June 3, 2025 by Decorah Leader

Residents call for increased water monitoring

(The complete version of this article published in the May 29 Decorah Leader, find past editions of the newspaper at decorahleader.com)

Members of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Commission listened to about half-a-dozen environmental activists from the Decorah area during the commission’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 21 inside the Hotel Winneshiek. Members of the public called for more widespread water monitoring across the state. However, commission members informed the au-

dience the monitoring locations on the agenda being cited by attendees are only a small portion of the hundreds in place across Iowa and said funding increases for such efforts must come through the state legislature.

Several individuals pointed to an item on the agenda regarding a stream monitoring contract which encompassed 60 monitoring sites around the state — a number the local environmentalists didn’t feel was adequate, believing the figure represented less than one monitoring site per county.

“We need to do more for the children and grandchildren of Iowa,” said attorney and Dec-

orah resident Melissa O’Rourke.

Joe Skoda of rural Winneshiek County told the commission he could drink from the streams he fished from 70 years ago, but he cannot safely do the same today.

“I think the people who are polluting our waters, if they do get fined or a slap on the wrist, that’s the cost of doing business for them,” he said, “and I just want to make sure that monitoring all the streams continues.”

Decorah resident Tim Wagner called 60 monitoring cites a pittance and woefully inadequate compared to Iowa’s 10,000 miles of rivers and the amount of livestock raised in Iowa.

Members of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Commission displayed a map during Wednesday’s meeting. The map, which is available online at programs.iowadnr.gov/aquia displays the locations of several hundred surface monitoring sites across the state. Community members took issue with one of Wednesday’s agenda items, saying 60 monitoring sites were insufficient before commission members informed the audience the 60 sites listed on the meeting’s agenda were part of a single contract which made up a small portion of the state’s overall water monitoring efforts. (Image courtesy of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources)

“The numbers paint a very critical picture,” Wagner said.

“The numbers I’m aware of right now — we have over 26 million head of hogs …, over 10 million head of cattle, over 50

million head of poultry across the state, and we’re only monitoring at 60 locations? What’s wrong with this picture?”

However, Environmental Protection Commission Wa-

ter Quality Bureau Chief Lori McDaniel indicated Wednesday’s speakers had severely underestimated the number of monitoring sites in place across Iowa. She said the 60 water monitoring sites included on Wednesday’s agenda are part of a small contract, and the Iowa DNR has several hundred water quality monitoring sites around the state.

“It is not the entire monitoring program,” McDaniel said of the 60-site contract. “We get $2.9 million per year to do water quality monitoring for the whole monitoring program. So, this is one small contract.” Commission members provided a map — available online at programs.iowadnr.gov/aquia — showing the various sites which monitor surface water in Iowa’s rivers, streams, lakes, wells, wetlands and springs. More than 70 such sites are located in Winneshiek County alone, in addition to the county’s nine ground water monitoring sites and four sites which monitor fish tissues.

one,

24/7.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon invites children and families to take part in the Summer Explorers program series—a lineup of activities held on select Wednesdays this summer. Each event will run from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and offers educational experiences for all ages.

A cardboard construction session will be held June 11, for participants to create structures by hand using cardboard.

Duffy Does Seuss is scheduled for June 25 and will feature performances by actor Duffy Hudson as she brings beloved children’s stories to life.

USDA Soil Conservationist

Sara Berges will visit on July 9 during Survive the Dust Bowl, an interactive session exploring the Dust Bowl through games and activities.

Life-size Game Day will take place July 23, and visitors may

RIDGEWAY DAYS

SATURDAY, JUNE 14,

FRIDAY, JUNE 13

6PM - Slowpitch Softball Call 563-419-6844 to sign up.

T’s Food Truck 5PM-?

Gissleson Park

SATURDAY, JUNE 14

8AM-5PM - Slowpitch Softball

Fat T’s Food Truck 11AM-?

Gissleson Park

10AM - Bean Bag Tournament

To sign up call Cody Fisher 563-379-0951.

11AM Bags Fly! Located in the alley behind Fireman’s Inn.

12PM-3PM- Show and Shine (Weather permitting) Street outside TnA’S Lounge To sign up call Derek Spalla 563-380-6945.

12PM-4PM - DJ Spoolie Ouside TnA’S Lounge

9AM-4PM Wood Carving Museum/ Indoor Flea Market

10AM-TBD- Moo Mobile Turkey River Cultural Center (Old Elem. School 435 County St.)

2PM-4PM Toe Tapper’s Musical Group (Turkey River Cultural Center)

12PM-11PM Here’z 2U Food Truck Community Ctr. Parking Lot

4PM-11PM GYRO Palace Food Truck Community Ctr. Parking Lot

4PM-7PM - Silent Auction. Raffle, T-Shirt Sale. For info call Emily 563-203-0630, Under the Main Tent

5PM-8PM- Burger Bar Winn. County Cattlemen Served inside & outside of the main tent.

8PM-11PM - THE DWEEBS $10 Admission - Adults 12 & under FREE. OPENING

Local advocate aims to prevent abuse by shining spotlight on signs of strangulation

(This

BY ZACH JENSEN DECORAH LEADER STAFF WRITER

The use of strangulation by abusive individuals isn’t as uncommon as most in the region might assume it to be, according to Trish Johnson, a bilingual domestic abuse advocate with Helping Services for Youth and Families in Decorah. Johnson, a 12-year veteran of the Domestic Abuse Resource Center recently completed an advanced course on the topic and methods to prevent such abuse, and she hopes to make the public aware of how prevalent such abuse is.

She said, in her line of work, the best approach is often to assume strangulation has occurred and rule it out, rather than incorrectly assume it never occurred at all.

“In a small town, you feel safe,” said Johnson, a Decorah native. “You feel like things like this don’t happen, or they don’t happen to people you know, or it doesn’t happen to the good people in town. You would be shocked to know how prevalent strangulation is.”

Johnson explained choking and strangulation are not synonymous — choking occurs inside the throat while strangulation occurs when pressure is applied to the outside of the neck. She went on to say that

Trish Johnson

pressure can be dangerous even if it doesn’t constrict a person’s airway, noting the carotid artery and the jugular vein are located in the neck.

“The arteries are bringing blood to our brains, and the veins are bringing it away,” Johnson said. “All it takes is 4 pounds of pressure, which is like squeezing a straw. It doesn’t take much at all. So, you can put pressure on either the carotid artery or the jugular, and all it takes is an average of 6.8 seconds to lose consciousness.”

She said a victim can lose bladder control in approximately 15 seconds and bowel control after 30 seconds — Johnson said, on average, a victim in a fatal case of strangulation dies between about a minute and 2.5 minutes after losing consciousness.

“If you don’t remember wetting yourself, it’s probably because you lost consciousness,” she said. “You’re going to have memory issues, and you’re not going to remember things in chronological order. When you’re unconscious, you’re not making new memories, because your brain is dying, so you’re losing brain cells. Losing consciousness isn’t good.”

Johnson said that, for years, professionals in her field had

noticed clients who had a difficult time remembering things or who seemed what she called flighty.

“We knew the correlation, but now we have the causation,” she said. “Probably, it was either repeated concussions, or it was from strangulation or other injuries sustained during an assault.”

She said strangulation is often used by abusive individuals in an attempt to gain power or control over their partner. She described it as a tool used by abusers — like financial dependence, isolation, manipulation and other forms of abuse — and she indicated abusive behavior can sometimes shift from one form to another.

“Strangulation is used to show their partner they have the ability to kill them — whether they take advantage of that or not,” Johnson said. “Most homicides by an intimate partner are committed with firearms, however the chance of eventually being killed by your partner increases by 750 percent if you’ve been strangled by that partner just one time.”

Johnson and other professionals in her position work closely with law enforcement on domestic abuse cases. She said internal structures like the hyoid bone, trachea and voice box can be damaged by strangulation, yet about 40 percent of strangulation victims won’t show visible signs of the abuse.

“It’s important for people to get medically evaluated,” she said. “The chances of someone dying from strangulation are actually pretty low, but we don’t want to miss that. It’s just like a car accident. The (EMTs) put collars on the victims just in case they have a spinal injury, and they keep it on until that has been ruled out. We need to be treating strangulation victims the same way. They’ll probably walk away just fine, but we could save a life.”

The visible signs of strangulation can include bruising and petechiae, which are small, pinpoint red or purple spots which appear on the skin due to broken blood vessels. Johnson said

victims also experience tinnitus, headaches and soreness. She said a victim might not necessarily think these symptoms are serious, but they could be signs of a more critical injury which could contribute to their death several months later.

“That’s how a lot of perpetrators are not being held responsible for these injuries,” Johnson said. “Because they can say ‘Anything could have happened between now and then,’ and that’s why being medically screened after it happens is so important. A very high majority of victims choose not to get medical care, because in the moment, they feel okay.”

Johnson said that because of the symptoms of strangulation, law enforcement could mistake someone who has been strangled for someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Law enforcement plays a really important role, and they’re amazing partners with us,” she said. “All of our partners and everyone I’ve told I’m doing this class — they’re all excited to get the information too so we can all do better.”

Johnson said advocates as well as law enforcement should look for facial drooping, areas of hair that have been pulled out, scratches on an individual’s neck, incontinence and slurred speech as signs of possible abuse. She also recommended officers use specific screening questions when responding to domestic abuse calls — especially if strangulation is happening during intercourse.

“It’s happening with a lot of younger adults, because they’re seeing it in pornography and social media, and they think it’s normal, but it’s not,” Johnson said, noting numerous accidental deaths occur each year due to strangulation during sex. “A lot of times, it’s not really consensual. They’re being persuaded or coerced into trying something they’re really not comfortable doing and not knowing what could happen.”

For additional information on Helping Services for Youth and Families, call 563-387-1720 or visit helpingservices.org.

DINING GUIDE

Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital to hold garage sale

The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding their third annual garage sale at Freedom Bank in Waukon in conjunction with the Waukon City-Wide Garage Sales. The Auxiliary garage sale will be open from 8 a.m .to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 5 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, June 7. This auxiliary garage sale will feature clean, usable household items in good working condition. No clothing will be offered.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital provides the hospital, its patients and visitors with many services. The auxiliary also holds annual fundraisers, such as the Women’s Health Day Luncheon, the Pillow-Perk in mid-October, the Gift Case at the hospital and their annual

membership drive each July.

All the money the auxiliary receives goes back to the hospital for equipment, which has included an obstetrics birthing bed, an emergency room cart, an EKG machine, a mammography viewbox and have helped fund the new 3D digital mammography machine and surgery sterilizer. This year, the funds will be used to purchase a new stove/oven for the nutrition department at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

This is the auxiliary’s third annual garage sale, which was coordinated as a new fundraiser in order to replace the Masquerade sales, which are no longer held. For more information, call Auxiliary President Bev Larson-Needham at 568-4287.

Howard County Hospice, Helms Funeral Home to host grief support group

Howard County Community Hospice and Helms Funeral Home in Decorah will host a “Making Meaning and Finding Hope” grief support program from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 3 for people in the area who are grieving the death of a loved one. This program is part of a quarterly “Conversation and Community” grief series held at Helms and sponsored by the two organizations. Each program will feature 45 minutes of educational content followed by 45 minutes of discussion, optional sharing and questions. The program is free and open to all adults who are grieving.

Light snacks will be provided. “We’ve received a number of requests for more grief support programs, especially in Decorah. We know that people never truly ‘get over’ the death of someone special, but there are many ways to make grieving less hard,” said Kerrie Rogne, director of nursing at HCCH.

“We have many patients and families in Decorah and a certified grief support specialist our team. Helms Funeral Home has a sincere interest in meeting the grief support needs in this community, making them the perfect partner for us.”

LUCILLE SMOCK, 95, of Decorah, died Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Wellington Place in Decorah. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 3 at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago St., Decorah with Pastor Peter Kowitz presiding. Burial will be at the Lutheran cemetery.

MARION STEGEN, 83, of Decorah, died Friday, May 16, 2025, at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco. Funeral services were held Monday, June 2 at Helms Funeral Home in Decorah with Pastor Randy Kittelson presiding. Burial was in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minnesota.

Decorah Public Library announces upcoming summer reading program events

Decorah Public Library recently announced the return of The Amazing Martika at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 4 in Decorah Public Library’s Mezzanine. Registration for the free event opened on the library’s website as of May 21. This is the first in a series of visiting performers and educators scheduled as part of DPL’s 2025 Summer Reading Program: Read All About It. Martika’s circus variety show offers a range of tricks, stunts and spectacles — from hula hooping with barbed wire to eating fire. This variety show was crafted with children and families in mind, as Martika performs in schools and public libraries across the country.

The library recently also announced the return of the Mikayla Oz Magic Show at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12 on the

third floor of the library. Mikayla Oz’s all-new 40-minute family magic show will be packed with magic, interactive moments and laugh-out-loud comedy. Space is limited, and registration for this program is live on Decorah Public Library’s website. The program is the first in DPL’s lineup of Summer Reading family programs.

“The lineup of performers and events this summer is so exciting,” said Sophie Nall, children’s and young adult librarian at DPL. “We definitely have a little something for everyone, and it is such a great way to get kids and families to visit the library and just have some fun together.”

For more information, visit decorahlibrary.org or send an email to snall@deccorahlibrary. org.

AUCTION CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 - ONLINE ONLY. Real Estate Closing at 1 p.m. and All Other Items Closing at 4 p.m. Roy Piper Estate. Tim Piper, Executor 1503 380th St, Decorah. Sweeney Auction Service. www. sweeneyauctionservice.com Waukon. 563-568-2464.

SATURDAY JUNE 7 - 9:30 a.m. Country Tractor, Toys & Misc Auction. Ron & Norma Bullerman 1647 227th Ave Calmar. Sweeney Auction Service. www.sweeneyauctionservice.com Waukon. 563-568-2464.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17 - 8:30 a.m. Machinery Consignment Auction. Sale held at Sweeney Auction Service Waukon. Sweeney Auction Service. www.sweeneyauctionservice.com Waukon. 563-568-2464.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21 - 10 a.m. Real Estate Auction. Protivin American Legion Post 605, Owner. Shindelar Auction Service, LLC. Protivin. 563-569-8235. www.auctionsgo.com

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

Is this a keeper?

It happened during a "Winter Summerfest" family gathering at a Minnesota lake. One day my assignment as the "fishing grandpa with boat" was to take granddaughters fishing. Tough Duty! Hooks were attached to the monofilament bobbers a few feet above and we cranked up the Yamaha and headed for pan fish country. For those not quite ready to put on the "yucky" worm, my promise was I would do that. I had told them that we hoped to catch enough for a fish fry that evening, but that we might not keep all we would boat – they might be too small.

Soon the bobbers bobbed, and reels cranked as the blue gills and sunfish were lifted out of the water. It wasn't long until I heard one of them say, as she almost flung the fish in my face to be unhooked, "Grandpa, is this a keeper?" Once in a while it was and it would go on the stringer. I think we did have a fish fry that night.

Of course, the real "keepers" that day were the precious cargo of granddaughters. None are "slot fish" that have to be safely released and let go. I suppose, next to my wife, they are the most precious "keepers" of my life. Nothing quite like it. What a delicious duty that fishing day was. There were many words of thanks, but guess who had the most fun. The word, keeper, can be used for those of us who call our children and grandchildren "keepers", but we parents and grandparents are "keepers" as well. We, like "zookeepers", are their care takers as long as they are in our "live tank". So, we do all that we can to be sure that they know this and feel safe and much as possible, that they are given every opportunity to be all that they can be. Of course, I have always wanted them to be sure they know that God is their ultimate "Keeper''! Sure would like to crank up that Yamaha with that cargo again.

June 21, 2025, 10:00 a.m. Protivin American Legion Post 605, Owner.

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Red Cross: Top tips to stay safe this summer

Whether you swim, grill or camp, here are steps to help you stay safe

It’s time to enjoy the great outdoors and warm weather. The American Red Cross wants everyone to have a safe summer and offers steps they can follow.

“Here in Iowa, many of us enjoy swimming, grilling and camping,” said Emily Holley, Regional Communications Manager, Nebraska-Iowa Red Cross. “The Red Cross wants you to be safe no matter what your plans include and offers steps you can follow to have a safe summer.” Visit redcross.org/summersafety for more information.

SWIMMING

Drowning can happen quickly and silently. Unless rescued, it could take as little as 20 to 60 seconds for a drowning person to submerge. Be “water smart” – build confidence in the water by learning to be safer, making good choices, learning to swim

and knowing how to handle emergencies.

• Prevent unsupervised access to water, provide constant and active adult supervision, and know how to swim.

• Never swim alone – adults and teens as well as children. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child. Swim in an area with lifeguards.

• Designate a “water watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.

• Don’t just pack it, wear your life jacket — always on a boat and if you are in a situation beyond your skill level.

• Reach or throw, don't go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble and tell them to grab on to it. Don’t go in! You could become a victim yourself.

GRILLING, FOOD SAFETY

Grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year. Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Never grill indoors or in any enclosed area. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.

deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.

• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.

• Wash your hands, utensils and workstation before preparing the food.

• Don’t leave food out in the hot sun. Keep perishable foods in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezer gel packs.

• Separate uncooked meats, poultry and seafood from readyto-eat foods like salads, fruits, vegetables, cheeses and desserts. Use separate plates and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.

CAMPING Being prepared for emergencies is critical when you’re headed to an area with limited access to phone services and help. If you are heading out to camp, or hike, wear layers of light-weight clothing, sunscreen and a hat.

• Pack a first aid kit with insect repellant, sunscreen and personal medications. A variety of first aid kits and emergency supplies are available at redcrossstore.org.

where you are going and when you should be back, with a family member, neighbor or friend.

• Bring nutritious food items and plenty of water even if you don’t plan to stay overnight.

• Download the FREE Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the FREE Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

Know the level of ability of your group and the environment around you. Plan to use hiking trails that are within your skill level.

• Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house,

About the American Red Cross The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

• Share your plans, including

Walk-out Basement Sale: 3,000 square feet of quality items! All items are priced to ﬂy out the door! Antiques, houseware, baking equipment, toys, high quality

June 5th (4:00 - 7:00 p.m.), Friday, June 6th (10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.), Saturday, June 7th (7:00 - 11:00 a.m.) 23-1-D-2 St.

Kolaches, Rohlichy, and more baked goods. Something for everyone. 23-2-DL-2

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.

• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

• A high

Hearing Loss Study Seeking Participants!

We’re looking for participants for a special promotion being conducted as part of a local outreach study in your area. Early hearing loss treatment is essential. The tide is turning, and more and more people are recognizing the value of treating even mild hearing loss. Yet, people still wait an average of seven years to treat their hearing loss.

• Better hearing may protect you from dementia, guard against depression and help you stay socially active.

• Hearing aids today are so advanced they make it possible for most people to hear in very crowded, noisy situations.

• Early intervention “trains” your ears when they are most able, setting you up for more effective treatment and better hearing.

• The hearing checkup is free and painless.

You will receive a FREE* hearing evaluation and a FREE* Video Otoscope Inspection. A Video Otoscope is a tiny camera that is placed just inside your ear canal – much like your doctor does with a hand-held Otoscope during a check-up. It’s completely painless and will allow us to see whether

Would you be willing to take a pair home to try them out and let us know what you think? We will have a pair of new Miracle-Ear hearing aids for you in our ofﬁce and will set them up for your hearing so you can take them home with you and experience the difference. Then just come back and share your thoughts!

Students repurpose Legos to spark creativity in others

Some sets were even tailored to the community, such as a set resembling the Postville Fire Department.

“My students loved picking out their favorite kit - a space ship or store or basketball court,” said Rachel Sandhorst, a counselor at the Postville Community School District. “The recipients are excited to take home their kits to play with this summer.”

What began as a Decorah Middle School mini-course project has now expanded,

The supermarket freezer case or a local ice cream shop may offer plenty of ice cream options, but ice cream also can be prepared at home with some patience and quality ingredients. This recipe for “Meyer Lemon-Buttermilk Ice Cream” marries the chill of ice cream with summer citrus. A Meyer lemon is a hybrid of a lemon and a mandarin orange, offering a unique balance of citrus flavor. Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of “Chocolate Obsession: Confections and Treats to Create and Savor” (Stewart, Tabori & Chang) by Michael Recchiuti & Fran Gage.

MEYER LEMONBUTTERMILK ICE CREAM

Makes 1 quart

¾ cup (6 ounces) heavy whipping cream

2⁄3 cup granulated cane sugar, divided into halves

2 Meyer lemons, (1 zested and both juiced to equal 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice)

½ Tahitian vanilla bean, split horizontally 1⁄3 cup whole milk

6 extra-large egg yolks

1¼ cups (10 ounces) buttermilk, chilled

Stir the cream and 1⁄3 cup of the sugar together in a small saucepan. Finely grate the zest from the lemon into the pan. (The lemon can then be juiced as part of the 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice.) Scrape the vanilla seeds from the bean into the pan and then add the bean. Bring the cream to a boil over medium heat. Turn off the heat, cover the top of the pan with plastic wrap, and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, strain the cream through a fine-mesh sieve and return to the saucepan. Add the milk. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

While the cream mixture is heating, combine the egg yolks and the remaining 1⁄3 cup sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is pale and thick and forms a ribbon when the whip is lifted from the bowl, 3 to 5 minutes.

Switch the mixer to low speed. Slowly pour the hot cream mixture into the bowl and beat just until combined. Do not beat to a froth.

Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard coats a spoon and registers 160 F on an instant-read thermometer, about 5 minutes.

Pour through the fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the custard overnight.

The next day, add the buttermilk and lemon juice to the custard and stir to mix. Churn the custard in an ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.