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Tue
27
Aug

MFL MarMac welcomes new staff members


New staff members joining the MFL MarMac School District this year are (front, left to right) Stacie Cooper (guidance support), Jillian Burke (elementary special education); (back) Casey Evanson (paraprofessional), Brock Sorensen (industrial tech student teacher at high school), Tiffany Torkelson (paraprofessional), Monica Schwartzhoff (seventh grade ELA), Amber Hendricks (middle school special education) and Sara Kelly (nurse). (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Aug. 23 didn’t just mark the first day of school at MFL MarMac for some students. For several staff members, it was also their first official day of classes with the district. Joining MFL MarMac this year are teachers Jillian Burke, Amber Hendricks and Monica Schwartzhoff; nurse Sara Kelly; guidance support staff member Stacie Cooper; paraprofessionals Casey Evanson and Tiffany Torkelson; and student teacher Brock Sorensen, who will work with high school industrial technology teacher Joe Milewsky. Information on some of the new staff members is included below.

Jillian Burke

Tue
27
Aug

Concern mounts over state of McGregor riverfront

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Concern is mounting on McGregor’s riverfront. Mayor Lyle Troester, speaking at the Aug. 21 council meeting, said McGregor Marina tenants are leaving, citing poor dock conditions and inability to get into their slips, even long after flooding abated earlier this summer.

“So many people come up to me wondering when the marina is going to fold. They’re so upset,” Troester said. “Houseboats have left. No one wants to park there. It’s to the point where it’s serious. And we’re held hostage.”

People prefer the location to other communities, he added, but don’t like the lack of maintenance.

Tue
27
Aug

McGregor sewer woes: nearly collapsed section of main one of the major culprits

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The city of McGregor has discovered one of the culprits of its Main Street sewer woes: a section of the sewer main near Kwik Star has almost completely collapsed.

“It’s totally trashed at this point,” Mark Davy, with Davy Engineering, told the city council at its Aug. 21 meeting. “When the river’s high, there’s significant infiltration and inflow [to the sewer main]. The water’s flowing through there as fast as it can go. It’s one of the reasons why you’ve had problems at the sewer plant and with the pump on Main Street.”

Tue
27
Aug

Monona taking steps to assure solar use in all zoning districts

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The city of Monona is taking steps to assure solar power can be utilized in all its zoning districts.

Solar collectors are currently allowed as an accessory use—meaning they meet setback and distance requirements like any other accessory building or structure—in Monona’s residential and agricultural districts. Now, the city is looking to amend its code of ordinances to permit solar collectors in all commercial and industrial districts as well. 

Mon
26
Aug

Meda Weller

Meda Weller, 96, of McGregor, died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Cascade.

Meda Charlene Weller was born in McGregor on Oct. 2, 1922, to parents Carl and Margaret (Zahn) Miller. Meda graduated from Rockford Memorial School of Nursing in Rockford, Ill, 1944.  She served in the Philippines with the Army Nurse Corps from late 1944 to early 1946. Meda then worked as a registered nurse in Alaska when it was still a territory. In March 1947, while in Alaska, she married Walter Allan DeLamater. They had two daughters, Marie and Virginia (Ginny).

Tue
20
Aug

'Ghosts of McGregor's Past:' Guided tours will bring legendary characters to life


“Ghosts of McGregor’s Past” guided historical walking tours will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, then again from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1. The tours will leave from Triangle Park roughly every half hour and take attendees to locations in downtown McGregor, where community members will act out short vignettes highlighting seven of the town’s most legendary characters. Emma “Virgin Em” Eastman (right) is pictured here getting close to her brother-in-law, Jacob Klotzbach, while sister Louisa is seated on the left. (Photo courtesy of McGregor Historical Museum)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

McGregor’s unique history will soon come to life through “Ghosts of McGregor’s Past,” a guided walking tour based around seven of the town’s most legendary characters.

Offered from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, then again from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1, the tours will leave from Triangle Park roughly every half hour and take attendees to locations in downtown McGregor, where community members will act out short vignettes.

Tue
20
Aug

Pikes Peak featured in byway art project


An original painting depicting a birds eye view of Pikes Peak State Park was unveiled at McGregor City Hall last week. It was created by well-known Decorah artist Mary Ann Gloe as part of an art project to capture and promote the beauty of the parks and natural areas in Iowa scenic byway corridors. Pictured with the painting are (left to right) McGregor councilman Charlie Carroll, mayor Lyle Troester, city administrator Lynette Sander, Jared Nielsen with Northeast Iowa RC&D, McGregor deputy city clerk Duane Boelman and McGregor-Marquette Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ashley Kishman. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

An original painting depicting a birds eye view of Pikes Peak State Park was unveiled at McGregor City Hall last week. It was created by well-known Decorah artist Mary Ann Gloe as part of a promotional project called “Capturing the Beauty of Iowa’s Natural Areas Through Art.” 

The Pikes Peak painting is one of seven new pieces of art that were commissioned by Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development, local scenic byway boards and other local sponsors, including the city of McGregor, as a way to capture and promote the beauty of the parks and natural areas in Iowa scenic byway corridors. Marquette and McGregor are located along the River Bluffs Scenic Byway, with Pikes Peak being one of visitors’ favorite stops.

Tue
20
Aug

Brodie-Fitzgerald resigns from Marquette City Council

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Marquette has an unexpected seat to fill on its city council, following the recent resignation of Pamela Brodie-Fitzgerald. The move, effective Aug. 6, was announced at the Aug. 13 regular council meeting.

“I want to thank Pam for the time she spent on the council. She did a lot more than people realized,” stated councilwoman Cindy Halvorson.

Brodie-Fitzgerald has served for nearly four years; her seat is up for re-election this November. Due to the timing, the council unanimously approved a notice to fill the position by appointment.

Tue
20
Aug

Small town pride will be on full display at Luana Daze


For the second year, a parade will be part of Luana Daze. The annual celebration will take place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 24 and 25. (North Iowa Times file photo)

Luana’s small-town pride will be on full display Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 24 and 25, for the annual Luana Daze celebration. 

Sponsored by the Luana Community Club, events will kick off Saturday morning, with a pancake, egg and sausage breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Bloody Mary’s and mimosas, courtesy of Luana Tap, will also be available.

The second annual Luana Daze parade will begin at 11 a.m. Line-up starts at 10 a.m. at Cherry Valley/Zieman’s Shop, on Dolphin Avenue. From there, the route will head to Main Street, then on to Church Street and Truman Street before ending on Burges Street.

Tue
13
Aug

Thinking outside the box


Woodworker Gerald Clymer, pictured in his Monona shop, creates intricately-crafted wooden boxes that have made him one of the most sought-after artists at McGregor’s Left Bank Shop and Gallery. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

At the beginning, there’s no indication of what the box will look like. That only forms when Clymer is well into the process. “I’m like a sculptor who chips away at the outside until he finds what he wanted inside,” he shared.

No piece is considered too small to incorporate into one of Clymer’s boxes. “Those little tiny pieces can be just what [the box] needs to make it pop,” he said.

Clymer, who started his woodworking hobby by making furniture, began creating boxes in 2006. This first one was made from a lilac bush.

Over the years, Clymer's boxes have become larger and more complex.

Clymer’s boxes are rarely assembled using metal fasteners. He prefers glue to join the pieces, occasionally reinforcing joints with dowels or splices.

Monona artist lets wood speak for itself

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

“As you can see, very little goes to waste,” said Gerald Clymer, spreading his arms wide as he steps into his Monona woodworking shop. There’s oak here, walnut there. Larger pieces of wood rest against walls and benches while smaller remnants—some cubes barely an inch wide—cover most surfaces. No piece is considered too small to incorporate into the intricately-crafted wooden boxes that have made Clymer one of the most sought-after artists at McGregor’s Left Bank Shop and Gallery.

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