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NICC Waukon Center will be lone polling site

Voters in the city of Waukon should be going to the polls Tuesday, December 5 to help determine the town's mayor for the next two years in a special run-off election scheduled following none of the five candidates for Mayor of Waukon in the November 7 City Election receiving the required 50% + 1 vote majority to win the office. Polls for the run-off election will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. December 5, with just one polling location serving all Waukon voters in this particular election, that polling site being located in Room 109 of the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center.

Allamakee County residents and visitors will have a pair of opportunities December 7 to visit the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train within the county's borders, as the lighted holiday spectacle will be stopping in both Lansing and New Albin again this year. Both locations will feature 25-minute performances by scheduled country music performers Terri Clark, Dallas Smith and Kelly Prescott, along with an appearance by Santa Claus. Those visiting the train at its stops are asked to contribute a non-perishable healthy food item or monetary donation, with those food and funding proceeds from the Lansing visit being donated to the Allamakee County Food Shelf and the same from the New Albin stop being donated to The Way Station. Canadian Pacific urges those bringing food items to consult their “healthy donations” link on their website at www.cpr.ca/holiday-train/healthy-donations for donation suggestions.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 27 to address agenda items including the agreement between the City of Waukon and Allamakee County for construction of the Green Valley Road Bridge replacement project, plat requests and discussion regarding employer of record and insurance. There was no Public Comment.

The Waukon High School Choir will be sharing its music with the area church community during its 23rd Annual Tour of Churches this Sunday morning, December 3, singing at seven different churches according to the schedule printed on the front page of this week's edition. At each stop, the choir takes a freewill offering to be donated to the Allamakee County Relief Office, the Allamakee County Food Shelf, the Backpack Program in the Allamakee Community School District, the Allamakee Giving Tree and the Waukon Community Meal program. If inclement weather prevents safe travel, a cancellation announcement will be made through the usual school-closing channels, and the tour will not be rescheduled for a later date. Submitted photo.
 

Members of the Waukon football team celebrate the program's first-ever State Championship after their 29-0 shut-out victory over Williamsburg in the Class 2A State Championship game played in the UNI-Dome at Cedar Falls Friday, November 17. The Indians and Raiders battled through a scoreless first quarter to just an 8-0 Indian lead at halftime before the grid Tribe rolled to an additional 21 unanswered points in the second half on the way to the title, proving true the theme of "LIMITLESS" the team chose for this season. A special pull-out section with additional photos and complete coverage of the Indians' Class 2A State Championship triumph can be found on Pages 7A-10A inside the print edition and e-edition. To be part of a commemorative "Season of Gridiron Greatness" special publication, see Page 9A.

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Allamakee County residents and visitors will have a pair of opportunities December 7 to visit the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train within the county's borders, as the lighted holiday spectacle will be stopping in both Lansing and New Albin again this year. Both locations will feature 25-minute performances by scheduled country music performers Terri Clark, Dallas Smith and Kelly Prescott, along with an appearance by Santa Claus. Those visiting the train at its stops are asked to contribute a non-perishable healthy food item or monetary donation, with those food and funding proceeds from the Lansing visit being donated to the Allamakee County Food Shelf and the same from the New Albin stop being donated to The Way Station. Canadian Pacific urges those bringing food items to consult their “healthy donations” link on their website at www.cpr.ca/holiday-train/healthy-donations for donation suggestions.

Waukon State Bank would like businesses and community members to be aware that there are reports of mutilated coins being used in Waukon, such as those pictured above. The coins are being presented as both loose change and bundled in rolls to pay for purchases. According to Waukon State Bank officials, there is not an outlet for banks to return mutilated coins like there is for mutilated paper currency, therefore rendering the coins to be of no value and unable to be honored by the banking industry. The bank suggests that businesses should inspect all currency and coins before accepting it and should not accept rolled coins or loose mutilated coins for purchases. If a business encounters individuals using mutilated coins, it is suggested to refuse payment and direct them to their local bank. Those with further questions may contact any local bank or the Waukon Police Department for further information. Photo by Joe Moses.
 

by Lissa Blake

Staff and inmates at the new Allamakee Public Safety Center are safer now than they were at the old facility.

That’s according to Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick, who said there are many benefits associated with the new facility, which was officially dedicated six months ago at the site of the former Makee Manor on Highway 9 north of Waukon.

“When we were located at the courthouse, when we brought inmates in to book them, the people who were at the counter conducting business were standing elbow-to-elbow with those being booked,” said Mellick.

Mellick said the old procedure was that law enforcement officials would pull up to the back of the courthouse and escort prisoners into the small elevator. At the new facility, squad cars pull into a protected garage with doors that are only controlled at the jail control center.

The City Elections held throughout Allamakee County Tuesday, November 7 produced a variety of scenarios for having just three actual contested races throughout the entire county. Those results produced one new mayor, replaced an incumbent city council member, elected two write-in candidates and, in the most contested race on this year's ballots within the county, saw none of five candidates receive enough votes to be declared a winner, forcing a run-off election early next month.

by Brianne Eilers

A public forum was held Monday evening, November 13 in the Waukon High School Auditorium to give the public a chance to ask questions and voice their opinions and concerns regarding the future of Waterville Elementary School with the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors and administrative staff fielding those questions. Copies of the informational newsletter that was mailed to constituents of the ACSD in October were made available for attendees, as well as the questions and answers that have been posted on the ACSD website.