Local News

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Tue
21
May

Splash pad concepts and site plan to be developed

Pump staying on McGregor's Main Street for time being

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

At its May 15 meeting, the McGregor Council approved an engineering contract with MSA Professional Services to develop concepts and a site plan for the splash pad project at Turner Park, as well as a combination restroom/concession stand.

Senior project manager Jake Deaver said the splash pad will be located behind the ballpark. It will have a flow-through, and not a recirculating, system.

Tue
21
May

Marquette farmers market begins May 24


The farmers market at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre, in Marquette, will open its season this Friday, May 24. Markets will be held every Friday, from 4 to 7 p.m., through Oct. 4. (NIT file photo)

The Marquette farmers market at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre will open its season on Friday, May 24. It will be held every Friday night, from 4 to 7 p.m., through Oct. 4.  

This outdoor farmers market is complete with baked goods, fresh produce, honey, jams and jellies, eggs, black walnuts, maple syrup, locally produced beef and lamb products, granola, locally grown plants and local artisan vendors. 

Vendors currently include Kymar Acres, Busy Bee’s, Robert Jelinek, Highlandville Honey Farm, Elsinger Family Farms, BuckingLamb Palace and Cheryl Corlett. 

Tue
21
May

MFL MarMac seniors cap off careers at state track and field


MFL MarMac seniors Hannah Schutte (left), Summer Schutte and Emma Ammons capped off their high school track and field careers on a high note, competing in the state meet at Drake University in Des Moines on May 16-18. (Submitted photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

MFL MarMac seniors Emma Ammons, Hannah Schutte and Summer Schutte capped off their high school track and field careers on a high note, competing in the state meet at Drake University in Des Moines on May 16-18.

There, Ammons threw a personal-best 112 feet, 3 inches in the discus, earning her 11th place in Class 1A. Hannah Schutte finished 14th in the 800 with a time of 2:29.59, besting her qualifying mark by several seconds. Summer Schutte ran a 27.62-second 200 meter dash to place 19th in the event.

Tue
14
May

Berns, Diehl are MFL MarMac’s top scholars

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Kaitlyn Berns has earned the title of valedictorian of MFL MarMac’s Class of 2019, while Chloe Diehl is the salutatorian. 

“It’s been my goal for awhile,” said Kaitlyn, who is the daughter of Tom and Jo Berns, of Luana. “It’s pretty exciting to achieve something like this.”

Chloe, the daughter of Jeremy and Amy Diehl, of Marquette, said the announcement wasn’t too surprising. The two have been highly ranked throughout high school.

“I think we both knew we had a shot at it,” she remarked.

Tue
14
May

Kautman reflects on 25 years in law enforcement

National Police Week: May 12-18, 2019

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

National Police Week has been held each year around mid-May since 1962, when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day. The period serves not only as a time to honor those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, but to recognize all members of law enforcement who continue to serve and protect their communities day in and day out.

Tue
14
May

May 18 field day, concert will benefit grassland bird research


A May 18 field event and concert will raise awareness and funds for the area’s grassland birds, particularly the bobolink. (Submitted photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

A slate of events on Saturday, May 18 will raise awareness and funds for the area’s grassland birds.

Activities will begin at 2 p.m., with a field day hosted by Phil Specht and Dr. Mary Damm at 12082 Iris Ave., in rural McGregor. There, Specht will lead a program on managing pasture to help grassland birds, particularly the bobolink.

“I’ve been grazing cattle since 1974,” said Specht, a retired dairy farmer. “All the declining species are in my pasture. The bobolink is one that requires grassland.”

Tue
14
May

Kishman takes over at Mar-Mac Chamber


Ashley Kishman is the new executive director of the McGregor-Marquette Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Ashley Kishman has taken over as executive director of the McGregor-Marquette Chamber of Commerce. She replaces Kristie Austin, who had held the position since 2017.

A native of Hillsboro, Wis., Kishman grew up on a dairy farm and later attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, earning a bachelor of science degree in broad area agriculture, with an emphasis in marketing communication.

A majority of her career has been in dairy nutrition and sales and marketing, and Kishman feels the skills she possesses translate well to her new position. 

Tue
07
May

North Iowa Times sold after 30 years under Howe family ownership


Morris Newspaper Corporation of Wisconsin (MNC) has purchased the Mississippi Valley Printers Inc. newspaper group of Crawford County and Clayton County, including the North Iowa Times. The acquisition was finalized Tuesday, April 30, with MNC taking over operations on Wednesday, May 1. Pictured are MNC of Wisconsin Publisher John Ingebritsen and North Iowa Times General Manager Gary Howe. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin and Audrey Posten

The North Iowa Times has changed ownership after 30 years under the Howe family name. 

Morris Newspaper Corporation of Wisconsin (a division of Morris Multimedia, headquartered in Savannah, Ga.) purchased the North Iowa Times, The Trader shopper, and the NIT’s sister publications: Courier Press in Prairie du Chien, The Guttenberg Press in Guttenberg and Clayton County Register in Elkader. 

Tue
07
May

Grant helps MFL MarMac students learn more about hydroponics


The MFL MarMac High School greenhouse received a facelift this spring, including updated walls and new sprinkler and heating and cooling systems. The work was done in preparation for the installation of a hydroponic system (seen on the left), which was purchased thanks to a McElroy Grant. The system is currently growing lettuce without the use of soil. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Three kinds of lettuce are now growing in the hydroponic system. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Students in Sarah Wille’s horticulture class have been involved in each step of lettuce production with the hydroponic system. That starts with planting the lettuce seeds in rockwool (shown here), where they sprout and begin to grow roots, then determining when to transplant them into the hydroponic system. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

This winter, with funding from the McElroy Grant, all three third grade classrooms were able to purchase grow lights for their small hydroponic operations, which demonstrate the life cycle of a bean. (Submitted photo)

With help from the grow lights, the hydroponically-grown bean plants finally bore fruit. (Submitted photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

MFL MarMac students in both the high school and elementary school are learning more about hydroponics thanks to a $2,000 McElroy Grant.

Third grade teacher Jennifer Wilwert and high school agriculture teacher Sarah Wille applied for the grant together, for a project entitled “Introducing Hydroponics to Future Farmers,” after learning they both had an interest in sharing the unique plant-growing method with their students.

“Hydroponics is growing plants without the use of soil,” Wille explained.

Instead, aerated water circulates around the plants’ roots and liquid fertilizer provides the nutrients they would otherwise receive from soil. 

Tue
07
May

Wind energy project inspires hobby, potential career


MFL MarMac senior Tim Henkels recently represented the school at the Keystone AEA’s Kid Wind Energy Challenge, placing first for this wind-powered turbine, which he built using mostly recycled materials. (Submitted photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

MFL MarMac senior Tim Henkels recently represented the school at the Keystone AEA’s Kid Wind Energy Challenge, placing first for a wind-powered turbine he built himself.

“I had some fun with it, putting it together,” Henkels said.

Held together by a wooden frame and base, the project is a vertical turbine, and Henkels used mostly recycled materials to construct it.

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