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Tue
25
Jun

Monona among local cities looking to be ‘solar friendly’

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The Clayton County Energy District held its quarterly energy breakfast in Monona on June 14, with the theme centered on the SolSmart program and several local cities’ efforts to make it faster, easier and more affordable for both residents and businesses to go solar.

Funded by the United States Department of Energy, SolSmart is a national designation program that recognizes counties, cities and small towns that are open for solar business. 

Tue
25
Jun

Presentation focuses on American School of Wildlife Protection, started 100 years ago


Osborne’s Older, Wiser, Livelier Souls (OWLS) visited the McGregor Historical Museum last week to learn more about the American School of Wildlife Protection. Museum director Diane Malcom offered a short presentation on the school, which was held for the first time 100 years ago. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

The OWLS group made a quick visit to the McGregor Heights, viewing where the Wildlife School’s pavilion and observation tower were once located. They also enjoyed the scenic overlook of the Mississippi River. (Submitted photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Osborne’s Older, Wiser, Livelier Souls (OWLS) group visited the McGregor Historical Museum last week to learn more about the American School of Wildlife Protection—a fitting topic considering 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the notable institution on the McGregor Heights.

“The Wildlife School started in 1919, so it’s a landmark year, and it lasted until 1941,” shared museum director Diane Malcom. Similar to today, she noted, “There seemed to be a heightened awareness of how wildlife, green space, preservation and conservation of these beautiful areas was kind of starting to fade because of urban sprawl.”

Tue
25
Jun

McGregor Council at stalemate on setting employee wages

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Members of the McGregor Council came to a stalemate at their June 19 regular meeting on setting city employee wages for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The council was presented with a resolution giving all employees a 3 percent raise, which mayor Lyle Troester said accounts for an increase in cost of living.

Mon
24
Jun

Deva Mae Randall

Deva Mae (Kadlec) Randall, 77, of McGregor, passed away at her home in McGregor on June 21, 2019, surrounded by her family. She was born in McGregor on May 11, 1942, the daughter of Fredrick and DeElla (Welch) Kadlec. She married Kenneth Randall in September 1963, and later divorced. Deva had two children, Kirt Randall of McGregor and Jodi Randall (Manternach) of Fairfax. 

Fri
21
Jun

Harry 'Junior' Miller

Harry “Junior” Miller, 80, of McGregor, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2019, with his loving wife, Linda Miller, and children Mary Abel, Kara Larson and Tim Miller by his side. He died at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wis., after a short illness. 

In his final days, he was comforted by family and by faith. His grandchildren all were able to visit and share their love. Only his oldest daughter, Jo McDole, who is under long-term care in a Cedar Rapids nursing home, was unable to say her goodbyes in person.

Fri
21
Jun

Dennis Rumohr

Dennis Rumohr, 63, of Moville, died after a sudden battle with cancer. Farmer, father, friend, Dennis went to the field in the sky on June 18, 2019. 

Spending every day on the farm, enjoying God’s creation, he made his life through his work. Especially enjoying the fruits of his labors in the fall, he lived his life according to the ebb and flow of nature’s seasons. Always standing up for what was right, he was slow to anger and quick to laugh. Happy and proud of his family, they were his greatest joy. Through his farm and family, he lived his own way and created his own life, making every day his favorite day. 

Tue
18
Jun

Last call: After 49 years, bingo at St. Mary’s will end June 23


Steve Weipert has been a long-time volunteer at St. Mary’s bingo. The long-running event will be held for the last time this Saturday, June 23. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Norb Hammes has been a staple at bingo for most of its 49 years, calling and organizing the games. He knows who all the regulars are, where they sit and how many cards they typically take.

Norb Hammes is shown here calling bingo in 1977. (Photo from St. Mary’s Guild scrapbook)

Lyle Nierling has been coming to bingo since around 1975. “I lose money, but I also make some once in a great while,” he said with a laugh. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Tom Giese verifies a bingo Sunday night, June 16.

Many people have volunteered to help with bingo over the years. Some of the notables, pictured here in 2006, included John Kohlstedt, Bob Connell, Erwin Ruff, Ralph Pirc, Norb Hammes, Marjorie Goldsmith, Alfred Goldsmith and Wayne Welch. (Photo from St. Mary’s Guild scrapbook)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The parish hall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in McGregor, is a hub of activity every Sunday evening. People come from around the area—Waukon, Seneca, Lancaster, even Caledonia, Minn.—to try their luck at bingo. For most, it’s a tradition—the same seat, the same number of cards, meeting the same friends—week after week.

But on June 23, they’ll do it all for the last time, as the local institution comes to an end after 49 years. 

“This is huge,” expressed Karol Nelson, one of the leaders of the St. Mary’s Ladies Guild that prepares and serves food each week. “A lot of people are sad as it gets closer to being done.”

Tue
18
Jun

As Mississippi dips below flood stage, businesses look for activity to pick up


The Mississippi River finally dipped below the flood stage of 16 feet at McGregor on June 11. Marquette and McGregor businesses are hopeful activity will begin to pick up now. “Things are coming around,” said Robert Vavra, whose Maiden Voyage boat tours are up and running in Marquette. (Photo by Kamryn Tesar)

In a sign that summer—and the tourism it brings to the area—is finally ready to start, boats have started to trickle in to the Marquette marina. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The Mississippi River finally dipped below the flood stage of 16 feet at McGregor on Tuesday night, June 11—87 days after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued the first flood warning on March 16.

The length of time at or above flood stage obliterated the record for the location, which was an estimated 31 days from April 14 to May 14, 2001. NWS data shows other long stretches included 29 days from June 23 to July 21, 1993 and 26 days from April 12 to May 7, 1965.

Tue
18
Jun

Mar-Mac area offers plentiful trail opportunities throughout the year


The area in and around Marquette and McGregor offers a growing number of trail options for non-motorized use, and resident Dan Keyes has tried them all. One of his favorite past-times is fat tire biking, particularly at Pikes Peak State Park. (Submitted photos)

Many local trails are accessible throughout the year and, between them all, offer opportunities for not just hiking, but also biking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

For local outdoor enthusiasts, as well as visitors, the area in and around Marquette and McGregor offers a growing number of trail options for non-motorized use. Most are accessible throughout the year and, between them all, offer opportunities for not just hiking, but also biking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. 

McGregor resident Dan Keyes has tried them all and is among a group of volunteers working to further connect trails in the area. He sees not just the economic and tourism benefits but the quality of life they can bring to current and prospective residents.

Tue
18
Jun

McGregor resident launches historic walking tour

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

McGregor resident Joe Brooks is launching a guided walking tour of the community—an effort he hopes will connect locals and visitors alike with McGregor’s past.

“There’s so much history here,” Brooks said, “but it gets forgotten so easily. This will be a way of bringing that history out.”

The guided historic walking tour will be based around the booklet “Take a Walk Through Historic Downtown McGregor,” which was released a few years ago. It is available for purchase at several locations around town and contains history about many of the city’s buildings, homes and parks. Brooks hopes to enhance that.

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