Community News

Some years ago, Pat Schellsmidt was preparing to enter the so-called “real world”, when he graduated from Caledonia High School in 1975. After starting a family and many years of doing various types of employment, which most recently included janitorial work, Schellsmidt feels he has found his own little piece of “Heaven” as an independent business owner/operator in a carpet, upholstery, tile and grout cleaning franchise called Heaven’s Best Service Group.

Through mutual friends Adam and Rosemary Hagensick of Waverly, Schellsmidt learned of this opportunity and was encouraged to become the franchise owner for the northeast Iowa district, which includes Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties. Schellsmidt has lived in the Waukon/Lansing area for more than 30 years and he and his wife have two children who attend school in Waukon.

Waukon City Manager Dean Hilgerson and Field Services Coordinator Pete Hjelmstad with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) recently provided an update to The Standard regarding the tree removal process currently taking place in Waukon in preparation for the 2019 DOT Street and Sidewalk Project that will improve State Highways 9 and 76 entering, through and exiting Waukon.

Late Sunday afternoon, March 17, the Waukon Police Department responded to 46 Jean Road in the Park View Trailer Court in south Waukon for a report of the male complainant at that residence having a pistol pointed at him. As a result of the ensuing investigation, 25-year-old Dustin James Ward of Waukon was arrested and charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon (aggravated misdemeanor) and going armed with intent (class D felony).

Sunday evening, March 10, a Waukon Police Department Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle that had a brake light out and failed to completely stop at the intersection of West Main Street and Fifth Street SW in Waukon when the vehicle sped up. During a short pursuit that followed, items were thrown from the vehicle which were later located by officers and included a glass pipe with burned residue and a clear plastic baggy filled with a white powder that field tested positive for methamphetamine, according to court documents.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 18 to address a full agenda of items including the Audit Report for Fiscal-Year Ending June 30, 2018, discussion of the Storm Sewer Inflow and Infiltration Investigation Report and an update from the Walk-On Waukon group.

At the 7 p.m. posted start time for the meeting, the council meeting could not be officially called to order with only council member Gayle Decker in attendance, along with Mayor Pat Stone, City Clerk Lana Snitker, City Attorney Jim Garrett and City Manager Dean Hilgerson also in attendance. While waiting for a quorum of council members - the necessary number of members required to conduct the official business of the council - Stone opened Public Comment.

Waukon High School welcomed the newest members into its local chapter of the National Honor Society at an annual induction ceremony held Thursday, March 7 at Waukon High School. Pictured above are this year’s new inductees, left to right - Front row: Olivia Rathbone, Madalyn Ellingson, Carrissa Bockman, Leah Bulman, Alison Sherman, Carter Benzing, Katelyn Benzing, Faith Palmer, McKenzie Cooper. Middle row: Abbie Brainard, Miann Barr, Sophie Halverson, Reed Kelly, Alyx Ede, Brock Hatlan, Luke Pladsen, Tyler Block, Ryan Hanson, Justin Strub, Logan Houg. Back row: Leslie Halverson, Michael Sweeney, Nolan Hanson, Owen Halverson, Logan Van Ruler, Nathan Johnson, Ellec Armstead, Soraya Reyes, Brady Beyer, Angel Flack. Not pictured: Hailey Regan. Photo courtesy of Waukon High School.
 

Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) in cooperation with the Clayton County Community Collaboration Council (5C) will be offering an interactive “Hidden In Plain …” exhibit for adults from the community during Parent/Teacher Conferences in the Allamakee Community School District Monday,

March 18 from 1:30-8 p.m. in the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. The exhibit is intended to serve as a drug indicator exhibit, providing an example of what most would call a typical bedroom for a teenager but also offering insight into what may also be some areas that are easily overlooked by parents/guardians and may provide evidence of teen substance use or abuse.

The Good Samaritan Society-Waukon recognizes employees and volunteers who represent those who consistently go above and beyond in their work for the Good Samaritan Society (GSS) each year. These individuals embody the eight traits of the GSS Way, which include Love, Joy, Perseverance, Honesty, Compassion, Acceptance, Courage and Humility. These individuals are selected by a nomination process and will then be considered for regional awards. All regional award winners are then eligible to be considered for national wards and celebrated at the Society’s Annual Operations Conference. Good Samaritan Society-Waukon has recognized three of its staff members pictured above, left to right, Lori Shogren (Health Information Management Director), Brookelyn Adam (RN Charge Nurse) and Judie Hanson (Activities Director), for their exceptional work and for how they live out the GSS Way while carrying out the mission of the Good Samaritan Society. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 4 to address a full agenda of items, including discussion of the City’s sponsorship of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Urban Revitalization Plan and a broadband internet survey. The Public Hearing on the Fiscal-Year 2020 Budget was opened and closed with City Clerk Lana Snitker indicating that no written or verbal comments were received. There was no Public Comment.

The council moved into Departmental Reports with Police Chief Phil Young indicating that a new squad car has arrived and would be fitted this week. Young discussed that several applications have been received and will continue to be accepted with interviews to be set up in the coming weeks for open officer positions.

Plans have been announced to hold the 2019 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waukon Sunday, March 17. Further details of the annual event will be printed as they become finalized.