Top Stories

Iowa Senator Michael Breitbach and Representative Kristi Hager will be hosting a legislative forum Saturday, March 17 at the Allamakee County Farm Bureau building located at 14 First Avenue NE in Waukon. The forum is scheduled to be held from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and will offer the public an opportunity for discussion with  State of Iowa legislators representing their area.
 

Allamakee County Treasurer Lori Hesse would like to remind property owners the second installment of property taxes is due by the end of this month (March 2018). Being the end of March falls on a weekend, property owners will have until Monday, April 2 to pay their taxes without penalty. It should also be noted that the Allamakee County Courthouse will be closed Friday, March 30 this year in observance of Good Friday.

Property owners may pay their taxes at the Allamakee County Treasurer's office in the Allamakee County Courthouse located at 110 Allamakee Street in Waukon, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Those paying taxes are reminded to bring their tax stubs with their payment to insure proper credit. To avoid penalty on the second installment, payment must be received in the Treasurer’s Office by Monday, April 2. Penalty begins Tuesday, April 3.

by Lissa Blake

It could mean the end of an era that’s lasted more than seven decades.

If someone doesn’t step forward to reopen the Vet's Club in Waukon, it may be closed permanently.

Vietnam Army Veteran John Regan is the president of the “Big 10” Board, which consists of four members from VFW Post No. 4117, four members of American Legion Post No. 62 and a member from each of the clubs’ Ladies Auxiliaries. He said the club has been closed since November 18 of last year, when the most recent managers, Terry and Sue Grotegut, decided to seek other ventures.

Regan said for many years the board has rented out the club for $100 per week. Anyone wishing to manage the club has to show proof of insurance and apply and pay for the applicable food and liquor licenses. “I did have someone who was scheduled to open it in April, but then he backed out,” said Regan.

Aaron Thomas, son of slain legendary Iowa high school football coach Ed Thomas of Aplington-Parkersburg High School, will speak to Waukon Middle School and Waukon High School students Tuesday, March 13 at 2 p.m. and to the community members of the school district later that same evening, at 7 p.m. Both presentations will be held in the Waukon High School gymnasium and are open to the general public to attend at no charge.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) will hold a public information meeting in Waukon Thursday, March 8 to discuss the proposed improvements of Iowa 9 from the south junction of Iowa 76 to the north corporate limit of Waukon (including Rossville Road on up to the stoplight intersection and up Allamakee Street) and on Iowa 76 from the north junction of Iowa 9 to West Ninth Street (West Main Street in Waukon). That project is slated to take place in 2019.

All interested persons are invited to attend this meeting anytime between 5 and 6:30 p.m. at the Waukon Wellness Center Senior Citizens Room #101, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW in Waukon. The meeting will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. Iowa DOT and consultant staff will be present to informally discuss the proposed improvements.

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors has made a verbal offer of the district's Superintendent position to area native Jay Mathis following a recommendation offered to the board by the district's Superintendent Search Committee at a Monday evening, March 5 special session of the board. Mathis has reportedly verbally accepted the position, but his official hiring is still pending a background check and formal board approval.

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) completed a stakeholder survey earlier this year, which resulted in 193 total responses from students, teachers, support staff, parents, community members, administrators, and alumni. The results conveyed clear desired qualifications for the school district's new superintendent, which included:
• Builds school and community relations
• Visible in the school and community
• Effectively manages district resources
• Ability to lead school improvement efforts
• Strong communication skills.
The initial candidate pool included 18 total applicants. Seven candidates were from outside the state of Iowa, eight candidates had superintendent experience, and five candidates had an Ed.D. or Ph.D. degree. Based on application materials, references and screening interviews, the following finalists have been named as those who best fit the desired qualifications for the position:

Business of the Year - Reel Core ...
Reel Core of Waukon was named 2018 Business of the Year at the Waukon Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet held Friday, February 23 at the Waukon Banquet Center. Nomination information for Reel Core in its selection as this year's recipient of the award focused on the fact that this past year saw Reel Core add 40,000 square feet to its working space facility, which allowed the business to expand its workforce from 70 employees to 85 and also gives the business the ability to "expand into new markets that will add to the continued growth and stability of the company and Waukon's economic base." In its more than two decades of existence in Waukon, Reel Core has grown from an original 10,000 square foot facility with just 10 employees to its current 125,000 square foot facility employing 85 individuals.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 26 to address a full agenda of items, including a Public Hearing for the E-Cigarette Ordinance, the consideration of motor grader quotes and discussion of the Allamakee County Housing Study. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order with approval of the current agenda and meeting minutes of February 19. There was no public comment.

The Supervisors moved into the Public Hearing for the E-Cigarette Ordinance, which prohibits the use of electronic smoking devices in public places. The hearing was opened and closed without any written or verbal comment. The first reading of the ordinance was approved with the second and third readings to be added to the March 5 Supervisors meeting agenda.

A presentation on "Crisis in EMS" is scheduled to be held Tuesday, March 6 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA) Building D, located at 1400 North Second Street in Elkader. Entitled “Where you live should not determine IF you live in a medical emergency," the presentation will be facilitated by Bremer County Emergency Management Coordinator and EMT Kip Ladage and Bremer County EMS Association President Jim Schutte with a focus on the crisis in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that is occurring all over Iowa.