Read Across Iowa launched March 1 and began a month-long celebration to bring the joys of reading to kids of all ages. Agriculturally-themed Read Across Iowa events were held in Allamakee County and across the state and featured books and materials about agriculture that appealed to all readers.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County went into classrooms in New Albin Elementary and read an egg-themed book. As depicted in the photos here, students learned some fun facts about chickens and had an egg and spoon relay race to get the egg from the nest to the egg carton.
“When you read with children, you are making an investment,” said Becky Rea, K-12 Program Coordinator. “Early reading and talking with children gives them a strong start and a life-long return.”
The Iowa PBS series “Road Trip Iowa” will feature some Allamakee County highlights in an upcoming episode to be aired next week. The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing, and Mohn’s Fish Market and Effigy Mounds National Monument near Harpers Ferry will all be featured in the same episode that will premiere Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. and be rebroadcast Saturday, April 27 at 9 a.m.
In that episode of “Road Trip Iowa”, explore the history of river life in the Driftless Area. The episode will also highlight other stops along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway including the Lockmaster’s House Heritage Museum, Pikes Peak State Park, the Fenelon Place Elevator, Catfish Charlie’s, the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, and the Dubuque Street Art Trail.
Saturday, April 20 marks an unofficial cannabis “celebration,” and there will likely be an increase in marijuana use. To help keep drug-impaired drivers off the roads, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 7, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, is teaming up with local law enforcement to spread the message that drug-impaired driving is dangerous and illegal. NHTSA wants to remind all drivers: “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. So don’t drive high, or you’ll get a DUI.”
“Even if you don’t feel impaired after partaking in drug use, do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle,” said Region 7 Administrator Susan DeCourcy. “Impairment from drug use can sometimes be delayed, or you can be fooled into thinking you’re of sound mind when you’re not. State laws vary within our region, but the one constant is that driving with recreational drugs in your system is illegal everywhere.”
Heading toward the hole ... Waukon boys golf sophomore Reid Deeney watches his putt attempt approach the hole in the Indians’ second-place finish in a home triangular with MFL/MarMac and Postville Tuesday, April 9. Deeney carded a nine-hole round of 45 strokes at the meet.
The Waukon boys golf team was finally able to get its 2024 season schedule underway and did so with a nearly full schedule for the week of four meets in five nights. The Indians finished in front of four of the seven opponents they matched up against in the week, first winning at Crestwood Monday, April 8 by a 185-191 final result before finishing second with a 168 team total that ended up in the middle of MFL/MarMac’s 156 team tally and Postville’s 231 strokes at Luana Tuesday, April 9. The golf Tribe swept a road triangular at Clayton Ridge Thursday, April 11, tallying a 168 team score to better South Winneshiek’s 172 squad result and a 188 stroke total carded by Clayton Ridge, before wrapping up its week with a team count of 173 strokes at home Friday, April 12 that finished behind Decorah’s 165 strokes and a 171 team score tallied by North Fayette Valley.
Junior pair leads Indian scoring effort at home ... Waukon girls golf juniors Eva Whalen (photo above) and Alyssa Connelly (photo below) led the Indian scoring effort in their 258-219 home dual meet loss to Crestwood Monday, April 8. Connelly paced the golf Tribe’s varsity team scoring with her round of 61 strokes, and Whalen turned in a round of 63 strokes to rank second in the Tribe scoring. View and find out how to purchase these photos and more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
The Waukon girls golf team played in one of its busiest weeks of the season, competing in three different events over a span of four nights and taking on five different opponents in those meets. The Lady Indians finished in front of just one of those five opponents, as their 232 strokes finished in the middle of a triangular at Luana - behind MFL/MarMac’s 219 strokes and ahead of Postville’s 235 strokes Tuesday, April 9 after having fallen at home to Crestwood Monday, April 8 in dual meet action, 258-219. The golf Tribe wrapped up that busy week with a third-place finish at the Clayton Ridge triangular Thursday, April 11, tallying 241 strokes to finish just six strokes behind the 235-stroke tie between the host Eagles and South Winneshiek.
Individual wins and hurdle highlights ... Waukon girls track seniors Kaitlyn Krambeer (above) and Cameron Johnson (below) each claimed an individual field event win and also joined forces with freshman Kaylin Regan and junior Reese McCormick to win the shuttle hurdle relay in a time of 1:11.99 at the Indians’ home Early Bird Invitational Tuesday, April 9. Krambeer also soared 16’1.75” to win the long jump and Johnson cleared 4’10” to win the high jump. View and find out how to purchase these photos and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
For the first time this season, the Waukon girls track team was able to compete in both of its scheduled meets in a week, pulling double duty this past week and claiming top-three team finishes at both meets. The Lady Indians first dominated their own Early Bird Invitational Tuesday, April 9, winning the meet by 60 points, and then brought home a third-place team finish from the New Hampton Invitational Thursday, April 11.
The Lady Indians were next scheduled to compete in the Tuesday, April 16 Crestwood Invitational before splitting its squad between the West Delaware Invitational and Kee Invitational Thursday, April 18. The Waukon girls will then host their own Indian Relays Tuesday, April 23, with details of that second home meet of the season printed elsewhere in a shaded box on this week’s Sports pages, and will then compete at the MFL/MarMac Invitational Thursday, April 25.
Trio of event victories ... Kee girls track sophomore Addison Winters glides over a hurdle at the Waukon Early Bird Invitational Tuesday, April 9. Winters won all three of her events on the track during the meet, completing this 400 meter hurdle circuit in 1:10.77 for gold while also winning the 100 meter hurdles in 16.46 seconds and the 100 meter dash in 13.68 seconds. She also finished second in the long jump with her distance of 16’0.25” that was just over an inch out of another first-place finish. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
For the first time this season, the Kee girls track team was able to get all of its scheduled meets in, although one of those meet participations was cut short by weather conditions. With a bit of a limited line-up due to injury and illness, the Lady Hawks finished fifth in the eight-team Waukon Early Bird Invitational Tuesday, April 9 before competing at the MFL/MarMac Invitational Thursday, April 11, completing a handful of events before leaving the meet early due to the cold, wet weather conditions but with a seventh-place team finish.
The Kee girls were next scheduled to compete in the Crestwood Invitational Tuesday, April 16 before hosting their own home invitational Thursday, April 18, with details of that upcoming lone home meet of the season printed elsewhere in a shaded box on this week’s Sports pages. The Lady Hawks are then slated to compete in the Clayton Ridge Invitational Tuesday, April 23 before returning to Monona Thursday, April 25.
Sandra “Sandi” Lou Reinke, 74, of New Albin died Friday evening, April 12, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be held to honor Sandi’s life at St. John’s UCC Church (Wheatland Church) in rural New Albin Thursday, April 18 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Allen Hanson officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday evening, April 17 from 4-8 p.m. at the New Albin Community Center and from 10 a.m. until the time of service Thursday at the church.
Chester Schlake, 85, of Waukon died Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. A private family celebration of life will be held on Chester’s 86th birthday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. A private burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
Chester Schlake was born June 23, 1938, weighing only three pounds, at his parents’ home near Waterville, the son of Victor John and Viola Mae (Noack) Schlake. He was baptized and confirmed at Waterville Lutheran Church. In 1957, Chester graduated from Waterville High School. Chester taught Sunday school at Waterville Lutheran, which shared a pastor with Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing; the two churches had joint Sunday school outings and get-togethers.
Gary D. Lane, 82, of Waukon died Sunday, October 16, 2022, at his home in Waukon. Memorial services will be held this Saturday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating; burial of ashes will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.
