Thursday, October 10, 2024
Vol. 159, Issue 41
Decorah, Iowa 52101
www.decorahleader.com
email: editor@decorahleader.com
Heeding the call
County Supervisor Shirley Vermace encouraged local voters to not only cast their ballots during next month’s election but to engage in local politics. (Photo by Seth Boyes)
Sand, Vermace say communication, engagement critical ahead of Election Day BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR Iowa is still a purple state, according to Iowa’s State Auditor and Decorah native Rob Sand. The auditor of state was the opening speaker Sunday afternoon, during the Winneshiek County Democrats’ Politics in the Park fundraiser event in Decorah’s Phelps Park. Sand encouraged local Democrats to
approach their neighbors with kindness when discussing politics, saying he feels many Republican voters have been questioning Republican policies and actions in recent years — which Sand feels is an indication voters are paying attention to the issues rather than maintaining
Sand, Vermace
continued on page 14
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Big Canoe, Highland churches attract renowned theologian with help of modern marketing BY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER Church memberships across the nation — especially in rural areas — are struggling. Winneshiek County’s population has dropped by an average of about 100 people each year over the past decade, and fewer families financially supporting country churches often makes it more difficult for rural parishes to attract permanent pastors. But the congregations of Big Canoe and Highland Churches, just south and north of High-
Rev. Matthew Becker leads the Big Canoe and Highland Lutheran congregations Sunday, Oct. 6, during his installation service at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. (Photo by Zach Jensen) landville, may have found a way to overcome some of those challenges — by using a drone and video to introduce itself on the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s website — it’s the first time such marketing tools have been used in the northeast Iowa synod. The video introduced parishioners from both congregations, described activities and toured both churches as
well as their grounds. And it seemed to do the trick. Rev. Matthew Becker was installed Sunday, Oct. 6 at Big Canoe “I looked at probably 75 profiles, and out of all of them, Big Canoe and Highland was the only one with a video,” said Becker said. “After watching the video, I thought, ‘Wow, these people seem like the kind
of people I’ve been serving.’ I immediately sensed a connection with the people talking in the video. I can’t explain it beyond just a sense of these are people I think I could serve, and they seem like they might be open to my pastoral ministry.”
Rev. Becker
continued on page 5
Train, tractor collision results in fatal injury
Candidate Brian Bruening of Elkader is seeking the District 32 seat in the Iowa Senate and spoke during Sunday’s Politics in the Park event. (Photo by Seth Boyes)
Bruening aims to revive ‘the Iowa I grew up with’ via bid for Iowa Senate BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR
One Section
Bruening sought support from voters as he spoke during the Winneshiek County Democrats’ Politics in the Park event Sunday afternoon in Decorah’s Phelps Park.
The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office said one person was fatally injured after a tractor and a train collided near a crossing between Fort Atkinson and Jackson Junction. The accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Iowa Highway 24 and 128th Street, according to the sheriff’s office. A report from the sheriff’s office said 60-year-old Carl Kuhn of Fort Atkinson was driving a 1995 AgCo tractor along 128th Street, had crossed the highway and attempted to cross the railroad tracks — the report noted the intersection is an uncontrolled train crossing with yield signs on both sides. The sheriff’s report said the train conductor believed Kuhn “saw the train at the last second and attempted to stop.” The conductor also applied the train’s brakes but struck the tractor at approximately 30 mph. The sheriff’s report said the tractor “split at the cab/engine compartment,” and Kuhn was ejected. Multiple emergency crews responded to the scene and assisted, and Kuhn was deemed a fatality after all life-saving measures were exhausted, the report said. The collision remains under investigation by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office and Canadian Pacific Railway. (Photo by Zach Jensen)
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Brian Bruening of Elkader says his entire background is rooted in the humanities, and he plans to apply that same focus to his run for the District 32 seat in the Iowa Senate.
Bruening aims
continued on page 14
‘At this point, it’s no longer an ask’ Council passes resolution ordering sidewalk repairs at Corner Bar BY DENISE LANA STAFF WRITER The Decorah City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday afternoon, ordering a sidewalk outside Decorah’s Corner Bar be repaired. The sidewalk stands 18 inches above street level in some places. Monday’s order comes after a number of previous requests to address the drop off have gone unfulfilled. “That property has gone through this request process numerous times — some even predate my arrival,” Decorah City Manager Travis Goedken said. “There were some temporary repairs made, but those have not held up.”
Sidewalk
continued on page 10
The length of sidewalk running alongside the eastern side of Corner Bar building rises 18 inches from the asphalt in some places and poses a safety hazard. (Photo by Denise Lana)
Othman jailed again after failing to charge tracking device BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR A Decorah man charged earlier this year with third-degree sexual abuse by force has found himself back in the Winneshiek County Jail after failing to keep a tracking device charged as per the terms of his pre-trial release. A 17-year-old female told Decorah Police officers on July 18 she had been raped by 20-year-old Nandoya Ramadhan Othman of Decorah her earlier that day. The officers were initially responding to a possible fight in the parking lot of the Decorah Walmart — a criminal complaint said the individuals involved in the disturbance “stated they were not
Nandoya Ramadhan Othman
fighting but just slap-boxing.” The officers observed scrapes on some of the individuals’ legs
Jailed again continued on page 5