Local News

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Wed
08
Mar

MFL MarMac choir members perform at Carnegie Hall


MFL MarMac choir members Micah Decker (left), James Slama, Spencer Rose and Christopher Wright stand with choral director Jaydeane Berns outside Carnegie Hall, where they performed Feb. 19. (Submitted photos)

MFL MarMac choral director Jaydeane Berns admitted she cried hearing her students rehearse in Carnegie Hall for the first time. “It was really powerful, and something I never thought I’d experience,” she shared.

The gravity of the opportunity began to sink in the first night the boys were in New York City, when they saw a poster promoting the concert “The Glory of Freedom,” of which “The Testament of Freedom” was a part. “The first time it hit me was that first night,” Christopher Wright noted, “when we walked by a big poster and saw our school name.”

James Slama, Micah Decker, Spencer Rose and Christopher Wright pose with Lee Nelson, who conducted “The Testament of Freedom.” The boys were previously acquainted with Nelson through the Real Men Sing honor festival at Wartburg College, where Nelson works.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Four MFL MarMac high school choir members had the experience of a lifetime Feb. 19, when they performed at prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City.

“It was a year ago, on April 19, that we found out we were accepted and going,” said choral director Jaydeane Berns.

That “we” included juniors Christopher Wright, James Slama and Micah Decker, along with senior Spencer Rose. 

Tue
07
Mar

Monona Council gives blessing for bandstand improvements


The Monona Council, at its regular meeting March 6, gave its blessing for a proposed $31,695 in improvements to the 100-year-old Monona City Park bandstand. City administrator Dan Canton said improvements will include foundation work, painting, new shingles on the roof and sidewalk repairs around the bandstand. (NIT file photo)

Hotel/motel feasibility study looks promising

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

The Monona Council, at its regular meeting March 6, gave its blessing for a proposed $31,695 in improvements to the 100-year-old Monona City Park bandstand.

City administrator Dan Canton said improvements will include foundation work, painting, new shingles on the roof and sidewalk repairs around the bandstand. 

Chris Schlee and Gary Goyette, whom mayor Fran Passmore said have considerable knowledge and experience with restoration projects, will perform the work.

Tue
07
Mar

Trip stokes student’s passion for healthy living


MFL MarMac student Macie Weigand (left) and Kaci Rausch, from Turkey Valley, who are both 4-H Food and Fitness members, attended the 4-H Healthy Living Summit in Washington, D.C., Feb. 17-20. (Submitted photos)

While in Washington D.C., Macie Weigand got to meet U.S. Senator Joni Ernst. Pictured (left to right) are Laura Liechty, regional youth and nutrition coordinator for ISU Extension; Weigand; Ernst; and Kaci Rausch, a Turkey Valley student and FFI member.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

MFL MarMac student Macie Weigand is an active 4-H member, participating in both the Monona Junior Feeders 4-H Club, as well as the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative (FFI), through the school district. 

Weigand is also a FEEST intern. An acronym for Food Empowerment Education and Sustainability Team, FEEST encourages youth to engage with one another, their communities and local foods through cooking. As a FEEST intern, Weigand plans MFL MarMac’s FEEST dinners.

Tue
07
Mar

Boelman to serve as McGregor Deputy Clerk, lead economic development efforts

Duane Boelman, of McGregor, has accepted a position with the city of McGregor as deputy city clerk and will also lead the city’s economic development efforts. 

Duties will include planning and promotion of downtown revitalization, development of the historic Sullivan Opera House, retaining and expanding existing businesses and attracting new business. In an effort to improve neighborhoods and increase property values, he will actively market McGregor’s Ohmer Ridge Subdivision and its historic neighborhoods and work to develop under-utilized spaces and land.

Tue
28
Feb

The answer is still 'no'

McGregor Council re-votes on Trilogy rezoning request, per court order

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

At its regular meeting Feb. 15, the McGregor Council approved a resolution denying an application by Trilogy Partners, LLC, to rezone the former Holiday Shores Motel property from W1-waterfront commercial to W2-waterfront mixed use, for the purpose of constructing condominiums.

Tue
28
Feb

Friends Helping Friends Winter Triathlon and Benefit to aid emergency services


The bed races are always a popular activity during the Mar-Mac Friends Helping Friends Winter Triathlon and Benefit. This year’s event will be held Friday and Saturday, March 3-4, in McGregor, with proceeds going to local emergency services for equipment purchases. (NIT file photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Mar-Mac Friends Helping Friends is going back to its roots for the 13th annual Winter Triathlon and Benefit on Friday and Saturday, March 3-4.

Proceeds from the event have often gone to individuals or families in the community battling cancer or other hardships. This year, however, proceeds will benefit local emergency services—including the police, fire department and rescue squad—for equipment purchases.

Tue
28
Feb

Kussmaul taking over at Lund Chiropractic


Dr. Megan Kussmaul

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

There’s a new doctor in Marquette. Beginning March 1, Dr. Megan Kussmaul will take over at Lund Chiropractic, renaming the practice Primitive Health Chiropractic and Wellness Center.

Kussmaul is a Prairie du Chien native who now lives in Mount Hope, Wis., with her husband and two children. She attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, then graduated from the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 2011. For the past five years, she’s practiced in Boscobel, Wis. 

Tue
21
Feb

Effects of Luster Heights closure already being felt


On Feb. 8, the Iowa Department of Corrections announced a suspension of operations at four facilities, including Luster Heights, located near Harpers Ferry. The effects of the decision are already being felt. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Luster Heights Correctional Facility now sits empty, just two weeks after the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) announced a suspension of operations at the facility as well as three other units around the state.

According to DOC Director Jerry Bartruff in a statement on Feb. 8, the move to shutter the doors at Luster Heights—along with the Lodge Unit in Clarinda, the John Bennett Unit in Fort Madison and the Sheldon Residential Treatment Facility—was made in order to cut the DOC’s fiscal year 2017 budget by $5.5 million.

Tue
21
Feb

MFL MarMac teachers find additional way to collaborate with one another, community


MFL MarMac teachers have discovered a new way of collaborating with one another and the community...and it all begins by placing a simple sign outside their classroom doors. The signs, like this one, invite people observe lessons and provide feedback. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

MFL MarMac teachers have discovered a new way of collaborating with one another and the community...and it all begins by placing a simple sign outside their classroom doors.

The signs invite people—be it staff, school board members, parents or other members of the community—to enter classrooms, observe lessons and provide feedback about what they’ve seen and heard.

The movement is called #ObserveMe, and was created by California math teacher specialist and educational trainer Robert Kaplinsky in order to foster more collaborative school environments.

Tue
21
Feb

Marquette Council gives go-ahead for emergency evacuation route survey

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

At its Feb. 14 regular meeting, the Marquette Council gave Bart Nies, with Delta 3 Engineering, the go-ahead to perform a survey for an emergency evacuation route off the bench.

The council considered two possible routes that would go over the bluff and come out in McGregor, near Eagle Drive. The route would be gravel and used strictly for emergencies. One option would forge a new road through city property and another, using an already existing road, would travel through both city and private property.

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