The following Letter to the Editor is from Karl Jacobsen of Freeport

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Karl Jacobsen of 2520 Kylie Ann Road in Freeport):

We wish to thank the Decorah Community for the tremendous support in assisting us in the recovery process from the rain damage we experienced in the loss of our 60-foot foundation wall on August 23rd and surviving through the record rain falls of September.    We have recorded over 196 volunteer days and 13 paid workers during this time and we are now at the point of having contractors recover our lost building components.  We have had four dump truck loads and two dumpsters removed, had a semi-trailer parked in our front for over one month and now have access to the front of our house.  The emotional, spiritual, and physical support has been phenomenal.  The food provided was plenty, but very delicious.
 
We also wish to thank the public servants who have done so very much:  the police, fire, ambulance, first responders, and county workers have put in many long hours and been very productive.  The contractors in this community have been very responsive to our needs despite being beset by extreme weather challenges.  Terry Benslow and his staff at the recycling center have been exceptional in their servant attitude and service to this community.
     
I was told that when the recycling center stopped accepting flood items to be disposed of, there were 400 houses in Winneshiek County that had received flood damage but the recycling center had processed 2,000 televisions at the center's cost for processing.  That would be 5 televisions per damaged basement.  I would just like to invite those individuals who abused the system, to begin to make things right by making a $25 contribution to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Flood Relief program.  You would be eligible for a tax deductible donation and help make things right.

In the meantime, please accept our thanks."