News Center newsletter

The public is invited to attend a Wednesday, March 16 presentation by Trevor Ragan, founder of The Learner Lab, a resource for understanding the science of better learning. Ragan will be speaking to staff members of the Allamakee Community School District during that scheduled professional development day of no classes, and will then conduct a presentation for the general public from 5-6 p.m. that evening at the Waukon High School Auditorium.

Ragan’s presentations are described as “an opportunity for students, parents and community members to hear a message about striving for excellence in all they do.” He explains that “learning is the most important skill. Great learners are agile, resilient, and adaptable. Great learners can acquire new skill when demands arise. In times of change, learners will thrive.”

Lansing VFW Post #5981 has announced this year’s Voice of Democracy winners at the District level of the essay writing contest. The sister-brother tandem of Rhianna and Brendan Jones, children of Eric and Liz Jones of Lansing, are this year’s top award winners in that District contest.

Brendan Jones, a freshman at Kee High School in Lansing, was named the District 9 first-place winner of the contest and the recipient of a $100 award. He also received a $100 award from Post #5981 in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship program. As the top District essay, his entry advanced to the State level of competition, where it was not selected among the State placewinning essays.

Rhianna Jones, a junior at Kee High School in Lansing, was named the District 9 second-place winner and the recipient of a $75 award. She also received a $50 award from Post #5981 for her Voice of Democracy essay. VFW Post #5981 sponsored both essay writers.

The Lansing City Council will hold a special meeting, open to the public, Monday, March 14 at 4:30 p.m. to allow council members to address any last concerns related to the revised City Code.

Monday, March 21, an open public hearing will be held on the revised City Code, during the regular Lansing City Council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend to make any comment or ask any questions regarding City Code revisions.

Youth Mentoring at Helping Services for Youth & Families is hosting a bowl-a-thon Saturday, March 19 at Skyline Lanes in Decorah. This event aims to raise $7,000 to connect youth in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek counties with a mentor.

Currently, 75 people are involved in Youth Mentoring at Helping Services. Now is the time to strike up a conversation with friends, neighbors, club members and co-workers to form a team to bowl. Proceeds support those youth and adults being friends in mentoring, and involvement can happen in two important ways: register to bowl and/or donate to the cause.

Believed to be first woman in state of Iowa to serve as both General Manager and Golf Pro

Morgan McMillan is blazing new trails, as she has been named General Manager/Golf Professional at Oneota Golf & Country Club in Decorah. She is the first woman General Manager/Golf Professional in Oneota’s 100-year history.

McMillan is one of only nine women Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) club professionals in the state of Iowa, and is believed to be the only one of those women to also serve as General Manager of her 18-hole club. She is truly considered a pioneer among women golf professionals in Iowa.

“Morgan has the highest in quality hospitality skills; is high energy and hardworking; has an infectious smile and has received overwhelming support from the Oneota membership to be awarded the position of General Manager,” shared Oneota Golf and Country Club Board of Directors President Andy Nelson.

The Waukon Park & Recreation Youth Soccer Program is for boys and girls in Kindergarten through sixth grade. Basic fundamentals of soccer will be taught along with team participation. Teams will be grouped together as follows: Kindergarten is alone, first and second graders will be together, third and fourth graders will practice and play together, and fifth and sixth graders will be together.

Different size fields and balls will be used to accommodate the lower ages and skill levels. All players must wear shin guards and they must be covered by socks or pants. Cleats are optional.

The games will be played Saturday mornings starting April 23 and will run for five weeks. The dates will be as follows: April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14 and May 21. The make-up dates will be May 16 (Monday), May 17 (Tuesday), or May 19 (Thursday), if needed.

The Waukon bowling teams provided first-year head coach Kim Shelton with a memorable inaugural season at the helm during this 2021-2022 campaign, and for a number of different reasons. The pinnacle of that memorable season was the history that was made, fueled by the hard work and fun experienced by each squad of at least a dozen bowlers, with the Waukon girls bowling team rolling its way to a 4-5 season record and the Indian boys bowling to a 5-4 dual match mark this season.

Jill Marie Sharon, 48, of Eitzen, MN gracefully made her way to her Eternal Home Wednesday, March 2, 2022. She died at her home surrounded by family and loved ones after a courageous 21-month battle with cancer.

Visitation will be Friday, March 11 from 4-7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Dorchester. Funeral is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. with visitation an hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, MN is assisting the family and online condolences may be given at mccormickfuneralhome.net.

Merlyn Klocke, 85, of Waterloo died Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 12 at Unity Presbyterian Church, Waterloo with military rites by Hudson AMVETS and Iowa Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 11 at Locke on 4th, located at 1519 West 4th Street in Waterloo. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Merlyn was born July 4, 1936 on the family farm in Waukon, son of Reuben and Margaret (Miene) Klocke. He attended Waukon schools and then moved to Cedar Rapids working at Wilson Packing Plant for several years before enlisting in the United States Army (1959-1961), where he was stationed in Germany. After his honorable discharge, he farmed with his parents.

Helen F. Knuppe, 77, of Waukon died Monday, February 28, 2022 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Thursday, March 3 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating and with burial in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Helen Frances Knuppe was born March 18, 1944 in Des Moines, the daughter of Lester Brainard and Rita Knuppe. She spent some of her early years at various children’s homes in the Des Moines area until 1961, when she moved to rural Waukon to live with her mother, Rita, and Harold Severson.

Helen received her education from a number of sources at the various places she lived while growing up and continued learning throughout her life. After living with Rita and Harold, Helen lived in an apartment on her own in Waukon for several years before moving to Makee Manor in Waukon. She has been a resident at the Good Samaritan Society since 2009.