Community News

Volunteers guide 4-H members in becoming productive citizens, outstanding communicators, effective leaders and successful learners. Leaders of 4-H clubs in Allamakee County kicked off the new 4-H year with a fall leaders meeting September 25. Seventeen leaders attended and shared in networking excitement about the new 4-H year. Club leaders interacted in activities around the Essential Elements of 4-H. Those attending the meeting are pictured above, left to right: Front row - Greta Rubendall, Michelle Byrnes, Angela Carlson, Teresa Wiemerslage, Kim Waters. Middle row - Deb Hammel, Teresa Schaefers, Amy Bresnahan, Amy Opperman, Laura Mellick, Nooch White. Back row - Barb Thorstensen, Michelle Kiel, Kati Nolting, Nate Gebel, Caitlin Johnson, Dan White.

Waukon High School has several former student-athletes who have taken their skills and careers into the college ranks again this year. However, this year there is also one former student-athlete who has extended his musical career to that "next level" as well.

Aaron Sherman is a freshmen at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and is spending his Saturdays playing trombone with the Hawkeye Marching Band. Sherman is a 2017 graduate of Waukon High School and the son of Mark and JoAnn Sherman of Waukon.

Unlike high school, one does not just enroll in marching band at the University of Iowa. In July, Sherman had to audition during orientation for the marching band. He was first told he would be an alternate for the marching band, but within hours of that notification, he received an email message stating that a position had opened up for him for this fall with the marching Hawkeyes.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, October 16 to address a variety of matters, including the 2019 Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Project, the purchase of equipment for the Waukon Police Department and discussion of a potential sidewalk project.

The Clover Kids program in Waukon has kicked off the new 4-H year, with 52 youth enrolled in either the Saturday Clover Kids or After School Clover Kids program. This year's program participants started their new year making their own stress reliever balls out of a balloon and water beads. The main activity was learning about how the Earth’s plates move by using frosting and graham crackers. The graham crackers represented the Earth’s plates and youth learned four different ways they can move. Depending on the movement, volcanoes, mountains or earthquakes occur.  Afterwards, youth worked in groups to build their own volcano out of play dough (such as pictured at right). Using vinegar and baking soda they were able to make their volcanoes erupt.

Waterville and Waukon fire departments battled a barn fire at 1213 Chimney Rock Road, the Kermit and Ann Klees farm in rural Waterville, Wednesday evening, October 4. The Kleeses say the fire started within a half hour time frame after they completed the evening's milking, as they were both already in the house. They say the fire started on the east side of the barn, and even though the cause of the fire is still under investigation, they suspect it may be electrical in nature because the breaker box housing the barn's electrical network is also located on the east side. Kermit said he did notice the lights in the barn flicker and that the vacuum pump had sounded "a little off," but attributed that to the older equipment used in the facility. No animals were hurt or lost in the blaze, as milking had been completed, but the upper level of the barn was full of hay and two complete tractors and another one used for parts were also destroyed, along with various other equipment.

"The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett" is a mystery that readers of Robey Memorial Library in Waukon can unravel by participating in the world’s largest global eBook reading club, Big Library Read. Chelsea Sedoti’s debut novel has been selected as the featured title for millions of readers around the world to read at the same time beginning Thursday, October 12 and concluding October 26.

Robey Memorial Library patrons will be able to borrow the eBook by visiting http://bridges.overdrive.com. Big Library Read is facilitated by OverDrive, the leading platform for eBooks and audiobooks from the library.

The Allamakee Community Players will be presenting the Martin A Follose comedy "The Bachelor King" on the stage in the St. John’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Waukon. Performances are Friday and Saturday, October 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available from any cast member or by calling Kris Larson at 563-380-4531. When poor King Evian uses his last dying words to pass royal succession not to greedy Prince Daft but to Yokel, a foolish hillbilly, everyone agrees Yokel needs a wife to help him run the kingdom. Staging it as a Bachelor competition, his staff brings in eligible ladies to vie for the new king’s hand. Candidates are tested on their abilities in true American Idol fashion, followed by a Survivor challenge, with a little audience participation. Of course, running a kingdom is not easy and Yokel has other problems to deal with, as well.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, October 9 to address a full agenda of items, including the discussion of revisiting the possibility of a fireworks ordinance, consideration of hiring for a Secondary Roads position and a Manure Management Plan update.
During Public Comment, Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker briefed the Supervisors about a missing person search that took place over the weekend in the New Albin area and discussed a pioneer cemetery located in rural New Albin.

The Supervisors discussed and reviewed a Manure Management Plan update for Charles Deering for a site located on Highway 52, which was accepted and placed on file. Quarterly reports for the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department and the County Relief Office were reviewed by the Supervisors and accepted and placed on file.

Good Samaritan Society - Waukon hosted its annual Homecoming football party Friday, September 22. This year, Good Samaritan Society - Waukon also honored four of its residents (pictured left to right in the center of the foreground of the above photo): Dick Gearhart, Waukon High School Athletic Director from 1970-1992; two cheerleaders from the surrounding area, Linda Sorum, Lansing High School in 1957 and Kathryn Hinkel, Marquette Railroaders from 1941-1944; and Leon Schoh, who was his high school's quarterback in 1945. Good Samaritan Society administrative staff shared, "The Waukon football team, cheer squad and coaches are phenomenal, not only on the field but off the field as well. We were very honored to experience their limitless commitment, respect, compassion and integrity." Submitted photo.
 

A handful of area youth represented Allamakee County 4-H in the Dairy Judging Contest at the 2017 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in late August. Allamakee County 4-H had members competing at two different levels, including both the Senior division and Junior division.

Senior members included Michael Hagen, son of Erik and Lisa Hagen of Waterville, and Cayla Nolting, daughter of Chad and Cheryl Nolting of Waukon. Junior participants were Alaina Gebel, daughter of Nate and Tami Gebel of Lansing, Kiersten Gibbs, daughter of Chris and Kerri Gibbs of Waterville, Claire Opperman, daughter of George and Amy Opperman of Waukon, and Madalyn and Emma Palmer, daughters of Eric and Stephanie Palmer of Waukon. The Dairy Judging teams were coached by Aaron Palmer and Dan Sivesind of Waukon.