Allamakee County EMS receives donation of ultraviolet lights ... Representatives of the various Emergency Medical Services (EMS) departments in Allamakee County are pictured above with ultraviolet light systems recently purchased by the Allamakee County Community Foundation through the generous support of area individuals, organizations and businesses. The ultraviolet lights will be used to enhance sanitation measures in all area ambulances and at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Pictured above, left to right, are: Front row - Mindy Koenig - Postville Area Ambulance, Cheryl Livingston - Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance, Brittany Darling - Lansing EMS and Becky Benzing - Harpers Ferry Rescue Squad; Back row - Conrad Rosendahl - Lansing EMS, Randy Plaht - Postville Area Ambulance and Loren Mitchell - Waterville Ambulance. Submitted photo.
Area individuals, organizations and businesses help make the purchase through Allamakee County Community Foundation challenge grant
Amid rising numbers of positive COVID-19 cases, Allamakee County medical providers have a new avenue for stopping the spread. Harnessing the power of local generosity, the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) has purchased 12 quick-sanitizing ultraviolet (UV) lights for the six ambulances services of Allamakee County, along with special eye protection glasses, replacement bulbs and two larger lights for Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
“We are grateful to the people, organizations and businesses of Allamakee County who donated to this cause,” says Betty Steege, ACCF coordinator. “EMS touches us all, and the medical community needs our support more than ever as the virus continues to present challenges in our area.”
Robert “Bob” Duane Grover, 91, of Lansing died Thursday, December 10, 2020 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. There are no services planned at this time.
Robert was born August 26, 1929 to George and Emma “Louise” (Fox) Grover in Cedar Falls. Emma later married Andrew Adamsen.
After graduating from high school, Bob attended junior college in California. He served in the United States National Guard, retiring from the Iowa National Guard as Lieutenant Colonel. He had a long career with Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. (later AT&T) in the Cedar Falls area.
Bob was united in marriage with Jo Schmidt and had three children before they divorced. Bob later married Darlene Peeper McDonald, who died in 2011. Bob was then united in marriage with Julie Smethurst.
Allamakee County Public Health recognizes there is a lot of information regarding the new COVID-19 vaccine. To help explain the local process, Allamakee County Public Health officials offer the following clarifications:
• COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed in phases and County Public Health will adhere to guidelines and plans as provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
• The first allotment - called Phase 1A - will be prioritized for long-term care facilities and healthcare workers. Long-term care facility vaccinations are contracted through pharmacies, and most local healthcare workers will be vaccinated by Allamakee County Public Health.
• The vaccine is not yet available to the general public and local healthcare providers are not able to give it to their patients at this time.
The letter to the editor pictured at right was submitted by Jane (Cronin) Butler of Waukon and first appeared in the Waukon newspaper during the holiday season in 1974 regarding her father, Joe Cronin, who had owned and operated Cronin’s Variety Store and Gifts in the middle of the long Main Street business block in Waukon. The letter was written and submitted by former Waukon residents Jack and Catherine Wadsworth when they lived in Wenatchee, WA and recalled a treasured moment from several years earlier when Jack was shopping with his grandmother in Waukon and experienced one of the many invaluable advantages of shopping local, as noted in the letter’s final paragraph.
In commemoration of his 25 years of service to the Waukon Fire Department and his retirement from active duty in 2012, Ron Herman of Waukon had tried for years to get a photo of himself with all five of the Waukon Fire Chiefs he served under during his volunteer firefighting career. He recently submitted that photo to The Standard newspaper for publication. Pictured above, left to right, are: Front row - Troy Lubahn, who is representing his father-in-law and Herman’s first Fire Chief, the late Phil Stone; Bob Zahn and Robert Campbell; Back row - Current Waukon Fire Chief Dave Martin, Ron Herman and Jim Ryan. Herman says he is still a member of the Waukon Fire Department for voting and other purposes, but he no longer actively fights fires with the local volunteer crew. Submitted photo.
Donna Harvey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A), has been named the winner of the 2020 Betty Grandquist Lifetime Achievement Award by the Iowa Department on Aging and Iowa Commission on Aging.
The award, named for former Department Director and Commissioner Betty Grandquist, identifies and recognizes an Iowan who has dedicated a portion of their personal or professional life to achieving excellence in the fields of aging or disability or has made significant contributions to promoting independence and enhancing the quality of life among older Iowans and Iowans with disabilities.
Harvey has served as the CEO of NEI3A since October 2016 and is retiring from that role a the end of this year. She previously served as the director of the Iowa Department on Aging from January 2011 until joining NEI3A.
The Eitzen Lions Club is grateful for the support from citizens of Allamakee County and is happy to present the Allamakee County Food Shelf in Waukon with a donation of $1,000. Pictured above at the presentation of the donation check are, left to right, Lion Richard Amundson, Allamakee County Food Shelf Co-Director Ann Roed and Lion Lawrence Fruechte. Submitted photo.
The Waukon High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter held a successful “Fill the Truck” food drive event to benefit the Allamakee County Food Shelf in early November, collecting 1,027 pounds of nonperishable food and goods and over $563. The FBLA chapter appreciates the use of pick-up trucks donated by Torkelson’s, R.W. Pladsen and West Side Auto that were parked at Fareway, Dollar Fresh and Quillin’s to receive the donated items. Submitted photo.
This is the 16th year for the Alumni Scholarship instituted by the Allamakee Scholarship Fund (ASF), Inc. Board of Directors. The award is made to a Waukon High School graduate who participated in ASF, Inc. while in high school and received an award as a graduating senior.
The scholarship is available to college sophomores through graduate level students. The ASF, Inc. Board feels it is important to continue the encouragement to Allamakee Community School District graduates as they continue their education, not just as they start their post-high school program. The board wishes to encourage participation
in community service and college activities that are part of their educational growth and preparation for career and community life.
West Elementary School in Waukon is hosting a Holiday Book Drive, collecting books for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through second grade at West Elementary School. Donations of new or gently used books, or even a monetary donation to be used to purchase new books, would be appreciated to help give the gift of reading to the young students.
Donations can be dropped off at the West Elementary School office during school hours. Donations can also be mailed to West Elementary School at 953 Third Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.
