The top 10 local news stories of 2017: #8 and #7

PIVO Brewery and Blepta Studios owners Craig and Sara Neuzil

(decorahnews.com is counting down the top ten local news stories of 2017):

#8: It was a year of significant changes in Decorah's retail sector.  JC Penney closed its doors in Decorah after 95 years.  (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2017/07/17144.html)  A petition drive failed to change the mind of JC Penney headquarters in Texas.  There were worries after the closing about its impact on downtown Decorah, but a number of new businesses opened in time for the holidays and Viking State Bank announced plans for a new office building on Water Street--proof that downtown Decorah is still vital (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2017/10/17550.html).

#7:  2017 was another big year for beer in Decorah.  "Beer tourists" began flocking to town for Toppling Goliath beer releases  (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2017/01/15488.html).  Toppling Goliath also began work on its new 52,000 square foot brewery (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2017/04/16328.html).  Meanwhile, Pulpit Rock Brewing expanded its facilities and served thousand of RAGBRAI bike riders (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2017/07/17112.html) and a new brewery, PIVO, opened in Calmar (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2017/11/17917.html)