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Saturday, April 2, members of the Waukon High School Band performed for the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Solo and Ensemble Contests. The event was hosted by Waukon High School and involved each soloist or ensemble performing for a judge who rated their performance on a five-point scale in eight different categories.

The group had 24 events that performed for the festival - 10 soloists and 14 ensembles. At the end of the day, the band had received 22 Division I ratings, one Division II rating, and one Division III rating. Band Director Jo Ann Sherman stated, “I knew by about 10:00 that we were going to have a good day, but I could never have dreamed that we would receive the results that we did by the end of the day.  The students were amazing.

Kee High School’s musical production of “Little Shop of Horrors” (MTI production) hit the stage in the Kee High School gym Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3. Pictured at right are cast and crew members for this year’s productions.

“It was an amazing opportunity for the Kee High students to perform a different type of production with the use of puppets, and they rose to the challenge,” shared staff director Tammy Manning. “Not only was there strong musical/acting talent performed on the stage, but equally top-notch backstage crews along with the sound and light people. Everyone has a job to do to make the show successful, and it truly takes a village of people and support from the community.” Submitted photo.
 

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Moped Rider class Saturday, April 23 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 3rd Avenue NW.

This class is required by the state of Iowa for students who are 14 years of age or older who do not possess a driver’s license. Students learn the rules of the road, safe driving skills and laws governing moped use. The course is classroom-only, so a moped is not needed. Upon successful completion of the class, students receive a DOT (Department of Transportation) certificate which must be presented at the driver’s license office to apply for the moped license. Students must be at least 13 years old to take the class.

To register online for “Moped Rider” (#84940) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/waukon, or call 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

The 70th Jubilee Mass of Monsignor Cletus Hawes has been scheduled for Sunday, May 1 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. In addition to celebrating 70 years as a priest, Monsignor Hawes is also celebrating his 95th birthday. There will be an Open House in the parish hall from 12-3 p.m. All are welcome to attend the Mass and Open House.

Cletus Joseph Hawes was born March 28, 1927 to John and Ellen (Conway) Hawes of Wexford, rural Lansing. He was baptized March 29, 1927 in Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford.   Following the tragedy of his father’s sudden death May 9, 1935,  his mother raised him and his siblings on the family farm.

Cletus Hawes graduated from Loras College, Dubuque in 1948 and from St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore in 1952. He received his sub-diaconate at St. Mary’s Seminary June 13, 1951. Father Cletus Hawes was ordained a priest April 26, 1952 in Christ the King Chapel at Loras College, Dubuque.

Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) for a Spring Wildflower Hike Thursday, May 5 starting at 6:30 p.m. The hike will take place on the Mississippi Trail of the Paint Rock Unit inside of Yellow River State Forest. The trailhead parking area is located across County Highway 364 from Lund’s Camp and the Harpers Slough Recreation Area; two miles south of Harpers Ferry on County Highway 364.

The hike is open to all who are interested but anyone under 16 years of age is asked to have adult supervision in order to participate. The hike is limited to the first 10 people. Preregistration is required.

The Mississippi Trail will offer views of a variety of spring wildflowers that can be found on the bluffs of the Driftless Area. Hikers are encouraged to wear sturdy hiking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.  The ACCB will have bug spray available, but hikers should feel free to bring their own.

With warmer temperatures of spring, restless paddlers are ready to put canoes and kayaks in the water. Early spring paddling can provide solitude, exercise and an opportunity to see amazing wildlife, but extra precautions are needed to stay safe.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends paddlers wait for warmer weather to allow water temperatures to rise slowly. It could be several weeks before water temperatures are ideal and safe as water and air temperatures continue to change.

“Air temperatures may feel warm in early spring,  but the water is still dangerously cold and can be deadly to boaters,” said Todd Robertson, Iowa DNR River Programs Water Trails Coordinator. “We have not had enough consistently warm days to raise water temperatures. Cold water shock and hypothermia can set in quickly if you are not dressed and fall into the cold water, so dress for a swim.”

The Waukon girls track team was finally able to compete outdoors for the first time this season, but had to make some quick adjustments in order to get two competitions this past week. The Lady Indians were able to host their own Early Bird Invitational Tuesday, April 12, winning that eight-team event, but then made a quick schedule change when their New Hampton Invitational scheduled for Thursday, April 14 was canceled due to cold, windy weather - the track Tribe instead getting some team members entered into the Tipton Invitational to end up seventh among 12 teams in that event.

For the first time in four scheduled tries, the Kee girls track team was finally able to compete outdoors this past week, but still was only able to get one of its two scheduled meets in for the week. The Lady Hawks competed at the Waukon Early Bird Invitational Tuesday, April 12 but had their Thursday, April 14 MFL/MarMac Invitational canceled due to cold, windy weather.

Within their first outdoor competition of the season, the Kee girls tallied 80 points to finish fifth in the meet’s field of eight teams. Half of those points came from the Lady Hawks’ four first-place event finishes, with Kee also adding a second-place finish to that mix.

The Waukon boys track team had a second consecutive unfortunately similar week, being able to compete early in the week but having a second scheduled meet canceled due to inclement weather, Thursday, April 14 at New Hampton. The similarity furthered with that early meet being held at Decorah for the second consecutive week, Monday, April 11, with the Indians once again finishing behind Decorah but this time in second place with 165 team points.

The Waukon boys were slated to return to Decorah for a third consecutive Monday, April 18, before hosting their own Indian Relays this Friday, April 22. The Indians will then compete at the Crestwood Invitational Thursday, April 28 and the New Hampton Invitational Monday, May 2 before taking part in the Northeast Iowa Conference Meet at Waverly-Shell Rock Thursday, May 5.

Greg Lonning, 60, went to his Heavenly home March 8, 2022, surrounded by his loving wife and children. He had suffered an unexpected brain aneurysm at his home in New Jersey.

A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. A visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the church. The Mass will be streamed on the Martin-Grau Funeral Home Facebook page.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Luther College Regents Center in Decorah Sunday, April 24 at 1 p.m. There will also be a New Jersey memorial, with details to come later.