Community News

The City of Waukon and the Allamakee County Soil and Water Conservation District are working together to install a rain garden in the Waukon City Park. Anyone who likes to garden and would like to learn more about rain gardens is invited to attend a planting session Saturday, May 21 at 8 a.m. at the Thompson Shelter (the shelter on the east side of the middle road in the park).

The Iowa Artists State Show was held Saturday, May 7 at the Corning Art Center in Corning. Judging was by Debra Groesser, plein air artist and teacher from Ralston, NE.  Of the eight blue ribbon winners at the Region 3 show who advanced to State from their previous show in Elkader, five were awarded State prizes. Among those prizewinners was Judith Engle of Waukon, who won Best In Show for her drawing “Market Girls”, pictured at right. Submitted photo.

by Alyce May

The second annual "Keep Waukon Beautiful Day" has been scheduled for Saturday, May 14 in the Waukon area, and volunteers are being sought to help take part in the event in an effort to clean up and maintain the community. The inaugural event was held last spring and met with great success, and more volunteers are being sought again this year.
Interested participants are asked to meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 14 at the front entrance of Waukon City Park, and groups will then be dispersed to do some roadside clean-up and garbage pick-up through downtown Waukon and the City Park.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has selected 23 counties to participate in a $10.5 million federal grant to reduce binge drinking and underage drinking, and the problems associated with both. In February, 2011, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) approved Iowa’s plan for the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG), allowing IDPH to implement a county selection process.

Saturday, May 7 at approximately 4:16 p.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff's Office received a report of a young female being struck by a train south of Lansing near the Alliant Energy Lansing Power Station. The report from the Sheriff's Office indicates that 18-year old Realynn Ann Hawkins, a senior at Waukon High School, was fishing off a railroad bridge near the powerplant and was struck by the southbound train while trying to retrieve her fishing gear near the train tracks.

The 2011 Corner of Hope Foods Resource Bank (FRB) local growing project had a chilly spring day for its annual Blessing of the Seed and Soil held Saturday, April 30. Gathered outdoors at the Larry Straate farm in rural Waukon, Pastor Samantha Houser of Zion United Church of Christ performed the blessing.
Soon the farmers will be in the fields planting about 50 acres designated for this year’s project. Watch for signs at locations across Allamakee County. Crops in 2011 will include conventional corn, soybeans, organic barley and organic hay.

by Dwight Jones

by Brianne Eilers

With the assistance of Helping Services for Northeast Iowa and Substance Abuse Services for Clayton County; the Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force participated in the National Prescription Drop-Off Day Event this past Saturday, April 30. The Drug Task Force and its 18 agencies had 20 different drop off sites throughout northeast Iowa, including three in Allamakee County.
Saturday’s event yielded a total of 677 pounds of prescription medications being dropped off throughout the 20 different northeast Iowa locations.