Members of the philanthropic educational organization P.E.O. honored one of their fellow members Saturday, March 20. The group celebrated Mona Campbell of Waukon (pictured in back row, third from left), who observed her 70th year of membership in P.E.O. Members surprised her with a card shower and a visit. Submitted photo.
First grade class with their “Loved Ones in Heaven” project ...
First grade class balloon release with the Howe family in attendance ...
Ms. Meyer’s first grade class with the Howe family ...
As part of its Religion education “Loved Ones in Heaven” unit in early March, the first grade class of Ms. Thea Meyer at St. Patrick School in Waukon has been incorporating discussion about family members, friends or even their pets in Heaven following their passing. Students were asked to suggest ways that they feel would help them get to Heaven, and they also created a project that listed lost loved ones in a rainbow they colored as it arched over an image of Jesus (group photo at right), with students and staff in the class each sharing their own story of a loved one lost.
Kee High School’s spring production will be a comedy called “Nun of Your Business” by Craig Sodaro and published by Eldridge Publishing Co. The play will be performed this Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 28 at 2 p.m. in the Kee High School gymnasium. Admission fee will be taken at the door. Social distance seating will be made available throughout the floor of the gym as well as seating in the bleachers. This light-hearted comedy is filled with practice scenes that keep the cast and crew laughing and involved, some of whom are pictured above. Photo of cast and crew submitted by Kee High School.
The seven Kee High School students pictured at right competed in 10 different events at the State Contest held Saturday, March 13 in Postville. Those 10 events received seven “one” ratings and three “two” ratings, with Owen Henkes and Abby Wood each competing in two categories and both receiving perfect scores in each of their performances. Pictured at right are the participating students, listed below with the categories they competed in. Left to right - Front row: Neva Peterson (Storytelling), Cadan Evanson (Storytelling), Owen Henkes (Improvisation and Literary), Lilly Peterson (Prose); Back row: Riley Troendle (Prose), Abby Wood (Music Theatre and Poetry) and Monica Davis (Prose and Poetry). Submitted photo.
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors regular monthly meeting was moved to Wednesday evening, March 17 due to the snowstorm that gripped the area on the board’s usual monthly Monday meeting night of March 15.
Under the consent agenda, the board approved the following personnel: After School Programming staff; Emily Shannon Timm as art teacher; and Alicia Enyart as West Elementary associate/Kids Club coordinator. The board accepted the resignations of Joey Lapel and Mike Shupe from their Teacher Leader Compensation (TLC) positions, as well as Chris Dahlstrom from his seventh grade track coaching position. The board also accepted the resignation of Virginia Kurth from her Middle School After School Programming position, due to retirement.
Lansing Hardware & Service received the 2020 President’s Paint Award at United Hardware Distributing Co.’s Spring and Summer Virtual Buying Market, held January 11-17. The President’s Paint Award is given to the top 100 stores overall that excelled in paint sales and promotions during 2020. Pictured above displaying their award are Laurie and Dave Janzen of Lansing Hardware & Service. Submitted photo.
The City of Lansing is requesting citizen participation in its upcoming Municipal Code Revision. City officials are working with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission in conducting an overall update to the Lansing City Code to bring it more in line with modern day City operations and situations in order to provide greater clarity.
Those who have suggestions for updates to the City Code are asked to submit their proposals - in writing only - via one of the following three ways: by email at lansingcodeupdate@gmail.com, by mail to Lansing City Hall, P.O. Box 307, Lansing, IA 52151, or by leaving them in the drop-box located outside the Lansing City Hall location at 201 John Street in Lansing. Proposals will be taken until April 16.
The City of New Albin was one of the 37 Iowa communities that will soon be greener thanks to grants from Alliant Energy’s Branching Out program. Alliant Energy partners with Trees Forever to help communities develop, select and plant a diverse mix of trees. This year’s funds will help communities plant trees to replace those destroyed by the 2020 derecho, other storms or the emerald ash borer.
The City of New Albin received $1,797 in Branching Out grant funding. The funding will be used to diversify the city’s tree canopy and replace trees lost to storms or disease.
These grants provided a total of $206,000 in assistance this year. Derecho-affected communities applied for grants up to $10,000 to fund new trees that will save energy and improve the environment. Non-derecho communities were eligible for grants up to $5,000.
After a year’s absence, the return of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has brought back with it The Standard’s Bracket Challenge. That year’s absence hasn’t dampened the excitement of the tournament nor the support of the Bracket Challenge.
The first two rounds of the tournament this past weekend have left the following top-24 entries, with another dozen entries tied for the 25th spot, just a single point off of this list:
Dalton Dibert 45
Jeremy Engrav 43
Janessa Weymiller 42
Gene Praska 42
Jonathan Miller 42
Ron Brinkman 42
Betty Jepsen 41
Kole McCormick 41
Morgan Weymiller 41
Brad Krambeer 40
Will Robinson 40
Mason McMillan 40
Mike Kramer 40
Charlene Baxter 40
Gary Hammel 40
Jen Moose 40
Dave Martin 40
Tami Stilwell 39
Troy Gress 39
Dennis Miller 39
Duane Michael Smith, 34, of Cedar Rapids passed away unexpectedly at his home Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. A private committal service will be held at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Springbrook. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family.
Duane was born September 8, 1986 in eastern Iowa, the son of Sean and Sara (Eppley) Smith. He was a 2005 graduate of Marion High School. Duane worked for several years in the food service industry. He loved spending time with his friends, playing basketball and video games. Duane also loved animals, especially his cats and dogs. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
