the
PRSRT.STD CAR-RT SORT U.S. POSTAGE PD CHARLES CITY, IA PERMIT #144 ECRWS POSTAL CUSTOMER
Calmar celebrates 175
www.decorahleader.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, July 22, 2025 | Vol. 7 Issue 30 | Two Sections
LOOKING FOR
NEWS?
The Decorah Leader newspaper is available by
All A Al ll Yo ll Y Your our ou ur Bu B Building uil ui ild ldi din ing ng Ne N Needs eed ee eds ds
subscription and by individual edition online at
Lookingtokicks Lookingtokickstartyournextbuilding kst ks sta tart r yo y urnext x building xt project?Giveusacall! pro roj ro oject ct? ct t? Give v usacall! ve
•Roofing •Ag •AgBuildings A Buildings Ag g gs •Ro R of Ro ofifng i •ResidentialProjects •Re R sidentialPro Re roj ro oect j ct cts ts •Siding •CommercialProjects •Commerc r ialPro rc roj ro oect j ct cts ts •Windows/Doors •Window ows ow ws/ s/Doors r rs •Cabinets •STARBuildings •ST STA ST TARBuildings g gs t ts •Insulation •Lumber •Hardware •Steel •St Ste St teel •Hard r wa rd w re r
DecorahLeader.com
201WMainSt,Calmar,IA| 201WM M
(563)562-3583|
SCAN THE QR CODE TO ACCESS THE JULY 17 EDITION!
years
details inside
Thursday, July 17,
2025
Vol. 160, Issue 29
www.decorahleader.co
m
Decorah, Iowa 52101
email: editor@dec
orahleader.com
One Section
phone: 563-382-422
Price $1.50
1
‘MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE’
Luther grad sees unexpected loss of visa as opportunity to shine light on others’ struggles
Iowa Attorney General’ to Decorah sparks prots visit est
Republicans and Democr ats show support for Winnes hiek County Sheriff
TOP- Area residents clustered on the north side of Prosperity Road Monday morning to inform Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird that, when it tial immigration enforcemen comes t to her lawsuit against actions. The sheriff’s stateWinneshiek County Iowa Attorney General ment was posted to his office’s SherFacebook page and submitted iff Dan Marx, enough Brenna Bird was greeted is with to area news outlets enough. BOTTOMprotest signs and boos ProMon- cation. The sheriff for publi- testers lined a stretch of day morning in Decorah, said in his as statement that he Prosperity she stopped to tour a local use of non-judicialviews the Toppling Road between business. ly vetted Goliath Brewdetainers by agencies ing Co. Bird filed a legal case ear- FBI or Immigration like the Archery and Xpedition lier this year against and and booed Iowa CusWin- toms Enforcemen neshiek County Sheriff Attorney General Brenna t as a violaDan tion of citizens’ Marx after Bird received rights under Bird as she passed. (Phoa the Fourth and Sixth complaint from Iowa tos by Zach Jensen) AmendGov. ment of the U.S. Kim Reynolds regarding Constitution. a cial media post the sheriff so- Bird’s office contends Marx’s au- statement is at thored on Feb. 4, in odds with a AG Bird’s visit response portion of Iowa Code which to local concerns over poten- prohibits state continued on page employees 5 BY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER
Visit us online - www
Deputy’s best friend
Recent Luther College grad Jaraad Ahmed worked in a lab on campus the summer of 2024. (Photo submitted) during BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR
months before he planned to cared for these people.” cross the stage during Luther’s Officials at Luther 2025 commencement College The air was hot and ceremo- confirmed heavy ny. But, as best Ahmed was ultias former Luther student Ahmed could mately able to graduate on time Ja- tell, he only had raad Ahmed exited about 15 days in May an airport before his – though not in person student in April this year. It – wasn’t an rendered invalid. visa would be and staff at the college feel the unfamiliar sensation, community lost he said. He chose to leave the It was one he knew country young figures one of its best to expect within a matter the day Ahmed in his home country of days. boarded that April of Bangla“Being in community desh. Days earlier, is so for Bangladesh. flight and left he’d been strong, and informed by officials it takes work,” at Luther Ahmed said. “Communities are College – not by the U.S. Learning to be a leader ernment – that his status gov- inviting. That’s what a comAhmed completed within munity is, but what he the U.S. Department the ability to put of Home- yourself out called the equivalent there and of high land Security’s Student and for your community do better school at the Waterford KamExchange Visitor Information is why that hlaba United World College status change had me System – or SEVIS so heart– had been broken, because I had put my revoked. Ahmed effort – my being – into The news came less the peothan two ple around me. It was because I continued on page 14
.decorahnewspapers.c
om
K-9 deputy McCoy to retire from sheriff’s office after 9.5 years of service
BY ZACH JENSEN McCoy came to work STAFF WRITER with me, deputy was named “McCoy” in we played, trained and worked honor of the together — constantly generous donation, A key deputy with the learning the sheriff’s office said. neshiek County Sheriff’s Win- from one another.” K-9 deputy McCoy, McCoy’s predecessor, a Belfice is retiring this month. OfK-9 gian Malinois, was born on deputy McCoy has been K-9 deputy Ricky, passed away in May active November of 24, 2014, in the Slovak 2015, after he was with the sheriff’s offi Republic — after ce for 9.5 diagnosed which he with a brain tumor. years, and Chief Deputy was transferred to a Steve Hearing that news, training Nesvik, the dog’s handler, 89-year-old facility said in Arkansas Waterloo before resident Betty Mche will miss working with his Coy, whom the sheriff’s office four-legged partner. said had no ties to Winneshiek “Working together as a has been a very rewardingteam County, covered the county’s McCoy perience,” Nesvik said. ex- cost of purchasing a new K-9 “Mc- officer. Betty continued on page Coy was like a human McCoy died in 5 partner. 2016. The county’s new K-9
“Great rates got us the “Great service keeps us car.” coming back.”
ABOVE- Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Steve Nesvik with his partner, K-9 deputy McCoy. (Photo submitted) Malinois, is retiring Deputy McCoy, an this month after serving 11-year-old Belgian the Winneshiek County Chief Deputy Steve Sheriff’s Office as Nesvik’s K-9 partner for the last 9.5 years. (Photo submitted)
(563) 582-1331 | DuTrac.org