November 2, 2023 by Decorah Leader

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Vol. 158, Issue 44

Decorah, Iowa 52101 www.decorahnewspapers.com

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The cold didn’t bother them anyway... Area trick-ortreaters bundled up and hit the sidewalks for Halloween 2023. Spotted on the “ﬂats” were Disney Frozen’s Olaf and Elsa, Ryker and Finley Samuelson of Decorah. Decorah’s temp before the sunset was 36 degrees. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Samantha Ludeking)

“Ye Olde Cabaret: New Minowa Players Throughout the Years” will be performed Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 2, 3, and 4, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m., at the NMP Theatre. Pictured rehearsing for the show l-r are- Kelly Johnson, Nessa Kane, Aaron Kvale, Gabe Twedt, Mike Ellingsen, Melanie Folkerts and one of the NMP founders, Donalee Burns. (submitted)

New Minowa Players celebrate 200 shows with ‘Ye Olde Cabaret’ this weekend New Minowa Players (NMP) has been producing theatrical productions since its founding in 1975. Forty-eight years later, NMP is celebrating a milestone: Its 200th show — with a cabaret review, “Ye Olde Cabaret: New Minowa Players Throughout the Years”. Directed by Molly Holkesvik and Alison Blake, “Ye Olde Cabaret” reﬂects on the hilarious antics, heartwarming sto-

ries and inspiring productions of NMP’s history. The performance will feature musical acts from past productions like “Lily’s Eyes” from “The Secret Garden” and “One Day More” from “Les Miserables.” Those in attendance will hear stories about how NMP has impacted participants and get a glimpse into its history from one of the founding mothers, Donalee Burns.

“Ye Olde Cabaret” performers include Alison Blake, Donalee Burns, Mike Ellingsen, Karen Esterl, Melanie Folkerts, Clara Garcia-Prats, Jenna Hartz, Molly Holkesvik, Hallie Johnson, Kaya Johnson, Kelly Johnson, Alex Kane, Nessa Kane, Aaron Kvale, Alexander Rosenow, Cassius Sadler, Rick

‘Ye Olde Caberat’

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FEMA ﬁnalizes Winneshiek’s ﬂoodplain designation County may be forced to adopt and enforce new regulations in hazard areas

By Zach Jensen The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) notiﬁed the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors, the week of Oct. 23, that the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) shown on the 2019 preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) are now considered ﬁnal and will go into effect Feb. 22, 2024. According to Winneshiek County Planning and Zoning Administrator Tony Phillips, on that effective date, “A one-

year compliance period begins where Winneshiek County must adopt and enforce a floodplain-management ordinance to join the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).” Phillips said the county has begun the process of adopting a floodplain management ordinance, for which two public hearings will be scheduled prior to adoption. “… FEMA has officially declared that Winneshiek County has flood-hazard areas,” Phillips said. “Along with that (declaration), there are benefits and

detriments.” The primary benefit, Phillips said, is that people outside of Decorah now qualify for subsidized flood insurance, whereas Decorah residents already qualified for government-subsidized flood insurance. On the other hand, Phillips said, there are also detriments with the new program. “There are federal laws that say, when you have these officially-recognized hazard areas, mortgages in those areas must carry flood insurance,” Phillips said. “I’ve already talked with

one banker who said they’re going to start looking at mortgages in those hazard areas.” Another potential detriment, said Phillips, is that the county needs to adopt a floodplain management ordinance and enforce it. In other words, if Winneshiek County wants to participate in FEMA’s plan, the county needs to regulate what landowners can and cannot do in the floodplain. “I don’t believe Winneshiek County has a choice other than to adopt a flood plain ordinance and join the National Flood In-

surance Program,” Phillips said. “Joining the NFIP is what gets you that flood insurance, and it’s also what gets the county back in the FEMA’s good graces to get any emergency money from flood damages. “If the county does not adopt the floodplain ordinance, the people would not get flood insurance,” continued Phillips. “The law still says they have to have it, but, if the county doesn’t adopt the floodplain ordinance, they can’t get it. So, for some, that would mean they can’t get that mortgage.”

Phillips said that because the program is so new, it can be very confusing, and he’s available to help landowners identify their properties on the ﬂood maps and answer any questions they may have regarding proposed ordinance regulations and the proposed ordinance adoption process. He can be reached at 563-387-4080 or via email at tphillips@co.winneshiek.ia.us. The public also welcome to

Floodplain

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BEHIND THE BADGE: Decorah PD Investigator David Burrett By Denise Lana When he pins on his badge every morning and heads to work at the Decorah Police Department, David Burrett is always prepared for the unknown. He is the department’s investigator – the officer who deals with the unique and high-profile cases, ranging from shootings and arson to robbery and murders. But when Burrett’s workday is over and his uniform is swapped for “civilian clothes,” Burrett is all about his family. With three dogs, two young sons and high school sweetheart and now-wife Kirsten, Burrett is the first to admit his life is “just about perfect.” Burrett joined the DPD in April 2018 after serving more than four years at Waukon Police Department, and he enjoys serving and interacting with people from the community. He especially thrives on the unexpected elements of

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Visit us online - www.decorahnewspapers his job. “I love investigating crimes! I like the idea of having something new every day,” he said. “Never knowing what is going to happen, figuring out the truth behind each case, what actually happened. I love figuring out the truth.” As a youth, Burrett wanted to be an FBI agent, but when he got to high school, he became more focused on football, wrestling and track, and felt the pull to help others in a teaching role. After he graduated from Waukon High School in 2008, Burrett completed one year of college at University of Northern Iowa in hopes of becoming a history teacher. He then changed gears and decided to go into law enforcement. He moved to Iowa City and completed his criminal justice education at Kirkwood Community College. From 2011 to 2013, he found it hard to find a job in the saturated employment market and began contemplating moving back to his hometown. The move would put him and Kirsten closer to family, including his dad, Keith, who is the town’s street superintendent, and mom, Margaret, who works at Veterans Memorial Hospital. “I applied with the Allamakee Sheriff’s Office,” Burrett explained. “The police chief said there was an opening there, so I

“Super Daddio” and Decorah Police Department Investigator David Burrett (Driftless Multimedia photo by Denise Lana)

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applied there too!” In December 2013, Burrett was hired by WPD, and he married Kirsten the next year. More than four years later, Burrett applied for and was hired by DPD, the place he now calls home. “I want to retire here!” Burrett expressed. “When I started in Waukon, it was a good foot-in-the-door, but I think it’s great here! Plenty to do!” Since joining the police force in April 2018, two sons, John and Henry, have been added to the Burrett team. Burrett spends Wednesdays with four-year-old John, going to the library, playing at parks, and hiking and looking for painted rocks from the Decorah Rocks group. “We are always out and about and on-the-go,” he added. “I like taking my boys to Phelps Park or the new park in Freeport.” As an investigator, Burrett gets the weekends off, and he and his wife always try to find things to get them out of the house. “If it’s just my wife and me, we go out to eat at Koreana. Otherwise, we just let the boys pick where to eat, which is usually Culvers!” Burrett laughed. “Or as John calls it, ‘Culvers House’!” With less free time since the boys were born, Burrett doesn’t hunt and fish as much as he did before, but does like to take his sons fishing at Lake Meyer and Luther Pond.

Behind the Badge

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