shared her recent breast cancer diagnosis and journey with the group. A total of 60 golfers from the tristate area enjoyed the golf and fundraising activities. A $500 donation was presented to the Veterans Memorial Hospital Radiology Department for the mammography fund. A four-generation family team won the championship flight with a score of 66. Pictured are Brenna Bodensteiner, age 18, her mother Amy Bodensteiner, age 46, her grandmother Cathy Angel, age 72, and her great-grandmother JoAnn Peake, age 92. (Submitted)
Carol Hanson, FCO/Plastics/Pronto Manufacturing Specialist, is retiring on July 19 after 30 years at Gemini.
Carol began her journey at Gemini in 1994, where she was working in D1 with Shell letters. After about two years, she moved to D3 where she worked on injected molding and Pronto letters, this is where she spent the bulk of her tenure, working in D3 for about 22 years. When the injection molding operation was moved out of D3, Carol bid into D4 acrylic/laminate and has been there for the past six years.
Carol has consistently been described by her colleagues as kind, helpful, dedicated, and knowledgeable.
Her coworkers share that they will miss her greatly.
Gemini thanks Carol for her 30 years of service,
“Carol has been an invaluable member of the team,” said Jeremy Stammeyer, Production Supervisor. “She is known for her strong work ethic, friendly demeanor, and a willingness to help anyone with anything. She will be sorely missed by her coworkers.”
ISU Extension: Scientists identify gene that could lead to resilient ‘pixie’ corn
A
The discovery offers plant breeders a new tool to develop desirable dwarf varieties that could enhance the crop’s resilience and profitability.
A team of scientists led by Iowa State University spent years working to pinpoint the functions of the gene “ZmPILS6”. Now, they have been able to characterize it as an important driver of plant size and architecture, a carrier for an auxin hormone that helps govern growth in roots below ground and shoots, or stalks, above ground. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
“A hallmark of the current
age of science is that we have all this high-quality genome data, whether for corn or humans or other organisms, and now we have the task of figuring out what the genes actually do,” said Dior Kelley, assistant professor of genetics, development and cell biology at Iowa State, who led the research team.
The group used “reverse genetic screening” (from the gene to traits expressed in the plant), combined with other techniques, as they tracked their gene’s role in corn development. Reverse screens require multiple growing seasons and don’t always work, according to Kelley. It took seven years for her group to thoroughly characterize ZmPILS6 and verify it regulates plant growth. When “knocked out” of modified, mutant plants, its absence
suppressed root lateral formation and plant height. The research has led to a provisional patent for its potential to be used in breeding programs to create short stature corn that is still highly productive.
“I think of this as ‘pixie’ corn,” Kelley said. “There’s a lot of interest in it for all kinds of reasons, including reduced use of water and nutrients and its ability to withstand high winds.”
As they studied ZmPILS6 in corn, the researchers made another curious finding: The gene seemed to have opposite effects on plant growth than a comparable gene in Arabidopsis, a plant often used as a model for research.
“This was very unexpected,” Kelley said. “It illustrates that plant proteins, which have evolved in different contexts, can behave differently. It emphasizes the need to study
genes
Kelley
it for the project’s success to a “great team of collaborators,” especially Craig Cowling, a doctoral student in Kelley’s lab who is the
PNAS paper. “Craig was the one to really dig in, to confirm that this gene carries the plant hormone auxin, and it absolutely controls size in corn.” Kelley calls the new research “foundational” basic research to understand a gene that impacts numerous, complex growth traits, which evolution has conserved through many plants, from algae to maize. “It is also ‘translational,’ in that it links to genetic resources that can be used to improve breeding programs,” she said. “This opens up whole new questions and facets of research for my laboratory.”
This project has been supported by an Agriculture and Food Research Initiative competitive grant through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and USDA Hatch start-up funding from Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Dior Kelley, assistant professor, genetics, development and cell biology, and doctoral student Craig L. Cowling, in Kelley’s lab. (photo courtesy Whitney Baxter, Iowa State University)
WinnMed Leadership Provides Clarity to the Recent Change in Mayo Clinic Health System Relationship
On June 27, the WinnMed Board of Trustees responded to a notice provided by Mayo Clinic Health System (MCHS) that the current Management Services Agreement (MSA) with WinnMed will not be renewed when it expires on July 1, 2025. Additionally, MCHS had voiced intentions to the WinnMed Board of Trustees to engage in negotiations with WinnMed leaders to develop a modified, long-term Professional Services Agreement, which would take effect in July 2025 for the MCHS physicians who practice at WinnMed.
At the June 27 meeting, the WinnMed Board of Trustees voted to appoint Steve Slessor, the chief administrative officer under the MSA, as the new WinnMed chief administrative officer. Slessor accepted their offer and began his WinnMed employment July 3, 2024. Slessor and Dr. Tom Marquardt, chief medical officer of WinnMed, provide insight and information to patients and the broader region regarding the transition.
What is a Management Services Agreement (MSA) and Professional Services Agreement (PSA)? The MSA is a legal agreement that provides WinnMed management/ business services through Mayo Clinic Health System. The PSA is a legal agreement that provides Mayo Clinic Health System physicians to WinnMed. These agreements have been in place with various amendments since 2005 and are reviewed every three to five years. Mayo Clinic Health System physicians have had a presence in Decorah since 1992.
What does the transition mean for WinnMed?
Business strategies are always changing, including in healthcare. The transition opens alternate paths for WinnMed to reach our goals and there are positive opportunities in our future:
• Current Mayo Clinic Health System physicians can continue to practice here as they do now
• WinnMed will have full discretion on which specialties we recruit to join our WinnMed practice
• WinnMed will have more local control over how we deliver service WinnMed can broaden its partnerships as opportunities arise
• Mayo Clinic will continue to be an important partner for us
Why are these agreements changing? The Mayo Clinic Health System strategy is focused on fully owned facilities and medical practices. In fact, the MSA and PSA contracts were the only agreements of these types remaining in the entire Mayo Clinic Enterprise. WinnMed is owned by the citizens of Winneshiek County and governed by an elected board. The change in agreements allows both organizations to pursue their strategies independently.
Mayo Clinic Health System has openly expressed their appreciation for the high quality of care and
positive patient experience we provide at WinnMed. They have shared their desire for us to be successful and will support us in ways that also align with their strategy.
Is this decision the result of WinnMed’s performance in any area? No, WinnMed is consistently a high performer in quality, patient satisfaction and employee engagement measures.
MCHS leadership and the WinnMed Board of Trustees have expressed their deep appreciation and respect for the work done here, and the changes in agreements are in no way a reflection of the care we provide.
What will happen with the local physicians?
WinnMed leadership will engage in negotiations with Mayo Clinic Health System regarding the details of a modified PSA. Through the modified PSA or WinnMed employment, there will be attractive options for physicians to remain in Decorah.
Future physicians who join our organization will be hired as WinnMed employees, or under other negotiated agreements, as presented at the time.
What will happen to outreach physicians who see patients at WinnMed? Contracts for outreach services (cardiology, urology, endocrinology, pain management, etc.) are separate contracts from the PSA. Those contracts are not impacted by this change.
Will my insurance be impacted? WinnMed independently contracts with insurance companies. None of WinnMed’s insurance network contracts are changing, so patients can continue to get care the same way they were previously. Billing for physician services will continue to be done by WinnMed, as it is currently.
Will the employees be affected by this change? All staff are employed by WinnMed and will retain their status, compensation and benefits. In their daily work, some staff may experience changes in their roles, depending on how their work is integrated with Mayo Clinic Health System.
Will Mayo Clinic Dialysis and the Mayo Clinic Store stay in Decorah? Those services are fully-owned by Mayo Clinic and simply
lease space from WinnMed. They will remain as is and we are grateful to have both on our campus.
Will the Transforming Tomorrow expansion project continue to move forward? WinnMed is in a strong financial position, and we will continue as planned with Transforming Tomorrow. Our confidence in this is enhanced by Iowa’s recent passing of the Medicaid Direct Payment Program, which infuses new funds into our bottom line.
What negatives may come from this? We expect the biggest challenge will be recruitment of future physicians. WinnMed will add local recruitment resources and work with national recruitment companies to find top candidates to bring to our community. We know, though, that the Mayo Clinic name was certainly a draw, and this will no longer be a selling point for our open positions.
What positives may come from this? With local control, we can increase our responsiveness to our communities and local needs. We will be able to bring in new care models, be able to discern the specialties we offer and tap into resources and new partnerships that may help us reach our strategic goals in new ways.
Will the WinnMed name and new brand change? No, our recently updated name and brand will remain in place.
Slessor says, “Even as an administrator, I am fully aware that what the community cares about is not contracts related to how the hospital is managed, but rather the relationship with their clinician and the quality of care they receive. We fully expect that through a variety of options, none of that will need to change. We have a wonderful team of 600 plus employees and physicians that are here ready to provide high quality care and services as you have come to expect. While our path may be altered by this change, we still have many paths to success open to us and are confident we have the team and culture to continue to move this organization forward. My decision to join WinnMed as a direct employee through this change was an easy one due to this team, this community, and our future opportunities. Dr. Marquardt comments, “As a Mayo physician in this community for nearly 20 years, I can speak for myself and my colleagues that this is home. As a practice, it is our intent to continue to provide the same level of care and services our community is used to.
WinnMed Hospice Memorial Ride Thank You
From Nancy Haberichter, WinnMed Hospice Director
The Hospice Memorial Ride was held in June and was a great success, raising over $20,000. We had a wonderful turnout for the ride and others who came to give a donation or just to have breakfast and show their support. On behalf of the WinnMed Hospice team, we would like to thank you for your support this year. It turned out to be a beautiful day and we received many wonderful comments and
Headlines you missed in the July 18 Decorah
Leader
Nordic Fest officials honor pair for community roles
Winneshiek County P&Z hosts public hearing on request for construction of biodigester near Ridgeway
Settlement may calm claim county erred in ordering rip-rap removal
Decorah’s Hovden breaks 176 career wins
Youth learn life skills during 2024 county fair
Council approves local housing development’s shift to townhomes
Opinion: Saturday’s shooting should drive us to mercy over political victories
School board moves forward in effort to schedule November bond referendum
Hageman, Timp home runs help South Winn earn state berth
SUBSCRIPTION SPECIAL GOING ON NOW - SEE PAGE 3
110 Washington St., Suite 4, Decorah 563-382-4221
Apply now for emergency livestock assistance
Program helps dairy producers offset milk loss due to Bird Flu
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began accepting applications July 1 through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in their dairy herds. H5N1 infections have been detected in 12 states including Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. Dairy producers in all states are reminded to stay vigilant and follow established APHIS biosecurity, detection and testing guidelines. In addition to testing, enhanced biosecurity is critical to containing this virus.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP through the rule-making process to assist with a portion of financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds having a confirmed positive H5N1 test. Positive test results must be confirmed through the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).
4. The _______ is a nickname given to a group of young actors who frequently appeared together in films in the 1980s.
5. 'I love the smell of _____ in the morning.'
6. A 2011 film about an African American maid, 'The ______'
7. The first feature-length animated movie ever released.
8. Tom Hanks scored his first Academy Award nomination for this movie.
10. How many suns
Details on updated ELAP policy to provide financial assistance for milk loss due H5N1 were published in the Federal Register (PDF, 279 KB) July 1.
Keep family and neighbors safe: Call 811 before you dig
One click or call can prevent
catastrophe
Thank You
Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate Bob Maxson's life and to those who have supported me during the last months, particularly family & friends, Thornton Manor Staff, Crossing Rivers Hospice & Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Sincerely, Susan Cantine-Maxson
30-1-J-15
USDA continues to work with the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and State veterinary and public health officials to investigate H5N1 among cattle. For more information, visit www.usda.gov.
Alliant Energy encourages residents and contractors to call 811 before any digging projects. A quick call to 811 or click on call811.com prior to planting trees or shrubs, fencing a yard or building a playset can prevent a fire or a potentially dangerous accident with gas or electric lines.
The announcement coincides with National Safe Digging Month. Spring is a popular time for digging projects, and April is a month to acknowledge the hazards and raise awareness of safe digging practices.
It’s not just about the call, it’s the law, and it can keep you and your neighbors safe. 811 is a
national, free service available year-round.
“Everyone is excited to get outside and start working on outdoor projects this time of year,” said Adam Marxen, manager of gas integrity and standards for Alliant Energy. “Not knowing what’s below the surface can lead to a major disaster. Please slow down and call to have your underground lines marked before you dig.”
After calling 811, utilities will mark the locations of buried lines with high-visibility paint or flags. Yellow paint or markings indicate buried natural gas lines; red paint or markings identify electric lines.
When digging, Alliant Energy advises to stay 18 inches away from the marked lines. If unable, dig by hand with extreme caution. If contact with natural gas pipelines or electric lines occurs, call 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268). Even minor damage such as nicks, cuts or dents can result in pipeline failure, electrical shock or a major incident if not properly addressed. Never attempt to fix damaged lines yourself. If you hear blowing gas or begin to smell gas, get to a safe distance and call 911 immediately. Visit alliantenergy.com/811 for more information.
Join our Team!
8th Grade Principal
Administrative Assistant
Decorah Law Firm seeking an Administrative Assistant.
Position provides administrative support to office operations.
Strong communication skills, attention to detail and accuracy, bookkeeping, computer skills, and confidentiality required.
Previous law office experience preferred.
30-tf-D-12
To apply, send resume to P.O. Box 126 Decorah, Iowa 52101
Kindergarten Teacher
or contact the school at 563-382-4668. -code-
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6 - 199 Acres M/L Chickasaw County Real Estate Auction. Sostak Farms LLC, Fredericksburg, IA Sweeney Auction Service, Waukon IA, 563568-2464, www.sweeneyauctionservice.com
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20 - Machinery Consignment Auction, Call now to consign 563-568-2464. Sweeney Auction Service, Waukon IA, 563-568-2464, www.sweeneyauctionservice.com
St. Benedict Catholic School in Decorah, IA is seeking a part-time .2 - .5 time guidance counselor for the 24-25 school year
If interested please contact Justin Johnson at jjohnson@st-ben.pvt.k12.ia.us or contact the school at 563-382-4668.
29-4-JP-12
PART TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Looking for caring individuals who want to be a positive influence in the lives of others. Positions available in the Decorah, Cresco and surrounding area for respite workers and community trainers.
Reading/Language
Arts Teacher
29-8-JP-12
St. Benedict Catholic School in Decorah, IA is seeking a .8 time 6-8 grade reading/language arts teacher for the 24-25 school year.
Duties include working with individuals who have disabilities, by helping them to become comfortable and integrated into the community and giving caregivers a break. Hours are very flexible and can be worked around class schedules, other jobs and activities. Please call Quality Choices @ 319-283-1474 or email Qci283@trxinc.com for more information.
A State of Iowa teaching certificate is required.
If interested please contact Justin Johnson at jjohnson@st-ben.pvt.k12.ia.us or contact the school at 563-382-4668. -code-
Science Teacher
Science Teacher
St. Benedict Catholic School in Decorah, IA is seeking a .8 time 6-8 grade science teacher for the 24-25 school year. A State of Iowa teaching certificate is required. If interested please contact Steve Haluska at shaluska@st-ben.pvt.k12.ia.us or contact the school at 563-382-4668.
4th Grade Teacher
St. Benedict Catholic School in Decorah, IA is seeking a full time 4th Grade Teacher for the 24-25 school year. A State of Iowa teaching certificate is required. If interested please contact Justin Johnson at jjohnson@st-ben.pvt.k12.ia.us or contact the school at 563-382-4668.
30-2-JP-12
PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME NURSE
POSITION
Winneshiek County Public Health is accepting applications for a part-time or a full-time nurse. No weekends! No holidays! Daytime hours 8AM-4:30PM Monday-Friday. This position will provide home health care and assist with a variety of public health programming such as immunizations and school nursing. Must be currently licensed as an RN in Iowa. BLS certification required. Experienced and new grads who are team players are encouraged to apply. Excellent benefits include health insurance, IPERS and mileage.
Applications will be accepted through 4PM July 26, 2024 and are available at Winneshiek County Public Health 305 Montgomery St; Ste # 3 Decorah, IA 52101 Or online at www.winneshiekhealth.org
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Collaborate with the Vocal 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.
• Accompany the Ninth Grade Choir (2nd period) in performances and the final three classes/rehearsals before a concert.
REQUIREMENTS
• 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 degree of reliability and professionalism.
• Flexibility to accommodate the varying schedule of rehearsals and performances.
• A bachelor’s degree in music or a related field is preferred.
Decorah High School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity
DRIFTLESS BINGO 2024 CONTINUES!
How to play
• Send in a selfie having your “Driftless Experience” at each
the
squares to be entered in the prize drawing from the Driftless Journal and our local partners. Earn a BLACKOUT by completing all 25 squares.
• All photos (five for BINGO, 25 for BLACKOUT) must be emailed to contest@driftlessjournal.com by 9/6/24
Boutique Station
Bacon Buddies inspire
(Buddies)
with their Buddies. This year’s event was co-sponsored by Winneshiek County Pork Producers and Lynch Livestock Inc. Pictured is John Lippe, son of Ronald and Vicki Lippe of Decorah, showing a hog with help from volunteers Cael and Kaci Wangsness. John said he was interested to learn that all pigs aren’t necessarily pink. Check out more photos in the Bacon Buddies photo gallery at DecorahLeader.com.
(Photo by Roz Weis)
LOOKS LIKE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has announced that the Fort Atkinson State Preserve is once again open to the public. The site was closed this spring to repair several of the historic structures at the preserve.
“The project went well,” said Iowa DNR District Supervisor Detra Dettmann. “The improvements on the building we were most concerned about, the Northeast Blockhouse, is especially impressive. The contractor literally disassembled part of two walls, tracked each stone that was removed, and rebuilt it, putting each stone back into its original relative position.”
The Friends of Fort Atkinson and Iowa DNR are planning to host a public event to celebrate the success of the project. Dettman said the event may be held closer to the annual Fort Atkinson Rendezvous which is scheduled for Sept. 28-29, 2024. In the meantime, members of the public can enjoy the site at their leisure. The Fort Atkinson Preserve is open daily yearround from 4:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fort Atkinson is a nationally-significant military post from the 1840s, which is now managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as a state preserve. For information, visit www.iowadnr.gov and search for Fort Atkinson Preserve.
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the the
Our privately-held company offers a terrific working environment, PTO, Health, Vision, Medical Insurance as well as Life and Short-term disability.
