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Wed
03
Jan

Carol Krumme reflects on her 50-year career at Waukon State Bank as she retires; Public invited to open house reception January 12


Career of 50 years comes to a close ... A mainstay in the local banking community, Carol Krumme of Waukon (center in above photo), is retiring after a 50-year career serving the community at Waukon State Bank. She is pictured above with Waukon State Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and former bank president Jim Sweeney (left) and current Waukon State Bank President Gail Prestemon (right). Submitted photo.

Where it all began ... Carol Krumme of Waukon is pictured above in the early days of her career at Waukon State Bank, which began in 1968. Krumme says there are so many changes in technology that have occurred in the banking industry since her first days working there in 1968 that she wouldn't be able to recall all of them, but she says she can always remember that she received excellent training with each update and that the staff worked together to get through each and every one of them. Submitted photo.

by Lissa Blake

After half a century of service to the community, Carol Krumme is retiring from Waukon State Bank.

It's been quite a career, according to Krumme, considering the job was something she says she just sort of “fell into” back in high school. Krumme has served as head teller at the bank for more than 25 years, and she has served in various other positions for the bank since she was a senior at Waukon High School in 1968.

“Our teacher, Miss Ernestine Holzer, started a pilot program for the office education students. She had 10 students she wanted to send out to businesses to work,” recalled Krumme about the beginning of what would turn out to be an enjoyable career for her.

Krumme and classmate Susan Smedsrud were sent to Waukon State Bank to work in the afternoons.

Wed
03
Jan

January is National Mentoring Month ...

In Allamakee County, 11 people are superheroes to a local youth. This January Helping Services for Youth & Families is celebrating those champions and inviting others to become a hero, during National Mentoring Month. Mentoring has a positive impact on youth, and some youth are without this type of role model. Nine million kids in America say they are growing up without adults whom they can turn to. In this area, 23 youth are currently waiting for a mentor. Research shows that mentored youth are apt to learn more, earn more and live healthier lives. Mentored youth have a greater chance of avoiding negative influences, such as substance abuse, bullying or dropping out of school.

Wed
27
Dec

Dress for success: Pair of Waukon residents dress up daily to raise awareness of human trafficking


Sharing a moment, and a cause ... Emily Moore (left) of Waukon, a substitute teacher within the Allamakee Community School District, and Moriah Downing (right), a fourth grade student at East Elementary School in Waukon, take a moment for a photo together while wearing dresses during a recent December day. The two have been wearing dresses throughout the entire month of December as part of the global Dressember campaign to help raise awareness about human trafficking. Submitted photo.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

• Two million children are currently exploited in the commercial sex trade.
• Human trafficking generates about $150 billion per year.
• More than 30 million people are currently enslaved, worldwide.

Local individuals may be as unaware of these statistics as the initiative and the website, www.dressember.org, from which they came. Lest anyone think these statistics might be referring to something that is happening “somewhere else” and doesn’t have much to do with northeast Iowa, two Waukon residents are here to say it does - and they are dressing up as part of a global effort with the hope that someday it does not.

Wed
27
Dec

Hazard Mitigation Plan for Allamakee County available for public review and comment until January 3

Allamakee County and its jurisdictions have worked diligently over the last year and a half to complete an update to a comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management, provided grant funds for the planning process, which was lead by the Allamakee County Emergency Management Agency with assistance from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission and a countywide Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee.

The Committee started working together in the summer of 2016. That process began by identifying the characteristics and potential consequences of hazards, and assessing vulnerabilities of communities and the county. After gaining an understanding of hazard risks, the Committee determined what the priorities should be and then looked at possible ways to avoid or minimize the undesired effects, culminating in a list of potential countywide hazard mitigation actions.

Thu
21
Dec

Final week to complete Allamakee County Housing Survey

Allamakee County Economic Development is conducting a survey to better understand housing in the Allamakee County area and plan for the future. The survey takes about five minutes to complete but can benefit Allamakee County and its residents and homeowners for many years to come.
Both residents of Allamakee County and those working in Allamakee County but living elsewhere are encouraged to complete the survey. The survey can be completed online at www.allamakeecounty.com or a paper copy can be picked up at any bank in Allamakee County and returned or mailed to the Allamakee County Economic Development Office at 101 West Main, Waukon, IA 52172.
Deadline to complete the survey is this Sunday, December 31. For more information contact Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Director Val Reinke at 563-568-2624 or by email at aced@mchsi.com.

Wed
20
Dec

ACSD Board of Directors votes unanimously during regular monthly session to close Waterville Elementary School at the end of the current school year


ASCD Board of Directors votes unanimously to close Waterville Elementary ... Waterville Elementary School will close at the completion of this current 2017-2018 school year following a decision made by the Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors at its regular monthly session Monday, December 18. On a unanimous vote of all five board members, the board opted to close the school at the end of the current school year, which will come to completion in May 2018. For additional details on the school board meeting where the decision was made, see the accompanying article that begins at left. Photo by Sara Aleckson-Melcher.

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met on a couple occasions this past week, including a work session Tuesday, December 12 and the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday, December 18.

Wed
20
Dec

Hazard Mitigation Plan for Allamakee County available for public review and comment until January 3

Allamakee County and its jurisdictions have worked diligently over the last year and a half to complete an update to a comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management, provided grant funds for the planning process, which was lead by the Allamakee County Emergency Management Agency with assistance from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission and a countywide Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee.

The Committee started working together in the summer of 2016. That process began by identifying the characteristics and potential consequences of hazards, and assessing vulnerabilities of communities and the county. After gaining an understanding of hazard risks, the Committee determined what the priorities should be and then looked at possible ways to avoid or minimize the undesired effects, culminating in a list of potential countywide hazard mitigation actions.

Wed
20
Dec

Series of Upper Iowa River Watershed meetings garners excellent feedback

by Lissa Blake

A series of recent open house forums focused on  area water quality were a success,  according to Megan Buckingham, watershed outreach coordinator for Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D).

Around 100 residents and landowners attended one of three forums held in November to discuss plans to reduce flooding and improve water quality in the Upper Iowa River Watershed. The watershed open houses, hosted by Northeast Iowa RC& D, were held in Dorchester, Decorah and Cresco.

Wed
20
Dec

New Albin enjoys first live community Christmas tree ...

New Albin has its first-ever live Christmas tree (pictured at far right) this year in the City Park area, thanks to the combined efforts of the New Albin Improvement League (NAIL), community members and some area children. “For a few years we have thrown around the idea of getting a large, live Christmas tree,” says Alexie Grotegut, NAIL president. “This year - with a very generous donation of the tree and the help of Jeff Meyer and Tom Feuerhelm - we were able to make it happen.”

To help decorate the tree, ornament-making classes for area youth were held at the New Albin Public Library under the direction of Heather Abrahamzon. “The ornaments turned out great, and were added to the tree,” Grotegut says. Some of those ornaments and some of the local youth who helped make them during those classes are pictured in the surrounding photos.

Wed
20
Dec

Supervisors discuss property line matter, usage of former courthouse Sheriff's office space and communications tower location

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 18 to address a full agenda of items, including the discussion of a site plan for an Alliant Energy and Interstate Power Communication Tower, a Hazard Mitigation plan presentation and discussion of joining other counties in support of litigation against opioid manufacturers. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order with the current agenda and meeting minutes of December 11 being approved.

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