Community News

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is hosting author Heather Gudenkauf Monday, April 29 at 6 p.m. for an Author Event. Gudenkauf is the Edgar Award nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of “The Weight of Silence”, “These Things Hidden” and “Not A Sound”. Her new book “Before She Was Found” features a chilling crime set in Iowa.

Gudenkauf was born in Wagner, SD, the youngest of six children. At one month of age, her family returned to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota where her father was employed as a guidance counselor and her mother as a school nurse. At the age of three, her family moved to Iowa, where she grew up.

As part of the preparation for the All-County Rural School Reunion being planned for Sunday, April 28, the Allamakee County Historical Society has been submitting photos to The Standard in an effort to gather information for a variety of rural schools in Allamakee County, such as the photo above of the Union Prairie School No. 2 taken in the 1960s. According to information provided by the Allamakee County Historical Society, Union Prairie School No. 2 was originally built in 1862 - the same year as St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at West Ridge - and was in operation for 105 years until it closed in 1967 and the Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors sold the building to Robert Rea. It was then sold to James Snitker in 1973 before it was destroyed by fire in April 1976.

State Representative Bruce Bearinger of Oelwein was the guest speaker at the Allamakee Democrats’ Off-Year Caucus held March 30 at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon. “Jobs - Healthcare - Education continue to be  the priorities of the Democratic Party,” said Bearinger. He also explained that Democratic legislators continue to try to get their voices heard about the need for job training and better paying jobs, making healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone, fixing the Medicaid privatization situation, and investing in public schools and state universities. He also advised that efforts to address these “bread and butter” issues are thwarted since Republicans control the State Senate, State House and governorship. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 8 to address a full agenda of items including a survey for the Upper Iowa Watershed Management Authority, consideration of bids for road rock resurfacing and the IDOT Five-Year Secondary Road Construction Program and Fiscal-Year 2020 Budget.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed the organization’s efforts in collecting information, receiving submissions and promoting events within the county utilizing the ACED website and calendar of events. Reinke presented a handout listing events taking place in April, providing an overview of several recent and upcoming events.

The Boy Scout Troop 64 Spring Omelet Breakfast will be held this Sunday, April 7 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church hall in Waukon. Scouts, such as those pictured above, will be serving made-to-order omelets, hash browns, cinnamon rolls, coffee, juice and milk from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Sunday. Tickets may be purchased at the door, or in advance at a discounted price from any Boy Scout or second year Webelo Scout. The Omelet Breakfast is the Troop’s main fundraiser to support the purchase of new equipment, sending Scouts to summer camp and other troop activities. Troop 64 appreciates the community’s support of this event for more than 25 years. Submitted photo.

by Brianne Eilers

After anticipating that the month of February would end up being a strong month financially for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon, outpatient revenue instead came in $300,000 under budget, leaving the hospital with a net loss of $71,761 for the month, according to information provided at the March 19 VMH Board of Trustees meeting. Year-to-date, the hospital is showing a profit of $50,454.

VMH Administrator Mike Myers noted that there were a few factors as to why the outpatient revenue was low for the month, with a major factor being inclement weather. Myers noted that some patient areas tend to see cancellations when the weather is bad and travel is difficult. There were also some providers and surgeons on vacation in February, and that also contributed to the lower outpatient revenue.

The Robey Memorial Library Board of Trustees is proud to celebrate National Library Week April 7-13 with Waukon and the greater Allamakee community. In the five years since Robey Memorial Library’s remodel, the library has seen the expansion of not just the facilities, but of the community’s support and participation in all that the library has to offer. It has been, and continues to be, a place to learn, discover, connect and succeed.

Visitors to Waukon frequently comment on how lucky the community is to have a library the size and caliber of Robey Memorial Library. It comes as no surprise, however, to those who frequent the library and have seen the steady growth of opportunities and experiences available there. From year-round programming that reaches everyone from newborns to seniors, to a robust collection that is both physical and digital, Robey Memorial Library is a truly exceptional facility and resource.

*Monday, April 1, 2019 Waukon City Council Meeting: Ordinance – Amending the code of ordinances of the City of Waukon, Iowa, 1998, by increasing wastewater utility service charges.

In the April 3 edition of The Standard, the headline and article text indicate that the above ordinance was approved. As clarification, the first reading of the ordinance was approved. A second reading of this ordinance will take place at the April 15 Waukon City Council meeting with a third reading to take place or to be potentially waived prior to final approval of the ordinance.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, April 1 to address a full agenda of items including a quote for an assessment of the City Hall computer network, property nuisance abatement and an increase to wastewater utility service charges.

Helping Services for Youth & Families is overwhelmed by the generous community response to the Rootin’ Tootin’  Mentoring Bowl-A-Thon held March 16 at Arrowhead Lanes in Waukon. A total of 94 bowlers and sponsors helped raise $8,089 to provide caring adult role models for youth in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek Counties. Donations are still coming in. Mentoring Coordinator Kathy Schwartzhoff shares, “Bowlers really got into the theme wearing cowboy hats, vests, big belt buckles, and someone even brought a spur! It was so much fun!”

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 25 to address a full agenda of items including a request to place pinwheels and signage on the County Courthouse lawn for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, consideration of a Health Insurance Committee recommendation for Fiscal-Year 2020 health insurance for County employees and an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed the 6th Annual Allamakee County Chili Cook-Off held March 16 in Lansing. Reinke also discussed the Friends of Yellow River State Forest group with fundraising projects to include firewood sales and aluminum can collection and that grant writing is being looked into for a variety of projects.