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The Miss Iowa USA® and Miss Iowa Teen USA® competitions are slated for this Sunday, October 8 in Newton, and one will feature a competitor of local fame. Cassandra Berger, daughter of Rusty and Cynthia Berger of Waukon and a 2012 graduate of Waukon High School, will be among the dozens of competitors seeking the crown of Miss Iowa USA® at this year's event.

The competition, which will be held at the Newton High School Auditorium at 4 p.m. this Sunday, consists of three proportional segments: evening gown, fitness/swimwear and personality interview. Eligible young women must be between the ages of 13 and 27 and be unmarried residents of Iowa.

by Lissa Blake

A new Allamakee County attraction is getting national attention.

The newly-built Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing was named a National Interpretive Center by the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) during its annual meeting September 19-21 that took place in Allamakee and Clayton counties.

by Lissa Blake

Allamakee adults who serve liquor to minors will have more to lose, following the passage of a new Allamakee County “Social Host” ordinance. The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors recently passed the Allamakee County Social Host and Civil Cost Recovery Ordinance, which imposes stricter penalties than the State of Iowa law which was passed two years ago.

HISTORY
When the State of Iowa passed a “social host” law in 2015, local advocates in Allamakee County didn’t think the fine of $200 was strict enough to change anyone’s behavior. Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP)/Iowa Partnerships for Success representatives Jean Bossom and Max Grotegut thought Allamakee County could do better.

“We didn’t think, as a coalition, that $200 was enough of a deterrent,” said Grotegut.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, October 2 to address a variety of matters, including the Buddy Poppy Proclamation, a service line program by Utility Service Partners and the two-hour downtown parking limit. There were no Public Comments heard or read during that portion of the meeting.

The council moved right into Departmental Reports, with Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell advising that four of the seven sewer repairs throughout the city have been completed. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett discussed that his department has moved to its winter work schedule and work is moving forward on the department's bucket truck. Park and Rec Wellness Director Jeremy Strub advised that work on the parking area near the Memory Garden in the Waukon City Park is going well and that the Park and Recreation Department is purchasing a used pick-up truck, with an older vehicle to be put up for sealed bid.

Waukon High School Homecoming Royalty...  Waukon High School seniors Abe Schwartz (left) and Lauren Elliott (right) were crowned Waukon High School's 2017 Homecoming King and Queen at the traditional "Burning of the 'W'" pep rally Thursday, September 21 at the Waukon High School gym. Additional photos of Waukon High School's Homecoming events are featured on Page 2A inside this week's print edition and e-edition, as well as coverage of Waukon football's Homecoming victory over Waterloo Columbus featured on Page 15A this week.
 

by Joe Moses

Beyond being classic car enthusiasts, Lyle Bodensteiner of Waukon and Larry Graf of La Crescent, MN have shared similar paths in life, well beyond an interest in Dodge Chargers that has continued throughout their adult lives.

While having work done on his 1968 Dodge Charger by Brian Bodensteiner of Bodensteiner Body Werks in Waukon, Graf became acquainted with Lyle Bodensteiner, Brian's father who also owns a 1968 Dodge Charger. Bodensteiner described his current Charger as a replacement for a car he had owned earlier in life.

Graf relayed his story of purchasing his '68 Dodge Charger in the fall of 1967 when he was 22-years old. The car had a sticker price of $3,500, but he was able to buy it for $3,200 from the dealership in Red Wing, MN where he was employed. Graf said that he later sold the car for start-up money to begin an auto-body repair business.

by Lissa Blake

More than 20 people attended a kick-off meeting for a countywide housing study for Allamakee County Wednesday evening, September 20. The meeting was hosted by the Allamakee County Housing Needs Assessment Countywide Task Force in order to launch the study, which is expected to take approximately nine months to complete.

The meeting was facilitated by Sara Neuzil of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission. Recently, she has completed similar studies for Winneshiek and Clayton counties, the 7 Rivers Alliance and the City of Oelwein. The study invites stakeholders from Harpers Ferry, Lansing, New Albin, Postville, Dorchester, Waterville and Waukon to weigh in about both the challenges and opportunities facing people living in the area.

Court selected for Homecoming 2017 being celebrated at Waukon High School this week...

by Lissa Blake

When disaster strikes in a far-off place, people often wonder if there is something they can do to help. And when Decorah native Tim Smedsrud and friend Curtis Dundee, both of Waukon, heard about the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey recently, they answered the call.

“I have this 6’ x 12’ trailer and I just thought maybe there was something we could be doing with that,” said Smedsrud.

Smedsrud, an Allamakee County Sheriff’s Deputy, called his friend, Dundee, who works for Bruening Rock Products.

“I called and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got this crazy idea. What do you think if we take donations and make a trip down to Houston?’” recalled Smedsrud.

Dundee jumped at the chance.

It wasn’t the first time the two men, who met at Iron Ridge Church, would join efforts to help others in need. In March of this year, they were also involved with a group that traveled to Haiti for hurricane relief through Upstream International.

Andy Kelleher, a New Albin resident, has announced his candidacy to represent the Iowa House of Representatives 56th District, which includes all of Allamakee County and most of Clayton County.

“I’m running for the Iowa House of Representatives because I believe that a strong, healthy community is the key to better lives in Allamakee and Clayton Counties,” Kelleher said. “We need to transform our district into a place that not only welcomes new businesses but actively encourages them. To that end, we absolutely need to ensure that our schools remain well funded. We need to make sure our rural hospitals have enough funds to stay open. We need to help communities build and maintain their infrastructure; while we may not be able to make our roads wider, we can make them smoother. We need to support our local farmers along with local business owners. Our lack of population shouldn’t mean we have a lack of opportunity.”