Two Decorah insurance agencies donate a total of $1,000 for police and fire training

(Left to right): Norwegian Mutual Insurance's Jim Clarke, A & J Petersburg's Mark Lovelace, Decorah PD's Sarah Hendrickson, Scott Herrmann and Jim Frost, Bluffs Inn owner Connie White, Decorah FD's Darrin Sander. Bluffs Inn owner Steve White and Decorah Fire Chief Mike Ashbacher

Members of the Decorah Fire Department hold weekly training sessions, while the Decorah Police Department also holds regular training sessions.

So when Decorah residents Steve and Connie White offered police and fire officers the opportunity to use the former Bluffs Inn as a training site, Decorah Fire Chief Mike Ashbacher and Police Chief Bill Nixon were eager to accept the offer.

That's where two Decorah insurance agencies--A & J Petersburg Agency and Norwegian Mutual Insurance--came in to offer help.  Each business agreed to donate $500, with the money helping to pay for the costs of rescue and safety training for each department.

The White's offer to allow police and fire department members to use the former Bluffs Inn provided some unique training opportunity, including rappelling practice.