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Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15: August 1: Primary Nesting Season
July 15: Crop Certification

New Research Shows up to 30% of crop Nitrogen may come from Soil Biology
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist

The role of biological nitrogen fixation in crops such as cereals as an alternate source to chemical fertilizers has been a longtime goal in science and industry. Efforts in research and development of biological fixation in cereals still have not resulted in high enough Nitrogen (N) generation to be a total replacement for chemical fertilizers. However, recent research indicates biological nitrogen fixation can contribute up to 30 percent of N requirement of a corn crop.

Owning nearly half of the farmland in Iowa, women landowners play an influential role in decisions that impact agriculture and natural resources. To better understand this demographic, a team of specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is beginning a three-year project to study the needs, challenges and opportunities of women landowners.

The project is called “Enhancing Conservation, Access and Generational Transition of Iowa Farmland through Women Landowners” and is being funded through a $300,000 grant by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

According to the 2017 Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure survey, 47% of all acres and 55% of all leased acres in Iowa were owned by women. In addition, most owners were over the age of 65 and 13% of female farmland owners in Iowa were over 80.

To the Editor:

In his April 7 letter to the editor, the author Jeff Johnson states that “To become a true Socialist/Communist country you need to get rid of the middle class and individualism.” He implies that the Democratic Party wants the U.S. to practice Socialism/Communism and thus would get rid of the middle class and individualism.  This is not correct.

Socialism and Communism are different economic or political theories. There are some similarities, but there are major differences.  And to make it more complicated, there is Social Democracy, which is different from Socialism and Communism.

To the Editor:

Mr. Johnson in his letter to the editor (The Standard, April 7, 2021) asked who cares if President Trump made thousands of lies and misleading statements when he was President since he is no longer in office. We should all care.

Trump’s lies demeaned his office, led to public distrust in government, and continue to influence his followers today. A recent poll found that 67 percent of Republicans still view the 2020 election as invalid.

To the Editor:

Mr. Trump has been fact checked for 30,573 misleading statements. In his April 7 letter to the editor, Jeff Johnson wants to know, “who cares?”.

I do. It’s hard to believe anything Mr. Johnson writes when it doesn’t seem he respects the truth by asking that question. He seems to just want to repeat the same lies.

Hate? January 6 the United States Capitol building was stormed during a riot and violent attack. Guns, knives, pipe bombs, bear spray and more were used against the Capitol police. Five people dead. Trump flags flying and his supporters destroying property.

I appreciate Mr. Hill, Mrs. Klees, Mrs. Pratte and Ms. Hart for fact checking their statements. The truth goes a long way when it doesn’t fall on deaf ears.

I appreciate President Biden saving our natural resources from the companies that choose to profit from destroying them. I appreciate my fellow Democrats for using your right to vote to choose honesty and decency.

To the Editor:

It was inspiring to read in last week’s paper (The Standard, April 14, 2021) about how Iron Ridge Church was playing such an active part in the distribution of donated food. I would like to take this opportunity to call to mind several other ways that Iron Ridge has served this community in recent years.

The church had purchased the Main Feature Theater to be used not only for their church services, but also for the continued showing of movies. And then at Christmas time, after the parade, the church would open the doors of the theater for a free Christmas celebration with tons of sweets and treats, and Christmas songs delivered by their worship band. What a joyous place to be. I remember things like that. The people of Waukon remember things like that.

To the Editor:

Across our community, there are parents and caregivers who may be struggling with balancing the stress of daily life alongside caring for a child. Whether it is working multiple jobs trying to put food on the table, grappling with a substance use disorder, wondering where the next month’s rent will be coming from or dealing with anxiety related to the COVID-19 crisis, balancing these pressures with parenting and running a household can at times be very difficult.

Sadly, stress in its many forms can be a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect. At Northeast Iowa CASA, we see this time and time again with the children and families we serve who are involved in the foster care system. Stress is a natural byproduct of parenthood, but when those stresses are combined with anxieties over things like financials, health, employment or relationships, it can become too much for one person to handle.

Madison Reiser and Mitch Iverson of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Mauslynn Rae Iverson, born April 13, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 9 lbs. 4 ozs. and measured 22 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins a brother, McKray (8).

Grandparents are Kelly and Gary Mahr and Ken Reiser, all of Waukon. Great-grandparents are Connie and Charlie Regan and Jim Iverson, all of Waukon.
 

The 2021 Waukon High School Prom is scheduled to be held this Saturday, April 24 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. Grand March, with no limit to the number of guests a Prom participant may invite to the Grand March but masks being required to be worn at all times by all in attendance. Students participating in Prom may remove their masks during the Grand March procession only.

Following the Grand March will be the coronation of this year’s Prom King and Queen. Visitors are asked to exit the building after the coronation in order for students to start the Prom dance. Students need to be present and attend both the dance and Post Prom event to be eligible for prizes at the Post Prom event being held in the Waukon High School gymnasium. Post Prom will offer a variety of activities, including games, contests and a hypnotist, and will take place following the Prom dance, from 11 p.m.-3:30 a.m.

The 2021 Kee High School Prom is scheduled for this Saturday, April 24. Pictured at left are the senior class Queen and King candidates for the annual event. Left to right - Front row: Queen candidates Mado Shako, Rhissa Eiden, Alexis Johnson, Jaiden Berns; Back row: King candidates Owen Henkes, Michael Mattson, Kellen Maddox, Jesse Jones. The annual banquet will be held at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall on Main Street in Lansing at 5:30 p.m. The dance will take place from 8-11:30 p.m. in the banquet hall.