May 21, 2024

driftless

Breathing new life into an old classic

Classic and high-performance shop now open in Canton

By Charlie Warner

“Naturally aspirated.” Half a century ago, nearly all gas-powered vehicles were naturally aspirated… or had a carburetor. That all began to change in the early 1980s, when fuel injection started becoming more popular.

Fuel injected vehicles don’t need a carburetor. Carburetors, in some aspects, went the way of the dinosaurs. And, with the decline of the carburetor, so too went those mechanics who specialized in making a car with a one barrel, two barrel, four barrel, three deuces (three two-barrel carbs on one engine) or dual quads (two four barrels on one engine) run like a dream.

“There are not many of us left,” said John Holthaus, owner/technician at John’s Autohaus in Canton, Minn. Holthaus recently opened a shop on Highway 52 just west of Canton that specializes in dealing with classic and high performance cars, trucks and motorcycles.

“Most of the mechanics still work-

ing never worked on anything but a fuel-injected motor,” Holthaus said. But most classic and older high-performance cars and trucks still depend on, and utilize, a carburetor. And that’s where Holthaus comes into the picture. Holthaus grew up north of Decorah and graduated from North Winneshiek High in 1976. From the time he was a youngster (aged 8 or 9) he could be found taking apart lawnmowers and garden tillers to figure out just how they operated. By the time Holthaus was a senior in high school, he had a school picked out. He enrolled in Lincoln Tech in Des Moines where he learned the ins and outs of carburetors, fuel systems, brakes, front end suspensions and transmissions.

While attending Lincoln Tech, Holthaus worked at several different full-service gas stations to help pay for his schooling. Once out of school, Holthaus moved to Rochester, Minn., and spent the next two decades working at various garages and auto dealerships as a mechanic. He also worked for a

construction company in Byron where he worked on everything from concrete saws to bull dozers.

While sharpening his mechanical skills, Holthaus got acquainted with many racing enthusiasts. He’s worked on stock cars, dragsters, funny cars, mud boggers and racing bikes, as well as many Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

When asked what were some of the more expensive vehicles he’s worked on, he replied several Lamborghinis, a Bentley Continental with a twin turbo V-12 and a Mercedes-Benz AMG 650 nitrous-powered V-12.

“I can do just about anything that’s mechanical or electrical, but I don’t do body work,” Holthaus noted. He added that what he enjoys most about his work is breathing new life into an old classic.

John’s Autohaus is located at 400 West Highway 52 in Canton. For more information, contact Holthaus by e-mail at jd58holthaus@gmail.com.

Spring Grove celebrates Syttende Mai

the

festivities

Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society hosts pop-up museum for Memorial Day

By Brianne Grimstad

The Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society (HFAHS) is sponsoring a pop-up museum on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center, located at 234 North 4th Street, Harpers Ferry. Entitled “They’re More Than a Name on a Wall,” the museum will honor fallen Veterans from Harpers Ferry, Waterville and the surrounding area. The museum will also be offered during the annual American Legion Scenic Unit #722 pork chop dinner. The museum will include items from the collection of the late Lois Robinson, who collected various items dealing with the history of Allamakee County, including photographs and documents. Her daughters, Regina Manning and Patty Manning, inherited their mother’s collection will share these

pieces of Allamakee County’s history with all. There will also be a special display honoring Regina and Patty’s brother, PFC Russell Robinson. Robinson was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger) 75th Infantry and was killed in action on October 25, 1983, during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. This will be his 40th Memorial Day.

“A lot of the items in the collection on display this year come from one family in the Harpers Ferry area, but we are hoping to get artifacts from other area families for the future,” Regina said.

Regina is a recent member of the HFAHS, and understands the importance of finding, collecting and preserving the history of Harpers Ferry and the surrounding area.

“We need to keep our history alive,” she said. In sorting through the items their mother collected and work-

ing with fellow pop- up museum committee members Marita Clark, Sally Yuhouse and Ruth Ann Hawes-Cordova, Regina researched the 20 names on the memorial wall in Harpers Ferry, and also a 21st name that has not been added to the wall yet. She was able to find more information on these men, and she compiled a fact sheet for each of them. Those will also be part of the pop-up museum this year. The Roll Call includes soldiers from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Grenada. However, Regina also researched the book The Past and Present of Allamakee County, written by Ellery M. Hancock et al, and discovered

Part of the collection is this photo of men standing on the steps of an unidentified building. One of the men was Regina and Patty’s great uncle, Pete (P.L.) Martelle and four other men are identified as Tim Collins, Emmett Houlihan, Joe Sullivan and George Martelle. All five of the identified men served in World War I, and Martelle’s enlistment date is June 25, 1918, which is the same date on the photograph. “It would be nice if we could identify the event, people and the place,” Regina said.

John Holthaus is pictured in front of a 1957 Chevy Nomad dragracer that he recently worked on. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Charlie Warner)

the names of 14 Civil War soldiers from the Harpers Ferry area (including Waterville and Wexford). A poster with the names of these fallen Civil War

Among

children’s

during Spring Grove’s Friday afternoon Syttende Mai celebration were tug-of-war contests between local boys and girls. At least in this photo, the girls’ team won hands down.

Spring Grove Elementary music instructor Rachel Storlie led the charge, from the bow of a Viking ship, for the Spring Grove Syttende Mai children’s parade the afternoon of May 17. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Zach Jensen)

During the May Pole dance Spring Grove fifth graders danced around the pole with streamers.

Friends Leah Myhre, left, and Jo Longmire, both seven years old, had fun posing as an old Norwegian couple in this photo standin located at Spring Grove City Park.

SUMMER IS HERE

COUNTY SUPERVISORS must strive to …

be PUBLIC SERVANTS build TRUST and CONSENSUS be TRANSPARENT, PROFESSIONAL and RESPECTFUL

work WITH and LISTEN TO their COMMUNITY COOPERATE with employees, organizations and the community to find solutions TOGETHER BUILD HEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS to address COMMUNITY NEEDS

SHIRLEY VERMACE

I strongly believe in these basic principles of HEALTHY COUNTY LEADERSHIP, and my voting record reflects that; I would greatly appreciate your support!

Website: shirleyvermace.com

Facebook: Vermace District 3 Supervisor Email: svermace@co.winneshiek.ia.us

VERMACE FOR SUPERVISOR PO BOX 181, DECORAH IA 52101 Or online at: https://shirleyvermace.com/donate/

By Jennifer Bissell

What you missed in the May 16 Public Opinion newspaper:

County VA, Public Health short-staffed

Possibility of terminating rural waste collection discussed

New English curriculum at Decorah Schools

Cops & Rodders: Automotive icons line Water Street

Best of the Class 2024

First trip back to state since 2016 for Warrior boys

Beef Month special feature stories

Everything fell into place for Dr. Jackie Barz. The recent chiropractic school graduate moved to Waukon last fall and now she’s set to open her own practice, Waukon Family Chiropractic, on June 1.

A grand opening will be held from 1-3 p.m., Saturday, June 1, giving attendees a chance to meet Dr. Barz, see her office space and enjoy complimentary snacks and refreshments.

of chiropractic care with western medicine.

“Being at a very evidence-based school was very important to me. There’s a lot of history between chiropractic and western medicine. I truly believe there’s a place for both,” she said.

The clinic is located at 504 W. Main Street, Waukon.

Finding her passion

Barz grew up in La Porte City, Iowa. After high school, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif., majoring in applied health science. It was during college she began working as a receptionist and therapy assistant at a chiropractic office owned by two females.

“Seeing two strong female business owners who were chiropractors was really inspiring. I noticed they were helping so many patients not only feel better but gain new skills and reach their wellness goals, either in fitness or to do activities like play with their grandchildren,” she said. “It was a very patient-centered clinic. They kind of encouraged me that if I liked what I was doing there, I should look into going into chiropractic care.”

During her final two trimesters, Barz moved to the Waukon area and completed an internship with Dr. Mell in Caledonia, Minn. She said she fell in love with the area and hoped to find a place to practice after her graduation in April.

“The opportunity presented itself to move here and then this clinic space was up for rent. Everything just fell into place,” she said. “My eventual goal was to have my own clinic, and it ended up happening right after my graduation.”

Beliefs

As Barz explained, many people seek a chiropractor to help relieve pain. She hopes to help people who come in with a variety of problems from headaches to sinus pressure to aches and pains to sports injuries.

1

by Jennifer Bissell)

“I’m super passionate about chiropractic care and it being one more tool that can be used before more invasive procedures, whether that’s having surgery or medication due to cost or side effects that come with it. Chiropractic care isn’t the answer for everything, but it can be a really great tool for people to use.”

Barz explained she’s fully-trained to treat patients from 0-99 years old. However, she personally feels drawn to helping women.

“I have a passion for helping adult women who have been active in the past or are moms or have busy schedules and are wanting to prioritize themselves. I think women, as they get older, whether because of motherhood or just having a busy schedule, they want to give, give, give. Something I’m passionate about is having a space where women can come and be heard and receive some care.”

Opening soon

Subscriptions start at 71¢ week Call 563-382-4221 or go online to: driftlessjournal.com

Barz moved from sunny California to the Twin Cities area to attend Northwestern Health Sciences University. During the 10-trimester program, Barz built upon her background of biochemistry, anatomy and physiology. One of the many things she enjoyed about the program was that she started doing adjusting labs from the beginning of her course work. She also appreciated the blend

When patients come for a first visit, Barz said she first asks a full health history, including medications taken. She then does a physical exam, depending on where the patient is having problems in their body. She completes some orthopedic tests and other exams to determine that it’s safe to adjust the patient and that adjustment will help the patient and improve function.

FFA Conference

South Winneshiek FFA member Katrina Hageman attended the NextGen Agricultural Communications conference in Dallas, Texas this spring. Twenty-four states were represented including four individuals from Iowa.

National FFA developed the Next Gen Conference to give students across the country the opportunity to explore a variety of career paths before they graduate high school. Next Gen Conferences go in-depth in a different subset of the more than 350 careers in agriculture. This year, the Next Gen Conference: Agricultural Communications engaged high school students in hands-on sessions, round tables and tours to explore emerging trends, issues and opportunities in the field of agricultural communications.

During the week, students also developed a road map that will serve as a blueprint to guide them in taking their next steps

While her office doesn’t officially open until June 1, Barz is currently accepting appointments. Patients can book their appointment online at www. waukonfamilychiro.com or by calling 563-217-2960. She is currently working through the legal process needed to accept health insurance such as Medicare, Medicaid and the major employee insurances accepted in the area.

“I’m just so excited to be in a place that feels like a longterm home and contribute to a community,” she said. “There already is such a great healthcare network here, I feel really blessed to be able to help serve the community.”

Waukon Family Chiropractic will be open Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3-7 p.m., and Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Adjustments can be done by hand or instrument. I tend to mostly do my adjustments by hand,” she said. “Any joint in the body can be adjusted. What I look for is to see if the joint moves in the full range of motion. The adjustment brings it to where it feels more comfortable and to improve the range of motion.

prepares members for a

career in Agricultural Communications

Katrina Hageman receives her Certificate of Achievement after completion of the Next Gen: Agricultural Communications conference in Dallas, Texas. (submitted)

after high school graduation. Hageman attended several sessions which focused on her future in Agricultural Communications. She collaborated with individuals, discussed Gen Z and how social media can positively influence agriculture, and also reflected on her “why” and her visions, strengths and career plan. She also learned interviewing skills, how to use those skills in her community and the importance of inclusion. Hageman also participated in industry tours around Dallas, including tours of the Fort Worth Stockyard, RFD-TV studio, Teton Ride at The American Rodeo and the State Fair of Texas.

Dr. Jackie Barz stands inside her new office, Waukon Family Chiropractic. (Driftless Multimedia photo

Among the volunteers loading donated items for Lutheran World Relief in the semi trailer provided by Olson Explosives earlier this month were, front (l-r): Jenny Matt, Fran Johnson, Marvin Dahling, Carsten Calderwood, Annette Dahling, Carol Maki and Sue Darling. Standing: John Hunt. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Roz Weis)

Area congregations go the extra mile

Semi trailer filled with quilts

By Roz Weis

Two times each year Driftless area church congregations work together delivering donations to Lutheran World Relief.

The sewing and tying of quilts and collecting items for assorted school and health kits is a coordinated effort over several months, resulting in a “packing day” held earlier this month.

The quilts and kits are designed to fill critical human needs throughout the country, and the process of gathering all the items generates excitement among the churches involved. Rainy conditions didn’t dampen the spirits of those involved in loading up the transport truck at Olson Explosives in Decorah.

Olson Explosives donated the semi for the project, transporting all the cargo to the next leg of the journey toward Lutheran World Relief (LWR) headquarters. Volunteers began loading the semi trailer early on the morn-

ing of May 4

goes to Lutheran World Relief

According to Mark Olson, “We have been providing a truck and trailer twice a year to deliver the supplies to St. Paul, Minn., for more than 30 years. We actually started with a truck with a 20-foot box, and now the congregations come close to filling a 53-foot trailer. It’s great work by our local churches.”

History LWR began distributing quilts to families in war-torn Europe following World War II. Within a decade, the ministry reached around the globe to villages far removed from the world’s attention.

According to LWR officials, an average of 300,000 quilts are now given worldwide each year.

Driftless area organizers said volunteers helped load more than 700 boxes, which were filled with 1,686 quilts, 119 school kits, 1,102 personal health kits, 524 baby kits, numerous blankets and more. The school kits are made up

of backpacks, paper, notebooks, rulers, pencil sharpeners, scissors, erasers, ballpoint pens, crayons and erasers. All the new items for the kits are donated.

The personal health kits are filled with towels, toothbrushes, combs, nail clippers, soap and more.

Baby kits include sleepers, jackets, receiving blankets, towels, cloth diapers, diaper pins, soap, socks and other necessities.

One local coordinator, Sue Darling from Big Canoe Lutheran Church congregation, said, “The big project is held twice each year on the first Saturdays in May and November.”

Among the area churches involved in the project were: Big Canoe Lutheran Church, Hope at Littleport/Elkader, St. Paul Lutheran in Postville, Elgin Lutheran, St. Paul Lutheran in Lime Springs, Immanuel Lutheran in Cresco and One in Faith Parish.

To learn more, visit the website www.lwr.org.

Spots open for fall Veterans trip

Northeast Iowa Veterans who have traveled east to visit Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. have said how much the trip meant to them. Volunteers are organizing another trip for September, which will highlight the memorials and monuments at the two destinations.

Organizer Kathy Hawkins of Decorah said the first such trip for area Veterans was held in 2010, with three trips held in 2012 and no trip in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That makes this year’s trip the 16th trip.

Organizer Bonnie Adams of Spillville said all Veterans from northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin are eligible for the trip. A cash deposit is required. At this point, trip organizers are looking for a handful of additional

TV recipient of Carrie Chapman Catt Award

Secretary of State Paul Pate visited Turkey Valley High School April 17 to present the Carrie Chapman Catt Award, an award given to Iowa schools who register 90 percent or more of their eligible students to vote. Carrie Chapman Catt grew up near Charles City. She became a suffragette and spent the first years of the 1900s traveling throughout the country, fighting for women’s right to vote. In honor of her dedication to the expansion of voting rights, this award was created to recognize the dedication of Iowa teachers, schools, and students to expand voting rights to our young people.

Ms. Michelle Nystel, Turkey Valley government teacher, said, “When I was a student at Turkey Valley, I couldn’t wait to register to vote, but so many of my peers didn’t really care or seem interested. When I returned and became the government teacher, I knew I wanted to stress the importance of voting and civic duty. Every year we spend a class period registering to vote, and the recognition is just the icing on the top.”

Veterans to meet the goal for the trip. Spouses and family members are welcome to travel with their Veteran.

The motorcoach will leave northeast Iowa Monday, Sept. 2, and will then stop at the U.S. Air Force Museum near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio Tuesday. Wednesday’s activities include the 9/11 Memorial in Pennsylvania, at the site of the Flight 93 crash. Following that stop, the tour will head to Gettysburg, where activities include a Wednesday afternoon tour of the National Cemetery, where Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. The group will get a tour of Gettysburg’s battlefields on Thursday morning before leaving for Washington, D.C.

The tour will spend three days in the nation’s Capital. Events will include visits to the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial, a visit to the Arlington National Cemetery where four Veterans will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; a stop at the WWI Memorial and a visit to the Navy Plaza in D.C. Saturday, Sept. 7, the tour will visit the Marine Museum in Triangle, Va., and also the new Army Museum in Belvoir, Va. The tour will leave Washington, D.C. Sunday morning and will arrive back in northeast Iowa Monday evening, Sept. 9. For more information about the tour, contact Christine McConnell at either IAVetsDC@ yahoo.com or 563-379-3720.

Harpers Ferry pop-up museum

soldiers will also be part of the museum.

With this being their inaugural year for the Memorial Day pop-up museum, they are hoping that more families in the area will come forward with documents, pictures and other artifacts that can be displayed in the future. They would like to be able to have a special exhibit highlighting a different family each year as they continue.

One item Regina came across that really piqued her interest was a picture of 29 men all dressed very nicely and standing on the steps of an unidentified building. One of the men was their great uncle, Pete (P.L.) Martelle, and four other men are identified as Tim Collins, Emmett Houlihan, Joe Sullivan and George Martelle. Regina did discover that all five of the identified men served in World War I, and her great uncle’s enlistment date is June 25, 1918,

Decorah Rocks benefit breakfast & hike June 15

Hike registration due May 24

The “Hungry Hungry Heroes” Pancake Breakfast benefiting Winneshiek County emergency responders will be Saturday, June 15, from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Decorah Fire Department. Hosted by Decorah Rocks, the breakfast will feature pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, milk, juice and coffee.

A “Hometown Heroes Hike” will follow, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and beginning at the

Bruening lot at Palisades Park. Both events have costs associated with them and proceeds benefit Winneshiek County first responders. For more information, join the public group “Decorah Rocks” on Facebook. Registration for the hike is due Friday, May 24. Register at: https://decorahrocks-hometownheroeshike-2024.itemorder.com

‘An Evening at Lake Meyer’ May 23

The Northeast Iowa Community Connectors and Winneshiek County Conservation are hosting the all-ages event “An Evening at Lake Meyer” Thursday, May 23, from 5:30-8 p.m.

The evening will begin with a cookout and time to learn more about Winneshiek County Parks followed by a nature scavenger hunt. Participants are welcome to connect with others, walk the trails, fish or kayak.

The event is open to the pub-

‘Final Arrangements’ planning program May 30

As part of the Waukon Robey Memorial Library Live & Learn: enriching lives through monthly learning series, RML is partnering with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to host the “Final Arrangements” class Thursday, May 30, at 5:30 p.m. in the lower level Community Room. The class will provide information about funeral/burial options, costs and Iowa laws. “Participants will use a pre-planning checklist to consider of live decisions that can be made now,” said Jeannette Mukayisire, a Family Wellbeing Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. This program is free but pre-registration is required by calling Robey Memorial Library at 563-568-4424 or visiting www.waukon.lib.ia.us.

lic, with a free-will donation to cover the cost of food. Participants should bring their own beverages and feel free to bring a dish to share. Plates, cups, napkins and utensils will be provided. RSVP by texting “attending,” and the number attending to 563-379-3619 by May 22. There is no cost to join. For more information follow “NEIACommunityConnectors” on Facebook.

continued from front which is the same date on the photograph.

“It would be nice if we could identify the event, people and the place,” she said.

If anyone has any information they can share, such as names of the men in the picture, the location, or the circumstances in which it was taken, they can contact any of the pop-up museum committee members.

Any Harpers Ferry area families with items they would be interested in sharing for future Memorial Day pop-up museum displays can contact any member of the HFAHS. The HFAHS currently does not have a dedicated space to store artifacts. Plans are moving ahead for construction of a museum to be built in the Martelle Heritage Park in Harpers Ferry. For more information, visit the HFAHS Facebook page or www.harpersferryheritage.org.

The Decorah boys’ tennis team will make another trip to the state tournament after defeating Aplington-Parkersburg in substate action Wednesday, 5-1. (submitted photo)

Waukon

Fifteen events competed on the Blue Oval in the 2024 Iowa State Track and Field Meet over the weekend for the Waukon girls’ and boys’ teams. The boys earned 10 points to finish in a three-way tie for 26th place. Wyatt Gulla finished fourth in the 800-meter run, while the 4x800 was good for fourth to score for the Indians. The girls finished 39th with four points with senior Kloe Hemmersbach scoring all four with a sixth place in the discus and an eighth place in the shot put.

Kee Kee High had eight events at Drake Stadium Thursday through Friday with Addison Winters scoring the lone points for the Hawks in the Class 1A 100-meter hurdles as she took fifth. The sophomore also competed in the 400-meter hurdles and long jump, while Mallory Mohn competed in the 400-meter open event. Also on the track were the girls’ sprint medley relay, Lilah Strong in the high jump and Justin Wagner in the boys’ 3200-meter run.

Decorah

In the Class 3A Region 5 golf meet, the Decorah girls’ golf team finished the day with a 409 in eighth place at the Pin Oak Links Wednesday. Junior Maria Riveros finished third and qualified for state as an individual.

The Viking girls’ soccer

team finished the season in the Class 1A Region 1 quarterfinal at Western Dubuque with a 4-0 loss.

Decorah fans saw a lot of athletes on the track Thursday through Sunday at Drake Stadium with 31 events competing. The boys garnered 18th place with 16 points, while the girls picked up 10 points which was good for 27th. The boys’ had a runner-up in the long jump, while the girls’ team had a fifthplace finisher in the shot put to score points. Competing in prelims, Kelley Gates (100-meter dash), Dakota Johnson (110-meter hurdles) and Renae Wilson (100-meter hurdles) all qualified for Saturday’s finals and scored points for their teams.

South Winn

Although the South Winn girls’ golf team did not advance to state from the Class 1A Regional Final Wednesday in Nashua, the Warriors shot a season low score of 425 in sixth place.

No points were scored by the Warrior track teams as South Winn sent a total of 11 events to Drake Stadium last weekend.

Junior Kaden Barton-Franzen had the best finish of all Warriors in the high jump, finishing 10th. A trio of events took home 14th as well.

Turkey Valley

The Turkey Valley girls’ golf

team concluded its 2024 season with an appearance at the Class 1A Regional Final in Nashua Wednesday, finishing seventh with a 454.

Two relays were in action for the Trojan track teams at the State Track Meet Thursday through Saturday. The boys’ 4x800 was first on the Blue Oval Thursday, finishing 22nd The girls’ distance medley competed Friday afternoon, also finishing 22nd

Spring Grove

The Lions baseball team went 4-0 last week. Monday, May 13, Spring Grove shut out Wabasha-Kellogg on the road. Thursday, the Lions won 15-0 over Schaeffer Academy. In a doubleheader against Glenville-Emmons/Alden-Conger Friday, the Lions won 10-2 and 15-1.

It was a pair of victories for the Spring Grove softball team as the Lions pounced on Lyle/ Pacelli for a 14-3 win on the road Tuesday. Hosting Schaeffer Academy Thursday, Spring Grove picked up the win 11-4.

Mabel-Canton

Hosting Houston and Rushford-Peterson last week, Mabel-Canton couldn’t get in the win column. The Cougars fell 2-0 to Houston Thursday, followed by a 16-3 loss to Rushford-Peterson. In the final week of the regular season, the Mabel-Canton softball team went 2-2. The Cougars opened the

week with a 12-2 win over Lyle/ Pacelli Monday and followed it up with a second road win in two days 7-3 over GMLOK. Thursday, Mabel-Canton hosted Houston, falling 5-1.

Decorah’s Stella Pole and Hayley Stowe react to the time their 4x200 relay put up on Friday at the 2024 Iowa State Track and Field meet. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)

All smiles after completing the Class 1A boys’ 4x800 relay are brothers Hugo (left) and Burke Busta of Turkey Valley. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)

Addison Winters (left) takes off with the baton after receiving it from Regan Mudderman in Kee’s sprint medley relay Saturday morning. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)

Waukon’s Isaac Reisinger is in the middle of the Class 2A 3200-meter run field, finishing 11th. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Chauffeur Driver/ Personal Assistant Needed

Responsibilities include maintaining a personal and professional schedule, coordinating meetings and events. Must be reliable and arrive at appointments on time. The ideal candidate must have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and must be incredibly organized with a strong work ethic. Send resume and cover letter to (Lsummers909@ gmail.com ) for details.

Join the team at Heritage Farm!

FARM ASSISTANT

Full-time, $17/hour

This year-round position supports Seed Savers Exchange through onsite seed production of open-pollinated, heirloom varieties. Responsibilities include assisting with field preparation and maintenance, plant propagation and transplanting, and seed harvesting and processing, as well as seed packaging and order fulfillment in the winter months. 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.

LOST AND FOUND

You may also contact Peggy Miller at 563.387.5653. Seed Savers Exchange is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Winneshiek County

Maintenance Department is accepting applications for the position of a FULL-TIME, PART-TIME AND/OR SEASONAL WORKER

Duties consist of lawncare, cleaning, and other maintenance duties as assigned. Valid driver’s license required. Applications are available in the County Auditor’s Office and online at www.winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov. Return completed applications to the Auditor’s Office, 201 W Main St, Decorah, IA 52101 by 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2024. EOE 21-4-JP-12

Trinity Lutheran Church is seeking a college student or adult to work with Pastor Lane and the Education Team Chair to coordinate and lead summer activities for youth ages 7 – 12 grades. The paid position will be 100-125 hours (averaging 10-15 hours a week) and will include evening or weekend hours depending upon events planned. The weekly activities will approximately run June 5th through Aug. 7th. Contact Nancy Gulbranson at nancy.gulbranson01@gmail.com

Veterans are encouraged to apply. Starting salary at $42,047 and benefits include health insurance, IPERS, sick, holiday and vacation pay. Application and job description qualifications are available at the Winneshiek County Veterans Affairs Office and at www.winneshiekcounty.org/jobs.html.

Completed application with cover letter and resume can be mailed, dropped off or emailed to fhlubek@co.winneshiek.ia.us to: Winneshiek County Veterans Affairs Office, Attn: Faith Hlubek, 201 West

Decorah Community Schools for the 2024-2025 School Year: Certified Business Teacher Decorah High School

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teach business courses aligned with business, finance, marketing, and management standards for the State of lowa.

• Develop and manage a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) in Business, providing opportunities for leadership, competition, and professional development.

• Participate in professional development and ongoing training to maintain expertise in business education, including staying up-to-date on new trends and best practices.

• Develop and implement lesson plans, assessments, and curricula that align with the Iowa Teaching Standards and Danielson Domains.

• Collaborate with other teachers, administrators, and staff to promote student success and achievement, including through interdisciplinary projects and initiatives.

• Incorporate technology and other innovative teaching methods to engage and motivate students, including those with diverse learning needs and backgrounds.

• Build opportunities for work-based learning through internships and apprenticeships, and support and guide students in pursuing these opportunities.

• Foster a positive and supportive classroom environment that promotes student learning, growth, and success and upholds the school and district’s values and mission.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of student progress, grades, and attendance per school policies and procedures.

REQUIREMENTS

• Valid, current Iowa teaching license

• 5-12 Business or 5-12 Business -All Endorsement

• Strong communication and organizational skills

• Commitment to ongoing professional development

We welcome and encourage diversity in the workplace and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

If you are passionate about business and teaching, please apply today! Application Deadline: Posting will remain active until the position is filled.

Letter of interest must be submitted to Principal Brad Hurst, 100 Claiborne Drive, Decorah, IA, 52101, by end of the day on May 26, or until the position is filled as provided for in the Agreement between the Decorah Community School District and the Decorah Education Association 2023-2024. The Decorah Community School District is an EEO/AA employer.

letter of application and resume

Athletic Director, Adam Riley, 100 Claiborne Drive, Decorah, IA 52101, by end of the day on May 26, 2024, or open until position is filled. The Decorah Community School District is an EEO/AA employer.

2-bedroom

By Capn. Ted peck

Pride won’t allow wannabe pro anglers that spend Saturdays flying up and down the river in $100,000 bass boats to admit they got “skunked”. They will tell you time on the intimidating Mississippi was spent “eliminating unproductive water”.

When the river is running belly-full, and the water is standing—but not running through— islands and backwater sloughs in the flood plain in May, water over 10 feet deep with substantial current is essentially unproductive water. This pretty much cancels out the river mainstem if you’re trying to get your fishing string stretched.

With little spring snowmelt, the Driftless has yet to see a defined flood in 2024. The Mississippi drains almost one-third of America. Welcome April showers pushed river levels here to the ideal water in the trees, but not flowing through range.

River level is falling now, with the USACE extended forecast calling for a steady drop toward normal summer pool levels by early June. The result is near-perfect fishing conditions between now and the arrival of serious summer.

There is one caveat to our ideal fishing conditions: falling river levels pull logs and dunnage out of flood plain trees, drawn by gravity toward the main channel.

I’m not ashamed to admit one of my favorite sounds on the river is the painful whine of a 200 hp outboard driven by one of the NASCAR on the water crew hitting a big chunk of floating wood at 60 mph.

Water temperatures have warmed into the mid to upper 60’s, goading bass to move

May is

The

into water less than 10 feet deep to spawn this week. Bluegills and crappies are sensing similar motivation. They will drop their eggs in scoured out moon crater clusters around brush piles and amongst developing weed clusters in less than six feet of water between the full moon this Thursday and Memorial Day.

Catching panfish on the spawning beds is pie easy. All that’s needed is a $310 Tom Sawyer linear graphite cane pole, a pencil shaped float, Gamakatsu or VMC #6 light wire hook and pinch of garden hackle after locating a spawning bed by sight or sometimes unexplained bubbles on the surface.

Folks fishing out of $100,000 bass boats for panfish believe a spendy fishing wand is necessary for success. Truth is a stick, string, 10-cent Mustad hook and pinch of nightcrawler will catch just as many fish either angling from shore or in a beat-up canoe.

“Garden hackle” is what snooty flyfishers call nightcrawlers when light footing along small streams in the Driftless in pursuit of trout.

Trout fishing is pie easy right now, too.

Trout fishing is all about a stealthy approach and natural presentation. You don’t need an $800 Sage rod, $200 Hardy reel and #18 Midge or Black Gnat fly to catch trout. The basic stick & string bluegill pole will work.

Even garden hackle won’t get a trout to eat if you do the

Mental Health Awareness Month

Harvey Jacob Houck

James Hall caught this walleye on a chatterbait in a pool 9 backwater in less than 5 feet of water. Jesse Simpkins looks on. (submitted)

draft horse stomp on the stream bank when approaching an appealing coolee stream pool. May is a time for catching instead of thinking too deeply about fishing. Tread softly, all senses in alert mode. Drink in the natural world of the Driftless. Life is good.

Healing Wounds Faster.