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Tue
28
Nov

Plans moving along for McGregor trail

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/28/2017 - 12:46

On Nov. 19, a group of volunteers walked and marked a proposed one-mile trail through the wooded area between Center Street and Cemetery Road, in McGregor. (Submitted photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Plans are now underway to create a trail in McGregor, beginning with a segment through the wooded area between Center Street and Cemetery Road.

The 27-acre area is owned by the city, and the idea of developing a trail there has grown in the past few years, said Duane Boelman, McGregor’s deputy clerk and economic development lead, who organized a meeting earlier this month to discuss the proposed trail.

The proposed route would be roughly a mile long, with some twists and turns, Boelman shared.

Tue
28
Nov

Grant will help make murals a reality

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/28/2017 - 12:44

Four photo enlargements of historic McGregor buildings and scenes will grace the west side of Steve’s Silver Dollar. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

For years, the McGregor-Marquette Center for the Arts (MMCA) Board of Directors has entertained the idea of enriching downtown McGregor with artistic murals. A plan finally emerged in spring 2017, and a grant request was submitted to the Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation (UMGC) for partial funding. In October, at UMGC’s annual awards banquet, the dream moved a step closer to reality, as MMCA representatives accepted a grant award of $6,450.

The mural project will tell a story from McGregor’s historic past, with 8-foot-by-16-foot aluminum frames holding four sepia-toned historic photo enlargements. The photos will be displayed on the west side of Steve’s Silver Dollar Saloon, a visible location for people both walking and driving down Main Street.

Tue
28
Nov

Anderson writes second volume of ‘Our Town McGregor’

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/28/2017 - 12:40

McGregor resident and historian Lucy Anderson has written a second volume of “Our Town McGregor.” (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

In 2010, McGregor resident and historian Lucy Anderson published “Our Town McGregor,” a book filled with historical stories and information about McGregor and the surrounding communities.

However, living in an area so rich in history, Lucy realized there was much more to tell, and made plans to write a second volume.

“I started and had quite a bit of it done,” she shared. “Then, I started working, I got married and my health wasn’t well personally and with my family.”

She set the book aside, and, at one point, even considered throwing away her research. 

Tue
21
Nov

Marquette Council approves bench evacuation route bid

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/21/2017 - 13:19

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Marquette’s bench evacuation route moved another step closer to fruition last week, as the city council awarded a contract to Bacon Concrete, of Postville, to complete the project at a cost of $218,815.

Engineer Mark Doyle, from Delta 3 Engineering, said there were eight bids for the project, ranging from Bacon’s low bid up to $510,000. The engineer’s estimated cost was $375,600.

Bacon Concrete is no stranger to the city of Marquette, having completed the Edgar Street project last year.

Tue
21
Nov

Students donate books to hurricane victims

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/21/2017 - 13:18

Students in Shauna Lange’s fifth grade class at MFL MarMac recently donated books to hurricane-affected schools in Texas and Florida. (Submitted photo)

Amy Bunting’s fifth graders also took part in the donation effort, contributing several books from their book order. (Submitted photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, students in Shauna Lange’s fifth grade class at MFL MarMac were troubled by the destruction they saw in Texas and Florida. They wondered what they could do to help.

“We had a book order going in,” Lange said. “That’s when they came up with the idea of books.”

The class builds up credits from their book orders, which go toward purchasing books for the classroom. This time, however, the students wanted to use those credits to purchase books for hurricane-affected schools in Texas and Florida.

Tue
21
Nov

Event encourages people to support MarMac’s small businesses

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/21/2017 - 13:16

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to support the small, local businesses in McGregor and Marquette as they shop for gifts this holiday season—beginning with Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25.

Twenty-six businesses, ranging from retail stores to bars and restaurants, will participate in a “Shop Small MarMac” event on Saturday, offering activities, refreshments and special shopping deals. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and run through 3 p.m., although many establishments will be open later.

The Small Business Saturday concept was first launched in 2010 by American Express, serving as an alternative to the major shopping days following Thanksgiving: Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Tue
21
Nov

New business brings fun to photography

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/21/2017 - 13:11

A ribbon cutting and grand opening for The Lasting Image Fun Photos Studio, at 326 Main St., in McGregor, was held Saturday, Nov. 18. Pictured are McGregor-Marquette Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kristie Austin, building owners Dan Sander and Lynette Sander, Rick and Christine Small (Blood’s parents), Lasting Image photographer and owner Cinnamon Blood and her daughter Megan Domenget and husband Allen Blood. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

Cinnamon Blood, owner of The Lasting Image Fun Photos Studio, poses with her husband, Allen, behind the bar that will serve as a setting for the 1800s photo shoots.

The Lasting Image Fun Photos Studio opens in McGregor

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

The Lasting Image Fun Photo Studio is now open at 326 Main St., in McGregor, offering a variety of fun family photo opportunities.

The biggest draw, said photographer and owner Cinnamon Blood, is the 1800s saloon photo shoot, which allows people to belly up to a bar or pose in front of a “saloon,” all while wearing period dress.

“We have a variety of outfits put together,” Blood said. “Who doesn’t like dressing up?”

Tue
21
Nov

McGregor Council considers community center proposals

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/21/2017 - 13:08

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

At its Nov. 15 meeting, the McGregor Council considered several concept design proposals for a potential library/community center. 

Last month, the city received a $10,000 grant from The Native Fund to support the endeavor.

The potential building would be located at the former site of the INKspiration Tattoo property, at 330 Main St., which was destroyed by the July 19 tornado and later torn down. The property, which is next to the McGregor Public Library, was donated to the city of McGregor by former owners Fred Petrie and Melanie San Fillippo.  

Tue
21
Nov

Monona Council approves MCED funding

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/21/2017 - 13:06

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Matching its contribution from this year, the Monona Council, at its Nov. 20 meeting, approved a $12,000 appropriation to Monona Chamber and Economic Development (MCED) for the coming year—but not without some discussion.

Councilman Doug Bachman questioned the four hours per week increase for MCED Executive Director Rogeta Halvorson, taking her from 36 hours to 40 hours.

“I think there needs to be more discussion on this,” he said. “A 9 percent raise is quite a bit.”

Councilman John Elledge, while supportive of the work Halvorson has done, was leery of continuing to use taxpayer dollars to fund MCED.

Tue
14
Nov

Group carves out wooden art and fellowship

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/14/2017 - 13:25

Members of the Monona Wood Carving Group include (left to right) Elmer Marting, Bob Moses, Ron Kaiser, Bob Drahn, Bob Griffith, Lawrence Schneider, David Scott and Stan Blair. The group meets every Tuesday, from 1 to 4 p.m., in the Marting Wood Carving Room at the Monona Historical Museum. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

Bob Drahn shows off a wooden chain in the process of being carved.

Bob Moses works with fellow carvers in the Marting Wood Carving Room.

Carvings by Bob Drahn

Carvings by Stan Blair

Carvings by Elmer Marting

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

“Wood is so fascinating.”

Take it from Bob Drahn. Wood carving steadily since 1992, when he retired from the soil conservation service, he’s completed 500 to 600 carvings over the years. 

Many were crafted in the cozy confines of the Marting Wood Carving Room in the Monona Historical Museum, where, in 2007, he and fellow carving enthusiasts Elmer Marting and Marvin Miller formed the Monona Wood Carving Group.

As the three continued to meet every Tuesday afternoon, they began to attract other local carvers, as well as an audience.

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