we don’t catch it before it gets unloaded, that bag goes up a conveyor belt and could get ripped open and go everywhere!”

Neubauer wants stories like this to not scare people or dissuade them from recycling, but rather, feel driven to be more aware of the negative impact of improper recycling habits.

“We have very dedicated recyclers in our area, and they do a fantastic job!” Neubauer declared. “Most people have been doing a fantastic job sorting their material.”

“However,” he continued, “It is important for the public to know they have some skin in the game!” Neubauer exclaimed. “Whenever residents do something that doesn’t follow the rules, it really costs them.”

Pierce added, “If we have a good year and prices are up, we’ll give a large portion of our budget back to the county. It saves the taxpayers huge! We’re not in the business to make money, but it doesn’t hurt to offset our costs! The main purpose is to keep stuff out of the landfill!” With recycling questions, contact the Winneshiek County Recycling Center at 563-382-6514 or visit www.winneshiekwaste.com.

LEFT- Pictured from front to back, George Grosz, Meg Storkamp and Steve Lennon, all employees of WCRC, are constantly moving and sorting by hand hundreds of pounds of plastic and metal that are received every day at the center.

(Driftless Multimedia photo by Denise Lana)

Winneshiek County Recycling Center is located at 2510 172nd Avenue in Decorah. Personnel are on location five days a week, 6 a.m. – 3 p.m., and containers for drop offs 24 hours a day are located at the front of the facility parking lot. For recycling locations outside the Winneshiek County area, reach out to your town or county website to contact your local recycling facility or manager. Watch future issues of the Driftless Journal for recycling information and details from more counties in the Driftless region.

• Items stamped with #3,#4,#5,#6,#7

#3 plastics: includes credit cards, plastic and cling wrap, cooking oil bottles, some clear food packaging, inflatable pool toys, shower curtains, shrink bands beverage and medicine containers, vinyl siding for homes, PVC pipes, window and door frames, flooring, blister packaging, loose leaf binders, medical tubing, some detergent bottles, shoes, ducts, plastic deck material, plastic fencing, plastic tiles, plastic gutters

#4 plastics: includes dry cleaning bags, shopping bags, squeezable bottles and lids, shrink wraps, bread bags and wraps, packaging foam, some trays and containers, frozen food bags, some Tupperware, six-pack beverage rings

GLASS

Glass is not recyclable in Winneshiek County, but there is a collection bin located at the Winneshiek County Recycling Center where glass items can be placed. This glass is purchased by the landfill and can be used as a drainage layer.

Glass can also be safely placed in regular household garbage.

PAPER ACCEPTED at the Winneshiek County Recycling Center:

Shredded office paper: needs to be bagged separately and delivered to the recycling center directly and given to personnel.

Accepted paper: newspapers, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, office paper and shredded paper, phone books and paperback books, cardboard egg cartons (not styrofoam or clear plastic), phone books, colored office paper, calendars, brochures, non-padded paper envelopes, receipts, stationery, notebook paper and paper torn from spiral notebooks (plastic binding, plastic covers and any glossy or embossed pages are NOT accepted), paper hanging folders with tabs and hooks removed, manila folders, sticky notes.

#5 plastics: includes yogurt cups, cottage cheese and sour cream tubs, margarine and butter tubs, medicine bottles, syrup bottles, drinking straws, sunglasses, plastic furniture, cereal box liners, disposable diapers, plastic bottle tops, disposable plates, disposable cups, disposable cutlery, kitchenware, hummus tubs, some personal care items like deodorant, shampoo, lotion, and similar, some car bumpers and trim, toothbrushes, plant pots, some take-away containers, plastic rope, chip bags, lunch boxes, tape, some Tupperware, garden rakes, storage bins, stadium cups #6 plastics: styrofoam in ANY form — includes egg cartons, to-go containers and clamshells, disposable cups, disposable plates, disposable cutlery, packaging filler, bicycle helmets, coolers, CD and DVD cases, insulation including building insulation, foam wrapping for shipping, meat trays, poultry trays, plastic rulers, some vending cups, plastic-case thermometers #7 plastics: ANY plastic not labeled, baby bottles, sip cups, sports bottles, light fixtures, commercial water jugs, 3-gallon water jugs, 5-gallon water jugs, car parts

PAPER

NOT ACCEPTED at the Winneshiek County Recycling Center: paper towels, paper plates, paper cups, wrapping paper, tissue paper, toilet paper, wallpaper, wax paper, stickers, popcorn bags, photographs, cigarette packages, paperboard waxlined or plastic-lined take-out containers, paper animal bedding.

PAINTS & STAINS

Oil-based paints and stains

MEDICAL WASTE & PHARMACEUTICALS

Consult your pharmacy or health care provider or Winneshiek County Public Health.

Medical Sharps and Needles: Deliver to Winneshiek County Public Health.

CARDBOARD

ACCEPTED at the Winneshiek County Recycling Center: shipping boxes, pizza boxes, cereal boxes and similar dry goods boxes, BROWN paper sacks and bags, kraft paper packaging, any cardboard that is BROWN when you tear it, any cardboard that is white when you tear it AND is not coated with a shiny material goes with PAPER.

Remove all liners, bags, food remnants, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, foam, etc.

Leave on staples, labels, and tape.

METAL

openers, solvents, strippers, pool chemicals, thermostats, thermometers, adhesives, fluorescent light bulbs, aerosol cans, propane tanks, motor oil and antifreeze.

ELECTRONICS

Starting April 1, 2024

The following items can be commingled with plastic recycling at any Winneshiek County 24-hour recycling site: Tin cans (optional: remove label and recycle with paper), soda cans, aluminum foil, as long as it doesn’t have heavy amounts of food stuck to it, cookware like pots, baking pans, etc., License plates, electrical cords, small electric motors, small power tools, small brass items, small steel items.

The following metal items MUST be taken to the recycling center and given to personnel: Bicycles, Lawn mowers, Treadmills.

Nails and screws: Separate from scrap metal, then sort. Put them in a metal container and give directly to recycling center personnel; otherwise, they damage the sorting machinery.

Large scrap metal items can be placed in the scrap metal bin in the drop off shed.

BATTERIES

Alkaline: dispose of with regular household garbage.

Button (found in watches, hearing aids, cameras, calculators, and other small electronic devices): Take to Recycling Center door and give to personnel.

Lead Acid (Automotive): take to Recycling Center door and give to personnel.

Rechargeable (Lithium Ion—LiIon, Nickelcadmium—NiCd): Do NOT throw in regular household garbage! Can cause a fire! Take to Winneshiek County Recycling Center and give to personnel.

Sealed Lead Acid (Non-automotive); found in battery backup systems, remote control cars, home alarms, etc: Take to the Winneshiek County Recycling Center door and give to personnel.

Computer Monitors: $20 disposal fee, take to Recycling Center and give to personnel.

Televisions: $20 disposal fee, take to the Winneshiek County Recycling Center and give to personnel.

Household electric items like lamps, treadmills, curling irons, hair dryers, toasters, humidifiers, space heaters, etc: Take to the Winneshiek County Recycling Center and give to personnel.

Cell Phones: Take to Recycling Center and give to personnel.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

American Flags: Deposit in specified container at the Winneshiek County Courthouse.

Christmas lights and artificial Christmas trees: Bring lights to the Winneshiek County Recycling Center 24-hour drop off shed. Bring artificial trees to the Winneshiek County Recycling Center door 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. M-F. Please enter the facility through the pedestrian door on the right side of the large dock door. A staff member will assist you.

Clothing and Household Items (reusable): Depot Outlet, Goodwill, The Getup, Kaden’s Closet.

Eyeglasses: Decorah Lions recycles eyeglasses. There is a dropbox for used eyeglasses on the basement level of the Decorah Public Library.

Fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts with PCB’s: Bring up to 5 at no charge to the Winneshiek County Recycling Center door 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. M-F. Please enter the facility through the pedestrian door on the right side of the large dock door. A staff member will assist you. Charges apply to larger quantities.

Motor Oil and Automotive Fluids: Bring to the Winneshiek County Recycling Center door 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. M-F. Please enter the facility through the pedestrian door on the right side of the large dock door. A staff member will

Saddle Club to host benefit dance March 16

The Winneshiek Saddle Club will participate in the 2024 Pony Express Riders of Iowa fundraising ride Easter weekend, March 29-30. The Pony Express Riders of Iowa is a network of volunteers who do fundraisers throughout the year to support Camp Sunnyside, an 80-acre camp for people with

AUCTION

Saturday, March 16 • 8:30 AM

Sale held at Sweeney Auction Center, Waukon, IA 250 Hand & Long Guns of all types Large assortment of Ammo & Reloading Equipment

Visit our website www.sweeneyauctionservice.com for more information.

SWEENEY AUCTION SERVICE

Waukon, IA • Phone: 563-568-2464 • sweeneyauctionservice.com

disabilities located near Des Moines.

The Saddle Club will set up a donation collection roadblock in downtown Calmar from 7-9 a.m., March 29-30, for the Pony Express Riders of Iowa.

The Saddle Club will also host a benefit dance on Saturday, March 16, in the Danan Lansing Building at the Winneshiek County Fairground. The event will feature live music by the Buck Hollow Band from 7-10 p.m. The family-friendly dance is open to the public.

Service Notices

DARRYL T. BRUNSVOLD,

83, of Decorah, died on Monday, March 4, 2024. A private service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 16, at 3955 Superior Dr. NW, Rochester, Minn.

Disaster proclamation issued for Lansing bridge repair

Not safe for vehicle or pedestrian traffic

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds recently issued a disaster proclamation for Allamakee and Clayton County in response to a sudden structural failure of the Lansing bridge on Feb. 25. The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through March 30.

The governor’s proclamation activates the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Repair (ER) Program which authorizes emergency relief funding to cover the costs of repair or reconstruction of federal-aid routes that have suffered severe damage as a result of sudden structural failure.

The bridge was closed on Feb. 25, 2024, after it was discovered that two of the bridge

piers shifted, making the bridge unsafe for traffic.

During the repair process, portions of the bridge deck will be removed, leaving large gaps in the bridge surface. The bridge is not safe for pedestrian use and will be closed to all traffic during repairs.

The bridge will not reopen until it is safe for public use. The repairs are expected to be complete by late April.

Construction continues on the new bridge adjacent to the existing bridge. Project completion is anticipated in 2026.

For more information go to the Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing website or Facebook page.

Maple syrup-making highlighted at TAKO event March 16

LINUS TEKIPPE, 62, of Fort Atkinson, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 Maryville St., Calmar, with Rev. Henry Huber presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Fayette Take A Kid Outdoors (TAKO) is partnering with Turkey Valley Maples, north of West Union, to explain the process of making maple syrup on Saturday, March 16.

A group tour of Turkey Valley Maple Farm, 9162 Great River Road, West Union, will be offered. Attendees will learn the process of making syrup, from tapping maple trees and collecting sap to boiling it and ending

up with maple syrup, a unique North American product.

The day will begin with a pancake and sausage brunch at the farm from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

TAKO attendees are encouraged to arrive around 12:30 p.m. to eat and then enjoy a tour by Dan the Syrup Guy. Brunch is available for a fee. For information, call TAKO President Leif White at 319-939-1567.

Fruit tree pruning, training event March 28

Join the Iowa State University Extension for a workshop on fruit tree pruning and training March 28, led by Extension and Outreach Field Specialist Patrick O’Malley. This educational event aims to equip participants with essential techniques to maximize fruit production.

Participants will have the opportunity to witness firsthand demonstrations of pruning and training apple and pear trees at

Obituary

Jacob Carlton Johnson, 40, of Lansing, tragically passed away in the early hours of Feb. 28 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was a loving father to daughter, Leona and partner Stephanie, and dog dad to his faithful shepherd/lab mix, Atlas.

PIVO Brewery, ensuring practical and hands-on learning.

Whether a novice or a seasoned gardener, the workshop promises valuable insights into optimizing fruit tree health and yield.

The event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m., March 28, at PIVO Brewery in Calmar.

For more information and to register, contact Allie at 563382-2949 or alliemc@iastate. edu.

Jacob Johnson

If one word could describe Jacob, it would be “loyal.” Jacob was the guy that could always be counted on if a helping hand was needed, though felt guilty asking for it himself. His passions included golfing, Friday night softball in Harpers Ferry, spending time on the river, playing on the farm, hunting, nodding his head at the front of the music stage (“that’s upbeat!”), endless games of euchre, and more than anything, enjoying a few cold ones with his friends and family over good conversation.

It is difficult to overstate the number of lives he touched in Lansing and the surrounding community. He seemed to know everyone and rarely passed up a good stop-andchat when the opportunity arose. He was unapologetically himself, in the best way. Jacob’s elbow nudges after his own jokes, “casual” wardrobe (an understatement), big bear hugs, and half-baked adventures were the thing of legend which will be forever burned into the minds of friends and family and will continue to bring joy to all that knew him, long after he has left this world.

Jacob was born on Jan. 6, 1984, in La Crosse, Wis. He graduated from Kee High School in 2002 where he played several sports. He es-

pecially loved baseball where he was a catcher, #5 for the Kee Hawks. After high school, Jacob attended Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids where he studied landscaping and golf course management. After college, Jacob left the Midwest to spread his wings. This first led him to Phoenix, Ariz., where he lived a few years with some close friends (of which there are many stories), then onto Grand Junction, Colo., when a job opportunity came about. Next, Beloit, Wis., working for the Beloit Snappers. Eventually, Jacob made it back home to Iowa after taking a job at the golf course in Waukon. Lansing was home and where he was meant to come back to. In his heart, he was a small-town guy.

He is survived by the daughter he adored, Leona; partner, Stephanie Hawes; mother and stepfather, Nancy and John Murray; sister, Jade (Dave Curtis); sister, Effie (Joshua Lane); stepsister, Samantha (Evan Ludeking); stepbrother, Alex Murray (Christina); nieces: Tatum (Murray), Grace and Everly (Ludeking); grandmother (Joan) Yvonne Lopp; as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins and his many friends that he considered family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Carlton Johnson; grandparents, Vic and Ceil Johnson; aunt, Elaine Johnson; and grandfather, Frank Lopp.

A Celebration of Jacob’s Life will be held from 2-6 p.m., Sunday, March 17, at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing. In lieu of flowers, a fund is being established at Kerndt Brothers Bank for Jacob’s two-year-old daughter, Leona Johnson.

Join the team at Heritage Farm!

EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Full-time, $21/hour

This highly collaborative position works closely with all Seed Savers Exchange departments and collaborates with individuals and organizations in the broader seed community to build lasting relationships. Education and engagement projects and initiatives include all SSE educational events, educational farm and garden signage, the Community Seed Network, and Speakers Bureau.

VISIT SEEDSAVERS.ORG/JOBS FOR

MORE DETAILS AND OPEN POSITIONS!

To apply, please email a cover letter, résumé, and the contact information for three references to jobs@seedsavers.org Please include the name of the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

You may also contact Peggy Miller at 563.387.5653.

Seed Savers Exchange is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

223 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101.

11-3-J-x-12

David

Bookkeeper/Receptionist. Miller Law Office has an employment opening for a qualified bookkeeper who would also be asked to do some reception and other clerical duties. Bookkeeping duties would include recording financial transactions, reconciling accounts, preparing financial statements, maintaining accounts receivable and processing payroll. This can be a full-time position or part-time, depending on the applicant. To apply, send your resume to Miller Law Office, PO Box 28 Decorah, IA 52101 by April 1, 2024. 11-4-JP-x-12

For Sale: Teddy Bear puppies - Shih Tzu/Yorkie mix. Vet checked. $550. 563-497-3280. 11-6-JP-pd-1

Millers View Lawn Angus Private Treaty Yearling Bulls, Replacement Heifers. Johnes Monitored Herd. Larry 507-458-3201 Chris 507-4587776 8-30-J-pd-5

Public Notices

For Rent: Furnished rooms. TV, WIFI, heat, microwave, parking near restaurants, Kwik Star, Dollar Store. “No pets allowed.” Weekly Special. Cresco Motel. 620 2nd Ave SE Cresco, IA 52136. Call 563-547-2240. 2-12-J-x-9

For Rent $850. 2-bedroom, all new carpet/paint. Hot water, heat furnished. Carport/laundry on site. NS/NP. PO Box 350 Decorah, IA 52101. 800-250-2948.

10-3-J-pd-9

Sale Held at Sweeney Auction Center, Waukon IA. Donald Steffans Estate Decorah IA & Caryn Weymiller Estate Waukon IA Sweeney Auction Service, Waukon IA, 563-568-2464,

OVER 400 LOTS

ONLY COLLECTIBLES, HOUSEHOLD, TOOLS & MISC AUCTION - Monday, March 11, 4:30 p.m. Michael Wicklund Trust, 2765 Blackhawk Rd New Albin, IA, Sweeney Auction Service, Waukon IA, 563568-2464, www.sweeneyauctionservice.com

GUNS & SPORTING GOODS

AUCTION - Saturday, March 16. Sale held at Sweeney Auction Service, Waukon. 563-5682464, www.sweeneyauctionservice.com.

38.48 ACRES WINNESHIEK

COUNTY REAL ESTATE AUCTION - Friday, March 29, 10:30 a.m.Otters Family, 115th St., Fort Atkinson, IA. Sale held at Fort Atkinson Community Center. Sweeney Auction Service, Waukon IA, 563-568-2464, www.sweeneyauctionservice. com

LARGE COIN AUCTIONSunday, April 7, 10:00 a.m. Held at the Community Center in Protivin, IA Shindelar Auction Service, LLC. Protivin, Ia 563-5698235. www.auctionsgo.com

CFNEIA scholarship application

deadline extended

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA) is extending the submission deadline for its scholarship application process to April 10.

This change is due to continued delays of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The deadline extension prioritizes students and allows them to provide this important information used in determining financial need as part of the selection process for some Community Foundation scholarships.

Students may apply for scholarships available through CFNEIA at www.cfneia.org/scholarships. Scholarship selections for 2024 will be finalized at the end of May, with scholarships recipients receiving notification of their scholarship awards by email in June.

Students interested in applying for 2024 scholarships should visit the CFNEIA website to view the scholarship eligibility checklist. Once scholarship eligibility is determined, a common application, also available through the CFNEIA website, must be completed. The common application requires basic student information, transcript of academic record, summary of extra-curricular experiences, an essay portion, and a letter of recommendation. Some scholarships will require additional information.

All required materials must be submitted through the online system. A frequently-asked questions webpage is available to answer commonly-asked questions students may have. Scholarships are awarded based on various factors, including financial need, academic excellence, the pursuit of certain fields or majors, past experiences, location or high school attended.

CFNEIA awarded more than $730,000 in scholarships to high school, college and adult students in 2023. A total of 268 scholarships were awarded to students pursuing higher education opportunities. The average amount awarded exceeded $3,000.

For more information about scholarship opportunities, contact Dotti Thompson, grant and scholarship manager at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, at 319-2431358 or dthompson@cfneia. org.

Mosaic honors National Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Month

March is National Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Awareness (NIDDA) Month. Meant to create awareness about the importance of including people with IDD in all facets of community life, Mosaic in Northern Iowa will kick off its own NIDDA awareness and educational campaign with the theme, “Inclusion Inspires.”

Mosaic, which has an office in Waukon, is a nonprofit, whole-person healthcare organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other diverse needs across 13 states in more than 700 communities.

As its mission is to “relentlessly pursue opportunities that empower people,” Mosaic’s ultimate goal is to help people it serves to direct their own lives and make their own choices that reflect their personal goals and desires.

“The core of how we serve people with IDD is to help them create full, meaningful lives. An important part for them to achieve that life is to be included in their respective communities,” said Executive Director Sonya Middleton. “In order to do that, we greatly depend on and want to inspire potential community partners such as businesses, churches, charities, civic organizations and others

to employ them, include them in worship congregations, offer volunteer and group recreation opportunities and more. Those partners make a real, positive impact on their lives—so much so, you can see it.” said Jackie Cooper, Community Relations Manager. “No matter the event, individuals deserve to be included and thought of—from churches to volunteer opportunities. We need volunteers to support disability rights, provide care, and enhance community relations. Businesses, social clubs, and congregations

can also make a difference as community partners, offering opportunities for employment, social activities, worship, and healthier lifestyles.” Community Relations Manager.

To find out more about partnering with Mosaic to help people with IDD become active in their communities in varying ways, contact Jackie Cooper, at jackie.cooper@mosaicinfo.org or visit www.mosaicinfo.org/ nidda-month.

Upcoming event

Additionally, Mosaic in

Northern Iowa is hosting a free, 30 minute virtual Discover the Possibilities event on from 12:15-12:45 p.m., March 18.

Members of the community are invited to participate. “Even people familiar with Mosaic tell me they’ve learned something new by attending a Discover the Possibilities

event,” said Cooper. “Our goal is to highlight the abilities people have when they’re given opportunities that empower them.”

To register for the event, contact jackie.cooper@mosaicinfo.org or 563-380-5189.

For more information, visit www.mosaicinfo.org.