News

Freedom, Faith, Family and Fantastic Music all planned for Spillville Fireworks

Published by admin on Wed, 06/22/2022 - 5:30am

Months of planning are about to pay off, as the community of Spillville looks to expand offerings for this year’s Independence Day celebration of Freedom.

Gates and parking open at 10 a.m. and will be staffed by the local faith group St. Wenceslas Holy Name which ensures safe and smooth parking for all attendees. Current president is Derrick Taylor.

Among new items for families to partake in which includes a taco food truck and vendor offerings along with some familiar favorites.

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Rains Hindered 175th Street Work

Published by admin on Tue, 06/21/2022 - 7:30am

More Winneshiek County roads look set to be open to UTV use as a result of recently-passed state law.

That is causing some trepidation for county officials.

“I have concerns about the ‘B’ Class roads,” said Engineer Lee Bjerke.

Those roads are not comparable to many other roads, a difference as significant as the distinction between a runner competing in cross country switching over to asphalt for track and field.

The engineer briefed the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors about the legislature’s changes to UTV resolution.

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RAGBRAI Trial Run Hits Area

Published by admin on Wed, 06/15/2022 - 5:30am

The hills and valleys of northeast Iowa present a stark contrast to the flatlands and rolling hills found elsewhere in the state.

Friday afternoon gave a distinct reminder of that as riders took part in a trial run ahead of next month’s RAGBRAI.

With six weeks to go, RAGBRAI is taking shape as finishing touches are put on this year’s ride.

One part of that is a week-long practice run along the route by riders ahead of RAGBRAI’s main event.

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175th Street Work Should Finish Soon

Published by admin on Tue, 06/14/2022 - 7:30am

Work continues on 175th Street at the north edge of Calmar, and while the summer heat looks set to pound the area, county officials are nonetheless already looking ahead to winter and the arrival of new truck that will help with plowing.

Traffic is being routed by Lavender Fields Inn to head out to PIVO as culvert work on 175th Street has the road completely torn up right off of Highway 52.

Progress has been made, according to Engineer Lee Bjerke.

“They had a pipe in,” said Bjerke.

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Mental Health Levy Will Aid Radio Upgrade

Published by admin on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 7:30am

A mix of funding sources will be used to make a major upgrade of Winneshiek County’s emergency communications a go, and work on the northern edge of Calmar is dependent on whether Mother Nature plays nice.

Unused money from stimulus funds and mental health levy funding are among the revenue sources that will be used to give the county more tower space to increase emergency communications availability.

Moving ahead looks a certainty, but how to pay for it is the key issue.

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Land Rent Spike Impacting Farmers

Published by admin on Thu, 06/02/2022 - 4:30am

Amid rising prices for fuel and fertilizer and with late planting a complication, farmers have a new area of concern as inflation pushes the cost of land rents even higher.

Following on the heels of near-record land prices, the cost of renting farmland is also up precipitously.

A survey by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has rents up an average of 10.3 percent just this year.

That presents a hit for farmers, though for now a majority of farmers should be able to break even.

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CSS Eyes Wage Increases

Published by admin on Wed, 06/01/2022 - 5:30am

With a tight labor market, the regional mental health and disabilities services organization is looking at the idea of raising salaries across the board to the tune of about $100,000 in increases.

Ripple effects of the Great Resignation and employers desperate for staff, the governing board of County Social Services heard recommendations for staff wages.

Inflation’s bite is also a factor as wages and prices skyrocket.

Megan Taets, human resources for CSS, presented the governing board during its May 25 meeting with results of a wage study compared with CSS staff.

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TV Graduates Urged to Remember Their Roots

Published by admin on Wed, 05/25/2022 - 5:30am

The 62nd Graduating Class at Turkey Valley has overcome much to make it to where they are now.

“Seniors, you’re here,” said Superintendent Jay Jurrens. “You made it.”

Graduates gathered Sunday at Turkey Valley for the 2022 Commencement.

Jurrens thanked the seniors for their leadership and what they had done to help.

As they prepared to depart, the superintendent urged them, no matter what direction they might be heading for now, to keep an eye on their roots and to consider settling back down in the area after their studies, looking at jobs and families here.

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Calmar 911 Tower Likely Near Golf Course

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 7:30am

Northern Calmar is the current projected site for one of the new 911 towers for Winneshiek County with a site along or near 175th Street.

Efforts to improve emergency radio communication appear to be moving ahead with supervisors giving verbal consensus to proceed with improving infrastructure.

One key area of concern is inflation’s bite.

Steel prices are soaring, said County Attorney Andy Van Der Maaten as he briefed the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors.

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Deputy Threatened With Death by Decorah Man

Published by admin on Thu, 05/19/2022 - 4:30am

Homeowners on W40 were in fear of their lives from a man who terrorized them and then started telling an arresting officer that said deputy would also die.

A frantic report around 2 a.m. came into the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office about a vehicle tearing around a private property.

When Deputy Lance Peters arrived, he spoke with the homeowners.

“They identified the driver as the defendant who was yelling threats at the home owners and repeatedly stated they were "f[…]ing dead",” said Peters in a sworn statement with court records.