Alliant Energy named 41 Iowa communities to receive grants totaling nearly $145,000 through the company’s Community Tree Planting program, part of its One Million Trees initiative. Among those communities was the City of New Albin, which received $800 in funding for right-of-way planting with general volunteers.
“Our commitment to improving the environment and supporting the communities we serve is unwavering,” said May Farlinger, Vice President Customer and Community Engagement, Alliant Energy. “The Community Tree Planting program grants awarded will help these Iowa communities achieve tree restoration goals, improve energy efficiency and provide environmental benefits for generations to come.”
Alliant Energy partners with Trees Forever to help communities develop, select and plant a diverse mix of trees. A tree expert helps communities select the best species for their areas and create care and maintenance plans to ensure the new trees have long, healthy lives.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comment on the newly released draft impaired waters list (303(d) list). Data recently released by the Iowa DNR shows a reduction in 96 impairments relative to the 2022 303(d) impairment list, once the 2024 list is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Iowa’s 2024 303(d) list includes waterbody segments that are not meeting all applicable state water quality standards for their designated uses. A water on the 303(d) list is referred to as an impaired water. Once the DNR creates a water quality improvement plan for the segment (called Total Maximum Daily Loads, or TMDLs), the segment does not need to be included on future 303(d) lists.
Strong in her recovery ... Eastern Allamakee Community School District Superintendent and Kee High School and Middle School Principal Dr. Sarah Updegraff Murray is recovering from serious injuries sustained in a fall from a four-foot retaining wall at her home the evening of March 15. The fall left her with no feeling or movement from her chest down, and the hope is for her to continue her rehabilitation from those injuries at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, IL as she continues to show improvement in her current recovery. Submitted photo.
Steve and Dr. Sarah Murray ... Submitted photo.
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
Friday, March 15, Eastern Allamakee Community School District Superintendent and Kee High School and Middle School Principal Dr. Sarah Updegraff Murray posted on Facebook a picture of her husband, Steve, and her on their date night in an area restaurant. A few hours later, she was being airlifted to Gundersen Medical Center in La Crosse, WI fighting for her life after falling at home.
Steve was inside their home and Sarah went to the edge of their side yard which overlooks the Mississippi River to see a barge. She slipped and fell about four feet off a retaining wall. Steve rushed out and immediately called 911. The Lansing EMTs were there within a few minutes, assessing the situation.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Mini-STEAM Camp - K-5th Grade class Wednesday, April 24. This class will run from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Avenue NW.
Keep kids engaged on their day with no school April 24 by signing them up for a mini-STEAM camp. Kindergarten through fifth grade students will be doing Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math activities. Snacks and supplies are provided. Those attending are advised to bring a sack lunch.
The deadline for paid registration is April 17. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
For two weeks in July, South Bear School in rural Decorah will be re-opening its doors for students to join an intensive pottery workshop. South Bear School adheres to a ceramics tradition passed down from the European Guild System to the Bauhaus, to Pond Farm Pottery in California, to South Bear School.
Work and learning are based primarily on demonstrations, observation, and practice on the kickwheel. Quality one-on-one and group instruction will be provided by various alumni from the first iteration of South Bear School (1970-1987). Camp on the property at no extra cost for the full retreat experience, or commute from the nearby area.
The 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament has played its way to a final champion, as the University of Connecticut (UConn) topped Purdue University in the Monday, April 8 National Championship game, 75-60, to repeat as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Champion. The sorting out of that 68-team national tournament to this season’s National Championship winner has also resulted in the emergence of the winning entry for The Standard’s Bracket Challenge contest.
The winner of this season’s Bracket Challenge is Verland Lenth of Waukon, as he overcame some average early rounds of picking and a tough third round with some strong final four choices. He was the lone entry this year to choose at least three of this year’s final four teams, selecting UConn, Purdue and Alabama (along with Houston) within his final four teams, and then having UConn defeat Purdue in the finals.
With a Monday, April 1 meet at Decorah and the Thursday, April 4 Postville Invitational this past week both being the latest weather victims in the Waukon boys track team’s first four outdoor meets of the season being canceled, the Indians made some late-week inquiries to finally be able to compete in their first outdoor meet of the season Friday, April 5 at the Dyersville Beckman Invitational. The track Tribe won a pair of events and finished second in four more in a meet where no team scores were kept but that included 10 other teams, many of which the Indians don’t often see during their regular season schedule.
The Indians were next scheduled to take part in the Decorah Invitational Monday, April 8 before competing in the New Hampton Invitational Thursday, April 11. Another week of double duty next week includes a return trip to Decorah Monday, April 15 and then hosting their own Indian Relays Friday, April 19.
Having its first two outdoor meets of the season canceled by weather and its latest meet postponed a day, the Waukon girls track team finally got to take to the track outside for the first time this season when they competed in the Decorah Invitational Friday, April 5. The Lady Indians recorded two each of event wins and runner-up finishes to help tally 77 team points and end up as the fourth-place team in the meet’s eight-team field.
After having its first two outdoor meets of the season canceled by weather and not having competed on the track since the Upper Iowa Conference Indoor Meet more than two weeks earlier, the Kee girls track team finally got its first taste of outdoor competition this season when the Lady Hawks competed at the Decorah Invitational Friday, April 5. The meet had originally been scheduled for Thursday, April 4 but the latest blast of early spring winter weather postponed the meet, with the Hawks tallying four top-three event finishes against a mixed field of local school sizes, tallying 42 team points to finish in sixth place among the eight-team field.
VMH rehabilitation services ... April is National Occupational Therapy Month. Mary Christoffer of Lansing has been utilizing the Veterans Memorial Hospital rehabilitation services of occupational therapy, physical therapy and home health nursing since January, following a fall and hip fracture. She will soon be discharged from these services since she has progressed well and met all of her goals. She is pictured here with Amy Evanson, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant who travels to homes throughout the area, assisting with occupational therapy services. Submitted photo.
April is National Occupational Therapy Month. Occupational therapists work with patients to help them stay safe in their own home. They also help patients who have been hospitalized return to their homes by inspecting the home and encouraging modifications prior to the patient returning home.
Mary Christoffer of Lansing has been utilizing the Veterans Memorial Hospital rehabilitation services of occupational therapy, physical therapy and home health nursing since January, following a fall and hip fracture. She will soon be discharged from these services since she has progressed well and met all of her goals.
