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Official Paper of Calmar, Fort Atkinson, Ridgeway, Waucoma, Winneshiek County & Turkey Valley Community Schools
Volume 37, Issue 10
P.O. Box 507, Calmar, IA 52132 | (563) 562-3488 | www.calmarcourier.com | USPS: 335-690
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
EVENTS South Winn presents “You Could Die Laughing” South Winn presents “You Could Die Laughing” on March 19, 20 & 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Television mogul Jacque St. Yves invites eleven has been comics to his island lodge off the Canadian coast to audition for the central role in his new TV series. It’s an opportunity to die for ... and that is someone’s intention! Shortly after arriving, the comics find they are stranded along with the pilot of St. Yves’s private jet, the attractive flight attendant and the couple employed as housekeeper and handyman. That night, the housekeeper disappears during a violent thunderstorm and her husband drops dead after ingesting candy that any of them could have sampled. Laughs and chills abound and the tension mounts until the startling truth emerges.
Turkey Valley Preschool Registration for 2015-2016 Turkey Valley Preschool Registration will be held in the Elementary Library/Media Center on Wednesday, March 18, between 3:30-6:00 p.m. Please bring your child’s birth certificate as proof of birth date and his/her social security number. If you are unable to attend registration, you may send a friend or relative who can register your child on your behalf.
Turkey Valley presents “Once Upon a Mattress” Turkey Valley will present “Once Upon a Mattress”, an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” on March 19, 20 & 21! For more information visit www.turkeyvalleyschool.com
Veteransʼ Town Hall Event Senior leaders from the Iowa City VA Health Care System and the Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office will hold a Veterans’ Town Hall event from noon – 1:30 p.m. on March 12, at the Decorah Public Library, in Decorah. The town hall is designed to gain open and honest feedback from Veterans, their family members and other beneficiaries. VA also welcomes input from congressional stakeholders, Veteran service organizations, nongovernmental organizations and other community partners. VA facilities around the country are holding town hall meetings on a quarterly basis “to improve communication with, and hear directly from, Veterans nationwide.” “Caring for Veterans is a calling, and our first commitment is to provide Veterans and their families the timely, quality care and benefits they have earned and deserve through their service to our Nation,” said VA Secretary Robert McDonald. “As we seek continual improvement and to rebuild trust among Veterans, it is critical that we continue to listen and learn directly from those who use our system.” The library is located at: 202 Winnebago St., Decorah, IA 52101 For more information, contact jonathan.pruett@va.gov or call 319-339-7104.
In this Issue: Obituaries ..................................4 Worship/Opinion .......................4 Legals ........................................5 Classifieds .................................6 Sports ........................................8
Gary Hovden (shown with wife Judy) is a five year colon cancer survivor. Like many colon cancer patients, Gary didn’t experience any symptoms of colon cancer when he was diagnosed in 2010. After his surgery at Winneshiek Medical Center, Gary and his wife continue to travel and enjoy their family. “I encourage people to get tested, especially if anyone in their family has had colon cancer,” says Gary. “People just need to make sure they get checked so that they can live.”
March is colon cancer awareness month
Jim and Barbara Jirak Dance through the ages ABOVE: Jim and Barbara at Masopust Feb. 7, 2015. TOP RIGHT: Jirak’s wedding portrait Sept. 14, 1949. That evening they had a wedding dance at The Inwood in Spillville. MIDDLE: Jim & Barbara Jirak in 2010 Czech Mardi-Gras in Protivin. BOTTOM RIGHT: Last Sept. the couple celebrated their 65th anniversary with a party at Jackson Heights Country Club where they are members. Story and Masopust Photos by Joyce Meyer Waucoma couple, Jim Jirak and Barbara Riha’s first date wasn’t to a dance, but they soon realized how much they loved to dance together. On September 14, 1949 they married and had a wedding dance at The Inwood Ballroom in Spillville. Last September the couple danced their way to their 65th wedding anniversary. In the 1980’s, after all five children were married, the couple had more time for themselves. They started taking dance classes at Turkey Valley and then in Decorah. Ever since, they are the first on the dance floor, and even spend time going all over the country to dance in each other’s arms. They also love to entertain at the senior citizens homes, showing different dancing styles. In March, this young at heart couple will pass on their love of dancing by teaching the art of polka dancing to Turkey Valley 6th grade students.
The couple are members of the Polka Club of Iowa with the Cedar Valley Chapter. Their favorite bands to kick up their heels to are Marv Nissel & his band, Marc Frana Band, Barefoot and Ivanhoe Dutchman, Jim Busta Band, Gary and the Ridgeland Dutchman, and Mollie B Polka Party. They have traveled all over to dance. They danced in Arizona, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and even on a polka cruise. They have attended the three-day Peter and Paul Wingdigger Festival at Kahler Hotel in Rochester, MN 14 out of the 16 years and collected 28 beer mugs from this festival. They only missed the last two years due to family events. They also have attended all nine Masopust (Czech Mardi-Gras) Festivals in Protivin and Cresco. In 1987 Jim and Barbara were crowned Prince and Princess of the Czech Polka Festival in Traer, Iowa. They had to dance their hearts out
to win over the stiff competition. They rode in the parade for the festival and returned the next day to fetch their beautiful trophy which they had forgotten. This active couple who loves to dance are not retired from farming. Every morning they go to their son Jerry and daughter-in-law Gayle’s farm to help with pig chores. Jim helps with planting, combining, and manure hauling. Barbara enjoys her small herd of sheep, chickens, and rabbits. They also are in a golf couples league at Jackson Heights where they are members. Jim religiously golfs each morning when the course is open unless he is busy helping Jerry. They also love fishing, having gone fishing in Canada for over 55 years and enjoy fishing on their son’s pond. Barbara enjoys her big garden and lots of flower beds around their house. Some of the delicacies she makes are kolaches, JIRAK to page 2
Colon cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. In fact, 1 in 20 Iowans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. “There are no signs and symptoms of early colorectal cancer, so it is important to plan your screening,” says Debra Tekippe, RN, BSN, cancer resource committee chair at Winneshiek Medical Center. Local colon cancer survivor, Gary COLON CANCER to page 7
Potential Scam Targeting Iowa Taxpayers The Iowa Department of Revenue has been made aware of a potential scam targeting Iowa taxpayers. The scam begins through an automated phone call, which shows on caller ID as being from 515-281-3114. That phone number is the Department’s general Taxpayer Services number; however, no automated phone calls can originate from that number. When answering the call, the taxpayer is informed they are eligible for a refund from the Iowa Department of Revenue. The taxpayer is then asked whether the refund should be deposited into the account the Department has on file or if they’d like to donate the refund to an animal POTENTIAL SCAM to page 3
April Schmitt of Fort Atkinson was busy selling her baked goods at the event.
Linus Luzum talks shop for Heying Lumber in Calmar.
Hope Cline talks about Winneshiek Farmers Market beginning the first weekend in May.
A Northeast Iowa Spring Tradition! The 32nd Annual KDEC Home, Sport & Garden Show was held Sunday, March 1 Story and Photos by Joyce Meyer It may not feel like spring but the free spring tradition here in northeast Iowa gave people hope for warm weather soon during the 32nd Annual
KDEC Home, Sport and Garden show Sunday, March 1 at Decorah High School. Winneshiek Farmers Market was there to remind visitors that the season will begin the first weekend
in May and will be located at their usual spot below Oneota Food Coop. Calmar business Heying Lumber was also in attendance with Linus Luzum as spokesperson. April Schmitt of Fort
Atkinson was busy selling her baked goods as well. If you missed April at the show, you can find her sweet treats at the coffee bar at Perfect Edge in HOME SHOW to page 3
Emily Young Johnson Expands Practice to Ossian and Postville WMC expands OB and well woman care to Ossian and Postville. Winneshiek Medical Center is pleased to announce in addition to seeing patients in the WMC Clinic in Decorah, Emily Young Johnson, MSN, MPH, CNM, certified nurse midwife, has expanded her practice to provide care for OB and well woman appointments at the Ossian Clinic and Postville Clinic locations. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Emily has been providing comprehensive prenatal and delivery care and women’s health services for
more than seven years at Winneshiek Medical Center along with her Mayo Clinic Health System primary care OB colleagues, Andy Goodner, M.D., Kevin Locke, M.D., Tyler Menke, M.D., and Sarah Wymer, M.D. She also partners with Randall Bremner, M.D., to offer gynecologic care for women across the lifespan. “I’m looking forward to seeing patients in the clinics in Ossian and Postville,” says Emily. “My favorite part of my practice is getting to know the patients. When I see them for the second and third time, I feel like we
are connecting and can better plan for their health.” Winneshiek Medical Center OB department is a private, exclusive unit with a dedicated staff of registered nurses, including breastfeeding experts and car seat technicians. The OB department is equipped to handle planned and emergency c-sections, offers on-site respiratory therapy available 24-hours a day/seven days a week, on-site radiology to provide needed ultrasounds, aromatherapy for before, during and post-deliver, and is JOHNSON to page 3
Emily Young Johnson, Certified Nurse Midwife at Winneshiek Medical Center
Help neighbors through the Red Cross and become an everyday hero During Red Cross Month in March, you and members of the community can be heroes without needing a cape or superpowers. A blood donation could help save the life of a patient in need – possibly even a neighbor – and you join the legions of everyday heroes nationwide who are making a difference in the lives of patients. The American Red Cross encourages eligible blood donors to become everyday heroes by giving blood in celebration of Red Cross Month this March. Since 1943, every president has designated March as Red Cross Month – a time to recognize those who support the Red Cross. Local communities depend on the Red Cross, which relies on donations of time, money and blood to fulfill its humanitarian mission. Those who are unable to give blood can support blood donations by organizing a blood drive, volunteering to assist with Red Cross activities, or creating a SleevesUp virtual blood drive online at redcrossblood.org/SleevesUp and asking others to make a lifesaving donation. To make an appointment to give RED CROSS to page 2