The Iowa State Department of Health's COVID-19 reporting service indicates a continued spike in positive cases of the coronavirus across Northeast Iowa this week. Winneshiek County data shows a total of 1,037 positive cases of COVID-19 and a total of 13 deaths related to the virus in the county to date. The Dec. 3 report listed 593 cases as "recovered" in the county.

It may be the best early Christmas present ever. According to Winneshiek County Health Director Krista Vanden Brink, “preliminary doses of a vaccine to combat COVID-19 will arrive in Winneshiek County within two weeks.”  Vanden Brink delivered the news to the Board of Supervisors at their Nov. 30 meeting. 

The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce (DACC) board of directors has selected Jessica Rilling as executive director. Rilling replaces Kristina Wiltgen.

The Decorah FFA and Community Club organized the most successful food drive to date, with Decorah High School (DHS) students and staff donating more than $1,660 to the Decorah Community Food Pantry.

Nate Furler of Decorah has been named the new general manager of the Oneota Community Food Co-op (OCC) in Decorah.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at Locust Road was held Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 25, at the intersection of College Drive and Locust Road in Decorah to commemorate the completion of the improvement project.

Fareway is resuming the shortened hours its stores held early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Decorah Fareway Store Manager Dave Noack said the grocery store chain's new hours will be implemented company-wide starting Friday, Nov. 27, when all Fareway stores will be open Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Luther College's first annual One Team Day, a one-day fundraising event to support the college's student-athletes, was held Thursday, Nov. 19; and the campaign raised over $300,000 from more than 2,000 donors. The funds raised during this day will support Luther's 19 intercollegiate teams and 500 student-athletes.

Helping Services for Youth & Families is bringing back Holiday Lights for the 16th season at Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah Nov. 25 through Dec. 27.

Decorah Community School District (DCSD) Board of Directors held a special meeting Monday night and approved Superintenent Mark Lane's proposal for a new learning model plan, which includes remote online learning periods next week (Nov. 30-Dec. 4) and once again later in December (Dec. 21-22).

The key to the new season will be like every team in the state — staying healthy amid a pandemic — as the Turkey Valley girls’ basketball team prepares to step onto the court this season.

Back in charge of the team for her eighth season is head coach Carla Nymeyer, with Steve Hoffert stepping in as the squad’s new assistant after Justin Bakula resigned following last season. Bakula plans to help as a volunteer coach.

For the second season in a row, underclassmen will be asked to step up for the South Winn girls’ basketball team.

The ball is in their court and there’s a strong core of athletes to build a team around for the South Winn boys’ basketball program.

Veterans will fill the line-up once again, as the entire South Winn wrestling team returns this winter for the new season.

Eight events from Decorah High School garnered a total of 12 points at the state swim meet Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14, in Marshalltown.

The Vikes placed 26^th overall at the state meet.

Excited about the prospect of defending their conference title the Decorah boys’ swim team enters the 2020 season with a positive attitude, a strong history of swimming and a host of talent.

Back for her fifth season at the helm is Coach Laura Storlie.

For the second year in a row a South Winn football player earned an MVP award as senior Jacob Herold notched the Offensive MVP nod for the 2020 season. 

Joining Herold in the line-up of special awards was Calvin Knutson, who was named the Lineman of the Year, while Collin Wiltgen received the Golden Award.

Within the 8-man District 2, Turkey Valley had eight athletes receive all-district nods recently.

Kyle Christen takes the win in week eight of the pigskin picks football contest.

Thirteen members of the Decorah football team were recognized this season by being named all-district in Class 3A, District 3.