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Waukon Corn Days this weekend Waukon’s annual Corn Days Celebration is slated for Aug. 2-3, and features live music, food and family-friendly events. Kicking off Corn Days events Aug. 2 is “Chalk the Walk” at Robey Memorial Library, followed by a community appreciation meal with live music and kids’ activities from 4-8 p.m. Always a favorite, visitors can enjoy all-you-can-eat sweet
Nordic Fest 2024
Nordic Fest 2024 was celebrated with flair July 25-27. Senior Nordic Dancers were among the performers Friday in front of the Winneshiek County Courthouse. See this week’s Decorah Leader for photos from the entire celebration. (Decorah Leader photo by Seth Boyes)
corn along with the usual picnic favorites. Live music by “Flatland Ridge” will entertain at the street dance from 8-11 p.m. Saturday’s events begin with the WW Dairy Car & Bike Show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at WW Homestead Dairy. “Chalk the Walk” will again be held at the library at 10 a.m. For the competitive folks, a 10 a.m. coed softball tournament begins at the sports complex, and an
11:30 a.m. cornhole tournament begins at Goodfellas Bar. Crazy Days Sidewalk Sales (and Iowa’s Sales Tax Free Weekend) will be held in conjunction with Corn Days events. Sales will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Travelers should note West Main Street will be closed from noon Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday to accommodate Corn Days events.
Iowa National Guard medical unit trains near Pulpit Rock, Decorah
pints&papers Thursday, July 18, 2024
Vol. 159, Issue 29 www.decorahleader.com
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Nordic Fest officials honor pair for community roles Decorah’s It takes a village to put on year, and annual Nordic Fest each two members of that proverbial at village are being honored all this year’s celebration of things Scandinavian July 25-27.
Holtan Grouws selected as Skal recipient Skål The 2024 Nordic Fest Grouws of Recipient is Jeni Holtan the Fest Skål Decorah. Organizers said demonstrator individuals who have Recipient is an individual support of the yearly celebration. ed exceptional and continuing has contributed to the spirit and Since 2009, Holtan Grouws a Nordic integral roles – serving as sound of Nordic Fest through Nordic Fest board member for a Dancer director for 10 years, different bands musician — with three years. six-plus years, and as a lineup each of the last 14 — in the festival’s entertainment Nordic Fest in 1996, with Holtan Grouws first experienced sure to see from her parents to make enthusiastic encouragement being unique group that was noted for the Nordic Dancers — a Impressed traditions. and offerings compared to other festivals’ saying yes honoree later found herself from the start, this year’s director, following her daughter to becoming a Nordic Dancers the group. Her daughter Lillian to join Ella’s successful audition of the Nordic Dancer orchestra. Holtan also joined as a member been a part of that group,” “I’m very proud to have people and special, are Dancers really Grouws said. “The Nordic
Fest honorees
continued on page 6
Jeni Holtan Grouws
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Youth learn life skills during 2024 county fair
cared for through the barns as they side by side with adults Seth Boyes) Young fair exhibitors walked County Fair. (Photo by animals at the 2024 Winnesheik
their
County 4-H the said Winneshiek program specialist with Ashley HorState Youth Coordinator Winneshiek County Iowa be just helping Out- gen. “That could University Extension and show or even just Winneshiek somebody the reach office, said to the fair and experiLooping tire tracks in to a dozen 4-H coming lin- County is home the animals.” grass are one of the few children in kin- encing year’s clubs — serving Horgen said the annual coun12th grade gering evidence of this The dergarten through is an opportunity for the Winneshiek County Fair. several chapters ty fair orga- — as well as students to showcase fair ended Saturday, but Farmers of Amer- young they’ve poured young of the Future in the local projects which nizers say the lessons participate of the who ica majority a during work into for fair participants learned year. likely county fair each the week-long event will “We have some exhibitors look Youth last them a lifetime as they necessarily live on 4-H of their that don’t to extoward the next chapter continued on page 3 a farm, but they still get lives. perience showing livestock,” Kendra Crooks, 4-H youth
BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR
Paul Scott
request hosts public hearing on Winneshiek County P&Z ter near Ridgeway where it would for construction of biodiges Agency – the facilities are also posed digester, and stirred to produce
RNG, LLC, a Michigan-based sometimes called anaerobic be heated of 55 percent comparenewable natural gas or anaerobic biogas consistingpercent carbon ap- digestion systems methane and 45 ny, submitted the rezoning biogas would to construct digesters. Wil- dioxide. That be plication and hopes Novilla co-CEOs Jared owned Rural Ridgeway may soon be transported into the biothe new facility on land Mark Hill said the then plant via a memthe home of a new biodigester by Craig Bohr and Deb Storlie, liams and the compa- gas upgrading of 275th proposed facility, would pro- brane, which separates the gasfacility. held near the intersection ny’s second in Iowa, is then injected 9. A public hearing was million es. Natural gas Street and Iowa Highway duce approximately 1.5 leaving behind during a July 9 Winneshiek A biodigester contains micro- gallons of renewable natural into a pipeline, the industry Zoning County Planning and what’s known in which break down organisms listen year. to per Commission meeting oxygen-free envi- gas local Biodigester about manure in an All manure from two renewable to the public’s concerns be transportfor ronment, producing continued on page 7 to the dairy herds would rezoning a piece of property into the proone natural gas, according purpose of constructing Protection ed via pipeline (Sub- the Novilla U.S. Environmental facility in West Branch. biodigesting facility. BY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER
Pictured is a Novilla biodigester mitted)
om removal rip-rap
g apers.c in orderin ecorah errednewsp - www.d county
claim online calm mayus SettlementVisit
the Peel began discussions with typically placed to curaround “made it nearly stones board of supervisors her Der Maaten neshiek County regular traffic, tail erosion — as well as othsame time Fitch lodged im- torney Andrew Van for along a portion of the alleging the board acted a settlement impossible Peel asked that vehicles, to er materials late to proceed with seeking complains, and Der Maat- including delivery properly by instructing him vacating a the rural road without he offer in the case. Van private drive and resdo so. the county consider last year to remove materials that the details enter his the proper permits to Street — poright en said Monday prior to the summer to say portion of 360th had placed in the county settlement ar- idence” Peel’s petition went on a portion of owner tentially making County officials are moving of way along a portion of 360th of the potential he hopes the of 2023. His petition argued of an adjacent property settlea private road. en’t available, but forward with a possible the unpermitted installation submitted a 360th Street Street. was named Mary Fitch will be resolved within a Peel’s petition questioned in the ment in a legal case stemming defense attor- matter erosion control measures county the county’s to The complaint of weeks. to day from the unpermitted installa- ney denied a number of Peel’s matter “necessary for the day regarding “the a resi- summer of 2023 a Unpermitted road work tion of erosion control measures allegations against the board use that is required for alleged obstruction” limited road nearto this year, and A rocky along a rural road. 6 dence.” access earlier page ling on fi a farmer’s in December continued filed filing tenant Peel alleged in his voted notes Homeowner Jeffrey Peel The landowner’s own the board of supervisors by farmland. The petition the condition of he placed riprap — large a petition against the Winnesh- unanimously last week to au- petition that in northern Win- states iek County Board of Supervi- thorize Winnesheik County At- 360th Street 2023, sors in mid-December of
BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR
subscription ‘Drive harder’: Decorah’s
Hovden breaks 176 career
So, thought National Championships. his car on a trailer, I of them, their it,’” between the both ‘That kid will never make garage is filled father, two-stall racing said Les Hovden, Dan’s tires and spare Auto Parts not just with trophies and has who owns the NAPA “But, he’s parts but countless checks. Decorah’s Dan Hovden and store in Decorah. over-sized winners’ been racing for 16 years, just on done alright.” “The last few years, I’ve startthe 31-year-old is already The younger Hovden trophies to kids first na2008, been giving my his way to winning his ed racing hobby stock in down in the pit after tional title this year. Hovden and in 2013, he switched to that come “They July the races,” Hovden said. won the B-Mod main event USRA B-Mods. them a lot more. I gave 9, during the Summit used to help out enjoy dad Jackto “My event night’s trophy Halverson in Tuesday Weekly Racing Series in Todd and Scott at the Winneshiek Raceway home, and that son Roney.” just his our garage at While many racers are Decorah. The race marked into it,” he said. three got my brother 175th career win, and my brother did, 176th “And, whatever Hovden days later, he earned his I wanted to do too.” page 3 brother on his win when he took the checkered continued said Hovden eight USRA flag in West Union. load Mitch has won “The first time he went to
wins
BY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER
AnniWicklund, Fair Queen County Fair Princess Addison Dan had earned and Les Hovden after Left to right are 2024 Winneshiek (Submitted) Jade Hovden, Josh Hageman Raceway in Decorah. ka Schmelzer, Dan and night of July 9 at the Winneshiek th his 175 career win the
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Members of Iowa’s 294th Medical Company Area Support unit lugged a simulated patient toward a hypothetical exit point within Decorah’s Will Baker Park near Pulpit Rock. The National Guard unit made the trip to Decorah to train among the area’s hills 902 Commerce Dr., Decorah (Sunflower facility) and bluffs. Feature article can be found in the July 25 Decorah Leader newspa$20 registration fee/$25 per family (non-refundable) per. (Decorah Leader photo Boys & Girls 2-1/2 years & older by Seth Boyes)
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SAVE THE DATE
Decorah’s Fall
CITYWIDE GARAGE SALE
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
Teacher y a D n o i t a i c Appre
SEPT 14
at Depot Outlet
5.00 AUGUST 2 • 9AM-6PM
$
VOUCHER Shop discounted gently-used
for Winneshiek County K-12th grade teachers
*Must present school ID*
classroom & 24teaching Donation Area is Open Hours Per Day,supplies 7 Days Per Week
Shopping at the Depot Outlet helps other non-profit organizations in the community. www.depotoutlet.org • Mon.-Fri. 9-6 & Sat. 9-3 510 Montgomery St., Decorah, IA • 563-382-2700
the Depot Outlet
CANCELLED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
St. Decorah • 563-382-2700 Donations 510 Montgomerydepotoutlet.org still accepted! ANNUAL Mon-Fri 9am-6pm & Sat 9am-3pm MEETING
FRIDAY, AUG. 2 crazy days sidewalk sales
Starting at 8am, downtown Waukon
Community Corn Meal + Live Music 4 -8pm
all you can eat corn + brat/hot dog, watermelon, chips, potato salad & a drink
Kids Zone 4 -8pm bounce houses, face paint & charatures FREE Smores Stations Family Friendly Movie DUSK (around 8:45pm) @ WW Dairy parking lot STREET DANCE 8 -11pm Featuring - Flatland Ridge
Watch for details and registration forms at decorahleader.com
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DECORAH LEADER
SATURDAY, AUG. 3 crazy days sidewalk sales & NEIA makers
Starting at 9am, downtown Waukon WW Dairy Car & Bike Show
9am-1:30pm @ WW HOMESTEAD DAIRY
Corn Hole(Bags) Tourney 11:30am GOODFELLAS BAR
Co-Ed Softball Tournament
Starting at 10am @ WAUKON SOFTBALL COMPLEX