(This is not the winning ticket!)
Prizes this week are from Magic Morpho in Decorah, details inside.
US POSTAGE PAID DECORAH, IA PERMIT #6
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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, July 18, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 29
Hats off to 2023 Winneshiek County Fair honorees
A pretty little disaster you don’t want to spot in your garden
The invasive trials of the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) moving westward By Kate Klimesh
By Roz Weis The people of Winneshiek County have been recognized for their dedication and spirit surrounding the county fair for decades. Several additional honorees were presented with awards during opening ceremonies at the fair last Tuesday, July 11. Distinguished Service The Distinguished Service Award for 2023 ABOVEwas presented to Winneshiek Jerry and Beth County DisEinck of Dectinguished orah. Service During the prehonorees sentation to the for 2023 are couple on TuesJerry and day, Fair Board Beth Einck member Gary of Decorah. Sacquitne said, (Driftless “Fair volunteers Multimedia are made up of photos by many different Roz Weis) people. Some enjoy the limelight and are always The Friends of the Fair awards this year were presented to, center stage, pro- from left: Ron Franzen, Bruce Hanson and Mark Olson. moting the fair; Beth Einck grew up as a 4-H and some you never know are the scenes at the fairgrounds. there. They are workers behind Both set up shop at the Fair member in Fayette County and the scenes, making sure ev- for displays and signs, moving became a teacher. She was inerything looks great and runs bleachers and tables, and much strumental in organizing the more. smoothly.” “They are always there, willFor the past 14 years as Fair Auxiliary members, the Eincks ing to do any job asked,” Saccontinued on page 4 can be seen scurrying behind quitne said.
Fair honorees
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species related to the aphid, first detected in the U.S. in 2014, from an overseas shipment of rock delivered from China to Pennsylvania. The pest, averaging one and a half inches in size, has been causing havoc as it spreads. Infestations have reached 14 states. The insect feeds on agricultural crops like grapes, apples and hops as well as maple, walnut and willow trees. The spotted lanternfly was first detected – possibly as an egg mass initially - in an overseas shipment of rocks that arrived in Pennsylvania in 2014. The species, which is native to China, has since spread to 14 other states, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia. Limited infestations have been identified and infested counties quarantined in Michigan, Massachusetts, West Virginia and Indiana. Up to 2020, infestations were found only in Pennsylvania and New York. Pennsylvania has reported approximately $300 million dollars in economic damages to crops and trees, with SLF’s favorite foods (they drink a plant’s sap) being over 100 spe-
cies of woody plants, including apples, plums, grapes and many common landscape trees likes pines, willows and maples. SLF is active in its winged state from July
Spotted Lanternfly Life Stages
Egg mass
(seen Oct.-June)
Zach Schumm, Insect Diagnostician through September. SLF nymphs (May through July) are black with white spots, developing red and black bodies with white spots (almost like strange ladybugs) in older nymph stages. Iowa has a stellar resource for this invasive pest in the fight to prevent infestation, ISU Extension Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic’s Zach Schumm, Insect Diagnostician in Ames. Schumm was a part of the team called out to investigate the first report of the Spotted Lanternfly in Pennsylvania in 2014. In addition to the damage to crops and trees, the insect
Spotted Lanternfly
continued on page 11
1st instar nymph (seen May-July)
4th instar nymph (seen July-Sept.)
Adult
(seen Aug.-Nov.)
Local program welcomes volunteers
Kids Lunch Club ensures access to healthy meals By Roz Weis Kids Lunch Club is the stamp of a community-powered organization. The program, which started in Decorah in summer 2016, provides free lunch for any child every weekday during the summer months. Local volunteers, faith communities and the City of Decorah have all rallied with the Decorah Community School District to provide the grabn-go, fresh lunch options. Shana Putnam Dibble of Decorah
currently oversees the program. It has been estimated that up to 150 youngsters, just in Decorah, go without access to what would pass for lunch during the summer months. Volunteers gather at Congregational United Church of Christ in Decorah each week to pack up the lunches, based off of a rotating menu. The meal options are packed into tubs and distributed at three area locations: John Cline School, Freeport Park and at the Freeport Mobile Home Community area near the intersection of Dogwood and Old Stage Road. The third meal distribution site was recently added. Dibble said those families not able to
Lunch Club continued on page 2
Filling the gap when school is out for the summer is the Kids Lunch Program in Decorah. With the goal of fighting food insecurity in the area, the program was started in 2016. Volunteers are always needed to help with packaging and distributing the lunches. INSET- Andria Dibble volunteered her artistic talents at Kids Lunch Club recently. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Roz Weis)
Elkader’s Art in the Park celebrates nine years next month The 9th Annual Art in the Park Fine Art Festival (AITP) is slated for Saturday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Founders’ Park in Elkader. AITP is a free community event, with free admission and free parking. The festival will feature over 50 fine artists from across the region who have been juried into the 2023 event. They will offer a variety of artwork showcasing ceramics, drawing, glass, jewelry, painting, photography, metal, sculpture, wood and more. Artists will be painting and selling in the park, and new this year is a wellness area. (submitted photo) See page 5 for complete details.