Community News

The holidays are a time for caring and sharing, which is why the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is partnering with local law agencies, such as the Waukon Police Department, to share the message about the dangers of drunk driving. This holiday season, from December 13, 2019 through January 1, 2020, law enforcement will participate in the high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

During this period, local law enforcement will show zero tolerance for drunk driving. Increased state and national messages about the dangers of driving impaired, coupled with enforcement and increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce drunk driving on this nation’s roadways.

by Carly Palmer, Waukon High School Little Switzerland FFA Chapter Reporter

October 29 through November 2, 12 members of the Waukon High School Little Switzerland FFA Chapter traveled to Indianapolis, IN for the 92nd National FFA Convention and Expo. During their time at National Convention, members explore the Expo, attended sessions and workshops, went on industry tours, attended concerts and much more.

This year, chapter members had the chance to participate in three tours, The Farm at Prophetstown in West Lafayette, IN, Wea Creek Orchard in Lafayette, IN and Kinze Manufacturing Inc. in Williamsburg. On the way to Indianapolis, members stopped at Kinze Manufacturing where they were able to tour the factory where the Kinze equipment is built as well as visit the company’s Innovation Center.

The Iowa 4-H Youth Development Program provides opportunities for youth to develop skills that they can use now and throughout their lives. Iowa 4-H builds upon a century of experience as it fosters positive youth development that is based on the needs and strengths of youth, their families and communities. With the Allamakee County 4-H/FFA Beef Weigh-In scheduled for December 21, youth are working to select their beef projects for the 2020 Allamakee County Fair. A total of 48 youth and parents recently participated in a Beef Workshop, pictured above, to learn more about the project area. The workshop was held Tuesday, December 3 at NEIA Sales Commission. The goal of the event was to provide exhibitors education on beef selection, nutrition, daily care and management. Tracy Coffland with Purina and Master Professor of Stock Show University presented on these topics.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, December 16 to address a full agenda of items. A special closed session relating to the Mayo Clinic location in Waukon was held prior to the regular session.

The regular session meeting agenda was approved with the removal of the Public Hearing relating to a police officer post-termination hearing (per Iowa Code Section 372.15). There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Departmental Reports.

Join Wavelength Productions for the premiere of THE FOURSOME, a short documentary film set in Waukon. The 30-minute film tells the story of four friends playing together in the same golf tournament at the Waukon Golf and Country Club for 50 years. A film about friendship, golf and potato salad, THE FOURSOME stars Waukon resident Bob Rotach (third from left in above photo) and his friends, left to right, Darrel Collins of La Crescent, MN and Gary Peterson and Herb Collins of McGregor. THE FOURSOME will be playing at the Town Theater on Main Street in Waukon Tuesday, December 17 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Both screenings are free and those attending can RSVP at https://bit.ly/2pTpO85. For more information, see the advertisement in the December 11, 2019 print edition and e-edition of The Standard on Page 13A or contact taylor@wavelengthproductions.com or at 314-610-0475. Submitted photo.
 

The Lansing Tractor & Truck Pull and the Big Horse Power & Pride Truck Show held each year in conjunction with the annual Lansing Fish Days festivities have involved a great deal more than just a display of power and pride for entertainment and prizewinnings each of the last two summers. A special event held during that tractor and truck pull each of the last two years has helped event organizers raise more than $15,000 to assist a pair of area families who each have children experiencing extensive medical treatments and expenses.

“Like other sporting events, pullers become part of a family,” shared organizers of the Lansing Tractor & Truck Pull. “The competition is great and the camaraderie is even greater.”

The Waukon Fire Department had an initial call for a possible natural gas smell at one location turn into an actual fire call at an adjacent location around midday Friday, December 6. An initial 9-1-1 call dispatched the department volunteers to the intersection of Ninth Street and West Main Street for what was thought to be a natural gas smell. After being unable to pinpoint the source of the smell that would come and go, fire officials on their way back to the station instead noticed smoke and flames coming from a grain bin dryer at the Waukon Feed Ranch mill location along Ninth Street SW. Waukon Feed Ranch General Manager Brad Herman said the 2,000-bushel dryer full of corn had somehow caught fire, with the cause of the fire yet undetermined and still under investigation. Herman said maintenance and cleaning had just been conducted on that same dryer four hours prior to the fire.

The Allamakee County Relief Office is hosting its “We Care” Christmas Tree, which is located at Hartig Drug on Main Street in Waukon this year. The “We Care” tree will have tags to be selected from the tree with general information about Christmas gift ideas for children living in Allamakee County who are less fortunate.

Based on the information on the tag, those gifts can be purchased and returned to the Allamakee County Relief Office in Waukon by December 10 for distribution to those children in time for Christmas. For more information about the “We Care” Christmas Tree, call the Allamakee County Relief Office at 563-568-3591.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, December 2 to address a short agenda of items with discussion of several police department considerations and requests for direction including staffing, past due parking fines and upgraded radios.

During Public Comment, Director Ardie Kuhse with Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) briefly discussed the Lighted Holiday Parade that took place earlier that same evening. Kuhse mentioned the participation of businesses and organizations and that the event was well attended downtown.

Under Departmental Reports, Police Chief Paul Wagner discussed ongoing work relating to establishing programs. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett discussed work completed relating to the replacement of ground fault circuit interrupter (GFI) outlets which was necessary for the lighted holiday decorations.

U.S. Senator from Minnesota Amy Klobuchar, one of the Democratic candidates for President of the United States, will be conducting a Meet & Greet event this Saturday in Waukon to discuss issues with area residents and visitors. The Meet & Greet event will be taking place from 8:45-10 a.m. at the Waukon Wellness Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW in Waukon.