6-1 NEWS

A trial has been scheduled for June 27th for a northeast Iowa teacher accused of having sexual contact with a student. 29 year old Tiffany Ranweiler-Oblander of Decorah, is charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee. She was charged on May 4 after the Howard County Sheriff’s Office says it obtained evidence that Ranweiler-Oblander and a student engaged in sexual conduct on four occasions between March and April of 2018. Since her arrest, she has been put on administrative leave by the Howard-Winneshiek School District.

Farmers in northern Iowa have been making progress in catching up to the rest of the state when it comes to spring planting. Iowa State University Extension field agronomist Paul Kassel, says the late arrival of spring weather is one of the reasons they’ve been behind. Kassel says one of the things they are talking with farmers about is whether they should stick with corn or switch to planting beans.

Kassel

Kassel says the early spring snows were part of the problem — but he’s not sure why it has taken so long for the ground to be ready to plant.

The city of Decorah’s franchise agreement with Alliant Energy ends/ended (Thursday). What happens now? Decorah city manager Chad Bird.

Bird

Bird says Alliant’s service area is regulated by the Iowa Utilities board so the company cannot turn the power off in Decorah even if there’s no franchise agreement in place.

Iowa turkey hunters took home 11-thousand-700 birds this season which ran from April 7th to May 20th. D-N-R wildlife biologist, Jim Coffee, says that was down just 78 turkeys from last year’s season. The total is good considering the weather conditions when things got started.

Coffee

Coffee says there were nearly 50-thousand tags purchased for the recent turkey season.

5-31 NEWS

THE STATE DATA CENTER OF IOWA HAS RELEASED ITS 2017 CITY POPULATIONS ESTIMATES AND AREA COMMUNITIES ARE DOWN FROM THE 2016 TOTALS. STATE OFFICIALS SAY DECORAH LOST 42 RESIDENTS BETWEEN 2016 AND 2017 WITH THE ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 7701. WEST UNION SAW A 31 PERSON DECREASE TO 2346. WAUKON’S DECREASE WAS NINE RESIDENTS TO 3697 AND CRESCO ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 3776 IS A DECREASE OF SIX OVER A YEAR AGO.

WINNESHIEK COUNTY HAS HIRED A NEW SHERIFF’S DEPUTY. COUNTY SHERIFF DAN MARX INTRODUCED BYRON HOOK TO THE WINNESHIEK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TUESDAY MORNING. HOOK HAS PREVIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE MONONA AND DECORH POLICE DEPARTMENTS. HOOK HAD LEFT LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR A SHORT TIME BEFORE DECIDING THIS WAS THE PROFESSION FOR HIM. HOOK WAS ALSO AN ARMY RESERVIST BASED IN DECORAH FOR 13 YEARS AND SERVED IN DEPLOYMENTS TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

SANGERFEST BEGINS (THURSDAY) IN DECORAH. FRANCIS PETERSON IS WITH THE LUREN SINGERS OF DECORAH, WHO ARE HOSTING THIS YEAR’S EVENT.

PETERSON

THE EVENT WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE SANGERFEST GRAND CONCERT AT SEVEN P.M. SATURDAY AT THE LUTHER COLLEGE CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE.

A district court judge is considering a motion to move the trial for the father of a baby whose lifeless body was found in an infant swing. Zackary Koehn’s trial on first-degree murder and child endangerment charges had been set for June, but Koehn’s attorney on Tuesday asked for a delay. Koehn has also asked for a change of venue. Last week, Judge Richard Stochl said he has had no luck in finding another courthouse where the trial could be held. He says he will continue to work with court administration to find another trial venue. Authorities say the body of 4-month-old Sterling Koehn was infested with maggots when found Aug. 30 by police and medics in his parents’ Alta Vista apartment. The baby’s mother, Cheyanne Harris, has also pleaded not guilty to charges.

A hot and dry week across much of the State allowed Iowa farmers 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Iowa growers have planted 96 percent of the expected corn crop, with 77 percent of the crop emerged. Farmers in the northern one-third of the state were able to plant over 20 percent of their corn during the previous week which leaves less than 10 percent still to be planted. Soybean growers have 81 percent of the expected crop planted, a week ahead of the 5-year average. Forty-four percent of soybeans have emerged, three days ahead of last year.

A POSTVILLE MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THE VIOLATION OF A NO CONTACT ORDER. THE WINNESHIEK COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SAYS 39 YEAR OLD BRIAN MILLER ALLEDGEDLY VIOLATED THE NO CONTACT ORDER WHILE INCARCERATED IN THE WINNESHIEK COUNTY JAIL.

5-30 NEWS

The experts say our region’s weather patterns will likely be changing for the warmer and wetter in the seasons ahead, but how much they’ll change is still anybody’s guess. Meteorologist Dennis Todey (TODD-ee), director of the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climate Hub — based in Ames, explains.
Todey
La Nina patterns often bring cooler temperatures along with more storms in some areas and droughts elsewhere. El Nino patterns typically do the opposite. Todey says the region’s outlook for the month ahead will likely include more rain than normal.

A Cresco family will be recognized (Wednesday) by the Iowa Department of Agriculutre. The Tim Huhe family is this year’s recipient of the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award. The award, named for a long-time farm broadcaster, recognizes livestock producers who take time to do things right, including caring for the environment, their livestock and being good neighbors. The Huhe family raises dairy, beef, pork, sheep and crops on their farm in rural Cresco. A ceremony will begin at eleven-30 on the Howard county fairgrounds.

A recent Decorah high school graduate has received an Air Force Reserve training corps scholarship. Dawson Bauer will attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison this fall. Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, physical fitness, specific performance or accomplishment, leadership abilities and personal interviews. The scholarship includes tuition and fees, a six hundred dollar allotment for text books and a 10-month stipend per year. Bauer will incur a military active duty assignment for four years following graduation.

The city of Decorah set a record high Sunday. Decorah weather statistician Richard Bernatz says Sunday’s high temperature was 94 degrees, defeating the previous May 27th record of 92 in 1967. Monday’s high of 93 fell short of the May 28th high of 96 set back in 1913. Sunday and Monday marked the first back-to-back days of over 90 degrees temperatures in Decorah since May 27th and 28th of 2013, when the temperature high 90 and 91 degrees.

An Elkader man was arrested after an incident at a Castalia residence on Saturday. The Winneshiek county sheriff’s department says 35 year old Brandon Brown was charged with willful injury causing bodily injury.

An Ossian man was charged with two counts of assault after authorities responded to a fight in progress on Main Street in Ossian Sunday. The Winneshiek county sheriff’s department says 23 year old Jorge Cardona was arrested for allegedly asaulting two individuals.

A Ridgeway man was arrested after authorities were called to a residence in Madison Township Monday. The Winneshiek county sheriff’s department says 33 year old Ronald Still was charged with criminal mischief after finding property scattered throughout the yard and driveway when they arrived on the scene.

A motorcycle accident near the intersection of Canoe Ridge and River Road Saturday caused injuries to the passenger of the motorcycle. The Winneshiek county sheriff’s department says 57 year old Timothy Morris of Onalaska, Wisconsin lost control of his motorcycle around two-30 Saturday afternoon. Authorities say an unidentified female passenger was thrown from the bike and was taken by ambulance to Winneshiek Medical Center. The accident remains under investigation and charges are pending.

A Saturday afternoon accident on Town Line Road in Madison Township injuried a Shell Rock woman. The Winneshiek county sheriff’s department says 22 year old Amber Cole was lost control of her vehicle, entered the ditch and rolled several times. She was taken by ambulance to Winneshiek Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Charges are pending in the accident.

A Decorah man was injuried in an accident Friday afternoon in Fayette County. The Fayette county sheriff’s department says 24 year old Eric Smorstad lost control of his vehicle on Lincoln Road and entered the ditch totalling the vehicle. Smorstad was transported by ambulance to Palmer Lutheran hospital in West Union with non-life threatening injuries. The accident remains under investigation.

5-29 NEWS

THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD AT TODAY’S MEETING OF THE WINNESHIEK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THE SUPERVISORS WILL HEAR COMMENTS ON A BUDGET AMENDMENT, A REZONING REQUEST FOR THE NORTH SLOPES ESTATE AND ON THE PLANS AND SPECS FOR THE BURR OAK WASTEWATER FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. COUNTY SHERIFF DAN MARX WILL ALSO INTRODUCE A NEW DEPUTY. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT NINE-30 AT THE COURTHOUSE IN DECORAH.

A NEW DIECTOR OF THE NORTHEAST IOWA R-S-V-P, OR RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, IS A LITTLE OVER A MONTH INTO HER NEW POSITION. DEANA HAGEMAN STARTED HER NEW POSITION APRIL 24TH TO REPLACE THE RETIRING KATHY BARLOON. HAGEMAN COMES TO THE POSITION WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING ADVOCATING FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION, PROVIDING JOB COACHING AND PLACEMENT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, RECRUITING AND TRAINING OF HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS AND CHARING AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS HEALTHCARE COALITION.

A group that keeps an eye on the eagle population in Iowa says two eaglets at a nest in Decorah have died. Television station KCRG reports that a pathogen carried by blackflies, coupled with recent high heat and humidity, led to the baby birds’ deaths. The Raptor Resource project – a nonprofit organization that runs the popular webcam trained on the nest – says the birds were hatched on May 18 and May 20, considered late for eagles.

Authorities in northeast Iowa are investigating a weekend drowning at a Chickasaw County quarry that’s a popular place for local swimmers. Sheriff Marty Hemann (MAY-man) confirmed on Monday that 17-year-old Sam Hake (HAYK, rhymes with “rake”) died in an apparent swimming accident at Chickasaw Park near Ionia. Emergency vehicles from numerous agencies converged on the park around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. Hake’s body was recovered from the park’s quarry a short time later. According to Hemann, an autopsy is planned. Hake was a student at Nashua-Plainfield High School who was finishing his junior year. Hake’s drowning at Chickasaw Park occurred nearly two years to the day when another high school student died in the same quarry. 18-year-old Christopher Balvanz of Hawkeye drown while swimming with friends on May 25, 2016, just days before his scheduled graduation from Sumner-Fredericksburg High School.

5-28 KDEC NEWS

THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE IN DECORAH BEGINS AT 10 THIS MORNING AT THE WEST DECORAH BRIDGE. ALL VETERANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MEET ON FIFTH AVENUE TO MARCH IN THE PARADE. A FLATBED TRUCK WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE UNABLE TO MARCH. THIS YEAR’S GRAND MARSHALL IS DICK SCHUMAN OF DECORAH. SCHUMAN IS A U.S. NAVY VETERAN OF WORLD WAR TWO. TODAY’S PARADE WILL CONTINUE TO THE WINNESHIEK COUNTY COURTHOUSE WHERE A CEREMONY WILL BE HELD HONORING WINNESHIEK COUNTY VETERANS WHO PASSED AWAY IN THE LAST YEAR. THE GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE WINNESHIEK COUNTY SHERIFF DAN MARX.

THIS WEEK USUALLY MARKS THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. NOT THIS YEAR: (AUDIO-HALUSKA)
DECORAH SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT MIKE HALUSKA SAYS THE LATER END TO THE SCHOOL YEAR DOESN’T CREATE TOO MANY ISSUES FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT, BUT IT DOES CREATE SOME FAMILY ISSUES AND CONFLICTS WITH PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. HALUSKA SAYS, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE’S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE ARRESTS ARE UP IN WINNESHIEK COUNTY, BUT SHERIFF DAN MARX SAYS ALCOHOL-RELATED ARRESTS ARE HOLDING STEADY, AND MAY EVEN BE DROPPING: (AUDIO-MARX OWI)
SHERIFF MARX SAYS THE QUESTION MAY BE WHETHER DRUGGED DRIVING IS INCREASING, OR IF THERE’S BETTER DETECTION OF THE PROBLEM TODAY.

THE LUREN SINGING SOCIETY BASED IN DECORAH WILL BE HOSTING A PREMIER MEN’S SINGING EVENT THIS WEEK. IT’S SANGERFEST (SAHN-GUR fest). FRANCIS PETERSON IS WITH THE LUREN SINGERS (AUDIO-PETERSON)
SANGERFEST WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED BY TWO CONCERTS. THE PARADE OF CHORUSES WILL FEATURE TWO SONGS BY EACH OF THE TEN MIDWEST MALE NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN CHORUSES ALONG WITH THE NORTHERN LIGHTS WOMEN’S CHORUS THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7. THE FESTIVAL’S GRAND CONCERT WILL FEATURE SCANDINAVIAN AND AMERICAN MUSIC SUNG BY A MASS CHORUS OF OVER 200 MEN ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7. BOTH CONCERTS WILL BE HELD AT THE CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE AT LUTHER COLLEGE.

THE CITY OF OSSIAN AND THE OSSIAN CROWN CLUB WILL KICK OFF THEIR SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT SERIES THIS WEEK. THE “DON’T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB” BIG BAND WILL PERFORM SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 AT THE OSSIAN EDUCATIONAL AND PERFORMANCE PAVILION IN CAREY’S PARK. THE RAIN LOCATION FOR THE EVENT WILL BE THE WILDWOODS EVENT CENTER.

5-27 KDEC NEWS

(8 AM ONLY)
A DECORAH NATIVE WILL GIVE THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT LUTHER COLLEGE THIS MORNING. B.J. NICHOLS IS A PARTNER WITH ERNST AND YOUNG AND IS A 1997 LUTHER GRADUATE. TODAY’S CEREMONY BEGINS AT 10 A.M. AT CARLSON STADIUM. FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY, COMMENCEMENT LUNCH WILL BE SERVED IN THE CAFETERIA OF THE DAHL CENTENNIAL UNION UNTIL TWO P.M.

THE NORTH WINNESHIEK SCHOOL BOARD HAS APPROVED A SHARING AGREEMENT FOR A TEACHER LIBRARIAN POSITION. LAST WEEK’S APPROVAL ALLOWS THE DISTRICT TO PURCHASE FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FROM THE M-F-L MAR-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED A PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH KEYSTONE FOR TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AT THE MEETING.

WITH PEOPLE THINKING ABUT THE UPCOMING SUMMER SEASON, CITY OF DECORAH OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING FOR NEXT WINTER ALREADY. STREET SUPERINTENDENT KEVIN NELSON TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK THE PRICE OF ROAD SALT HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE LAST YEAR. NELSON SAYS HE ACCEPTED A BOD FOR OVER $7 THOUSAND, 7 HUNDRED DOLLARS A TON. THAT’S AN INCREASE OF NEARLY $250 PER TON OVER THE CURRENT YEAR.

AREA GOVERNMENT OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED(MONDAY) IN RECOGNITION OF THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY. DECORAH CITY HALL AND THE WINNESHIEK COUNTY COURTHOUSE WILL BE CLOSED, AND EARL PUBLIC TRANSIT WILL NOT BE OPERATING. THE WEEKLY MEETING OF THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY THIS WEEK.

THE HARPERS FERRY AMERICAN LEGION POST 722 AND AUXILIARY UNITS WILL BE OBSERVING MEMORIAL DAY TOMORROW WITH EARLY MORNING CEREMONIES AT SIX AREA CEMETERIES. THE COMMEMORATION WILL CONTINUE WITH A SERVICE AT 9 A.M. AT THE SAINT ANN’S/SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH…AND A PARADE AT 10 A.M. FOLLOWS. AFTER THE PARADE, A PROGRAM WILL BE HELD AT VETERAN’S MEMORIAL PARK. THE DAY OF EVENTS WILL CONCLUDE WITH A PORK CHOP DINNER AT THE HARPER’S FERRY COMMUNITY CENTER.

A NEW HAMPTON BANKER HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY. NICK WINTER OF THE STATE BANK IN NEW HAMPTON WAS RECENTLY HONORED AS THE STATE’S BEGINNING FARM BANKER OF THE YEAR. THE IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY SAYS WINTER ASSISTED THE MOST BEGINNING FARMERS STATEWIDE THROUGH THE BEGINNING FARM LOAN PROGRAM LAST YEAR, WITH LOANS TOTALING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

5-26 KDEC NEWS

FREES FOREVER AND BLACK HILLS ENERGY ARE PARTNERING WITH DECORAH VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO PLANT TREES IN THE CITY. DECORAH HAS BEEN AWARDED A $4-THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT TO SAVE ENERGY, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND REDUCE STORM-WATER RUNOFF. THE EMERALD ASH BORER HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON CITY TREES. TREE BOARD PRESIDENT MARK FALDET SAYS MANY OF THE ASH TREES HAVE BEEN FELLED BUT MORE REMAIN:
(AUDIO-FALDET-TREES)
ACCORDING TO ARBORIST PETER VAN DER LINDEN, NEW BREEDS OF ASH TREES CAN STILL BE PLANTED IF THEY ARE THE VARIETY THAT IS RESISTANT TO THE EMERALD ASH BORER. THE BOULEVARD-PLANTINGS ARE ALREADY IN PROGRESS.

(FRIDAY)
LUTHER COLLEGE WILL HALD COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES FOR THE CLASS OF 2018 THIS WEEKEND. COMMENCEMENT WILL BE SUNDAY MORNING AT 10 A.M. AT CARLSON STADIUM. THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS WILL BE GIVEN BY 1997 LUTHER GRADUATE B.J. NICHOLS. NICHOLS IS A PARTNER AT ERNST AND YOUNG, HELPING COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENTS RECOVER FINANCIALLY, FOLLOWING CATASTROPHIC LOSSES. THE NORDIC CHOIR AND LUTHER COLLEGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WILL PERFORM A SHOWCASE CONCERT TONIGHT AT 7:30 IN THE CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE MAIN HALL.

(SAT MORN)
A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD ON THE LUTHER CAMPUS TODAY AS COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND CONTINUES. A NURSE-PINNING CEREMONY FOR NURSING GRADUATES IN THE CLASS OF 2018 WILL BE HELD IN THE NOBLE RECITAL HALL. THE SOCIAL-WORK PROGRAM CELEBRATION WILL BE HELD FROM 10-NOON IN THE HELEN FARWELL LOUNGE. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SENIOR RECOGNITION OPEN HOUSE RUNS FROM 10-12:30 IN THE ATRIUM OF THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, AND THE SENIOR ATHLETE RECOGNITION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 10:30 IN THE C.F.L. THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES WILL BEGIN AT 10 A.M. SUNDAY AT CARLSON STADIUM.

(SAT NOON)
IT’S COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND ON THE LUTHER COLLEGE CAMPUS. THIS AFTERNOON THE CONCERT BAND AND JAZZ ORCHESTRA WILL PRESENT A SHOWCASE CONCERT AT 1:30 IN THE CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE MAIN HALL. THE SENIOR ART EXHIBITION RECEPTION WILL BE HELD IN THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT 4 THIS AFTERNOON. THE COLLEGE’S BACCALAUREATE CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN THE C.F.L. AT 8 TONIGHT. COMMENCEMENT IS SET FOR 10 A.M. SUNDAY (TOMORROW) AT CARLSON STADIUM.

THREE WIND-ENERGY TURBINES JUST EAST OF FAIRBANK REMAIN IN OPERATION EVEN AFTER BEING RULED ILLEGAL. A GROUP OF COMPANIES OPERATING THE TURBINES HAVE ASKED FAYETTE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT TO RECONSIDER A 2016 ORDER THAT SAID THE STRUCTURES WERE IN VIOLATION OF ZONING LAWS AND MUST BE TORN DOWN. THE CITY OF FAIRBANK AND SEVERAL PROPERTY OWNERS ARE ASKING THE COURT TO FIND THE COMPANIES AND COUNTY ZONING OFFICIALS IN CONTEMPT OF COURT FOR FAILING TO ALREADY REMOVE THEM. A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE HAS SET A JUNE 11TH HEARING ON THE CONTEMPT ISSUE.

IF YOU’RE TRAVELING AROUND THIS WEEKEND, DON’T FORGET TO BUCKLE UP. ANOTHER STEP, OR SPECIAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, IS UNDERWAY. THE GOVERNOR’S TRAFFIC SAFETY BUREAU AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE “CLICK IT OR TICKET” EFFORT. PATRICK HOY WITH THE SAFETY BUREAU SAYS, FAILING TO BUCKLE UP COULD COST YOU IN THE WALLET…BUT IT COULD ALSO COST YOU YOUR LIFE:
(AUDIO-HOY)
THE STEP PROGRAM RUNS THROUGH JUNE 3RD.

NEAR-RECORD TRAVEL NUMBERS ARE PREDICTED IN IOWA AND NATIONWIDE FOR THE UPCOMING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, KICKING OFF THE SUMMER VACATION SEASON. ROSE WHITE, SPOKESWOMAN FOR TRIPLE-A IOWA, SAYS THE MOTOR CLUB IS FORECASTING MORE THAN 41-MILLION AMERICANS WILL BE TAKING TRIPS DURING THE HOLIDAY. THAT’S A 5% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR AND THE LARGEST NUMBER IN A DOZEN YEARS.
(AUDIO-WHITE)
CRUDE OIL PRICES ARE UP AND GAS PRICES ARE FOLLOWING SUIT, THOUGH WHITE SAYS HIGHER PUMP PRICES WON’T DETER MOST MOTORISTS FROM HITTING THE HOLIDAY ROAD.

IF YOU’RE CURIOUS ABOUT WHO’S IN THE FILLMORE COUNTY JAIL, YOU KNOW HAVE A WAY TO FIND OUT. FILLMORE COUNTY SHERIFF TOM KAASE RECENTLY ADDED A FEATURE TO THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT WEBSITE THAT INCLUDES A LIST OF THOSE IN CUSTODY. KAASE SAYS THE LIST INCLUDES THE NAMES, AGE, SEX, INTAKE DATE, CHARGES AND THE AMOUNT OF BOND.

5-25 KDEC NEWS

THE UPPER IOWA RIVER CAN BE TRICKY AT TIMES, AND WINNESHIEK COUNTY SHERIFF DAN MARX SAYS THERE’S A PARTICULAR STRETCH OF THE RIVER THAT HAS HIM CONCERNED:
(AUDIO…MARX-RIVER)
SHERIFF MARX SAYS IT’S ALSO DIFFICULT TO GET RESCUE EQUIPMENT TO THAT AREA. HE SUGGESTS TO AVOID THAT STRETCH OF THE RIVER.

CITY OF DECORAH OFFICIALS ARE HOPING TO FINALIZE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND GUNDERSEN HEALTH SYSTEMS FRIDAY. THE DECORAH AIRPORT COMMISSION WILL MEET WITH GUNDERSEN REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO A HANGAR AT THE AIRPORT TO PERMANENTLY HOUSE A MED-LINK HELICOPTER AT THE AIRPORT. CITY MANAGER CHAD BIRD TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK THAT AN ENGINEER WILL ALSO BE ON HAND TO PROVIDE ESTIMATES ON THE PROJECT.

THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HAVE ANNOUNCED A PLAN WHERE THEY WILL TEAM UP FOR A SURVEY OF THE LABOR MARKET IN ALL 99 COUNTIES. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT’S RYAN MURPHY OVERSEES THE LABOR MARKET INFORMATION DIVISION, AND SAYS IT WILL BE A STUDY OF WHAT IS CALLED THE LABORSHED AREA. MURPHY SAYS, WHILE IT’S OBVIOUS IN SOME COUNTIES WHERE THE WORKERS ARE COMING FROM, OTHERS AREN’T AS EASY TO FIGURE OUT:
(AUDIO…MURPHY)
THEY WILL BEGIN THE LABORSHED STUDY IN JULY AND PLAN TO COMPLETE 44 COUNTIES IN THE FIRST YEAR AND THE REMAINING 45 IN THE SECOND YEAR. MURPHY SAYS THEY ARE USING STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE SURVEY AND IT WILL COST AROUND 950-THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH YEAR. THE DATA FROM THESE SURVEYS WILL BE PROVIDED TO LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS FOR FREE.

WITH THE STATE PRIMARY ELECTIONS FAST-APPROACHING, IOWA VOTERS WILL NOTICE SOME CHANGES AT THE VOTING BOOTH. LAST YEAR THEN-GOVERNOR TERRY BRANDSTAD SIGNED A LAW REQUIRING IOWA VOTERS TO SHOW AN ID BEFORE THEY CAST A BALLOT. VOTERS MAY BE RELIEVED TO KNOW THERE’S SOME LEEWAY AS ONLY PORTIONS OF THE LAW STARTED TO ROLL OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. AT THAT TIME, MORE THAN 123,000 STATE-ISSUED VOTER I.D. CARDS WERE SENT TO EVERY REGISTERED VOTER THAT DIDN’T HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE ON RECORD WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. IF YOU SHOW UP AT THE POLLS WITHOUT AN I.D., YOU’LL BE ABLE TO VOTE ONLY AFTER SIGNING AN OATH.

5-24 NEWS

THE DECORAH BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT IS BACK AT FULL STRENGTH. THE DECORAH CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF JOHN JENKINS TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AT ITS MEETING THIS WEEK. THE BOARD HAS HAD FOUR MEMBERS SINCE JOHN MOELLER’S TERM EXPIRED IN DECEMBER. MOELLER CHOOSE NOT BE RE-APPOINTED.

An annual survey conducted by Iowa State University Extension shows rental rates for Iowa farmland has increased for the first time in five years. ISU Extension economist Ann Johanns (JOH-hanz) says cash rents seem to be following land values instead of expected farm profitability.
Johanns
Johanns says little more than half of the farmland in Iowa is rented. This year, the average statewide rental rate is $222 per acre, an increase of just 1.4 percent over last year.

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK ON THE JOB FOR THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR NORTHEAST IOWA COMMUNITY ACTION CORPORATION. WILLIAM “BILL” IVERSON IS RETIRING AFTER WORKING FOR THE ORGANIZATION FOR 40 YEARS. A RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR IVERSON WILL BE HELD (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON FROM THREE-30 UNTIL SIX P.M. IN THE COMMUNITY ACTION CONFERENCE ROOM, LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT OF THE SMITH BUILDING AT 305 MONTGOMERY STREET IN DECORAH.

THE SECOND MEETING OF THE DECORAH-NORTH WINNESHIEK INTERIM SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE HELD THIS EVENING. THE BOARD’S ORGANIZATION MEETING WAS HELD IN MARCH. DECORAH SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT MIKE HALUSKA.
HALUSKA
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT FIVE-15 (WEDNESDAY) NIGHT AT THE DECORAH CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE.

DONALDSONS IN CRESCO HAS BEEN AWARDED A TAX BENEFIT FROM THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD. THE COMPANY WILL RECEIVE A TAX BENEFIT ON A FOUR-POINT-SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO REMODEL THE CURRENT FACILITY TO INSTALL TWO FILTER MEDIA PRODUCTION LINES. STATE OFFICIALS SAY THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO CREATE SIX JOBS AT A QUALIFYING WAGE OF NEARLY TWENTY DOLLARS PER HOUR. THE AWARD IS PART OF OVER 80 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX INCENTIVES APPROVED THE IDEA (SAY THE WORD IDEA) BOARD LAST WEEK.

After a cold April and soggy start to May, Iowa farmers are faring well in the fields. The latest check of crop conditions shows farmers are essentially on schedule. Reports show 86% of Iowa’s corn acres have been planted, which is a little behind average. However, soybean planting is right on schedule; approximately 58% of the seed is in the ground. Ninety-three percent of the state’s topsoil has adequate or better moisture right now, although some fields have been flooded by recent rain.

5-23 NEWS

AROUND TEN YEARS AGO, DECORAH WAS ENTERED INTO THE IOWA GREAT PLACES PROGRAM. DECORAH CITY MANAGER CHAD BIRD SAYS THE CITY IS APPLYING TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM AGAIN.

BIRD 1

BIRD SAYS IF THE CITY RECEIVES THE DESIGNATION, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF PROJECTS THAT COULD BENEFIT.

BIRD 2

BIRD TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK DECORAH IS A SEMI-FINALIST FOR REDESIGNATION INTO THE PROGRAM.

YOUR NEXT WATER AND SEWER BILL IN THE CITY OF DECORAH WILL BE HIGHER. THE DECORAH CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE THIRD AND FINAL READING OF SEPARATE ORDINANCES TO INCREASE WATER AND SEWER RATES AT ITS MEETING THIS WEEK. THE WATER RATE INCREASE IS 20 PERCENT. THE SEWER RATE INCREASE IS 12 PERCENT. CITY OFFICIALS SAY THE RATE INCREASE WILL BECOME OFFICIAL ONCE THE ORDINANCE IS PUBLISHED.

THE DECORAH SWIMMING POOL IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN SUNDAY BUT CITY CREWS WILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO THIS WEEK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR ANDY NIMROD TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL MONDAY NIGHT THEY HAD TO DRAIN THE POOL WHEN THE FOUND SHATTERED GLASS FROM A BEER BOTTLE THAT WAS THROWN OVER THE FENCE IN THE POOL. NIMROD SAYS THE GOOD NEWS IS THE POOL’S NEW WATER BOILER IS WORKING WELL AND THE NEW TODDLER SLIDE WILL BE INSTALLED BY THE TIME THE POOL OPENS.

DECORAH SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT MIKE HALUSKA SAYS THEY’RE STILL HOPING TO HAVE A BOND ISSUE VOTE FOR A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

HALUSKA-WEDNESDAY

HALUSKA SAYS A TASK FORCE CONSISTING OF CITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES ARE CONTINUING TO STUDY THE ISSUE. HE SAYS THE DISTRICT WANTS TO SEE THAT PROCESS PLAY OUT BEFORE DECLARING ANY OPTION OFF THE TABLE