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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, August 29, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 35
Back in class
Record North Carolina Bear now on display in Decorah
On the Iowa side of the Driftless region, students returned to class last week. The extreme heat forced several area schools to dismiss early. The Decorah Community School District even cancelled classes Thursday, Aug. 24, due to heat. Pictured here are Decorah students on their way to the first day of class at John Cline Elementary on Wednesday, Aug. 23. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Roz Weis)
When Brent Freilinger of Decorah went hunting in North Carolina for the first time with Russell Novak and fellow Perry Novak Electric and Marv Smith management team members on annual hunting trips, he wasn’t sure what to expect…but it probably wasn’t a record-setting black bear. “First off, I am so appreciative of being able to go on these trips through Perry Novak Electric. This bear was harvested Nov. 15, 2021… It was only my second time hunting and my fourth time hunting anything, using a borrowed gun from the Hunting Club we were at,” reported Freilinger. “I never have hunted before these trips, so went through Hunter’s Safety and made sure I had my hunting licenses.” Freilinger had shot a smaller bear the year prior, and relayed he couldn’t really tell how big this bear was when the shot presented itself. “The Hunting Club we were with had some dogs along in these huge woods. We were walking through the woods and the dog had stopped, which usually means it’s treed a bear. I didn’t see anything in the trees, so scanned the ground and there was lots of brush, but I spotted him. I was lucky to get him with one shot.” Freilinger noted the fellow hunters from North Carolina were ecstatic with the bear once they truly saw it. Bears are scored on head size for the Boone and Crockett Club, and Freilinger’s bear scored at 21 and 14/16 inches, with a reported weight of 610 pounds. Far from the 250-pound average for North Carolina black bears, he had himself the
Russell Novak (l) and Brent Freilinger (r) showcase the record-setting black bear harvested by Freilinger in North Carolina in 2021. After over a year’s time at the taxidermist, the bear is now on display at Kingpin Entertainment Center in Decorah. (submitted photo)
whopper North Carolina hunters dream of. Freilinger’s bear is currently tied for the seventh largest Boone and Crockett score in the state of North Carolina, and part of the Boone and Crockett All-Time list. The Hunting Club members had noted that a bear this size there was roughly equivalent to whitetail deer in Iowa scoring over 200 inches of horns. He and the rest of the hunting party brought home their bear meat, and Freilinger shared some of it at the 2021 Fox and Coon Game Feed. Freilinger left his bear on the coast for taxidermy, aware of the anticipated year-anda-half wait time. The bear recently was completed, so Brent and his wife, Jamie, drove to North Carolina to pick up the final work, visiting the Outer Banks prior to picking up the beautifully-mounted animal with a small trailer. “Once I saw it mounted and just how large it was, I did get kind of worried. I thought, ‘Jamie is not going to let me put that in the house.’” Luckily, since Russell Novak was part of Freilinger bagging the bear, he agreed to display the mount at Kingpin Entertainment Center in Decorah – although Freilinger’s mount makes the two partial-bears caught by Russell and Tyler flanking the Axe Throwing room look a bit small, in comparison. “It’s so much better [displayed] at Kingpin where people can see it. And I am definitely looking forward to hunting more right around here too,” Freilinger added.
Canton Legion receives grant toward Veterans Memorial expansion
Large pedestal kaleidoscope by Peggy and Steve Kittelson of Clermont. (submitted photo)
‘The Preview’ Art Tour sneak peek exhibit opens Sept. 1
ArtHaus announced its special exhibition “The Preview,” which offers a glimpse of the annual Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour, bringing artwork from the Driftless region into the Doyle G. Heyveld Gallery. An opening reception will be held Friday, Sept. 1, from 7 to 9 p.m., where attendees can enjoy artwork, snacks and beverages. The exhibition will be open until Oct. 1, 2023. This showcase captures the essence of the Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour, a drive-yourself art tour that encompasses 28 distinct locations and features the works of 38 local artists. The art tour is scheduled for Sept. 29Oct. 1. The gallery, located at 107 W. Broadway in Decorah, is open Monday-Friday from 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Canton American Legion recently received a grant from the Harmony Area Community Foundation (HACF) in the amount of $15,000 towards the Veterans Memorial expansion project. The expansion project includes another area of brick work for bricks with names to be placed, a firepit ring to conduct ceremonial flag burning and a statue of the Fallen Soldier Battle Cross. Pictured, front row (l-r): Legion members Ken Fabian and Diane Drottz, Anne Koliha (HACF), and Legion members Nick Prestby and Greg Turner. Back: Jackie Ward (HACF), Legion members Mike Mielimonka, Matt Snyder, Josh Nordsving, Bill Huerkamp, Jim Richarson, Mike Wilder and Gary Gunderson. (submitted photo)
Driftless area farms recognized at State Fair
By Roz Weis
Many area farm families were honored with the distinction of owning a Century Farm or Heritage Farm in an Aug. 17 ceremony at the Iowa State Fair Pioneer Livestock Pavilion with Driftless area farm history well-represented. The state annually recognizes the farms based on applications from families owning the operations. There are currently 21,000 Century Farms and 1,800 Heritage Farms recognized across Iowa. The Century Farms Program rec-
ognizes and honors individuals who have owned the farmland for 100 years or more. The program began in 1976 as part of the state’s Bicentennial Celebration, when more than 56,000 certificates and farm markers were distributed across the state. The Heritage Farms Program honors ownership and operation of a farm by members of the same family for 150 years or more. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in conjunction with Iowa Farm Bureau
Federation established the program. The Driftless region farm families added to the Heritage Farm and Century Farm listings are below. Winneshiek County Heritage Farm Dean Thorson of Decorah, Hesper Township farm dating back to 1855. Century Farms Duane and Lynette Falck of Decorah, Hesper Township farm dating back to 1908. Karon E. and Ronald Hovey of Ridgeway, Orleans Township farm dating back to 1915. Kevin and Dedra Kuhn of Calmar, Calmar Township farm dating back to 1923.
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TWIN SPRINGS SUPPER CLUB 149 Twin Springs Rd., Decorah (50 POINT DESTINATION)
ONEOTA COMMUNITY FOOD CO-OP 312 W Water St., Decorah (50 POINT DESTINATION)
SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE 3074 North Winn Rd., Decorah (50 POINT DESTINATION)
Timothy and Mary Wiltgen of Fredericksburg, Springfield Township farm dating back to 1920. Allamakee County Heritage Farms David J. and Doris M. Anderson, Mitch Anderson, Leah Anderson and Beth Anderson Wohlert of Lansing, Center Township farm dating back to 1855. Keith and Faye Beneke of New Albin, Union City Township farm dating back to 1868. Don, Dennis and Susie Bresnahan of Dorchester, Hanover Township farm
Farms honored
continued on page 5
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SAXON HALL PIZZA & PUB 702 Main St., Brownsville, MN (50 POINT DESTINATION)