Local News

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Tue
01
Oct

Doeppke joins Monona PD as full-time officer


Riley Doeppke, a 2017 MFL MarMac grad, is now a full-time officer with the Monona Police Department. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The Monona Police Department has a new full-time officer. Riley Doeppke, who’s been serving in the community since earlier this summer, was officially hired for the position last month.

The 20 year old is no stranger to Monona. Doeppke graduated from MFL MarMac in 2017 and spent his early childhood years in town, before later moving to Luana.

“That was a little less pressure,” he admitted. “I knew where a lot of things were in town, but I still had to learn some street names.”

Tue
01
Oct

Walz Energy issued another consent order, $10,000 penalty

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a second administrative consent order to Walz Energy, LLC, including another $10,000 penalty, for ongoing violations at the 10,000-head cattle feedlot and biogas operation under construction outside Monona.

The consent order, which the DNR released Sept. 17, requires Walz Energy to cease all illegal discharges to waters of the state, comply with all conditions of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water permit, properly maintain food storage basins and maintain two feet of freeboard at all times. Walz Energy must also pay the $10,000 administrative penalty and comply with a consent order issued in August 2018 to address previous violations at the site.

Tue
01
Oct

McGregor, Marquette offer variety of activities first two weekends in October


Father and son Dan and Danny Tesar will provide their “fire and steel” blacksmith demonstrations in McGregor on Saturday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 12. It’s just one of the activities Marquette and McGregor will have to offer the first two weekends of October. (North Iowa Times file photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Spend the first two weekends of October in Marquette and McGregor. The two communities are offering a variety of activities for the whole family, starting with the return of the Great River Road - Road Race (GRRRR) on Saturday, Oct. 5.

The moderately difficult out and back 5K and 10K races will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Pikes Peak State Park near McGregor, follow Pikes Peak Road, then head south on the Great River Road. Walkers are also welcome. A kids fun run will also be included in the event too.

Tue
01
Oct

Celebrate 35th annual HawkWatch on Oct. 5


The Driftless Area Wetlands Centre, in Marquette, will host the 35th annual HawkWatch this Saturday, Oct. 5. Among the highlights will be “Iowa Birds of Prey” live bird programs at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (North Iowa Times file photo)

On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre, in partnership with the Upper Iowa Audubon Society, Raptor Resource Project and Driftless Area Bird Conservation, will host the 35th annual HawkWatch. This event celebrates the magnificent fall migration of hundreds of thousands of raptors and other birds along the Mississippi River Flyway. 

HawkWatch is a free event, designed to appeal to everyone, including families, amateur birders and raptor enthusiasts. HawkWatch activities will be held at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre, located at 509 U.S. 18, in Marquette. Daytime activities will begin at 10 a.m. and will wrap up at 3 p.m. The Big Blue Sky Band will hold a fundraiser concert in the evening, starting at 7 p.m. 

Tue
24
Sep

Pattison Sand cutting a quarter of its workforce


Pattison Sand Company announced last week that it is reducing 25 percent of its workforce due to “changes in the market.” (North Iowa Times file photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Pattison Sand Company began facilitating a 25 percent reduction of its workforce last week, according to the company’s sales and marketing manager, Jackie Lee.

“Recent changes in the market have forced us to make some hard decisions,” she said.

The Clayton-based company is known for mining silica sand, which is often used in hydraulic fracturing, a process that extracts oil and natural gas from the earth. In 2016, Pattison built a crushing plant to produce limestone aggregate material for concrete, asphalt, secondary roads, erosion control, base stabilization and more.

Tue
24
Sep

Dillman offers to donate building to city of McGregor


Pat Dillman has offered to donate her building in McGregor’s historic Masonic Block to the city, opening up a slew of opportunities for development of the prime downtown location. Dillman’s section of the building stretches from 134 to 138 Main Street and is distinguished by its dark green lower level with large windows. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Pat Dillman has offered to donate her building in McGregor’s historic Masonic Block to the city, opening up a slew of opportunities for development of the prime downtown location.

Mayor Lyle Troester, speaking at the Sept. 18 council meeting, said he’s discussed the idea with Dillman and her family over the past year.

“She’s starting to want to get her affairs in order,” he said, “and she’s willing to donate the building to the city with no requirements,” regarding the usage or sale of the building. She’s simply requested an acknowledgment of the donation as well as the efforts she and husband Bruce put into restoring the structure.

Tue
24
Sep

Froelich Fall-der-All will share history Sept. 28-29


Grinding corn by hand (shown here), making ice cream and cider pressing apples are just a few of the hands-on activities kids will enjoy at Froelich’s annual Fall-der-All on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29. (North Iowa Times file photo)

Let history come alive through fun demonstrations, tours and more at the annual Froelich Fall-der-All, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-29.

For many years, Fall-der-All has been a local fall tradition for Froelich, which is known as the birthplace of the first gas-powered tractor to propel itself forward and backward, created by John Froelich in 1892.

In true Froelich fashion, tractors will start off the celebration on Saturday, with sign-up for a tractor ride beginning at 9 a.m. and the ride leaving at 9:30 a.m. It will end at Froelich around 12:30 p.m. 

Tue
24
Sep

Students’ academic achievements recognized


Seniors who were recognized for their academic achievements at the Sept. 20 assembly included (front, left to right) Taylor Berns, Brinan Berger, Rachel Davis, Ashley Weaver, Destiny Berns, Maya Butikofer, RoseMary McGeough; (back) Max Koeller, Beau Benzing, Logan Klenk, Cedrick Drahn, Eli Johnson and Ethan Stubbs. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

The juniors who were honored included (front, left to right) Avery Ihde, Abby Koslowski, Mackenzy Ruff, Marlene Franzen, Zoee aGerndt, Rose Grau, Lexy Johnson, Anna Stoddard; (back) JJ Lynd, Koal Klenk, Kylee Bries, Victor Breuer, Max Havlicek, Kayden Gillitzer and Riley Whiteny.

Earning achievements as sophomores were (front, left to right) Carlie Jones, Emily Knickerbocker, Miranda Lang, Rose Koehn, Lakota Morrissey, Collin Henkels, Shelby Mielke, Sydney Moser, Abby Schellhorn, Eva Budde, Kaylee Bachman; (back) Karli Tilson, Dusty Berns, Hunter Goltz, Jessica Loera, Kaden Stocker, Timothy Hexom, Dacia Schoulte, Jaxton Schroeder, Gabe McGeough and Kashton Mathis.

MFL MarMac held its annual academic assembly on Sept. 20, recognizing students who have maintained 3.5 grade point averages throughout their high school careers.

Sophomores who were honored included Kaylee Bachman, Dustin Berns, Eva Budde, Hunter Goltz, Collin Henkels, Timothy Hexom, Carlie Jones, Emily Knickerbocker, Rose Koehn, Miranda Lang, Jessica Loera, Kashton Mathis, Gabriel McGeough, Shelby Mielke, Riley Moreland, Lakota Morrissey, Sydney Moser, Abby Schellhorn, Dacia Schoulte, Jaxton Schroeder, Kaden Stocker and Karli Tilson.

Among the juniors honored were Kylee Bries, Victor Breuer, Marlene Franzen, Zoee Gerndt, Kayden Gillitzer, Rose Grau, Max Havlicek, Avery Ihde, Lexy Johnson, Emma Keehner, Koal Klenk, Abby Koslowski, Braden Landt, JJ Lynd, Mackenzy Ruff, Anna Stoddard and Riley Whitney.

Fri
20
Sep

Russell Davis

Russell Davis, 83, of McGregor, passed away Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, at the Guttenberg Care Center, in Guttenberg. Russ, a loving husband and father, was born in Cambridge, Ohio, on Jan. 19, 1936, to Raymond and Hazel (Phillips) Davis. Childhood years were spent in Warren, Ohio and he was a high school graduate of Leavittsburg, Ohio. Russ was drafted into the United States Army and proudly served his country during the Cold War Era and, due to the Viet Nam War, his service was extended. 

Tue
17
Sep

Rivers of water overtake Marquette, McGregor streets following torrential rains


Water covered McGregor’s Main Street the evening of Sept. 12, after torrential rains fell across the area, causing flash flooding and mud slides. (Submitted photo)

McGregor Mayor Lyle Troester reported little damage from the storm, just a lot of water and debris. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Marquette’s Twin Bluffs neighborhood on Pleasant Ridge Road was underwater last Thursday, and some homes were infiltrated by the raging flood. (Submitted photo)

Marquette’s city workers were out early Friday morning, Sept. 13, clearing away a large pile of debris that was deposited onto North Street by flash flooding the evening before. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Muddy, roiling water also washed down Ash Street, from the McGregor Heights. (Submitted photo)

The properties below Marquette's bench evacuation route were some of the hardest hit. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The Mississippi River wasn’t the only muddy, roiling body of water flowing through the area last week. Torrential rains the evening of Sept. 12—on the heals of two storms that days earlier had each dropped inches of precipitation—unleashed rivers of their own down several Marquette and McGregor streets, leaving behind rocks, tree branches and a layer of gooey mud. 

The hillsides bordering Highway 76 between Marquette and McGregor, as well as north of Marquette, didn’t fare any better. Mud slides shot down the banks, felling trees and littering the roadways with rocks that were reportedly as large as basketballs. 

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