Community News

The Allamakee County 4-H members pictured above represent just some of the 28 local 4-H youth who had their projects and exhibits selected for advancement to the Iowa State Fair to be held in August in Des Moines. Pictured above, left to right, are: Front row - Allie Bieber, Brandon Teslow, Thomas Troendle, Logan Brown, Faith Palmer, Diana Davison, Madi Palmer, Jenn Kloke, Tessa Rubendall. Back row - Taylor Howard, Emma Palmer, Mallory Byrnes, Parker Leppert, Memphis Miller, Katelyn Benzing, Madelyn Waters, MaKenzie Marting, Ashley Liddiard, Carley Sweeney, Denzel Decker. Not pictured - Katelyn Monroe, Abbie Brainard, Natalie Byrnes, Austin Schutte, Emily Bieber, Violet Holthaus, Neva Peterson, Katelyn Leiran. Photo courtesy of Allamakee County ISU Extension and Outreach.
 

Pictured in the surrounding photos are the Judges’ Choice Award purple ribbon winners from the Open Class exhibits at the 2018 Allamakee County Fair. Pictured in the photo at immediate right are, left to right, Diana Davison, Jackson Perkins and Pam Christianson. Pictured in center photo is Jackson Moore. Pictured in the photo at bottom are, left to right, Carol Gaunitz, Patsy Kerndt, Becky Estebo, Logan Wood and Dallas Tilleraas. Submitted photos.
 

A pair of local youth were awarded certificates for their winning entries in the 2018 Allamakee County Fair Tall Corn Contest, those awards being distributed at the Tuesday, July 17 Youth Showcase event held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon to help kick off the 2018 Allamakee County Fair. Pictured at right is Bella Grimstad standing with her award certificate in front of her winning entry among some of the other entries in the Tall Corn Contest. Her winning corn stalk measured 142-7/8 inches tall. Pictured below is Brooklyn Moen with her award certificate for the Cutest Bucket among all the buckets decorated by entries in the Tall Corn Contest. Photos courtesy of Allamakee County ISU Extension and Outreach.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 30 to address a full agenda of items including discussion of Amendment 3 to Zoning Ordinance L involving exceptions to towers located in the Bluffland setback area, the Roadway Maintenance Agreement with the City of Waukon and the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the hiring of a full-time employee for the Allamakee County Engineer’s office.

During Public Comment, Maynard Johnson of Lansing briefly discussed communication towers within the county. Johnson also expressed concerns about road maintenance and the absence of white lines on some County roads. In response to the tower discussion, Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick provided details about the Alliant Energy tower and the proposed tower near New Albin for FirstNet, the First Responders Network, a nationwide interoperable network for fire, police and emergency personnel.

Wednesday, July 18 marked the final chapter in the history of Mulligan’s Grill Pub in Waukon following the January 23, 2018 fire that destroyed the building’s interior. The six months since that fateful day for owner Dana Ruegnitz and his wife, Jordan, have been a difficult timeframe of follow-up and decision-making, ultimately leading to a decision to tear down the remaining structure and not rebuild. The tearing down process took place in just a single day July 18, depicted in the surrounding photos.

The Red Rock Threshers based out of Pella held their annual Tractor Ride in Allamakee County this year, with more than 220 tractors traversing the roadways of Allamakee County Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21. After arriving at their homebase location of the Waukon High School parking lot (pictured in wide photo above) Thursday afternoon, July 19, riders departed from that location (pictured in two photos at left and right) early both days of the ride, traveling 86 miles Friday from Waukon to New Albin and then through Lansing, Harpers Ferry and Waterville before returning to Waukon in the late afternoon, and then journeying 62 miles Saturday up Highway 76 to Dorchester and Eitzen, MN before returning to Waukon via Lycurgus Road to then prepare to depart for home.

The Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Department continues to move forward with its planned project for outdoor community tennis courts available for anyone to use, reaching nearly two-thirds of its project funding goal. That funding has come from a variety of different grant and coordinated sources, and now the Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Department is offering local organizations, businesses or individuals the opportunity to help finish out that funding process.

The Waukon community has been without an outdoor tennis court facility for nearly two decades, with the aging courts previously owned by the City of Waukon and located in the Waukon City Park being removed in the fall of 1996. The Allamakee Community School District also had its two tennis courts removed from the Waukon High School location near the turn of the century to make room for campus and facilities improvements and expansion.

Family and friends of Nancy (Frana) Knutson of Bloomington, WI, formerly of Waukon, will be hosting a benefit event for her this Saturday, July 28 at the Waukon Banquet Center. The benefit event is geared toward raising funds to help pay for medical bills and other life adjustments that may develop for Knutson from recent heightened health issues with diabetes.

Knutson has been battling diabetes for nearly half her life but the past six months have resulted in a series of amputations due to poor circulation and ensuing infection. She had her toes amputated on her right foot in February of this year, but then developed an infection and had to have that right leg amputated as well in June.

She is currently recovering at home but makes frequent follow-up medical visits. She is also in the process of being fitted for a prosthetic leg and is determined she will walk again, according to benefit organizers.

Support from local businesses is essential in the success of the Little Switzerland FFA chapter at Waukon High School and its members, and Village Farm and Home has been a key player in assisting the local FFA chapter. Village Farm and Home partners with Red Brand Fencing, a supporter of FFA for 70 years, through the Home Grown Program. Through the Home Grown Program, for every roll of wire that is purchased at Village Farm, $1 is donated back to the local FFA chapter. Village Farm and Home partnered with Red Brand Fencing and the National FFA Organization to most recently donate $775 to the Little Switzerland chapter.

The Red Rock Threshers Tractor Ride based out of Pella will be embarking upon its annual tractor ride July 20 and 21, choosing routes in Allamakee County for this year’s event. The group of between 200-250 tractors will start its ride each of those two days from the Waukon High School parking lot, traveling through a good majority of northeast Allamakee County July 20 and the northwest corner of the county July 21.

The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office asks that drivers use caution and operate their vehicles in a safe manner when encountering the tractors during the ride. Motorists are advised to be patient, courteous and pass safely as many Allamakee County Roads have limited visibility to oncoming traffic due to terrain and curves. Law enforcement will be present to assist with traffic control at intersections that may be considered hazardous.