US POSTAGE PAID DECORAH, IA PERMIT #6
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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 50
‘My Cause My Cleats’ benefits #TeamLewisLechtenberg NFL’s Josey Jewell to auction off custom cleats By Roz Weis Decorah’s Josey Jewell, a linebacker for the Denver Broncos, has selected a special cause that is close to home for an upcoming National Football League fundraiser. Jewell will be auctioning off his custom, one-ofa-kind cleats reflecting his commitment to his 2023 cause – Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Team Lewis (Lewis Lechtenberg, the soon-to-be seven-year-old son of Justin and Karla Lechtenberg of Decorah). The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® is committed to leading the way toward a future without childhood cancer. Because of supporters’ generosity, advocacy and encouragement, thousands of families turn to the organization each year to find the resources and community support they need on their cancer journey. Lewis was diagnosed in July 2018 with a rare brain cancer called Anaplastic Ependymoma at age 18 months. His pediatric cancer journey continues today. Lewis will celebrate his seventh birthday Dec. 19. The family is having a birthday card shower in hopes to fill their mailbox. Cards can be sent to either their home or to: Lewis Lechtenberg c/o Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago Street Decorah, IA 52101. According to his mom, Lewis’s motto continues to be “Be Brave, Be Strong, Be Happy.” “We are presently working on having t-shirts designed with this motto,” Karla commented.
The cause During Weeks 13 and 14, NFL players are wearing customized cleats in honor of the causes they have chosen to support through My Cause My Cleats. Following Week 13 games, select players are donating their cleats by auctioning them on NFL Auction. The NFL does not profit from the sale of these cleats. All funds raised will be donated by the NFL Foundation to each player’s selected charity. Jewell is one of more than 40 Broncos players, coaches, staff and team owners participating in the initiative to raise awareness for various causes and non-profits across the country. My Cause My Cleats celebrates the positive impact players have made in communities across America and provides them an opportunity to highlight the cause-related work they are passionate about on the field. To learn more about how to bid on the cleats, visit tinyurl.com/2zv6k356. Jewell is in his sixth year with the Broncos. The Decorah native was a standout on his Decorah High School football team and went on
Cleats
continued on page 11 Decorah native and NFL Denver Bronco star Josey Jewell has selected Lewis Lechtenberg’s Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation cause for the “My Cause My Cleats” benefit.
WinnMed to launch $50 million facility expansion and renovation project
The WinnMed Board of Trustees has approved a $50 million, two-and-a-halfyear facility expansion and remodeling project in Decorah. The regional healthcare provider has reported that the “Transforming Tomorrow” project will be financed in large part by low-interest USDA loans, with the remainder of the funding coming from WinnMed dollars and loans from local banks. Following a public bidding process that concluded in November, WinnMed leadership presented a recommendation to the Board of Trustees at the Dec. 6 meeting to proceed with the base bid. The base bid included all elements of the project except the renovation of the current clinic space, which was bid as an alternate. The board approved this rec-
Exterior rendering of the expanded clinic space on WinnMed's campus in Decorah.
ommendation through four separate resolutions that allow WinnMed leadership to engage in financing and construction plans. The project includes: A new, fully renovated birthing unit featuring a labor, delivery, recovery,
postpartum (LDRP) suites, and direct access from obstetrics to surgery for patients needing a C-section.
WinnMed project
continued on page 6
Crop practices tied to nitrates and water quality Merry Grinch-mas in Mabel The Grinch, Betty Lou Who and Max (aka Quinten Sand, Steph Landsom and Brooks), crashed Santa Day in Mabel, Saturday, Dec. 2. More photos from the Mabel Business Association’s Santa Day can be found inside this edition. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Kathy Simpson)
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Spurred by information presented at the Lanesboro, Minn., water forum, this is the second in a series of three articles exploring the issue, with further detail from each of the presenters, and an introduction to the principles of what impacts the watersheds of the region. Further articles in the series will run in the Driftless Journal over the next few weeks. The full water forum was recently uploaded to YouTube (search “Fillmore County Water Quality Forum 2023”) and is available to the public.
By Denise Lana A hundred years ago, Minnesota and Iowa farms averaged 150-170 acres and were home to diversified crops and livestock. Through the years, new technology like tractors, combines and milking machines replaced animal power and helped families farm more land. Hybrid seeds, vaccines and commercial fertilizers were developed. The 1950s saw the introduction of chemicals to control weeds, pests, insects and diseases. Crop yields continued to increase, and many farmers began fo-
cusing on single crops that would produce higher yields and greater financial gains. In 2021, the average size of a farm in Iowa and Minnesota ranged from 359-377 acres, with corn and soybeans topping out as the two states’ main crops. Besides being consumed as food for humans, corn has numerous uses. Many plastics are corn-based and corn starch is used in the making of matchsticks and
Water quality
continued on page 6
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