Community News

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.

EARL Public Transit, a program of Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation, is once again running the Leprechaun Loop Safe Ride Shuttle immediately following the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Waukon Sunday, March 17 until 8 p.m.

“Last year was a huge success. We made the roads safer for everyone,” Maura Jones, Transportation Director at EARL Public Transit, said. “For just a dollar per ride, let EARL be your designated driver. With two shuttle buses available, riders can hop on at one of the stops on the loop and they’re set.”

The bus stops will be located in front of City Club and Goodfellas, and Green Valley Getaway, and at the Vet’s Club. Per transit policy, alcohol is not permitted on any buses. For more information about EARL Public Transit, visit www.neicac.org/transit, follow EARL Public Transit on Facebook or call 866-382-4259.
 

Local teens will be tuning in at the library as Robey Memorial Library celebrates the annual Teen Tech Week™ March 4-9. The library will join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating Teen Tech Week™ to raise awareness about how Robey Memorial creates a space to extend teens’ learning beyond the classroom where they can explore, create and share content.

Teen Tech Week™ is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially the types offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week™ encourages teens to take advantage of the technology at libraries for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals who can help them achieve greater digital literacy.

Allie Bieber, daughter of Ed and Amy Bieber of Waukon and a sophomore at Waukon High School, was crowned the 2019 Iowa Angus Princess at the Iowa Angus Association Annual Banquet held during the Iowa Beef Expo in Des Moines Wednesday, February 13. As a fifth generation Angus producer, Bieber said she is honored to be able to represent the breed and the industry in this capacity.

The application process through the Iowa Angus Association involved filling out an application form and writing an essay describing her involvement in the Angus industry, both as an individual and within a family capacity, as well as how she would intend to further promote the Angus breed. She was then contacted for a telephone interview and later received another call congratulating her and asking her to attend the Iowa Beef Expo.