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Tue
14
Apr

SIAC committee finalizes MFL MarMac’s goals for next five years

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

MFL MarMac’s School Improvement Advisement Committee (SIAC) met last week, finalizing the district’s goals for its next five-year strategic plan (2015-2020).

The group—made up of school staff, parents and other community members—split the district’s goals into four different categories: the marketing of the school, technology, programs and academics and facilities.

Marketing, or promoting, the school more was a major area of consensus among committee members. Many good things are happening at MFL MarMac, members stressed, but the public doesn’t always know about them.

Tue
14
Apr

Organizations, citizens share future visions for area rural communities

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

The Driftless Area Wetlands Centre in Marquette played host to a rural communities forum April 8 that brought together growing Northeast Iowa organizations and local citizens to discuss everyone’s future vision for the area.

The forum was one of several held throughout Northeast Iowa in the last few weeks that featured presentations from the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative, the Iowa Food Hub and Winneshiek Energy District.

Tue
14
Apr

Marquette Cobblestone honored for best guest experience


Stephen Woebbeking and Abby Katschkowsky show off the award the Cobblestone Inn and Suites of Marquette/Prairie du Chien recently received for best guest experience for the first quarter of 2015. Other employees who contributed to the hotel’s success but are not pictured include Vinnie Miller, Ana Cook, Morgan Whittaker, Josy Ziegler, Brock Ziegler, Mariha Finney-Crass, Cristal Larson and Teri Blotz. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

The Cobblestone Inn and Suites of Marquette/Prairie du Chien was recently honored with the hotel chain’s best guest experience award for the year’s first quarter.

The Marquette location picked up the traveling award after garnering the highest average score from customer-submitted online surveys that ask about the hotel’s check-ins, cleanliness, breakfast, friendliness and overall experience.

General manager Stephen Woebbeking, who took over at the Marquette location in Dec. 2014, admitted the award was a surprise.

Tue
14
Apr

Creative Enz nail spa opens


Creative Enz Salon and Spa in McGregor opened its new nail spa last week. With an additional pedicure chair, the space will work well for wedding parties, groups and spa days. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Creative Enz Salon and Spa in McGregor has expanded in both size and offerings with the opening of a nail spa last week. The new nail spa is located next door to the current salon, in the building that most recently housed the store the Purple Iris.

“We needed more room for the business to expand and grow,” shared Genna Welch, who opened Creative Enz on Main Street in 2005. 

Mon
13
Apr

Judith F. “Judy” Franz

 

Judith F. “Judy” Franz, 67 of Iowa City died Thursday, April 9, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Tue
07
Apr

Mar-Mac area looks to capitalize on geotourism


Geotourism is the new buzz word around the McGregor and Marquette area thanks to National Geographic’s new Mississippi River Corridor Geotourism Program. The term, according to National Geographic, means “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.” (NIT file photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Geotourism is the new buzz word around the McGregor and Marquette area thanks to National Geographic’s new Mississippi River Corridor Geotourism Program.

The term, according to National Geographic, means “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.”

Tue
07
Apr

Schlein retires from Monona Fire Department after 32 years


After 32 years and seven months of service, including 13 as chief, on the Monona Volunteer Fire Department, Daryl Schlein retired this year. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

After 32 years and seven months of service on the Monona Volunteer Fire Department, Daryl Schlein retired this year. 

Of that time, 13 years were spent as chief, a role he relinquished a year and a half ago.

“It was nice to get to be a firefighter again for that time,” said Schlein, a Monona native who was encouraged to join the department by friends.

The biggest thing about being involved with the fire department, he said, is that one is always learning.

“You learn more and more over the years,” he noted. “Now, there’s more training and commitment. You need 24 hours of training each year.”

Tue
07
Apr

Dollar General store may come to Monona

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

A Dollar General store may set up shop in Monona. The city council discussed an offer from the company to purchase a city lot along Highway 18 and 52, up the road from Fisk’s Farm and Home and the car wash, at Monday night’s meeting.

The company had considered other locations around the city, finally settling on this site, which the council said will need extensive fill work in order to be habitable.

“It’s going to take a company like this to do anything with that site,” commented councilman Dan Havlicek.

Tue
31
Mar

Canoers stop in McGregor on way north in ‘Rediscovering North America’ trip


Luke Kimmes and Winchell Delano were two members of a group of six canoers that paddled into McGregor last Wednesday on the way north in their “Rediscovering North America” trip from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. The journey will take the group through 10 states, five Canadian provinces, 11 rivers and 5,200 miles. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

The “Rediscovering North America” group paddled into McGregor mid-day Wednesday, a little cold and wet after spending a slushy night camped on an island across from Clayton. McGregor-Marquette Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carolyn Gallagher reached out to them several weeks ago, inviting them to spend the night, an offer they readily accepted.

“It’s good to have beds and hospitality along the way,” shared Dan Flynn, noting that stopping in communities like McGregor gives them something to look forward to, breaking up the monotony of time on the river.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

A group of six canoers made a pit stop in McGregor last Wednesday on the way north in their “Rediscovering North America” trip.

The trip, which includes six friends (Adam Trigg, Winchell Delano, Dan Flynn and John Keaveny, all originally of Minnesota, and Jarrad Moore and Luke Kimmes, both Iowa natives) traversing 10 states, five Canadian provinces, 11 rivers and 5,200 miles, began in the Mississippi Delta near Burras, La., at the start of 2015. The nine-month trek will end at the Arctic Ocean.

Tue
31
Mar

McGregor Troop 32 continues to churn out Eagle Scouts


Since Jim Farnsworth (left) and Tom Sinclair took over as assistant scoutmaster and scoutmaster, respectively, of McGregor’s Troop 32, 29 Boy Scouts have become Eagle Scouts. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Situated along the Mississippi River, McGregor sees its share of eagles, and not just of the bird variety. Over the past 20 years, 29 Boy Scouts—as many as five in one year—have earned the rank of Eagle. Several more are working toward scouting’s highest rank this year.

Tom Sinclair and Jim Farnsworth have presided over McGregor’s Troop 32 as scoutmaster and assistant scoutmaster, respectively, since 1989. McGregor’s abundant Eagle population is indicative of  hardworking boys and supportive parents, they said.

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