Community News

Waukon Corn Days is quickly approaching - scheduled for August 16 this year - and event organizers are in need of volunteers. Waukon Corn Days offers an opportunity to volunteer in the community, with volunteering seen as the ultimate exercise in democracy.

The Corn Days meal will be served at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds, and due to the street improvement project in downtown Waukon this year there will be no parade. In order for this year’s Corn Days to run effectively and efficiently, volunteers are needed to handle necessary tasks to ensure that the event runs smoothly. It is a fact that volunteers are critical to the success of community events.

Volunteers are needed for the following times and tasks associated with this year’s Corn Days celebration:

by Brianne Eilers

CLARIFICATION: In a previous article regarding Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH), it was stated that VMH will no longer be able to offer diagnostic mammography. To further clarify this statement, VMH will still be able to do yearly 3D screening mammograms. Should the screening mammogram reveal anything suspicious, an additional diagnostic mammogram or procedure is needed. In that case, patients will now be referred to a facility of the patient’s choosing to follow up on these abnormalities that showed up in the screening mammogram.

(Editor’s Note: A previous article regarding follow-up to a Veterans Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees meeting may have given the wrong the impression that Veterans Memorial Hospital is no longer able to offer mammograms at its facility in Waukon. What was trying to be explained was that follow-up mammograms may need to be referred to another facility due to Gundersen Health Systems currently experiencing a shortage in its radiology personnel. The Standard regrets any confusion caused by any previous articles and welcomes the further explanation below offered by Veterans Memorial Hospital.)

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon continues to offer state-of the art 3D mammography. The advanced breast tomosynthesis technology installed less than two years ago, provides exams that are clinically proven to significantly increase the detection of breast cancers, while simultaneously decreasing the number of women asked to return for additional testing.

Representatives of Black Hills Energy, pictured above at far left, Operations Supervisor Ivan Hackman and second from right, Service Technician Arvid Hatlan, thank contractors for practicing safe digging during the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Street and Sidewalk Project in Waukon. In early August, Black Hills Energy teams across Iowa have delivered 811 logo coolers filled with water and Gatorade to local construction crews who comply with 811 digging laws. No matter what the date, the law requires that you call 811 to have underground utility lines marked before you break ground. That’s true whether you’re a homeowner setting a fencepost or a contractor conducting a large excavation. You can also enter your request at http://www.iowaonecall.com/.

Waukon High School 1970 graduate Gary Schwartzhoff, a long-time music educator and retired Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, conducted the Paris Choral Festival Concert at Eglise de la Madeleine in Paris, France Monday, July 8 in celebration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Schwartzhoff was listed as the Artistic Director for that Paris Choral Festival, and he conducted more than 350 vocalists involving 13 separate choirs from across the United States during the concert, including his own UW-Eau Claire Alumni Choir. He can be seen in the top submitted photo at right in the center of the photo foreground facing the choir he conducted.

The family of former Allamakee County Sheriff Leonard J. Bulman recently donated a memorial bench to the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office in memory of their late father, Leonard J. Bulman, who was killed in the line of duty as Allamakee County Sheriff January 19, 1946. Sheriff Bulman’s daughters, Charlotte Reeder and the late Edith Feuerhelm, and son, the late Charles Bulman, made the memorial bench donation possible, and Stacey Quam was also instrumental in procurement of the bench. Pictured above is the bench plaque memorializing Sheriff Bulman and pictured at right with the bench, left to right, are Charlotte Reeder and her daughter, Lori Quam.

“The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office very much appreciates this donation and as a reminder of the service and sacrifice by Sheriff Leonard J. Bulman and his family,” Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick shared. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, August 5 to address a full agenda of items including discussion of downtown trash cans, a potential police department building remodel and the city manager position. During Public Comment, Director Ardie Kuhse of Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) thanked City Manager Dean Hilgerson for his work for the City and assistance with WEDC and invited those in attendance to stay after adjournment for cookies and punch in honor of Hilgerson’s upcoming retirement.

John Kerndt with Trees Forever discussed that efforts should be made to save the trees that will be removed for the sidewalk project along the industrial park area and suggested transplanting them elsewhere within Waukon. Council member John Ellingson discussed the use of a tree spade as a possibility in transplanting trees if utilities are not an issue.

The Hartig Drug Waukon location hosted an open house event Thursday morning, August 1 that allowed members of the local community to meet three members of the Hartig family - Dick and his sons, Charlie and Wes - involved in the business and in a current transition within the company’s corporate leadership. Pictured in the photo above during the open house, left to right, are: Front row - Waukon Hartig Drug Pharmacists Samantha Collins and Erin Iverson; Back row: Waukon Hartig Drug Store Manager Casey Larson, newly appointed Hartig Drug Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charlie Hartig, Hartig Drug Chairman Dick Hartig, and Wes Hartig, CEO of MedOne, a pharmacy benefit administration business founded by Dick Hartig.

Judges’ Choice Award winners from Open Class exhibits at 2019 Allamakee County Fair ...  Pictured in the photos at right are the Judges’ Choice Award purple ribbon winners from the Open Class exhibits at the 2019 Allamakee County Fair. Pictured in the photo above is Kristi Kuzma, who won the Judges’ Choice in Flowers - Blooms. Pictured at left and listed with their classes of competition are: Left to right - Front row: Marlin Hager, Age 5-10 Arts & Crafts; Charlotte Christianson, Antiques & Collectibles and Flowers - Plant or Arrangement; Dallas Tilleraas, Age 5-10 Garden & Baked Goods; Amy Henry, Adults Arts & Crafts. Back row: Judy Egeland, Agricultural Products; Lisa Berger, Textiles & Fabrics (tie); Regan Lubahn, Age 11-18 Garden & Baked Goods; Diana Davison, Age 11-18 Arts & Crafts; Bev Bakkum, Textiles & Fabrics (tie). Submitted photos.

Two new officers for the Waukon Police Department were sworn into duty at the Monday, July 22 special meeting of the Waukon City Council. Darrek Elwood of Decorah (left) was scheduled to begin his employment July 23 and Fallon Cassidy (right) of Hastings, MN began her employment June 24. Elwood is a graduate of Decorah High School and Northeast Iowa Community College and recently returned to his native Decorah after serving as an EMT and police officer in Davenport. Cassidy is a graduate of Hastings High School in Minnesota and a 2019 graduate of Luther College in Decorah. Standard photo by Joe Moses.