News Center newsletter

Members of the Allamakee County Veterans Memorial Committee placed a memorial wreath (pictured at right in a photo taken by Standard Assistant Editor Joe Moses) at the base of the memorial located on the front lawn of the Allamakee County Courthouse Friday, November 6 to honor Maury Gallagher, a fellow committee member who passed away October 29 and who was so instrumental in the thorough completion of the memorial and the information the overall memorial contains honoring Veterans from Allamakee County. Allamakee County Veterans Memorial Committee Chairperson Dr. David Hahn, DVM says the wreath will likely remain in place for the remainder of this year, unless it becomes worn or weather-impacted.

The ratification of the 19th Amendment was a landmark moment in American history that dramatically changed the electorate when it granted women in the United States the right to vote in elections. The “Rightfully Hers” display (pictured at left) at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is available for public viewing throughout the month of November. This display is part of a grant from the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and the American Library Association. The grant also included books added to the library’s collection. The National Archives, in partnership with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission (WSCC), provided an additional 2,500 “Rightfully Hers” pop-up displays (such as the one pictured at left) to cultural institutions nationwide in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which acknowledged women’s right to vote in the United States. Submitted photo.
 

R.W. Pladsen, Inc. in Waukon recently completed its Fill-A-Truck promotion held throughout the month of October to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office in its efforts to help those less fortunate. Individuals could donate a non-perishable food item to help “fill a truck” and also have their name entered into a weekly Friday drawing during the month of October for prizes that included gift certificates, t-shirts and other items donated through the generosity of Allamakee County businesses much appreciated by R.W. Pladsen, Inc. and all those benefiting from the promotion. Pictured above at the presentation of the donated food items to the Allamakee County Relief Office are, left to right, R.W. Pladsen, Inc. staff members Greg Halverson, Karina Opperman, Carli Quandahl, Bob Kubitz and Steve Pladsen standing with Allamakee County Relief Office Director Rebecca Hawes.
 

The week of November 15-21 is Northeast Iowa’s Tobacco Awareness Week, and November 19 marks the nationwide Great American Smokeout encouraging people to stop using tobacco for the day and to make plans to quit. The Board of Supervisors from Allamakee, Delaware, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties have proclaimed Tobacco Awareness Week throughout their counties. Pictured above in the photo taken by Standard Assistant Editor Joe Moses at the proclamation by the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors are, left to right, Allamakee County Board of Supervisors members Dennis Koenig and Dan Byrnes, Tobacco Prevention Specialist

Ashley Havenstrite of Helping Services for Youth & Families, and Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Chair Larry Schellhammer.

Thursday, October 1, the joint committees of the Iowa High School Music Association and the Iowa Music Educators Association voted unanimously to cancel the 2020 All-State Music Festival due to health safety concerns presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The joint committees were also committed to moving forward with the All-State Audition process.

Auditions were held virtually October 22-24, with a total of 3,483 students auditioning virtually by regions: LeMars, Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Independence, Atlantic, Indianola and Washington, representing 263 high schools. A total of 1,081 instrumental and vocal music students were selected to receive the All-State honor, including a pair of Waukon High School vocal students under the direction of Sarah J. Bieber, Vocal Music Director for sixth-12th grades in the Allamakee Community School District.

The 2020 Northeast District Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event was held Saturday, October 3 at the Clayton County Fairgrounds in National. Twenty-five teams competed in this year’s event involving 86 individual FFA members who were tasked with placing six classes of livestock. These classes consisted of four head each of breeding gilts, breeding ewe, market lambs, breeding does, purebred Angus heifers and breeding heifers. Participants did not have to complete a livestock evaluation knowledge test or oral reasons this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and both officials and FFA members participated in social distancing.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting entries for the 2021 Iowa Federal Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) art contest from students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. While entering the JDS contest, students have the opportunity to learn about waterfowl and their habitat, and then create an image of an eligible North American waterfowl species.

School groups and informal groups can enter this contest, or a student may enter individually. All information needed to participate can be found on the website: www.fws.gov/juniorduck.

Iowa entries for 2021 Contest must be postmarked by March 15, 2021, and mailed to: DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge; ATTN: Junior Duck Stamp; 1434 316th Lane; Missouri Valley, IA 51555.

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing will host the Driftless Birding Fest Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14. The Driftless Birding Fest will include speakers, exhibits, and guided and self-guided field trips to area birding hotspots. The self-guided field trips will include the Brownsville, MN overlook, Stoddard, WI overlook, New Albin’s Army Road, Red Oak Road near Harpers Ferry and the Ferryville, WI overlook.

Friday, November 13 from 6-8 p.m. “Raptors of Iowa” will be presented at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center. Following the presentation there will be an Owl prowl to find and hear owls on the bluffs surrounding the nature center.

Saturday, November 14 a guided field trip will leave the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center at 6 a.m. to travel to the Brownsville Shady Maple Overlook and return around 11 a.m. Binoculars, spotting scopes and bird identification will be provided during the guided field trip.

Homemade chia cups and catching spiders made for a great kick-off meeting for the Saturday Clover Kids October 17. The group is hosted by Allamakee County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and meets monthly for hands-on, educational activities. Youth learned the difference between their own ecosystem and that of different animals such as spiders, birds and whales. All life requires three things to survive: air, water and soil, but every ecosystem can look very different.

Youth pretended they were one inch tall and went outside to check out what they could find. Due to the cold, many bugs and insects were hard to find but the Clover Kids were able to move a spider from its inside ecosystem to an outside one. They also made their own funny face chia seed cups, such as the one pictured at right being displayed by Brinnly Rea of Lansing, and Cheerios bird feeders.

The Kee High School Student Council will be hosting a community blood drive Wednesday, November 25 in the Kee High School gymnasium in Lansing. The blood drive will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For an appointment, call 563-538-4201 or visit redcrossblood.org.