Community News

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 15 to address a full agenda of items including a police officer hire, discussion of waiving penalties for utility billing and the continuation of the COVID-19 closure of City Hall.

There was no Public Comment and the council moved into Department Reports with Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub noting that winter youth activities are finishing up for the season with information to be provided soon about soccer. Strub said that some preparations have begun for reopening the swimming pool this summer and that use of the Wellness Center has picked up.

Upper Iowa Resort, located along State Highway 76 between Waukon and Dorchester, recently received a First Dollar Visit from the Waukon Chamber of Commerce following its change in ownership after the new year. The 29-acre resort was recently purchased from long-time owners Bob and Kristi Hager by Colton and Tessa Willie of Cresco (pictured above) and will continue to includes cabins, campsites and rentals located along the banks of the Upper Iowa River along with its artesian spring-fed swimming pool surrounded by a beach. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson of Iowa’s First Congressional District met with a group of approximately 25 Allamakee County constituents Thursday, February 18 at the Waukon Wellness Center as part of a 20-county tour of her northeast Iowa Congressional District.

Following the meeting, Hinson met with The Standard and provided an overview of the topics discussed during that earlier meeting. Hinson said that it was important to hear from a variety of stakeholders from Allamakee County including those involved in manufacturing, small business, healthcare, utilities and elected officials at the city and county levels. As part of this 20-county tour, Hinson said that key issues identified include challenges relating to housing, workforce and childcare which are being faced by many rural Iowans.

Tentative plans have been announced to hold the 2021 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waukon Sunday, March 14 at 1 p.m., depending on what guidelines may be in place regarding the COVID-19 pandemic at that time. Should the parade be held, it will follow its traditional route of years past. For additional information, contact the Sweeney family at Village Farm & Home in Waukon at 563-568-4577.
 

“Reading Colors Your World” is the theme of Robey Memorial Library’s 2021 Adult Reading Challenge, which continues through December 31 of this year. Robey Memorial Library challenges area individuals to read something new or different this year.

Receive a prize drawing entry for reading from one of each of 12 categories: Based on a true story; Book set in one of 49 states (not Iowa); Book that teaches you something; Book with a blue cover; Graphic novel or Picture book; Hobby-themed; Humorous; Listen to an audiobook; Science; Short Story or Essay; Set in another country; and Suspense. Contact the library with questions by calling 563-568-4424 or email robeymemorial@waukon.lib.ia.us.
 

Mental Health Today/Matt Howe Tribute Endowment (MHT), in partnership with the Alice Hermeier Foundation Endowment, has announced plans to use its 2020 endowment disbursement to provide transportation for Allamakee County residents of all ages to and from wellness checks, mental health checks and mental health therapy appointments. Both endowments were created through and are held by the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.

“The Allamakee County Community Foundation has made the brain health of our region a priority for our research and grantmaking. We are proud to support funds like MHT and the Alice Hermeier Foundation, which are making an impact for residents who need it most,” said Betty Steege, ACCF Coordinator.

Rides will be provided at no cost by Northeast Iowa Community Action EARL transit services. Appointments can be within Allamakee County or outside its borders.

Combinations of sunlight, clouds and other weather factors have created some very artistic skies in northeast Iowa during recent days, both during the early morning sunrise in the east (photo above) and early evening sunset in the west (photo below). According to the National Weather Service, the bright reds and oranges visible in those sunrise and sunset moments are a combination of many factors, but the premise of those dominant colors stems from the fact that sunlight takes a much longer path through the atmosphere during those sunrise and sunset times than it does during the middle part of the day. Because this lengthened path results in an increased amount of violet and blue light being scattered out of the sunlight beam by a process collectively known as multiple scattering, the light that reaches an observer early or late in the day is noticeably reddened.

by Joe Moses

Waukon City Manager Gary Boden provided an update to The Standard Friday, January 29 relating to a variety of matters including Fiscal-Year 2022 water/sewer bill allocations, planning related to street improvement projects and grant opportunities being pursued by the City of Waukon.

Boden discussed specifics relating to the Fiscal-Year 2022 (FY22) use of water/sewer bill revenue and provided a pie chart (accompanying this article) illustrating the percentages and dollar amounts of this revenue used in funding necessary City operations and needs. Boden pointed out that 28% of this revenue is designated for the new Wastewater Treatment Plant’s debt service, with that project to come in at an approximate total cost of $12.3-12.5 million. Boden added that this is a mandated project from the State and Federal government with the project’s expense resulting in a water/sewer utility bill increase of 25% in comparison to what it was four years ago.

by Brianne Eilers

The month of December ended up being a bit quieter compared to the rest of 2020 for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. VMH Administrator Michael Coyle noted that Emergency Room (ER) visits were up slightly over last month, with 16 more ER visits in December 2020 than November 2020, but ER visits were down 54 visits compared to last year at that same time.

Ambulance runs were down 20 in December 2020 compared to November 2020. Coyle did note that comparing December 2020 to December 2019 for ambulance runs, it was almost the same. Urgent Care was down “considerably” compared to last year, with 147 fewer visits comparing yearly.

Friday, February 5 at 2:03 a.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Emergency Dispatch Center received a report of a home invasion in progress involving a possible assault of the home owner.

Upon arrival on scene, Allamakee County Sheriff’s Deputies made contact with the home owner and determined that the subject had fled the scene. The subject had broken into the residence and was attempting to commit a burglary when confronted by the home owner. The subject then assaulted the home owner and fled. The home owner sustained minor injuries during the incident.

As a result of the investigation, Jeremy Joe Johnson, age 46, of Waukon was arrested on a charge of First Degree Burglary, a class B felony. Johnson is being held in the Allamakee County Jail.