The Allamakee County Emergency Management Agency wants to take this opportunity to notify the public of the intent to conduct a countywide tornado drill and testing of the city emergency sirens throughout the county Wednesday, March 23 at 10 a.m. This will allow Allamakee County to participate in the State of Iowa Tornado Drill as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, which is being observed March 21-25 this year. The purpose will be to activate the warning sirens in all six cities in the county when the National Weather Service issues a test Tornado Warning on NOAA Weather Radio at approximately 10 a.m.
The Iowa Department of Transportation and its local transportation partners are making available four historic bridges for reuse, accepting proposals from serious inquiries for adoption and relocation of those bridges. Among those four bridges is the Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing that spans the Mississippi River. The more than 90-year-old structure connecting the states of Iowa and Wisconsin is slated to be replaced by the end of the year 2025.
In addition to the Black Hawk Bridge, the DOT is also listing the Boone River Bridge in Wright County, the Hardin City Bridge in Hardin County, and the eastbound U.S. 30 Bridge in Linn County southeast of Cedar Rapids for reuse proposals. All four of the bridges are either listed or are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and are available for relocation/adoption.
Recycled plastics ... Allamakee County Solid Waste Manager Dave Mooney estimates that #1 and #2 plastics account for 95-98 percent of consumer plastics. Pictured above, #1 and #2 plastics have been baled and are ready for transport from the Allamakee County Waste & Recycling grounds. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Bales of cardboard ... Among the services available to rural Allamakee County residents, cardboard recycling is an important piece of the County’s work in reducing waste through its recycling program, yielding approximately 55 tons of recycled cardboard each year locally. Pictured above, bales of cardboard await transport within the Allamakee County Waste & Recycling facility. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
Around the world, this Friday, March 18, 2022 is being recognized as Global Recycling Day, an initiative advanced by the Global Recycling Foundation, an organization supporting the promotion of recycling and its vital role on a worldwide scale in preserving the future of the planet. The Global Recycling Foundation is one of many organizations working collectively to reduce waste and preserve natural resources on an international level.
The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will offer a program to the public about the U.S. Navy in World War II. The program will take place in the Program Room of the new museum in the former Vet’s Club building on Allamakee Street in Waukon.
Saturday, March 19 at 10 a.m. the program will present stories of Patrol Torpedo (PT) Boats and Submarine Chasers. Information will also be presented on Allamakee County sailors who served on these smaller fighting vessels.
There is no admission or membership charge. The facility is handicapped accessible. Due to COVID-19 concerns, masks are encouraged but not required. Light refreshments will be available.
The museum remodeling was finished in late summer. Preparation and installation of exhibits is underway and should be completed by Memorial Day this year. Tours will not be offered until the exhibits have been completed. However, educational programs will continue to be offered periodically.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 14 at the Allamakee County Historical Society’s Veterans Museum in Waukon, as part of a schedule of meeting locations taking place away from the County Courthouse throughout the year. The board addressed a full agenda of items including an update relating to the Waukon Redemption Center, consideration of the Resolution to obligate American Rescue Plan funding to specific projects and discussion of the County’s March tornado drill and Alert Iowa.
Prior to the meeting being called to order, George Beardmore of the Allamakee County Historical Society provided a brief introduction and update relating to the Allamakee County Veterans Museum.
Odessa, Ukraine ... Photo above shows sandbags and cement barriers set up as a barricade in Odessa, Ukraine in preparation to combat Russian forces invading Ukraine. In the center of the photo is the Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, one of Odessa’s most famous buildings and its oldest theater. Submitted photo.
Before and after views show damage ... Photos above shared by Waterville area native Scott Ewing show images near Mariupol State Humanitarian University in Mariupol, Ukraine before (top image) and after (bottom image) Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mariupol State University is known abroad as a center for training of highly qualified personnel which plays an important role in development of effective cooperation between Ukraine and foreign states in the field of education, science and culture. Submitted images.
(Editor’s Note: The following information was shared from a diary of events written by Waterville area native Scott Ewing, a 1980 graduate of Waukon High School and the son of Jerry and Anna Marie Ewing of rural Waterville. The sharing of the diary excerpts was made possible by Kevin Welsh of Waukon, who is a former neighbor, long-time friend and is in consistent contact with Ewing during the current historic experience of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the evacuation of Ewing and his family to Poland. Part 1 of the Diary of Ukraine [February 12-March 4] was published in the March 9 edition of The Standard.)
Saturday, March 5
Today our Polish friends, who have totally taken our family under their wings, located another apartment which Natasha and I will move into next week. To add insult to injury, in Ukraine, some of our family members have come down with COVID, and now the virus is spreading through the apartment.
Hundreds of students from the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) celebrated the National Read Across America event together Tuesday, March 1. District Teacher Librarian Lisa Snitker and the elementary reading committee organized the annual paired reading event in the Waukon High School/Middle School Auditorium. Students from East and West Elementary partner-read with Waukon Middle School students, reading print books and eBooks on the middle school student laptops, as pictured in the surrounding photos.
The Kee High School Speech program hosted its Dinner Theatre event Saturday, March 5 at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing, with 211 meals served and a showcase of the speech team’s events, as well as a sneak peek of the upcoming musical “Little Shop of Horrors” (pictured at center), which is scheduled for production dates of April 2 at 7 p.m. and April 3 at 2 p.m. at Kee High School. The evening consisted of a buffet catered by TJ Hunter’s that included smoked pork loin, barbecue chicken, party potatoes, corn, Oreo fluff and a drink, along with a dessert bar that was provided by the speech team members. Candlelit tables were decorated with black and gold centerpieces, piano music filled the hall, and glamorous lighting set the dining area and stage. Entertainment consisted of the speech teams’ events performed in contests this season and a couple musical numbers, which all followed the meal.
Main Street Lansing will be holding its 2022 Annual Meeting Wednesday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Safe House Saloon on Main Street in Lansing. All are invited to attend and hear about Main Street Lansing’s efforts over the past couple years and plans for the future.
There will also be a presentation of the annual Leadership Award, which is given to a volunteer with unmatched dedication to improving Downtown Lansing. For additional information, call 563-538-9229 or send an email to director@lansingmatters.com.
The Lansing Police Department is initiating a D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program at the Lansing Middle School, beginning in Fall 2022.
“It’s not just for drugs, it also covers vaping and teen suicide,” City of Lansing Chief of Police Conrad Rosendahl said during an informational presentation before the Lansing City Council at its regular meeting Monday, March 7. “If we can save one life then we’ve done something, in my opinion.”
He said another benefit of the program is that it involves “positive interaction with law enforcement.” The only cost to the police department would be for the 80 hours of training for certification, he said.
