Community News

Public invited to meet the candidates for Mayor and City Council October 25

A forum featuring the City of Waukon’s Mayor and City Council candidates who will be on the upcoming November 2 election ballot is being planned for Monday, October 25 at 7 p.m. The forum will be sponsored by Waukon Economic Development and will take place in the Community Room of the Robey Memorial Library, located at 401 1st Avenue NW in Waukon.

The following candidates are slated to be present for the forum: Mayor candidate Pat Stone; At-Large Council candidates Nicholas Engrav and Kevin Johnson; Ward 1 Council Candidates Stephen Wiedner and Jerry Schoenthal; Ward 3 Council Candidate Arvid Hatlan; and At-Large to Fill a Vacancy Council Candidate Andy Sires.

The City of Waukon has set its official Trick-or-Treat time for Halloween for Sunday, October 31 from 4-8 p.m. Area residents are asked to leave porch lights on to welcome trick-or-treaters,  and the youngsters are reminded to keep safety in mind while making their rounds from house to house.
 

Monday, October 11, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Chapters around the world participated in special service projects in their communities in recognition of the DAR National Day of Service, which honors the founding of the DAR October 11,1890. This year, Hannah Lee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution chose to honor healthcare workers on the frontline and all staff for keeping the medical centers running during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Local DAR chapter members distributed 40 baskets of goodies between the hospitals in Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties.

Friends of Yellow River State Forest will be holding an educational program and workday at the mounds in the Paint Rock Unit of Yellow River State Forest at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 30. Sheila Oberreuter, museum technician at Effigy Mounds National Monument, will lead the mound program, which will include the linear and conical mounds near Paint Rock Lookout (pictured above) and the bear mounds at the north end of that unit. The program will discuss mound building in the Upper Mississippi River Valley, landscape characteristics present when mounds were being built and the changes that have occurred to the landscape since that time.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Feeling stressed and frustrated? Need a lift? Then take a drive, enjoy the changing fall leaves in the scenic countryside and drive through Lansing to see the brightly-colored, positive signs on Main Street.

Humans have a natural tendency to dwell on the negative, to worry about the “what ifs.” “What if” those worries and negative thoughts were replaced with positive ones?

The new public art project from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing, dubbed “The Positive Sign Campaign,” aims to do just that. Using recycled pallet boards, these paintings with upbeat and funny messages are meant to be inspiring to all who read them.

The idea began with Pastor Laura Gentry, who is also an artist, laughter yoga teacher and motivational speaker. She’s long been interested in the power of positivity. Research shows that positive thinking can lower stress levels and boost overall health.

The Waukon Fields of Faith event celebrated its 10th year of existence on a cool, early fall evening at the Waukon High School football field Wednesday, October 6, drawing another large crowd, as evident in the photos above and below. Messages of faith and how it has impacted their own lives were shared by a series of five different speakers during the event, all of whom are pictured in the individual photos immediately below. Those messages involved the more personal local experiences presented by four area high school students that included (left to right in photos at right) Waukon High School senior Braden Hemann, Decorah High school senior Grace Bachelder, Waukon High School sophomore Philip Clocksin and MFL/MarMac High School senior Gabe McGeough, with Waukon High School senior Nick Goltz serving as emcee of the event.

The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department recently recognized the generous support of three area businesses toward the Third Annual Swinging “Fore” Our K-9 Best Shot Golf Tournament held Saturday, September 25 at the Waukon Golf & Country Club. Sheriff Deputy Ross Kolsrud and K-9 Officer Tyr are pictured in each of the three surrounding photos presenting plaques to Beau Bennett, representing Kious Kountry Auto Collision Center of Waukon (photo above); Amy and Keith Bresnahan, representing A-OK Well Service of Waukon (photo at center); and Shelly Galema, representing New Albin Savings Bank (photo below) in recognition of their high level of financial support each year of this fundraising event and of the Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 Fund, which assists with program expenses including equipment, training and veterinary costs.

The 2021 Allamakee County Bible Reading Marathon was held the first two Saturdays in September, and was sponsored by Center Baptist Church in Lansing and First Baptist Church of Waukon this year. With a new format of holding the event on consecutive Saturdays and hosted by local churches, it was decided to read just the New Testament instead of the whole Bible this year.

With the fall season offering a prime opportunity to get out and enjoy the crisp fresh air, sunny skies and some fun, Waukon Economic Development is offering a treasure hunt that will further enhance that opportunity while also promoting some local businesses. Waukon Economic Development is teaming up with some local eateries to sponsor “The Great Waukon Medallion Hunt” over the next several weeks.

A metal three-inch circular medallion has been hidden somewhere within the city limits of Waukon. It needs to be emphasized that the medallion is not anywhere on private property but rather on public property, so treasure hunters are reminded to avoid trespassing on private property in search of the medallion.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, October 4 to address a full agenda of items.

During Public Comment, former council member John Ellingson discussed the former McCabe property and the development agreement between Steve Pladsen and the City of Waukon as being a positive for the community from a residential and commercial perspective. Ellingson advised that planning related to the Bresnahan property continue with this being an excellent location for residential development.

Mayor Pat Stone read aloud the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Buddy Poppies Proclamation and encouraged all citizens to support this fundraising effort benefiting veterans in need and disabled veterans October 15, 2021. Stone encouraged residents to wear Buddy Poppies in honor of the men and women who have risked their lives in the defense of this nation’s freedoms.