Local students invited to Winter Walking Field Trips
The Decorah Public Library is collaborating with Upper Explorerland and Winneshiek County Conservation to offer a series of what organizers are calling Winter Walking Field Trips. Students in grades three through eight are invited to participate in the hands-on program, which offers a blend of winter fun and physical activity.
Organizers said the series will feature activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding as weather allows. The sessions will take place from 3:144:15 p.m. Jan. 8, 15, 22, and 29. Space is limited to 20 students, and registration is required. Registration forms can be found online at www.decorahlibrary.org/ calendar-of-events. For inquiries regarding accessibility, accommodation or logistics, contact Sophie Nall at snall@decorahlibrary.org.
Putnam to present on Alzheimer’s, dementia
The Senior Citizens Hospitality Center in Decorah will hod its next monthly program at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 at 806 River St. in Decorah. This month’s featured guest will be Brecka Putnam, a longtime volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association.
training for employees. Organizers said one-inthree senior citizens die with some form of dementia, and it is estimated that dementia cost the nation
Putnam’s father Dale lived with Lewy Body Dementia for seven years, and Putnam has served as a support group facilitator with the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as a community educator, fundraiser and board member. In her professional role as social worker at Howard County Community Hospice, home health and public health, she provides dementia education to families and groups. She also partners with the area’s longterm care facilities to provide required dementia
$360 billion dollars in 2024 alone. Putnam’s upcoming Alzheimer’s and Dementia 101 presentation will address what dementia is and the different types of dementia, how to tell if someone may be experiencing dementia and what to do when someone shows signs of dementia. The presentation will also give practical tips for communicating with someone who is experiencing Alzheimer’s or another dementia and provide helpful resources. The senior center’s programs are always open to the public and are followed by refreshments and fellowship.
Fast facts about slow cooking
ties. Most slowly cooked foods only require sporadic check-ins while cooking.
Nutrient-dense meals
Slow cooking is a popular way to prepare meals. From barbecue to simmering to braising, the methods of slow cooking vary considerably. Many people may not realize that slow cooking can be a healthy and beneficial way to prepare food. The following are some advantages to cooking low and slow.
Save money
Cooking foods slowly helps to tenderize them, which bodes well when utilizing more fibrous or dense cuts of meat. Consumers looking for ways to save more on their monthly food bills can lean on slow cooking to produce delicious results with cheaper cuts.
The United Kingdom-based supplement firm Wild Nutrition® notes that because of the low temperatures utilized when slow cooking, the nutrients within foods cooked slowly remain more stable than they do when employing other methods of cooking. This means slow cooking may deliver more beneficial vitamins and minerals than other methods of preparing meals.
Soften ingredients while cooking
Reduce the number of dishes
Those who do the majority of their cooking in a slow cooker can mix ingredients that are typically prepared separately. Putting them together in the crock saves time and energy cleaning up.
Slow cooking at a low temperature for several hours will soften up tough root vegetables.
Intensify flavor
Convenience
Slow cooking allows cooks to step away from the kitchen and engage in other activi-
Cooking over a long period of time can increase flavor, enabling cooks to use less sugar, salt or other ingredients that are often relied on to add more taste.
Slow cooking is a convenient and beneficial way to prepare healthy, nutritious and flavorful meals.
Cocaine, heroin fastest growing illicit drug markets in Winneshiek County
BY ZACH JENSEN DECORAH LEADER STAFF WRITER
Marijuana and methamphetamine are still northeast Iowa’s current drugs of choice, according to Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx and Detective Deputy Chris Wuebker, but they said cocaine and heroin use in the Driftless Region is rising quickly.
“The fastest-growing drugs we’re seeing in Iowa are cocaine and heroin,” Marx said. “They’re not the most-prevalent narcotics, but their numbers are growing faster than prescription drugs, marijuana and methamphetamine.”
Wuebker said the top three drugs northeast Iowa law enforcement has dealt with in the last three months are — in order — opioids, marijuana and methamphetamine.
“For some reason, Iowa likes its meth,” Wuebker said. “And, lately, we’ve had more prescription pill cases, but our meth cases are still up there.”
The detective said another drug Winneshiek County is seeing more often is fentanyl — a potent synthetic opioid, which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency notes was developed in 1959 and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic and anesthetic. Marx and Wuebker said nearly every illicit drug on the market, including marijuana, is being laced with fentanyl, and the outcome can often be fatal — a lethal dose of fentanyl, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, is just 2 milligrams, which is equal to about 10-15 grains of table salt.
“A lot of the drugs are coming through Mexico,” Wuebker said. “Because of that, it goes from the manufacturers to the big dealers, and from there, the drugs go to the local dealers.” Do the local dealers really know what they’re selling?”
Wuebker questioned whether local dealers truly know what they’re ultimately selling. Marx said the dealers are typically attempting to offer their buyers the “best product,” and he said many lace their supply with fentanyl, not knowing how much fentanyl is already in each dose.
“People need to understand this is underground crime, so their product isn’t being regulated,” the sheriff said. “These drugs are manufactured and distributed by thugs, so in trying to make the best high, they just overdo it, and that’s what makes many drugs even more
A lethal dose of fentanyl is just 2 milligrams, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. That amount of the synthetic opioid is equal to about 10-15 grains of table salt. The drug was first developed in 1959, according to the DEA, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an analgesic and anesthetic. Officials with the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office said many local cases of opioid addiction began with legitimate prescriptions for chronic pain, but some patients seek out illegal suppliers if their medical provider is no longer willing to issue a prescription. (Image courtesy of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency)
unsafe than they already were without the fentanyl.”
Marx and Wuebker also agreed that the battle against fentanyl and other opioids is still raging in the heartland. The Centers for Disease Control reported more than 500,000 people died because of prescription opioid use between 1999 and 2019. And, although medical providers have reduced the numbers of opioid prescriptions written in the last five years, the pills are making their way into Winneshiek County faster than ever before, Wuebker said.
“When they first started cracking down on opioid use, the biggest hit was felt in the urban areas,” he said. “Now, we’re seeing opioids trickling more and more into our rural communities. We’re seeing more and more criminal organizations moving into rural areas to try to establish themselves here.”
Marx added that many of the opioid cases his office has seen began as legitimate treatment.
“A good portion of addicts and users started using legally-prescribed opioids because of chronic back pain, and that just snowballs,” Marx said. “That’s not everybody, but a good share of users and addicts started using because of a real pain issue.”
He said many patients who don’t continue to receive opioid pain medications from their healthcare providers subsequently buy counterfeit versions of the medication, which are also often laced with fentanyl.
In response to the opioid epidemic, multiple states settled a multi-billion dollar class action lawsuit against the top three manufacturers of opioid medications. Winneshiek County, like other states and counties, has established its own opioid taskforce, which meets twice each year and makes recommendations as to how the county should allocate its portion of the settlement funds.
Marx and Wuebker agreed
another challenge in curtailing the use of drugs in the area is that many of the stereotypes of drug use and drug users are no longer applicable.
“We see all classes and types across the board struggling with addiction to all of these substances,” Wuebker said. “Anyone can be susceptible to drug use these days, and we’ve gone to plenty of houses to talk with people about the dangers of drug use and share what we see on a daily basis to try to help families out. There will always be stereotypes in the world, but the idea that drug users have no teeth and those kinds of things doesn’t represent what we see today.”
Wuebker said the sheriff’s office also focused on what they call poly-drug use — cases in which a person is using multiple illegal substances, such as methamphetamines and marijuana.
Marx said his office dedicates a significant amount of its resources to enforcement efforts when it comes to the use of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and opioids — the sheriff feels each of those drugs destroy lives faster than other illicit substances.
“Another major factor we look at is the presence of children in the home,” the sheriff said. “If there are children in the home, we’ll go after that case a lot more aggressively. When there are children in the home, that’s a major factor in deciding how many resources we’ll invest in that case.”
Marx went on to explain that, in homes where substance abuse is occurring, it is more likely children or elderly residents are also being abused as well.
“Mental health and suicides are also major components in the user’s home, so when those users and those substances are removed from the home, we can prevent a lot of that collateral damage across the county and for all demographics,” Marx said.
He and Wuebker indicated any given drug bust can also potentially reduce the frequency of other crimes in the community.
“There’s always a battle with narcotics, but what we see is localized,” Wuebker said. “When we do impact cases, we see a change locally. We don’t just see drug use in drug arrests. We see it in burglaries, break-ins and thefts. So, when we have an impact on a case, those other crimes slow down or stop also.”
Seth Boyes Editor editor@decorahleader.com
Denise Lana Staff Writer denise.lana@decorahleader.com
Samantha Ludeking Production Manager samantha.ludeking@decorahleader.com
Kayla Thompson Production kayla.thompson@decorahleader.com
Crystal Busch Production crystal.busch@decorahleader.com
Deputy Detective Chris Wuebker
Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx
needed to know Everything I ever By Ole Winter
(Retired Lutheran Pastor Ole Winter reminisces on his 90-plus years of life, sharing past experiences and life lessons with Driftless readers.)
What’s your shelf-life?
Most men of my generation didn’t learn many of the culinary arts. I do cook good Malt-O-Meal, put together an occasional chicken and rice casserole and with the help of “Jello” make a Lemon Pie for potlucks at VENNEHJEM.
But when my daughter or one of my daughters-in-law comes to visit, they get my kitchen all “screwed up.” When they leave, I can’t find anything. But they are great cooks, and I let them have at it in my kitchen. However, they also check my cupboards and refrigerator.
Sure enough! They find items there beyond their shelf life and the next thing I know I am dumping them in the garbage.
When I retired someone said, “I hear you’re being put on the shelf!” That implied that I was not of much or any use anymore; ready for “circular file 13” under the sink. Even the wide world of advertising puts us “on the shelf’. Except for medications. They know we watch the major evening T.V. news casts so watching them is like going to a drug store for seniors. Medications for heart, memory and other aging problems abound
there. Well, how about it, how’s your shelf-life? I’m convinced we don’t believe it. Unless there is some serious illness or disability we’re not on any shelf. Far from it. We make a few adjustments and we’re “on the road again.” Many never really retire, we just slow down a bit. We smell the roses in the gardens we plant, we hit the gym, go for long walks and take care of grand kids. And volunteering. If all the shelf-life folk did not get down off the shelf this country would be a less happy and pleasant place. “Habitat for Humanity” houses are built, quilts for Veterans are assembled, and “Meals on Wheels” get delivered. We’re off the shelf doing things we always wanted to do but could not get to.
How’s your shelf-life? It can be as good as you make it. How about saying to the world around, “You might put me on the shelf, but I’m going to jump off that shelf and be of use while I still can be.” The expiration date? I’ll let God know that and enjoy what time I have.
County conservation planning several annual events
Winneshiek County Conservation plans to host several annual events again in 2025. The Ice Fishing Derby will be held Feb. 2 at Lake Meyer. The Earth Day Festival will be held April 26 at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds. The Stan Family Fishing Clinic will be eheld June 7 at Lake Meyer.
Stroke support group to meet
Veterans Memorial Hospital Speech-Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield offers a stroke support group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke. Monthly meetings are held at 2 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
NEI3A to host caregiver support group
Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging — or NEI3A. — hosts monthly in-person support group meetings from 10-11 a.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month at NEI3A’s new office, located at 915 Short St., Suite 169, in Decorah. For more information, contact family caregiver specialiast Kelly Kuennen at 563-277-6024.
County conservation officials will be available at a booth during the Winneshiek County Fair July 8-12, and a campground trunk-or-treat will be held Oct. 11 at Lake Meyer. Find the details on these and other upcoming events at www. winneshiekwild.com.
Open Hub Singing Club to begin 10-week experience
The public is invited to join the Open Hub Singing Club, which will meet from 3:30-5 p.m. on 10 consecutive Sundays this winter. Sessions will begin Jan. 12, and the location has yet to be determined.
Organizers said community singing offers a “no practice, no performance” experience for those new to singing as well as experienced singers. Organizers with the Open hub Singing Club said the group celebrates uplifting songs with meaningful messages taught in the simple and ancient aural tradition, allowing everyone to begin singing together in a short time. No singing experience or training is required – just a desire to sing with others in community — and all voices are welcome. Participants are asked to pay what is both generous and affordable to them — a sliding scale of $50 to $100 is suggested — and organizers stressed no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information, visit www.centerforbelonging. earth/store.
Get FREE or LOW- COST breast & cervical cancer screenings!
Learn more at hhs.iowa.gov/ public-health/cancer/cfy
We can stop HIV, Iowa by finding the HIV prevention methods that work best for us!
Decorah City Council run-off election today
The special Decorah City Council run-off election to fill an open at-large seat will be held Jan. 7. Polls will be open form 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday A sample ballot and other election Information is available at www.winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov. Questions about this or any election related matter may be directed to auditor@ co.winneshiek.ia.us or 563-382-5085.
Area students return to class this week Parental involvement is
a key factor in students’ performance
Success in school can carry over to successful experiences later in life. That underscores the benefits of developing skills in the classroom. Students learn in their own way, and at times there may need to overcome various obstacles.
The job of education does not fully fall on educators and administrators. Education begins at home. Research has found that kids benefit significantly when parents and other caregivers are strongly involved in a child’s education. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community found that parental involvement in a child’s education is associated with improved academic performance. Specifically, children whose parents are more involved in their educations have higher levels of academic performance than children whose parents were not as involved.
A 2005 study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Center of School, Family and Community Partnerships showed that school practices that encourage families to support their students’ math learning at home led to higher percentages of students scoring at or above proficiency on standardized math tests. Additional research indicates the benefits also extend to other subjects and areas of learning, including language comprehension and expressive language skills. With so much to gain from
parental involvement in students’ educations, parents can embrace these strategies to get more involved.
Develop a partnership with the teacher
Open communication with the teacher(s) can help parents stay up-to-date on what is going on in the classroom and learn early on where a student may need extra support. Then parents can offer extra guidance if it is feasible, or look into an experienced tutor.
Be firm but supportive
Too much academic pressure may cause a child to pull back or even test boundaries, and that can lead to students falling behind in school. Parents must find the right level of involvement and guide their kids without sounding like good grades are “make or break” the relationship.
Attend school functions
Parents can go to open houses, back-to-school nights, conferences, and other events held at school to show support and interest in their children’s education. Involved parents also build school-based networks this way, which can be called upon if their student needs additional support in the future.
Establish a schedule at home
Students can benefit from a schedule, with regular bedtime, homework time and opportunities to relax. Knowing what to expect and when to expect it can take some of the stress out of learning and studying, according to Nemours health. Parents working in concert with schools and their children can lead to better academic outcomes.
Find a health care provider to whom you can talk openly about your sexual health.
Make HIV testing part of your journey. Getting tested is the only way to know your status!
Practice safer sex.
Use condoms and choose sexual activities with a lower likelihood of passing on an infection.
Get in care. Stay in care. If you’re living with HIV, getting and keeping an undetectable viral load helps you stay healthy and prevents transmission to your sex partners.
Learn more at stophiviowa.org
ZZLE driftless
But First, Coffee
Across
Tips to help students choose a college major
But First, Coffee
Millions of students attend college after high school. The Education Data Initiative says there were 18,939,568 people enrolled in colleges in the United States in 2023.
espresso combined with nearly three steamed milk topped with froth bitter compound responsible for stimulating effects roasted to a medium-dark color and and Specialty Coffee Bar(2) coffee and breakfast all day combined with chocolate syrup and for a skilled, experienced espresso bar
engineering. Public relations, communications and criminal justice were among the less demanding majors, though it’s important to note that excelling in any course of study requires hard work and commitment.
But First, Coffee
At some point in their pursuit of post-secondary education, students will need to choose a major. Choosing a major can be challenging for students who have various interests and/or did well in multiple subjects in high school. The good news is that once a major is chosen, it isn’t set in stone. Many students change their majors as they are exposed to different coursework in college. Here are a few ideas for choosing a major.
• Research a related industry. Investigate which jobs have higher rates of openings and compare other factors like earning potential. While the goal is not simply to select the major that will lead to a job with the highest earning potential, you should consider majors that will lead to jobs that are stable and offer growth potential. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is a good start for data. It currently lists wind turbine service technicians and nurse practitioners as the fastest-growing occupations.
• Check in with your academic advisor. Academic advisors can guide you by offering career assessment quizzes and going over your grades. Such assessments may reveal skills that align well with certain fields of study.
• Don’t be pressured by family. Some students simply choose “the family business” route and select the same school and major as one or both of their parents. Make this a well-informed choice that considers various aspects and not just what Mom or Dad do for a living.
1. Seattle-based coffeehouse chain
2. A mixture of two or more single-origin coffees
4. A serving of espresso combined with nearly three time as much steamed milk topped with
3. The coffee shop for commuters(3)
6.
steamed milk topped with froth
5. An odorless, bitter compound responsible for coffee's stimulating effects
8. Coffee beans roasted to a
9. A Hobby Shop and Specialty Coffee Bar(2) 10. Serves coffee and breakfast all day 12. Espresso combined with
14. Italian
• Select a subject you enjoy. You do not want to be slugging through the next four or more years of school studying topics that bore you. Avoid potential burnout by choosing a major that interests you and offers a future.
1. Seattle-based coffeehouse chain
• Determine how rigorous coursework will be. Some majors feature more rigorous coursework than others. If you know that marathon study sessions and lots of research or writing projects are going to lead to extensive stress, it is probably best to consider another course of study. Indiana University Bloomington determined the most difficult majors based on the average time students spent per week preparing included architecture, chemical engineering and aeronautical
• Delay the decision. If you truly do not know what you want to study, enroll in school undeclared. This will give you a chance to explore some general education “core” classes and feel out a school before making a larger commitment. Typically colleges will require a declaration of major by the end of sophomore year to allow enough time for completing that major’s required courses. When choosing a major, students should weigh various factors to find a course of study that suits their interests and career goals.
2. A mixture of two or more single-origin coffees
The coffee shop for commuters(3)
Once the longstanding home of JC Penney
7. Concentrated coffee made when hot water is forced at pressure through fine coffee grounds Coffee Shop named after a bird Fragrance produced by freshly brewed coffee
THURSDAY, JANUARY
9 - 10 a.m. land and building site auction, 160 Acres m/l Winneshiek County. Auction held at Featherlite Center, Cresco. Burke Real Estate, 563-380-2868, www.burkecresco.com/auction.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 - 10 a.m. Farm Machinery Auction. Pagel Sunlight Inc, 14073 T Ave, Sumner, IA Sweeney Auction Service 563-568-2464 www.sweeneyauctionservice.com
delivered $80, you pick up $60. Spillville. Call or text 940-7450895. 5-5-D-pd-1 Part Time Janitorial Tuesday/Thursday Mornings. $20/22/hour. Please call 254-371-7877, 2-1-D-pd-12
would like to thank the staff at Wellington, Winneshiek County Hospice, Helms Funeral Home, family, friends and neighbors, and the ladies of the Springfield Church.
The family of Lavonne “Bonnie” Syverson
Reicks awarded DAISY Award
WinnMed recently awarded home health and hospice
nurse Nicole Reicks the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, in recognition of her commitment to providing knowledgeable and compassionate care to her patients and their families. Reicks has served as a registered nurse at WinnMed since 2011.
Nicole was nominated by the family of a patient for what was described as her ability to blend clinical expertise with a deep sense of empathy and understanding, which the nomination said ensured Reicks’ patients received not only medical care, but also the emotional support they needed.
“Nicole’s passion for the health and well-being of the patients she cares for is outstanding,” said Nancy Haberichter, WinnMed’s director of home health and hospice. “She puts their needs first every day. She shows the same passion for mentoring her peers. We feel fortunate to have her on our team and are very proud of the recognition she has received from this award.”
WinnMed Registered Nurse Nicole Reicks recently received the DAISY Award. Pictured are (left to right) WinnMed Director of Home Health and Hospice Nancy Haberichter, Reicks and WinnMed Chief Nursing Officer Kathy Mortiz. (Photo submitted)
al recognition program which honors and celebrates the skillful care nurses provide every day. The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after he died from complications of the auto-immune disease ITP in 1999.
Barnes’ time in the hospital, and the family felt compelled to publicly express their thanks to nurses.
To nominate an WinnMed nurse, for the DAISY Award, visit https://winnmed.org/daisy-award.
Amy Robinson (standing) recently became a certified wound care professional. Robinson stressed the importance of timely care for patients with non-healing wounds. Hospital officials said each wound type involves different levels of management to heal properly. They added that any wound which seems to not make progress in healing and likely needs a specialized, advanced level of wound care. Pictured with Robinson are physical therapist Laurel Hagensick, wound care patient Pat
The DAISY — or Diseases
Attacking the Immune System
— Award is an internation-
Barnes’ family appreciated the care and compassion shown to Barnes and his family during
Robinson receives certified wound care professional degree
After completing roughly 40 hours of coursework and exams, Amy Robinson has become a certified wound care professional. Robinson, an employee of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, has been treating wounds for several years and felt it was time to advance her degree by going the extra mile to receive her certification.
“I started this process in June and soon realized the material was very in-depth and took much longer than expected to get through all of it,” Robinson said. “In November, I had a free weekend and spent the final hours pouring through the material and taking exams.” Robinson successfully completed the wound care certification process and said she now feels confident in her ability to treat most wounds.
style habits, such as smoking, obesity, and other factors, can also affect the progress in healing.
“Often times patients come to use because they have an infection and in that case we monitor and treat those issues as well,” Robinson said.
Hospital staff said signs of an infected wound may include drainage which smells bad, increased pain at the wound site, bleeding that will not stop and even fever and chills.
“Infections can be fatal and must be treated,” Robinson said. “Anyone with a wound who may be experiencing any of those symptoms should see their medical provider right away and be referred to our wound care clinic.”
Robinson stressed the importance of timely care for patients with non-healing wounds. Hospital officials said each wound type involves different levels of management to heal properly. They added that any wound which seems to not make progress in healing and likely needs a specialized, advanced level of wound care.
“We treat wounds as early as possible in order to achieve the best outcomes. We assess the wound, take measurements and use specialized dressings in order to speed up the wound care process,” she said. “We work together with the patient’s health care provider in order to develop the correct plan of care to accomplish the goals of full wound healing.”
An estimated 6.7 million people in the US are affected by chronic wounds, according to officials at VMH and that number is rising, fueled by an aging population and increasing rates of conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Hospital officials said, if left untreated, chronic wounds can lead to diminished quality of life, infection and even amputation. Anyone dealing with a chronic health issue, such a diabetes, cancer, pulmonary disease, thyroid issues, gastro-intestinal diseases or heart conditions, are more likely to encounter complications. Life-
Meeter of Harpers Ferry and physical therapy assistant Sara White. (Photo submitted)
#1 STORY OF 2024
Former Decorah man accused of murdering runaway teen
COMPILED BY
News of a local murder investigation reached the public’s ears once prosecutors made headway filing additional charges following an arrest in 2024. A former Decorah man was extradited from Georgia, after federal investigators informed the local sheriff’s office the man may have been involved in the 2017 murder of a teenage girl.
James David Bachmurski is accused of killing 15-year-old Jade Colvin, who was reported missing to the Des Moines Police
Department on June 10, 2016. Investigators believe Colvin was at Bachmurski’s rural home south of Decorah in March of 2017 — her last known contact with her family occurred on March 23, 2017, according to information from the U.S. Justice Department’s Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
Bachmurski was charged with second-degree murder in August of 2024, and had at one point been scheduled to go to trial on Dec. 4, 2024. However, the 65-year-old’s defense attorney filed a motion in November, seeking a subpoena for a report from the
#2 STORY OF 2024
Time for school
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and other materials related to an alleged sighting of Colvin in August of 2021 — more than four years after the alleged murder — in the city of Harvey, Illinois. Colvin would have been 19-yearsold at that time.
Bachmurski’s trial was since been rescheduled for mid-March of 2025.
The rest of this article and the full articles for each of the top ten stories of 2024 are available in the January 2 Decorah Leader, online at www.decorahleader.com
Decorah Schools finalizing plans for new elementary after successful bond measure
#3 STORY OF 2024
Seeking a second opinion
Court to review contentious rezoning approval for proposed biodigester project
#4 STORY OF 2024
Saddles and cycles
Decorah Parks and Rec ends Van Peenen Park debate with split vote
#5 STORY OF 2024
Going up
Decorah saw consistent construction in 2024
#6 STORY OF 2024
DHS to go independent of athletic conference next school year
#7 STORY OF 2024
City, chamber reached mile-stone anniversaries
#8 STORY OF 2024
Decorah to take second run at possible MEU
#9 STORY OF 2024 Spectacles in the sky
#10 STORY OF 2024
City council, school board vacancies needed filling
