Top Stories

APRIL 29 - May 20
SCHEDULED

State vs. Edward C. Ahrens, New Albin, speeding, $41.
State vs. Amy Sue Alexander, Waukon, unsafe passing, $34.50.
Waukon vs. James R. Allison, Waukon, seatbelt, $28.
Postville vs. Rory B. Armstrong, Waterloo, speeding, $54.
State vs. Brian S. Baures, Lansing, seatbelt, $34.50.
State vs. Glenn H. Bearbower, Waterloo, seatbelt, $34.50.
Postville vs. Denise Beisker, Waukon, open container, $112.50
New Albin vs. Keene M. Benedict, La Crosse, WI, speeding, $54.

I can tell that summer has arrived. The corn crop is peeking up through the soil, the birds keep trying to build a nest on top of our porch light, and my husband has found our tent. No matter how well I try to hide that thing, he always manages to dig it out.
I'm just not much of an out-doorsy person. Oh, I like to go for a walk, or putter around the yard, or even have a picnic in the park. But my idea of “camping” is to cook burgers on our backyard gas grill and sit on a chaise lounge on the patio to drink my iced tea (within 10 feet of an indoor bathroom).

And I thought it was supposed to get easier with each consecutive birth!
At least, that's what I'd heard; generally, babies come faster and easier after the first. I guess I'm an exception to that rule. Not only was my second daughter slightly over a pound larger than the first, the labor took an extra two hours (no coincidence, I’m sure). But although the process seemed excruciating at the time, I feel fortunate in knowing that I now have a second healthy, happy daughter, seeing the world for the first time cuddled close to my heart nearly all the time.

It appears that I need to clarify the message I was attempting to transcend in my recent article regarding the rash of business closings in our city. I have had comments directed towards me, both in conversation and through this newspaper regarding such, and believe we have a simple case of a mistranslation.

...that the past couple of weeks, local and statewide, newspapers have been introducing us to some of the “best and brightest” new high school graduates, most of whom are heading off to college.
With that recognition, however, there are also reminders that there is a bottom 20% to every group just as there is a top 20%. Bottom feeders sometimes get more print or air time and make more money than their more intelligent counterparts.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin its next four-week session of Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) on Monday, July 3, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The class will meet at the same time for four consecutive Mondays.

Veterans Memorial Hospital, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, will be sponsoring a blood drive on Friday, June 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.
During the approximate one hour that is required to give blood, the volunteers will take the time with each donor to make sure the blood they are giving that day will be made safe for those who need it.

Veterans Memorial Hospital hosted their second annual Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Day Camp on Thursday, June 8, at the Allamakee Fairgrounds in Waukon.
This Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Day Camp drew 150 children ages 7 to 14 from throughout Allamakee and Clayton counties for a day long session on how to take responsibility for their own safety, respect parents' safety rules and share safety tips with their family and friends.

Waukon Indian graduated senior Josh Tweedy brought his high school track career to a close in the company of the state's and Upper Midwest's track and field elite Saturday, June 10. Tweedy was one of 43 high school track and field senior boys from across the state selected to compete for Team Iowa in the Second Annual Iowa Association of Track Coaches Senior Spotlight Meet at Loras College in Dubuque.

Well, now a week overdue, my maternity leave has begun. An odd feeling, since I still await the newborn baby for which the leave gives me time to care. I keep telling myself that it can only be a matter of days now, but baby is making perfectly clear its apprehensiveness to enter the outside world from the safety and security of my womb - despite my, and its sister’s, constant coaxing.
I guess patience is a virtue I don't possess.