Features
Driftless Outdoors: Will we see March weather in April?
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 3:05 pm
Walleye fishing in Pool 9 is phenomenal right now! Last week the “clicker” used to count fish coming across the gunnel of my board recorded 100 walleyes, sauger and perch—by Wednesday.
Driftless Wedding Series: Velvet and lace… and a new last name
Friday, February 23, 2024 1:24 pm
Event decorator Emily Novotny pulled off one of her most beautiful weddings yet – her own! Last Sept. 16, surrounded by family, friends and amazing flowers, Emily (Brink) and Ethan Novotny tied the knot in a celebration Emily termed “classy boho”.
Greetings from the Statehouse: Funnel week
Thursday, February 22, 2024 1:39 pm
This week was funnel week, and while fun may be in the name it was not quite that exciting. However, it was a fulfilling week as the House worked hard to get all the bills through committee before the end of the week deadline.
From fireworks to forever
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 6:33 pm
Andre and Morgan (Kuennen) Walz met as teenagers in 2009, and were wed July 8, 2023.
City Manager sheds light on issues regarding Decorah’s digital and electronic signs ordinance
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 1:59 pm
“Currently, according to the digital and electronic sign code, no digital or electronic signs should be permitted in Decorah. However, there are numerous signs in town —like Culver’s and McDonalds — that have been allowed by variances from the city’s Board of Adjustment of Zoning, or the sign could have potentially been part of the site plan when the business was being constructed.”
Driftless Wedding Series: A fairytale all their own
Saturday, February 17, 2024 9:46 am
It’s a love story with a rich history for newlyweds Ryan and Brigid (Berns) Whalen of Waukon. The two have known each other since they were children, spending time together as family friends. It wasn’t until they started college that their love bloomed.
Greetings from the Statehouse: Addressing licensing and clinical privileges of physicians, more
Friday, February 16, 2024 9:43 am
Of particular note from the subcommittees I worked on was HF 2210, which seeks to address licensing and clinical privileges of physicians by providing them with an accessible path to receiving mental health support.
Driftless Wedding Series: Boyd-Mendez wedding – A unique celebration of love, friendship and family
Monday, February 12, 2024 9:59 am
Sammi and Matt were married Oct. 14, 2023, at Wold Strawberries in rural Mabel — a place sacred to Matt since he was a young boy.
Driftless Wedding Series: What’s in a name? ‘Ryan’ proves significant for Madrigal family
Monday, February 12, 2024 9:52 am
Jon and Marcia Madrigal’s youngest daughter followed the lead of her two older sisters by adding her new husband Ryan to the fold in 2023. Yes, all three Madrigal girls (Liz, Rachel and Anna) from Decorah have married men named Ryan.
The Driftless Foodie: Birria Tacos
Friday, February 9, 2024 4:20 pm
Instead of a stew recipe to cook on your next snow day, I have a recipe for braised birria tacos to enjoy!
Greetings from the Statehouse: AEA update
Thursday, February 8, 2024 4:25 pm
During the week, Iowa House held a subcommittee on the Governor’s AEA proposal, HSB 542. In the end, the subcommittee decided not to advance the bill to the full committee, citing the need for more conversations on the matter.
Klimesh’s Corner: PBM reform
Thursday, February 8, 2024 4:23 pm
The bill focused on giving pharmacies protection from three of the worst predatory practices used by PBMs: the claw-back, MAC list manipulation, and lastly it prevents contract reimbursement differentials.
Greetings from the Statehouse: Area Education Agency Update
Monday, February 5, 2024 5:09 pm
At this point, the Governor’s office has stated that an amendment to the original bill is being proposed that shifts the control of state and federal special education funding from the AEA’s to local public school districts.
Klimesh’s Corner: Pharmacy Benefit Managers and their impact on Iowa pharmacies
Monday, February 5, 2024 2:08 pm
A Drake University professor recently released a study showing that nearly 100 pharmacies have closed across the state since 2008. Thirty-eight percent of those were privately owned independent pharmacies. Nineteen percent of the closures occurred in rural Iowa.
For the Record: Miculinich is Decorah’s youngest ever council member
Monday, February 5, 2024 9:04 am
Chris Miculinich is one of two new members recently elected to the Decorah City Council and serves as Ward Two representative. Public Opinion’s Denise Lana sat down with Miculinich to learn more about the budding council member.
Klimesh’s Corner: Energy issues and more
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 10:10 am
Last year we passed a bill that ordered the IUB (Iowa Utilities Board) to hire an outside company to perform a detailed review of our existing energy code, something that has not been done in 20 years. The firm selected (London Economics Institute) provided us with a detailed report of their findings.
Greetings from the Statehouse: Constituent concerns HSB 542
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 9:41 am
I have received dozens of emails and phone calls from constituents with concerns over the proposed changes to AEAs and the disruption that is anticipated and feared. Many of the emails share information on Keystone AEA, their services, and testimony to the value of the services received by area schools, teachers, and students.
Driftless Health: More confidence, less pain Botox injections offer more than cosmetic benefits
Thursday, January 25, 2024 11:56 am
A new service offered by Waukon Dental is giving patients more confidence and reduced pain from conditions like Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ).
The Driftless Foodie: Buffalo chicken meatballs
Thursday, January 25, 2024 11:33 am
With the Super Bowl around the corner (kind of), I am here to encourage you to take your Buffalo chicken dip to the next level this year with this recipe.
Groundhog may reveal…bucket or boat?
Thursday, January 25, 2024 5:08 am
The groundhog may reveal how we play winter’s back nine. Right now, we’re sloshing through a January thaw on the heels of an arctic Snowmaggedon. Will this weather trend continue like it did last year or return like the brutal winter of 1978-79?