Local News

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).
Tue
07
Apr

Mar-Mac PD addresses EMS traffic issues in bridge construction zone

On April 2, the Mar-Mac Police Department was notified of a public post on social media that claimed an area ambulance—the night before—had traveled through red light traffic signals and into the one-lane construction zone on the U.S. Highway 18 bridge between Marquette and Prairie du Chien, where it met oncoming west bound traffic. 

Mar-Mac Police Chief Robert Millin released a response on April 3, noting that the incident addresses a potential issue for discussion with area public safety officials: How should an emergency management service (EMS) transporting a patient to the Prairie du Chien medical facility while operating as an emergency vehicle proceed through the one-lane construction zone? How should the affected motorists respond?

Fri
03
Apr

Darwin McClain Hallberg

Darwin McClain Hallberg, 88, of McGregor, died on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at Great River Care Center in McGregor. Darwin was born Feb. 2 1932, to Henry and Marie (Bachtell) Hallberg in McGregor. He graduated from McGregor High School in 1950. Darwin joined and proudly served in the United States Marines from 1952 to 1954, during the Korean War

Tue
31
Mar

Clayton County has first confirmed COVID-19 case

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

COVID-19 has made its way to Clayton County. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) confirmed the first case—a female in the age group of 18 to 40—on March 26. The individual is currently self-isolating at home.

“While this is Clayton County’s first case, it may not be the last, and that’s why we encourage all residents to continue to make prevention a priority,” said Clayton County Visiting Nurse Association Director Stacey Killian.

Tue
31
Mar

Helping one stitch at a time


Local sewers are helping health care facilities and workers facing PPE shortages by making fabric masks and even gowns.

Handmade fabric masks are most helpful in prolonging the life of more protective masks that can filter the coronavirus.

Local women sew handmade masks, gowns for health care workers

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

As the COVID-19 pandemic intensified over the past few weeks, U.S. health care facilities and workers put out an urgent plea: they were in need of personal protective equipment, or PPEs, such as gowns, eye wear, gloves and masks. Many businesses and organizations stepped up, donating their extra PPE supplies. 

Another group that came to the rescue? Sewers.

Tue
31
Mar

Foreign exchange student is enjoying life as American teen


Indonesian foreign exchange student Salsabila “Dika” Putri has immersed herself in activities at MFL MarMac. One of her favorites is choir. At the pops concert, she performed a solo, in addition to a duet with fellow student Kale Miene. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Like many people visiting Iowa for the first time, MFL MarMac foreign exchange student Salsabila “Dika” Putri said she expected to see a lot of corn.

“When I did a search in Google for information about Iowa, all that came up was corn. I thought people must eat corn a lot,” she said, laughing.

“But when I came here, it was far from my expectation,” she added.

Tue
31
Mar

New library shelving honors Bickel


New shelving at the McGregor Public Library honors long-time board member Marsha Bickel while providing much-needed space for the juvenile book collection.

When Bickel passed away in July following a courageous battle with cancer, 120 different contributions poured in from family and friends.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

New shelving at the McGregor Public Library honors long-time board member Marsha Bickel while providing much-needed space for the library’s juvenile book collection.

Previously, said library director Michelle Pettit, juvenile readers (those between the ages of 9 and 12) didn’t have their own “place.”

“Their books were in the picture book area, and they felt like they were going to the little kids area,” she remarked.

Now, the addition has given this group their own separate section and doubled the amount of shelving available for books, including a growing collection of popular graphic novels.

Tue
31
Mar

Neighborhood effort keeps kids active, entertained


Cannon, Kinsley and Kiarra Young went on a “bear hunt” in Marquette’s bench neighborhood last week. It’s part of an effort by residents to display items like shamrocks, teddy bears and Easter eggs in or outside their homes, then have local kids try to discover them all. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

The first activity was on St. Patrick’s Day, and 32 homes participated, displaying over 100 shamrocks.

Now, kids are on the hunt for Easter eggs. It helps them remain active and entertained while they’re home from school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Shamrocks in the window one week. Teddy bears the next. Now, Easter eggs are popping up.

No, residents in Marquette’s bench neighborhood don’t just like decorating for holidays. It’s all part of an effort to keep local kids active and entertained while they’re home from school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The idea is for kids to travel around the neighborhood—while maintaining social distancing recommendations—and discover how many of a particular object they can find displayed in or outside people’s homes. Any items inside the home are hung in a window or door, where they can be safely spotted from the sidewalk.

Tue
31
Mar

McGregor Lake habitat construction project begins

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, has started the first phase of the McGregor Lake Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project to restore habitat within Pool 10 of the Upper Mississippi River. 

The McGregor Lake (known by many locally as Horseshoe Lake) project, located between Marquette-McGregor and Prairie du Chien, will restore and protect island habitat, protect shoreline from erosion and create overwintering fish habitat. The goal of the project is to provide habitat and food and resting places for river wildlife, such as migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, turtles, frogs and fish. The total project is anticipated to cost approximately $20 million.

Fri
27
Mar

June Mariel Kuefler

June Mariel (Goergen) Kuefler died of Alzheimer’s on March 23, 2020, in Bedford, Texas. Her daughter, Julie Dougherty, was at her side as she passed peacefully to her eternal reward. June was born May 27, 1926, in McGregor, daughter of William Goergen and Margery (Claudy) Goergen. She graduated from the University of Dubuque in 1947, with a B.S. in physical education and a minor in music. Athletics and music would be among her lifelong loves.

In college she met her future husband, Raymond Bernard Kuefler (Ray). They were married Aug. 1, 1949, and had four children, John, Jane, Julie (Dougherty) and Joseph. June was preceded in death by Ray (d. 2000) and daughter Jane (d. 1976), and is survived by John (Lawrence, Kan.), Julie (Irving, Texas) and Joseph (Stow, Mass.), 24 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Fri
27
Mar

March 29 marks Marquette's 100th anniversary


This postcard image, courtesy of the Marquette Depot Museum and Information Center, shows the Milwaukee Railroad Pontoon bridge allowing a barge to go through heading south. North McGregor was incorporated in May 1874, just a month after the pontoon bridge opened. Nearly 50 years later, the town changed its name to Marquette.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The city of Marquette will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Sunday, March 29. The date marks an historic 1920 vote when residents cast ballots on the question of changing the name of the town from North McGregor to Marquette, in honor of the priest/explorer Father Jacques Marquette who discovered the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers with Louis Joliet in 1693.

Of roughly 850 residents at the time, 98 voted “yes” and 34 opposed it.

Pages