October 24, 2024

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Vol. 159, Issue 43 www.decorahleader.com

Decorah, Iowa 52101 email: editor@decorahleader.com

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‘Today we begin with belief’

Luther College Provost Brad Chamberlain has been selected to serve at the college’s 12th president. Chamberlain spoke Friday inside the college’s Center for Faith and Life, saying he has felt blessed by his time at Luther and aims for the college to continue cultivating student talent.

(Photo by Seth Boyes)

Luther names Chamberlain as its 12th president

BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR It’s the first time in more than a century that Luther College has selected an internal staff member to serve as its next president. College officials announced Friday the college’s current provost Brad Chamberlain will succeed outgoing Luther President Jennifer K. Ward, who announced plans

earlier this year to retire during the upcoming academic year. A specific date for the transition has yet to be set.

Bob Paulson, chair of Luther’s Board of Regents, said it was important the college’s next president understand Luther’s history, its emphasis on what he called experiential learning and demonstrate an ability to work within the college’s structure of shared governance. Paulson

said the college began forming a presidential search committee almost immediately after Ward announced her intention to retire. The committee gathered input over the summer as to the characteristics the college ought to seek in its next president, and that input was assembled into a

Luther president continued on page 7

Defense asks court to suppress evidence against teen accused of vandalizing downtown Decorah last year Affected churches advocate for forgiveness, alternative resolutions

BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR The defense attorney for a Decorah teen who was charged following several instances of vandalism in September of 2023 claims investigators violated the teen’s constitutional rights while collecting evidence.

An attorney for 19-year-old Caeden Philip Andrew Nyanjenga has asked the court to suppress any and all of evidence which may have been illegally obtained during the execution of a search warrant last year. Nyanjenga is one of three individuals believed to

have vandalized multiple sites in and around downtown Decorah last fall. The teen faces charges of criminal mischief as well as trespassing, and court documents indicate two of the three offenses may be considered hate crimes.

‘Catch us if you can’ The Decorah Police Department was initially informed on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, that Decorah Lutheran Church had been vandalized at some point overnight. Court documents said two crowns were painted on the church’s northern wall, and investigators initially noted the images’ resemblance to

a symbol used by members of the Chicago-area gang the Latin Kings. The responding officer learned additional vandalism had also taken place uphill at the neighboring Decorah United Church of Christ — court documents described the vandalism there as more extensive.

The congregational church had installed a display on its north side, comprised of six doors painted with the main colors of the rainbow spectrum and bearing the words “God’s doors are open to all.”

The officer’s account said the display was an indicator “of the church’s inclusivity of all sexual orientations,” and noted the words “God hates gays” had

Vandalism continued on page 3

Caeden Philip Andrew Nyanjenga

Jose Macias Torres

An estimated 60 volunteers turned out in mid-September of 2023 to remove spray painted messages discovered on Decorah United Church of Christ and Decorah Lutheran Church. Spray paint was discovered on several nearby buildings as well. Several of the affected locations sought reparations for the removal of the vandalism, but the churches filed no such requests and asked the court to consider alternatives to typical criminal sentencing for the young perpetrators. (Photo courtesy of Erik Dutcher)

Flaskerud and Haggerty Igniting going ‘all in’ with new Lefse action Visit us online - www.decorahnewspapers.com Lodge in downtown Decorah

#ICANHELP Digital Citizenship Education Program presentations planned at area schools

BY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER

BY ROZ WEIS STAFF WRITER Decorah native Kim Karr is returning to her roots to deliver a powerful talk on the importance of digital safety to hundreds of students in the area this fall.

Karr, the daughter of Dwayne and Debbie Karr and a 1997 graduate of Decorah High School, lives in California and is the co-founder of Digital4Good x #ICANHELP. The local alum is planning several upcoming stops in the region,

Decorah native Kim Karr will return to the area to give talks on empowering students and teachers in combating cyberbullying in Decorah and the surrounding area in the coming weeks. The #ICANHELP Digital Citizenship Education Program is planned in Decorah, South Winneshiek and Cresco schools. (Submitted photo) highlighting how students and adults can maintain a positive digital footprint. Karr is scheduled to speak Oct. 30 at Cresco Schools, Oct. 31 at South Winneshiek Schools and Nov. 1 at Decorah Middle School.

Digital4Good was founded

in 2013 as a way to fight back against digital negativity. The nonprofit was first established in response to an online attack on a teacher in the form of a false Facebook page.

“It had over 1,000 followers at a school of only 500 students,

and it was going on for over two weeks,” Karr said. “One student finally reported it to me and was scared that their peers would

#ICANHELP

Dan

✓OTE HOVDEN District 3 Supervisor

Paid for by Hovden for Supervisor Committee

The building formerly occupied by Java John’s, one of Decorah’s longtime downtown coffee houses, has changed owners and will soon reopen under the name The Lefse Lodge. The new business, located at 400 W. Water St., will feature homemade Scandinavian desserts, sandwiches and a full coffee bar. The Lefse Lodge the brainchild of Lawler couple Rodney “Flash” Flaskerud and Cheryl Haggerty and is slated to open Nov. 1.

“We’re having fun, and we want people to enjoy what we have, and we want to have fun doing it,” Haggerty said. “Everybody tells us that what Decorah is lacking is what we’re doing.”

Java John’s closed its doors earlier this summer, and the building went up for sale in July. Flaskerud and Haggerty looked at

Lefse Lodge

continued on page 13

continued on page 5

Common sense decision making

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Autumnal outings

Fall festivities were in full swing last week, as the community turned out for several local autumn happenings.

Costumed youngsters gathered Saturday, Oct. 19 at Decorah’s Pulpit Rock Campground for some early trick or treating following the Decorah Park and Recreation’s inaugural Fall Frenzy. Children decorated stones with the help of the Decorah Rocks group under the Will Baker shelter, and many joined in a number of games before taking a short jaunt along Oneota Riverview Trail to visit the Pulpit Rock campground.

Youngsters were able to snag some sweet treats from campers waiting outside their campers with bowls and bags of candy to share. (Photos by Seth Boyes)

MiEnergy Cooperative hosted an event for its members on Friday, Oct. 18 at Pinter’s Gardens and Pumpkins west of Decorah. Adults and children alike milled about the Pinter’s property, enjoying games, wagon rides, miniature golf and other activities.

Visitors also had the opportunity to purchase a variety of treats and beverages as well as receive a complimentary pumpkin for each child.

(Photos by Seth Boyes)

The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce hosted Witches Night Out on Thursday, Oct. 17 in downtown Decorah. Participants donned costumes — some with pointy black hats and others with pink frills — before meandering among the participating businesses for a night of shopping, drinks and other special events like a photo booth and trivia contest. Pictured, from top: Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce marketing and membership associate Hannah Tulgren and Alyssa Ritter, marketing and community engagement specialist for Visit Decorah, dressed as Glinda and Elphaba from the musical “Wicked” and dropped in at Agora Arts. Friends, from left: Lashelle Evans, Sylvia Steine, Amy Knox and Annette Franzen stopped at Impact Coffee. Ellen Rule and Elaine Rosburg of Arlington donned their favorite witch costumes and enjoyed the treats at J Tupy. (Photos by Roz Weis)

NEWS

DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | EDITOR@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221

3

Roundtable More than 1,000 cast ballots during first on Van days of early voting in Winneshiek County Peenen Park use Oct. 30 by mail, at the auditor’s office, “It’s a safe, secure and conveBY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER

About 1,100 voters cast their votes last week during the first days of early voting in Winneshiek County, but County Auditor Ben Steines said that turnout, which includes a special voting event held Oct. 16 at Luther College, isn’t extraordinary.

Luther’s turnout was actually the lowest the county has seen on campus since before the 2008 presidential election, which saw 426 people vote. That number remained nearly the same during the 2012 election and increased to 481 during the 2016 election.

A total of 197 people voted on campus during the 2020 election. Last week’s satellite absentee event saw just 139 people vote at Luther College. However, Steines said that doesn’t mean Luther students and local residents who live near the campus aren’t voting at all.

“It either means fewer students plan to participate,” Steines said, “or more students are voting absentee from where their home is. We do not track Luther student voters specifically, so we have no way to determine how many participated in total. They could have voted

Luther student Alyssa Strampe, age 21, of Janesville, Wisconsin, receives her ballot from Luther Interlibrary Loan and Technical Services Librarian Emily Mineart the afternoon of Oct. 16, during the Luther College satellite absentee voting event at the Dahl Centennial Union. Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines said about 130 votes were cast during the event. (Photo by Zach Jensen)

or (will vote) on Election Day.” However, Steines added that the county has also mailed out fewer ballots than it has ahead of past elections. He noted that decrease may be an indicater more people are choosing to vote in person. Steines said, as of last week, his office had received a total of 1,373 ballots requests by mail — including overseas ballots.

In all, about 500 people voted on Oct. 16 in Winneshiek County, while about 300 voted last Thursday, and another 300 voted Friday. Because votes aren’t counted until election day, Steines said he and his staff won’t know what the cast ballots indicate until then.

“All the ballots will be counted on Election Day by a 15-member bipartisan team that comes in and counts them,” the auditor said.

Steines said, since early voting has begun, he has seen some short lines of people waiting to vote, but thanks to more than 20 voting booths, he expects voters will still have a ballot in their hands within about five minutes, even if they arrive during the busiest time of the day.

“I encourage people to vote ahead of time,” Steines said.

nient way to vote, and it’s nice that people can utilize that option.”

In addition to the candidate races, voters will be asked to decide three public measures on back of their ballots, which Steines said consist of two state constitutional amendments and the Decorah Community School District bond issue.

Sample ballots containing these amendments and the bond issue can be found under “Election Information” at winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov/departments/auditor.

“There are 38 sample ballots available, depending on which township you live in,” Steines said. “Most of the options are the same, but depending on where you live will determine whether you have the Decorah bond issue or not. And, all the townships have separate township clerks and trustees raises.”

The Winneshiek County Auditor’s office is open for early voting from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday through Nov. 4 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 2. Mail-in ballots must be received by the county auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, or they can delivered by hand.

BY DENISE LANA STAFF WRITER

With no resolution in sight and tensions building around the usage of Decorah’s Van Peenen Park, the Decorah Parks and Recreation Board has set an Oct. 30 special hearing for all trail users to come together and be heard.

Trail users — including hikers, bikers, birdwatchers, horse riders, runners, fishermen, cross-country skiers and nature viewers — are invited to meet at city hall for a roundtable discussion at 6:30 p.m. that day to explore potential compromises regarding the long-standing issues of trail usage in Van Peenen Park.

The park was deeded to the city in 1976 for horseback riding, hiking and cross-country skiing. Since then, mountain biking has been enjoyed in the park, and trails have been expanded to accommodate mountain bikers. Animosity has grown between various trail users over the years, and Decorah city staff, along with Decorah Parks and Recreation, are hoping the Oct. 30 meeting will be the first step in putting an end to the more than two decades of dissonance between trail users.

Vandalism continued from front been spray painted on the display. Authorities also discovered paint on a nearby sign, the church’s exterior, its chimney and the building’s “newly replaced slate stone roof.”

Law enforcement later learned several other sites within less than 1,000 feet had been vandalized. An obscene phrase had been spray painted on a wall near the county courthouse, the words “Catch us if you can” were found on a retaining wall near the county attorney’s office and the former Anundsen Publishing Company on Washington Street had been painted with a date of Oct. 23, 2023. Instances of similar vandalism were also discovered along Trout Run Trail, near a crosswalk at Palisades Park and southeast of Decorah High School — court documents indicate a Swastika had been painted on a retaining wall in the school’s parking lot.

Initial estimates said the total damage among the various locations was believed to be more than $10,000.

Investigators were able to obtain video surveillance footage from locations near almost all of the affected sites. The footage captured three suspects, two of which law enforcement believed to be Nyanjenga and now 19-year-old Jose Macias Torres of Decorah. Investigators said Decorah High School staff verified the individuals in the footage appeared to be Nyanjenga and Torres, according to court documents, but could not verify the identity of the third individual. Court documents indicate the third individual has since been the subject of a case within the juvenile court system.

Torres agrees to testify Criminal complaints were filed against Nyanjenga on Sept. 20, 2023, charging him with second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree criminal mischief and trespassing — the latter two were noted as hate crimes. He pleaded not guilty the next month. Criminal complaints were also filed against Torres on Oct. 17, 2023. He too received charges of both second and third-degree criminal mischief as well as trespassing, but filings in that case showed only the trespassing charge was considered a hate crime.

Torres initially pleaded not

guilty in December of 2023, but he changed his plea in June of 2024, as part of what court documents indicated was a plea bargain. Other filings in the case show Torres is expected to testify as the state’s witness against Nyanjenga and an unnamed juvenile.

Torres received a deferred judgement for both of the criminal mischief charges filed against him. The charges are to be dismissed and the case file is to be expunged after Torres completes a three-year probation period, according to court records. The court also agreed to suspend 56 days of Torres’ jail sentence for the trespassing charge. The 19-year-old served four days in jail this past August. He was also ordered to pay more than $2,000 in reparations to the city of Decorah, the city’s park and recreation department, the Decorah Community School District and Court View Place, which owns the property on which the county attorney’s office is located.

‘You can’t place a price on forgiveness’ Neither Decorah Lutheran Church nor Decorah United Church of Christ sought financial compensation from the teens for the damage done to their respective buildings. An estimated 60 people helped remove the spray paint from buildings in that area the same day it was discovered, and other local ministers helped lead what church officials called an impromptu service on the sidewalk.

“We felt like that was where our healing came from, so to ask for money from these individuals seems irrelevant as far as making things right,” Adam Campbell, the current worship leader of Decorah United Church of Christ, said.

Similarly, Pastor Peter Kowitz of Decorah Lutheran, said his congregation did not feel it necessary to seek funds for the volunteer labor provided that day.

“Our building was vandalized by people who acted out of fear or hatred,” Kowitz said.

“On the afternoon that the vandalism was found, members of our congregation joined with members of the UCC church and other Decorah residents to

clean up the vandalism. It was a beautiful moment when a cross-section of the town joined peacefully to repair the damage inflicted by a few. We proclaim the message of love and forgiveness. God’s love is for everyone.”

Campbell echoed Kowitz in saying he and many in his congregation feel forgiveness shouldn’t be reduced to a transactional exchange — and especially not a monetary one.

“A few people said they, in their own lives, had experienced the grace of receiving forgiveness when they felt like it hadn’t been earned by them, and that was a transformational experience,” Campbell said.

“And there was a desire for these three young individuals to have that same experience — to receive the gift of forgiveness.

You can’t place a price on forgiveness. That just cheapens the whole process.”

Kowitz said Decorah Lutheran requested the court consider allowing the teens complete a period of community service rather than a more typical criminal sentence, and Campbell said Decorah United Church of Christ is still in talks with prosecutors in hopes of achieving what he called restorative justice — he said the church has proposed working with the teens and their families through a trained mediator to understand one another’s perspectives and reach a mutually agreeable solution. It’s an approach Campbell believes can potentially work hand in hand with the court system, and it’s one he hopes more members of the community begin to understand.

“We don’t feel like you can punish the wrongdoing out of someone and in some way make it better,” Campbell said.

Defense questions entry of evidence Court records show investigators executed multiple search warrants during September of 2023 and seized a number of items as evidence in the case.

Police collected an iPhone and clothing from Torres’ residence as well as a “blue backpack with spray paint” in the days following the incident. Court records indicate investigators also seized an iPhone from

Nyanjenga’s residence the same day, and they executed a separate warrant at his grandparents’ Decorah residence early the next week, after learning he sometimes resided there — that search yielded a pair of black jeans and a gray hooded sweatshirt similar to those worn by the suspects captured on video.

But Nyanjenga’s defense attorney Andrew Nelson argues law enforcement violated the teen’s constitutional rights during the second search, including his right to legal counsel, protection from providing self-incriminating testimony and protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

Court records indicate a Winneshiek County Sheriff’s deputy assisted the Decorah Police Department during the execution of the second search warrant. Court records say the deputy searched the lower level of the home, while a police officer remained with Nyanjenga on the upper level. Nyanjenga had previously invoked his right to legal counsel during a discussion with investigators earlier that month, according to court documents, and prosecutors noted the teen was advised by relatives not to speak with law enforcement as they searched his grandparents’ home.

Prosecutors said police body camera footage captured Nyanjenga voluntarily unloading a clothes dryer during the search.

An officer observed one of the items in the dryer was a gray hooded sweatshirt, and he asked Nyanjenga to hand the sweatshirt to him. The officer ultimately seized the shirt as evidence, and the assisting sheriff’s deputy discovered a pair of black jeans in the teen’s bedroom, which were also seized.

Nelson argues the interaction amounted to an interrogation of his client without legal representation, saying the term interrogation “refers not only to express questioning but also to any words or actions on the part of the police — other than those normally attendant to arrest and custody — that the police should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response from the suspect.”

The defense also argued investigators made no attempt to contact Nelson prior to executing the second search warrant

Investigators secured video footage showing two suspects in the early hours of Sept. 17, 2023. Law enforcement believed the two individuals to be Caeden Nyanjenga and Jose Macias Torres. Court documents indicate a third individual may have been involved in the vandalism, and Macias Torres has agreed to testify against Nyanjenga and an unnamed juvenile as part of a plea bargain.

— Kevin Schoeberl, who is serving as special prosecutor in the case, said law enforcement was under no obligation to do so. Nyanjenga’s attorney also claims the act of handing the sweatshirt to an officer amounts to a violation of Nyanjenga’s right to avoid incriminating himself. Schoeberl countered with his own filing, saying investigators never instructed the teen to open the dryer, and he went on to argue that handing an item of clothing to the officer does not qualify as testimony — incriminating or otherwise.

“Even if the defendant did not take the clothing out of the dryer, the clothing would have been discovered by the eventual

search of the house, including looking in the washer and dryer,” Schoeberl wrote.

The defense’s motion to suppress the evidence was previously scheduled to be discussed during an Oct. 22 hearing.

However, the judge scheduled to preside over the court that particular day happened to be the same judge who originally approved the search warrant in question — the judge issued an order last week, rescheduling the hearing for Nov. 5, when a different judge will be presiding over the court.

Nyanjenga’s case is currently scheduled to go to trial this December.

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OPINION

4 | DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | EDITOR@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221

Don’t forget about the opinion page when election season is over

I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I’m ready for this election season to be over. Thankfully, that day is steadily creeping closer and closer. And, as promised in my Sept. 5 column, we’ve hit that point in the cycle when we’ll be keeping all politically-centric content off our opinion page next week — but

BY SETH don’t worry, it’s just BOYES for one week.

News Editor I’ve hardly known an opinion page that wasn’t largely fueled by political happenings, but clearing the opinion page of politics the week ahead of an election helps ensure neither side of any particular race or ballot issue gets the proverbial last word before people head to the polls. In fact, come to think of it, we may need to do this again in a couple months while folks in Decorah prepare to vote in the special city council race.

But, in the meantime, I’d encourage all of us to consider that the value of the opinion page remains, whether it’s election season or not. National-level issues can often dominate our thoughts, especially while coughing on all the dust candidates kick up along the campaign trail. But the opinion page will still be here when the dust settles, and so will this community. And I imagine there are other local topics folks may have some feelings about outside the political arena. Those voices are welcome here too.

I guess what I’m saying is this — don’t forget about the opinion page after the polls close.

This page is propelled by you and your neighbors, dear reader. Many a small-town editor struggles to fill their opinion page with meaningful local content — assuming they’re able to gather enough phrases to print one in the first place. But that’s not the case here in Decorah, and I hope it doesn’t become the case after the results are in on Nov. 5.

We’ll still be here, and I hope you will be too.

Now, on a related note, it’s also recently been requested of us that we share our policy regarding letters to the editor — so here goes. While there isn’t a formal document that lays out our policy for letters to the editor, there are plenty of guidelines we do our best to follow.

Obviously we don’t allow things like libelous claims or profanity. We also try our best not to print misinformation that may be included in letters to the editor.

Letters can mention candidates’ names, which is fine (it’s pretty hard sometimes to make one’s point without being specific like that). They just can’t endorse candidates — or businesses for that matter. That line can get a little blurry when authors want to express their views on the actions or behavior of a particular party or person, but we try to do our best so that both sides have the chance to voice their opinions. Some authors may have a proverbial axe to grind (I once heard about a guy who still signed his emails with ‘Never trust a Toshiba printer’ something like that 15 or 20 years after he had supposedly been wronged by the company) but that alone shouldn’t preclude anyone from contributing to the local opinion page.

Even if you have something critical to say about the paper, let us have it. Criticism is often just as important as praise.

Other than that, we don’t accept anonymous letters or letters which use pen names, and authors need to include their street address, though we’ll only publish their city of residency. We also don’t accept form letters, which are basically templates that campaigns and other groups send to their supporters in hopes they’ll sign a copy and submit it to their local paper to pass it off as locally produced (admittedly, it’s hard to catch those all the time). I’m not opposed to printing legislative columns on the opinion page in order to allow readers to hear from their state and federal lawmakers, but so far we’ve had enough letters to keep the opinion page full without that — again, I imagine plenty of editors in communities our size would envy the level of participation you’ve displayed on the opinion page, dear reader.

I may be forgetting some particulars off the top of my head, but I’d say that’s our policy in a nutshell.

So remember, if you’ve got something to say about the dry weather we’ve had the past several weeks, the role of agriculture in northeast Iowa or some meaningful interaction you observed in your own backyard, tell us about it. But if your message is magnetized with party-polarity, just hold off a week or so, and we’ll do our best to keep the ball rolling until then.

Overwhelming and hard questions deserve our best effort

Human beings’ deep awareness of life is a mixed blessing.

The wonderful diversity of all life and the depth of the universe is not completely understandable.

When we become overwhelmed, we retreat into denial or become polarized to pretend we understand the complex issue. Polarization, if left unresolved, tends to stifle group problem solving and cooperation. If you take a good look at history and the present state of our civilization, you may see how polarization leads to win/ lose competition and war. Our human and natural resources are being wasted by our selfish greed and entitlement. Greed competition by tribal, ethnic, national and religious groups are natural short term responses to survival fear but are not good long term solutions for life and our planet.

Many old and new prophets have seen this dilemma and offered wise council about the need for love, compassion and cooperative sharing. Humans become addicted to short term solutions and immediate gratification rather than doing the hard work to create long term quality of life. Materialism, competitive economics and war are strategies that we use which support entitled survival.

History and the social sciences give us clues about ways to improve the big picture; we are all in this together! There are useful coping skills to help us face our sur-

vival fears so that we can consider better long term actions. These are not included in our usual definition of common sense, as common sense usually tells us to take the quickest solution to fear rather than honestly work together. We can help ourselves and our children to talk about fears, rehearse good responses, talk with neighbors, even our enemies, creatively search for win-win long term solutions and listen deeply to others’ ideas and concerns. We know by now that life is not perfect but is more fun and exciting when we work together. Taking responsibility for all life and the planet and our neighbors is exciting and meaningful. It is not about perfection but about participation. Good work, if you want it.

What more could you ask for?

Don Fish Decorah

Loyalty or self-interest The voting booth is a secure, private and confidential place in a democracy. In that secure place, the voter has very important questions to answer. Which candidate will serve the voter’s self-interest when they become a public servant in an elected office?

Two companions, self-interest and loyalty, go with a voter to a polling place. Devoted attachment to the opinions and beliefs of friends, co-workers and family members can be set aside. Loyalty to others’ beliefs must remain outside the voting booth.

Self-interest is a foundation from which to cast a vote. A candidate’s ability to serve a voter’s self-interest is identified by a voter’s research into past behaviors,

myths and facts. Following the research, one can cast a vote for a candidate who has chosen to strengthen the lives of his constituency through his public service.

In a democracy, one can vote for a county supervisor, the Iowa General Assembly, the United States Congress and the President of the United States without fear of consequences. The voter never needs to reveal or discuss the votes cast with anyone. Relationships with friends, co-workers and family members have not changed because the voter exercised their self-interest in the most secret place in a democracy.

Thank you, Elaine St. Clair Decorah

Finding a fair balance on the opinion page

Letter to the editor: The new Decorah newspaper is a great change! A much needed breath of fresh air in our community. It has meat. It has interesting articles and information. Thank you.

Decorah is a liberal town. Winneshiek County is conservative.

I’m sure you try to maintain a balance between the two to appease all your readers and keep everyone happy and reading your newspaper.

Case in point: when you covered the Winn Dems event at Whalen Cabin recently, you completely left out Sarah Corkery. You then explained why you did that.

You also used the excuse that Sarah showed up at the last minute.

I think it would have been better

and fairer if you had mentioned she was there. You were there and you could have mentioned that she was there. One sentence.

Regarding your comments on the supervisors’ behavior. You weren’t even there. They treat the public very rudely. It’s an ongoing problem. Most of the letter writers to the newspaper are carefully constructed and to the point. The majority are highly educated, experienced and informed. Please stop scolding them and lecturing them.

Can you please post a copy of the newspaper’s letter to the editor policy regarding submission of opinion pieces?

Best regards, JoAn Nelson Decorah

A call for fair events at a fair price Dear Winneshiek County Ag Association, I had reservations about writing this letter. However, after talking to many individuals, I decided to do it anyway. Our Winneshiek County Ag Association does fair buttons at $30 for three events and $60 for six events. I went to the fair office to buy a ticket for just the stock car races. I got resistance. After some discussion, rather than making a scene, I paid the $30 for the button.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t afford it. It was the principal. Paying for two events that a person wasn’t going to attend just seemed un-American! I am not against the fair buttons, if it works for you.

I’m sure there are families in this county who could only afford one event. After all, with 20plus percent inflation the last four years, there are many families hurting. Under the legal tender act of 1965, I should be able to pay cash to purchase a ticket and

attend an event for a portion of the button. Twelve to $15 would be fair. Forcing people to pay for events that they either don’t have the time or maybe the resources to attend all of them is discriminating to our hard working tax base of this county. After all, our Winneshiek County seat, Decorah, has a memorial on Water Street of those who died for our freedoms.

And my freedom of choice was to go to the races at a fair price.

In my conversation with many, they didn’t go to the fair for this reason. Could be much fair money lost. The consensus was, you shouldn’t be held hostage from going to a single event at a county fair by the price of a fair button. Hopefully this gets changed.

And may God bless America for our freedoms, and may we show respect for those who fought for them.

Greg Vulk Decorah

Presidential race could become a landslide It was breakfast time and, as I looked at my wife eating her cornflakes, it finally dawned on me.

Why is this race for president of the United States running neck and neck? Women voters could overwhelm this election and determine the outcome. Not being a woman, I probably don’t understand.

Given the reputation of the Republican nominee for president, it seems women would be in the right frame of mind to vote for one

of their own. Probably not true of some, but most. This would mean a 50-50 race becomes a landslide for their candidate.

All of this bluster may not make sense. Women will do what they want. If they really want this convicted felon to be their next president, nothing will change their mind. But I tried.

John Carver Decorah

‘We need to see a school board approved plan’ I have concerns regarding the upcoming $38 million elementary school vote. Now, more than ever, the voters need complete transparency in the election process.

We need to see a school board approved plan. Last week, the local news highlighted Monticello’s plans for a $15 million elementary project, and it included plans.

Although I have talked with Superintendent Cronin and a school board member, I have concerns: 1.) Safety. The public should not be invited onto school grounds for activities, such as community gardens, pickle ball and an amphitheater. Personally, I have three friends and one relative who have had shootings or gun violence in their schools — the schools were not the same, and they varied in size. Communities are never quite the same after an act of violence occurs. Should community activities take place in Decorah Schools, the law enforcement agencies, fire and emergency management must take part at the very beginning of the process in planning for safety, as they will be the ones that will be responding to any and every incident.

2.) Will Claiborne Drive be closed? If there is ever a change in community traffic patterns — and this includes the potential creation of a roundabout — the fire, law enforcement agencies and emergency management must be included in the initial planning as they will be the ones who will be called out if there is an emergency. The community response

time should never be compromised because of a school or for any reason.

3.) Will any of the future onecent sales tax cover present, past or future expenses as the Dahlen Complex — my term. If the school uses the property, could the one-cent sales tax be applied to help cover some of the expenses? I am happy for the Dahlens with the deal that they made.

4.) Many people are hoping that a new school will attract young families to Decorah. The reality is we don’t have adequate housing on a variety of economic levels.

I am not against a new school.

The school boards have been working on this for over 10 years.

There have been several meetings where the school board has asked for community input. The two photos published in the paper are not the final school board approved plans. This is absolutely not the fault of any superintendent. The school board directs the superintendent.

Last week, when I saw Monticello’s plans on TV, that made me a bit angry. We need a plan. We need transparency — $38 million is plenty of money. I am a retired teacher, and I did teach in Lanesboro, Minnesota, where there was a structural collapse at the high school. The floor of my room fell into the lunchroom, which was below my room — Google Lanesboro High School structural collapse.

Laurie Worcester Decorah

Echoes of the Past

Is there oil in them there hills?

By Roz Weis Staff Writer

Back in the mid 1920s, locals were drawn to the headlines of a potential oil discovery in the Decorah area. It was in September of 1924 when the oil well on the Bakke property west of Decorah was scheduled to be shot with 200 quarts of nitro glycerine, in a continuing search for oil discovery. An oil derrick was set up on the land. The explosives came all the way from

Oklahoma. One gentleman back in the day was “positive that there was oil on the Bakke Lease No. 1.” A depth of 2,500 feet was anticipated in the blasting. Some local citizens reportedly took samples of the sand in the area, and had it analyzed by chemists and geologists, reporting there was evidence of oil. In 1924, each stockholder (there were 615 stockholders from throughout the country that year) was asked to pitch in $10 to further the blasting proposal

along. Reading ahead, it took some time to talk each stockholder into the “major” extra expense. In the end, no significant discoveries were made that year. But it made for some big news in that era.

Here’s a taste of more from decades ago…

O

NE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – 1924: The Decorah Pioneer Oil and Gas Company held a rousing meeting at the City Rest Room last Satur-

Winneshiek County Historical Society shared this vintage photo of the oil rig at the Bakke drilling site near Decorah. Decorah Pioneer Oil & Gas Company drilled in the area for several years. day night, with 111 local stockholders present. It was decided to blow the Bakke Oil Lease well, and group will determine whether or not there is any oil there. The blowing of the well is expected soon. The nitro will

arrive in a specially-designed truck, and an expert is called upon to do the “shooting.”

Folks are warned to stay away a safe distance! …Gust Sheggrud may lose an eye. In opening a keg of

near beer one day last week, the bung flew out, striking him in the right eye. His glasses were broken, and his eyeball was

Echoes of the Past

continued on page 14

OBITUARIES/NEWS

DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | EDITOR@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221

Obituaries Lawrence Schmitt

Nov. 4, 1939 - Oct. 13, 2024

Lawrence J. Schmitt, 84, of Riceville, died on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 at home surrounded by his family.

L a w rence Joseph Schmitt was born on Nov. 4, 1939, son of Ben and Ida (Hageman) Schmitt Lawrence in Decorah.

Schmitt Lawrence attended St. John’s Catholic School and graduated from Ft. Atkinson High School. After graduation, Lawrence enlisted into the United States Army and honorably served for three years. During part of his enlisted time, Lawrence was stationed in Germany with the military police. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he moved back home and began working for Wiest Mill, Reilly Brothers Construction and John Deere.

On June 10, 1972, Lawrence was united in marriage to Dorothy Meier at Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco. Lawrence and Dorothy lived on a farm north of Calmar until 1976.

At that time, they purchased a farm east of Riceville where they have lived for the past 48 years and raised their four sons.

Lawrence worked for Featherlite for a brief time after getting out of the hog raising business.

Farming would always be part of Lawrence. Throughout the years, he could be found walking through the fields checking on his crops.

Lawrence enjoyed the simple rural life of going to farm sales, visiting with people and attending tractor pulls. He liked to watch football, basketball and

western and war movies. Lawrence could always be found attending different activities when his boys were in school. He looked forward to cheering on his grandchildren and attending their birthday parties. Lawrence was hard working but always found time to squeeze in family vacation in between making hay and combining oats. He loved making those memories with his family. Lawrence and Dorothy enjoyed traveling together, too. They took bus trips out east to Washington D.C., New York City, Virginia Beach, New Orleans and Nashville.

Lawrence is survived by his wife, Dorothy Schmitt of Riceville; four sons: Joe (Nicci) Schmitt of Ankeny, Christopher (Amanda Long) Schmitt of Belmond, Iowa, Thomas (Katie) Schmitt of Elma, and Stephen (Courtney) Schmitt of Austin, Minnesota; eight grandchildren: Mycah, Alexis, Madelynn, Matthew, Millie, Anne, Harriet and Charlotte; brothers: LaVern Schmitt of Cresco, and Don (Gloria) Schmitt of Ft. Atkinson; sister Darlene Bruess of West Union; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Wilbert Schmitt and Fidelis (Pearl) Schmitt; sister Serena (Adrian) Timp; sister-in-law Janice Schmitt; and brother-in-law DeWayne Bruess.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, Oct. 18 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Riceville with Fr. Telesphore Dusabe officiating.

Lawrence was be laid to rest in the Calvary Cemetery in Elma.

Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

Jacob “Jake” Sand

Nov. 23, 1944 - Sept. 6, 2024

Jacob “Jake” Sand, 79, formerly of Ossian, died from heart failure on Sept. 6, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada.

Jake was born to Sylvia (Forde) and Nanfred Sand Nov. 23, 1944 and was raised Jacob Sand on the family farm until he graduated from South Winneshiek High School in 1962. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the Air Force and served four years as a medical technician.

He began his career in cabinetmaking in Henderson working for his brother-in-law, Chuck Pinch, of Rosecrest Cabinets. Eventually Jake started his own business, Sand Cabinets, in Boulder City, Nevada.

Jake’s early pastimes were swimming in Lake Mead and

competing in 100-mile dirt bike races in the desert. Later he loved playing golf and riding his recumbent e-trike for exercise. He also enjoyed target shooting, making his own ammunition.

After retiring, Jake moved back to Henderson to live with his sister, Janet Pinch.

Jake was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Bob (Verna), Greg, Bud and Richard (Tina); sisters: Helen (Dean) Schaeffer and Shirley (John) Brainard; brothers-in-law: Tom Golden and Chuck Pinch; and nephew Bradley Brainard.

Survivors include sisters: Marge Golden, Janet Pinch and Elaine Evans; brother-in-law Bob Evans, sister-in-law Carol Sand; and many nephews and nieces and their respective children.

Jake will be remembered for his unique sense of humor.

“See ya Jake!”

Service Notice MARK BROICH, 70, died Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at his home in Ossian. Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, Oct. 22 at St. Francis De Sales in Ossian. Burial was at St. Aloysius Cemetery in Calmar.

5

County’s new rural waste collection program to start Jan. 1

BY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER Winneshiek County is beginning to distribute and use the county’s new rural waste placards.

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors had previously considered ending the county’s rural waste collection program due to what it deemed a lack of interest at the time.

However, that notion was contested during the next week’s board of supervisors’ meeting, when the gallery was filled with concerned rural residents and a television crew. Since then, the supervisors have been researching and discussing ways to not only continue the program but make it more effective and efficient.

Winneshiek County Landfill Director and Rural Waste Coordinator TJ Schissel previously estimated between 500 and 600 people were using the rural collection sites each week, but he reported in September that number was closer to 1,450.

Schissel also suggested in September the county could potentially save money by adding more recycling containers to the rural waste collection sites, which would then be hauled by Winneshiek County Recycling.

That change would save the

county about $35,000 annually, Schissel said.

Schissel told the supervisors this week that all of the county’s rural waste collection site monitors approved of the proposed changes to the dumping rotation. The new schedule would mean that, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the Locust site will be open Monday, Wednesday and the first and third Friday of every month, while the Bluffton site would be serviced each Tuesday. The Kendallville site would be open to receive trash the first and third Thursday of each month, while the Fort Atkinson site would be open the second and fourth Thursday. The Ridgeway site would be open the second and fourth Friday of each month, and the landfill would be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday for anyone with a Winneshiek County rural waste placard.

Schissel recommended the county buy two additional 30yard roll-off containers at a cost of $6,434 each to aid in the transition. Supervisor Steve Kelsay made a motion to approve the new site schedule and the purchase of the containers, and it was unanimously approved.

Schissel said quite a few rural residents have already registered for the program.

Winneshiek County Rural Waste Coordinator TJ Schissel shows a rural-collection-site placard to the board of supervisors Monday morning. (Photo by Zach Jensen) “It’s a good program,” Schissel said. “It keeps our ditches clean.”

In other business: • Winneshiek County Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Wendy Stevens and Environmental Studies Program Director Rachel Brummel reported on a multi-year natural and historic resources study. The results of the study, in which 1,112 county residents participated, show that Winneshiek County residents value water quality, air quality and farmland above all other resources in the county, Brummel reported. The full results of the study will be presented during community meetings at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Pulpit Rock Brewing Company in Decorah and at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at PIVO Brewery in Calmar.

• Paving operations from Fort Atkinson to Spillville will begin this week. Winneshiek County Engineer Michael Kueny said wedging — the process of lift-

ing pavement to connect grades to existing roadways — will potentially occur as needed.

• Kueny said a report on the Middle Hesper Road speed study will be complete this week. Earlier this year, it was suggested that speeds be increased on Middle Hesper Road. The speed limit on the road was decreased years ago to reduce dust.

• Improvements in the Ridgeway county shop begin this week. The improvements consist of installing in-floor heat in the shop so vehicles may start more easily during colder months.

• Winneshiek County will host the six-county supervisors meeting on Dec. 12, at Kingpin Entertainment Center in Decorah. The time is yet to be determined.

The next meeting of the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28 in the courthouse annex.

Lefse Lodge continued from front the building’s store space at the time and asked former owner Kim Bosworth if they could lease the storefront, but that conversation wasn’t fruitful until September, when Bosworth got back in touch with Haggerty and suggested she contact Decorah native Susanna (Cole) Billington, who had purchased the building.

Without making a commitment, Haggerty, Flaskerud and Flaskerud’s daughter Kari Steinlage, met at the building to discuss the space’s interior potential — Steinlage also happens to own interior design company KL Design in Decorah.

The new business owners recalled Flaskerud discussing design concepts with his daughter while Haggerty spoke with Billington outside, ultimately striking an agreement — when Flaskerud exited the kitchen, he was surprised by Billington’s handshake and congratulations on the purchase.

“It just kind of fell in our lap,” Haggerty said. “And, it felt like the right thing to do.”

Flaskerud, a Calmar native, and Haggerty, originally from Dubuque, have been together for nearly two years, but they met 10 years ago, when Haggerty and her ex-husband bought Flaskerud’s house in Lawler. Later, after Haggerty’s divorce, Flaskerud moved back into that same house to live with Haggerty, and they’ll soon be moving to another house closer to Decorah.

After their relationship started, Haggerty told Flaskerud

Rodney “Flash” Flaskerud and Cheryl Haggerty are opening The Lefse Lodge in the downtown business space long known as Java John’s. (Photo by Zach Jensen) they needed to “go all in” at the Decorah Farmers Market, where Flaskerud had been selling his homemade lefse the last few years.

“He was doing lefse, and we started doing kringla and ham balls and rømmegrøt,” Haggerty said. “I said we have to be all in if we’re going to do this. You can’t be halfway in and then change your mind. So, when we decided to open the Lefse Lodge, it’s kind of the same thing. You need to be all in, or it’s not going to work. So, we’re all in, and this is our retirement.”

Flaskerud, who spent most of his last 10 winters in Florida agreed, jokingly that he was getting really bored spending his winters in the Sunshine State.

“I thought I’d stay home and shovel snow and slide down the ice,” he said. “It was fun until we learned that the building is on the historic registry. We weren’t aware of that when we

signed the lease.”

Flaskerud explained that means the couple will need to appeal to the local historical society in order to paint over the Java John’s sign on building’s the east exterior wall. Haggerty noted the new sign’s colors and design will also need to be approved, and the new business owners are trying to jump through each hoop with a lighthearted attitude. They’ll also need to possess a certificate of liability, and the city of Decorah will require them to have $2 million of insurance coverage on the building.

The couple has already removed the former business’ logo from the building’s hardwood floor. Flaskerud relied on his 45 years of flooring experience in doing so.

“It took a long time to get that paint off,” Flaskerud said. “A sander couldn’t cut it.”

The couple plans to use Nordic designs and colors for the shop’s interior, and their menu

will include homemade lefse, kringla, rømmegrøt, ham balls, sandwiches, rolls, muffins and traditional Norwegian breakfasts. Beverages will include a multitude of options in addition to acid-free coffee and a full coffee bar. Flaskerud said he’ll also be using a “close-to-gluten-free” flour in the preparation of all his delicacies.

“We’re trying to keep it as local and as natural as possible,” Haggerty said.

Flaskerud said he’s looking forward to continuing his family tradition of making Scandinavian treats and sharing them with the community year round.

“I just enjoy being in the kitchen,” Flaskerud said. “I like the Norwegian heritage and trying to keep that Norwegian flavor going.”

The Lefse Lodge will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. For more information, call Haggart at 563-543-3459 or email rodney-cheryl@lefse-lodge.com.

control while negotiating a curve in the road. The vehicle entered the southeastern ditch, causing an estimated $5,000 in damage. Law enforcement learned Anderson was barred from having contact with a passenger in the vehicle who was transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries. Anderson was also suspected of having minor injuries and was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 11:30 p.m. the same day.

An Ossian man was cited after striking a parked vehicle Friday, Oct. 11. A report from the Win-

neshiek County Sheriff’s Office said 19-year-old Bradyn Lloyd Hageman was traveling east along West Main Street in Ossian around 7:18 p.m. that day when his 2011 Chevrolet Silverado struck a 2017 Ford F35. The sheriff’s report said Hageman claimed he was using his phone and had drifted out of his lane. Damage to the Silverado was estimated at $10,000, while damage to the F35 was estimated at $6,000.

All people listed may face charges and should be presumed innocent until their case is reviewed through the legal process.

Law Enforcement Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office

A driver from Iron River, Wisconsin, was suspected of having serious injuries after avoiding a deer earlier this month along Middle Calmar Road. A report from the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office said 60-year-old Alan Dean Zidlicky was traveling south along the road, and a deer was in the roadway as his 2014 Ford Explorer came around a corner near the intersection of Middle Ossian Road.

Zidlicky entered the northern ditch and struck a culvert, which caused

the vehicle to overturn and roll, according to the report. The Explorer came to rest on its passenger side, and the driver was extricated by the Decorah Fire Department before being taken to the Winneshiek County Emergency Room — he was later airlifted to another facility, according to the report. Damage to the Explorer was listed at $15,000.

A Decorah man was cited with failure to provide proof of financial liability after leaving the scene of a collision. A report from the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Of-

fice said 53-year-old Guy Skylar Spores was traveling north along Stone Hill Road in a 1983 Chevrolet K10 when a 2008 Volkswagon Jetta driven by 34-year-old Justin Andrew Leppert of Lansing slowed down to turn left into a driveway.

Spores’ vehicle struck the driver’s side of the Volkswagon. The sheriff’s report said Spores told law enforcement he was attempting to pass and denied Leppert had used his turn signal — the report noted Stone Hill Road is a gravel road and becomes dusty during dry conditions. The report said Spores left

the scene before exchanging insurance information. Neither driver reported injuries. Damage to the K10 was estimated at $2,000. Damage to the Jetta was estimated at $4,500.

Aaron Anthony Anderson, age 53, Chester was charged with violation of a no contact order, operating while intoxicated — first offense — and failure to maintain control at approximately 7:49 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 12. A report from the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office said Anderson was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo west along 337th Street and lost

COMMUNITY

6 | DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | EDITOR@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221

Community briefs Heartwood Trio to perform next month

The Heartwood Trio will be making a stop in Decorah during their Midwest tour to offer two special events. They will perform a participatory concert at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at First Lutheran Church, and they will perform their original musical “The Well Tree” at 6 p.m. Nov. 9. Visit centerforbelonging.earth to learn more and to purchase tickets.

Spectrum to host voting training and election roundtable for people with disabilities

The Spectrum Network was recently awarded an Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council grant to host a non-partisan voting rights event, which will be held from 12:45-1:45 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 28 at Spectrum Network — 607 Washington St. Suite 1 in Decorah. The public is invited to attend the event, during which individuals with disabilities will be empowered through peer-led training on voting rights and how to cast a ballot. A candidate and elected official round table, during which local leaders can hear directly from the disability community, will also be held. For information, call The Spectrum Network at 563-382-8401.

event planned for the 2024-25 academic year. Latines Fiesta will feature traditional Hispanic eats, education and engagement. A meal of chicken flautas with mole and Spanish rice made by Luther’s CIES Office Manager Roberto Coral and Latines Unides will be available for $10. Students attending any college or university who show a student ID, as well as those age 17 and younger, may enjoy a reduced meal price of $5. Quemadita, a type of punch, will also be available for purchase. No reservations are needed. For more information, email info@thelandingmarket. com or call (563) 277-1893.

Historic buildings presentation to be held at Senior Center

A presentation entitled “What’s Still Here: Decorah’s Surviving Properties, 18491870” will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 at the Senior Center — 808 River St. in Decorah.

This presentation by Decorah Historic Preservation Commission members Mark Muggli and Judy van der Linden will feature photographs and brief descriptions of more than 40 buildings and other structures that survive from the city’s earliest days. The event is provided to the public at no charge

by Decorah Genealogy Association Event free to the public.

Donations are welcome.

Decorah Rotary The Landing to Club to host host Latines Fiesta SWIM build The Landing Market in collaboration with Latines Unides, a student group at Luther College, and the Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support will host Latines Fiesta from 5-7 p.m. Tues., Oct. 29 at The Landing — 211 College Drive in Decorah.

Latines Fiesta coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month at the college and is the first cultural community connection

The Decorah Rotary Club, along with members of Decorah Lutheran Church and the Elks Club, will be joining Safe Water International Ministries to bring safe water to the world. They will be assembling close to 100 of SWIM’s chlorine producing units — or CPUs— from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 in the social hall on the lower level of Decorah Lutheran

Church. Each unit can provide safe water to upwards of 10,000 people. Providing safe water is one of the key emphases of Rotary. SWIM works primarily in a number of countries in Africa as well as India, and Nepal, though SWIM’s CPUs are operating in more than 30 countries worldwide.

The chlorine producing unit is a simple device which uses water, salt and a 12 volt power source to make chlorine by the process of electrolysis. Chlorine has been used in the United States to disinfect water for about 90 years. Five ounces of chlorine can make 250 gallons of water safe to drink.

SWIM relies on organizations like Rotary to assemble the CPUs. The Oct. 24 event is open to the public, and no special skills are required. All equipment and materials will be provided. To register, please visit decorahrotary.org/event/ swim-device-assembly-event.

More information can be found on SWIM’s website, www. swimforhim.org.

Public invited to Quilts of Valor presentations

Decorah Quilts of Valor No. 541 will be awarding Quilts of Valor to 16 area veterans on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. There will be two presentations. The first will take place at 10:15 a.m. at South Winneshiek High School gym. The awardees at that presentation will include Virgil Henry, Lee Hendrickson, Richard Hendrickson, Justin Johnson, Mark Massman, Amanda (Mikesh) Powell, Tiffany (Mikesh) Weaver, Logan Weaver and David Werges. The second will be at 3 p.m. at the Decorah All Vets Club in Decorah — 104 State St. Family, friends and the public are invited to attend. Awardees at that presentation will include Doug Abbott, Devin Creek, Gabriel Fuerhelm, Delbert Matt, Donald Nelson, Rodney Rovang and Marvin Schnur.

Curbside leaf collection underway

The city of Decorah will began curbside collection of leaves Monday, Oct. 21. This year, the collection started in Ward 1, with crews working through an entire ward before moving on to the next ward. It typically takes 1-2 days to complete a ward. The leaf collection schedule map will be updated

throughout the week and will be available online at decorahia.org. A map of the current wards is also available on the city’s website.

As a reminder, leaves must be placed behind the back of the curb — they may not be placed in the street.

Leaves must be on the bou-

NORTHEAST IOWA’S LARGEST

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Holiday Craft & Bake Sale Saturday, Nov. 2 • 9AM-4PM at Decorah High School 100 Claiborne Dr., Decorah FREE ADMISSION

! e tickets $2.00 ea. or 3/$5.00 WIN A TVRaffl

Proceeds benefit Decorah Performing Arts Boosters

levard before 7 a.m. on the scheduled pick-up day(s) and should be raked into windrows within 4 feet of the back of the curb. The public is asked not to park within 60 feet of windrows to ensure equipment has adequate room to safely collect the leaves. Curbside collection is for leaves only; all other yard waste must be taken to the city’s yard waste site.

In addition to the curbside leaf collection, leaves can be deposited at the city’s yard waste site, which is currently open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Keys to access the yard waste side may also be checked out from Decorah City Hall.

Contact city hall at 382-3651 with any questions.

Ribbon Cutting

Celebration!

Congratulations, Impact Coffee!

CELEBRATING

10 YEARS

507 W. Water St., Decorah 563.382.3990 | decorahareachamber.com

Congratulations to Impact Coffee on their 10 Year Anniversary! Pictured are owners Sean and Annika Brown with Chamber Ambassadors Marcia Madrigal, Chris Hicks, Ray Rinkol, Dallas Steffen, Holly Allen, Tara McConnell, Maureen Duncklee, Laura Gronna, Nick Wilz, and Joanie Rollins.

In 2021, Professor Todd Pedlar (left) worked on his NSF-funded research with then-Luther students Alain Nishimwe and Sam Wilson. Nishimwe is now in a Ph.D. program in biomedical engineering at the University of Minnesota; Wilson continued his education in a master’s of mechanical engineering program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Photo submitted)

National Science Foundation renews funding for Luther College elementary particle physics research Luther College Physics Professor Todd Pedlar has received his 17th consecutive National Science Foundation research grant. Since 2006, NSF grants have allowed Pedlar and Luther students to participate in international collaborations which conduct research in elementary particle physics, a field of fundamental physics research which seeks to understand the basic building blocks of the universe. Pedlar noted many of his past student researchers have gone on to significant educational and career achievements, fostered by their Luther experiences with the Belle II international research collaboration.

Over the past 18 years, many of his students have gone on to doctoral or master’s programs in physics, mathematics and engineering; seven have thus far earned doctorates, and are now engaged in postdoctoral research or are pursuing careers as research scientists or as university faculty.

Pedlar’s new three-year grant, in the amount of $185,000, supports Luther’s participation in the international collaborations Belle and Belle II. These collaborations operate experiments at KEK, Japan’s High Energy Research Organization, in Tsukuba, Japan, and include more than 1,000 members from 128 institutions in 28 countries.

Luther is one of 16 U.S. insti-

tutions collaborating on these experiments, and it is the only liberal arts college doing so.

The grant to Luther College will support not only Pedlar and his students but also necessary computing infrastructure as well as travel to the Belle II Experiment site in Japan and conferences where the group will present their results.

“Much of the technology that enables us to detect cancers and treat them were developed from tools and techniques originally designed for conducting fundamental research,” said Pedlar.

“This would include X-ray machines, MRI and other diagnostic tools that allow us to look into the brain and find tumors or anomalies that need treatment. Many of these important tools and techniques have a deep connection to the study of fundamental physics.”

An exciting time for fundamental physics Luther College Provost Brad Chamberlain expressed his gratitude for the NSF funding in recognition of what he called Pedlar’s outstanding work as a scholar and mentor.

“The research experiences that Professor Pedlar provides to students at Luther through this international collaboration are both exceptional and transformational,” Chamberlain said. “The experiences inspire

Trails Unlimited to host fundraiser, membership drive The Trails Unlimited Snowmobile Club will host a fish fry dinner fundraiser and membership drive Friday, Nov. 8 at The Zipper in Festina. Mike Reicks’ fish will be served with choice of fries or potato salad, coleslaw and a dinner roll from 5:30-8 p.m. The cost is $15 per person. Dine-in or carry-out options are available. Please place carry-out orders ahead of time by calling 563-534-7181.

The club’s annual membership drive will take place during the event. A $40 fee includes membership to Trails Unlimited and also covers membership to the Iowa State Snowmobiling Association. Members may also receive a subscription to “Iowa Snowmobiler Magazine,” the

official magazine of ISSA, which is published seasonally.

The meal and fundraiser will also feature a 50/50 raffle. Four guns will be raffled off, and club shirts will be available for purchase.

Trails Unlimited is a non-profit organization which has been in existence since 1985. The club works in partnership with 250 landowners and nearly 100 club members to maintain more than 130 miles of trails in the communities of Castalia, Ossian, Calmar, Fort Atkinson, Festina, Alpha, Hawkeye, Jackson Junction, St. Lucas, Auburn, Waucoma, West Union and Clermont.

For more information, visit www.trailsunlimited.net.

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students’ curiosity as they explore together the fundamental operations of the universe, give them the confidence to take on challenging projects, and open doors for future professional opportunities. This project, with its continuous record of funding success and its demonstrated impact on students, is a notable example of the strength of Luther’s academic programs and the excellent learning environment that we provide to our students.”

Pedlar says this is a particularly exciting time for him and his colleagues in the Belle II Collaboration.

“In spring 2024, the Belle II Experiment began data-taking again, after a series of upgrades to the detector system and accelerator system,” Pedlar said.

“In the present data-taking period, which is expected to continue until 2028, when we’ll shut down again for another upgrade, a total data sample of several times the original Belle II sample will be collected.”

He went on to say, with such a sizable increase in the amount of data being taken, the Luther group will have the ability to study processes which are much more unusual and which may have greater opportunities to reveal new aspects of the interactions between elementary particles and previously unknown structures formed by them.

Academic Achievements Busarow graduates from Clarke University

Clarke University in Dubuque recently congratulated its August 2024 graduates. Among them was Jennifer Busarow of Spillville, who graduated with a Master of Arts degree in education.

Founded in 1843 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Clarke University is located near the Mississippi River in Dubuque. Academic offerings include more than 45 undergraduate majors and minors, 10 pre-professional programs and five graduate degree programs.

Barta named to Kirkwood Community College Dean’s List

Kirkwood Community College recently released its Dean’s List for the summer 2024 semester. Among the honorees was Rachel Barta of Fort Atkinson. The college said she and other honorees achieved a 3.3 grade point average or higher after completing 12 or more credit hours at the college.

| THURSDAY, | EDITOR@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221 LEADER OCTOBER 24, 2024 | 5, WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM 6DECORAH Decorah Public Opinion Thursday, October 2023

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Luther president profile to compare against prospective candidates. The college hired national search firm WittKiefer to aid in identifying the best applicant, but Paulson said the choice was ultimately an easy one.

“It became clear that we had an internal candidate in Brad Chamberlain, who has the skills, knowledge, experience and proven leadership to give Luther a unique opportunity and advantage to continue moving forward at an accelerating pace, without pause or delays,” Paulson said.

Paulson said Chamberlain “lives and breathes the mission of the college,” adding that Chamberlain has taken on various administrative roles over the past decade, which Paulson feels have prepared Chamberlain to serve as Luther’s next president.

“In so many ways, my story is another Luther story,” Chamberlain said Friday to an audience inside the college’s Center for Faith and Life. “I am who I am because of who you are — because of who we are.”

Chamberlain, a chemistry

instructor specializing in polymers and plastics, first came to Luther in 2001 as a visiting professor. He said he felt lucky to earn that first-year position — which turned into a 23-year stay. He said the decision to remain at Luther and live in Decorah took his family down a different life path than they might have expected, but the incoming president said the decision also yielded a life more full than they ever imagined.

“In parallel with his research and teaching, Chamberlain began a career of academic leadership at Luther, serving the first of his two terms chairing the college’s Academic Planning Committee in 2006,” Luther College said in a statement.

“Leading the shared-governance committee charged with oversight of Luther’s curricula, Chamberlain co-facilitated a revision of the college’s general education curriculum and brokered the creation of new interdisciplinary majors.”

Chamberlain earned tenure in 2007 and became a full professor in 2014, according to information provided by the college.

continued from front

That same year, he chaired Luther’s Chemistry Department — a role he retained until the spring of 2018. He was the college’s vice president for mission and communication from 2019 to 2022, and co-led Luther’s COVID Response Team during the height of the pandemic. He was appointed as Luther’s interim provost in August of 2022, and the role became permanent in December of 2022.

“Utilizing his decade of experience within the academic enterprise, Chamberlain brokered new academic programs and shepherded Luther through a successful interim evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission,” the college said. “He also expanded the Office of Student Success, with the addition of advising, the Career Center, the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and the Writing Center, to create an integrated student success model — the first of its kind at Luther.”

Shannon Duval, chair of Luther’s Presidential Search Committee, called Chamberlain a national-caliber candidate, whom she feels is ready to take

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Luther College President Jennifer K. Ward (left) listened as incoming college president Brad Chamberlain spoke Friday inside the college’s Center for Faith and Life.

(Photo by Seth Boyes)

the proverbial reigns of the college.

“Brad Chamberlain is a creative, passionate and principled leader — a servant leader with a deep and abiding love of Luther College and Decorah,” Duval said. “He’s willing to put the community and its people ahead of even himself.”

Chamberlain said he has felt blessed by each of his years at Luther.

“I felt a distinct call to Luther in 2001, and I feel a distinct and renewed call in this moment,” Chamberlain said Friday.

The president-elect told the gathered staff and students that Luther must hold both honesty and hope in tension during the coming years — being honest about the challenges facing institutions of higher education, while continuing to strive for excellence through Luther’s commitment to others over self.

However, he noted that goal is impossible if the college does not first believe in itself.

“Today we begin with belief,” Chamberlain said. “Luther College is built on bigger dreams.

We imagine possibilities for

our students that perhaps they consider out of reach. We look deeply for each student’s gifts and, when we find them, we draw them out. We push students out of their comfort zones. We challenge them to ask bold questions — questions that will animate their imaginations, shape their sense of purpose and inspire them to take on the biggest, messiest problems, until they too see what we see — until they too dream bigger dreams. This is what we do, and we do it well.”

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8 | DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | EDITOR@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221

NMP to open curtain on ‘How the Camel Got Its Hump’ this week

The New Minowa Players children’s show, “How the Camel Got Its Hump” is scheduled to take the stage this week.

Oct. 24-27 in Decorah. The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Oct. 24-26 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at the New Minowa Players Theatre, located at 906 South Mill St. in Decorah. The directors Rick and Sheryl Scheffert, who based the show’s script on Rudyard Kipling’s story, said the production is a musical set during the beginning of time when the animals are first starting to work for the people. But one animal, the camel, refuses to work. The music and lyrics were written by Sheryl Scheffert. Tickets are available online at newminowaplayers.org/tickets and at Oneota Community Co-op. (Photo by Roz Weis)

Ellingsen, others display quilting work at NEIQG show

BY DENISE LANA STAFF WRITER Hundreds turned out for the Northeast Iowa Quilters’ Guild show Oct. 19 and 20 at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds Community Building. The guild was founded more than 40 years ago and boasts a membership of around 70 quilters from Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Among those 70 quilters is Mike Ellingsen of Decoarh, a Minnesota native who joined the NEIQG five years ago after he and his wife Sue moved to Decorah from Minnesota to be closer to their son.

In 2020 and 2021, Ellingsen was selected as Minnesota’s Quilter of the Year, becoming the first male to ever hold that honor, not only once, but twice in a row.

Ellingsen turned the entire second floor of his home into his quilting studio, after moving to Decorah, and continued to craft his fabric artwork — including a piece which now hangs in the Vesterheim Museum and the restoring an 1896 antique quilt top.

“I made the Norwegian tapestry for a quilt show at the museum, and the Vesterheim liked it so much, they purchased it,” Ellingsen said. “It’s the only contemporary quilt in the Vesterheim collection right now.”

RIGHT- Ellingsen shows the 1896 date on the antique top he recently acquired from an estate sale and restored and quilted. BELOW- Candace Arp and friends gave a quilting talk during Saturday’s show.

Ellingsen said he’s always loved quilting, and learned to sew at a young age. Quilting was a talent he picked up haphazardly, and he says he did not perfect his quilting skills until he retired from teaching 13 years ago. His patterns gained

ABOVE- Les Sand and Nancy Sojka of Decorah welcomed quilting enthusiasts at the registration table Saturday.

LEFT- A Christmas quilt was shown by Arlene Klatt.

Photos by Roz Weis and Denise Lana

Ellingsen had always wanted to craft a QR quilt, and his son Andrew finally persuaded him to make it so. This QR code actually works, taking the user to Ellingsen’s Etsy store online where his quilt patterns can be purchased. popularity, prompting him to open an online store and gaining promotional work for a

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“We are sharing things we are passionate about,” Ellingsen said of the guild. “And I love Decorah — the good parts of Decorah are exactly what life should be like.”

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and even designed a QR code at his son’s behest — scanning the code direct’s mobile users to a website where they can see the quilt pattern.

Ellingsen says he plans on quilting as long as he can, drawing inspiration from Decorah

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9

Decorah High School NHS Chapter wins national award for service The National Honor Society recently presented the Decorah High School chapter of NHS with its Service Award of Excellence.

The Decorah NHS chapter hosts service events throughout the year. Last fall, NHS members created a Krusty Krab cafe for families to attend before the Saturday matinee performance of “SpongeBob the Musical.”

This included themed food, a photo booth with character cut-outs, art activities and colorful decorations. DHS received Special Recognition for Community Engagement from the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards for the Krusty Krab lunch event sponsored by the school’s NHS chapter.

Members also volunteer at Holiday Lights and have started “Pass the Bricks,” a program where students collect and recycle Legos to create new kits to donate to community members. In addition,

at least three times a year, Decorah High School’s NHS chapter hosts a social during lunch, where the entire student body is invited to play games and connect with others. They also created the Stuffed Animal Sleepover Project for students in second grade at John Cline Elementary.

Furthermore, NHS members have supported the Special Olympics Unified Champion initiative by helping with events, creating the design for a school-wide t-shirt, and hosting a shootout at the Unified Champion basketball game, with all proceeds going toward Special Olympic equipment purchases.

NHS advisors Shannon Horton and Liz Fox said the school’s NHS members have developed a system of committees which has led to more participation, greater commitment and meaningful ways to contribute to both the school and the greater community.

Officials said awards are available for all four pillars of the National Honor Society — scholarship, service, leadership and character.

Officials said the NHS Chapter Pillar Awards, such as the Service Award for Excellence, are prestigious recognitions to celebrate the outstanding achievements of NHS chapters across the country. NHS is supported by its parent organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which also oversees the National Association of Student Councils.

“Receiving an NHS Chapter Pillar Award reflects the extraordinary commitment of students who are making a real difference in their school and community,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “The Decorah High School chapter shows what’s possible when young people come together to lead, serve and inspire others.”

Last fall members of Decorah High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society created a Krusty Krab cafe for families to attend before the Saturday matinee performance of “SpongeBob the Musical.” The event included themed food, a photo booth with character cut-outs, art activities and colorful decorations. (Photo submitted)

Turkey Valley seniors learn about voting, civic engagement Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines visited Turkey Valley High School seniors on Oct. 9 to discuss voter registration and the voting process. Students learned about voter security, options for voting, such as absentee and early voting, as well as how voter information is stored and reported on Election Day. The following day, several local and state candidates visited with the students. Dist. 32 State. Sen. Mike Klimesh, Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx, Dist. 58 State Rep. Charley Thomson and candidate Gail Allison, who is seeking Thomson’s Dist. 58 seat, participated in a panel discussion with seniors. The conversations focused on civic engagement, community service and voting. School officials said, although many of the students will not be able to vote on Nov. 5, the district feels it important they become active in not only in government decisions but their local communities as well. (Photo submitted)

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10 | DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | EDITOR@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221

Second annual Decorah Prairie seed harvest to benefit Carlson Park

Decorah Human Powered Trails contributed more than 450 volunteer hours this year

Decorah Human Powered Trails members celebrated logging more than 450 volunteer hours on trails within the city of Decorah this year. (Photo submitted)

Master Gardener Jenny Matt of Cresco gathers seeds Oct. 17 in the Decorah City Prairie, located across the dike from Aase Haugen, during the Decorah Parks and Recreation’s second annual seed harvest. Miriam Patton, who led the harvest, said seeds harvested included little blue stem, compass plant, milkweed, yellow coneflower, prairie dock and more. About 10 members of the public participated in the event. All harvested seeds will be planted in Carlson Park, located across Pleasant Avenue from Minowa Heights. (Photo by Zach Jensen)

On Saturday, Oct. 19, Decorah Human Powered Trails members, their families and friends gathered for a chili cookoff at the top of Palisades Park in Decorah. Members, including hikers, runners, walkers and cyclists, as well as their guests were encouraged to hike, run or bike up the hill for the occasion, as the group celebrated logging more than 450 volunteer hours on trails within the city of Decorah this year.

Volunteers recently teamed up with the Luther College Cross Country team to clear invasive brush before extending

a trail near the south end of Ice Cave Road, helped repair storm damage to the east section of River Trail and Public Television Trail, and rerouted trails at Palisades Park. This year’s wet and stormy weather prompted volunteers to provide extra mowing, weed whacking and tree clearing, cutting more than 50 fallen trees along the Decorah trails. DHPT leadership works closely with Decorah Parks and Recreation and the city of Decorah, with officials approving the building and rerouting of all trails and taking an active role in checking to

Luther College Impact Award scholarship expands Luther College has expanded its Impact Award scholarship program to Wisconsin for students entering college in the fall of 2025.

The Luther College Impact Award program was initiated in fall 2021 for qualifying students in the state of Iowa and expanded to the state of Minnesota last year. These awards provide free tuition for up to four years

for selected students who have a 3.5 grade point average and whose families have an adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less. Recipients of the scholarship must reside on campus.

These scholarships are valued in excess of $51,000 annually.

They are available for both new first-year students and transfer students.

“The Luther College Impact

Award reflects the institution’s commitment to expanding access to a Luther education,” said Matt Beatty, acting vice president for enrollment management. “This scholarship opportunity has already made it possible for 51 students from Minnesota and Iowa to enroll at Luther College since 2022. I’m excited to see how it continues to empower students and fam-

Cheryl

Wieseler

ilies throughout the region, including Wisconsin.”

No special scholarship application is needed. Students need only apply to Luther and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — or FAFSA. The recommended completion date is March 15, 2025.

For more information, visit luther.edu/admission-aid/ cost-financial-aid/scholarships/ iowa-minnesota-impact-award.

make sure projects are completed to their specifications.

Members also support other groups promoting the use of human powered trails in the area by regularly volunteering at their programs. DPHT members were instrumental in the construction of the Decorah Rotary Club Binzebo Trail Hub at Carlson Park in early 2024, donating both time and equipment to make the project possible. They also provided volunteers and expertise for the Iowa Scholastic Mountain Bike League races in June and staffed a water stop for the Crater Run this summer.

DHPT members also groom trails throughout the snowy season and hold monthly Buck-

thorn Blitz days from November to February. On these days they cut, treat and remove invasive species in the park system to improve the overall health of the forests.

“Our volunteers range in age from 3 to over 70. They are dedicated to creating the best possible user experience on Decorah’s human powered trails,” said DHPT President Nick Pearch. “I’m glad to live in a community with this many people who are excited to roll their sleeves up and work to improve recreation for all.”

For more information about DHPT, please email dhpt2023@ gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/DecorahHPT.

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After 25 years with local manufacturer Gemini, Diane Pederson is retiring.

Diane Pederson, FCO/Plastics/Pronto Manufacturing Specialist, is retiring on October 18th, 2024, after 25 years at Gemini. Diane joined Gemini in 1999, working in Building 4, and has remained a valued member of the team ever since. Initially hired to apply trim to channel letters when the product line was still located in Decorah, she later transitioned to acrylics, where she operated lasers and supported the shipping department.

Over the past year, Diane has been a vital part of the laminate shipping area, playing a key role in helping the team meet its delivery and quality goals. Her expertise will surely be missed. Diane has been described by her colleagues as extremely nice, patient, and known for her attention to detail. Her coworkers share that they will miss her greatly!

“Diane has an outstanding eye for detail and is truly customerfocused by ensuring that the product that goes out the door is of the highest quality,” Jeremy Stammeyer, Production Supervisor, said. “Diane is described as patient and very nice, which is probably what makes her such a great trainer. She has had a hand in training numerous people over the course of her career and has done an excellent job in that role.”

Gemini thanks Diane for her 25 years of service, her valuable contributions, and for being a great representative of Gemini!

GeminiMade.com | 563-382-4235 | 101 Womack Way, Decorah, IA

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DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | EDITOR@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221

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Garage Sale October 26, 10 to 4 at 1017 Division St, Decorah. Household, women's clothes, coats, bedding, collector's items, glassware, crafts, inversion table and misc.

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Contact the Decorah Leader 563-382-4221

Help Wanted PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME PUBLIC HEALTH

NURSE POSITION

Winneshiek County Public Health is accepting applications for a part-time or a full-time Public Health Nurse. We have a variety of rewarding work experiences and challenges with the various public health programs. Must be currently licensed to practice as a nurse in Iowa. Can be an LPN or RN. BLS certification required. Previous experience preferred although newly graduated are also encouraged to apply. Successful candidate must be a team player who is responsible, dependable, flexible, highly motivated, and has excellent interpersonal communication skills. Monday through Friday flexible schedule.

Excellent benefits include health insurance, IPERS, and mileage compensation.

Applications will be accepted through

4:00 p.m. Nov. 5, 2024

and are available at Winneshiek County Public Health 305 Montgomery St, Suite 3 Decorah, IA 52101 or online at www.winneshiekhealth.org

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Law Enforcement Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office Authorities believe a medical issue may have contributed to a single-vehicle accident Tuesday, Oct. 15 near the intersection of Highway 52 and Union Prairie Road. A report from the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office said 61-year-old Mark Leonard Heintz of Houston, Minnesota, was driving a 2016 Cascadia Freightliner south along the highway shortly after 9 a.m. that day and began to swerve. The truck entered the east ditch, struck a culvert and became airborne and landed in the south ditch before striking a pine tree. Heintz had exited the vehicle and was standing near a witness when an ambulance arrived on scene, according to the sheriff’s report. Damage to the semi was estimated at $88,000 and no citation was noted in the report.

Bree Jore, age 24, of Decorah was transported from the Fayette County Jail and booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 on a bench warrant regarding a charge of operating while intoxicated, which was originally filed against her in late 2023. Court records show arrest warrants were also issued for violation of pre-trial supervision regarding a charge of possession of a controlled substance filed against Jore in early April of 2024.

Adam Strand, age 40, was booked into the Winneshiek Coun-

ty Jail at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 on an arrest warrant. Court records indicate a warrant was issued after Strand failed to enroll in an Iowa Domestic Abuse Program.

Kaden Brown, age 19, of Castalia was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 11:35 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 on an arrest warrant for failure to serve jail time. He was expected to serve 20 consecutive days.

Mark Leonard Schroeder, age 47, of West Union was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 9:15 a.mm. Friday, Oct. 18 on an arrest warrant for driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked.

Theresa Ann Sherman, age 65, of West Union was charged with public intoxication — first offense — and interference with official acts at approximately 12:22 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 19 in the 100 block of Main Street in Calmar after the Winneshiek County Dispatch Center received an automated 911 call notifying them of a crash. Law enforcement found Sherman at a bar and believed her to be intoxicated.

A criminal complaint said Sherman disobeyed multiple commands and resisted arrest. She was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 1:55 a.m. the same day.

All people listed may face charges and should be presumed innocent until their case is reviewed through the legal process.

Public Notices IN THE IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR WINNESHIEK COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LAVONNE ORETTA ENDERSON DECEASED PROBATE NO. ESPR 016309 NOTICE OF PROBATE OF WILL, APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS To All Persons Interested in the Estate of LaVonne Oretta Enderson, Deceased, who died on or about April 14, 2024: You are hereby notified that on July 29, 2024, the Last Will and Testament of LaVonne Oretta Enderson, deceased, bearing date of March 30, 2022, was admitted to probate in the above-named Court and that Joesph P. Lawrence was appointed Executor of the estate. Any action to set aside the will must be brought in the district court of said county within the later to occur of four months from the date of the second publication of this notice or one month from the date of mailing of this notice to all heirs of the decedent and devisees under the Will whose identities are reasonably ascertainable, or thereafter be forever barred.

Notice is further given that all persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned, and creditors having claims against the estate shall file them with the clerk of the above named district court, as provided by law, duly authenticated, for allowance, and unless so filed by the later to occur of four months from the second publication of this notice or one month from the date of mailing of this notice (unless otherwise allowed or paid) a claim is thereafter forever barred.

Dated July 30, 2024.

Joseph P. Lawrence Executor of Estate 122 4 th Ave. W, Cresco, IA 52136

Barton L. Seebach ICIS#: AT0011064 Attorney for the Executor Story, Schoeberl & Seebach, LLP 126 N. Elm St., PO Box 89 Cresco, IA 52136 Date of second publication: October 31, 2024 Decorah (Iowa) Leader October 24 & 31, 2024 Public Notice for City of Spillville Water System Improvements Project Pursuant to the requirements of Section 508 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, as amended, the City of Spillville is hereby providing Public Notice that on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., the City Council will hold a public hearing at the Spillville City Hall (438 South Main Street). The purpose of the hearing will be to provide the public information concerning the progress, scope, budget and status of the City’s Water System Improvements Project.

This project is being funded through a Community Development Block Grant provided by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and DNR/SRF Funding.

If you have questions concerning the project, or if you require special accommodation to attend the hearing such as handicapped accessibility or translation services, you may contact the City Clerk at City Hall. Persons interested in the status of funding, or the progress of the project, are welcome to attend this meeting or submit written comments to City Hall before the Hearing.

Program Contact: City Hall at (563) 3801379 or Program Administrators (Simmering-Cory) at (641) 355-4072.

Julie Shimek, City Clerk Decorah (Iowa) Leader October 24, 2024

SEALED BID SALE 148.34 Acres, M/L - Winneshiek County Approximately 2 miles south of Decorah Parcel 1: 77.02 FSA/Eff. Crop Acres w/69.60 CSR2 Ͳ Dwelling & Outbuildings Parcel 2: 37.25 FSA/Eff. Crop Acres w/71.90 CSR2 Bids Due: Friday, November 8, 2024 @ 2 PM at Hertz Farm Management 6314 Chancellor Dr., P.O. Box 1105, Cedar Falls, IA 50613

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PUBLIC NOTICES

12 | DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@DECORAHNEWSPAPERS.COM | 563-382-4221

Decorah Community School Board Regular School Board Meeting Minutes Central Administration Office Monday, October 14, 2024 6:30 p.m.

Present: President Cindy Goodner, Directors: Ron Fadness, Carole Sand, and Aaron Zander. Superintendent Dr. Tim Cronin, Director of Business Services Cathy Dietzenbach, Board Secretary Darlene Woodhouse, Staff, News Media, and Guests. Absent: Director Brian Petersburg.

President Goodner called to order the regular school board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Director Sand read the mission statement.

Old Business: Motion: Director Fadness moved, seconded by Director Sand to approve the second reading of #605.1, 605.2, and 605.3 - Selection of Instructional Materials. These updates are recommended by the Iowa Association of School Boards. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Superintendent Dr. Cronin highlighted recent changes in Iowa’s legislation regarding compulsory attendance, chronic absenteeism, and truancy, noting that while the law was passed in May 2024, districts are awaiting guidance from the Department of Education.

The district has some autonomy in defining exempt and non-exempt absences, with exemptions including religious services, private instruction, and doctor-approved medical appointments.

Dr. Cronin emphasized the importance of maintaining a human connection by proactively communicating with parents and guardians before sending certified letters when students reach ten percent absenteeism in a grading period. While the intent behind the legislation is commendable, the discussion did include concerns about its swift passage without adequate input from school districts and its exclusion of private schools. The board is committed to supporting both staff and students and encourages respectful dialogue with local officials regarding the new legislation. Motion: Director Sand moved, seconded by Director Fadness to approve the second reading of board policies Compulsory Attendance 501.3, Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy 501.9, 501.9R1. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Fadness moved, seconded by Director Zander to approve the annual review and second reading of board policies Long Range Needs Assessment 103, 103.

R1, Annual Review of Policies: Parent and Family Engagement 505.8, 505.8R1, Education Records 506.1, 506.1E1, 506.1E2, 506.3 1E3, 506.1E4, 506.1E5, 506.1E6, 406.1E7, 506.1E8, 506.1R1, Student Directory Information 506.2, 506.2E1, 506.2R1, Student Photographs 506.3, and Student Library Circulation Records 506.4. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Zander moved, seconded

by Director Fadness to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Fadness moved, seconded by Director Sand to approve the consent items: September 9 & 19, 2024 minutes, bills and personnel as listed below. Motion carried by all voting aye.

New Hires: a. Casey Khols (High School Associate) Step 1, Lane 1 b. Amara Foner (John Cline Associate) Step 2 c. James Alberts (High School PM Custodian) Step 1 d. Kimberly Malanaphy (High School Day Custodian) Step 3 e. Language Interpreter Resignations: a. Ron Kregel (Carrie Lee Custodian) b. Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks (High School Large Group Speech Coach) c. Jenni Cantine (West Side/Carrie Lee Associate) Transfers: a. James Heick (Custodian West Side to Carrie Lee) Volunteer Coaches: a. Jared Bucksa (Assistant Football Coach) b. Brett Van Sloten (Assistant Football Coach) c. Ethan Pole (Football Coach) d. Jeff Wettach (Assistant Cross Country Coach) e. Molly Holkesvik (Assistant Girls Cross Country Coach) f. Dawn Watson (Assistant Volleyball Coach) g. Jill Boyd (Assistant Volleyball Coach) h. Bruce Clark (Assistant Football Coach) There was no communication from the public and there was no October presentation.

New Business: Superintendent Dr. Cronin explained to the board of a unique situation in which one certified teacher with 11.5 years of experience will reach 12 years of experience during the 20242025 school year. With the noticeable difference in salaries between steps this teacher would not benefit from the established state minimum. Dr. Cronin recommended a Memorandum of Understanding for this unique situation and to modify the teacher’s contract.

Motion: Director Sand moved, seconded by Director Zander to approve the Memorandum of Understanding as presented. Motion carried by all voting aye. Superintendent Dr. Cronin updated the board on the district’s capital projects. Recent completed projects included the Decorah Middle School roof and High School softball complex. Dr. Cronin updated the board regarding the district’s fleet of vehicles and needs.

Motion: Director Fadness moved, seconded

by Director Zander to approve the purchase of the 12-passenger van from Dahl Ford in La Crosse, WI for $65,125.00. The 12-passenger van will provide increased storage and seating compared to a 10-passenger van.

The 12-passenger van will be utilized for the sports of golf, tennis, cross country, volleyball, and wrestling compared to driving a bus.

Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Fadness moved, seconded

by Director Zander to approve the purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD truck from Karl Auto Group for $45,687.40. This purchase replaces a 2007. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Zander moved, seconded

by Director Fadness to approve the 20232024 Certified Annual Report as presented and recommended by the administration. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Fadness moved, seconded

by Director Sand to approve the 2023-2024 Transportation Report. Administration stated the district’s average cost per pupil transported for nonpublic transportation reimbursement claim was $858.30. and the cost per pupil was $4.29. Administration recommends approval of the 2023-2024 Transportation Report. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Zander moved, seconded by Director Sand to approve the request for allowable growth and supplement aid for a negative special education budget of $1,060,186.60 as presented. The amount can change from year to year based on students.

Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Fadness moved, seconded

by Director Sand to approve the request for LEP allowable cost of $85,560.01 as presented. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Fadness moved, seconded by Sand to approve the 2023-2024 Special Education Supplement as presented and recommended by the administration. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Sand moved, seconded by Director Fadness to approve the 2025 Midwest Group Benefits Flexible Benefit Fee. There were no changes. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Motion: Director Fadness moved, seconded

by Director Sand to appoint Director Zander as the IASB delegate for the Delegate Assembly. Motion carried by all voting aye.

Superintendent Dr. Cronin stated the district sent out virtual learning information for late starts and early dismissals to parents and guardians and stated appreciation for the Excel Grant and the opportunities it provides to students.

Open Enrollments: Layla Xiquita-Kraft, Grade 10, from Decorah to Howard-Winneshiek Kaylee Larson, Grade 11 from Decorah to Oelwein Online Director of Business Services, Cathy Dietzenbach, presented the monthly financial reports for July, August, and September 2024, There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Darlene Woodhouse, Secretary Claims for September 2024 – Activity Fund Ace Hardware, HS Supplies................ 20.48 Bohr, Tami, HS Football Thank You’s....................................150.00 Bossom, Jim, HS Volleyball Official.......................... 160.00 Brady, Bo, HS Football Official........ 140.00 Brodbeck, Denne, HS Football Official....................... 140.00 Berland, Larry,

HS Football Official....................... 360.00 Berland, Paul, HS Football Official....................... 360.00 Bushman, Tom, HS Volleyball Official.................... 130.00 Cantrall, Cory, HS Football Official....................... 140.00 Charles City CSD, XC Boy/Girl Entry Fee.................. 170.00 Cedar Falls High School, XC Invitational............................... 250.00 Clash Wrestling Dues, HS Wrestling Reg........................... 450.00 Coaching Budde, HS Supplies.......... 500.00 Country Garden, HS Supplies............. 50.00 DCSD Nutrition Dept., MS/HS Catering............................. 324.27 Decker Sporting Goods, FB/VB Supplies...........................1,144.25 Doland, Ryan, HS Football Official....................... 140.00 Dubuque High School, HS Swim Entry Fee........................ 125.00 Dyesport, HS V-Ball Jerseys...........................400.63 Elsmore Swim Shop, HS Swim Supplies....................... 4,053.15 Ewell Educational Services, FFA Subscript................................. 390.00 Fareway, MS Supplies......................... 23.41 Goedken, Robert, HS Volleyball Official.................... 260.00 Hewitt, Robert, HS Football Official....................... 140.00 Homestead Dairy, Fair Cheese Curds.......................3,862.50 IHSM, HS Registration.....................784.00 IHSSA, Convention Registration...... 450.00 IHSSCA, 2024-2025 Membership.... 490.00 Iowa Sports Supply, MS Football Pants..........................230.00 Johnson, Christian, HS Girls Swim Official.................. 130.00 Kangas, Chris, HS Football Official....................... 166.18 Kangas, Tim, HS Football Official....................... 140.00 Kleve, Kim, HS Volleyball Official.................... 680.00 Krauskopf, Kurt, HS Football Official....................... 180.00 LaCrosse Central BB Assoc., Summer Fee.................................1,240.00 Lechtenberg, Dan, HS Football Official....................... 140.00 Lee, Randall, HS Volleyball Official....................160.00 Letterwerks, HS XC, Strength/Team Shirts.....7,846.25 Luther College, HS Dining Rental.... 300.00 Mabe’s Pizza, HS/MS Pizzas............300.62 Marks, Jon, HS Football Official......140.00 Mason City High School, HS Girls Swim...............................150.00 MFL MarMac High School, Volley Tourn.....................................40.00 Monroe, John, Volleyball Official.....940.78 Moore, Payton, HS Volleyball Official.................... 260.00 Morley Athletic Supply, HS FB Supplies...........................1,950.00 New Hampton CSD, NEICA Dues/VBall........................680.00 Nordic Fest Board, Moo/Meatball Booth................... 2,931.40 Nordschow, Marissa, HS Volleyball Official.................... 160.00 Oelwein CSD, Entry Fee HS Cross Country............ 85.00 Olson, Frank, H S Volleyball Official....................... 160.00 Pankow, Jim, HS Football Official.... 360.00 Rinken, Tyler, HS Video Production...................... 500.00 Slifka, Keith, HS Football Official....360.00 Soland, Jason, HS Football Official....................... 270.00 Stern, Shaun, HS Girls Swim Official..................130.00 Tyler, Ryan, HS Football Official......270.00 U-2 BBQ & Catering, MS Staff Lunch..............................227.25 Utermark, Sue, HS Volleyball Official....................260.00 Vantage Athletic, HS Wrestling Supplies................2,032.00 Vick, Darren, HS Football Official....360.00 Waskow, David, HS Football Official......................... 90.00 Waterloo West HS, Swimming Invitational................... 115.00 Waukon High School, XC Invitational.................................85.00 Weiand, Pete, HS Football Official...270.00 Wiltgen, Sarah, HS Girls Swim Official..................260.00 Zahn, Charlie, HS Football Official....................... 156.66 Total Activity Claims..................$39,988.83 Food Service List of Bills for September 2024 Anderson Erickson Dairy, Dairy.... 2,717.16 Country View Dairy, Yogurt..............493.00 Decorah General Fund, Indirect Costs.............................22,823.44 Decorah Activity Fund, Produce HS Garden........................ 611.50 EMS Detergent, Supplies............... 1,097.02 Iowa Food Hub, Food/Produce...... 5,035.03 Kingsley Mercantile, Equipment Repairs......................... 407.25 Kwik Trip, Ala Carte Items.................17.64 Martin Brothers, Ala Carte/Food/Supplies........... 34,313.57 Midwest Alarm Services, HS Repairs...................................7,295.00 Moore, Nancy, Refunding Lunch Account.................2.37 Pan O Gold, Bread.....................

750.91 Wilson Restaurant Supply, Supplies..........................................852.00 Total Food Service Claims........$ 76,415.89 Claims for October 2024– General Fund Prepaids: Ace Hardware, District Supplies/Repairs................888.02 AlliantEnergy, Electricity.............29,790.43 Century Link (Lumen), Telephone/Fax................................605.69 Decorah Activity Fund, RevTrak MS Yearbk.........................20.00 Decorah Gen. Fund (BMO)CC Purchases................. 17,318.11 Decorah Music Boosters, RevTrak Member............................750.00 Mabe’s Pizza, Elementary Staff Pizza...................390.15 Northwest Evaluation Assoc., Renewal ....................................12,177.50 Quadient Leasing, HS Postage..........341.76 U.S. Cellular, Telephone/Supplies-District........... 685.73 Total General Fund Prepaid Claims........................ $62,967.39 General Fund Payables: Acco Brands, District Supplies......1,172.60 Ace Hardware, Supplies-district........ 276.07 Ahlers & Cooney, Workshop/Legal Service.............1,637.50 Al for Education, TQ Workshop.....1,000.00 Alliant Energy, Electricity-district...................... 18,383.64 Apple Inc., HS/MS Supplies.............658.00 Attainment Company, HS Curriculum...............................348.13 Beckman, Dean, MS Opus 2024 Audition...................45.00 Bodensteiner Implement, Grounds Repair..............................162.18 Bookji, MS Subscription...................428.00 Bradfield’s Inc., WS/HSAP Equipment...............16,031.20 Capital Sanitary Supply, Cleaning Supplies........................1,581.47 CarQuest, Miscellaneous Vehicle Supplies.........8.46 Casper Plumbing & Heating, Repairs-dist................................ 16,752.11 CDW Government, Zoom License/Supply............... 11,673.20 City, of Decorah, Sewer/Water-district....................7,142.16 Clinicare Corporation, Tuition..... 43,086.65 Copyland, HS Supplies....................... 37.00 Culligan Water, Supplies-Bus Garage........................39.50 Culver Hahn, Electrical Repairs-district............... 553.80 Debauche Truck & Diesel, Vehicle Supply.............................1,147.83 Decorah Area Chamber, Membership.................................... 100.00 Decorah CSD Activity Fund, Revtrak-Sept...................................318.00 Decorah Chiropractic, Bus Driver Physicals......................400.00 Decorah CSD FS, Catering/Supply-JC & TQ..............159.01 Decorah Electric, Grounds Repair...........................8,281.05 Decorah Leader, Advertising & Publishing...............992.34 Decorah Mobile Glass, HS/Bus Repairs..............................492.16 Decorah Music Boosters, Online Donations............................675.00 Decorah News, Election Day Banner Ad................... 75.00 Department of Education, Bus Inspection............................. 2,250.00 Decorah Rental, HS Softball Grounds Repair.............86.40 DHS Cashier 1st Floor,

Medicaid Direct ..........................6,963.59 Dickinson Bradshaw, Legal Fees...9,698.70 Discovery Education, HS License Renewal......................357.50 Donovan Group, Contract Service-dist...................2,500.00 East Side Body, Vehicle Repairs.........53.60 Farmers Win Coop, Diesel................593.38 Fisk Farm & Home, General Supplies-district................155.63 Follett Content Solutions, HS/JC Books............................... 1,607.97 Grant Wood AEA, District Licenses..........................4,299.00 Gundersen Health System, Bus Driver Phy...............................100.00 Hill, Laura, Refund Registration.......102.00 Hovden Oil, Diesel............................ 601.80 IEW, HSAP Supplies......................... 244.00 Imperial Dade, District Cleaning Supplies........... 2,660.67 Iowa Communication Network, Internet........................................... 949.51 Iowa One Call, Contracted Service.....26.10 Iowa Sports Turf, HS BB Field Improve.................. 2,500.00 IXL Learning, MS/CL Site License.................... 4,376.00 JW Pepper, MS Supplies................... 217.99 Kauffman, Carrie, Reimbursement Fuel........................ 20.00 Kinderhaus, 4 Year Preschool Program...........2,808.40 Kwik Trip, Fuel............................14,222.26 Ladybug Landscapes, MS/HS Landscape.....................13,070.00 Lakemary Center, Inc., Tuition....... 7,780.00 Locust School Museum, HSAP Tour.......................................10.00 Malcom Enterprises, Garbage Collection......................... 855.00 Marco, Copier Repairs/Supplies-district.............3,484.06 McDonald Supply, Repairs-HS/JC/CL.......................2,295.65 Mercy One Occupational Health, Drug Tests.......................................163.00 Midwest Computer Products, Projector......................................9,150.00 Mississippi Welders, HS Supplies..... 545.20 Mr. Carpet, JC Rug............................282.62 Napa Auto Parts, Parts-Bus Garage...191.33 Ness Pumping Service, CL Toilet Rental.............................214.00 Nisse Preschool, 4 Year Preschool Program...........7,622.80 North Central International, Vehicle Rep..................................3,636.29 Northeast IA Community Action, Transp................................................. 7.00 Northeast IA Community College, Bus Class..........................................70.00 Northeast IA Montessori, 4 Yr. Preschool............................ 2,407.20 Perfect Edge, HS Supplies.................. 40.00 Racom, Install of Bus Radio...............82.50 Reinhardt, Megan, Reimbursement for Class...............150.00 Remmen, Carolin, Reimburse Materials......................140.00 RevTrak, August/Sept. ransaction Fees.......2,734.15 Sage Publications, Supplies-district..161.00 Savvas Learning, HS Digital License......................3,825.34 School Specialty, MS Supplies............72.79 Skyline Construction, HS Grounds Repair.....................4,327.13 Spahn & Rose, Supplies-WS...............50.03 Starfall, CL School Membership.......355.00 St. Benedict School, 4 Yr. Preschool Prog.................... 8,024.00 Steve Weiss Music, HS Supplies....... 112.93 Storey Kenworthy, CAO Planners....... 39.64 Streamworks, Post Card Mailer-district.............4,902.48 Summit Fire Protection, CL Annual Inspect..........................474.00 Sunflower, 4 Yr. Preschool Program..............8,024.00 Tandem Tire, Vehicle Repairs..............53.74 Timberline Billing Services, Medicaid Direct..............................746.95 Truck Country, Vehicle Repairs...... 9,904.04 Verizon Connect, Bus Barn Supplies..........................962.66 Viking Pest Control, Pest Control-district........................100.00 WeVideo, MS Yearly Subscription...............1,928.33 Winneshiek County Auditor, Election Ex..................................4,567.29 Winneshiek County Recycling, Dist. Recycle..................................180.00 Total GENERAL Fund Claims....................................$294,793.71 PPEL Fund Payables CSI Leasing, Inc., MacBooks Final Pay.................. 67,177.80 Luther College, Purchase of (2) Used Vans........... 6,004.00 Kingpin, Yearly Facility Usage....15,750.00 Total PPEL Fund Payables......... $88,931.80 SAVE Fund Payables City of Decorah, 2024 Decorah MetroNet..............5,000.00 Iowa Sports Turf, HS SB Field Renov..................127,317.50 Total SAVE Fund Payables...... $132,317.50 Total Add’t October GENERAL Fund Payable Allliant Energy, Electricity-WS........348.49 Cronin, Tim, Travel...........................504.27 East Side Body, Vehicle Service Parts...................1,046.80 Freeport Water District, Water/Sewer.....................................97.25 Iowa HSAP, Fall Meeting Cost........... 15.00 Iowa One Call, Contract Service-dist....5.40 John Deere Financial, Custodial Supplies..............................9.98 Northeast IA Community College, Tuition.........................................5,007.00 U.S. Cellular, Cell Phone Usage....... 685.37 Viking Pest, Pest Control-district......100.00 Total Add’t GENERAL Fund Payables...........................$7,819.56 Add’t Management Fund Payables Assured Partners, Workers Compensation............... 1,066.00 Total Add’t Management Fund Payables...........................$1,066.00 Decorah (Iowa) Leader October 24, 2024 Notice of 2024 General Election Public Notice is given that the 2024 General Election of the County of Winneshiek, State of Iowa, will be held on Tuesday November 5, 2024. The polls will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

A listing of polling locations is as follows: Precinct 1: Fremont, Burr Oak, Orleans, Bluffton, and Madison Townships – Ridgeway Community Center Precinct 2: Hesper, Highland, Canoe, Pleasant, and Glenwood Townships – First Lutheran Church Precinct 3: Decorah Ward 1 and the Part of Decorah Township in Supervisor District 2 – Winneshiek Courthouse Annex Precinct 4: Decorah Ward 2 – Winneshiek Courthouse Annex Precinct 5: Decorah Ward 3A – First Lutheran Church Precinct 6: Decorah Ward 3B – First Lutheran Church Precinct 7: Decorah Ward 4 – Good Shepherd Church Precinct 8: Decorah Ward 5 – Good Shepherd Church Precinct 9: The Part of Decorah Township in Supervisor District 4 and Springfield Township – Winneshiek Courthouse Annex Precinct 10: Frankville, Bloomfield, and Military Townships – Ossian Community Center Precinct 11: Calmar, Washington, and Jackson Townships – Calmar Lutheran Church Precinct 12: Lincoln and Sumner Townships – Ridgeway Community Center A public test will be held to demonstrate the Unisyn Freedom Vote voting system which will be used to count the votes. The public test will begin at 10:00 am Thursday October 31, 2024 at the Winneshiek County Courthouse and will continue until all tests are completed.

The polling sites are handicapped accessible. Any voter who is physically unable to enter the polling place has the right to vote in the voter’s vehicle. For further information, please contact the County Auditor’s office at (563) 382-5085 or auditor@co.winneshiek. ia.us.

Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot. Voters who are not pre-registered – such as voters registering to vote on election day – and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence. A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required) 1) may have the voter’s identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct, 2) prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents, or 3) cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the County Auditor’s

office by Noon, November 12, 2024. Election Day Registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification. For additional information about providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/ voterid or phone (563) 382-5085.

The Post-Election Audit of the ballots cast in one precinct will be held Thursday November 7, 2024 at noon in the County Auditor’s Office.

The following races and candidates will be included on the ballots: President/Vice President: Donald J. Trump / JD Vance (REP), Kamala D. Harris / Tim Walz (DEM), Chase Oliver / Mike ter Maat (LIB), Claudia De la Cruz / Karina Garcia (PSL), William P. Stodden / Stephanie H. Cholensky (SOC), Robert F. Kennedy Jr / Nicole Shanahan (WTP), Shiva Ayyadurai / Crystal Ellis US Representative District 2: Ashley Hinson (REP), Sarah Corkery (DEM), Jody Madlom Puffett State Senator District 32: Mike Klimesh (REP), Brian Bruening (DEM) State Representative District 63: Michael R. Bergan (REP) County Board of Supervisors District 3: Dan Hovden (REP), Shirley Vermace (DEM) County Board of Supervisors District 4: Daniel Langreck (REP), Cheryl Wieseler County Auditor: Benjamin D. Steines (REP) County Sheriff: Dan Marx (REP) Township Trustees: Christopher Hackman (Bloomfield), Stephanie Fromm (Bluffton), Dawn Marlow (Burr Oak), Rodney Lensing (Calmar), Daryl Bosma (Canoe), Kevin Barth (Decorah), Jeff Feickert (Frankville), Loren Broszeit (Frankville TFV), Leland Hovey (Fremont), Allan J. Dahlen (Glenwood), Mike Paulson (Hesper), Ethan Wise (Hesper TFV), Arden Auna (Highland), Ross Kurash (Jackson), Rodney Ollendieck (Lincoln), Ted Frana (Lincoln TFV), Roger Bergan (Madison), Thomas J. Bushman (Military), Ron Stika (Orleans), Jason Ryan (Orleans TFV), Roger A. Nelson (Pleasant), Bruce Sersland (Springfield), Paul Andera (Sumner), James Neuzil (Washington) Township Clerk: Sawyer Wise (Highland TFV) County Hospital Trustee (vote for 3): Karen P. McLean, Clark Goltz, Christopher Miculinich, Jan Heikes Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner (vote for 3): Jon H. Lubke, Donna Rasmussen, Keith Newhouse County Agricultural Extension Council (vote for 5): Lori L. Shatek, Blake Courtney, Janice Kuboushek, Judy Mowry, Cassidy Ferguson Judicial Ballot: Should the following judges be retained: Supreme Court Justice: David May Court of Appeals Judge: Mary Ellen Tabor, Tyler J. Buller, Mary Elizabeth Chicchelly, Samuel Langholz District 1A Judge: Monica Ackley, Thomas A. Bitter District 1A Associate Judge: Robert James Richter Public Measures: Should the following measures be adopted: Constitutional Amendment 1: Summary: Provides for only U.S. citizens aged 18 or older and meeting state and county residency requirements to vote in all elections. Further provides that 17-yearolds who will be 18 years old by the General Election are eligible to vote in the primary election, subject to the same citizenship and residency requirements.

Full Text: Section 1 of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, as amended by the amendment of 1970, is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: Section 1.

Electors. Only a citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen years, who shall have been a resident of this state for such period of time as shall be provided by law and of the county in which the citizen claims the citizen’s vote for such period of time as shall be provided by law, shall be entitled to vote at all elections which are authorized by law. However, for purposes of a primary election, a United States citizen must be at least eighteen years of age as of the next general election following the primary election. The required periods of residence shall not exceed six months in this state and sixty days in the county.

Constitutional Amendment 2: Summary: Provides that the lieutenant governor will act as the governor if there is a temporary disability of the governor. Further provides that the lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect will be the governor or governor-elect in the case of the resignation, death, or permanent disability of the governor or governor-elect thus creating a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect, as appropriate.

Full Text: Section 17 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: Sec. 17. Lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect to become or act as governor or governor-elect. If there is a temporary disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor until the disability is removed, or the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office. In case of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall become governor for the remainder of the term, which shall create a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor. This section shall also apply, as appropriate, to the governor-elect and the lieutenant governor-elect.

Public Measure WD: Shall the Board of Directors of the Decorah Community School District in the Counties of Winneshiek and Allamakee, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $38,000,000 to provide funds to build, furnish, and equip a new elementary school building, including site improvements?

This notice is given by the Winneshiek County Commissioner of Elections. Additional information is available at: www.winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov.

Benjamin D. Steines Winneshiek County Auditor & Commissioner of Elections Decorah (Iowa) Leader October 24, 2024 IN THE IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR WINNESHIEK COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RANDALL R. BORSETH DECEASED PROBATE NO. ESPR 016335 NOTICE OF PROBATE OF WILL, APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS To All Persons Interested in the Estate of Randall R. Borseth, Deceased, who died on or about September 9, 2024: You are hereby notified that on the 14th day of October, 2024, the Last Will and Testament of Randall R. Borseth, deceased, bearing date of August 6, 2024, was admitted to probate in the above-named Court and that Decorah Bank & Trust Company was appointed executors of the estate. Any action to set aside the Will must be brought in the district court of said county within the later to occur of four months from the date of the second publication of this notice or one month from the date of mailing of this notice to all heirs of the decedent and devisees under the Will whose identities are reasonably ascertainable, or thereafter be forever barred.

Notice is further given that all persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned, and creditors having claims against the estate shall file them with the Clerk of the above named district court, as provided by law, duly authenticated, for allowance, and unless so filed by the later to occur of four months from the second publication of this notice or one month from the date of mailing of this notice (unless otherwise allowed or paid) a claim is thereafter forever barred.

Dated this 16th day of Ocober, 2024.

Decorah Bank & Trust Company Executor of Estate Erik Kephart 202 E. Water Street Decorah, IA 52101 Jana Evelsizer Olson ANDERSON, WILMARTH, VAN DER MAATEN, FRETHEIM, EVELSIZER OLSON, NOBLE, LYNCH & ZAHASKY 212 Winnebago

P.O. Box 450 Decorah, IA 52101 (563) 382-2959 Email: jana.olson@andersonlawdecorah.com Date of second publication: October 31, 2024 Decorah (Iowa) Leader October 24 & 31, 2024 Board Minutes October 14, 2024 The Board of Supervisors met at 9:30am October 14, 2024 with Kelsay, Vick, Langreck, Vermace, and Faldet present. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited, and the meeting was called to order.

Margaret Walter and Julie Wurtzel, representing the Winneshiek County Celebration of Life committee, met with the Board to give an overview of their programs and fund raising and to present a proclamation. Moved by Vick and seconded by Kelsay to proclaim October as National Cancer Awareness Month in Winneshiek County. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Vick and seconded by Vermace to approve the consent agenda which includes the minutes of the last meeting, the claims filed with the Board, the liquor licenses for Twin Springs Supper Club and Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, and to accept and file the quarterly report of the County Sheriff. Motion carried unanimously.

Tom Madden, SEH Engineering, met with the Board to give an update on the Festina Sewer project. He also presented a change order for approval. Moved by Faldet and seconded by Vick to approve change order #3 as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Andy Van Der Maaten, County Attorney, met with the Board to discuss legal issues.

Michael Kueny, County Engineer, met with the Board to review project updates and discuss the bids for tandem dump trucks. The Board reviewed the bids and allowed representatives from both Truck Country and Don’s Truck to give presentations. Kueny and his staff recommended to purchase four trucks from Don’s Truck due to the fact they were low bid and had the preferred transmission available. Moved by Vick and seconded by Kelsay to accept the low bid by Don’s Truck for the purchase of four trucks. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Vick and seconded by Kelsay to adjourn to 9:30am Monday, October 21, 2024. Motion carried unanimously.

Benjamin D Steines, County Auditor Daniel Langreck, Chair Board of Supervisors Claims 10-14-2024 General Basic Fund AcenTek, Telephone Service................ 511.72 AireSpring, Telephone Service............ 416.37 Allamakee-Clayton Electric, Utility......50.89 Alliant Energy, Utilities..................... 5128.33 Amazon Capital Services, Supplies.....858.16 Anderson Law Office, Legal Services................................. 3469.00 Wendy Anderson, Mileage................... 127.30 Andy’s Speed Lube, Services.............. 225.00 Anthem Archery, Supplies................... 355.00 Mike Ashbacher, Services....................300.00 AT&T Mobility, Cellular Service.........959.18 Linus Barloon, Services.......................454.95 Thomas Benda, Services......................265.00 Black Hills Energy, Natural Gas Service.......................... 206.93 Bob Barker Company, Inc, Supplies......73.35 Bodensteiner Implement Company, Services............................................... 58.64 C & B Material Handling, LLC, Equipment.....................................46348.00 Calmar Courier, Publications................. 37.50 Capital One, Payment.......................... 190.66 Carolan’s Ag & Repair, Services.......3455.42 Casper Plumbing & Heating, Inc, Services........................................... 1532.39 Fallon Cassidy, Reimbursement.............20.00 CDW Gov’t, Equipment.................... 3230.67 CenturyLink, Telephone Service..........700.53 Chad Zahasky Construction, Services........................................... 4568.00 Column Software PBC, Publications... 243.66 Copyland, Printing................................. 70.00 Steve Cornelius, Mileage.......................42.88 Court View Place LLP, Payment........1970.00 Culligan, Services................................219.99 Charles P Cunningham, Reimbursement.....................................5.00 Roger Dahlen, Reimbursement.............. 25.00 Decorah Ace Hardware, Supplies........ 170.55 Decorah Leader, Publications............ 1158.82 Decorah Tire Service, Services..........1473.14 DecorahNews.com, Advertising.......... 576.00 Dell Marketing LP, Equipment..........1660.75 Dentons Davis Brown PC, Legal Services..................................... 44.00 Farmers Union Co-op, Supplies...........855.12 John Fels, Reimbursement..................... 25.00 Fisk Farm & Home Inc, Supplies.......... 35.70 Fixxit, LLC, Services........................... 495.00 Franzen Sales & Service, Parts............ 897.75 Freeport Water District, Utilities............53.10 Reginald Gibson, Reimbursement....... 765.11 GrapeTree Medical Staffing LLC, Services........................................... 1232.00 Lisa Grinna, Reimbursement............... 410.42 George L. Grosz, Services...................682.43 Hageman Cleaning, Services...............200.00 Andrew Hageman, Reimbursement....... 20.00 Kayla Hageman, Reimbursement.......... 40.00 Tina Hall, Mileage................................. 22.78 John Halverson, Reimbursement........... 25.00 Hawkeye Sanitation, Inc, Services....... 720.00 Healthcare First, Services.................... 111.02 Rachel Herold, Mileage.........................50.92 Sally Herold, Mileage.......................... 297.48 Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport, Lodging.............................................128.80 Byron Hook, Reimbursement................ 50.00 Logan Hopp, Reimbursement................ 10.00 Hovden Oil Co, Fuel............................ 179.85 Ricky Hughes, Services..................... 1062.18 IAN Treasurer, Membership................140.00 Idemia Identity & Security, Maintenance Agreement................. 2704.00 Inovalon Provider, Inc., Services.........499.31 ISU Extension & Outreach, Registration.......................................135.00 Fatimetu Jatri Emhamed, Reimbursement...................................25.00 JB Holland Construction, Inc, Services......................................... 45342.88 Jim’s Appliance, Services...................... 99.00 John Deere Financial, Supplies............ 436.81 Mike Johnson, Camp Host................... 930.50 Ian Kemp, Services..............................184.00 Brenda Kreitzer, Reimbursement...........25.00 Ethel Barbara Krueger, Services..........149.25 Kwik Trip Extended Network, Fuel...4545.95 Kwik Trip Inc, Fuel..............................983.85 LA Communications, Inc, Advertising........................................272.00 Steve Lennon, Services........................480.23 Chuck Lensing, Services....................1800.00 Leon’s Auto Repair, Services...............102.25 LetterWerks Sign City, LLC, Supplies.............................................643.25 Logistics Recycling, Inc., Services...... 268.80 Jon Lubke, Reimbursement.................808.87 Mail Services, Services........................ 879.75 Anna Mark M.D., Services.................. 690.00 Martin Bros. Distributing, Supplies..... 811.69 Dan Marx, Reimbursement.................... 39.57 Jamie McConnell, Reimbursement........ 25.00 Hubert McGee, Services...................... 628.40 McKesson Medical Surgical, Supplies............................................. 284.97 MiBroadband, Services........................ 210.00 Microbac Laboratories, Inc., Services... 85.00 MiEnergy Cooperative, Utilities.......... 304.33 Brian Muth, Services......................... 2114.53 Napa Auto Parts, Parts...........................78.44 NE IA Comm Action, Rent Payment.................................. 4811.95 NEIRHTF, Appropriation................ 10000.00 O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., Parts............ 50.60 Bill Ohde, Mileage................................. 77.05 Oneota Community Co-oop, Supplies...10.58 Lana Oyloe, Services...........................909.90 Ben Pfile, Services...............................180.00 Lonnie Pierce, Reimbursement..............25.00 Pitney Bowes bank Inc., Postage....... 1400.00 Pitney Bowes Inc, Supplies.................. 211.62 Quadient Fiance USA, Inc., Postage.... 862.96 Quadient Leasing USA, Inc., Lease Agreement............................... 978.66 Olivia Rasmussen, Services.................909.90 Reliable Dumpster Services Inc, Services............................................. 190.00 Ricoh USA Inc, Maintenance Agreement................... 694.72 Riley’s Inc, Supplies.............................. 31.05 Lacey Rogers, Services........................260.00 Gregg Rude, Reimbursement................. 20.00 Sanitation Resources, Inc, Services.....779.00 Schilling Supply Company, Supplies.1044.13 Barb Schroeder, Reimbursement......... 232.03 Jayne Schultz, Reimbursement............105.81 jim & Sharon Schultz, Payment.........1800.00 Schumacher Elevator, Services............ 281.29 Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc, Services......................................... 14134.38 Gordon Snitker, Reimbursement............ 25.00 Ben Steines, Reimbursement.................25.00 Steve’s Car Care, Services.....................27.00 Storey Kenworthy, Supplies................. 237.21 John L. Storkamp, Reimbursement........ 25.00 The Warrior Wash, LLC, Services.......326.80 Thryv, Advertising................................. 21.00 Tieskoetter Lawn Care, LLC, Services............................................. 494.00

Jonathan Turbett, Reimbursement.......147.99 US Cellular, Cell Service.....................297.95 Krista Vanden Brink, Mileage..............548.73 Steve Vanden Brink, Services..............170.00 Vestis, Services....................................141.90 Vick’s Heating, Plumbing, Inc., Repairs................................................ 41.50 Tim Wagner, Mileage.............................22.24 Sherman Watts, Reimbursement.......... 407.02 Weis Buick GMC, Services............... 1564.70 Windstream, Telephone Service.............51.21 Winn Co Agricultural Asscoc, Reservation....................................... 500.00 Wright Way Computers, LLC, Services........................................... 4856.60 Christopher Wuebker, Reimbursement.................................247.61 General Supplemental Fund Amazon Capital Services, Supplies..... 314.97 Column Software PBC, Publications..... 12.58 Copyland, Printing............................. 4275.70 IMWCA, Insurance............................ 7192.00 Sonya M. Kennedy, Court Reporter....... 29.50 North Iowa Juvenile Detention, Services........................................... 1370.00 Ben Steines, Reimbursement...............667.03 Treasurer State of Iowa, Court Expenses............................. 10513.00 Jonathan Turbett, Reimbursement....... 147.99 Winn Co Auditor, Postage.................. 1008.73 Water Testing Grant Fund State Hygienic Laboratory, Services....807.00 Rural Services Basic Fund Bruce Adams, Meeting........................... 50.00 Paul Andera, Meeting.............................50.00 Arden Auna, Meeting............................. 50.00 Jed Becker, Meeting...............................50.00 Roger Bergan, Meeting..........................50.00 Bruce Bergsgaard, Meeting................... 50.00 Column Software PBC, Publications.....22.53 Decorah Leader, Publications................ 80.83 Diamond Mowers LLC, Equipment..................................... 17532.00 Everest Property Group, LLC, Site Rent............................................ 100.00 Ted Frana, Meeting................................ 50.00 Doug Groux, Meeting............................ 50.00 Garrett Hackman, Meeting.....................50.00 Thomas Hansen, Meeting......................50.00 Carleton Haugen, Meeting.....................50.00 IOWWA, Registration.......................... 314.00 Larry Iverson, Meeting.......................... 50.00 Dale Johnson, Meeting........................... 50.00 Stacy Klimesh, Meeting.........................50.00 Ross Kurash, Meeting............................ 50.00 Kwik Trip Inc, Fuel.............................. 114.79 Rodney Lensing, Meeting......................50.00 Russel Lensing, Meeting........................ 50.00 John Lubke, Meeting............................. 50.00 Rodney Ollendieck, Meeting................. 50.00 David Ondrashek, Meeting....................50.00 Tony Phillips, Meeting.........................230.34 Reliable Dumpster Services Inc, Services........................................... 2700.00 Kelvin Rue, Meeting..............................50.00 Jason Ryan, Meeting..............................50.00 Jeff Ryan, Meeting................................. 50.00 Gerry Shileny, Meeting.......................... 50.00 Ron Stika, Meeting................................50.00 Jean Wieman, Meeting........................... 50.00 Winn Co Auditor, Postage.................... 170.82 Winn Co Landfill, Fees......................2833.28 Sawyer Wise, Meeting...........................50.00 Secondary Road Fund AcenTek, Telephone Service................265.62 Alliant Energy, Utilities.......................924.84 Amazon Capital Services, Supplies.....234.18 AT&T Mobility, Cellular Service......... 475.55 Becker Hardware, Inc., Supplies.......... 159.97 Black Hills Energy, Natural Gas Service............................ 37.67 Bodensteiner Implement Company, Services............................................. 376.90 Bruening Rock Prod, Materials........ 16904.04 CarolanConstruction,LLC, Services......................................... 16540.97 Carquest Auto Parts, Parts................. 1293.33 City of Ridgeway, Utilities.................... 29.26 Croell Inc, Materials............................ 226.50 Culligan, Services.................................. 11.00 Decorah Leader, Publications.............. 390.00 Decorah Mobile Glass, Services.......... 275.00 Decorah Rental & Sales, Equipment Rental..............................352.55 Decorah Tire Service, Services........10898.42 Denco Corp., Services.................... 106606.40 Fisk Farm & Home Inc., Supplies.......142.54 Green Repair, Services......................... 110.92 Hovden Oil Co, Fuel.......................... 2958.40 Howard’s Tire & Repair, Repairs...........95.00 Huber’s Store, Supplies......................... 19.49 Iowa DOT, Payment........................... 9274.42 Iowa Prison Industries, Signs............... 466.36 J & A Traffic Products, Supplies..........950.00 K Construction, Services................. 13065.94 Mabel Co-op Telephone, E911 Service.......................................82.71 Marriott- West Des Moines, Lodging..577.92 Martin Equipment of IA/IL, Inc, Supplies............................................. 796.90 MiBroadband, Services........................ 212.97 Mid-American Research, Supplies...... 541.00 Mitko Specialty Sales, Parts................888.13 Mower Power, Parts............................... 45.25 MWSCO, Supplies............................... 152.55 Napa Auto Parts, Parts.........................170.84 Beth Novotny, Reimbursement............302.02 Perry Novak Electric, Inc, Services.....195.00 Racom Corporation, Services............1221.22 Bob & Jody Regan, Storage Container............................8400.00 Reilly Construction Co, Inc, Services........................................... 4811.91 Ridgeway Lumber, Materials.................17.80 Ronco Engineering, Supplies................. 45.42 Sadler Power Train, Parts...................1376.98 Sanitation Resources, Inc, Services....... 98.00 Shuck-Briston Inc., Services.............. 8517.75 Skyline Construction, Inc., Materials.........................................4230.40 Society of Land Surveyors, Fees.........160.00 Spahn & Rose Lumber Co, Materials....29.09 Star Equipment LTD, Equipment...........24.00 Storey Kenworthy, Supplies................. 148.88 Truck Country of Iowa, Services....... 2462.99 Richard Uhlenhake, Roads................. 1000.00 Verizon Connect A/R, Services..........1078.63 Dana Williams, Reimbursement.......... 300.01 Winn Co Auditor, Postage.................... 221.34 Ziegler Inc, Services...................... 374789.48 Co Conserv Capital Improv Fund A & R Land Services, Inc, Appraisal.........................................2400.00 Preferred Appraisal Services, Services........................................... 3000.00 County Assessor Agency Fund Kwik Trip Inc, Fuel................................ 44.30 Winn Co Auditor, Postage...................... 78.07 E911 Surcharge Fund AcenTek, E911 Service........................512.66 Alliant Energy, Utilities.......................192.08 American Tower Corporation, Rental.............................................. 2009.04 Black Hills Energy, Natural Gas Service............................ 37.93 Farmers Union Co-op, Supplies........... 300.00 Mabel Co-op Telephone, E911 Service.....................................121.58 Priority Dispatch, Services.................2940.00 Emergency Management Comm Amazon Capital Services, Supplies...1379.69 AT&T Mobility, Cellular Service......... 132.50 Capital One, Payment.............................. 9.88 Alexandra Dombrowski, Reimbursement.................................474.90 Elan Financial Services, Payment......1476.99 Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, Registration.......................................375.00 LetterWerks Sign City, LLC, Supplies... 73.00 Mainstay Systems of Iowa LLC, Services............................................. 531.00 Chip Peterson, Payment......................... 40.00 Sean Snyder, Reimbursment.................. 60.00 Verizon Wireless, Cell Service...............14.04 Festina Sewer Sinking Fund Winn Co Treasurer, Services.............. 1331.00 Winneshiek Co Health Ins Fund Midwest Group Benefits, Health Insurance........................... 21866.32 Midwest Group Benefits, Fees............. 945.00 Wellmark, Insurance...................... 136365.71 Grand Total..................................1030961.40 Decorah (Iowa) Leader October 24, 2024 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF DECORAH BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT Notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Decorah, Iowa, has set 5:15 PM, Wednesday, November 6, 2024, for a regular meeting to be held at the Council Chambers of City Hall, in Decorah, Iowa, 52101, as the time and place for consideration of requested variances from the Ordinance requirements to-wit: Ryan Martin for 411 River Street, legally described as Lots 1-17, 1-18 & N 7.4’ Lot 16 SW SE in the City of Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa requesting permission to construct a house addition contrary to City Code Section 17.76.040 R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District Bulk regulations.

All interested persons may appear at said time and place to be heard for or against the granting of variances from the Ordinance requirements.

Sue Sander, Chair Decorah (Iowa) Leader October 24, 2024

NEWS

DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | EDITOR@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221

#ICANHELP make fun of them. When I asked why other students didn’t report it, most of them said they didn’t know what to do.”

Karr’s organization now seeks to train students in addressing social media challenges — dubbing them Digital First Responders. She said the nonprofit’s approach to solving complicated social issues presents students as part of the solution, not the problem.

“We know that people are going to vent or be negative online,” she said. “Our mission is to help students identify when something has gone too far and is no longer funny. We help schools take down fake pages that are affecting their schools — anything from fight pages, confession pages or ship pages where they match classmates.”

Digital4Good offers real-world best practices and celebrates examples of students using digital for good. The organization also provides region-

al, hands-on sessions, meant to prepare teachers, counselors, resource officers and administrators to then train students in becoming peer mentors and digital citizenship leaders. Students and staff work with the community and other schools by modeling positive online behavior, teaching digital safety and citizenship, and promoting mental health awareness and wellness.

The effort aims to prepare students to handle cyberbullying, harassment and other forms of abuse as soon as they arise.

Digital4Good surveyed more than 6,000 young people between the ages of 10 and 18 and found more than 50 percent of those surveyed had experienced at least one type of cyberbullying in their lifetime. About 61 percent of the teens who reported being bullied said it was because of their appearance, and about a quarter of the teens surveyed said they were bullied

for their academic achievement or intelligence. Others reported being bullied over their race, sexuality, financial status, religion or other aspect of themselves — each totaling between 10 and 20 percent in the survey.

“When I was growing up in Decorah, I could go home to my house, and I was protected by my four walls,” Karr said.

“Our world has shifted to include digital in our daily lives, so when students come home they have to worry about what others are saying about them online, if anyone reshared an image of them or blocked them from a group chat. There are so many more complex situations, and now we have deep fakes, sextoration and revenge porn that have all been reported in the Winneshiek area.”

To date, Karr and her colleagues have reached out to more than 500,000 students at 11,500 schools across the country. She indicated a fake Insta-

Decorah at Waterloo East

gram page arose in 2014 from the same school district which saw the Facebook page that inspired her to found Digital4Good — she said the new fake account was shut down within 45 minutes, having gained zero followers but receiving more than 30 messages from students in favor of removing the account.

“We don’t usually think of it, but just like the way negativity can spread, people can be swayed or encouraged when the majority are doing ‘good’ online,” Karr said. “Students just need to be shown how to respond to the negativity. We need to empower our future generation to take action against all the issues that are arising with technology. Through #ICANHELP, students are learning that kindness is saving lives, and it doesn’t have to be anything big — a simple smile or a nice Post-it note on a locker might be all it takes.”

Children and young adults under age 25 who experience cyberbullying are more than twice as likely to harm themselves or enact suicidal behavior, according to Karr, and she stressed the importance of a proactive approach in educating youth and parents.

“We have given humans a powerful tool and never trained them on how to use it for good,” Karr said. “If you empower parents and students on how to be digital first responders, they will help you report the negative posts and pages online. They will respectfully tell their peers when they have crossed the line of being funny to inappropriate and rude. When people help to delete some of the online drama, it will decrease the in-person drama, which will create a safer and healthier community.”

Karr said about 48 percent of students do not tell adults about issues they are

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experiencing online out of fear of their devices may be taken away or they may be called a snitch by their peers. The Decorah alum emphasized the need to educate and empower students to know the difference between snitching and asking for help. She said achieving that balance begins with showing students examples of what should be reported and the steps they can take, such as reaching out to the target of the post, reporting the post or asking for it to be deleted, and telling a trusted adult.

“Our mission is to foster a future where students and educators are confident digital leaders using technology to build stronger communities, solve real-world problems and champion a culture of respect and inclusivity online,” Karr said.

For more information on Digital4Good, visit www.icanhelp. net.

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5. When there is a tie for second place in the contest, second place money and third place money will be divided equally among the

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6. The contest is open to everyone, except employees of the Enterprise Media and their families.

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14 | DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | SPORTS EDITOR BECKY WALZ | BECKY.WALZ@DECORAHLEADER.COM

State qualifying cross country meet info State qualifying meet sites for cross country were announced this week.

Girls and boys run at the same site, with the Class 3A and 4A races taking place Wednesday, Oct. 23, and the Class 1A and 2A on the courses Thursday, Oct. 24. The girls race starts at 4 p.m., with the boys at 4:30 p.m.

In Classes 2A, 3A and 4A, the first three teams, plus the first 15 individual place winners from each site qualifies for the state meet. The first two teams, plus the first 10 individual place winners will qualify for the state meet from each of the Class 1A state qualifying meets.

Decorah is in Class 3A and was at Waverly-Shell Rock. Besides the Vikings and Go-Hawks those competing were BK-CGD, Clear Creek-Amana,

Decorah Food Pantry marks successful diaper drive

Charles City, Clear Lake, Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Iowa Falls-Alden, Mount Vernon/Lisbon South Tama County, Wahlert Catholic, Webster City and Williamsburg.

South Winn and Turkey Valley are both in Class 1A and will compete at North Linn. Joining the Lynx, Warriors and Trojans on the course will be Cascade, Central City, Central Elkader, Clayton Ridge, Columbus Catholic, Columbus Community, Don Bosco, Dunkerton, East Buchanan, Edgewood-Colesburg, Kee, Maquoketa Valley, Springville, Starmont (girls), Tripoli, Valley Lutheran and Waterloo Christian.

The state meet is held as a two-day event with Class 3A and 4A competing Friday, Nov. 1, followed by the Class 1A and 2A on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Riceville foils TV’s playoff bid Wildcats trounce Turkey Valley in regular season finale

More than $1,500 and 350 pounds of diapers were collected during a recent community-wide diaper drive for the Decorah Community Food Pantry. Organizers thanked all who participated. Pictured above are pantry volunteers (from left to right) Joann Hagen, Kevin Rockwell and Karen Martin-Schramm. (Photo submitted)

Echoes of the Past continued from page 4 injured to such an extent that it is not yet known whether he will lose his sight. Dr. J.C. Hexom delivered first aid, and promptly sent him on to Oelwein for further treatment. …The big question this fall is whether or not Winneshiek County primary roads will be graveled in a short time; or else wait for years! The men from the Iowa State Highway Commission are here in town to look over the ground and look up some gravel pits in the area.

They will make an estimate possibly in time to get it done before the voters at the upcoming election. If not, it is possible that a special election will be held at a later date. It would be one of the finest moves Winneshiek County has ever done if workers get busy now and put this proposition over now!

To get these fine new roads graveled will be a pleasure for folks in the area. …There’s nothing like the sound of a modern radio to brighten up an evening. The enjoyment and education derived from a radio will be surprising. Halverson Electric Company now has those new Atwater-Kent and Michigan Radio sets for locals interested in having some happier nights. …BIG NEWS: Mr. Earl Hines and his sisters, Maude and Veda, autoed to Des Moines last Saturday for a nice trip. They left here at 3 a.m., and arrived in Des Moines at 3 p.m. …Peace is restored in the gasoline price war, which has been raging throughout the Midwest for the past several months. This came about through a 3-cent reduction from the tank last week. Gasoline is now priced at 12 cents per gallon at the local filling stations. …The new “bobs” are causing a transition in barber shops.

Women are making their way

health

into the shops for these straight bob styles and it’s quite the talk about town. …A concert by a Luther College Male Quartet is planned at the Grand Opera House.

The group (Suby, Halvorson, Garness and Larson) will be accompanied at the piano by Donald Larson. The group has enjoyed a splendid tourins season, having traveled over, 7,000 miles in six states in recent months. …Nolte’s Store over at Burr Oak will be the site for the Helpers’ Union Society’s weekly food sale. …One of the manufacturers of that famous Sugar Bowl Ice Cream got a real thrill the other night. B.M. Graham found his car missing from his parking place, and promptly reported the stolen auto to the police.

The car was found about two miles out of town, having been driven 100 miles. One fender was bent a little, but no other damage. Investigation continues. …A total of 8 divorces have been in the courtrooms during this year.

N

INETY YEARS AGO – 1934: The newspaper office received a call the other day from Ed Nordheim, one of Pleasant Townships most competent farmers. He called to say the good seed corn will be scarce this year. …Milford Hendrickson is being ordained into the ministry this month during services at the Glenwood Lutheran Church. …The Decorah City Council has refused to grant a permit from an out-of-town person’s application to open a roller skating rink over at the hitching grounds in town. …A Decorah woman residing on John Street has cut her hand badly attempting to open a jar of preserves. Doc Fritchen

has been called to attend to her. …Homberg & Erickson Meat Market has a new cube steak machine. The modern machine was recently installed, and reports say it cuts the fibers in the meat without destroying the juice or nourishment pockets. It appears the cube steak is going over big. …A barn and silo were destroyed the other afternoon in a fire recently at the Al Henning farm near Frankville. …The contract for the new bridge on Highway 55 across the Oneota River leading over to West Decorah is about $42,000. The work started last week according to Contractor C.B. Taylor, who was awarded the bridge contract. An additional $15,000 must be spent for right-of-way, new paving, moving of the Phil Johnson service station and some other matters. The first work to be undertaken is the erection of a temporary steel span bridge, which will be situated just a little south of the current bridge.

A crew of up to 25 men will work every day in two shifts to complete the project. The river will be widened, two extensive dikes will be built to prevent river flooding. It is expected that the Thayer residence, the Sig Hoyen store and the A.M. Morrison building at the west end of the bridge will be removed to make way for alterations. When completed, it is expected the bridge will be a wonderful improvement to the town’s highway. …Voters of the Decorah School District decided last week in favor of a $100,000 bond issue for remodeling and adding a large addition to the high school building. …Higgins’ Hall will have a fall opening dance later this month. The popular Tiger Band will furnish dance music.

Kaden Schmidt looks for running room made by Hunter Kruse (51), Traejin Keep (84), a diving Tucker Tlusty (9) and Alex Hanson (4) in the background. (Photo by Ashley Walz)

By Kelly Terpstra sports@nhtrib.com Turkey Valley had to win to get in.

That was no small task.

The Riceville Wildcats (7-1, 5-1) proved they sport a sound football squad after dismantling TV by a score of 54-6 in the regular season finale for coach Mark Scott’s Trojans on Friday night in Jackson Junction.

Turkey Valley (3-5, 3-3) – which had to overcome numerous crippling injuries to key starters late in the season – needed a Riceville victory to crack the playoffs for a fourth-consecutive season.

That didn’t materialize as Riceville rolled up over 200 yards rushing on the ground and threw two touchdowns passes courtesy of senior quarterback Jack Adams.

Adams was also responsible for the bulk of Riceville’s 230 yards on the ground as he rushed for 142 yards on 16 carries. He found the end zone three times in the rush game and accounted for five of Riceville’s seven touchdowns.

Riceville – who earned the second seed in TV’s district behind No. 4 Don Bosco (8-0, 6-0) – hosts Clarksville (6-3) in the opening round of the 8-Man playoffs this Friday, Oct. 25.

The Wildcats led 38-0 at halftime and also got a 72-yard kickoff return from junior Jace Newell.

TV finally got on the board in the fourth quarter via a Kaden Schmidt touchdown run.

Schmidt, a sophomore, rushed for 52 yards on nine carries.

He finished the season with 611 yards rushing and 11 TDs scored on the ground.

The Riceville defense shut down TV’s passing attack as they limited Trojan junior quarterback Logan Busta to just

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2-14 passing for 30 yards.

The Wildcats prevented one of 8-Man’s best receivers from hauling in a catch as J.D. Kruse finished with zero receptions in the district contest. Kruse amassed 474 yards receiving on 23 catches this fall. That stat line included eight touchdowns through the air and three TDs on special teams (two punt, one kickoff).

Kruse was the second-best receiver in the district in terms of yardage gained behind Kee High senior Carter Seitz (796 receiving yards).

Busta passed for 677 yards and threw eight touchdowns versus four interceptions in 2024. He also rushed for 484 yards on the ground and found paydirt seven times.

Jordan Kriener, a sophomore, led TV in tackles versus Riceville with 10, followed by Kruse’s 5.5. Schmidt and Park-

er Reicks each racked up 4.5 tackles apiece.

Busta picked off a Riceville pass as well.

TV will not play a ninth non-district game according to Trojan Athletic Director Anthony Troyna. The state allowed teams that did not make the playoffs in the small-school classes (8-Man, A, 1A, 2A) the opportunity to play a ninth game.

TURKEY VALLEY STATS Rushing - Logan Busta 15-(-4), Kaden Schmidt 9-52, Parker Reicks 7-27, Hugo Busta 2-7.

Passing - L. Busta 2-14-30.

Receiving - Reicks 1-16, Tucker Reicks 1-14.

Tackles - Jordan Kriener 10, J.D. Kruse 5.5, Schmidt 4.5, P. Reicks 4.5, L. Busta 2, H. Busta 2, Hunter Kruse 1.5, Traejin Keel 1, Eli Holthaus 0.5.

Interceptions - L. Busta.

Kickoff returns - J.D. Kruse 3-20.7, L. Busta 2-20.5, Schmidt 2-9.0.

Kickoffs - J.D. Kruse 1-45, Kriener 1-39.

First place to Norton in week 6

After the final tally of the week six Pigskin Picks football contest there were three entries with one incorrectly guessed game.

With the first tiebreaker weighing in, Waukon’s Phil Norton took the top prize. Central College score the single most points in a game at 56 against Luther College Saturday. Norton had guessed 58.

Pam Drucker of Calmar guessed 62 to claim the second-place prize over Ron Osterholm’s guess of 69.

Drucker was just one of three entries to bet against the Iowa Hawkeyes as it was the most missed game of the week. Other toss-up games included Sergeant Bluff-Luton over Bishop Heelan, the Minnesota Vikings getting edged by the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs over the San Francisco 49ers.

Stika, Nieman earn All-UIC honors Thursday

The Turkey Valley Trojans didn’t have enough harriers for a team score at Thursday’s Upper Iowa Conference cross country meet, but did have four athletes on the course for the competition with a sophomore pair earning All-UIC nods for finishing in the top 15.

For the second year in a row, Bella Stika and Hazel Nieman earned all-conference honors at the Upper Iowa Conference meet. Fifth last year, Stika crossed the finish line in 21:45.0 to take fourth, while Nieman, who was 15th a year ago, took sixth in 21:56.5. In 26:01.7, Madalyn Vsetecka took home 37th.

In the boys’ race, Avery Franzen competed and finished in 21:36.7, good for 38th overall.

Bella Stika (left top) paced herself to fourth in 21:45.0 at the UIC meet Thursday while Hazel Nieman (left bottom) was sixth in 21:56.5.

(Photos by Becky Walz)

SPORTS

DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | SPORTS EDITOR BECKY WALZ | BECKY.WALZ@DECORAHLEADER.COM

Regional swim sites announced

Vikes down Trojans to set up match with CC

Vikings on the floor when the match point was won Tuesday share a hug and smiles before shaking hands. Pictured are Edyn Bateman, Leah Holland, Kelby Kerndt, Ellie Rolfs, McKinley Massman and Dylin Thompson. (Photo by Becky Walz) The season continues for the Decorah volleyball team which defeated Waterloo East in the first round of the Class 4A Region 1 match Tuesday night.

Saturday the Vikes competed in the final Northeast Iowa Conference tournament going 2-2 for the day.

The Vikes (18-11) move on to face the NEIC champ Charles City (21-9) Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m., in Charles City. The winner advances to the regional final against the winner of the Xavier (26-4) and Waverly-Shell Rock (21-22). The regional semifinal will be played Tuesday, Oct. 29, on the home court of the highest remaining seed. The match will kick off at 7 p.m.

Round one Tuesday night, Decorah won by set scores of 25-22, 25-11 and 25-18.

“It was not always pretty but our girls were able to come away with a win. I am pleased with the way they continued to work together to correct the little things, which ultimately will be important for us on Thursday night at Charles City,” said coach Gina Holthaus.

Unofficial stats showed the Vikes had 29 kills, 74 attack attempts, 27 assists, 30 digs, nine total blocks and served 63-for73 with seven aces.

Dylin Thompson had a stellar night with 27 assists, eight digs and a serving performance of 23-for-24 with three aces.

McKinley Massman provided 12 kills, eight digs and served 8-for-11 with an ace. Kelby

Kerndt added nine kills, while Leah Holland had seven kills, five total blocks and was 4-for5 at the service line. Sara Johanningmeier served 8-for-8 with an ace to go with five digs.

Ellie Rolfs came up with four digs and served 6-for-10 with two aces.

Stats vs. Waterloo East Kills – McKinley Massman 12; Kelby Kerndt 9; Leah Holland 7; Renae Wilson 2; Audrey Essa 1 Assists – Dylin Thompson 27 Blocks (assist-solo) – Holland (4-1); Essa (2-0); D. Thompson (10); Kerndt (1-0) Digs – Massman 8; D. Thompson 8; Sara Johanningmeier 5; Ellie Rolfs 4; Savannah O’Reilly 3; Kerndt 1; Brynnah Hanson 1 Serving (success/attempts) – Johanningmeier (8-8); Rolfs (6-10); Massman (8-11); Holland (4-5); D. Thompson (23-24); Ella Stille (1-1); O’Reilly (11-12); Hanson (2-2) Aces – D. Thompson 3; Rolfs 2; Johanningmeier 1; Massman 1

NEIC tourney Saturday was a busy day on the courts for the teams of the Northeast Iowa Conference as they competed in the annual tournament at Crestwood. The

Vikes went 2-2 for the day.

The day started out with back-to-back wins over Waukon 2-0 (21-16) and Charles City 2-1 (21-14, 19-21, 15-11).

In the afternoon session, the Vikes fell to New Hampton 2-0 (16-21, 17-12) and Crestwood 2-1 (19-21, 21-17, 9-15).

“New Hampton played very well all day long and kept us out of system making things harder for our setter and hitters.

Crestwood also played well, but I certainly felt like we had many opportunities that we didn’t take care of and in addition we missed seven serves in that match which really hurt us. I was very pleased with Leah (Holland) and McKinley (Massman) on Saturday. I felt they both played very well all day long, handled frustrations well and were positive leaders for their team,” said coach Holthaus.

For the day, the Vikings tallied 86 kills on 82 assists with 108 digs, 22 total blocks and served 161-for-177 with 18 aces serves.

Individually, Dylin Thompson had 67 assists, 17 digs, seven aces serves as she went 35-for 38 at the service line.

Massman hammered down 26 kills for the day with 19 digs and served 40-for-43 with four aces. Holland provided 22 kills, eight total blocks and had a 92.5 serve efficiency (25-for-27) while Kerndt was there for 15 kills and 16 digs. Rolfs came up with 22 digs and served 18-for 21, while Johanningmeier was 22-for-25 at the service line with 11 digs.

Complete stats from the NEIC tournament will be posted online at decorahleader.com.

Ellie Rolfs stretches to get under the ball as Kelby Kerndt (9) and McKinley Massman look on. (Photo by Becky Walz)

South Winn pounds Comets 54-14

game defensively,” The South Winn noted coach Ohrt. football team (4Feickert had six 4, 4-2) took care solo stops and one of business Friday assist behind Kunight, defeating boushek who tallied BCLUW (1-7, 0-6) seven solo tackles and on the road 54-15. four assisted stops.

“We had a nice balTodd provided six ance in the run game Carson Streeter Kyle Kuboushek Braiden Todd solo tackles as well to led by Kyle Kugo with an intercepboushek. We played better defensively, especially the 14-7 lead that would only tions. Carson Streeter, Logan on third down this week,” said grow. By halftime, the War- Tieskoetter and Tristen Bodenriors had scored 28 unanswered steiner all recovered a fumble. coach Jason Ohrt.

Kuboushek moved the pigThe Warriors earned of the points after 18-yard and 19No. 3 seed in Class A District yard runs by Carson Streeter to skin 142 yards on 13 carries while Streeter rang up 119 3 and will play at Saint Ansgar lead 28-7.

The Comets were looking yards on eight carries. Taking in round one of the postseason to get momentum on their side the hand-offs in the fourth quarFriday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. in the third as they marched ter, Landon Humpal ran the ball The rundown down the field with a mix of tough gaining 109 yards and a The game could have gone runs and passes before Braid- couple scores for the Warriors. south pretty quickly for the en Todd’s 40-yard pick six.

3Q 4Q F Warriors as the opening kick- Todd’s defensive touchdown South Winn 1Q7 2Q 21 12 14 54 off to South Winn hit a Warrior was aided with a big block by BCLUW 7 0 0 8 15 player in the back to make it a Ray Lienau as Todd raced toGame stats live ball. A heads-up play by El- ward the end zone for the score.

Total yards: South Winn 413; liot Monroe kept the Warriors in Streeter’s PAT was blocked but BCLUW 324 Passing (comp/att/yds): Carson possession of the pigskin. How- the lead was extended to 34Streeter (1-2, 7 yds.) ever, the celebration was short- 7. The Warriors got their third Rushing (att/yds): Kyle lived as South Winn gave up the take-away of the night with Kuboushek (13-142, 1 TD); Streeter 2 TD); Landon Humpal (14ball on a 3-and-out. BCLUW 8:40 on a fumble recovery, (8-119, 109, 2 TD); Braiden Todd (5-48, 2 made the Warriors pay as the scoring on 3-yard plunge by TD); Eric Greve (1-(-2)) Receiving (att/yds/TD): Brandon Comets capped off a 45-yard, Todd for his third score of the Kriener (1-7) six-play drive with 26-yard run night. SW was stopped on the Tackles (total): Kuboushek as 6:58 showed on the clock to two-point conversion; however, 9.0; Todd 6.5; Gavin Feickert 6.5; 4.0; Ayden Palafox 4.0; lead 7-0. Then it was back to the Warriors picked up a 40-7 Streeter Tristen Bodensteiner 3.5; Logan work for the Warriors who took lead. South Winn tacked on a Tieskoetter 3.0; Humpal 2.5; Kolton just over two minutes to score pair of fourth-quarter scores Brummond 2.0; Shayde Wermers 2.0; Elliot Monroe 1.0 on a Kyle Kuboushek 46-yard by Landon Humpal, giving up Interceptions (no/return yds): run to knot the score 7-7. just one more touchdown to Todd (1-40, 1 TD) Fumble recoveries (no/return A fumble recovery by Tristen BCLUW to make it 54-15. yds): Streeter (1-15); Tieskoetter Bodensteiner with 56 ticks left (1-0); Bodensteiner (1-0) Punt returns (att/yds): Streeter in the first set up the Warriors’ A few stars “Gavin Feickert really (1-17) first score of the second period.

Kick-offs (att/yds): Streeter (9SW opened the second stanza stepped up this week having 420 yds., 1 TB, 6-7 PAT) Kick-off returns (att/yds): with a Braiden Todd run from moved back to outside lineKuboushek (1-5) the Comet 17-yard line to take backer and playing his best

15

Addison Steinlage dives to get a hand on a tipped ball Monday night against Kee. (Photo by Becky Walz)

Trojans advance to quarterfinal round with sweep of Kee High

By Kelly Terpstra sports@nhtrib.com Addison Steinlage, a junior setter for the Turkey Valley Trojans, chuckled when she learned she was leading the entire state (all five classes) in serve efficiency Monday after the team swept one-win Kee High in the opening round of Class 1A regional play in Jackson Junction.

“That’s honestly crazy to me,” Steinlage said of her serving. “I just kind of keep the same routine going. I try not to think about it too much.”

Her skillset may come in handy as TV aims to stay alive in the state’s single-elimination tournament which will crown a state champ early next month in Coralville.

Turkey Valley hasn’t had any problem this fall in the serve game – as evident by its 92.3 serve success rate, which is listed as the ninth-best clip in Class 1A according to gobound.com.

Steinlage – who fell to second in the state as of Tuesday afternoon in serve efficiency – has only missed two serves in 316 attempts. No stats were available for the Kee High match as the Decorah Leader went to press, so stay tuned to see if Steinlage can reach No. 1 before the season is over. Akron-Westfield’s Allie Swoyer is tops in the state in that category with a 306 out of 307 attempt success rate. The Trojans are playing their best volleyball of the season after going 3-1 at the Riceville Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 12.

“Her going back there and just being able to go on run after run with her serves is really amazing,” said TV co-head coach Ashley Walz. “She’s phenomenal.”

Steinlage, who is left-handed, is the catalyst for the Trojans’ offense as she was third in the Upper Iowa Conference with 401 assists. She talked about finishing strong this fall and doing what TV does best – getting the ball over the net to start out each and every point.

“Serving is easy points so being efficient definitely helps out on that. You try to control your own mistakes, especially against a team like Nashua – that we’re pretty competitive and pretty even with,” said Steinlage.

Turkey Valley’s next op-

ponent will in fact be Nashua-Plainfield (10-14). The Huskies swept Northwood-Kensett (0-22) by scores of 25-10, 25-11 and 25-10 on Monday. N-P and TV squared off in the quarterfinal round in Nashua on Wednesday. The area squads have faced each other before at the Oelwein Invite earlier this month. The Huskies stopped the Trojans – 14-21, 21-18 and 15-12.

The winner will play the victor between No. 2 St. Ansgar (24-6) and Riceville (18-21) on Monday, Oct. 28 in the Class 1A, Region 3 semifinals.

“We definitely need to be able to move on defense a little bit better,” said Walz. “We need to watch from where they’re attacking from because they like to attack from the back row.

They also use their right side a lot so we need to adjust our blocks to them.”

The Trojans (17-14) didn’t encounter any trouble serving either against the UIC cellar-dweller Hawks (1-26), who entered the regional contest having already lost to TV twice this season. The Trojans made it three in a row in 2024 over the Hawks with a dominating 25-16, 25-7 and 25-9 sweep.

The Trojans’ main hitters up front are junior Annika Bodensteiner (135 kills) and seniors Kinsey Reicks (103 kills) and Layni Schuchhardt (129).

They were all active Monday night against the Hawks and helped TV race out to a 7-0 game three lead. The Trojans went on another run to string together a second 7-0 run to lead 16-3 at one point in the final set.

Schuchhardt and fellow senior Alexis Elsbernd lead the team in aces with 34 apiece. The Trojans have amassed 171 aces as a team. Steinlage has mustered up 32 aces.

“We just have to stay positive and play our own game,” said Schuchhardt. “We just need to utilize the open spots on their court and the defense to be ready for them to hit hard. We just have to create our own energy.”

Advancing could give her squad a golden opportunity to potentially take on the vaunted Saints, should that Top of Iowa squad turn back Riceville in its first regional contest of the season.

The Decorah swim and dive team will compete at the LinnMar regional.

The regional diving competition, which will also be held at Linn-Mar, is Thursday, Nov. 7. The champion from each regional site (a total of six), plus the next highest scoring 24 divers qualify for the state meet.

The swimming competition is Saturday, Nov. 9. Other teams at Dubuque Hempstead include Burlington, Davenport Central, Iowa City High, Iowa City West, Keokuk, Muscatine, Pleasant Valley and Tipton.

Throughout the season, individuals have been able to qualify for a spot at state early by swimming under the qualifying standard time set by the state in each event, rather than waiting until the regional meet. There will be a field of 32 state qualifiers, consisting of all swimmers who have met the qualifying standard (the swimmers must still compete in the event at the regional meet). Regional champions from each event will be automatic qualifiers with the rest of the field filled by the next fastest regional times of swimmers who did not meet the state standard.

State is held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16, at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA. The swimming preliminary meet and diving competition takes place on Friday, Nov. 15 and the state swimming finals will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Coming up in area high school sports Oct. 24 - SW/TV g/b xc at State Qualifying (at North Linn), 4 p.m.; Dec g swim at Algona, 4:30 p.m.; Dec vb at Charles City (Rd. 2), 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 – Dec fb at Waterloo East, 5 p.m. (JV/V); SW fb at Saint Ansgar (Rd. 1), 7 p.m.

Oct. 26 – Dec g swim at conf (at Grinnell), 12 p.m.

Oct. 28 – SW vb vs. TBA (Rd. 3 at Sumner), 7 p.m.; TV vb vs.

TBA (Rd. 3 at St. Ansgar), 7 p.m.

Area high school and A-R-C football standings Class 4A District 2 Decorah Waverly-Shell Rock Western Dubuque Marion Mason City Waterloo East

District 4-0 3-1 2-2 1-3 1-3 1-3

Overall 8-0 5-3 5-3 2-6 3-5 2-6

Last week Decorah 10, Western Dubuque 7 Mason City 33, Marion 29 Waverly-SR 42, Waterloo East 18 This week Decorah at Waterloo East Marion vs. Waverly-Shell Rock Western Dubuque vs. Mason City

Class A District 3 Wapsie Valley Nashua-Plainfield North Tama South Winn North Butler AGWSR BCLUW

District 5-1 4-2 4-2 4-2 3-3 1-5 0-6

Overall 6-2 5-3 4-4 4-4 5-3 1-7 1-7

Last week South Winn 54, BCLUW 15 North Butler 26, AGWSR 7 North Tama 8, North Mahaska 12 Wapsie Valley 14, Nashua-Plainfield 13

Class 8-Player District 3 Don Bosco Riceville Kee Turkey Valley Central Elkader Waterloo Christian West Central

District 6-0 5-1 4-2 3-3 2-4 1-4 0-5

Overall 8-0 7-1 5-3 3-5 3-5 2-6 0-8

Last week Turkey Valley 6, Riceville 54 Kee 6, Ed-Co 49 Central Elkader 50, West Central 0 Don Bosco 88, Waterloo Christian 0

American Rivers Conference

Conference Coe 5-0 Wartburg 4-0 Dubuque 3-1 Central 3-2 Simpson 2-3 Nebraska Wesleyan 1-3 Buena Vista 1-3 Loras 1-4 Luther 0-4

Overall 7-0 5-1 3-3 5-2 3-4 2-4 1-5 1-6 1-5

Last week Luther 3, Central 56 Loras 42, Dubuque 49 Nebraska Wesleyan 0, Coe 50 Wartburg 46, Simpson 21 This week Luther vs. Nebraska Wesleyan Coe vs. Wartburg Dubuque vs. Central Simpson vs. Buena Vista

Trojan senior libero Morgan Vsetecka snares a long ball near the out-of-bounds line as Alexis Elsbernd (18) looks in Monday’s postseason game. (Photo by Becky Walz)

Next week Luther at Wartburg Central vs. Loras Nebraska Wesleyan vs. Dubuque Buena Vista vs. Coe

SPORTS

16 | DECORAH LEADER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024 | WWW.DECORAHLEADER.COM | SPORTS EDITOR BECKY WALZ | BECKY.WALZ@DECORAHLEADER.COM | 563-382-4221

Unstoppable; Viking 10-7 thriller over Western Dubuque A signature win secured the Class 4A District 2 title for the second-ranked Decorah football team (8-0, 4-0) as the Vikings’ first half was enough to earn the 10-7 victory at home Friday night.

Decorah has lost to the Bobcats the past two seasons, but this year the Vikes did everything right with just the right mix of offense to aggressive defense.

“I am very proud of our players and coaches. We battled hard and had to deal with some adversity at the end of the first half. Our defense was outstanding all night and our offense did just enough to control the ball and come out with a win,” said coach Mike Tangen.

Holding their own The spotlight was on the defense for much of Friday’s district contest as the Bobcats forced Decorah to punt on the opening possession. Western Dubuque began to move the pigskin with efficiency before Tommy Sexton intercepted a pass at the Viking 24-yard line.

The Bobcats came up with their ABOVE: William Hahn lifts Gavin Groux up in celebration of Groux’s touchdown run Friday night.

RIGHT: Trevor Kuennen got turned horizontal as he ran the ball against the Western Dubuque defense in Decorah’s 10-7 district win Friday night at home. (Photos

by Becky Walz)

own interception just a play later to regain control that proved to be short-lived. Two plays into Western Dubuque’s second drive, a Bobcat player coughed up the pigskin and Decorah’s Gatlin Dahlberg pounced on the loose ball. This time, the Vikings were able to maintain control, eventually getting stopped at the Bobcat 25-yard line. Then it was Brayden Wemark who did his thing as the senior drilled a 39-yard field goal for the first score of the game with 3:18 left in the first quarter.

“The field goal at the beginning of the game ended up being huge. The snap, hold, and protection was great. Wemark has been great all season and we have all the confidence in him to make those types of kicks,” noted coach Tangen.

It wasn’t long before Decorahs defense stuck the Bobcats midfield and took possession of the ball at their own 21-yard line. A series of carries by Trevor Kuennen, Louis Bucksa and Gavin Groux led to Groux galloping into the end zone. Wemark once again nailed the PAT and gave the Vikes a 10-0 lead with 7:20 to play until the break.

That advantage led through halftime, but not the entire third quarter as the Bobcats broke through with a touchdown of their own at the 6:47 mark on a 20-yard pass. Playing without Bucksa, the Viking starting quarterback for much of the second half due to injury, Decorah relied on junior Tanner Caddell to call out the signals. Leading 10-7, the Viking and Bobcat defense mimicked the efforts on the gridiron throughout the remainder of third and most of the fourth. As Western Dubuque was driving to midfield, a key sack by Luke Franzen and Henry Brynsaas set up a forth and 13 for the Bobcats. A pass attempt was intercepted by Jack-

son Pipho at the Viking 35-yard line who returned the pigskin to the Bobcat 40 with 1:46 left in the game, allowing Decorah to run the ball several times before taking the victory formation and knee.

For the win Neither squad reached the 200-yard offensive mark as Decorah had 179 to Western Dubuque’s 197.

Bucksa had a good first half as he was 5-for-7 passing for 44 yards and ran for another 23 on four carries. Caddell stepped in to run the ball nine times for 55 yards, while Groux had nine carries for 45 yards.

Noah Milburn caught two passes for 28 yards and Groux had 10 yards on two receptions.

The defense was led by Kuennen who had five solo tackles and six assisted stops. Sexton had five solo and two assisted stops to go with his one interception. Dahlberg was there for the fumble recovery as well as three solo and three assisted tackles.

Regular season finale Decorah has one final regular

season game Friday, Oct. 25, as the Vikings travel to Waterloo East at 7:30 p.m. The Vikes have won all six meetings with the Trojans and look to make it seven.

1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q F W. Dubuque 0 0 7 0 7 Decorah 3 7 0 0 10 Game stats Total yards: Decorah 179; Western Dubuque 197 Passing (comp/att/yds): Louis Bucksa (5-7, 44 yds., 1 INT); Tanner Caddell (1-2, 0 yds.)

Rushing (att/yds): Caddell (955); Gavin Groux (9-45, 1 TD); Trevor Kuennen (15-27); Bucksa (4-23); Will Larson (1-3); Tommy Sexton (1-(-3)) Receiving (att/yds/TD): Noah Milburn (2-28); Groux (2-10); Kuennen (2-6) Tackles (total): Kuennen 11.0; Sexton 7.0; Gatlin Dahlberg 6.0; Larson 6.0; ; William Hahn 5.0; Keaton Orris 4.0; Groux 3.0; Jackson Pipho 2.0; Caleb Krieg 2.0; Peyton Webb 2.0; Luke Franzen 2.0; Henry Brynsaas 2.0; Josh Adam 1.0; Mason Avila 1.0; Brayden Wemark 1.0 Interceptions (no/return yds): Sexton (1-28); Pipho (1-25) Fumble recoveries: Dahlberg 1 Punts (att/yds): Milburn (6-216) Kick-offs (att/yds): Wemark (3145, 1 FG, 1-1 PAT) Kick-off returns (att/yds): Avila (2-35)

An eagle-eyed Gatlin Dahlberg dives toward the loose football before the Bobcat player who fumbled the pigskin. (Photo by Becky Walz)

Fifth straight UIC title for Warrior girls; boys second

Girls’ varsity team results 1. South Winn 29; 2. MFL MarMac 52; 3. North Fayette Valley 57; 4.

Postville 124; 5. Central Elkader 131; 6. Clayton Ridge 147 Boys’ varsity team results 1. Central Elkader 38; 2. South Winn 52; 3. North Fayette Valley 70; 4. Clayton Ridge 98; 5. Kee 113; 6.

Postville 139

Katie Shimek was the JV runner-up.

Five straight Posting 29 points, the Lady Warriors had an average time of 21:56.52 and a spread of 1:52.20 as they placed six of their runners in the top 15 for All-UIC recognition.

Sophomore Ava Franzen ran away from the field to be crowned the individual champion in 20:54.9. She was fourth last season.

Teammate Annie Hageman was not far behind as she claimed bronze in 21:06.6 after earning silver last year.

In 22:21.4, junior Tessa Phil-

lips took ninth while Lauren Ondrashek crossed the finish line 10th. She had a time of 22:32.6 after finishing 18th last year.

In 22:47.1, senior Karissa Wenthold managed to grab 12th place with Izzy Kuboushek rounding out the team score in 14th in 23:02.7.

Addy Conway rounded out the varsity line-up. The junior stopped the clock at 23:13.7, good for 19th place.

In junior varsity action, Katie Shimek was the runner-up in 24:54.5 with Cloey Zweibohmer taking home 10th. She had a time of 27:38.4.

For the boys An average time of 18:47.92 and spread of 2:50.71, earned the South Winn boys runner-up with 52 points behind the host team Central who tallied 38.

Running near the front of the pack the entire race, freshman Hugh Conway snagged the bronze medalist position behind two-time individual champion Jacob Schellhorn of MFL MarMac and Gavin Holst of Central. Conway posted a time of 17:36.3.

Next for SW came Brad Dahl in sixth place. The junior earned his second All-UIC honor in 18:23.4 with teammate Cameron Einck on his heels in seventh. Einck’s time on the stopwatch was 18:26.6.

Just in his second year of cross country, senior Lukas Weiss finished the race in 19:06.3 to earn his first conference nod in 12th place.

Clayton Kuboushek’s 29th place finish concluded the scoring for the Warriors with a time of 20:27.0. Other varsity harriers included Caden Tieskoetter (32nd, 20:42.7) and Levi Feickert (33rd, 20:46.8).

South Winn had several runners in junior varsity action with Eli Higgins taking sixth in 21:52.1. Also on the course were Diego Flores (16th, 24:02.7), John Donovan (17th, 24:16.4), Matthew Donovan (20th, 24:45.0) and Henry Lensing (23rd, 29:19.2).

Senior John Donovan gave a thumbs up to the camera as he raced Thursday.

Caden Tieskoetter (front) and Clayton Kuboushek ran for the Warrior varsity boys finishing 29th and 32nd.

Re-elect DAN  LANGRECK 

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Lauren Ondrashek (left) and Tessa Phillips raced to ninth and 10th place at the UIC race Thursday in Elkader.

The momentum continues to grow for the South Winn cross country teams as the Class 1A No. 3 girls claimed their fifth straight Upper Iowa Conference title Thursday in Elkader.

The Warrior boys came up short in second to the host Central Warriors.

Willing to listen to all county residents

Winneshiek County Supervisor District 4 Dan Langreck is a lifelong Winneshiek County resident and current District 4 Supervisor.

He is a 35-year business owner, and has 15 years experience with the Ossian City Council, 13 years with the County Planning & Zoning Commission and served on the County Board of Adjustments.

Choose experience.

Re-elect Langreck.

Paid for by Langreck for Supervisor

Devoted to serving county residents

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Will work toward improving the county with the limited funds state laws have imposed

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Will eliminate wasteful spending by analyzing financial records

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The South Winn girls’ cross country team earned its fifth straight UIC title Thursday in Elkader. Members of the team include (front) Chloe Zweibohmer; (middle row) Addy Conway, Karissa Wenthold, Izzy Kuboushek, Lauren Ondrashek; (back) Annie Hageman, Tessa Phillips, Katie Shimek and Ava Franzen. (Photos by Becky Walz)

Addy Conway finished 19th for the Warrior varsity.

Brad Dahl (front) and Cameron Einck took sixth and seventh.