Local News

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Few people can say they’ve written a novel. Even fewer have done it as teenagers. But, as of Dec. 1, most of the MFL MarMac eighth grade class had completed the unique accomplishment.

“Every year, it gets better and better,” said Scott Boylen, who, each November for seven years, has challenged his eighth grade language arts students to participate in the online creative writing project NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

For the fourth year, the McGregor-Marquette Center for the Arts (MMCA) will offer a series of winter art workshops.

Starting in January and running through early March, the low-cost workshops will provide instruction on a variety of mediums, from clay and painting to wool felting and basket weaving.

“What got it started,” said MMCA board president Sandy Stevens, “was that we wrote a grant to work with students. We were able to purchase a kiln, pottery wheel and other supplies.”

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

At its Dec. 4 meeting, the Monona Council approved a resolution for the voluntary annexation of 3.7 acres of land at the intersection of 125th Street and U.S. Highway 18/52. 

The property includes two parcels, one of which the Overland Group plans to purchase for construction of a Dollar General Store. The other is a residential property.

City administrator Dan Canton said a notice has been published indicating the city’s intent to voluntarily annex the site. The county has also been notified. Now, he said, the Iowa Secretary of State’s office will be notified. Once they give the go-ahead, the city of Monona will notify utilities, the DOT, DNR and other pertinent entities that the property is within city limits.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will bring its festive display of lights and live music to the area when it stops in Marquette, at the marina parking lot, on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 4:15 p.m. The visit is the train’s lone stop in Clayton County this year.

Now in its 19th year, the Holiday Train is decorated with hundreds of thousands of lights depicting holiday scenes on 14 rail cars, one of which turns into a stage for musical performances.

Entertainment will include country music star Terri Clark, rock and country singer Dallas Smith and country artist Kelly Prescott, who will all perform classic holiday tunes. Santa Claus will also make an appearance.