The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting informational meetings on Chronic Wasting Disease in northeastern Iowa. A pair of such meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, August 24 at Johnson’s Hall and Restaurant in Elkader from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, August 31 at the Waukon Banquet Center from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The DNR invites everyone who is interested in learning more about what Iowans can do to help slow the spread of the disease.
Hazard risks can be natural or man-made, and cover a variety of things, such as storms and flooding, hazardous materials, infrastructure, terrorism, human disease and more. The public is invited to be involved in Allamakee County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) meetings to identify hazard risks and discuss ways communities can prevent, or mitigate, these risks in the future.
Planning committee members require no previous experience to be involved. The planning process will provide the data, materials and questions necessary to engage stakeholders in thinking about hazard mitigation needs for their community.
Planning committee members will attend up to five meetings over the course of the coming year. The initial planning meeting will be held from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, August 31 at Waukon City Hall, located at 101 Allamakee Street in Waukon.
Waukon area native honored as Volunteer of the Year ... Waukon area native Joe Byrnes (center in above photo) was bestowed a Governor of Wisconsin Service Award at a late-May ceremony held in Madison, WI. Byrnes was honored with a Volunteer of the Year Award for Southwest Wisconsin for his work with Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. He was presented the award by Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes (right) and State of Wisconsin First Lady Kathy Evers, wife of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (left). Submitted photo.
Waukon area native Joe Byrnes, a 1971 graduate of Waukon High School, was honored with a Governor’s Service Award through the State of Wisconsin earlier this summer. Byrnes was bestowed the Volunteer of the Year Award for Southwest Wisconsin for his work with Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
The Governor’s Service Awards are described as honoring “outstanding national service members, volunteers and programs that have helped to address serious social needs in their communities. Those honored by these awards will have made significant contributions to the state of Wisconsin through their service efforts, with their generous service impacting the lives of countless Wisconsinites.” The 2022 Governor’s Service Awards ceremony took place May 26 of this year at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, WI.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 8 to address a full agenda of matters including the County Auditor’s Quarterly Report, the consideration of a Resolution for a new fund for Opioid Litigation Proceeds, and consideration of bids for concrete patching for paved Secondary Roads within the county.
During the Public Comment portion of the meeting, the Supervisors and Coordinator Jean Bossom with Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) discussed the requirements associated with the Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) Proclamation. IBAT is a statewide recognition and education program from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office that empowers organizations, businesses and government to assist in fighting human trafficking. The Supervisors recommended that Bossom work with Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick in developing the educational and action plans associated with this program.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds made recent announcement of appointments she has made to a variety of 40 State of Iowa boards and commissions this year. Among those appointments announced were appointments made by March 1 of this year and requiring confirmation from the Iowa Senate by May 1.
Within those appointments that required confirmation by the Iowa Senate, John Sweeney of Sweeney Real Estate in Waukon was appointed as the newest member to the five-person Real Estate Commission for the State of Iowa, which is made up of real estate brokers and salespersons from throughout the state of Iowa. Sweeney will serve a three-year term on the Commission, his term beginning May 1 of this year and running through April 30, 2025.
Learn about youth mentoring at Tasty Thursday event set for this Thursday ... Mentor Jeff Minear and his mentee, Lauro, enjoy their ice cream at a previous Tasty Thursday event. The Youth Mentoring Program at Helping Services for Youth & Families will be hosting another Tasty Thursday event for mentors, mentees and those wishing to learn more about mentoring this Thursday, August 11 at the Sugar Bowl location at the Landing Market in Decorah. Submitted photo.
There are many combinations that just work well together; peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, and bread and butter, to name a few. A winning local combination is ice cream and kids. This sweet collaboration involves Youth Mentoring at Helping Services for Youth & Families and Sugar Bowl for an event scheduled to be hosted this Thursday, August 11.
Every second Thursday of the month, Youth Mentoring hosts a special hour called Tasty Thursday. The hour invites all mentors, mentees, their families, and those wishing to find out more about mentoring to gather for a sweet treat and fun on the west side of Decorah, College Drive, at The Landing Market Sugar Bowl site. Those attending can come for the entire hour or for a shorter time that fits their schedule. A highlight involves enjoying a scoop of ice cream donated by Sugar Bowl.
Touring the Capitol Rotunda and learning the lay of the land in D.C. ...
Little Switzerland FFA Chapter member Alaina Gebel and advisor Ms. Jessica O’Connor had the opportunity to experience a personal tour of the Capitol while in Washington, D.C. for the FFA Washington Leadership Conference in late June. The guide of the tour provided in-depth details about the Capitol Rotunda and the various paintings (in photo below) as well as why the Capitol layout is designed the way it is (photo above). Submitted photos.
Submitted photo.
Representing Iowa ... Little Switzerland FFA Chapter member Alaina Gebel is pictured above in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. standing next to the statue of Norman Borlaug, Cresco native named the “Father of the Green Revolution”. This is one of two statues in the Capitol representing the state of Iowa. Submitted photo.
submitted by Alaina Gebel
June 21-26, Waukon High School Little Switzerland FFA member Alaina Gebel and advisor Ms. Jessica O’Connor attended the annual FFA Washington Leadership Conference. FFA members from across the nation traveled to Washington D.C. to learn about serving their communities, meeting new people, and touring the D.C. area.
FFA members participating in the annual event attended sessions throughout the conference regarding advocating, setting goals, connecting with FFA members and leadership. The facilitators at the conference emphasized leadership and serving one’s community.
Participants created an action plan to implement once they returned home. Members also met FFA members from Oklahoma to Idaho and learned about their experiences in FFA.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering two High School Drivers Education options for Allamakee and Eastern Allamakee Community School District students starting Monday, August 29-October 3, and Monday, October 17-November 17. The course will be held from 5-7 p.m. each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday during those timeframes.
To satisfy the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements, students must attend 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of Behind the Wheel (BTW) driving experience. Attendance is required at all sessions. Students must have an Iowa driver’s permit before the first class.
Deadline for paid registration is August 15 and October 3 (for free and reduced lunch, students should contact the school office). To register for the course, call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative (ACEC) and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) are offering a solution for Lansing residents and businesses who are unsatisfied with their Internet service - a fiber-optic build-out in the city.
The build-out would be funded by a grant from the State of Iowa Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO); but first an appeal must be made challenging Lansing’s eligibility status, followed by the writing of an Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) plan. At its meeting Monday, August 1, the Lansing City Council voted to approve ACEC’s and UERPC’s request to support the appeal and ITQ work.
UERPC Executive Director Rachelle Howe estimated the cost to the City of the appeal and ITQ plan to be no more than $5,000 and added that UERPC would contribute $1,000 toward the effort. In attendance at the meeting, as well, was ACEC General Manager Hollee McCormick.
Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board for a guided Mississippi River backwater paddling adventure August 18, starting at 6:30 p.m. and returning to the landing by sunset at the Big Slough Boat Landing. Participants are welcome to use their own canoe or kayak but must follow all rules and regulations in accordance with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A limited number of solo and tandem kayaks will be available to use from the Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB), provided with paddles and life jackets.
Advanced registration is required for this series of programs. To register or reserve a kayak, call 563-538-0403. Solo participants are encouraged to register, but may be paired with other paddlers in a tandem kayak if using ACCB equipment.
