Times-Register

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Reports of bullying at MFL MarMac Elementary have continued to drop in the last two years, a trend guidance counselor Kurt Gaylor attributes to increased awareness and prevention efforts.

Gaylor, who spoke at the school board meeting Jan. 8, said there were 79 reports of bullying in the 2014-2015 school year, and the number grew to 133 in 2015-2016. Last year, however, the total fell to 45. And so far this school year, just one report has been submitted.

“The totals have gone down a lot,” he said. “We’ve done things to help.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a special scientific collection effort Jan. 20-28, in targeted areas of Allamakee and Clayton counties near where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in wild Iowa deer. The effort will be discussed during two public meetings on Thursday, Jan. 18 – one at 2 p.m. at the Harpers Ferry Community Center and the other at 6:30 p.m. at the Elkader Keystone AEA building. 

Chronic wasting disease is a neurologic disease of deer and elk, belonging to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases. Though it shares certain features with other TSEs like bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease) or scrapie in sheep, it is a distinct disease apparently affecting only deer, moose and elk. It is always fatal.

Edward William Coobs, 81, of Elkader, died unexpectedly on Dec. 17, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Marquette bench has skating rink for first time in over a decade

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

For the first time in over a decade, local families can enjoy ice skating on the Marquette bench. 

Just before the new year, the city’s public works employees, Jason Sullivan and John Hines, created the ice rink on the basketball court at the city park. Over 125 sand bags were filled and placed around the court’s perimeter, holding down a large sheet of plastic, which was then covered in water. Cold temperatures helped solidify the ice.