Community News

The Waukon City Council passed a new Winter Parking Ordinance at its November 18 meeting in an effort to better facilitate snow removal in the downtown Waukon area. The new ordinance is scheduled to go into effect from November 15 through April 1 each year, and will become effective immediately as of the publication of the ordinance in this week’s edition of The Standard (see Page 10).

by Julie Berg-Raymond

The Board of Directors of The Learning Tree Childcare Center is launching a capital campaign to bring to fruition its five-year plan to open a permanent childcare center for the Lansing and New Albin communities. After much consideration, the location selected for the Center is the former Lansing Middle School.

“Director Jenny (Cole) did a lot of research for a location and the board members helped brainstorm,” Board President of The Learning Tree Childcare Center Lisa Welsh says. “Finding a large space is very difficult and the old middle school had some challenges; but with brainstorming and Jenny’s hard work, we worked around those problems.”

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon and The Oneota Valley Literary Foundation (OVLF) are partnering to host Main Street Story Walk in Waukon featuring the children’s story, “How to catch a Yeti!” by Adam Wallace. During the months of November and December, families are encouraged to read this story in the windows of various business storefronts as they stroll the downtown area. For this and upcoming Story Walks in Waukon, the OVLF will be providing a free copy of the featured book to every family that stops by Robey Memorial Library with a photo of themselves completing the Story Walk, while supplies last.

by Paul Scott, RSVP volunteer

More than 600 people in Winneshiek, Allamakee and Howard Counties volunteer for non-profit groups in partnership with Northeast Iowa RSVP. That’s why the organization is happy to have added a new Volunteer Coordinator, Michelle McLain-Kruse.

“Our program continues to grow so it is wonderful to have Michelle join the team,” according to RSVP Director Deana Hageman.  “Having her here to assist volunteers in finding opportunities that match their time availability, knowledge and skills is crucial to our program.”

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 25 to address a short agenda of matters including the consideration of the Resolution obligating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for information technology (IT) servers, consideration of 2025 County holidays and the consideration of appointing a New Albin Rural Library representative.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Mark Reiser present. There was no Public Comment during the time allotted for that agenda item.

Approximately two dozen area military veterans were honored during an event hosted Saturday, November 9 at AJ Bar & Grill in Waukon, in honor of the Veterans Day holiday. The event was hosted by Midwest Veterans of America and included each of those veterans receiving a plaque and small American flag, in addition to rounds of applause and gratitude from the many in attendance for their years of service to their country. Many of those honored veterans are pictured in the photo at right, standing on the staircase at AJ Bar & Grill for a group photo, and many of their family members, friends and acquaintances were also in attendance to witness and share in their honoring. The event was emceed by retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Kevin Herman, a 1984 graduate of Waukon High School, who is pictured standing among the honored veterans at right. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

“If there is someone with a heart that wants more …
I understand you.”
~ From “A Starbucks Thanksgiving,” by Katie O’Regan (Stories from Under My Hats,” Book Vine Press, ©2022)

To anyone who loves a good story or whose heart sings along with a beautiful voice sharing a song; who looks forward every year to the Thanksgiving holiday and to being with family but who wouldn’t mind getting away for an hour or so; or for whom the holiday might be less than joyful: This show, Katie O’Regan might say, is for you. All of you.

Sacred Noise Society, Inc. and Katie O’Regan, of Waukon, will present a multi-media concert experience at the Waukon High School Auditorium Friday, November 29 (the day after Thanksgiving), from 6 to 7 p.m.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, November 18 to address a full agenda of matters. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members Steve Wiedner, Dave Blocker, Kevin Johnson and John Lydon present.

There was no Public Comment with some changes to the meeting agenda being made including the removal of the Closed Session: Strategy Meeting relating to employee union negotiations - exempt from Iowa open meetings law by Iowa Code Chapter 20.17 (3).

Two items were moved from the consent agenda to the regular meeting agenda including the City Council Appointment - City Attorney: Lynch Dallas, PC and the Contract for Legal Services with Lynch Dallas, PC. Following a brief discussion, the council approved these matters.

Saturday, November 16 at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present another program from its Veterans History Project at the Allamakee County Veterans Museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon.

A video interview by Chuck Bloxham with U.S. Army Veteran John Curtin of Waukon will be played. Curtin will also be present to share comments and answer questions.

In 1968 and 1969, Curtin served in the U.S. Army as a squad leader in an infantry company with the 1st Cavalry Division during the War in Vietnam.

The public is invited to attend. There is no admission or membership charge to attend the program our tour the museum, which is handicapped accessible.
 

by Jennifer Bissell

A Waukon area native is giving back to her community by providing a much needed health service. In doing so, Malory (Hartong) Larson, a 2005 Waukon High School graduate, has also fulfilled a dream of her own by recently opening Wellful Psychiatry, located at 520 West Main Street in Waukon.

FINDING HER PASSION
Following her high school graduation, Larson went on to earn her associates degree in nursing from Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Calmar. She then received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette.

It was during a clinical rotation while studying at Upper Iowa that she found her calling to work in mental health. She completed a rotation at Mental Health Institute in Independence that she said sparked her interest in a career in mental health.