Local archive
Traffic & Construction
A 30-year-old Decorah man faces four charges after deputies said a vehicle left Canoe Ridge Road, struck a power pole and the driver fled on foot Thursday evening.
Crime & Public Safety
Ronald Olivier II, 32, of Decorah was arrested Oct. 3 after officers responded to a reported disturbance at Pizza Ranch and said they found evidence of intoxication while he was caring for his 3-year-old daughter.
Traffic & Construction Pulpit Rock
Decorah Parks & Recreation will host a free Trunk or Treat event at designated campsites in Pulpit Rock Campground from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, with yard games and popcorn. Parking is limited at the campground, with additional parking available at Will Baker Park.
Community Pulpit Rock
Families can attend a Halloween trunk-or-treat event at designated campsites within Pulpit Rock Campground on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Traffic & Construction
David Elsbernd of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Decorah garage is among employees recognized in the agency’s October 2026 service awards for 15 years of service.
Traffic & Construction
Decorah Parks & Recreation will host a free Touch A Truck open house Saturday, October 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Decorah City Hall. Families can explore police, fire, emergency, construction and city maintenance vehicles, with a free hot dog lunch provided.
Culture
Decorah Public Library and Arthaus will focus October’s KNOW-HOW program on plumbing, including how to fix a leaky toilet valve that can add hundreds of dollars to a water bill.
Education Luther College
Luther College and Rushford-Peterson Schools have launched a partnership offering qualifying Minnesota students preferred admission and a $500 award, building on Luther’s similar agreement with Decorah Community School District.
Education Luther College
New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones will discuss the social roles of horror at Luther College in Decorah on Oct. 29, 2026. The free public lecture requires tickets and will include an audience Q&A, a book signing and a livestream option.
Education Luther College
A free, nonpartisan candidate forum at Luther College will feature participating candidates for federal, state and Winneshiek County offices, with audience questions and a YouTube livestream.
Education Luther College
Luther College says it welcomed 428 new students, including 401 first-year students, for 2026-27. Total enrollment reached 1,327, while first-to-second-year retention rose to 80.9% and a housing partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College expanded.
Education Luther College
Luther College sociology professor Christian Schlaerth received a $7,400 Winneshiek County Community Foundation grant to expand R.A.D. self-defense classes for women across the region, with the next three-part session beginning Oct. 10 at Luther College.
Community
Winneshiek County is accepting applications from residents interested in filling vacancies on either the Planning and Zoning Commission or the Board of Adjustments. Applications are due by October 31, 2026.
Education College Drive
Decorah Parks & Recreation is offering free sand at the Decorah Municipal Pool, with weekday appointments available by phone.
Community
Decorah City Council’s first-reading vote would create zoning, utility and environmental requirements for any future data center or cryptocurrency mining center proposed in the city, but it did not approve a specific project.
Community
Decorah Parks and Recreation will host a free outdoor screening of <em>The Great Outdoors</em> at Will Baker Park on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, beginning around dusk.
Traffic & Construction
Decorah residents can choose a guided hike, bike ride or run during Trail Night on Thursday, Sept. 24, meeting at the Carlson Park parking lot by 6 p.m.
Community
Decorah Mayor Andy Carlson has proclaimed Sept. 17 through 23, 2026, as Constitution Week, urging residents to reaffirm the freedoms outlined by the nation’s founders.
Culture
Seed Savers Exchange will welcome visitors into the hayloft of its historic barn at Heritage Farm during Iowa’s 26th Annual All-State Barn Tour on September 19–20.
Business & Openings Downtown Decorah
The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce has announced 10 business award recipients and eight individual honorees for its 2026 Business Awards Event, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29. The evening will recognize business achievements, community service, tourism, collaboration, young professionals and local projects that contribute to life in the Decorah area.
Education Luther College
Luther College has appointed Decorah native and longtime faculty member Brian Solberg to the inaugural Hamlet Peterson Distinguished Professorship in Exercise Science. Two other faculty members were also reappointed to endowed chairs for 2026–2029.
Culture
Vesterheim will host “Makaber Antologi,” a free storytelling and music event featuring Norwegian folklore, history and Hardanger fiddle music, on October 16, 2026, in Hanson Vesterheim Commons.
Crime & Public Safety Downtown Decorah
Decorah families can explore emergency, construction and city maintenance vehicles during a free Touch a Truck open house on Saturday, October 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Education Luther College
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical will bring an improvised awards show to Luther College’s Center for Faith and Life Main Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Audience suggestions and votes will shape the performance, which is the opening event in the college’s 2026-27 Center Stage Series.
Education Luther College
South Winneshiek voters approved a PPEL measure, according to a Decorah News report. The supplied report does not include the vote date, tally, funding amount or additional details about the measure.
Education Luther College
Luther College has opened its academic year under a theme focused on belonging, according to a Decorah News report. The supplied material does not include details about the opening event, speakers, dates or planned activities.
Education Luther College
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical will perform its audience-driven “The Phony Awards” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall at Luther College in Decorah.
Crime & Public Safety Luther College
Decorah News reports five recent arrests involving allegations of operating while intoxicated, stalking and probation violations. The available source material does not provide the names of those arrested, arrest dates, locations or case outcomes.
Community
The Cadets rushed for 259 yards in a victory over Decorah, according to a Decorah News sports report.
Sport
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold a May 21 public meeting in Decorah to discuss proposed 2027 nonresident small game hunting seasons.
