Winneshiek County Fair announces
Friday night performances
The Winneshiek County Fair has announced country music performer Tyler Farr, with spe-
cial guest Timothy Wayne, will perform at the fair on Friday, July 11. Gates will open at 6 p.m. The Missouri native's debut was marked by the release of his 2013 album Redneck Crazy, according to his online biography, and he has a trio of No. 1 songs to his credit, including "Whiskey in My Water" and "A Guy Walks Into a Bar," in addition to the title track from his debut album. His album Suffer In Peace was among the top five on both the Billboard Top 200 and Billboard Country Album charts. Timothy Wayne is a country music artist from Franklin, Tennessee, whom information from Universal Music Group Nashville said has been influenced by country music figures like Waylon Jennings, Randy Travis and Tim McGraw. Wayne's current concert schedule shows stops in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi an Colorado ahead of his stop in Decorah.
Reality 101 was held at the Waukon High School on March 7 for all the senior high school students in the Lansing, Monona, Postville and Waukon schools. This was the first time the event has been offered since it was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID. Approximately 175 students participated, visiting the 20-plus stations representing different monthly living expenses. The students chose a career and received a simulated paycheck worth one month of income, then paid taxes, opened a banking account, found a place to live and a vehicle to drive, then continued to visit all of the stations to pay their monthly expenses. After mak-
Reality 101 was held on Friday, March 7 for all senior high school students from Lansing, Monona, Postville and Waukon Schools. The event was hosted at the at the Waukon High School. More than 175 students visited the 20-plus stations, which were manned by more than 80 volunteers from the community, as students tried to balance their budget with one month’s income, giving them what organizers called a good dose of reality when it came to financial responsibility. (Photos submitted)
ing all these choices and paying all their bills, the students had to be sure their budget was balanced with at least a small profit by the end of the month.
Reality 101 was introduced in 2004 by Cheryl Livingston, who was then a personal banking officer and marketing coordinator at Citizens State Bank in Waukon and Postville. After Livingston became a paramedic and began her new career at Veterans Memorial Hospital, she brought the program with her.
“This program teaches so many practical life concepts
“It provides the students an opportunity to test drive their chosen career’s income with a month of expenses, allowing them to see what they would actually be able to live like...”
- Cheryl Livingston, Realty 101 coordinator
involving financial choices,” Livingston said. “It provides the students an opportunity to test drive their chosen career’s income with a month of expenses, allowing them to see what they would actually be able to live like as a 25 year old. Over the years I’ve had students come to me to say they changed their career path because Reality 101 made them realize they wouldn’t have enough money
Reality 101
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Luther College to sell wood from used Regents Center bleachers
Luther College Facilities Services will be selling approximately 1,200 used fir boards from the Regents Center bleachers during a special onetime sales event to the public. The sale will take place from 3-6 p.m. Friday, March 21 and from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, March 22 in the south lobby of the Regents Center. The price will be $10 per plank. Luther Book Shop employees will be on-site to accept payment by cash or check.
“I’ve heard of people repurposing old gym bleachers for
DIY and construction projects,” said Jay Uthoff, Luther College’s director of facilities services. “Reclaimed wood is a sustainable alternative for those who enjoy the charm of imperfections. These high-quality boards are ready for their next life.”
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Ask your healthcare provider about the shingles vaccine.
Source: cdc.gov 2/25
Originally constructed in 1963, the Regents Center is home to Norse athletics and is the center for sports and recreation at Luther College. The interior of the facility is currently undergoing a $24 million renovation. In 2023, Luther received a $2 million gift from Dennis and Suzanne Birkestrand to renovate and rename the court inside the Regents Center to become the Birkestrand Family Court. Less than a month later, the college announced a historic $10 million gift from Michael and Nicole Gerdin and the Gerdin Charitable Foundation. This gift was the largest individual gift in the college’s history, and the Regents Center will soon be renamed the Gerdin Fieldhouse for Athletics and Wellness.
Through the public sale, buyers have the opportunity to own a piece of Luther history while also reducing wood waste in the landfill. Bleacher boards of various widths and lengths will be available. Most of the wooden planks have bolt holes. Every board is blank — the wood is not labeled with seat numbers or other identifying markers.
Luther College Facilities Services will be selling used fir boards from the Regents Center bleachers during a special one-time sales event Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22, in the south lobby of the Regents Center. (Photo submitted)
Buyers are responsible for loading, securing and hauling bleacher boards away immediately after the point of sale. No early sales will be offered, and sales transactions will be in-person on a first-come, firstserved basis.
For questions related to the used bleacher board sale, contact the Luther College Book Shop between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday through Fri-
day by phone at 563-387-1036 or email bookshopweb@luther. edu.
Fundraising continues to support the cost of the renovation. For more information on ways to support the Gerdin Fieldhouse project, call the Luther College Advancement Office at 563-387-1861 to speak with a development officer. Gifts and pledges of all sizes are appreciated.
Local youth to hold “Stand Up To Cancer” fundraiser
The public is invited to join members of the Decorah Basketball Association’s fourthgrade team and “Stand Up To Cancer” by supporting the team’s garage and bake sale, which will take place from 4-6
p.m. Friday, March 21 in the Minowa Heights neighborhood — 1313 Skyline Drive in Decorah.
Face painting will be available, in addition to children’s clothes, toys, games, books, arts/crafts and baked goods.
All proceeds will be donated to cancer research and in support of local families affected by cancer.
Luther College celebrating Women’s History Month
Luther College is hosting several events in recognition of Women’s History Month. The events are free and open to the public.
“The Department of Identity Studies is proud to support events in Women’s History Month to remind us that half of human history is about women and our contributions to society,” said Char Kunkel, head of the identity studies department at Luther. “All too often academia — knowledge in the western world at least — assumes that men are the only ones who invented, created, explored, built and sustained the world; at least the important things. We wouldn’t be here without the contributions of women. Let’s celebrate that.”
The commemoration events began with an International
Women’s Day Tea and Talk on Saturday, March 8. Hongxiao Yu, assistant professor of management, presented data about women in the workplace, barriers preventing women from being promoted to top leadership roles at national and international corporations, and the unique cultural pressures facing women.
The public is also invited to join the Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 in room 111 of Luther’s Main Building to learn about the power of hair.
“This event is designed to elevate the power of hair as a tool for self-expression, strength and solidarity,” said Michelle Boike, assistant dean and director of the Center for Engagement and Support. “Participants
will leave feeling affirmed, seen and connected within their college community.”
Women’s History Month events will wrap up on Luther’s campus with a free viewing of the 2024 film “The Six Triple Eight” at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 20 in Valders, room 206. Based on the true story of the only all-Black unit of the Women’s Army Corps to serve overseas during World War Ⅱ, the film tells of the unit’s fight to fix a three-year backlog of undelivered mail and improve war morale.
“The Six Triple Eight” was written and directed by Tyler Perry and stars Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian and Oprah Winfrey. The film’s featured
7 ways to celebrate Women’s History Month
The month of March is notable for various reasons, not the least of which is it serves as Women’s History Month.
Although any time of year is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of women and pay homage to those special women in one’s life, each March extra attention is given to the impact women make in their local communities and across the world.
According to the UN’s World Population Prospects 2024, as of 2025, the population of females in the world is estimated at 4,093,903,832, or 4,093 million, or 4.09 billion, representing 49.73% of the world population. The world has 43,805,404, or 43.81 million, more males than females. The majority of countries and regions in the world have more females than males. But the two most populous countries, China and India, have a higher male population by a margin. Therefore, there are more males
than females in the world. If the populations of China and India are excluded, there are more females than males in the rest of the world.
Here are some ways to commemorate Women’s History Month this year.
1. Support women entrepreneurs. Make it a point to shop at stores owned and run by women, or purchase products that were developed by women.
2. Mentor young or adolescent girls. People can make a difference in the lives of young women and set them on the course for success by sharing their own experiences through mentored guidance.
3. Express personal gratitude. Send a thoughtful letter of gratitude to a woman who has made an impact on your life and explain how her influence helped you in some way.
4. Celebrate women artists
and authors. Take the time to view and experience creative works by women, which may include reading books authored by women or viewing crafts and artwork made by women.
5. Start a business resource group. Woman entrepreneurs can encourage others to start their own businesses by hosting a business resource group that meets periodically and enables others to network easily.
6. Learn about women’s rights. Take a step back into history and read up on the journey to establish women’s rights, starting with the right to vote.
7. Post on social media. Share stories of inspirational women with others on a global scale by posting thoughts to various social media platforms.
Women’s History Month is a time to reinforce the accomplishments of women across the country and the world.
song, “The Journey,” written by Diane Warren and performed by H.E.R., was a Best Original Song nominee at the 97th Academy Awards.
Fun facts about basketball
Basketball is an exciting sport with a global footprint. Proof of the global popularity of basketball is evident on both the collegiate and professional hardwoods. In fact, the National Basketball Association noted prior to the opening night of the 2024-25 season that league rosters featured 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries across six continents.
With so many tuned in to the exciting action, now is an ideal time for fans of basketball to learn some fun facts about the game.
• Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player of all time, was once cut from his varsity high school team. Debates as to who is the greatest basketball player of all time will likely never cease, but many fans point to the man nicknamed “His Airness.” Indeed, Jordan’s many accolades include six NBA championships and six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards. Fans can be forgiven if they read Jordan’s impressive résumé and conclude his skills were identified as superior from the moment he stepped on a court, but the eventual five-time NBA MVP failed to make his high school varsity team in his sophomore year. Jordan ultimately used that as motivation, and averaged more than 25 points per game in his junior and senior seasons.
• Dunking was once illegal at certain levels. Few moments in a basketball game are as exciting as a thunderous slam dunk, but such feats were once outlawed in scholastic and collegiate competitions. Between 1967 and 1976, high school and college players were forbidden from dunking, a rule that might have satisfied basketball purists and assuaged concerns about increasingly tall players dominating the game with simple baskets, but one that undoubtedly confused players. Indeed, in a 2023 media interview, former University of Detroit player
Terry Tyler noted his confusion over the rule during his collegiate playing days. Interestingly, Tyler eventually competed in a competition celebrating the slam dunk when he signed up to participate in the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. That competition was ultimately won by five-foot-seven Spud Webb, a victory that suggests concerns about taller players were misplaced.
• Two men are tied as the tallest players in NBA history. Height is a definite commodity in professional basketball, and two former players are proof of that. Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, who were each seven-foot-seven, currently hold the record as the two tallest men to play in an NBA game. Curiously, Muresan, whose NBA career ended with the New Jersey Nets in 2000, ultimately found himself the second-tallest player in a game played in 2007. In an appearance that was akin to a promotional endeavor by the Maryland Nighthawks of the American Basketball Association, Muresan was temporarily teammates with Chinese player Sun Mingming, who was measured at seven feet, nine inches tall by the Guinness World Records.
• Dribbling was not always part of the game. Skilled ballhandlers are a big part of the appeal of modern basketball, but dribbling was not always part of the game. In the early days of basketball, players moved the ball by passing it to one another, standing in place and then throwing the ball to another player. Details are fuzzy, but basketball historians now credit players at Yale University in 1901 as the first to dribble in a game. The global phenomenon of basketball has a rich and interesting history, and the game people love today once looked vastly different.
Reality 101
to live how they wanted to with a particular career.”
Livingston has coordinated the event for Veterans Memorial Hospital since 2007 but, when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Reality 101 had to be cancelled. Due to staffing constraints and the demand for Livingston’s time working in the ER and with EMS education, the hospital was not able to host the event for several years.
“Reality 101 is such an important life lesson for the students before they graduate, and we knew it was an experience that needed to be offered to area students again. Since the basis of Reality 101 is a financial program, it only made sense to reach out to the four banks in Waukon to see if they would team up to host this event once again,” Livingston said. “They all said yes and did an amazing job working together to make it happen. We were very excited that all four schools sent all of their seniors to participate. These students were very engaged and professional while participating in the event, which allowed them to learn some great life lessons.”
Kelly Mudderman of Freedom Bank, Elisha Marti of Kerndt Brothers Bank, Lesa
Moose of Peoples State Bank and Mason McMillan of Waukon State Bank all teamed up, tackling the numerous parts of this program and pulling off what organizers called a great event. Waukon High School Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson also helped coordinate and host the event.
“These five took the program and worked hard to understand how it all worked and really pulled off an impressive event,” Livingston said. “We are so thankful for their dedication.”
More than 80 volunteers and business representatives from the area played the various roles making this event as real as possible.
“More than 20 years ago, Reality 101 was a pipe dream that I would have never imagined could grow to the event it is now, with so much community and school district support,” Livingston said. “I very much appreciate all the dedicated volunteers who have helped make Reality 101 a success over the years. It was nostalgic walking around seeing many of the original volunteers working their magic, remembering years past and knowing that Reality 101 would be carried on in great hands for years to come.”
JANINA NOWOK, 79, of Decorah, died March 14, 2025 at home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 18 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W. Main St., Decorah, with Rev Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A rosary will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a brief visitation until the time of service at the church Tuesday.
Part-time Assistant Bookkeeper POSITION SUMMARY: 8-10 hours of work during open office hours with flexible scheduling. This position provides assistance to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (ISUEO) in Allamakee County and to the Allamakee County Extension Council for providing monthly reports to county and state staff, accounting transactions, and general bookkeeping duties. The position requires knowledge and adherence to the structure, policies, and guidelines of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Allamakee County 4-H. For a full job description visit www.extension.iastate.edu/allamakee/ To apply, submit cover letter, resume, completed application, and three references to: ISUEO-Allamakee County Extension Office, 218 7th Ave. SE #102, Waukon, IA 52172 or email materials to bparendt@iastate.edu. Deadline is April 4, 2025. An Equal Opportunity Employer.
ISU Extension and Outreach in Allamakee County Iowa has an exciting opening for a 11-2-D-12
LAND AUCTION
Sale Site: Featherlite Center, Cresco, IA 74.7 Acres currently in CRP; 74.0 Acres could be bought out & farmed in 2025; Farm is located approx. 5 miles NE of Protivin.
See www.burkecresco.com/auction for details. 80 Acres m/l Winneshiek Co., IA Thurs., April 3rd - 10am
124 N. ELM, CRESCO, IA 52136 Mark Burke 563-380-2868
WinnMedwill host a free “Welcome to Medicare” seminar from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. This in-person, twohour seminar, offered by the WinnMed Senior Health Insurance Information Program — or SHIIP — counselors, will be held in WinnMed’s lower level conference rooms. The free seminar will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit — Part D — Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare supplement insurance and Medicare fraud, er-
AUCTION CALENDAR
TUESDAY, MARCH 25 - Sweeney Machinery Consignment Auction at Sweeney Auction Center Waukon. Call to consign Sweeney Auction Service. www.sweeneyauctionservice.com Waukon, Ia 563-568-2464.
AUCTION CLOSES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 - March Flash Gun Online Auction at Kramer Auction Gallery. Kramer Auction Service. Prairie du Chien, WI. 608326-8108. www.kramersales.com
SATURDAY, MARCH 29 - 10 a.m. McMillan Bros Farm Machinery Auction, 6113 Golden Road, Elgin at Sweeney Auction Center Waukon. www.sweeneyauctionservice.com Waukon, Ia 563-5682464. rors and abuse. Participants are asked to park in Lot E and enter through the E-1 door on the WinnMed campus. Registration is required by Monday, March 24 and can be completed online at WinnMed.org/events or by calling 563-387-3036. SHIIP is a service of the state of Iowa. SHIIP counselors are trained by the state and do not sell or promote any insurance companies, policies or agents. WinnMed is a local sponsor for SHIIP in Winneshiek County.
Susan E. Kuennen of Elgin holds her antler basket, entitled “Deep Greens and Blues Are the Colors I Choose,” which received the best overall 3-D Hilde de Bruyne Award in 2024 at the state Iowa Artists show in Newton.
Mary Ann Gloe of Decorah holds an oil painting, entitled “Great River Road,” which received a blue/ first place award at the regional show, advancing to state. (Photos submitted)
Entries sought for April art show
The Iowa Artists organization is looking for artists to submit their original designs and handcrafted artwork for the Iowa Artists Regional Area 3 Art Show. This year the show will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 5 at the Pivo Brewery and Blepta Art Studio in Calmar. The show will be judged by David Kamm, retired art professor/chair at Luther College. Blue ribbon winners
will advance to the state show in May. At the state show, all regional participants who entered 3-D work will also advance for a special 3D award. This will be the third year for a special recognition/award. Susan E. Kuennen of Elgin, a Region 3 and lifetime member of Iowa Artists, has won this award for her antler basket designs in both 2023 and 2024.
To enter the show, artists must be 18 years or older and members of the Iowa Artists’ Region 3, which includes Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell and Winneshiek counties. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works will be accepted. Two-dimentional works may include paintings, pastel, watercolor, ink, pencil, charcoal or collage. Three-dimensional works may include
ceramics, sculpture, fiber, basketry, textile, wood and jewelry. All works must be original and completed within the last two years. No copies, kits or crafts will be accepted for judging. The maximum measurement allowed for painting/drawings is 4 feet including the frame. All paintings must be ready to hang using wire. The deadline for entry into the show is March 29. For more information about Iowa Artists visit iowaartists.us Membership forms, rules and entry forms may be obtained by contacting show coordinators Sue Kuennen at susan.kuennen@yahoo.com or 414-3806905 and Sara Kuboushek at regionthreeiowaartist@gmail. com or 563-562-1053. Iowa Artists is a statewide, non-profit organization which works to encourage and educate artists around the state.
