While shopping at Hello Sunshine Karissa Gerleman from Waukon enjoys raspberry sangria served by Kris Cote of Empty Nest Winery, during Waukon’s Wine with the Witches and Warlocks Thursday, Oct. 26. More photos inside.
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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, October 31, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 44
H ME & Harvest Edition
Setting roots, spreading wings
The Scariest Sound of All By Siri Corson, Preston, MN YOUTH NONFICTION FIRST PLACE In peaceful evening I resigned Into my chambers for the time Where sleep should cause my eyes to close, But with a horrid scream I rose.
By Kate Klimesh First-time homeowners Allie and Rick Humes are ecstatic about being in their own home this fall after renting a small apartment for two years. They built their new home just outside New Albin, near where Allie grew up. “My parents live three miles from here in Sand Cove,” Allie stated. Allie’s journeys in life have now come full-circle back to the New Albin community. The same community and family that helped support her through chemotherapy and helped support her as she beat cancer in 2018. “I experienced so much support from the community. My roots are still here, and I wanted to have that experience for my future family as well.” Bruce and Angie Colsch are Allie’s parents, and she is the granddaughter of Gary and Karen Galema of Lansing and the late Robert and Lucille Colsch. Allie graduated from Kee High School in Lansing and attended Luther College in Decorah where she met her husband, Rick Humes. Rick hailed from California but his grandfather was from northeast Iowa. He attended college in Iowa, and simply fell in love with the features of the region – the landscapes, the communities, and most importantly, his wife-to-be. The couple moved to Dubuque where Allie attended the University of Dubuque to become a Physician’s Assistant, all while battling and beating cancer. The couple moved back to the area in 2020 – renting at the time – but dreaming of a home of their own.
My mind unease, my heart aflutter; All I could do was start to mutter, “The whole town now must be awake!” Then, in my terror, I did quake. With ringing silence all around, I poised my ear to hear the sound. That sound which turned the peace to terror and pierced through eardrum, wall, and air. With a chime and light of screen, a message popped up bright and green. “I heard a low, sharp screaming…” I read no more; I knew the meaning. I admit, though with regret The buzz made me jump for a sec. “The wait for sound will hurt my head– I’m going to go and search instead.” “We spent two years looking around at houses for sale here [New Albin] and in Lansing, but we just couldn’t find something that checked all the boxes for us. Then the lot in a nearby development with a homeowner’s association came up for sale, and we had a lot of discussions,” Allie said with a chuckle. “We had never owned a home before, let alone built one. I don’t think I have the nerve to build a house, but it was pleasantly surprising.” Rick had construction experience and his
Humes home
continued on page 6
Rick and Allie Humes are loving their first home together, and were happy to have not only an open floor plan, but a statement fireplace and beautiful kitchen island as well. The couple, and their dog Indy, have many features they all love, including a yard for Indy to play in, and many space options for family gatherings now and family that may come along in the future. They enjoy a fantastic view of the Upper Iowa and the nearby bluffs from their home, located just outside of New Albin. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Kate Klimesh)
Learning to grow while growing skills at Turkey Valley School Greenhouse second-year plans are underway.
By Kate Klimesh Turkey Valley Community School District and its students are excited to utilize the school’s greenhouse for a second year and all the projects, ideas and experience it brings. With one full greenhouse year under their belts, valuable lessons were learned and
High School freshman Nicholas Bernhard stopped in the greenhouse to pick tomatoes in between classes, to take them to the kitchen where they would become a part of salads for students and staff to enjoy. Nicholas is a big supporter of the greenhouse at Turkey Valley Schools. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Kate Klimesh)
The race to learn “We had a very successful last year,” noted TV Agriculture Education Teacher Steve Pfaffle. “We grew a wide assortment of vegetables, over 250 baskets and 500 pots of flowers. That thing was full when we had our Open House this spring, but we were very successful and sold out of almost everything.” He noted that at Turkey Valley, the Career Technical Education program is very strong. “Anything we can do to get everyone involved at any age, help the students to witness opportunities and different learning experiences, that’s what we’ll do, and we have such great support for that from our principal.” The greenhouse was planned to be self-sufficient, and more than $6,000
from the plant sales will help support the greenhouse for propane to heat it (if necessary) as well as new equipment or projects that are student-led. “This community is so supportive. We wouldn’t be doing some of these things without community support.” Last year, Pfaffle noted they “went whole-hog and tried everything we could think of and continued to ‘grow’ and learn. We planted a bit too early last year and ended up with four-foot-tall tomato plants at the open house April 26. They had started to flower too. So, we’ll wait another month before starting seeds for the Open House this year. Maybe we’ll start in March instead of February.”
TV greenhouse
continued on page 6
Tell us how you’ve been impacted by a non-profit? Whether you are a volunteer, employee, or have benefited from the services of a local non-profit, we want to hear from you! Send us a message about what a local non-profit means to you, and we will share some submissions in our upcoming Noticing Non-profits edition. driftless
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Out the door, but closer now I heard a stir throughout the town Of Preston in the county seat. Our brambles thick, our valley deep. Heads poked out of window frames To check if they had gone insane. The lights all flicked on one by one Here in the town without the sun. Like bugs retreating from a tide, The people now had gone inside. Leaving me alone, deserted Beside the woods, and what I heard is: A howl plucked from in the deep where horrid creatures seem to creep. It’s sound a painful memory. A solemn song, a mourning plea. My eyes began to dilate. My heart began to palpitate. I urged my body yet to run My end is near, my time has come. Crashing, crunching through the woods Now on its way to where I stood. A heathen in the pit of dusk That smelled to me, a horrid musk. Faster, quicker, oh, the dread! It made its way unto the edge Where streetlight scared the dark away And light had won in sprawling splay. Two sets of eyes in green and gold Observed me in the autumn cold. The valley hills that I adore Now seemed to drown me evermore. A twinkling sea of lights peered down– The small eyes meshing with the town. The town that held me in its arms. Now will it keep me safe from harm? I held my breath and closed my eyes then came to see and breathed a sigh. To learn that the scariest sound of all Was just a fox’s mating call.
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