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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, June 6, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 23
A monumental endeavor celebrated
Fan Ridge MX Track a haven for the two-wheeled By Kate Klimesh When Dale Fletcher of Allamakee County moved in 2005 to his acreage on Fan Road, just a few miles east of Waukon, he already knew he loved the area. “We’d come up from Des Moines on weekends and just loved it. There is just no comparison to living here,” Fletcher noted. As a life-long avid motocross rider, he always wanted a dirt track at his home. The 3.49 acres his home sat on provided him with a blank canvas so to speak, and he spent the next few years working to make it into a fun course. “We’ve worked on this track since we moved in, and it’s changed a bit over the years because we’re always trying to make it better. It’s come a long way in my time.” And he’s been grateful for the help from neighbors and friends in building and rebuilding the track, which features a 40-foot height difference from highest to lowest, with one jump that’s 95 feet long. “Everything at Fan Ridge is done with donation or volunteer help. We’ve either borrowed equipment or had it donated by other motocross fans.” They have been eager to help build the best track possible because Fletcher opened the track for public use back in 2010, which means it’s for anyone looking to get on a track with their dirt bikes. The track only goes in one direction and participants must sign a liability waiver before using the track. And it’s open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to dark. “We get about 400 riders each year that use the track, with some that have been coming for years. But we’ve had people from all over stop in to spend some time at the track because they love the sport.” Carson Johanningmeier is one of the riders that has frequented Fan Ridge MX for
Nothing beats a good day in the dirt, especially for Motocross fans Marshall Berns, Christian Wenthold and Fan Ridge MX track owner and enthusiast Dale Fletcher. (ABOVE) the track just begs for dirt to fly, and jumps to be made. (submitted photos) several years and became so good at the sport he qualified for the Lorretta Lynn National Amateur Motocross competition twice. Fletcher elaborated, “This is a great sport for families, because parents have to be directly supervising their children and teaching them the basics on the bike, they get to spend a lot of time together. The loose dirt is much softer than falling on concrete, that’s for sure. And it’s not like the parents have to know everything about motocross. In this sport, everyone helps everyone else, so there’s always people to answer questions, or help with the bikes.” Fletcher recalled he used to help Johanningmeier’s mom get the dirt bike out of the van when they first started coming to the track. “The main reason I do it is for the kids, but the track is still challenging for the big riders. It’s just the most genuine community of people, an excellent family-friendly environment.” Check out the Fan Ridge MX Facebook page for more details or find videos from the track “Two Wheel Tuesday-HD” on YouTube. Remember, the track is always evolving, so stop out and watch the dust fly.
Alternative Energy Home Tours this weekend The public is invited to tour area homes and learn about solar installations, heat pumps, energy efficiency and sustainable building practices during the upcoming Winneshiek Energy District Alternative Energy Home Tour. WED has partnered with six Decorah-area homeowners for an at-yourown pace self-guided tour on Saturday, June 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit a variety of featured homes and come away inspired to implement these practices at home. Homeowners will be onsite to share their experiences. All homes are located in or near Decorah. WED’s Paul Cutting explained alternative energy details. He said the average house
The Dan and Linda Canton off-grid home located near Decorah is featured on the WED Energy Home Tour June 10. (submitted photo) uses about 25kWh of power a day, and the average household uses about 9,000kWh of solar a year. Kilowatts listed below are peak production when the sun is shining. The 4.5 kW rep-
resents approximately 14 solar panels – depending on type and rating. Heat pumps can replace
Home tours
continued on page 12
Twelve black granite panels with 7,501 names of Winneshiek County Veterans from the War of 1812 to present day were installed by Lewiston Monument Company during the morning of Thursday, May 25. After six years of planning, decisions and fundraising by the Winneshiek County Veterans Memorial Association, the memorial was unveiled on Memorial Day. Photos from the installation, dedication and Decorah’s Memorial Day parade were published in the June 1 Public Opinion, available online at decorahnewspapers.com. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Kate Klimesh)
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