Top Stories

Wed
21
Dec

Avoiding a Tennessee tragedy: Local school districts take extensive measures when hiring school bus drivers to ensure student safety

by David M. Johnson

The catchy children’s tune that sings “the wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round” may sound cute, but when considering the precious cargo those big yellow buses carry, one may wonder what it takes to be a good and safe driver.

This past November there was a horrific accident involving a school bus in Chattanooga, TN. The driver was driving at a high rate of speed, lost control and overturned the bus he was driving, hitting a telephone pole and tree. Five children died and another 12 children were hospitalized due to injuries from the accident.

The driver was charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and reckless driving.   There were reports of concern of questionable actions by the driver in the past and the vetting processes in his hiring and possible others.

Wed
21
Dec

Fire near New Albin results in property owner being taken into custody, treated for minor burns

The Allamakee County Sheriff's Department was dispatched to a garage fire at 2270 Wheatland Road in rural New Albin Tuesday, December 13 at approximately 10:19 a.m. The New Albin Fire Department responded to the fire and battled the blaze, finding the garage fully engulfed when they arrived.

According to reports from the Allamakee County Sheriff's office, property owner Mark Colsch had entered the adjacent residence and, according to on-scene responders, did have an axe in his possession. The report indicates the first Allamakee County Sheriff's Deputy on scene instructed Colsch to exit the burning building and Colsch refused to comply. When other officers arrived, Colsch reportedly did exit the structure and was very verbally aggressive toward officers. Colsch was ordered numerous times to vacate the burning building.

Wed
21
Dec

Supervisors hear update on Upper Iowa River Drainage District flood repair, approve hourly arrangement for Human Resource consultant

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 19 to address a variety of topics including a loan for the Upper Iowa River Drainage District flood repair expenses, consideration of Human Resource consultant options and the establishment of snowmobile routes within Secondary Roads right of way. There were no comments made during the Public Comments portion of the meeting.

Upper Iowa Drainage District Clerk Lynn Reburn was present to address the agenda items relating to the Drainage District loan for flood repair expenses. Reburn presented a handout to the Supervisors that included figures relating to 2016 Flood Work invoices received as of 12/11/16 and the remaining work estimates for that same time period. A total of $231,949.77 has been invoiced for contractors that have been working on flood repair projects.

Wed
21
Dec

Council discusses, approves Compliance Plan for proposed wastewater treatment facility, rebate for Electric Franchise fee

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, December 19 to discuss a full agenda of items including a proposed Electric Franchise rebate, a new Police Station facility and a Compliance Plan for Wastewater System Improvements. There were no comments during the Public Comments portion of the meeting.

Under Departmental Reports, Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell advised that there is water bubbling up in the street near Waukon Greenhouse, explaining that this water is the result of a natural spring with a high water table being a factor. Waukon Assistant Police Chief Paul Wagner advised that applications are coming in for the advertised officer vacancy.

Wed
14
Dec

Regan family donates piece of USS Arizona in honor of local veterans


Jacquelyn "Jac" Regan of Waukon (left) and her son, Dr. Stephen Regan (right), display the memorial they donated in memory of their husband and father, former Waukon pharmacist and military veteran Daniel Regan, at an event held at Robey Memorial Library Tuesday, December 6, the eve of the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The memorial contains a small piece (in the middle on the right side of the memorial) of the actual USS Arizona that was sunk in the bombing attack and remains as part of Pearl Harbor Monument. The memorial was donated to the City of Waukon and local Veterans organizations in honor of two local men, Ensign Lawrence Anderson and Gunners Mate Stanley Teslow, who were serving on the ship at the time of the attack. Photo by Lissa Blake.

Members of the family of Ensign Lawrence Anderson, a Waukon native killed aboard The USS Arizona in the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, are pictured above with Jacquelyn "Jac" Regan of Waukon and Tom Regan of the local American Legion displaying the memorial featuring a photo and an actual piece of USS Arizona. The memorial was donated by the Daniel E. Regan family to the City of Waukon and the local Veterans organizations at a presentation held at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon Tuesday, December 6. Photo by Lissa Blake.

Walter and Lorraine Teslow, brother and sister-in-law of Gunners Mate Stanley Teslow, a Waukon native who was serving on The USS Arizona and survived the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, are pictured above with Dr. Stephen Regan and his mother, Jacquelyn "Jac" Regan of Waukon, displaying the memorial featuring a photo and an actual piece of USS Arizona. The memorial was donated by the Daniel E. Regan family to the City of Waukon and local Veterans organizations at a presentation held at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon Tuesday, December 6, the eve of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Photo by Lissa Blake.

by Lissa Blake

The bombing of Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 was the moment when everything changed - for the United States, for the rest of the world, and for family and friends of two local veterans.
Waukon native Dr. Stephen Regan spoke to a crowded room at Robey Memorial Library in his hometown Tuesday, December 6 in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, commemorating that historical event and some local ties to it.

Dr. Regan, a military historian and author, was on hand to present the City of Waukon and area veterans with a small fragment of the USS Arizona (BB 39) in a framed memorial in honor of two Waukon veterans, Ens. Lawrence Anderson and Gunners Mate Stanley Teslow, who served on the ship at the time of its demise 75 years ago. The memorial also includes a photo of USS Arizona, along with an engraved inscription that reads, "Presented by the Daniel E. Regan family Cedar Rapids NLUS."

Wed
14
Dec

Northeast Iowa Community College and partners expand reach with new Business and Community Board

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is expanding its current Sector Board in Allamakee County to include regional partnerships with four northeast Iowa communities, in addition to members representing higher education, businesses, economic development and workforce agencies.

The expanded Business and Community Board, previously known as the Waukon Sector Board, brings together businesses, educators, Iowa Workforce Development, Allamakee County Economic Development and now community members from four local school districts - Allamakee, Eastern Allamakee, Postville and MFL/MarMac - to develop a regional action plan to find solutions to workforce challenges, identify skilled workforce needs, enhance career and technical education and boost local economies.

More than 45 members of the new Business and Community Board met November 30 to discuss objectives of the group, workforce concerns and potential solutions.

Wed
14
Dec

Supervisors hear request for housing study, update on efforts to maintain Camp Tahigwa for original purpose

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 12 to address a variety of topics. Among those were the County's membership with Eastern Iowa Tourism, plat approvals and discussion of Human Resource consultant options.

During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development addressed the Board regarding the need for a housing study. Reinke explained that such a study would provide an inventory of what the county has regarding housing and is a necessary piece of information to be used in applying for grants and in attracting new industry.

Thu
08
Dec

Wednesday evening accident on Highway 9 claims life of LeClaire man

The Iowa State Patrol reports that a Wednesday evening, December 7 accident on Highway 9 west of Waukon claimed the life of a man from Le Claire and injured a Decorah woman. The initial report indicates that 43-year-old Christopher Sean Hoff of Le Claire was driving eastbound on Highway 9 in his 2011 Ford F150 pick-up truck when he crossed the center line about seven miles west of Waukon and struck a 2012 Buick Enclave head-on driven by 44-year-old Amy Robinson of Decorah just west of Highway 9's intersection with Pole Line Road. The report further indicates that Hoff was transported to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon by ambulance, but the injuries he sustained in the accident were severe enough to claim his life. The report indicates Hoff was not wearing a seat belt. Robinson was reported as wearing a seat belt, and she was also transported to Veterans Memorial Hospital but was treated for only minor injuries.

Wed
07
Dec

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stops in Allamakee County...

First-ever stop in New Albin, and ...
Photo by Lori Darling.
... continued strong support at its Lansing stop as well ...
Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train made its first-ever stop in New Albin Sunday, December 4, where Canadian Pacific Railroad presented a $1,000 donation check to The Way Station. Monetary donations totaling another $545 and considerable food donations were also made to The Way Station by those in the fairly large crowd that attended the first-time event.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train also made its biannual stop in Lansing (pictured below right) Sunday, December 4, where Canadian Pacific presented a $4,000 donation check to the Allamakee County Food Shelf, and those in attendance donated $896 and 1,064 pounds of food to the Food Shelf as well. "We'd really like to thank all the people who came out and showed their love and support by donating in the spirit of the holiday season," expressed Wayne Burk and Ann Roed, Directors of the Allamakee County Food Shelf. "Their generosity makes it possible for us to continue to serve those most in need during the holiday season."

Wed
07
Dec

Supervisors tour project areas ...

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors took a tour of the northern portion of the county Monday, November 28 with Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour, stopping at various project areas impacted by the flooding that took place in Allamakee County during this past summer. Those project areas included some already completed, such as clean-up and streambank stabilization along the Upper Iowa River depicted by the lighter soil areas along the banks in the top photo at right. Other projects were in progress but have since been completed, such as the cleaning out of the culvert area pictured in the middle photo at right at the intersection of Iowa River Drive (County Road A26) and Wheatland Road by Brennan Construction of Lansing.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Top Stories