Top Stories

The presentation on “Opioid Overdose Crisis: A Local Perspective” originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 3, had to be rescheduled due to weather. The presentation has now been slated for Wednesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at Farmers and Merchants Bank at 201 West Savings Main Street in Waukon.

Experts say the United States is in the throes of an opioid epidemic, as more than two million Americans have become dependent on or abused prescription pain pills and street drugs. Some of these Americans may be family members, neighbors, co-workers or friends to those reading this article.

To learn more about how the opioid crisis is impacting Iowans, area residents are invited to the April 25 presentation. The panel of experts presenting at the event includes Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman, Robin Esmann, RN  and Joan Parker, RN. Those attending can find out what is happening on a local and state level to address this serious nationwide issue.
 

The 2018 Waukon High School Prom is scheduled for this Saturday, April 21 at the current Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m. to the public for the 8 p.m. Grand March, with seating available in the Waukon High School auditorium. Following the Grand March will be the coronation of this year’s Prom King and Queen. Visitors are asked to exit the building after the coronation in order for students to start the dance. This year students will need to either attend the dance or participate in alternative activities in the Middle School cafeteria in order to attend the Post Prom event in the Waukon High School gymnasium. The Post Prom doors will open at 10:45 p.m., with activities, including games and the hypnotist, taking place from 11:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m. Pictured at right are the senior class Queen and King candidates for the 2018 Waukon High School Prom.

The 2018 Kee High School Prom is scheduled for this Saturday, April 21. Pictured above are the senior class Queen and King candidates for the annual event. Left to right - Front row: Eric Rud, Nicki Wood, Annika Stahl. Back row: Kyle Hitchins, Caleb Conway, William Mitchell. Not pictured: Hallie Vinson. The annual banquet will be held at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall on Main Street in Lansing, with doors opening at 5:15 p.m. The dance will take place from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight in the banquet hall as well. The public is invited to attend the Grand March, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., with doors opening to the public at 7:45 p.m. and a free-will donation being taken. Following the Grand March, this year’s Prom King and Queen will be crowned. Post Prom festivities will follow the dance until 4 a.m. at the former Lansing Middle School gymnasium. Photo courtesy of the Kee High School Yearbook.
 

The presentation on “Opioid Overdose Crisis: A Local Perspective” originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 3, had to be rescheduled due to winter weather. The presentation has now been slated for Wednesday, April 25 at the same time and location as the previously scheduled event.

According to statistical reports, every day, more than 115 Americans die after overdosing on opioids. Those reports also show that overdose is the leading cause of death in Americans under the age of 50. The misuse of and addiction to opioids - including prescription pain relievers, heroin and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl - is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.

by Lissa Blake

After only nine months in operation, attendance at the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center in Lansing has surpassed projections for an entire year. That’s according to Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) Director Jim Janett and Assistant Director Jarrod Olson.

“A normal average for the first year of an education/visitor center is between 10,000 and 14,000,” explained Janett, adding he was hoping for at least 10,000. “We’re at 11,000 with three months to go.”

Janett and Olson explained attendance numbers at the new center were compiled from a combination of people from the general public, youth groups like Allamakee County 4-H, and 11 field trip groups from seven different school districts. About 400 visitors stopped in during RAGBRAI® last summer.

When asked how attendance is tallied, Olson said, at this point, it is a manual count.

Late Tuesday afternoon, April 17, the Waukon Police Department, in coordination with the Allamakee County Attorney’s Office and Department of Criminal Investigation, filed Second Degree Murder charges against John Michael Quanrude, age 32, of Waukon in the District Court for Allamakee County in connection with the Monday, April 16 fatal shooting at 49 Jean Road in the Parkview Trailer Court in Waukon. This charge comes as the result of an initial criminal investigation conducted by the Waukon Police Department, Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, and Allamakee County Attorney’s Office, which involved the execution of at least two search warrants and several interviews.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 9 to address a full agenda of items, including the Fiscal-Year 2019 Iowa Partnerships for Success grant continuation, discussion of a nuisance house in Waukon Junction and consideration of road rock resurfacing bids. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order with approval of the current agenda and meeting minutes of April 9.

Without members of the public in attendance, Allamakee County Environmental Health Director Laurie Moody discussed grant funding and budgeting during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

Becker discusses son’s mental illness that led to shooting of family friend

by Lissa Blake

Don’t be afraid of someone who has an illness in their brain.

That was just one of the many lessons speaker Joan Becker has shared since the fateful day when her son, Mark, took the life of beloved family friend and Parkersburg town hero, Ed Thomas.

Becker, author of the book “Sentenced to Life,” spoke to a crowd of more than 200 people at the Waukon High School Auditorium Friday night, April 6 as part of a program sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and the VMH Nursing Council.

Becker discussed the years of struggle her family endured trying to get her son help before he walked into his high school’s weight room the morning of June 24, 2009 and shot  legendary Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas.

Larry Schellhammer of rural Lansing is announcing his candidacy for the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors. Schellhammer is seeking re-election to the Board of Supervisors, on which he has served since 2010.

He and his wife, Cindy, have two adult children, John of rural Lansing and Leah of Cedar Falls. Schellhammer has been a dairy farmer in Allamakee County since 1977 and is currently in a farming partnership with his son, John. He is a member of Iron Ridge Church in Waukon, where he is part of the Worship and Leadership Teams.

At a Tuesday morning, April 10 special session, the Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors approved a bid submitted by the City of Waterville for the purchase of the Waterville Elementary School building and land. The board held a public hearing regarding the sale of the property and later opened three bids for its purchase before going into closed session to discuss the bids. Upon return to open session, the City of Waterville bid in the amount of $15,000 was approved. Additional information about the public hearing, bid openings and other business addressed at the 7 a.m. Tuesday morning session can be found on Page 8A inside the April 11 edition of The Standard.

For more complete coverage, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.