Community News Stories

Canton American Legion Post 400 is having a Pancake and Sausage Breakfast, Saturday August 20,2022 from 7:00 to 10:00 AM. Location Main Street , Fest Tent in Canton,MN.  Adults $8.00, 12 and Under $5.00, Preschool Free.   Stop by and enjoy Breakfast with Friends and Family.  Fundraiser for the Canton Legion Memorial.

Canton American Legion Post 400 is having a Pancake and Sausage Breakfast, Saturday August 20,2022 from 7:00 to 10:00 AM. Location Main Street , Fest Tent in Canton,MN.  Adults $8.00, 12 and Under $5.00, Preschool Free.   Stop by and enjoy Breakfast with Friends and Family.  Fundraiser for the Canton Legion Memorial.

Assumption Parish of Little Turkey will be celebrating their annual church dinner on Monday, August 15th. Mass at 3:00 pm. Meal serving Reicks Fried Chicken with homemade side dishes and baked goods will be served from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. $15 per meal. No advanced tickets. Live Music by Marc Frana. Games, Bingo, Kolache Sales, Raffle, and Facebook Auction. For more information go to the parish facebook page: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Little Turkey, Iowa. Outdoor dining only, carry-out or drive-thru.  Come enjoy a meal with friends and family under the tent.

The Waukon Fire Department is hosting their “Hero Run” on Saturday, August 27th at Empty Nest Winery.  The Little Minions race begins at 5:30 PM, and the Adult 5K Fun Run/Walk starts at 6:00 PM.  Open registration is happening that night from 5-6 PM, but pre-registration is encouraged by August, 6th to guarantee a shirt by race day.  You can register online here, on the event Facebook page, or drop off registration at the Waukon Wellness Center.  Entry fee for the 5k Run/Walk is $30.00, and that includes a brat and beverage.  Free babysitting is available during the adult race.  

The Allamakee County 4-H County Council is hosting a School Supplies Drive to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office. Council members are encouraging all 4-H Clubs and the community to participate by purchasing and donating items to the drive. Monetary donations will be accepted during fair as well. There will be a special community service booth in the 4-H Exhibit Building to display the donations during the fair. Donations can be made between July 20-24 at the Allamakee County Fair in Waukon.

Youth Mentoring at Helping Services for Youth & Families traveled by Hawkeye Stages bus (via donation from Hawkeye Stages) to Como Zoo Park & Conservatory. Twenty Three mentoring participants spent a fun filled afternoon at the zoo enjoying the sea lion show, animal exhibits, lunch, and the conservatory. Youth Mentoring offers groups events like this each month to provide opportunities and experiences for our youth and mentors. Get involved now, BECOME A MENTOR contact (563) 387-1720, mentoring@helpingservices.org, or http://www.helpingservices.org/mentoring.

RSVP of Northeast Iowa and the American Red Cross are holding their “Battle of the Badges” Blood Drive Friday, July 1^st from 12 noon until 5 pm at Stone Ridge Community Church, 1111 Montgomery Street in Decorah. Respond to the call and give blood during this time of critical need. Please also note that the American Red Cross has removed the mask requirement at blood drives. Come vote for your favorite public service department – EMS, Fire or Law Enforcement – and get an exclusive Red Cross recycled tote bag, while supplies last! By donating, you’re helping patients celebrate a summer with loved ones. It’s an act of kindness you can carry with you! For an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org and enter code DECORAH. Or, simply call Pete at 309-236-2382.

Here’s a full schedule of the activities at the Pavilion this summer!  Don’t forget to bring your lawn chair or blanket.

Movie: Wednesday, June 15th – Sing 2 at 8:00 PM

Movie: Sunday, June 19th – Dolittle at 8:00 PM

Live Performance: Wednesday, June 22nd – Decorah Municipal Band at 7:00 PM

Live Performance: Sunday, June 26th – Old Time Community Band at 7:00 PM

Movie: Wednesday, June 29th – Woody Woodpecker at 8:00 PM

Live Performance: Wednesday, July 6th – The Tom and Betty Show at 7:00 PM

Live Performance: Sunday, July 10th – The Bruce Bearinger Band at 7:00 PM

Movie: Sunday, July 17th – Luca at 8:00 PM

Live Performance: Wednesday, July 20 – Squirrel Tail with guest artist Annie Savage at 7:00 PM

Movie: Sunday, July 24th – Encanto at 8:00 PM

Live Performance: Wednesday. July 27th – Beau Timmerman at 7:00 PM

Live Performance: Sunday, July 31st – Plum St. Jam

Movie: Wednesday, August 3rd – Bridge to Terabithia at 8:00 PM

Movie: Sunday, August 7th – The Goonies at 8:00 PM

Live Performance: Wednesday, August 10th – Steve Schroeder at 7:00 PM

Live Performance: Sunday, August 14th – Woodshed Reboot at 7:00 PM

Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity is looking for a partner family for its 2022-23 Fort Atkinson home build. If you have a strong desire to own a home, have a stable income and a willingness to work alongside Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity volunteers, you may qualify for a new home to be built in Fort Atkinson.  Contact Gary Johnson, executive director,  for an application at 563-382-1802; or go to our website at winneshiekhabitat.org.

The Decorah Dancers, a group of 13 local Just for Kix dancers, are asking for your can and coin donations. The girls will be around Decorah picking up cans/coins on the following dates: July 6th, 17th and 31st. Please contact juli.knutson@gmail.com to schedule a pickup.

Help support the Decorah Dancers (a local group of 13 Just for Kix dancers who will perform at the Tampa Bay Bowl) by ordering and enjoying a meal at Pizza Hut. Provide the code 1009 when placing your order (online or via phone). A portion of Thursday, June 9th’s sales while be donated to the dancers to help support the cost of the trip.

Les and a crew of folks from the area took a bus to Ballards Resort this week and they had an AWESOME time and some GREAT fishing!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that seven Emergency Rural Health Care Grant awards will go to rural Iowa hospitals for a total of $5,187,500. Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco received a $1,000,000 grant to help build a 3,900-square-foot clinic addition. This project will include nine exam rooms, three offices, three nurses’ stations, and a procedure room to support COVID-19 recovery efforts.

“These grants are big investments in Iowa’s healthcare infrastructure, so that we can care for the people in our hometown communities and rural areas,” said Theresa Greenfield, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa. “As an advocate for rural Americans, USDA is funding critical facilities to make medical services more modern and accessible. By moving fast to improve rural hospitals, we are helping create more positive healthcare activities and outcomes for our family, friends, and neighbors all across Iowa.”

Additional awards will be announced in the coming months.

Join Giants of the Earth for Mini Czech Fest at Giants, part of our “Passport to Other Cultures” travelogue series on Thursday April 14, 2022!  
Join us this Thursday (April 14th, 2022) at 6:30pm to explore the Czech pop-up exhibit, get to know Craig and Sarah Neuzil of Pivo Brewery and Blepta Studios, as well as their mother, the fabulous Becky Neuzil! They will wear their cultural costumes, teach us about the history and culture of the country, and provide Czech-style beer samples!!!

RSVP and Allamakee Emergency management – April 26^th in Postville, April 28^th in Lansing and May 3^rd in Waukon – all at 5 pm. For More information about these meetings

NEI RSVP OFFICE IS AVAILABLE MONDAY – FRIDAY FROM 9A – 4P.  CONTACT US AT 563-277-5181 OR RSVP@DECORAHLIBRARY.ORG

https://www.decorahlibrary.org/rsvp

Easter Sunday, April 17 the Calmar Lutheran Church (200 North East Street, Calmar) is hosting an Easter Breakfast from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. They will be serving scrambled eggs with toppings, sausages, pancakes, fresh fruit, rolls/muffins, and beverages. This is a free-will event and the proceeds raised will be used for the Youth Mission Trip to Puerto Rico and future youth activities.

The Northern Lights Women’s Chorus of Decorah, Iowa, will present its spring concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 10 at Decorah Lutheran Church. The 40-member chorus, comprised of women from communities throughout northeast Iowa, will present a variety of styles of beautiful choral music. Pacem, the Latin word for peace, is the theme, and the concert will feature songs designed to inspire peace.
The choir will perform a selection of joyous songs, including “A Canon of Praise,” “Pacem” and “Sanctus” with violin and flute accompaniment. Three American folk tunes will celebrate traditional music: “Banjo Pickin’ Girl” with banjo and string bass, “The Camptown Races” and “Shenandoah.” Meaningful texts and haunting melodies are featured in “Caverns in the Clouds” and “Mother to Son.” The choir will also perform the beloved contemporary standard “What a Wonderful World.” The concert will conclude with a lively traditional spiritual, “Ain’t No Grave Can Hold My Body Down.”
Guest musicians include Suzanne Ernst, flute; Julia Wharton, violin; Pat Casey, banjo; and Janice Roseland, string bass.
Decorah pianist Chris Hadley will provide special intermission music.
Northern Lights’ artistic director is Rachael Buresh, and Mary Beth Bouska serves as collaborative pianist.
Northern Lights would like to thank Depot Outlet for a major grant to support its 2021-22 season.
Decorah Lutheran Church is located at 309 Winnebago St., Decorah, Iowa. A freewill offering will be taken, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to Samaritan’s Purse for emergency medical care in Ukraine. For more information, visit the choir’s Facebook page.

The Annual Allamakee County Dairy Banquet will be held on Saturday, April 2 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Food service will start at 7 pm and the program will start at 8 pm. Production and recognition awards will be presented to local dairy producers and the coronation of the 2022 Allamakee County Dairy Princess.  Banquet tickets will be available at the door.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health will continue to offer walk-in clinics for all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, EACH FRIDAY afternoon, continuing through the entire month of March, from 1:30-3:45 pm in the ICN Conference Room located on the southeast side of the hospital. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available.

Parking is available by the orange cones along the golf course for easy access to the vaccine location. Flu shots will also be available and can be safely administered at the same time as the COVID vaccine. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please wear a mask and bring your insurance card and vaccination card if you are coming for your second or booster shot of the COVID vaccine.

Both Hartig Drug and Nightingale Pharmacy in Waukon have vaccine available for ages 12 and older. Parental/ Guardian consent is required. Please call them ahead to schedule an appointment.

Since Veterans Memorial Hospital is a health care facility, the CDC does require that masks are still required to be worn by every patient and visitor to the hospital.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. The risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 can have serious, life threatening complications and there is no way to know how it will affect anyone. The COVID-19 vaccine, which is readily available locally, creates an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.

For more information, please call Veterans Memorial Hospital Allamakee Public Health in Waukon at 563-568-5660.

Motivational speaker Trevor Ragan will be speaking at Waukon High School on March 16th at 5.  He will speak on resiliency, learning, growing and becoming better.

CRESCO, IA: Howard County Community Hospice (HCCH), a division of Regional Health Services of Howard County (RHSHC), will begin an eight-week grief support group on Monday, April 4 from 6:00-7:45 PM. The group will meet at RHSHC’s George R. Willis Campus, located next to Kwik Star in Cresco, and will be facilitated by the HCCH social work team.

The group will be a “closed support group,” meaning the group has the same members throughout and drop-in visitors are not allowed. This allows participants to build camaraderie and trust with each other, enhancing the experience for all members. Members are asked to commit to attending all eight sessions to gain the most benefit and to support group cohesiveness.

“Individuals who attend grief support groups receive the benefit of working with trained professions and connecting with other community members who are grieving,” said Audrey Nosbisch, Administrator of Community Health Services at RHSHC. “It is the perfect time for individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one during the pandemic to start receiving support for their unique grief.”

Participants must pre-register for the group by March 30. To pre-register, or for questions, please contact Brecka Putnam, LMSW, at 563-547-2989 or becka.putnam@mercyhealth.com.

Are you a woman who owns land or farms in Winneshiek County? Are you a woman who is interested in land stewardship and/or farming? Then the Winneshiek County Women, Land & Legacy would like to hear from you. Come and join other like minded women at one of two upcoming listening sessions to share ideas, talk about your vision and needs for your land, and discuss how agencies and organizations can better assist you. Takeaways from these sessions will help guide future programs and events for Women in Winneshiek County. We need your input!

The Women, Land and Legacy chapter of Winneshiek County will be hosting two listening sessions in March 2022. The first event will take place at Wildberry Winery in Decorah, IA on March 22, 2022 from 5-7:30 pm, and the second event will be at the Spillville Library in Spillville, IA on March 31, 2022 from 5-7:30 pm. These events are free to attend, and a meal will be provided. Women are strongly encouraged to attend one of the two sessions. For more information or to RSVP please contact Sophia at 563-382-4352 ext 3.
Space is limited and registration is required by March 15, 2022.

A recent improvement has wrought a big change in the appearance of a local historic home in Decorah’s Broadway-Phelps Park Historic District. The portico of the Frederick and Sarah Landers 1860 Greek Revival home has received a much-needed facelift, thanks in part to a $5,265 grant from the Historical Resource Development Program of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Matched by an equal amount from community residents and local businesses, the combined funds restored the portico and the signature Greek Revival transom and sidelights of the historic home owned by the Winneshiek County Historical Society and housing its offices.

Located on the southeast corner of Broadway and S. Mill Streets, the focal point of the historic home, was suffering from the ills accompanying its 167+ years as well as from unwanted attention from woodpeckers and squirrels. Wadsworth Construction, a local company specializing in historic preservation, began work by removing the transom and sidelight windows, and the fluted Ionic columns, capitals, and portico balustrade. Two braces were used to support the portico roof, and transom and sidelights openings were covered with plywood while restoration was underway at the Wadsworth shop. A Day Spring Questers grant had previously restored the center pane of the transom; that restored pane remained in place for the duration of the restoration as a promise of better days to come for the absent panes. In the shop, the remaining transom and sidelight panes were puttied, a cracked pane was replaced with 1860s era glass, and the sashes were repainted.

Meanwhile, the portico railing, columns, plinths, and capitals received similar careful attention. The posts, rails, and spindles of the portico balustrade were scraped, sanded, and repaired. A bonus emerged—it was discovered after many layers of paint were stripped from the portico roof railing spindles, that the c. 1865 carved spindles were in amazingly good condition despite their age and required only repainting. (As evidenced by an 1860 daguerreotype and a later photograph, the portico was not added until approximately five years after the home’s original construction date of 1860.)

The Ionic capitals received additions of wood epoxy to repair voids, then were scraped, sanded, and painted. Removal of the fluted columns from the portico revealed their interesting construction technique. The columns had been built by a local cooper in 1860 with oak staves in the manner of barrel construction. The beautifully executed fluting on the columns’ exterior was carved after each column was constructed. It was a creative carpenter’s inspired solution (we know his name was E.H. Keyes) to the lack of transportation of ready-made columns from a supplier in far-away Chicago, Madison, or Milwaukee. The railroad did not arrive in Decorah until 1869 and transport of the columns would have required rail transportation from Chicago or other points east to Prairie du Chien, a ferry ride across the Mississippi River to Marquette, and then an arduous 3-day journey by wagon from the Mississippi River overland to Decorah. In the case of the columns, necessity was indeed the mother of invention. When all repair and restoration work was completed, the parts were reassembled at the Landers house and final painting was done.

Thanks to local contributions and the grant provided by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, the Greek Revival home’s portico and door surround have been transformed from “black eye” to their original role as gleaming focal point, and now serve as a visible reminder of Decorah’s early history. Future restoration plans include restoration and installation of the home’s original shutters and repointing of the brick walls with historically accurate mortar to preserve the locally manufactured brick and limestone from pre-Civil War era Decorah. Stay tuned for further developments!

Portico column had been damaged by woodpecker and squirrel incursions. The deteriorated railings and portico floor had mold problems.

David Wadsworth shows the interior of a cooper-built column constructed with local oak staves, a creative 1865 construction solution by E. H. Keyes, local carpenter. Animal and woodpecker incursions to the Ionic capital and column after restoration were restored with wood epoxy, primed, repainted, and reinstalled. Completed portico, transom and sidelights after restoration resume their original role as gleaming focal point of the 1860 Greek Revival Landers home.

Helping Services for Youth & Families is highlighting Teen Dating Violence Awareness during the month of February. According to the CDC, nearly a quarter of adult victims of rape, physical violence and stalking by an intimate partner first experience partner violence between the ages of 11 and 17. In addition, nearly 1 in 11 female and approximately 1 in 14 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence in the last year. 

Dating violence is not only physical abuse but may also include excessive texting, checking up on, or telling you what to wear or who to hang out with are just a few tactics abusers may use to control their partner. Abusive relationships are all about power and control, and abusive patterns can start at any age.

The Domestic Abuse Resource Center is able to help and all of our services are free and confidential. For information on services or to speak with an advocate, call us on our 24-hour resource line at 800-383-2988 or chat with us at HelpingServices.org/Chat. Everyone deserves to be in a happy and healthy relationship.

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY VETERANS MUSEUM

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will observe Pearl Harbor Day on December 7th by offering a program to the public in the Program Room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building in Waukon.  

On Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. a video documentary will be presented about the Japanese air raid on the U.S. Naval and Air Bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Islands, which marked the entry of the United States into the Second World War.  

The Pearl Harbor documentary will be preceded by a video that museum staff are calling “The last summer of peace in Waukon before the War.”  It includes movie film shot in downtown Waukon in the summers of 1940-41 by the Cote family for entertainment viewing in their newly opened Town Theatre.   Staff encourages you to try to spot and identify relatives and family friends depicted in the film, and enjoy a nostalgic look back at the “good old days.”  Period vehicles, dress, and businesses are featured, with candid closeups of people about town.

The program room currently seats about 45 people.  Due to Covid concerns, masks are encouraged but not required.  There is no admission or membership charge. The facility is handicapped accessible.  Light refreshments will be available. 

The museum remodeling was finished in late summer.  Preparation and installation of exhibits is underway and should be completed by Memorial Day 2022.  Tours will not be offered until the exhibits have been completed.  However, educational programs will continue to be offered periodically.

Northeast Iowa Community Action Early Head Start is accepting applications. The program serves pregnant women and children birth to three years old. The program provides weekly home visits to help parents be their child’s first and most important teacher. Socializations and playgroups are held for families to participate in. If you live in Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard & Winneshiek counties contact Northeast Iowa Community Action .

Have you thought about becoming a mentor? Tuesday, November 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at T-Bocks Upstairs; Youth Mentoring at Helping Services is hosting a Mentoring Social. 

This is the perfect event to attend to find out more about how YOU can become involved. Mentors will informally share stories about the impact mentoring has on their youth and them as an adult, the dire need for boys to have male role models, and the ways you can get started so that you are comfortable with being a mentor. 

All adults are invited to come and connect with others about mentoring. It is the event for you to attend or bring along a friend that you know who will make a great mentor. Everyone will enjoy socializing and free appetizers. Drinks will be available for purchase.This event is open house style. Come and stay the whole time or come for a portion of the time. 

There are many options available to mentors. Community mentors spend a minimum of four hours per month with their youth doing things that they both enjoy like going to a ball game, enjoying a meal together, or going for a walk. School-based mentors meet their youth for one hour per week in their building. This option is available in the Decorah and Howard-Winneshiek School Districts. Mentors can be individuals, two buddies assigned to one youth, and families. There are also part-time mentors who attend the events that fit their schedule.

Youth Mentoring has a place for you! For more information, attend the Mentoring Social or contact Colinne or Kathy at mentoring@helpingservices.org, 563-387-1720, or visit www.helpingservices.org/mentoring. 

Serving families since 1973, Helping Services for Youth & Families is dedicated to responding to current health and safety needs of youth and families through empowerment, support, and education.

Cross of Christ will host a Meatball Supper on Wed., Oct. 6, from 4-7 pm at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Houston, MN. Drive-thru/carryout only.

Meatballs, potatoes and gravy, homegrown squash, two salads, green beans, bun, and brownies. $10.00

Assumption Parish of Little Turkey will be celebrating their annual church dinner on Sunday, August 15th. Mass at 3:00 pm. Meal serving Reicks Fried Chicken with homemade side dishes and baked goods will be served from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. $12 per meal. No advanced tickets. Live Music by Marc Frana & Jim Busta Band. Games, Bingo, Kolache Sales, Raffle, and Facebook Auction. For more information go to the parish facebook page: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Little Turkey, Iowa. Outdoor dining only, carry-out or drive-thru.  Come enjoy a meal with friends and family under the tent.

Shopping for a Cause is an annual event held in the spring coordinated by April McQuade. For each event the vendor fees and proceeds are donated to a family in need within our community. This event will benefit the family of Ashley Plagman.

Saturday, November 28^th, 2020 Ashley passed away unexpectedly at the age of 27 after suffering from a blood clot. She left behind her 3 year old son Keeegan, daughter Brayleigh, just 3 months old at the time, and boyfriend Jeff Haas. Since Ashley’s passing Jeff has taken on the role of single dad. Proceeds from this event will help cover the kid’s daily expenses.

The event will be held Saturday, March 13^th from 10am-2pm at the Waukon Banquet Center. There will craft and vendors selling products with a portion of their sales being donated to the family. We will also have a free-will offering bake sale and a raffle.

New this year, BE Catered will be offering a meal for carry-out. You’ll be able to pre-order your dinner; meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy, ham, corn, and dinner roll for $10. $2 from every meal will be going to the family. Watch this event and BE Catered’s Facebook page for more details.

A special thanks to the Waukon Banquet Center for donating the use of the facility.

Anyone interested in being a vendor can contact April McQude (563-794-0672). Details for bake sale donations to follow.

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville

Spring Festival

Drive Thu Meal

Sunday, April 11

10:30 to 1

Swiss Steak and Pit Ham

Real Mashed Potatoes w/gravy

Freezer Corn – Cole Slaw

Dinner Roll – Bar – Water

Raffle tickets available – Drawing at 1:15

Adults $12 – Children 5-10 $6 and Children 4 and younger Free

Tickets available the day of.

Waucoma Fire Department is hosting a Grilled Boneless Iowa Chop Dinner drive-thru on November 15th, 11AM-2PM.

Drive-thru only at the Waucoma Fire Station

Meal Includes: Grilled Boneless Iowa Chop, Green Beans, Baked Potato, Roll and Dessert

First 600 meals, No advance tickets available.

Price is $10.00 per meal

September 22, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month”

Helping Services for Youth & Families’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center (DARC) is hosting Domestic Violence Awareness during the month of October. In Iowa and around the world, October is a month to create awareness around domestic violence, using the color purple to symbolize the cause.

Throughout the month of October you will notice areas that highlight domestic violence awareness. We have a few ways you can support local survivors of domestic violence:

1. Throughout the month of October, Pivo Brewery & Blepta Studios in Calmar will be donating 20% of their online sales to DARC.
2. On Saturday, October 17, Luna Valley Farm in Decorah will be providing 20% of pizza sales to DARC. All pizza orders need to be made in advance.

Last year, the Helping Services’ DARC team of advocates and volunteers assisted 223 individual survivors of domestic abuse in the 7 counties the team serves (Allamakee, Bremer, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek). Staff and volunteers also answered 1,728 calls on our Resource Line and provided 88 transportation trips for clients.  For more info about Helping Services’ DARC please call 800-383-2988 or visit www.helpingservices.org to access our chat option with an advocate.

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CIA Insurance, CUSB Bank, CUSB Wealth Management Solutions, and Thomson Charitable Foundation donates 6,700 masks and shields to area school districts

CUSB Bank, CIA Insurance, CUSB Wealth Management Solutions, and the Thomson Charitable Foundation are proud to partner to provide masks and shields for the Howard-Winneshiek, Notre Dame, Riceville, Osage, Charles City, Immaculate Conception, and LeRoy-Ostrander school districts as they return to learn this Fall.

J. Scott Thomson, CEO and President of CUSB Bank and CIA Insurance said, “As a community-minded bank we have reinvested in the financial well-being of our communities and now we are re-investing in the personal well-being of our youth and educators. We’re proud to donate 6,700 masks and shields to area school districts as they return to school.”

Washable and adjustable adult and children masks, personalized by school district in school colors, have been donated to each school for distribution. Youth face shields have also been purchased and given to schools for distribution. Donations of masks have also been made to area day care centers for their employees to use.

Caring and family are core values of CUSB Bank, CIA Insurance, and CUSB Wealth Management Solutions. Thomson said, “As community-minded institutions, we feel a deep responsibility towards supporting the communities that we are fortunate to serve. Our communities and our families have been greatly impacted by COVID-19 and we want to show our support as the transition back to school starts. Many of our employees are parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles and we wanted to help provide a layer of protection for their loved ones and yours as they start a new school year.”
Be sure to tag CUSB Bank and CIA Insurance on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) in your back to school masked photos.

Picture descriptions
Brian Midthus Pic
CIA Insurance Agent Brian Midthus is pictured with his wife, Michelle, a teacher at Crestwood Elementary, and their two daughters, Madison, and Mackenzie.

Cindy Butikofer Pic
CIA Insurance Agency Manager Cindy Butikofer (second row, right) has her grandchildren (Cole, Lawson, Aiden, Kyra, and Carver) all masked and stacked up, ready for school at Crestwood Schools.

Dan and Janice Ollendick
CUSB Vice President Dan Ollendick and his wife, Janice, are pictured with their granddaughters, Oaklee and Etta, who are ready for school at Notre Dame Elementary.

Jeanne Voyna
CUSB Employee Jeanne Voyna is pictured with her three children, Emily, Brock, and Trenton, ready for school at Crestwood.

Face Shields and Masks
CUSB Bank, CIA Insurance, CUSB Wealth Management Solutions, and the Thomson Charitable Foundation are proud to partner to provide 6,700 masks and shields for the Howard-Winneshiek, Notre Dame, Riceville, Osage, Charles City, Immaculate Conception, and LeRoy-Ostrander school districts as they return to learn this Fall.