The Waukon City Council met in regular session Tuesday, July 6 following the closure of City Hall Monday, July 5 for the observance of the Independence Day holiday.
Mayor Pro-Tem Gayle Decker called the meeting to order in the absence of Mayor Pat Stone. The meeting moved into Public Comment with Director Ardie Kuhse of Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) briefly discussing the June 30 press release from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) relating to the $100,000 Community Catalyst Building Remediation Grant award to benefit the former JCPenney/Tierney building renovation and transition into a steakhouse restaurant.
Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is hosting a table game event Saturday, July 17 with games suitable for the whole family. Join staff and patrons at Robey Memorial Library for the event Saturday, July 17 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in the lower level Community Room of the library. Register for door prizes and play (or learn) beginner-friendly, non-competitive, casual table games.
Learn to play Boss Monster. Inspired by classic video games, Boss Monster challenges players to become a villain, build a dungeon, lure adventurers and destroy them.
After being canceled last year due to the pandemic, the Firecracker 5K Run/Walk sponsored by Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. was back with great excitement and enthusiasm Saturday, July 3 in Harpers Ferry. When Kaylee Bachman finished singing the final note of the National Anthem, the crowd was eager to get the 2021 Firecracker 5K started. The town was packed with people celebrating the Fourth of July and many participated in the race or lined the route to cheer on the participants.
Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board for a guided Mississippi River backwater paddling adventure Thursday, July 15, starting at 6:30 p.m. and returning to the landing by sunset at the Village Creek Boat Landing, Lansing. 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, 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.
Don’t miss the chance to learn the techniques of nature photographer and naturalist Larry Reis Saturday, July 17 at 9 a.m. at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre in Marquette. Reis is well known throughout the state for his beautiful nature photos and the thousands of photos he has shared on Flickr.
During this program, Ries will be talking about and demonstrating the camera gear he uses to take his bird and nature photos. He will give a short presentation indoors and then participants will head outdoors to practice taking photos of birds, animals and wildflowers around the Wetlands Centre. He will also share ideas on places to photograph birds during the different seasons of the year.
All Upper Iowa Audubon Society programs are free and open to the public. Contact Connie Hvitved at 641-220-3890 for more information. This program is co-hosted with the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre in Marquette.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering High School Drivers Education August 26-September 30. The course will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during that time frame at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW in Waukon.
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.
The deadline for paid registration is August 19 (free and reduced lunch students should contact the school office). To register, call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering “Healthcare Faces of the Future” summer camp (#81181) Thursday, August 5 for students entering third through fifth grades in the fall.
The deadline for paid registration is July 26. To register online or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/81181 or call NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
Three-hit shut-out victory ... Waukon baseball freshman pitcher Jack O’Neill fires a pitch toward home plate in the Indians’ 10-0 win in five innings at home over Postville Saturday, July 10 in the opening round of Class 2A district tournament play. O’Neill allowed just three hits and struck out five batters without any free passes. View and find out how to purchase this photo and more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
The Waukon baseball team both ended its regular season and opened its postseason this past week, both of those games ending in 10-0 results in five innings and the diamond Tribe ending up on each end of that results spectrum. The Indians brought their regular season to a close with a 10-0 loss to West Delaware in five innings Tuesday, July 6 in a game played at the Mt. Mercy University baseball field in Cedar Rapids but reversed that fortune in opening Class 2A District 8 Tournament play with a 10-0 home win in five innings over Postville Saturday, July 10.
Round-tripper reception ... Waukon softball senior shortstop Annika Headington (#19) gets welcomed home by her teammates after clobbering a three-run homerun in the Indians’ 10-9 home victory over New Hampton in the opening round of Class 3A regional tournament play Tuesday, July 6. The round-tripper turned out to be the final homerun of her high school career, after the Indians had their season ended in the next round of regional play, and it was the seventh of her senior season and the 21st of her five-year high school softball career, setting a new Waukon softball career record. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
The Waukon softball team had its 2021 season brought to a close after splitting its first two Class 3A Region 6 Tournament games this past week, but not before giving its fans all the thrills involved with a pair of one-run final results in those two games. The Indians began their postseason journey hosting fellow Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) squad New Hampton Tuesday, July 6, the Tribe continuing a season-long history of high-scoring, one-run battles with the Chickasaws by pulling out a 10-9 victory at home in the opening round of Class 3A Region 6 competition.
Three hits, six strike-outs, no walks... Kee baseball junior pitcher Jonah Reinke fires a pitch toward home plate in the Hawks’ 18-1 mercy-rule win in four innings over Riceville at home Saturday, July 10 in the opening round of Class 1A district tournament play. Reinke allowed the Wildcats just three hits, one run - unearned, and no free passes while striking out six batters in his complete-game mound victory. Photo courtesy of Maggy Weymiller. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
The Kee baseball team put together another undefeated week on the field this past week, but this latest series of final result success held much more meaning than any of the Hawks’ couple other unblemished weeks of competition this season. This past week’s four wins began with a final Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) sweep that clinched a share of Kee’s first Upper Iowa Conference season championship since the 2016 season and ended with a successful first step down the Hawks’ postseason tournament road.
