Dierks, a junior at MVAOCOU High School was a very active, athletically talented child. In middle and early high school, he was a key player on the football and baseball teams on which he played and excelled in wrestling.
    However, as much as he wanted to play, something on the inside of him wanted him to take a break from all he loved. After visiting specialists to find out why he wasn't gaining weight or growing or why he seemed to become sick more than normal, they finally got a prognosis in 2022. Dierks was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease).
    According to Mayoclinic.org, IgA nephropathy is a form of kidney disease. It happens when a germ-fighting protein called immunoglobulin A (IgA) builds up in the kidneys. This causes inflammation that, over time, can make it harder for the kidneys to filter waste from the blood. The course of the disease varies from person to person. Some people leak blood into their urine without having other problems. Others might have complications such as losing kidney function and spilling protein into the urine. Still others develop kidney failure, which means the kidneys stop working well enough to filter the body's waste on their own. There's no cure for IgA nephropathy, but medicines can slow how quickly it becomes worse. Some people need treatment to lower inflammation, reduce the spilling of protein into the urine and prevent the kidneys from failing. Such treatments may help the disease become not active, a state called remission. Keeping blood pressure under control and lowering cholesterol also slow the disease.
    Unfortunately, Dierks was one who advanced in the disease way too soon, and in January of 2025, he was placed on the kidney transplant list as his kidneys were beginning to shut down. His family including parents Drew and Heather Hieber of Mapleton and Ashley and Brandon Pollema of Le Mars began preparing for the next part of this medical journey, an eventual transplant. The family began the process to be tested as a possible kidney donor. Humans are born with two kidneys but can live with just one. While a cadaver kidney (a kidney from a very recently deceased person) could be used, a living kidney lasts longer and also affords the family the ability to schedule the transplant surgery. A cadaver kidney would include a race against time to drive the nearly 5 hour drive to Minneapolis to arrive at the hospital for the surgery. After the family was tested, Dierks' mom, Ashley was looking like a good candidate for him.
    "We see the daily ups and downs of what kidney disease has taken from him," commented Heather. "We can't wait for him to take it (his life) back along with navigating this next chapter with his new kidney."
    A year after being placed on the transplant list, a follow-up appointment gave the family news of which they had been preparing. He was being moved higher on the list. This gets him closer to a new kidney, but it also means his kidneys were failing him miserably. Ashley's test results again came into play. Because her preliminary results were a potential match, she underwent additional testing. She also signed up for paired exchange.
    "When I signed up to be tested, I agreed to be in the paired exchange program so that if I didn't match for Dierks I could donate for someone else," explained Ashley. "Because I did that, he would go up on the list."
    This Monday afternoon while his junior classmates might be have been testing on school knowledge, Dierks had his own testing to do, pretesting in anticipation for the Tuesday morning surgery. The anticipation of this surgery sends his parents into emotions of excitement and of apprehension, especially for Ashley.
    "I am very excited because Dierks is going to finally feel better, but I am also nervous because we will be at different hospitals," she said. Being 17 years old, he will be at the pediatric center while she will be undergoing her surgery at the transplant center. Because she will need to work with her own recovery, she will not be able to see her son until she is released.
    "We are excited for him to get back to "normal" health and get to feeling like himself," agreed Heather. "He has been sick for quite awhile!"
    Of course, there is also the person who has inspired this story, Dierks. A man of few words, his response when asked how he was feeling about the impending surgery, he had two words to say.
    "Pretty excited," he said. He did add that he is most excited to be able to wrestle again. Getting to wrestle his senior year is an ultimate goal, indeed.
    Once he is discharged from the hospital, Dierks and his support family will be staying at a VRBO in Minneapolis. He will need to stay in the Cities for 4-6 weeks. Once he is up to it, he will be able to leave for more than appointments, but he will need to be careful to avoid the airborne illnesses waiting to infect unsuspecting people.
    To help with transplant related expenses, the family is working with the Children's Organ Transplant Association, COTA, a national nonprofit that supports families by organizing and managing fundraising for transplant related needs. Donations to help the family may be made through COTA's website, https://cota.org/cotafordierks/.
    The families are grateful for everyone's thoughts, prayers, and kind words. Dierks has an incredible support team behind him!

    Yeah, it's a little early for Corn Days, but then again, it's not too early to make plans for our annual weekend celebration.
    A Corn Days meeting will be held on Monday, April 20th at 6:00 in Dana Hall. We will brainstorm possible dates and events to either bring back or add to our celebration this year.
    We could use some more people on the committee. Please consider joining us.

    (Woodbury County, IA) The partial burn ban currently in effect for Woodbury County was lifted at 12:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026.
    Residents are reminded to continue to use caution when conducting any outdoor burning. Even with the burn ban lifted, safe burning practices remain essential to prevent accidental fires. Individuals should monitor weather conditions, especially wind speeds; keep a water source or fire suppression tools nearby; never leave a fire unattended; and ensure all fires are fully extinguished before leaving the area.

    The Danbury Catholic Elementary School students held their Spring program on Tuesday, April 13th. The preschoolers started the program with a cute song. The K-6 students then performed A Western Story, the Good, the Bad, and the Silly.
    This is a tale about an old western town way back in 1867 called Wagon-Danburyton. The sheriff and deputy had everything under control in the town with gold miners, cowboys, and busy townsfolk. Word spread that a crew of bad guys were on their way to kidnap the sheriff and deputy and take over the town. Of course, the town was saved.