July 8, 2025 by Decorah Leader

Grill and Chill

Annual event provides taste of Iowa

The 15th annual Grill and Chill on the farm celebration, formerly known as Breakfast on the Farm, was held at Iowa’s Dairy Center in Calmar June 28.

“We changed from Breakfast on the Farm this year because there were just so many commitments pulling our volunteers in all different directions,” said Dave Lawstuen, chair of the Dairy Center. “We were able to partner with Lynch Livestock through the Winneshiek County Cattlemen, who did all the grilling, which takes a load off our volunteers.”

Visitors enjoyed free food, festivities and fellowship while celebrating all things dairy. Sponsored by the Northeast Iowa Dairy and Agriculture Foundation, attendees young and old participated in farm tours, a baby animal petting zoo and a wide variety of games for children. In addition to food and fun, sunny blue skies provided the backdrop for live music performed by The Bruce Bearinger Band.

More photos from Laura Days can be found in the July 3 Decorah Leader. Find past editions of the newspaper at decorahleader.com

Isaac Larson, 5 1/2 year old son of Laura and Tom Larsen of Charles City, sipped on a strawberry milkshake from Iowa’s Dairy Center’s Moo Mobile. Marking his second visit to the farm, Larson declared he liked petting the baby goats the best.

(Decorah Leader photos by Denise Lana)

Mark Hamlett from the Fayette County Dairy Promotion Board serves up free milk for attendees of Saturday’s event. “Bulk milk is the best all-around for dairy, and we need that in our schools over the individual cartons,” Hamlett said. “It’s way more economical and the milk just tastes better.”

DINING GUIDE

Community celebrates 2025 Laura Days

The annual Laura Days Festival took place in Burr Oak over the weekend. Community members travelled to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum to take part in various pioneer-themed activities. Burr Oak’s Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum boasts the Masters Hotel, the only childhood home of author Laura Ingalls Wilder which still remains on its original site. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The ﬁrst Laura Ingalls Wilder Days celebration was organized in 1976, and the 2025 festival included exhibits, a parade, children’s pioneer games, crafts, historical presentations, tours, various entertainment and the crowning of this year’s Little Miss Laura.

For the second time in history, two young ladies will share the title Little Miss Laura. Natalie Rich of Waukon and Soﬁa Grace Fernandez of Marion.

More photos from Laura Days can be found in the July 3 Decorah Leader. Find past editions of the newspaper at decorahleader.com

Knightley Rich of Waukon entertained Laura Days audiences with her violin. (Decorah Leader photo by Roz Weis)

Iowa health officials find local cancer rates lower than other counties

BY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER

(The complete version of this article published in the June 26 edition of the Decorah Leader, find past editions of the newspaper at decorahleader.com)

Representatives with the Iowa Cancer Registry and the Iowa Rural Health Association shared information on local cancer rates during a June 19 presentation hosted by Winneshiek County Public Health. The talk was held in the courthouse annex as part of the “Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project,” which provides county-specific cancer information meant to help address community concerns in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.

“Many, if not all of us, have been touched in some manner by cancer,” said Winneshiek County Public Health Administrator Krista Vanden Brink.

“We know cancer is present in our community but, maybe it’s not the cancers or the rates we thought. While there are some things we cannot change, such as aging, there are some modifiable risk factors we each can own and larger opportunities for us to do more.”

Information presented during the meeting showed that, on average, 136 new cases of cancer are reported in Winneshiek County each year — ranking 76th out of all 99 counties when

3 4 5

measured per capita. An average of 37 cancer-related deaths are reported annually in the county — placing Winneshiek County 98th out of the 99 counties in cancer-related deaths per capita. The presentation showed Iowa has the second highest rate of cancer per capita in the United States — topped only by Kentucky. Additionally, Iowa ranks 12th for prostate cancer, 20th for female breast cancer and 56th for colorectal cancer, Chariton’s information said.

Winneshiek County’s most common types of cancer, according to 2024 data from the Iowa Cancer Registry, are prostate cancer, female breast cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer and lung cancer. Winne-

Dr. Whitney Zahnd of the Iowa Rural Health Association added there is no single cause of cancer, saying the chances of developing the disease 136 new cancers cases diagnosed in Winneshiek County each year

37 cancer-related deaths in Winneshiek

County each year

How to understand your metabolism

shiek County sees about 10 new cases of melanoma each year, and its per capita rate is more than twice the national average, according to last week’s presentation. ICR Director Dr. Mary Chariton said the county’s notable skin cancer rates may potentially be due to the high number of county residents with Scandinavian heritage, which she noted is often associated with fair skin. In contrast, Winneshiek County is 98th in the state for lung cancer, which Chariton indicated may be due to a lower number of tobacco smokers.

are based on a combination of genetics, lifestyle and environmental risk factors. Chariton presented information during the presentation saying consistent associations have been found between colorectal cancer and nitrate levels, which can originate in the fertilizers and manure typically used among farming operations.

Vanden Brink encouraged county residents to review the Iowa Cancer Plan — which can be found online at shri.public-health.uiowa.edu/cancer-data/cancer-in-iowa-99-countiesproject — and other resources for themselves as health officials consider next steps.

Explore creative movement with new Lanesboro Artist-In-Residence

Lanesboro Arts of Lanesboro, Minnesota welcomes Twin Cities-based dance and performance artist Alys Ayumi “Yumi” Ogura as the Lanesboro Artist-in-Residence from Aug.1-15 and Sept. 1-16. During her residency, Ogura will celebrate and share the joy of movement-art in public forums and workshops. She will also immerse herself into the Lanesboro community, connecting with local creatives to develop new episodes of her narrative performance platform, “YumiVerse.”

All are welcome to participate in a series of free public workshops and events, starting with a Welcome Potluck on Tuesday, Aug. 5. No prior movement or dance experience is required to participate in these workshops. Instead, Ogura invites community members to step into the joy and creativity of movement while exploring elements of yoga, modern dance, folk dance and storytelling. Ogura’s residency will culminate in a capstone performance of the next installment in the YumiVerse on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the St. Mane Theatre in Lanesboro.

Residency events

• Aug. 5, 5-7 p.m. Welcome Potluck at the Cottage House Inn Community Room

• Aug. 7, 6-8 p.m. Gentle Movement Workshop at the St. Mane Theatre

• Aug. 9, 9-11 a.m. “Don’t You Feel It Too?” Community Movement Workshop at Sylvan Park

• Aug. 14, 6-8 p.m. Bon Odori Festival Dance Showcase at Gateway Park

• Sept. 4, 6-8 p.m. Gentle Movement Workshop at the St. Mane Theatre

• Sept. 6, 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. Interactive Art Dance Performance at Lanesboro Arts Gallery

• Sept. 13, 7 p.m. Capstone performance of “YumiVerse” at the St. Mane Theatre

About the artist

Alys Ayumi Ogura is a Twin Cities-based dance artist and performance maker. She focuses on storytelling through her movements, voice and quirky humor. Ogura has created a platform called the “YumiVerse,” a.k.a. Yumi’s universe, to share

to submitted)

narratives centered on her point of view while celebrating the richness and generosity of the American Midwest.

About the Lanesboro Early Career Artist Residency Program

Supported by the Jerome Foundation, the Lanesboro Artist Residency Program awards two to three residencies per year to early career artists with projects that activate the people

and places of Lanesboro while instigating positive change. The program’s place-based and community-engaged focus is geared toward early career artists that are driven to explore ways in which their work can be applied to the community and how Lanesboro’s rural community can inform their work. For more information, visit lanesboroarts.org or call 507467-2446.

Stop the Scammers program visits Decorah

The Stop the Scammers statewide fraud education campaign visited Decorah last week to teach local residents how to recognize and steer clear of common financial scams.

The free seminars are hosted by the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services in partnership with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and AARP Iowa. The seminars aim to educate Iowans about the types of scams impacting the state and how they can protect themselves, especially when it comes to online scams and cryptocurrency scams in the digital era.

“After visiting 18 communities across the state of Iowa last year, we are excited to continue this campaign to educate more Iowans on how to spot and avoid scams,” said Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. “With the prevalence of scams rising due to technology, we want to ensure Iowans have all the tools, information and state and local resources at their disposal to shield their savings.”

Organizers said, with the rise in digital technology and artificial intelligence in recent years, scammers have adopted creative, clever and emotional tac-

tics to con Iowans out of their hard-earned money.

“Scammers prey on ‘Iowa nice’ and will stop at nothing to rip-off Iowans,” said Iowa Attorney General Bird. “We’re laser-focused on supporting fraud victims and teaching Iowans how to protect themselves by spotting the red flags of a scam. If a suspicious number calls you and asks for money, hang up and contact my office at 1-888-777-4590. Remember to never send money to someone you met online or through a cryptocurrency ATM.”

The Stop the Scammers roadshow will visit

Metabolism is often discussed but perhaps not fully understood. The Cleveland Clinic says a person’s metabolism encompasses all of the processes within cells that keep the body functioning as it should. Metabolism provides the body with constant energy so it can perform essential tasks like breathing and digestion.

There are many myths surrounding the metabolic process. The following are some things to know about metabolism and whether it is possible to utilize it to spur weight loss.

What is a fast metabolism or a slow metabolism?

A person’s basal metabolic rate (BMR) may be fast, slow or somewhere in between. Someone with a fast BMR will burn a lot of calories, even while at rest. Those with a slow BMR need fewer calories to keep it going. Genetics, medication use, illness, and activity level may affect BMR.

Does exercise boost metabolism?

The answer to this question is yes and no. According to MedlinePlus, it is true that a person burns more calories when they exercise, but that increased calorie burn only lasts as long as the workout and maybe an hour or so afterwards. Once a person stops moving, his or her metabolism goes back to its resting rate. Therefore, eating a ton of calories after a workout thinking that a red-hot metabolism will burn through them for the rest of the day could be setting a person up for weight gain.

The same can be said for mistakenly thinking adding muscle will boost metabolism. Muscle burns more calories than fat and that boost does last a bit longer than the workout itself. However, most people only gain a few pounds of muscle in the exercises they do. It’s not a big enough difference to affect metabolism dramatically. One may have to be a body builder to see a

BMR boost associated with strength training. When muscles are not in active use, they burn very few calories.

What has the biggest impact on metabolism?

Metabolism is largely influenced by genetics, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Therefore, diet and exercise can be beneficial, but ultimately a person’s genes dictate BMR. Also, most of the time the activities of keeping the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs working account for most of a person’s metabolic function.

What is diet-induced thermogenesis?

Many people think that restrictive diets that are light on calories are good for losing weight, but that can sometimes backfire by slowing down a person’s BMR. Harvard Health says diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT), or the effect of eating certain metabolism-boosting foods, may increase resting metabolic rate. Foods and beverages that may impact DIT include lean protein, unrefined carbohydrates, caffeine, and green tea. DIT tends to be higher in the morning, so eating larger meals earlier in the day may help burn more calories.

How does sleep affect metabolism?

While the jury is still out on whether or not lack of sleep can lower BMR, a 2019 study published in the Journal of Lipid Research found that a lack of sleep for four nights or longer may slightly decrease how the body metabolizes fat. Also, those who don’t get enough sleep often feel hungry and may overeat as a result. This isn’t a direct metabolic cause, but one to consider nonetheless.

Metabolism is a complex process that is affected by many things, none greater than genetics. A person may be able to realize moderate gains in boosting metabolic rate but there is no magic pill to increase metabolism.

Tapscott to speak on Decorah Community Food Pantry

22 communities this summer. “Education is such an important component of fraud prevention,” said AARP Iowa State Director Michael Wagler. “By visiting communities across the state to share information about how these criminals operate, we hope to equip Iowans with knowledge they can use to avoid being targeted and scammed.”

Remaining locations for the Stop the Scammer Roadshow include Cedar Falls, Dubuque, Marion and Waukee. For more information, visit iowafraudfighters.gov.

Matt Tapscott from the Decorah Community Food Pantry will host the Decorah Senior Center’s monthly program at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 11 at the senior center — 806 River St. Tapscott stressed the numbers at the pantry have increased, and the organization is seeing many new families this year. They are also now participating in the Healthy Kids In Iowa feeding program. The July 11 event will be an interactive talk,

and Tapscott is expected to dispel some of the misinformation people have of the pantry. He will also share the pantry’s mission, location, number of volunteers and the number of clients served each month in addition to how the community might help. Canned goods, paper products or financial donations to the pantry will be accepted during the talk. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the event.

Lanesboro Arts Artist-in-Residence Alys Ayumi Ogura. (Pho-

Everything I ever By Ole Winter

(Retired Lutheran Pastor Ole Winter reminisces on his 90plus years of life, sharing past experiences and life lessons with Driftless readers.)

Turtles on fence posts needed to know

I once found the following little quip; “Whenever you see a turtle atop a fence post, yon know it did not get there by itself!” In all my years of wandering the farms and streams of Northeast Iowa, the woods of Minnesota and the mountains of the west, I have never seen a turtle on a fence post! The common turtles of our area can haul out on a log in a stream to warm up, but they don’t usually climb fence posts. Now I don’t often write about turtles, as I did recently, but this gives me another opportunity to challenge us all to be “turtle lifters”. That is, to aid others to get to the top of a fence post of life. After we have thanked those who helped and challenged us to be the best that we can be, it is time to do the same and be “turtle lifters” helping others

get places they might not otherwise reach. In the spring and early summer this local newspaper and other media print the names of the youth of our community who receive scholarships for further training or education. The well organized and supported “Habitat for Humanity” does likewise. Then there are the many parents who challenge and supply the aid to complete the challenge to their children to be all that of which they are capable. Our family has joined to support a scholarship at my seminary alma mater. You might one day find a “turtle” in the pulpit of a Winneshiek County church. Now .. please! Don’t ask your pastor who were those who helped him be the local pastor turtle in the fence post pulpit!

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive to be held in Decorah

RSVP of Northeast Iowa and the American Red Cross will be holding the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, July 11 at the Stone Ridge Community Church — 1111 Montgomery St. in Decorah. The public may respond to the call, give blood and vote for their favorite public service department — EMS, fire or law enforcement. Law enforcement has held the trophy since the last blood drive. While supplies last, Red Cross x Goodr sunglasses will also be available to those who donate between July 1 and July 14. To schedule an appointment, donors may call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org and enter code DECORAH. Donors may also contact Deb Larson at 563380-8814.

Airing of the Quilts Thursday

The sixth annual Airing of the Quilts — a drive-by quilt show Quilts in Decorah, sponsored by the Decorah Area Quilters and the NorthEast Iowa Quilters’ Guild — is scheduled from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, July 10. The public is invited to display quilts outside their homes. Quilts may be displayed over fences, on porch rails, from rain gutters - wherever works.

Effigy Mounds National Monument to host Junior Scientist Day

The public is invited to join park staff and the Iowa STEM Extern Program in a day of learning about science in nature during Junior Scientist Day Sunday, July 27 from 1-4 p.m. The day will focus on the park’s natural resources and monitoring with multiple activities including a special tour on the Yellow River boardwalk, nature journaling, beginner birding and a biodiversity scavenger hunt. Other activities include learning about animal tracks, scats and furs, sampling techniques for aquatic insects, flower dissection and using a dichotomous key to identify various seeds. There will also be activities that focus on organisms’ ability to survive in their environments such as bird beak adaptations and camouflage.

This event is conducted in partnership with the Iowa Stem Teacher Externships which pairs teachers with businesses and non-profits in the state to experience real world applications that they can share with their students as they prepare for future careers.

Other upcoming events

• July 26: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois Math in Nature Badge Workshop Daisy through Junior Girl Scouts can come and earn their Math in Nature badge with Girl Scouts and park rangers. Visit girlscoutstoday. org for more information.

• Aug. 6: 6 p.m. Looking Inside Linears: Using Remote Sensing to Investigate Linear Mounds in Northeast Iowa Luther College Professor Dr. Colin Betts will discuss the results of using multi-instrument geophysical survey

The event is free, and the public will be invited to drive, bike or walk this year’s route to enjoy seeing quilts throughout Decorah. Those who wish to be included on the 2025 map may contact Mike Ellingsen at 507-602-0322. Maps will be available online at neiqg.com and at the Decorah Chamber of Commerce.

American Cancer Society provides health tips for UV Protection Month

The vast majority of skin cancers are preventable by routinely shielding skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, according to the American Cancer Society, and officials said Americans aren’t doing enough to protect themselves. The American Cancer Society suggests the public bring sun-protection habits up to date. Dermatologists recommend performing a skin check monthly, so individuals will be more likely to notice small changes or even find a skin cancer when it’s still small. Health officials said the best time to examine the skin is after a shower or bath and with good lighting. Individuals should look for changes in size, texture, shape and color of birthmarks, moles and blemish-

es. The American Cancer Society also recommends the public slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat and put on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin from ultraviolet light.

Sunscreens need to be applied 20 to 30 minutes before going outside, and the portions should be generous, according to health officials. All sunscreen products used should have a sun protection factor — or SPF — of 30 or higher. For best results, the American Cancer Society recommends, reapplying sunscreen every two hours and immediately after swimming or sweating heavily. For more information, visit www.cancer.org.

Applications open for Arlin Falck Foundation grants

The Arlin Falck Foundation is accepting grant applications for community development, community promotions, community education and similar matters benefitting persons residing in Allamakee County and Winneshiek County, as well as Minnesota’s Fillmore County and Houston County. Entities which have a 501c3 designation by the Internal Revenue Service or municipalities are eligible to apply for grant funds. To obtain an application for grants or for other information, contact Kathleen V. Nelson at 12743 Buckley Rd. Caledonia, MN 55921, call 507-724-3348 during regular business hours or email arlinfalckfoundation@ yahoo.com. Grant applications must be received by Oct. 1.

About Effigy Mounds National Monument

Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves prehistoric American Indian burial and ceremonial mounds, including some in the shape of animals. The monument is located three miles north of Marquette and 22 miles south of Waukon on Highway 76 and is one of 430+ national park sites.

to investigate linear mounds.

The project involved the collection of magnetic, resistance and ground penetrating radar data.

• Aug. 15: 7:30 p.m. Exploring the Night Sky Night sky enthusiasts, both young and young at heart can join this ranger-led program that explores the significance of dark sky lighting and the impact of light pollution. After the presentation, visitors will have an opportunity to gaze at the beautiful constellations illuminating the night sky at Effigy Mounds National Monument.

About the National Park Service

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

For more information, call 563-873-3491 ext. 123, visit www.nps.gov/effigymounds or www.facebook/EffigyMounds.

New Minowa Players preparing for golden season of community theatre

After five decades and hundreds of performances, the New Minowa Players are preparing for a milestone season. The community theatre ensemble, founded in Decorah back in 1975 by the Bette Greedy, recently announced its line-up for the 2025-26 season.

Longtime cast members and new actors will pair their musical and dramatic talents to provide a range of offerings from the stage as theatre-goers prepare for the curtain to go up on the new season. Kicking off the season is the NMP Young People’s Production of the musical “Band Geeks,” a high-stepping tribute to high school marching bands and misfits everywhere, which will run Aug. 7-10.

Community children will take to the stage with an original musical adaptation of “Winnie the Pooh” in October. Dates for the fall show are Oct. 23-26.

Production organizers said November’s creative venture features a retelling of Homer’s epic poem through “An Iliad,” which is slated for Nov. 6-9.

The iconic Peanuts gang is expected to light up the mid-winter blues in the playhouse’s winter 2026 show,

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Jan. 22-25 and 30-31. The production is based on the popular comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.

Fast-forward to spring, and audiences will spend time with the Vanderhof-Syca-

more-Carmichael family in the production of “You Can’t Take It With You,” which will run April 9-12, 2026.

To complete the 50th anniversary season, audiences are promised magic and mischief alike, while watching the summer production of Ste-

Calmar planning 175th anniversary celebration 5K

and awards for the top two individuals in each age bracket for male and female competitors will be distributed at approximately 9:30 a.m. A $30 registration will cover fees and a t-shirt for participants who register before

July 9. A registration form can be found online at forms.gle/ SLh5iLED4ohzAD8y9, and hardcopy forms are available at South Winn Insurance, Fidelity Bank & Trust, Calmar Lutheran Church and the Calmar Library. Runners and walkers are welcome. Questions may be directed to 563-568-1389.

phen Sondheim’s classic musical “Into the Woods” June 25-28, 2026.

To learn more about audition times, performance dates and ticket information, visit newminowaplayers.org.

Service Notice

TIMOTHY “MEL” KUENNEN, 67 of Decorah, died Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Aase Haugan after a year battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 9 at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago St., Decorah, with Pastor Randy Kittelson and Eric Thiele presiding. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the

church Wednesday.

REAL

MISCELLANEOUS Celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on June 28, 2025. Congratulations! —Love, The Thornleys & The Zielinskis Meg and Jack Storkamp, of Decorah 28-1-D-17

• Accompany the Concert Choir (4th period), which includes 85-minute sessions on Tuesdays

Music Teacher to enhance the learning experience for students and ensure successful performances.

• Adapt to various musical styles and prepare open scores and piano accompaniments.

• Attend and perform in all scheduled concerts and performances.

• Additional playing opportunities with the fall musical and spring solo and small ensemble clinic and state festival.

• Proven experience as a collaborative pianist, preferably within a school or choral setting.

• Knowledge of a wide range of musical styles and genres. • Excellent sight-reading skills.

Ability to quickly learn and perform new pieces of music.

and teamwork skills.

2-bedroom apartment on W Water Street, Decorah. Available July 1st. $900/month. NS/NP. Water, garbage, snow removal included. 563-380-4959. 25-tf-LD-9