Zach Jensen Archive

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Peace Corps celebrates 63rd anniversary – Ottes reflect on experiences as Peace Corps volunteers

Monday, April 22, 2024 4:03 pm

“I was faced with the two different worlds: Peace Corps or business,” said Otte, a retired Postville High School social studies teacher. “I chose Peace Corps, because I was a student of international relations. That was the smartest thing I’ve ever done, besides marrying my wife and having kids.”

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County considers demolishing bridge, raising speed limit on portion of Middle Hesper Road

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 12:46 pm

At least one rural Decorah bridge has outlived its usefulness and has become more of a safety hazard. Winneshiek County Engineer Michael Kueny shared his concerns about the old bridge during Monday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors, and he recommended that the bridge be demolished.

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New wall built at former Spectrum building further divides county supervisors

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 10:55 am

Another wall may have been built between some members of the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors during Monday morning’s regular meeting, when one supervisor questioned others about a wall that was built in the new Community Services Building (formerly Spectrum) without the entire board’s knowledge or approval.

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Driftless Home and Garden: ‘Because it’s pretty’ Nick Wallin’s quest for floral perfection

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 10:36 am

In 2017, Nick Wallin’s daily attire consisted of fine suits and dress shoes. He and his partner, Gary Barness, lived in a new house in Aurora, Colo., and they had what many would consider a good life, but for Nick, something just wasn’t quite right. Their life together wasn’t pretty enough, and so in 2018 the couple set out to remedy that deficit when they purchased their new home at 107 W. North Street in Calmar, which includes nearly two acres of yard, which Nick was determined to make pretty.

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County seeks $210K minimum bid for Freeport property, future public hearing and bid-letting to be scheduled

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 9:14 am

In a three-to-two vote, the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors decided April 1 to require a minimum bid of $210,000 to purchase the 7.21 acres of land, which is designated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as “floodway fringe”. The land was originally assessed at an approximate value of $35,000 per acre or about $250,000 for the whole parcel.

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County Public Health staff ‘terrified’ after March 7 supervisors discussion

Friday, April 5, 2024 2:05 pm

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors is looking for ways to cut costs, and Public Health Administrator Krista Vanden Brink reported during the March 25 supervisors meeting that her staff was “terrified” after the supervisors’ discussion of the issue earlier this mont

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3-2 vote sends Freeport property sale issue back to the drawing board

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 2:06 pm

Freeport residents may be breathing a sigh of relief after the Monday, March 25 meeting of the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors, during which Supervisors Co-Chair Mark Vick, along with Supervisors Shirley Vermace and Mark Faldet, voted in favor of …

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Residents speak out against county’s proposed Freeport land sale – Two bids opened following public hearing

Sunday, March 24, 2024 11:33 am

Twenty-two area residents attended the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors’ public hearing regarding the county’s proposed sale of land in Freeport Monday morning March 18. Almost all members of the audience were opposed to the sale, and several spoke out against it, citing public policy and common sense as reasons to stop it.

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Newspaper

Winneshiek County proposes $1 per thousand levy increase, public hearing March 25

Sunday, March 24, 2024 11:12 am

Property taxes in Winneshiek County are increasing by $1 per thousand dollars of valuation primarily due to a couple big-ticket expenses the county has incurred.

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Veteran Flagpole Initiative seeks to honor northeast Iowa Vets

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 11:46 am

Local Vet Doug Smith to receive region’s first VFI flagpole June 15

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