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Wed
27
Sep

Phase 3 of fiber optic internet project in Waukon getting set to begin in October


Phase 3 of Waukon Fiber Optic Internet Project 2023-2024: Map image courtesy of ACSkyways, a division of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative.

Foundational work for the future ... Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative General Manager Hollee McCormick (left) speaks with a member of the West Union Trenching crew during the ongoing fiber optic internet project taking place in Waukon. Crews are preparing to begin Phase 3 of that fiber optic deployment in Waukon with trenching and boring scheduled to start in the northern half of Waukon in October of this year. Submitted photo.

The next phase in a planned deployment of fiber optic internet in Waukon is set to begin next month, according to representatives from AC Skyways, a division of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative (ACEC).

Beginning in October, the physical work of boring the main fiber optics lines will begin on the north Waukon project, which will bring over 800 “drops” to the community. This is the next phase in a large development to bring fiber to the entire community.

“Bringing high quality fiber optic internet is a major goal of ours. Every year, it becomes even more apparent how much this is needed in our area,” said Hollee McCormick, ACEC General Manager. “This is a continuation of our overall project to bring fiber to the entire Waukon area, benefiting both residents and businesses in a variety of ways. It’s exciting to be moving one step closer, we only wish we could move faster, as we know how badly folks everywhere want this service.”

Wed
20
Sep

Senior Court selected for Homecoming at Waukon High School...

Students at Waukon High School have selected their Homecoming Court representatives for the 2023 celebration, with the coronation of this year's Homecoming Queen and King scheduled to take place at the "Burning of the W" pep rally scheduled for this Thursday evening, September 21, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Waukon High School gym. Pictured in the photo above are this year's Waukon High School Homecoming Queen and King candidates from the 2023-2024 Senior class, including: Left to right - Front row: Queen candidates Cameron Johnson, Lynsey Houg, Azlynn Cota, Olivia Bossom; Back row: King candidates Wyatt Gulla, Jack O’Neill, Dylan Hogan, Jacob Courtney.

It should be noted that the pep rally will take place this Thursday evening, as scheduled, but there will be no traditional burning of the “W” at the end of the rally due to the ban on open burning currently in place within Allamakee County.

Wed
20
Sep

Change to Kee High School Homecoming for 2023 moves public coronation ceremony to this Sunday ...

Change to Kee High School Homecoming for 2023 moves public coronation ceremony to this Sunday ...

Kee High School will be celebrating its 2023 Homecoming the week of September 24-30, and that celebration will kick off with a change to the traditional crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen this year. Instead of crowning this year’s King and Queen at the traditional Friday afternoon pep rally toward the end of Homecoming Week, that coronation event will now kick off the week full of celebration and is taking place this coming Sunday evening, September 24 at 5:45 p.m. and will also include the illumination of a lighted Kee High School display in the interior entrance area of the high school building, near the high school office location. The public is invited to attend that Sunday ceremony but will then be excused prior to the student-only Dodgeball in the Dark Tournament scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Wed
20
Sep

Burn ban instituted in Allamakee County remains in place despite weekend rain


One of many open burning bans ... Allamakee County joined 10 other northeast Iowa counties, and 18 Iowa counties total, in recently putting a ban on open burning in place, doing so with a request made to the State of Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office that followed with a proclamation Tuesday, September 12. Nearly all of the counties pictured above also remain in the Extreme Drought category determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Delaware County (with the blue circle pictured above) lifted its open burning ban Wednesday, September 13 after initially putting it in place as early as September 5.

Allamakee County became the 18th county in the state of Iowa, and the 11th county in northeast Iowa, to institute a ban on open burning as Extreme Drought conditions continue to grip many of those same counties, especially in the northeast Iowa region. That ban became effective as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 12 after all six fire chiefs in Allamakee County agreed the ban was necessary and Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker submitted the burn ban request to the State of Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office, which issued the proclamation putting the burn ban into effect.

“Given the extreme dry conditions, lack of future heavy moisture, and with the county being in extreme drought conditions, it was felt this was prudent,” Snitker explained in his email announcing the burn ban.

Wed
13
Sep

Iowa DOT shares some initial detail insight into the Black Hawk Bridge replacement project as preliminary work gets underway


New Black Hawk Bridge design ... At first glance, the drawing above of the bridge that will be replacing the iconic Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing is very similar in its design, something that the Departments of Transportation (DOT) in Iowa and Wisconsin took note of in drawing feedback from area residents in regard to the new bridge design. While keeping a similar design, the most notable differences with the new bridge will be in safety and improved navigation, both on the bridge and below it. The image below shows that the new bridge will be nearly twice as wide as the current Black Hawk Bridge (40’ in comparison to 21’), not only allowing for driving lanes that will each be two feet wider, but also for safety shoulders for use in the event of emergency situations. The foundation of the bridge will also be anchored nearly three times as deep as the current bridge, allowing for a foundational base anchored in the rock layer beneath the surface (as pictured at the bottom of the image below). The new bridge will also be taller at its highest structural point. Images courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The Mississippi River bridge connecting Iowa Highway 9 in Lansing to Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County, WI stands as an icon for the region. A new icon is in the works to replace this aging structure and improve safety and mobility as motorists and river enthusiasts move around the area.

The cantilever Black Hawk Bridge structure has served the area since 1931 with a closure from 1945 to 1957 when the crossing was damaged by ice dams. Depreciation over time and changing vehicle size and traffic patterns now call for a new, wider, safer crossing.

Working with area residents and interest groups through public meetings and other outreach efforts, the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation are proud to get started on a new, safe, functional and beautiful bridge that will serve the area for generations. Kraemer North America, LLC headquartered in Plain, WI was awarded the bid following a special bid letting in early August.

Wed
13
Sep

City of Lansing installs electric vehicle charging station to meet growing demand


Electric vehicle charging station at city parking lot in Lansing ... The new electric vehicle (EV) charging station installed this month in Lansing will allow both local EV owners and those visiting the area access to a “fuel” source otherwise not available in the local area. As pictured above, the new Charge Point station is located in the city parking lot along South Front Street, near the ball diamond and Lansing City Hall. Photo by Bob Modersohn.

by Ellen Modersohn

With the installation this month of an electric vehicle charging station, Lansing is ready to fuel not only locally owned electric vehicles (EVs), but also those owned by seasonal and short-term visitors to the city and those passing through. The Level-2 charging station was installed at the east side of Lansing’s city parking lot along South Front Street.

Lansing’s City Council approved the purchase of the Charge Point station (pictured at far right) from LilyPad EV in December 2022. The $10,994.76 cost of the station was covered by the VW (Volkswagen) Settlement Grant awarded to the City of Lansing in July 2022.

Lansing City Council member Curt Snitker said the charger will be important for tourism in and around Lansing.

Wed
13
Sep

Allamakee County Entrepreneurship Week workshops are September 18-22

Allamakee County Entrepreneurship Week is an annual collaboration between Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism and Lansing Office Works. It is being observed September 18-22 this year with a series of workshops focusing on helping entrepreneurs build their skill and business.

The workshop series will be taking place at Lansing Office Works, located at 274 Main Street in Lansing, unless otherwise noted. The workshops are free of charge and may also include a meal or refreshments. The workshop series includes the following:

Wed
06
Sep

All of Allamakee County classified under Extreme Drought ...

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor pictured above for the state of Iowa released by the National Weather Service Thursday, August 31 shows all of Allamakee County, and a majority of northeast Iowa, in the grips of Extreme Drought (as indicated with the red color in the map above). Further information compiled by the National Weather Service notes that the rainfall experienced for the week prior to that August 31 Drought Monitor was no greater than four-tenths (.40) of an inch in the northeast Iowa area, with the average rainfall during that time frame having previously been reported at nine-tenths (.90) of an inch. As a result, the Extreme Drought grew from covering just 5.28% of the state of Iowa as of August 22, to now 17.59% as of the end of August, with most of that Extreme Drought growth coming in the northeast Iowa area.

Wed
06
Sep

FreedomBank to celebrate 120th anniversary with free community meal


Area origin of eventual merger ... The building pictured above in Waterville once housed the original Farmers & Merchants State Bank, which eventually merged to become part of the 120-year history being celebrated by FreedomBank with a customer appreciation meal Tuesday, September 12 in Waukon. Farmers & Merchants State Bank first opened December 8, 1925 in Waterville before expanding by opening an office in Waukon and moving its charter there as Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank. The merger with FreedomBank took place in 2019. Photo courtesy of FreedomBank.

by Lissa Blake

FreedomBank will celebrate its 120th anniversary of doing business in northeast Iowa with a community meal Tuesday, September 12 in Waukon. A complimentary meal will be offered from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon.

HISTORY
FreedomBank, with locations in Waukon, Elkader, Monona, Postville and Decorah, traces its roots back to Farmersburg Savings Bank of Farmersburg, which started in 1903. March 12, 1903 the decision was made to build a bank at a cost of $2,852, and this bank building is still standing in Farmersburg over one hundred years later.

Wed
06
Sep

Wednesday evening accident claims life of Waukon man

Wednesday, August 30 at 6:49 p.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office E911 Center received a report of a motor vehicle collision that occurred on State Highway 76 just west of the intersection of Sand Hill Road in Allamakee County, about seven miles southeast of Waukon.

According to the accident report, a pick-up truck and trailer driven by Cody Bauer, age 32, of Dubuque and owned by River City Paving, a division of Mathy Construction, was traveling northbound on State Highway 76 and attempted to make a U-turn to head southbound. A motorcycle driven by Kerry Gene Nuehring, age 60, of Waukon was traveling northbound and struck the side of the trailer, ejecting Nuehring from his motorcycle.

Nuehring was pronounced deceased at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The driver and a passenger of the pick-up truck were uninjured. A full obituary for Kerry Nuehring appears on Page 3 in this edition of The Standard.

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