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by Bob Beach

The fifth annual Big Pumpkin contest is scheduled for Sunday, September 30 in Waukon. The event, which takes place at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds, will begin with weigh-in at 9:30 a.m., with those big pumpkins being on display that day and this year’s winners being crowned at a 12:30 p.m. awards ceremony.

Historic, restored barns throughout Iowa will be opened to the public during the Iowa Barn Foundation’s free, two-day, self-guided, All-State Barn Tour Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. each day. To avoid conflicts with harvest, the tour is earlier this year.
Most barns on the tour have been restored with matching grants from the Iowa Barn Foundation. Other property owners received awards of distinction from the foundation for restorations they undertook themselves.

by Bob Beach

by Bob Beach

July 22, 2012, Denise Becker of Lansing laced up her running shoes for the third year in a row and hit the streets of Chicago. This year she was joined by her son, Justin Smerud, in his half-marathon debut. Becker and her children have run the Chicago Rock and Roll half-marathon for the past three years to raise awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and how it is affecting American troops returning home.

by Sharon Drahn
Postville Herald

The Allamakee County Sheriff's Department, local law enforcement agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are attempting to locate an individual who attempted to rob the Freedombank location in Postville Friday morning, August 17.
The suspect is likely male, wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt and dark glasses. Anyone with any information regarding the robbery attempt is asked to immediately call 911.

We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

by Bob Beach

Sue Pederson joined the staff August 1 at the Allamakee County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach as the new County Youth Coordinator (CYC). Her role with 4-H will included managing and supporting the 4-H Youth Development program; supporting volunteers, youth committee and project committees; and developing partnerships within the community to provide 4-H youth with positive youth development through educational programs and experiences.