Community News

This Friday is final day to submit Absentee Ballot Request Form

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer wants to remind Allamakee County voters that there will only be three polling sites open for the June 2 Primary Election Day and continues to encourage everyone who wishes to vote in that Primary election to vote by mail. The Notice of Election and sample ballots for the election are printed in the Public Notice section of the May 20, 2020 edition of The Standard newspaper (Page 8A) for voting locations and other information.

Those who have not yet requested an Absentee Ballot are urged to visit www.allamakee.us/auditor2 or call the Auditor’s office at 563-568-3522 to obtain a request form. The deadline to submit an Absentee Ballot Request to the Auditor’s office for the June 2 Primary is this Friday, May 22 at 5 p.m.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, May 18 via Zoom web-conference to address a variety of matters including a property acquisition, discussion of closing the City Swimming Pool for the summer season and the City’s response to COVID-19 relating to City Hall and City Council meetings.

Under Department Reports, Park and Rec Wellness Director Jeremy Strub advised that the Park and Rec Wellness Board will be meeting later this week to discuss the reopening of the Wellness Center with Tuesday, May 26 being a possible reopening date. Strub reported that Park and Recreation softball and baseball are still scheduled to take place at this time but possibly having shortened seasons. Strub briefly mentioned that Music in the Park is still a possibility for mid-June or July this summer if COVID-19 related guidance from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds changes to allow larger public gatherings.

The Corner of Hope Growing Hope Globally local growing project held its annual Blessing of the Seed and Soil Saturday morning, May 9 to kick off this year’s growing season. The event was held at the field being contributed to the project by Gordon and Louise Ellingson of Waukon located northwest of Waukon, and Pastor Bryan Robertson from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon performed the blessing. Submitted photo.
 

The contents of a dumpster located in the first block of First Street SW in Waukon caught fire late Tuesday morning, May 12. The dumpster was being used as part of a building exterior remodeling project on the A-OK Well Service building at 102 West Main Street in Waukon. Fire officials say the dumpster contained discarded wood and other items from the project and embers from the project contractor crew welding anchors to the top of the building found their way into the dumpster and ignited the blaze. The contractor had used a piece of lift equipment to move the dumpster further away from the building prior to the arrival of the Waukon volunteer fire crew, which was on scene less than half an hour to extinguish the blaze and make sure it would not reignite. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, May 11 to address a full agenda of items including review of the Rolinda Acres LLC construction permit application, setting a letting date for concrete pavement patching bids and discussion of COVID-19 related topics.

Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) is committed to decreasing food insecurity and supporting community members across its seven-county service area to stay home and stay healthy during the COVID-19 Outbreak. NEICAC also understands the imperative role food pantries are playing in meeting hunger needs during this current pandemic.

In an effort to further facilitate the connection between those two aspects, NEICAC is partnering with area food pantries in offering its EARL Public Transit system to transport food and household necessities from food pantries, directly to the door of community members.

Clients are asked to contact their local food pantry to learn if they are participating, or reach out to the Family Service office in their area. The Family Service office in the Waukon area can be reached by calling 563-568-4224 and the Decorah office can be reached at 563-387-4958.

February 4 of this year, U.S. Army Specialist Tristan J. Rolfs of Lansing and three other soldiers received an “Award for Excellence” medallion from 3rd United States Infantry Regiment Commander Col. James Tuite (pictured at left in above photo below shaking hands with Rolfs at right). Only 479 U.S. Army soldiers to date have received this medal.

The medallion (pictured at center) is awarded to distinguish and honor soldiers who excel at a job or task while displaying efficiency and productivity. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Rolfs was putting in considerable hours training with the Urban Search and Rescue Squad (such as what he is pictured doing in the photo below) which involves the location, extrication and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in structural collapse due to natural disasters, mining accidents and collapsed trenches. Rolfs had the opportunity to train with the Washington, D.C. Fire Department.

Walk-On Waukon wants everyone to safely enjoy the new walking path connection added on the south and west side of the Waukon City Park, completing a paved loop with the south and west trail entrances to the park with the new sidewalk that extends along the southernmost end of Second Street SW and then travels east along Eleventh Avenue SW in front of the Waukon Fire Station and beyond. Walk-On Waukon was planning for a community celebration walk in early May, but with the current pandemic situation limiting large gatherings is, instead, inviting everyone to enjoy this new stretch (or to walk their own favorite route in town) on their own whenever it works for them to do so. It is suggested that social distancing guidelines continue to be followed.

Through the month of May Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is hosting Main Street Story Walk, where families can read the popular children’s story “The Cool Bean” by Jory John as they stroll the downtown area. Selected businesses will have a portion of a story posted in the front window of their establishments for viewing from the sidewalk, the complete book being able to be read in nine stops. As families join in the fun, they are reminded to practice social distancing for the safety and health of all. Selected locations, as outlined in the map above, include: 1.Waukon Chamber/ACED (starting point); 2.Cunningham Hardware;  3.Elliott Jewelers;  4.Hartig Drug; 5.Rockweiler Appliance; 6.KNEI Radio; 7.Teslow’s Formal Wear; 8.Krambeer Barber; 9.Howards Home Furnishings (ending point). Main Street Story Walk will continue throughout the summer with new stories and locations in the months of June, July and August as well.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met via Zoom web conference in regular session Monday, May 4 to address a variety of matters including discussion of hiring a new City Attorney, the acquisition of property at 7 Spring Avenue and proposed street projects for additional chip seal work.

Under Department Reports, Waukon Police Chief Paul Wagner discussed a grant that is intended to replace the Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant which has supplied $4,200 in funding. He indicated that the new grant and program will provide $8,000 in funding for the department. Wagner also discussed bids received for the purchase of a new police department vehicle including a Dodge Durango from Torkelson Motors of Waukon at a bid price of $28,562.00 - with that purchase previously approved by the council to be taken out of next fiscal-year’s budget, and a Chevy Tahoe from RW Pladsen of Waukon at a bid price of $34,646.49.