News Center newsletter

Donald P. Sherman, 69, of Waukon died Sunday, July 22, 2018 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 26 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers or mementos, memorials may be made in Don’s honor to the charity of your choice.

Richard “Dick” Spinner, 79, of Lansing passed away Sunday, July 15, 2018 at his home in Lansing. Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, July 21 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Lansing with Rev. John Moser and Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg as the celebrants. Inurnment followed at Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing.

Richard was born October 11, 1938 to Norbert and Helen (Ferring) Spinner. He graduated from Immaculate Conception School in Lansing and attended Loras College for two years in Dubuque. Dick joined and honorably served in the United States Army for two years.

Dick was united in marriage with Patsy Clark at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Poplar Bluff, MO November 20, 1971. One daughter was born to this union. Dick worked at Glacier National Park in Montana and also SS Kresge (now Kmart) in Chicago, IL. He then moved back to Lansing and worked with his dad at Armor Industries until his retirement.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• May 15 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season. No MCM Activities on CRP Acres
• August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up
• August 1: Last day to request a farm/tract reconstitution for 2018 crop year
• August 17: CRP Signup 51

While the number of farms in the U.S. has been on the decline for many years, the number owned and operated by women is on the rise, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture. The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) supports these women farmers with on-farm “In Her Boots” workshops; the next workshop of the 2018 season is Thursday, July 26 at Humble Hands Harvest, an organic vegetable farm in Decorah, Iowa, run by Hannah Breckbill.

This day-long workshop, offered by MOSES in partnership with the Iowa Organic Association, offers an inspiring blend of practical information, skill-building, resource connections and networking to encourage this growing segment of women farmers, entrepreneurs, and agricultural leaders. This session in particular will also cover ergonomics and machinery use for women.

Sharing research-based information to help maximize profit and minimize nitrogen losses.

As part of the state-wide series of workshops, ISU Extension invites farmers and those who advise them to attend an event on Thursday August 9 at the ISU Northeast Research Farm near Nashua, titled “Focus on Nitrogen: Managing Nitrogen for Maximum Profit and Minimum Water Quality Impact.”

Being one of the country’s most prestigious water quality research facilities, we will kick off the day with a field tour by Ken Pecinovsky, farm superintendent, who will highlight nitrogen management strategies and water quality testing practices being conducted on the farm.

Brian Lang and Terry Basol, ISU agronomists, will discuss the nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for corn, split application of nitrogen, and cover crops as it pertains to making crop production decisions.

Women across Iowa have the opportunity to visit diverse agricultural businesses through one-day bus tours this summer. Each tour is designed by local groups of women in agriculture and led by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county professionals and the Women in Ag program. Interested persons may sign up for a local tour, take a tour across the state, or join several tours.

While showcasing Iowa’s agricultural diversity, each tour will feature discussion around five common agricultural risks: 1) costs and benefits of production practices, 2) safety of families and employees, 3) impacts of changing regulation, 4) storing and marketing farm products, and 5) managing soil and water.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that government at all levels suffers from a lack of respect these days.

The comments I am about to make might come under the heading of “fake news” because I have not followed the story closely, since I had no personal interest.

When I saw the large tent set up along 11th Ave. S.W. with its huge ape-like inflated guardian, advertising the sale of fireworks, I wondered what effect sales might have on peace and quiet in the neighborhood. With the Fourth of July weekend past, I think I can say it had little effect, and in fact might have reflected the acts of government.

It is my understanding that the state government passed a law which makes it legal to buy and sell fireworks in Iowa, but also allows cities and counties to ban their use. And lots of cities did. Which begs the question, why buy them if you can’t legally use them?

by Hugh E. Conway

Easter Vigil

One of the most important celebrations of the liturgical year for all Christian churches including Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Greek and Roman Orthodox is the official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus during the Easter Vigil, also known as the Great Vigil of Easter or Paschal Virgil. The Easter Vigil coincides with the beginning of spring, a time of lengthening days, extended sunshine, and warmth when the earth is getting ready for new growth. At Wexford, as well as churches across the world, the celebration is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday. In most churches the normal time is late on Holy Saturday evening up to midnight. The Easter Vigil service consists of four parts with the first part being the Service of Light.

To the Editor:

I see God’s name has been used in a letter to the editor of The Standard by someone who thinks he can sway people using God as a crutch, as many in his party do. How can someone be a God-fearing person, if he really is that, and vote for a sexual predator and a liar - noted in his words and video? He can pretend to be a Christian, as many others do in his political party to get what they desire. Remember the old song, “The Great Pretender”? It fits him perfectly.

Pat Ward
Waterville

To the Editor:

The pseudo-intellectual diatribe by the author of the letter in the July 4, 2018 edition of The Standard underscores precisely what the author claims. It is noted that two unwritten rules in the political arena have been particularly important: “mutual tolerance - the understanding that competing political parties accept one another as legitimate rivals, and forbearance - the belief that politicians should exercise restraint in deploying their constitutional prerogatives.” The entire letter is exactly the opposite of both.

There is a lengthy discussion of how other democracies have failed in the 20th century, based on a study by two Harvard University professors suggesting that just because the leaders of those democracies were outside the political mainstream the democracies failed. There is no proof offered that this was actually the case. I actually lived in Venezuela and Peru and saw no evidence of what he claims. Democracy did not fail in Peru.