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Tue
24
Nov

Marquette Council agrees to hire part-time Wetlands Centre director

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

The Marquette Council approved hiring a temporary part-time director for the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre at its Nov. 17 meeting, but not without some discussion.

Council members Cindy Halvorson and John Ries were leery of hiring a staff member now, at the start of the slower winter months.

“I just can’t see heating the Wetlands Centre,” Halvorson said, fearful of the expense of heating the building for one person and fewer events. She wondered if shuttering the doors for the winter, and re-opening in the spring, would be better.

Tue
24
Nov

McGregor FEMA project bids come in above estimated cost

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

The McGregor Council reviewed bids for the city’s FEMA stormwater protection project at its Nov. 18 meeting, finding all three bids received were over the estimated cost of $2 million. The lowest was $2.79 million.

Andrew McGovern, from engineering firm HR Green, noted that the cost increase is likely related to mobilization and higher concrete prices. It may also be that the contractors haven’t dealt much with some of the project’s components, he said.

Tue
17
Nov

Peer Helpers pay it forward


Members of the MFL MarMac McGregor Center’s Peer Helpers, pictured with guidance counselor Marnie Carlson (back, far right), are (front, left to right) Lexy Johnson, Brinan Berger, Destiny Berns, Rosemary McGeough, Tejanna Hatt, Megan Lang, Ashley Weaver, Aleyna Rodriguez, Riley Whitney; (back) Kaleb Tilson, Cedrick Drahn, Ethan Stubbs, Zach Howe, Tyler Trappe, Mackenzy Ruff, Marlene Franzen, Jacob Trudo, Anna Stoddard, Ben Miene and Ari Cummuta. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

As you enter the MFL MarMac McGregor Center, an orange unity chain is visible hanging from the ceiling. The chain was the work of the Peer Helpers, who encouraged students to write positive comments on strips of paper, then link them together. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

For the MFL MarMac McGregor Center’s Peer Helpers, it’s all about paying it forward.

A leadership group of 20 select seventh- and eighth-grade students who demonstrate good character traits, Peer Helpers focus on two areas—youth mentoring and school and community outreach.

“For the mentoring program, students are matched up one-on-one with a fourth or fifth grader who could use extra support academically or socially,” explained guidance counselor Marnie Carlson.

Tue
17
Nov

Student council creates an engaging school environment


Members of the MFL MarMac High School Student Council, with adviser Megan Schellhorn (front, far left), included (front, left to right) Allison Corlett, Bryce Burke, Chaun’te Drahn, Becca Harms, Cassie Cahoon, Nicholas Larson; (back) Josie Kleinow, Brenna Boland, Skylar Moser, Sierra Wiebensohn, Chelbe Feuerhelm and Coltin Ball. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

MFL MarMac High School’s student council works regularly to create an engaging school environment.

“We try to do things throughout the year to keep students excited,” said student council president Allison Corlett.

Tue
17
Nov

It takes a community


Through MFL MarMac Elementary’s reading volunteer program, students get one-on-one reading time, for five minutes each week, with a community volunteer. Here, volunteer Erika Kielstrup, who's volunteered weekly since the start of the school year, listens as a student reads to her. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Volunteer program helps elementary students with reading

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

There’s an old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. At MFL MarMac Elementary School, community volunteers are taking that to heart by helping students with their reading skills.

It’s all part of the school’s reading volunteer program, organized this year by Heidi Meyer, who handles literacy intervention.

Through the program, each elementary student gets one-on-one reading time, for five minutes each week, with a community volunteer. Volunteers support kids on sounding out tough words and also talk about the book, Meyer said. 

Tue
17
Nov

Quilts of Valor given to local WWII veterans


Eleven local WWII veterans were honored with Quilts of Valor at MFL MarMac’s Veterans Day program Nov. 11. Those honored included (front, left to right) Henry J. Kleinow, LeeAllen Johanningmeier, Robert Drahn, Jack Elliott, Lloyd Drahn; (back) Roy Jamesen, Adelbert (Butch) Whittle, Harlan Hass, Erwin Ruff, Bob Eggen for Eugene Trudo and Adrian Kinley for Orville Knapp Sr. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Roy Jamesen (left), sitting next to Henry J. Kleinow, shared about his military service during the Veterans Day program Nov. 11.

High school students Jasmine Stocker (left) and Chaun’te Drahn present a Quilt of Valor to Erwin Ruff. Of the 11 quilts presented last week, one was made by each Stocker and Drahn. For more photos from the program, visit the North Iowa Times Facebook page. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

WWII veterans Jack Elliott (left) and Lloyd Drahn share a thought during the Quilts of Valor presentation at MFL MarMac High School Nov. 11.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

MFL MarMac’s annual Veterans Day program had a special touch this year as 11 World War II veterans were honored with Quilts of Valor.

Since its inception in 2003, when quilter and blue star mother Catherine Roberts came up with the idea of using quilts to comfort veterans while her son was deployed in Iraq, the Quilts of Valor Foundation, through local volunteers, has awarded over 128,000 quilts to service members and veterans touched by war.

Those receiving Quilts of Valor included:

Lloyd Drahn, Monona, Army

Tue
17
Nov

Monona part of community visioning program

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Monona is one of 10 Iowa communities selected to participate in the Iowa’s Living Roadways 2016 Community Visioning Program.

Sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa State University Landscape Architecture and Extension and the non-profit Trees Forever, the program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to assist community leaders and volunteers in making sound and meaningful decisions about the local landscape.

Tue
17
Nov

Monona discusses garbage collection situation

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Randy Evanson approached the Monona Council Monday evening about purchasing 65-gallon refuse carts and a garbage truck tipper attachment, which he said would make lifting garbage cans easier for city workers.

The tipper would cost around $4,000, including installation. The purchase of new garbage carts runs at $43.50 per cart, a cost that would likely fall on citizens.

Special cans are needed for the tipper, Evanson said, adding that the cans would resemble those residents already use for recycling.

Tue
10
Nov

Election yields city council changes

McGregor, Marquette and Luana will all see changes to their city councils in the coming year following last week’s city elections.

The race for two seats on the McGregor Council was not officially declared until Monday, following a canvassing of votes, as newcomer Jason Echard and incumbents Rogeta Halvorson and Joe Muehlbauer were all within several votes of one another. The official results put Echard at 65 votes and Muehlbauer at 61, defeating Halvorson, who had 59.

The mayoral seat in McGregor was uncontested, with incumbent Harold Brooks winning re-election with 88 votes. 

McGregor had a 19.49 percent voter turnout.

Tue
10
Nov

Elliott recalls time aboard U.S.S. California during WWII


U.S. Navy veteran Jack Elliott, who lives in Marquette, served in the South Pacific, on the battleship the U.S.S. California, during the final years of WWII. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

A lifejacket and a tin hat. As a first loader of a 40mm anti-aircraft gun, serving on a battleship in the South Pacific during the final years of World War II, they were the only protection for U.S. Navy veteran Jack Elliott. They might seem like paltry defense against screaming Japanese planes, but the key, he said, was not to get hit in the first place.

“There were several times I was pretty scared. We shot at hundreds of airplanes,” Jack recalled. “If you didn’t hit them first, you were going to get hit.”

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