Ruthie Fritcher shows her appreciation of hubby Dave after he purchased the sterling silver necklace with a micropave pendant donated by Holstroms and Dean and Libby Schwade for $1,000.

Someone greased the wallets of those attending the Second Annual Winter Gala! This year’s live auction raised over $2,500 more than last year at $9,315. Last year’s auction raised over $6,500 for Spring Ahead Learning Center (SALC).

Seventy persons were served the chicken in wine sauce supper on Jan. 21, which is down a few from last year, but that didn’t stop them from opening up their wallets and donating!

Those not able to afford a $75 haircut from Dale Reis could purchase children’s books. Barb Robinson explained. “I’ve been purchasing children’s books at reduced prices since Spring Ahead Learning Center’s inception. They are already donated to the center.” Now, others can pay full price for the books and have a “Donated by” sticker put on the inside.

Of the 78 books she purchased, 28 were resold at the Gala, netting $380.31. The remaining books will be available for sale at the Spring Ahead Preschool’s spaghetti dinner coming up this spring. The extra money received will go toward purchasing other items needed for the center.

During the dinner, Howard-Winneshiek School Board member James Kitchen gave an update on the project.

On Jan. 17, the board approved the plans and specifications for bidding. On Feb. 3, a pre-bid meeting will take place at the Lime Springs site and bids will be due at the superintendent’s office by 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 16. Then, a public hearing will be held on Feb. 21, at Lime Springs. The board will vote to award the contract to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder or not to award the bid.

Some of the hot ticket items included a sterling silver necklace with a micropave pendant donated by Holstroms and Dean and Libby Schwade. Dave Fritcher purchased the necklace for $1,000 for his lovely wife Ruthie.

A Pine Needles Quilt Store fall quilt donated by Steve and Jill Johnson sold for $900 to Mark and Maureen Hagen and a flannel quilt made by the Thursday Morning Hookers sold to Mike and Gwen Mahr for $800.

Other large ticket items included a Twins Basket from C US Bank for $735; two half hogs for $550 and $450; a crocheted baby afghan by Evelyn Truka for $400; a Lime Springs collage from Garden Cards and More and Lime Springs Herald for $575; and a Lidtke Mill photograph by Becki Groenwald for $600.

Other donated items included a baby quilt and book; Valentine quilted wall hanging; wooden clock by Claire Anderlik; “Welcome” doily by Ellen Klomp; photographs by Kelli Sanders, Tanya Riehle and Cling Farlinger; a quilt rack; a cross by Eddie Hughes; Tracy Rice jewelry; wellness package; quilt by Betty Roesler; canoe paddle; and an afghan by Kim Kitchen.

The meal was catered by Butch and Dorene Burnikel and auctioneering was by Burke Auction Services.

Chairman Libby Schwade exclaimed, “It was an amazing night! We had a lot of fun, raised a lot of money, and supported a good cause. Thank you all who attended and donated items. You helped make this event successful.”

At the meeting on Jan. 16, some options suggested included cancelling the town’s celebration (not very likely), not having sweet corn (then what to do with the name?), bringing in a company to cook the corn (and charging 50-75¢ per cob) or finding another way to cook the corn. Butch Burnikel offered to head the committee and bring a plan to the next meeting. Anyone who has an idea can share it with Burnikel.

It was unanimously voted to have Curt Tienter be in charge of finding entertainment for Sweet Corn weekend. He wasn’t at the meeting, which is a good lesson for those missing the attending! (He was okay with that.)

• In other business, the Think Tank meetings were discussed. The meetings take place on Mondays through Feb. 13. Those attending will give Lime Springs credit for time served (or in-kind wages). The time will go toward matching grants etc. the town may want to pursue.

• The Boy Scout and Community Club-sponsored Omelet Breakfast to benefit the pool will be held Apr. 29.

• Festival of Trees was well attended and made a small profit.

• Christmas in Lime Springs went well. There was some chili left over, but it was all sold out. The left over Santa sacks were given to Community Action.

There were no wagon rides as Steve Davis ended up in the hospital.

Several vendors suggested warming up the fire station several days in advance so it isn’t so cold in there.

Root River Revelers were good entertainment. Other entertainment for next year could be the group of high school band students who are donating their time to causes.

• After hearing that upcoming president Walter McIntosh was having medical problems, Dennis Langreck offered to be president for another year.

• Special speaker for the evening was David Boss of NE Iowa Community Action. He said he grew up in Elma and remembers his first visit to Lime Springs was on the bus to attend swimming lessons.

He told the group that Howard County was the most generous, in proportion to its population, of the seven counties involved. One of the most-used services is the food bank. There are three in the district, Winneshiek, Howard and Bremer counties. Howard County’s is the busiest because it is the best-stocked. It has three full rooms and the organization just purchased a new freezer.

He also commended the late Ilona Koster for making Howard County’s branch of Community Action such a success at getting communities involved.

• Other items discussed included the Winter Gala on Jan. 21, applying for grants and that the dishwasher was broken again.

• The next meeting will be Monday, Feb. 20. Beverley Copeman will bring treats.

Lime Springs Travel Plaza Manager Sharly Rollie stands in the household/grocery aisle, which has been expanded since the closing of the Locker.

With the closing of the Lime Springs Locker and Grocery this month, residents have been concerned about how to get those forgotten recipe items while cooking dinner. It isn’t very convenient to jump in the car and run to Cresco, 13 miles away.

The Lime Springs Travel Plaza is trying to fill that void. Manager Sharly Rollie said, “With the Locker being closed, we are stocking more items.” She has already expanded the grocery and household aisle to include more baking items, such as flour, sugars, Bisquick, shredded cheese and a larger variety of cereals. “We are also ordering more bread and buns.”

She added, “If anyone asks for something, we are willing to get it in. I will take suggestions on items to order.” The business is also able to expand to another aisle to hold grocery items if needed.

The first session was designed to find ideas on how to promote the local culture and natural and agricultural resources. The Jan. 30 topic is about economic development; Feb. 6 is transportation and housing; and the Feb. 13 session will be about community facilities, infrastructure and utilities. The sessions start at 6:30.

Those attending get credit for in-kind hours which helps with matching grants in the future. Each session is different. You did not need to attend the first session to attend the rest.

Mary Bielefeld has a hard time letting go of her son, Scott Tienter, who served in Afghanistan for a year.

by Marcie Klomp

The countdown to Army Reserve Spc. Scott Tienter’s return started Jan. 13, 2011 and ended on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012 when he returned home from serving in Afghanistan.

When he left, Tienter and his family were told he would not be gone for more than 400 days. They were relieved when it didn’t go that far—it only went to day 362!

He and the other soldiers did come home at various times for a two-week leave during the past year. The Lime Springs man’s leave was Sept. 23-Oct. 13.

Tienter and his fellow reservists from Decorah’s 322nd Engineering Company arrived home for good around 4:00 p.m. to crowds of family and friends waving flags along Water Street in Decorah before getting hugs and kisses from family at the Reserve Center on Jan. 10.

 Welcoming Tienter home were his girlfriend, Amy Boehmer and her children, Tristan, Kolby, Kyleigh and Ethan; his mother, Mary Bielefeld and friend Don Ristau; his sister, Lisa Mahr; and grandparents, Walt and Lenora Bielefeld.

Waiting with Amy were her mother and stepfather and sister, Lacie, whose husband, Tony Roethler, was also returning, along with her four girls.

Amy’s daughter, Kyleigh, was also welcoming home her stepbrother, Joe Whitaker.

When the two buses turned the corner to enter the Reserve Center, the excitement of the crowd was palpable. With tears in his eyes, Grandpa Walt saluted the buses as they passed. He was in the Navy for two years after World War II and then the Air Force for four years.

The buses parked and off came the troops. Some were swarmed by family and others quietly took their gear off the bus. Scott managed to find his family in the crowd and give each a hug.

The troops then walked over to Decorah High School for a short ceremony. Capt. Troy Kin was in command of the unit since May. He said the soldiers built seven bases for U.S. and coalition forces, six new surveillance sites, 30 miles of new roads in the southern part of the country and six operation centers.

The unit was honored with numerous awards: 14 Bronze Star Medals, 125 Army Commendation Medals, five Navy Commendation Medals, five Navy Achievement Medals, 39 Combat Action Badges and 90 Army Achievement Medals.

“Every single soldier should be proud,” King said.

The soldiers were told they still had two things to accomplish—reintegrating with their families and checking on fellow soldiers.

Then there was a mad scramble for the exit when the troops were given their next command, “Dismissed!”

The Think Tanks will be held at the Community Center on the following Mondays: Jan. 23, Jan. 30th, Feb. 6 and Feb. 13. Each session will begin at 6:30 p.m.

These one-hour sessions will benefit Lime Springs in a number of ways. First, they will show groups (such as those giving grants or federal aid) the locals are interested in preserving and improving the town.

So besides bodies, ideas are also needed. The challenge is to long-time residents and newcomers to brainstorm on ideas. The newcomers can bring new insight into what attracted them to town and what they see as a detriment. The oldsters can use their experience to show what has worked in the past.

Facilitated by staff from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, the four sessions will cover a variety of community elements.

• Jan. 23 topics will include culture and natural and agricultural resources.

• Jan. 30 will be devoted to economic development.

• Feb. 6 will cover the topics of transportation and housing.

• Feb. 13’s discussion will surround community facilities, infrastructure and utilities.

The goal of the Think Tanks is to gather resident and stakeholder input into what they envision for their community in the future. Background information and historical data will be shared as it pertains to the topics of the day prior to a community discussion on existing assets and future needs or desires.

Participants will be asked to envision Lime Springs in 2025 and 2030 – will Lime Springs be a place our children want to live, work and play? Please join us and provide your valuable ideas for the future of Lime Springs.

For additional information, contact Carla Moser at City Hall at 563-566-4405.

A team has been formed, and the cost to join is $20.00. The fee includes a training t-shirt, weekly health and nutrition tips sent via e-mail, chances to win monthly incentives, Access Card, free entry into the Winter and Summer Games Fitness Walks and weekly motivational emails containing activity, nutrition and recipe tips. As a paid registrant, a one year subscription to a lifestyle magazine is included with the program.

Your personal dashboard also includes an on-line daily journal to help you track your weight loss or physical activity, an online messaging center that will allow you to communicate with your teammates to support each other in your progress and gives you the ability to see your team’s ranking on the leaderboard.

Anyone interested should contact Pam Wendel in Chester at 563-565-3495. She needs a t-shirt size and some other information. She will have passwords and more information soon. You can go to the website: livehealthy.org to check it out.

Besides agreeing to sponsor a group for Live Healthy Iowa, PIP elected new officers at its annual meeting, on Jan. 12. Dawn Fairbanks is president, Linda Warnke is vice-president, Shawn Hamilton is secretary and Wendel is treasurer. Directors are Alice Schroeder, Janis Miller and Amanda Keller.

Preparations are being made for the annual Omelet Breakfast fund-raiser sponsored by the Boy Scouts and Community Club. All proceeds go to the pool. The date has yet to be announced, but is usually held the Sunday before Palm Sunday. This year, that falls on March 25.

The board will be selling season tickets at a reduced price during the fund-raiser. Regular price, after the season opens, tickets are $100 for a family and $50 for a single. The special prices will be $90 and $45. (Family tickets are for those living in the household year-round.)

The board is also having a raffle for a pool party. Tickets will sell for $1.00 each or six for $5.00. T-shirts will be available for sale.

Something new this year is a Rochester shopping coupon book. It sells for $20.00 and using it once can get your money back.

In addition, there will be softball sign-ups at the breakfast.

• In other business, grants are being applied for including a roof over the concession/restrooms area, electrical outlets and plumbing at the pool; plywood to sturdy the advertising signs, fixing the curling fence behind home plate, light fixtures, nacho machine, refrigerator and crocks for the ball field; and climbing equipment for Brown Park.

• The board will advertise for lifeguards in February. Applications will be due March 21. Guards must be 15-years old and pass a lifeguard class, which is available at Cresco Fitness Center. Lifeguards with WSI certification are needed to help with lessons.

Softball coaches are needed. Coach Laney Stevenson will again teach the little kids, but coaches are needed for ages 8-9, 10-12, 13-15 and 16-18. Anyone interested can contact Stevenson.

Keep an eye out in the paper for clean-up days at the pool and parks. Of course, that will be done after the snow clears.

Anyone is invited to be a member of the Park and Pool Board. If interested, contact City Clerk Carla Moser for more information.

He was born on May 17, 1934, in Lime Springs, to Herbert and Bertha (Payne) Fisher.

Arthur farmed his entire life.

Arthur is survived by his sisters, Ethel Chick of Cresco and Evelyn (Carl) Keich of California; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Fisher of Ionia, Iowa; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Bertha; brothers, Leo Fisher and Charles Fisher; and brothers-in-law Alfred Bastian and Donald Chick.

Lindstrom Funeral Home of Cresco is in charge of arrangements. There will be no services.