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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, November 21, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 47
Re-dedication celebrated at Ossian Veterans Memorial Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx places the wreath at Ossian’s new Veterans Memorial, during the memorial’s re-dedication ceremony, the morning of Nov. 11, at Carey Park in Ossian. In the background Lee Hendrickson prepares to play Taps.
ABOVEMembers of the Brockman-Hammersland Post No. 503 of the Ossian American Legion stand in salute during the performance of the National Anthem during the re-dedication ceremony of the Ossian Veterans Memorial at Carey Park, Ossian — held the morning of Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day. LEFT- The Colors are presented during the Ossian Veterans Memorial re-dedication ceremony.
Members of the Brockman-Hammersland Post No. 503 of the Ossian American Legion present the 21-Gun Salute. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Zach Jensen)
The 19th annual Holiday Lights at Pulpit Rock Campground will be open for walk-thru night Wednesday, Nov. 22. In this 2022 photo the St. Benedict choir performed on opening night. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Roz Weis)
Holiday Lights Walk-through, one night only, Wednesday The Holiday Lights Walkthrough Night is Wednesday, Nov. 22, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., at the Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah. This is the only night visitors will be able to walk-through to see the lighted displays up close. Parking will be available at the soccer fields on Pulpit Rock Road with shuttle buses provided by EARL Public Transit to transport visitors into Holiday Lights, or at the Twins Springs side of the campground that connects by a footbridge. Visitors are invited to stroll through the lighted displays and enjoy donated soups, cookies, and hot chocolate while supplies last. There will be a live Nativity hosted by St. Benedict’s Parish, carols performed
by local choirs, complimentary photos taken with Santa and “Pokey Pete” train rides for children (weather permitting). The Holiday Lights drivethrough event begins Thanksgiving and is open nightly from 5 to 9 p.m., until Christmas night. Santa will be at Holiday Lights every Friday through Sunday from 5:30 to 8 p.m., leading up to Christmas. Santa’s last night will be Sunday, Dec. 17. A free-will donation will be collected at the gates of Holiday Lights. All donations benefit Helping Services for Youth & Families. For the complete schedule and list of sponsors, visit www.helpingservices.org/ holidaylights.
Increased concern draws crowd to water quality forum Nitrates cited as main culprit for health issues, mass fish and aquatic deaths in southeast Minnesota By Denise Lana It was standing room only at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, Minn., Thursday night, as more than 200 area residents, farmers and organization representatives gathered to present and discuss issues regarding Fillmore County water quality. Speakers featured at the event included Paul Wotzka, farmer, hydrologist and co-founder of Minnesota Well Owners Organization, Dr. Aleta Borrud, public health and epidemiology specialist and member of the Clean Water Coalition, Monta Hayner, fly fishing instructor/guide and marketing director of Driftless Fly Fishing Company in Pres-
ton, Minn., Martin Larsen, Minnesota farmer, caving enthusiast and feedlot technician for Olmstead County Soil and Water Conservation and Carly Griffith, Program Director for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. Larsen showed how corn and soybean crops are the largest contributors to nitrate loss in soil, and how replacing some corn crops with alfalfa crops can significantly reduce nitrate levels into the water table. Dr. Borrud expounded on studies that showed women with long term nitrate exposure were at a much greater risk to suffer from bladder, ovarian and thyroid cancers. Hayner stressed how the quality of rivers and fish can
More than 200 area residents attended the water quality forum held at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center near Lanesboro, Minn., on Thursday, Nov. 16, hosted by Responsible Ag in Karst Country (RAKC). (Driftless Multimedia photo by Denise Lana) impact the income of small towns, especially with the increase in outdoor recreation in the Driftless region. She shared how nitrates in fertilizers put on farmland quickly end up in the rivers, resulting in more dead fish in the water. As recent as July 2022, Rush
Creek reported 2,500 fish tied to streams and rivers killed that month as a result of nitrate levels and other pollutants. With his knowledge of well water quality and testing, Wotzka explained how most municipalities in Fillmore County have deep wells that include
non-detectable nitrates, with Chatfield reporting 4.4 mg/L. Of 1,477 private wells tested in Fillmore County, 16.9 percent had nitrate levels greater than 10 ppm. Griffith stressed the importance of working to establish a permanent fund source for
HOtlDAYtig/tt8 WALK THROUGH NIGHT
One night only at Decorah Pulpit Rock Campground!
PARKING
WED Nov. 2215-7:30 pm
HELPINGSERVICES.ORG/HOLIDAYLIGHTS (!l ■ _.:._....,
residents to receive monetary assistance to test and repair private wells, and how communities need grant programs to help increase manure storage
Water quality
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DRIVE-THRU EVENT OPEN 5-9 pm Thanksgiving - Christmas Pulpit Rock Campground