New crosswalk signs lead to changes ... New pedestrian crosswalk signage and markings in several locations in the downtown and Main Street areas of the newly paved State Highways 9 and 76 through Waukon will result in some changes to previous driving practices. The new signs (pictured at right) placed in the middle of the streets in six different locations on the new paving serve to remind drivers that all vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
Signs newly placed at the intersections of West Main Street and Second Street (the Post Office location - pictured below) and West Main Street and Fifth Street NW/SW (near Gus & Tony’s) will no longer create a four-way stop, as had previously been the case at those two intersections during school hours, but will only require motorists driving on Main Street to “yield” to pedestrians in those crosswalk areas - although that yielding may sometimes require vehicles to come to a complete stop. The row of large white triangles painted on the roadway (also evident in the top photo at right) at those intersections are U.S. Department of Transportation markings indicating a motorist yield location, and should serve as a reminder of that possible yield for both motorists and pedestrians.
In addition to the new crosswalk signs at the Post Office and Gus & Tony’s intersections on West Main Street, new signs have also been placed by Kwik Star on Spring Avenue (pictured in the bottom photo), at the intersection of Third Avenue NW/NE and Allamakee Street, by Waukon State Bank on Main Street and by the former C-Mart property on West Main to further assist East Elementary students. Some of those crosswalk areas were scheduled to be painted late last week but had that finishing touch delayed to this week due to rainy and colder weather. Standard photos by Joe Moses.
Motorists and pedestrians in Waukon need to be aware of some additional traffic changes being implemented now that the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) repaving project for State Highways 9 and 76 through Waukon is nearing completion. Those changes center around new pedestrian crosswalk signage and markings in several locations in the downtown, Main Street and Allamakee Street areas of the newly paved roadways.
New signs (pictured in the accompanying photos below) that have been placed in the middle of those newly paved streets in six different locations in the interest of pedestrian and student safety should serve as reminders to all motorists to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks at these - and all - crosswalk locations, a change from previous signage placed in some of those same locations three years ago.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials advise that some trails and campground areas at Yellow River State Forest near Harpers Ferry have begun to open again following flash flooding in early September.
Little Paint and Big Paint campgrounds are now open, as well as the overnight backpack campsites, hiking trails and the picnic areas. Frontier equestrian campground, equestrian trails and equestrian day-use were opened again as of Friday, October 11. Creekside equestrian campground and a segment of the Firetower road will remain closed until further notice.
Cool but pleasant weather allowed the eighth annual local Fields of Faith event in Waukon to take place within its traditional setting on the football field at Waukon High School Wednesday, October 9, drawing another large crowd, as evident in the photo above. Messages of how faith has impacted their lives and allowed them to assist others in faith and other aspects of their lives were shared by a series of six different speakers during the event. Those six are pictured in the individual photos immediately below and included (left to right) MFL/MarMac High School senior Rose Mary McGeough, Waukon High School senior Dawson Baures and Waukon High School sophomore Madelyn Helgerson; former students of Dordt University in Sioux Center Kade Krosschell and Taylan Seaman; and Iowa husband and father of five children Mike DeJong.
Helping Services for Youth & Families’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center is hosting Domestic Violence Awareness Events during the month of October. In Iowa and around the world, October is a month to create awareness around domestic violence, using the color purple to symbolize the cause.
Throughout the month of October, one may notice local coffee shops placing stickers listing Helping Services’ 24/7 Resource Line (800-383-2988) on coffee sleeves and table tents with information displayed at area businesses to spread awareness around domestic violence.
Last year, the Helping Services’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center team of advocates and volunteers assisted 294 individual survivors of domestic abuse in the seven counties the team serves, including Allamakee, Bremer, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek. Staff and volunteers also answered 1,160 calls on the Center’s Resource Line and provided 131 transportation trips for clients.
The annual State survey of Northgate Care Center in Waukon has been completed, and after a week of inspection the survey team deemed the facility to have met the standards required by the State of Iowa. The Board of Directors at ABCM Corporation, owners and operators of Northgate Care Center in Waukon, notes that it is exceptionally difficult to receive a deficiency-free survey, especially with all the changing rules and regulations, and congratulates Northgate Care Center on its 14th deficiency-free inspection. During this survey, the environment of the care center, nursing, social work, activities, human resources, dietary and all other facets were inspected to ensure State requirements and standards are being met.
May 24 of this year, the students and staff at St. Patrick School in Waukon celebrated the life of Richard “Dick” Schilling with a mass honoring his memory. Gratitude was expressed for the legacy he gifted to St. Patrick School, with his generous gift of $132,000 assisting St. Patrick School in continuing its mission and ministry for years to come.
Presenting lecture on research at Effigy Mounds ... Luther College Professor Colin Betts (right) works alongside one of his students as they conduct research at Effigy Mounds National Monument. Professor Betts and his students will be presenting a lecture on their research practices and findings this Thursday, October 17 at Luther College in Decorah. Submitted photo.
In recognition of Iowa Archaeology Month and International Archaeology Day, Luther College in Decorah will be presenting a lecture surrounding the ongoing research conducted on Iowa’s effigy mounds by Colin Betts, Luther archaeologist and professor of anthropology, and his students. The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 17 in Olin Building, room 102 on the Luther College campus. This presentation is open to the public with no charge for admission.
A rich part of northeast Iowa’s cultural heritage and landscape, Effigy Mounds National Monument offers a collection of prehistoric earthen constructions in the shape of animals. Set in Allamakee and Clayton counties, they are rare, geographical elements that carry an air of mystery. Though there has been more than a century worth of research around them, the meaning and purpose of their indigenous architects remain an open case.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office will offer the Mosquito/Public Health Pest Management Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Thursday, October 24. The program provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) can be seen at locations across Iowa.
The local attendance site for the October 24 CIC is the Allamakee County Extension Office, Waukon. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9-11:30 a.m. The registration fee increases after October 17. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.
Main Street Lansing recently held a ribbon cutting and First Dollar Visit for Coffee on the River, located at 60 South Front Street in Lansing. Co-owned by sisters Diana Wilson-Thompson and Wendi Eiden, Coffee on the River is the first dedicated coffee shop in Lansing. However, they have much more than coffee, also offering sandwiches, salads, desserts and wine. Pictured above at the ribbon cutting are, left to right, Maryann Baldwin and Jana Schoh of Main Street Lansing, Coffee on the River co-owners Diana Wilson-Thompson and Wendi Eiden, and Bruce Palmborg and Sue Papp of Main Street Lansing. Submitted photo.
Team-high kills and blocks ... Waukon volleyball junior middle hitter Margaret Wacker blasts away for an attack in the Indians’ three-set home loss to Crestwood Tuesday, October 8. Wacker shared the team-high kill total of 10 winners each with senior Leah Bulman and also paced Waukon’s defense with three solo blocks. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
In its only competition scheduled for the week, the Waukon volleyball team hosted fellow Northeast Iowa Conference squad Crestwood in its annual “Think Pink” Night to raise awareness of October being designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With both teams adorned in pink jerseys for the night, it was the Indians who ended up on the short end of a black-and-blue battle with the visiting Cadets, falling in straight sets by narrow scores of 22-25, 23-25 and 17-25.
