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A project involving the installation of a new main waterline (as depicted in the two surrounding photos) began just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday and, depending upon the weather, is expected to be completed by the end of this current first week of December, according to Waukon City Manager Gary Boden. The project is taking place between Second Avenue NW and First Avenue NW and will service the newly renovated Waukon Police Station (the front of which is pictured at far left in the photo below) as well as a future building project that will take place in the now vacant lot owned by the City of Waukon at 105 First Street NW (just to the south of the shed pictured at far right in the photo below). The project is being funded by the City of Waukon through tax increment financing (TIF). Standard photos by Joe Moses.
 

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) held its regular monthly meeting Monday, November 16 at Kee High School in Lansing. The regular meeting began with the board’s annual meeting to elect officers and designate representatives to handle the official business of the board throughout the year.

The annual meeting was called to order by Marian Verdon, Board Secretary. The following board members were present: Tony Becker, Bobbie Goetzinger, Melanie Mauss, Kelli Mudderman and Heather Schulte. Also present at the meeting were EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, Kee Middle School and High School Principal Dr. Sarah Updegraff, and Board Secretary Marian Verdon.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) continues to secure additional resources that allow the College to serve the community and fulfill its mission while navigating the challenges of the pandemic. The College has received several major federal and state of Iowa grants, more than $4.2 million, with much of the funding made possible by strong partnerships with local private and public sector organizations.

“The grants awarded to the College and our partners in the 5,000-square-mile district allow us to enhance the services we provide for our students, local industries, high schools and communities. Even during the challenges created in a fluid environment by the pandemic, NICC continues to demonstrate resilience, innovation, collaboration and stewardship. The College is able to achieve these results because of our strong partnerships in northeast Iowa,” said Liang Chee Wee, Ph.D., NICC president.

Allamakee County will offer the Aerial Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Monday, December 7. The local attendance site is Allamakee County Extension and Outreach office. The course will be held from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. To register or to obtain additional information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Allamakee County at 563-568-6345.
 

Lansing’s VFW Auxiliary #5981 announces its scholarship contest for local art students  in ninth through 12th grades. Patriotic students in ninth through 12th grades with a passion for art are encouraged to enter the 2020-2021 VFW Auxiliary Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.

Students will compete with other student artists from across the nation for a chance to win one of 10 national scholarships. The first-place winner receives a $15,000 scholarship.

To request entry forms or for additional information email vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com. Entries must then be submitted to vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com no later than midnight March 31, 2021.
 

The Waukon girls and boys bowling teams opened up their 2020-2021 season hosting Tripoli Tuesday, November 24. Both teams faced consistent visiting Panther squads that each had no bowlers finish below a 250-pin individual match series total that fueled a 2424-2623 loss for the Waukon boys and a 2111-2388 loss for the Indian girls.

The Indians were next scheduled to bowl at Decorah this Friday, December 4. The bowling Tribe will then travel to North Iowa Friday, December 11 before hosting Waverly-Shell Rock Friday, December 18 prior to the holiday break.

For more complete coverage, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.

The 2020-2021 Kee boys basketball team returns an abundance of experience this season, as all but two now graduated seniors return from a squad that played to a 9-13 season record last winter. With all that experience returning, about the only thing that might stand in the way to continued improvement in the program this season is the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted nearly everything else so far this year and has actually already thrown an early wrinkle into the Hawks’ early-season preparations.

“We had a good first week of practice,” Kee boys basketball coach Pat Wagner said. “Unfortunately, our district is going to shut down for a week (November 23-27) and we are not going to be able to work-out.  I hope this does not come back to bite us.”

The 2020-2021 Kee basketball season has been looked forward to since the Lady Hawks ended their 2019-2020 campaign with a 15-8 season record last winter and seven letterwinners from that winning campaign were slated to return this winter season. Although what has transpired since the end of that season in the realm of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed a number of aspects both prior to and heading into this season, that pandemic has made this winter’s campaign looked forward to even more but also offers its own set of challenges in order to make it happen.

The 2020-2021 Waukon wrestling season will be one filled with new experiences as the wrestling Indians get set to take on a bit more than just their fellow mat opponents during this winter campaign. In addition to the challenges posed by those standing directly across the mat from the Tribe grapplers, this year’s wrestlers will also be battling an opponent that can be all around them, on or off the mat, in the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing teams to also focus their preparations on overcoming that foe as well on a daily basis.

Guidance handed down by State of Iowa Public Health officials and the Iowa High School Athletic Association will impact everything from practices, meet and tournament competition, and even weigh-in procedures, among other facets. However, Waukon wrestling head coach Mason Berns and his charges know that all of these changes being made are in an effort to keep everyone healthy and to allow the season to be able to take place.

Orville J. Bratrud, 96, of Waukon died Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at his home in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, November 30 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery, both in rural Waterville. Condolences may be sent to Dorothy Bratrud at 207 First Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled the arrangements.

Orville Joseph Bratrud was born December 12, 1923 in Allamakee County, rural Waterville, the son of Ingvold and Inga (Olson) Bratrud. He attended country school in the Village Creek area and graduated from Waterville High School in 1942. After he graduated, he worked for several area farmers as a hired hand.

Orville served in the United States Army during WWII from 1945 until 1947. While he was in the service, he participated in the American Army Band and drill team.