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Tue
21
Aug

Hobby takes flight


Oliver Ludvik, 7, from Marquette, shows off the containers where he raises monarch butterflies. Filled with sticks and milkweed leaves, the enclosures provide habitat and food as the insects make their way from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis to butterfly. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Oliver currently has a number of hungry caterpillars who, over two weeks, will grow and shed several times before entering the pupa stage. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Oliver began raising and releasing butterflies two years ago. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

“It’s pretty weird how they transform,” Oliver said. “I like when I get to let them go.” (Submitted photo)

Oliver shows off a drawing he created demonstrating the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Marquette boy enjoys raising monarchs

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Reaching into a glass enclosure littered with sticks and milkweed leaves, Oliver Ludvik carefully coaxes a monarch butterfly onto his fingertips. Observing the hind wings, he makes a discovery.

“This one doesn’t have a dot,” he noted, “so it’s a girl.”

The Marquette 7 year old has lovingly raised the insect since it was an egg—no bigger than a pin head—on the underside of a milkweed leaf. But it’s time for the butterfly to leave its enclosure and head into the wild, where it will hopefully lay the next generation of monarchs for Oliver to find and nurture.

Tue
21
Aug

Contractor approved for Depot expansion project


A new addition to the Marquette Depot Museum and Information Center, located on Edgar Street, will be built on the end of the existing structure, where there’s now a graveled area. The expansion project will nearly double the present space and also facilitate some much-needed building improvements. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

At its Aug. 14 meeting, the Marquette Council awarded the contract for the phase III expansion of the Marquette Depot Museum and Information Center to Matt Construction, of Sumner, for $234,900.

The addition will be built on the end of the existing structure, where there’s now a graveled area, and nearly double the present space.

The project will allow for the display of many more items related to railroad and Marquette history. It will also facilitate some much-needed building improvements. 

Tue
21
Aug

NICC seeks support for bond levy continuance

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Ken Reimer, president of the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Board of Trustees, and Erica Nosbisch, director of NICC’s Waukon Center, spoke to the MFL MarMac School Board at its Aug. 13 meeting, seeking support for NICC’s bond levy continuance.

The measure, which will be on the ballot for an election held Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the college’s district, will ask voters if they would like to continue the current tax levy. NICC’s district includes the public school districts in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties, along with sections of Bremer, Buchanan, Jones, Jackson and Mitchell counties.

Tue
21
Aug

Luana Daze will celebrate fire department’s 100th anniversary


Get “Small Town Proud” and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Luana Fire Department at this year’s Luana Daze, held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25-26. While they’re in town, people are welcome to stop by the new fire station and tour the work that’s been completed. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Get “Small Town Proud” and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Luana Fire Department at this year’s Luana Daze, held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25-26.

Activities will kick off early on Saturday with a 5K walk/run. Sign up starts at 7:15 a.m. and the race at 8 a.m., in front of the Luana Tap. 

A pancake, egg and sausage breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 10 a.m.

Tue
21
Aug

McGregor zoning change allows ground floor apartments in rear of commercial buildings

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The McGregor Council amended the zoning regulations pertaining to dwelling units in the city’s C-2 general office and retail district at its Aug. 15 meeting. The change will now allow ground floor apartments in the rear of commercial buildings on Main and A streets, as long as they take up 50 percent or less of the floor space.

The council hopes the move will help building owners better utilize their spaces. Potential business owners may also be more attracted to retail spaces at more manageable sizes.

Tue
14
Aug

Climbing Denali


Don Smalley stands with teammates Chris Rynn and Margaret Kincaid during his June climb of Denali, the highest point in both the United States and North America.

“It would’ve been great [to summit Denali], but it won’t define my life. I won’t feel like less of a person,” Smalley said. “It’s the fact that I attempted it, successful or not. I did everything I could, so I’m happy about that. I spent three weeks in a beautiful environment.”

The Denali climbers are shown with their packs, sleds, tents and other equipment. Unfortunately, the team was snowed in for nine days at 14,000 feet. The delay left too little time to summit, so they made the decision to head back down Denali in order to return home as scheduled.

No summit, but Smalley has experience of a lifetime tackling continent’s highest point

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

When climbing the 20,310-foot Denali, the highest point in both the United States and North America, there are things you have to be mentally prepared for, said Don Smalley. 

“One is the fact that there are things you’re not in control of,” explained the 65-year-old Marquette resident. Weather, injury, illness—they could all cut the expedition short, snatching a shot at reaching the summit out of the frosty air. “You have to be prepared to accept that.” 

—————

Tue
14
Aug

Additional mental health services offered at MFL MarMac

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Additional mental health services will be available at MFL MarMac this school year, supplementing the work guidance counselors and other staff already do to support students and families.

Therapist Nikki Brevig, from the Riverview Center, offered some private counseling services at the district last year, and will now be available one day each week. Mental health specialist Samantha Baumgartner will have a full-time position with the district.

“Both positions will be guidance support personnel,” explained MFL MarMac Superintendent Dale Crozier. “The main focus is increasing the overall health and wellness of students.”

Tue
14
Aug

EPA asked to continue monitoring Walz Energy


A group of Clayton County residents, along with organizations and legislators from around the state, is urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue monitoring the Walz Energy facility, following a decision last month by the state’s Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) not to refer the 10,000-head cattle feedlot and biogas operation under construction outside Monona to the state attorney general’s office for ongoing violations. (NIT file photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

A group of Clayton County residents, along with organizations and legislators from around the state, is urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue monitoring the Walz Energy facility, following a decision last month by the state’s Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) not to refer the 10,000-head cattle feedlot and biogas operation under construction outside Monona to the state attorney general’s office for ongoing violations.

Tue
14
Aug

McGregor Library staff not just reading and shushing, much work is necessary


The McGregor Public Library is located at 334 Main Street. (Photo by Rachel Mergen)

By Rachel Mergen, North Iowa Times

The McGregor Public Library, what library director Michelle Pettit thinks of as a hub for the community, is a place full of constant excitement, as people make their best efforts  to keep quiet.

In the summer, the library staff is happy to host reading programs, welcoming children to find as much delight in books as they do.

Adult groups, like those for writers, also occupy the library every week. The staff is now adding a book club option and other opportunities for the public to further enjoy the library.

Tue
07
Aug

Effigy Mounds working with tribal partners to repatriate, rebury stolen human remains


Effigy Mounds National Monument currently has the remains of 41 native people in its collection, and all are slated for repatriation and reburial with the help of the monument’s tribal partners. The remains were missing from the park’s collection for over 20 years, after being stolen by former superintendent Thomas Munson.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Effigy Mounds National Monument currently has the remains of 41 native people in its collection, and all are slated for repatriation and reburial with the help of the monument’s tribal partners.

How these remains came to be—and stay—in the collection all these years is a tale Effigy Mounds law enforcement officer David Barland-Liles said is laced with theft and racism, but also an opportunity to reckon with and learn from the past.

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