Advertisement

You are here

Home › Times-Register ›

Local News

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).
Tue
04
Sep

Birdnow honors long-time employee

Submitted by admin on Tue, 09/04/2018 - 10:15

Birdnow Chevrolet, in Monona, recently unveiled a bench honoring long-time employee Bob Melcher, who passed away earlier this year. Pictured with the bench (front, left to right) are Bob’s wife Joyce Melcher; daughter Carla Pester; (back) grandson Cayden Pester, Justin, June and Mark Birdnow; and Bob’s grandson Carsten Pester. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

This plaque is affixed to the bench honoring Bob Melcher.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Respectful, a perfectionist—a legend. Those were just a few of the words used to describe long-time Birdnow Chevrolet employee Bob Melcher, whose service was recently honored with the unveiling of a bench at the Monona dealership.

Bob, who passed away earlier year, was a fixture in the Monona automotive community for 57 years, first at Huinker Chevrolet and later at Birdnow. Even after retiring from full-time duties as a service tech in 2011, he continued part-time at Birdnow, picking up parts and delivering vehicles. 

Thu
30
Aug

Clinton A. Dennis

Submitted by admin on Thu, 08/30/2018 - 11:24

Clinton A. Dennis, 82, of Cedar Rapids, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Aug. 26. A visitation will be held on Friday, Aug. 31, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday. Sept. 1, at 10 a.m., at First Lutheran Church, in Cedar Rapids. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m., sy Pleasant Grove Cemetery, McGregor.

Clint was a part of the Mississippi from the time he was born. He grew up in Waterloo, and was a graduate of Waterloo West High School. He went on to wrestle for Iowa State University and graduated with a B.A. in industrial engineering. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity and an avid Cyclone fan.

Tue
28
Aug

Train derails in Marquette

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/28/2018 - 11:07

A Canadian Pacific train derailed three sand cars in Marquette around noon on Aug. 23. Two riverfront crossings were blocked as a result of the derailment. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

No hazardous materials were involved in the incident, and no injuries were reported. CP has not yet released the cause of the derailment.

The derailment left around 40 people trapped on the riverfront for at least four hours.

CP officials graveled an open portion of the tracks, creating a temporary crossing so people stranded on the riverfront could leave. Heavy equipment was then utilized to right the derailed cars.

Crews worked into the night, using equipment to adjust the cars, then lift them back onto the track.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

In Marquette, trains blocking railroad crossings is a common occurrence, with wait times sometimes stretching 20 or 30 minutes—even up to an hour. However, on Thursday, Aug. 23, the community’s riverfront crossings were blocked for much of the day, as crews from Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) worked to clear a train derailment. 

According to CP, a train derailed three sand cars near the crossing under the Marquette-Joliet Bridge, between First and Water streets, around noon that day. No hazardous materials were involved in the incident, and no injuries were reported. 

Tue
28
Aug

Mar-Mac police chief resigns, leaving department with no certified officers

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/28/2018 - 11:02

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

At a special meeting Aug. 21, the Mar-Mac Unified Police Commission accepted the resignation of police chief Jason Bogdonovich, who had served in the position for nearly five years. 

Although Bogdonovich’s letter tendered his resignation effective Friday, Aug. 31, the commission opted to accept the resignation effective immediately.

Bogdonovich previously considered stepping down in February, citing conflicts with a member of the police commission, but was later convinced to stay.

Tue
28
Aug

Turner Park hog roast and 5K event will support splash pad project

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/28/2018 - 10:59

The Turner Park: Fitness for All Ages Committee will hold its fourth annual 5K run/walk, kid’s fun run and hog roast in McGregor this Friday evening, Aug. 31. (NIT file photo)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

The Turner Park: Fitness for All Ages Committee will hold its fourth annual 5K run/walk, kid’s fun run and hog roast in McGregor this Friday evening, Aug. 31.

The hog roast will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Turner Park shelter. Registration for the 5K will also begin at 6 p.m. The kid’s fun run, a 400-meter run around the park’s track, will start at 6:30 p.m., and the 5K will immediately follow. 

“The kids will all get participation prizes for having fun and getting out and exercising,” said Janet Hallberg, head of the Turner Park Committee. 

Tue
28
Aug

City of Monona accepting offers for lot

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/28/2018 - 10:56

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

At its Aug. 20 meeting, the Monona City Council approved terms of sale for the recently-acquired residential property at 400 S. Main St., and is now accepting offers for the purchase of the lot. 

Those who are interested in the property will have until 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, to submit an “offer for purchase” form, which can be picked up at city hall. The council will consider the offers at its Sept. 24 meeting. 

Gateway Park camping fees to increase

Tue
28
Aug

Alpine launches Fusion Network in city of Marquette and Pleasant Ridge neighborhood

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/28/2018 - 10:55

Alpine Communications is pleased to announce the launch of its all-new, 100 percent fiber-optic Fusion Network to all homes and businesses within the city limits of Marquette and the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood of McGregor. Once activated on the new Fusion Network, current internet customers can look forward to receiving increased internet speeds at no extra charge.

While Alpine Communications has offered FusionTV to Marquette since 2013, this enhanced digital television service is now available to the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood because of fiber-optics. Introductory specials for both FusionTV and Fusion internet will be available for a limited time.

With fiber, customers can look forward to important advantages, including:

Tue
28
Aug

Walz Energy agrees to pay fine, comply with permit

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/28/2018 - 10:48

Walz Energy LLC has entered into an administrative consent order with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to address violations at its site east of Monona. (NIT file photo)

Walz Energy LLC has entered into an administrative consent order with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to address violations at its site east of Monona.

Violations addressed include illegal discharges to a water of the state (Bloody Run Creek), multiple ongoing violations of its stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and a violation of its wastewater construction permit. 

According to the DNR, Walz Energy has agreed to payment of a $10,000 administrative penalty and to comply with its NPDES stormwater permit. 

Tue
21
Aug

Hobby takes flight

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/21/2018 - 11:14

Oliver Ludvik, 7, from Marquette, shows off the containers where he raises monarch butterflies. Filled with sticks and milkweed leaves, the enclosures provide habitat and food as the insects make their way from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis to butterfly. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Oliver currently has a number of hungry caterpillars who, over two weeks, will grow and shed several times before entering the pupa stage. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Oliver began raising and releasing butterflies two years ago. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

“It’s pretty weird how they transform,” Oliver said. “I like when I get to let them go.” (Submitted photo)

Oliver shows off a drawing he created demonstrating the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

Marquette boy enjoys raising monarchs

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Reaching into a glass enclosure littered with sticks and milkweed leaves, Oliver Ludvik carefully coaxes a monarch butterfly onto his fingertips. Observing the hind wings, he makes a discovery.

“This one doesn’t have a dot,” he noted, “so it’s a girl.”

The Marquette 7 year old has lovingly raised the insect since it was an egg—no bigger than a pin head—on the underside of a milkweed leaf. But it’s time for the butterfly to leave its enclosure and head into the wild, where it will hopefully lay the next generation of monarchs for Oliver to find and nurture.

Tue
21
Aug

Contractor approved for Depot expansion project

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/21/2018 - 11:07

A new addition to the Marquette Depot Museum and Information Center, located on Edgar Street, will be built on the end of the existing structure, where there’s now a graveled area. The expansion project will nearly double the present space and also facilitate some much-needed building improvements. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

At its Aug. 14 meeting, the Marquette Council awarded the contract for the phase III expansion of the Marquette Depot Museum and Information Center to Matt Construction, of Sumner, for $234,900.

The addition will be built on the end of the existing structure, where there’s now a graveled area, and nearly double the present space.

The project will allow for the display of many more items related to railroad and Marquette history. It will also facilitate some much-needed building improvements. 

Pages