Community News

A pair of Allamakee Community School District staff members were each honored during the Class 2A State Semifinals football game between the Waukon Indians and the Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley Nighthawks Saturday, November 10 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. In the photo above, Waukon High School science teacher Michael Shupe (center) was one of three military veterans honored from each school participating in that semifinals contest. In the photo below, Waukon High School government teacher Jerry Keenan (far right) was one of three educators from each school participating in that semifinals contest honored for displaying spirit and morality in their teaching and coaching. View and find out how to purchase these photos and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.

According to statistics gathered by  Helping Services for Youth & Families, one in four Iowa adults uses tobacco in some form; cigarettes are the most used. Tobacco is the leading cause of death for Iowans, taking the lives of more than 4,400 adults each year. Each year in Iowa, 1,300 kids (down from 2,100) under the age of 18 become new daily smokers.

The week of November 11-17 is Northeast Iowa’s Tobacco Awareness Week. November 15 marks the nationwide Great American Smokeout. This annual event encourages people to stop using tobacco for the day and to make plans to quit. The Boards of Supervisors from Allamakee, Delaware, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties have proclaimed Tobacco Awareness Week throughout their counties.

With National Red Ribbon Week being observed October 23-31 to raise awareness of drug and alcohol abuse prevention, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors signed its own proclamation at its Monday, October 22 regular meeting. Pictured above at the proclamation are: Left to right - Front row: Waukon High School students Maddy Moser and Ryan VanderVelden. Second row: Waukon High School students Ava Bossom, Natalie Byrnes, Olivia Bossom and Dylan Hogan, and Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Director of Prevention Services Jean Bossom. Back row: Allamakee County Board of Supervisors members Larry Schellhammer, Dan Byrnes and Dennis Koenig, and Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
 

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2018 will be held this Friday through Monday, November 9-12 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The theme will be “Never Stop Believing.”

The “Tingle ‘N Mingle” Happy Hour is an opportunity to meet socially with friends and co-workers. Over a dozen tables of hearty hors d’oeuvres, desserts, candies, breads and spirits will be served among the trees from 5-8 p.m. this Friday, November 9. The event is sponsored by Four County Ag Services and Four County Crop Services of Postville. Tickets are available at Veterans Memorial Hospital and local banks, as well as at the door of the event.

Charles Waters, son of Jaime and Jessica Waters of Waukon, has achieved Boy Scouts’ highest rank of Eagle Scout, being recently designated with the honor October 15. He is a member of Waukon Boy Scout Troop 64 under the leadership of Scoutmaster Troy Lubahn.

Waters began his scouting career as a Bear Cub with Waukon Cub Scout Pack 64 in September of 2012. He achieved the highest rank in Cub Scouts, the Arrow of Light, in April of 2015. At that time, he became a member of Boy Scout Troop 64.

As a Boy Scout member, Waters has held such leadership positions as Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and he currently holds the position of OA Troop Representative. While working through his six ranks in Scouting, from Scout to Eagle, Waters has earned 23 merit badges, some of which include First Aid, Communication, Environmental Science, Lifesaving and Personal Management.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, November 5 to discuss a full agenda of items including discussion of a tenant and landlord’s responsibility regarding an overdue water bill, discussion of drafting a letter of support to Menards and several matters relating to the new Wastewater Treatment Facility.

There was no Public Comment and the council moved into Departmental Reports. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett provided an update on street maintenance projects including core-outs that have been blacktopped. He also said preparation for winter has begun for the Street Department.

by Joe Moses

Those passing by the 100 block of Allamakee Street in Waukon have likely noticed some change with the recent removal of the Army tank that had been located near the Vet’s Club since the early 1990s. During the evening of Thursday, October 25 this past week, Hennessy Towing of Waukon and various personnel from veterans organizations and City employees of Waukon and the south central Iowa community of Maxwell were involved in moving the tank in preparation for its transport to its new location in that small Story County community.

The M60 Army tank located at the Vet’s Club was last used in Vietnam before being decommissioned, but it was developed for a late World War II campaign. The tank came from Fort McCoy in Wisconsin before calling Waukon home in 1993 after a two-year planning process. Its new location will be Maxwell, a small town of just under 1,000 people located southeast of Ames.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, October 29 to address a full agenda of items including the Tobacco Awareness Week Proclamation, setting a date for the 2019 Driftless Half-Marathon and an update from the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC). Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order.

During Public Comment, SPF-SIG Coordinator Maxine Grotegut with Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) took a photo of the Supervisors holding the Social Host Ordinance to fulfill a requirement of a grant. Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed the November 19 Board of Supervisors meeting which will take place at the Robey Memorial Library in Waukon with a possible industry visit to follow at Aveka Nutra Processing. Supervisor Dennis Koenig also provided an update on the County Social Services (CSS) region.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2018 will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 9, 10, 11 and 12, at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The theme this year will be “Never Stop Believing.”

In addition to the nearly 60 decorated Christmas trees on display, this years’ event will again offer many, many shopping opportunities on the silent auction. Reservations are now being taken for the popular Saturday evening Wine, Cheese and Dessert Event, and the Noon luncheons.

The luncheons are sponsored again this year by the Allamakee County Cattlemen’s Association and will be held Saturday, November 10, at Noon, and again Monday, November 12, at Noon. A full meal will be served plus entertainment will be provided at both events.