Local News

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Tue
17
Feb

Monona council to look more closely at annexation plans

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Monday night, Monona councilmen Andy Meyer and Jason Schubert volunteered to further develop the city’s annexation plans, better determining the municipal boundaries that would be created if the city limits were expanded.

The council has discussed land annexation for several months, largely singling out the area where the Birdnow Dealership is located, as well as across the highway, where Kwik Star, TJ’s Pizza and Monona Auto Center reside, as prime opportunities. Areas to the west of town have also been considered.

Tue
10
Feb

Roses of remembrance


Connie Halvorson shows off the nearly 60 years worth of roses from her late husband, Roger. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

People often appreciate roses for their beauty, their scent, the gesture of love they symbolize. But for Connie Halvorson, the beauty isn’t just in the bloom, which has long since crinkled and crunched, its color and scent fading. It’s the memories—nearly 60 years worth.

Connie met her late husband, Roger, in Oct. 1954, when he was going to Upper Iowa University and she was a student at Fayette High School.

“He was my practice teacher. That’s how we met,” Connie recalled. For them, it truly was love at first sight. “We decided on our second date that we were going to get married.”

Tue
10
Feb

Pickup truck, MFL MarMac school bus collide

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

One student was transported to the hospital Feb. 3 after a pickup truck and MFL MarMac school bus collided at the intersection of Highway 18 and Falcon Avenue, in Monona, reported the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.

The bus was traveling westbound on Highway 18 just after 8 a.m. when the juvenile driver of the truck failed to yield upon crossing the highway from Kwik Star, the release stated. The truck driver was cited.

Fifty-three elementary-age students, along with the driver and an aide, were on the bus at the time of the incident. Although the students later learned the bus had been involved in an accident, MFL MarMac Superintendent Dale Crozier said most were oblivious at the time.

Tue
10
Feb

MFL MarMac moving forward with new website

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

MFL MarMac has chosen the company Global Reach, of Ames, to design the district’s new website.

“We’ve put in a lot of work for awhile and looked at a lot of different websites,” said Superintendent Dale Crozier of the selection process.

Teacher librarian Melissa Haberichter said choosing between four different vendors was quite a process, as staff looked at how each could provide the features the district wanted.

One of the district’s priorities, she said, was easier navigation. She noted the current website is rather text heavy, whereas the new website will incorporate more graphics.

Tue
03
Feb

Langhus ends nearly 50-year scouting journey


Jim Langhus attended his final meeting as scoutmaster of Monona’s Troop 38 last week, ending 48 years of involvement with the Boy Scouts. Here, he stands in front of the list of boys who became Eagle Scouts. (Submitted photo)

Some of the most memorable moments over the years, said Langhus (far left), included helping and encouraging the kids to push themselves to new heights, sometimes literally. (Submitted photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Jim Langhus attended his final meeting as scoutmaster of Monona’s Troop 38 last week, ending 48 years of involvement with the Boy Scouts.

Langhus said his scouting journey began when he was 6 years old, following in his older brother’s footsteps. After growing up largely in Rochester, Minn., then moving to Mitchell, S.D., he fell just short of becoming an Eagle Scout. Although Langhus admitted he doesn’t dwell on it too much, he said it is one of the reasons why he encouraged kids to stick with scouting.

Tue
03
Feb

Monona Council hears library expansion update

By Audrey Posten

 

Murphy Helwig Library’s expansion plans took another step forward Monday night, as the Monona Council gave the go-ahead for Greg Baum, architect with FEH Associates Inc., to proceed with developing construction and bidding documents for the project.

Baum, who has worked with the library throughout the planning process, first gave an update of the design development phase, noting that the estimated cost for the project is nearly $885,500, down a couple hundred dollars from the previous estimate.

Tue
03
Feb

MFL MarMac Elementary to celebrate Kindness Week Feb. 9-13


MFL MarMac Elementary students and staff prepared for Kindness Week, held Feb. 9-13, by dressing up in red and pink and posing in the shape of a heart. During Kindness Week, students are encouraged to complete 50 kindness acts. They will also participate in other kindness activities, as well as the Pennies for Patients program. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Students in the MFL MarMac Monona Elementary Center will celebrate Kindness Week for the first time from Feb. 9 to 13. 

Tue
03
Feb

Local organizations seek votes in Community Aces Challenge

Several local organizations need your vote as they compete to win a share of $50,000 in the Community Aces Challenge, sponsored by Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.

The McGregor Park Board, Smith and Bulldog Childcare and Learning Centers and Luana Community and Recreation Center are three of the 150 groups from around the country competing for funds. Each group was accepted into the challenge after submitting an application toward the end of 2014. 

The competition is split into two categories—one for larger communities where Isle of Capri properties are located, and another for smaller communities, like Marquette. Within each category, one $15,000 grant and one $10,000 grant will go to the top vote-getters.

Tue
27
Jan

Have a Heart Day offers free dental care


On Saturday, Feb. 14, Family Dentistry Associates of Monona, Waukon Dental and Dental Associates of Prairie du Chien will again hold Have a Heart Day, an annual event that provides free dental care for area kids. Last year, the clinics served 100 patients, providing over $29,000 in services. (File photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

On Saturday, Feb. 14, Family Dentistry Associates of Monona, Waukon Dental and Dental Associates of Prairie du Chien will again hold Have a Heart Day, an annual event that provides free dental care for area kids.

The service began 25 years ago in Monona and Waukon, in relation to a Dentists with a Heart program already in practice across the country, said Dr. Mark Fohey. When the Prairie du Chien office opened 21 years ago, Have a Heart Day also took root there.

Have a Heart Day typically takes place the Saturday closest to Valentine’s Day, which, this year, happens to actually be Valentine’s Day. Children ages 4 to 18 can take advantage of several procedures at no charge, including exams, consultations, x-rays, fillings, extractions and sealants. 

Tue
27
Jan

McGregor groups give updates, plans for 2015

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Several groups gave their yearly updates to the McGregor City Council Jan. 21, highlighting some of their accomplishments of 2014, as well as plans for 2015. Those providing reports included the McGregor Public Library, McGregor Park Board, McGregor-Marquette Center for the Arts and McGregor-Marquette Chamber of Commerce.

McGregor Public Library

Library Director Michelle Pettit said 12,305 visits were made to the library last year.   They held 82 children’s programs, with 781 in attendance. For the adults, 101 programs were held, with 626 people in attendance. 

A total of 16,167 items were borrowed in 2014. The top circulating books were:

1) “Fault in Our Stars” by John Green (29)

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