News Center newsletter

The Viroqua High School Class of 1969 50-year Reunion will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, August 10 at Gassers in Viroqua, WI. Classmates interested in attending should contact Chris Hendrickson at chrisser51@gmail.com or by calling 608-444-7986.

This will be an informal event with food and a bar with an assortment of beverages. Individuals who respond will be provided additional information prior to the event. Anyone with contact information about members of the Class of 1969 is asked to pass this reunion information along to them.  All assistance is appreciated.
 

To the Editor:

Recently, we were driving to visit family in Minnesota and drove through Chatfield, a town of about 2,800. They are going through a similar process as Waukon with their sidewalks and streets. What was very different was that instead of cutting the trees down in the boulevards they put a protective skirting around the bottom of each tree during construction.

It was quite refreshing to see a community that appreciates the aesthetic value of trees and is also aware of the economic and environmental value of trees. In 2010 Northeast Iowa RC&D identified every tree on Waukon City property and noted its species and condition. They estimated the positive economic impact from the trees was over $240,000 annually.

To the Editor:

I note that a good number of people around here are willing to travel to Branson, Nashville, Chicago or elsewhere to see plays, musicals or concerts. We lived over 40 years in Chicago and have been fortunate to have seen some wonderful stage performances.

Living here, we have been surprised to discover that there is an amazing amount of talent close by - an hour’s drive away in Lanesboro, MN. This town of 750 consists of a group of professional performers who constitute The Commonweal Theatre Company. Each year they put on five plays, each with about 40 performances. Unlike large venues, this small theatre allows a close view of the performers.

Two of their best shows are currently on stage - “Boeing Boeing,” one of the funniest shows we have ever seen, and “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a lively spoof of the pirate life, are currently playing there.  Boeing Boeing runs through August and Peter and the Starcatcher through October.

To the Editor:

The Iowa Attorney General’s office recently established a toll-free hotline for adult survivors to report child sexual abuse, especially by spiritual leaders and clergy.

To report past sexual abuse, Iowans can call 855-620-7000 to speak with a trained advocate. Alternatively, they can submit the online form at IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov/Report-Clergy-Sex-Abuse.

This is an important step to ensure justice, prevent future abuse and provide the support victims deserve. Anybody experiencing current or ongoing abuse should call local law enforcement immediately.

In addition, survivors of all types of crime can get free, confidential support and referrals from the Iowa Victim Service Call Center. Call 1-800-770-1650, text “IOWAHELP” to 20121 or go online to SurvivorsHelpline.org for information on services throughout the state.

Sincerely,
Janet Petersen
Iowa Senate
Democratic Leader

To the Editor:

I applaud the City of Lansing for getting the pool up and running this summer. I have two young grandchildren and this pool is the best for teaching them how to enjoy the water and to learn how their little bodies work in the water. The depth at the shallow end is perfect. It is such a pleasure to see the smile on their faces when they are able to play and learn in that two-foot depth. I totally agree with the statement it is a  “little gem of a pool”

Lisa Fruechte
New Albin

The new Irish Hollow Creek Bridge pictured above and below along Iowa River Drive (County Road A26) and located approximately 3.5 miles southwest of New Albin adjacent to the Upper Iowa River is in its final stages of having the finishing touches put on the project and has been opened to all traffic as of mid-July. Signage for the gravel road detour around the replacement project is scheduled to be removed this week. The bridge has been closed since late March of this year for a replacement project of the entire structure that was first constructed in 1946. Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour said the 73-year-old bridge had some deck deficiencies which would have required posting the bridge for weight restrictions, so the decision was made to replace the structure along the well-utilized Iowa River Drive route.

The annual Allamakee County Fair Queen Pageant was held Tuesday, July 16 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon, kicking off the 166th Allamakee County Fair. The three area young ladies pictured in the photo above were all vying for this year’s Fair Queen crown, which was bestowed upon Cayla Nolting (far right), daughter of Chad and Cheryl Nolting of Waukon. Diana Davison (far left), daughter of Cindy Shogren of Waukon, and Soraya Reyes (center), daughter of Lori Reyes of Waukon, joined Nolting in serving as the Allamakee County Fair Royalty Team throughout this year’s fair. Nolting will now advance on to represent Allamakee County in the 2019 Iowa State Fair Queen competition, with that coronation being held August 10 in Des Moines. Photo courtesy of ISU Extension and Outreach. Additional photos of the 2019 Allamakee County Fair will be published in future editions of The Standard.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 22 to address a full agenda of items. Those items included discussion relating to the County’s ATV Ordinance and opening Donahue Road and State Forest Road to such vehicles, an update on the County Attorney Office’s collections process and budget status, and consideration of the contract and bond for concrete paving patching.

The paving of a one-mile stretch of Makee Drive just north of Waukon has now been completed and the roadway has been opened to all traffic as of the middle of July. The primary contractor completing the paving was Wicks Construction, Inc. out of Decorah using a GOMACO paving machine, which is Iowa-made in Ida Grove and is world renowned for slip-form pavers (no forms required on pavement edges). Croell Redi-Mix from Waukon supplied the concrete mix, which was Portland cement concrete (PCC) with a depth of eight inches and width of 22 feet that required 16,000 square yards of pavement hauled in by 355 truckloads. The grading and culvert work on the project had been primarily done last fall by subcontractor Skyline Construction Inc. out of Decorah and allowed to settle during the winter. The mile-long pavement project began at Makee Drive’s intersection with Highway 9 (pictured above) east to its four-way intersection with Four Corners Road.

Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) has announced that it has recently released a video promoting Allamakee County and all it has to offer those visiting, happening to drive through or looking for a place to call home. The video was filmed by Jack Meggers, director of the recently released short film “The Burial” filmed in the Lansing area last year, with funding from the Iowa Tourism Office helping make the video possible.

To view the video, visit the Allamakee County Economic Development website, www.allamakeecounty.com, and click on the video arrow just below the title “You’re Invited! Live. Work. Play.” The video features supporting commentary from those living, working and leading in Allamakee County and its communities, along with video footage of some of the area’s landmark locations and outdoor appeal during all seasons.