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by Bob Beach

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met last Tuesday, September 3 due to the Labor Day holiday and reconvened Monday, September 9. Coverage of both meetings follows:

by Kelli Boylen
freelance writer

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recognized 18 individuals for unselfish service to their fellow citizens and family members August 16 at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. The Governor's Lifesaving Awards Ceremony recognizes citizens who helped a friend or neighbor in critical need of assistance, and in turn, became everyday heroes.
There are four categories in which honorees are recognized:
The Lifesaving With Valor Award is presented to those persons who, while risking their own life, saved the lives of others.

An update from the Allamakee County Sheriff's Office now reports that Donald Angel of Waukon was found deceased in a wooded area of an Allamakee County park approximately three miles northeast of Waukon at approximately 7:45 a.m. Thursday, September 12. Angel, age 83, had been missing since Monday afternoon, September 9. He was located along with the 2008 Chevrolet Impala he was last seen driving prior to his disappearance.

Local residents, business owners and community leaders will have the opportunity to share their thoughts about opportunities and challenges in rural Iowa when Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, visits Postville Thursday, September 12. A rural-issues roundtable discussion will take place from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Upper Explorerland Conference Room, 134 West Greene Street in Postville.

The sixth annual Big Pumpkin contest is scheduled for Sunday, September 29 in Waukon. The event, which takes place at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds, will begin with weigh-in at 9:30 a.m., with those big pumpkins being on display that day and this year’s winners being crowned at a 12:30 p.m. awards ceremony.

Voters in the Allamakee Community and Eastern Allamakee Community School Districts will be joining those statewide in going to the voting polls for the Tuesday, September 10 School Election. Area voters will not only be seeking to elect leadership to their respective School Boards, but also voting to continue a funding levy labeled Public Measure Z on each particular ballot in support of Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC).

For the fourth year in a row, Denise Becker of Lansing and members of her family ran the Chicago Rock and Roll half-marathon to raise awareness and money for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This year her son-in-law, Ben Verdon, joined the group and ran his first half-marathon. With generous donations from family, friends and businesses they raised $4,560 for the Allamakee County Veterans Affairs office.

A total of 83 counties inducted honorees into the 2013 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines Sunday, August 18. Among this year's honorees are Kermit and Ann Klees for Allamakee County.
Kermit was a member of the Jefferson Blacktoppers 4-H Club. While growing up, he showed sheep at the county fair. Kermit’s fondest memory of the county fair is that he almost won the Sheep Showmanship Class.

The Waterville Community Fund, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, is announcing the application deadline for 2013-2014 grants is September 30. Grants are awarded to projects in the following areas: arts and culture; community affairs and development; education; environmental education and protection; health; historical preservation; and human services.