Community News

Local veterans were recognized by retired U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Franken during a dinner event sponsored by the Allamakee County Democrats Sunday, August 27. Admiral Franken served in the U.S. Navy for 39 years and is now a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Pictured above, left to right, are Al Hanson, Dale Osterhaus, Ric Zarwell, George Blair, Michael Franken, Lanny Fields, Dan Hanson. Submitted photo.
 

by Lissa Blake

Although the ownership of McMillan Muffler in Waukon has changed, the faces one will see and the services they provide remain the same at the business’ First Street NW location. That’s because Jim Hennessy, a long-time employee of the auto repair and muffler shop, purchased the business from long-standing owner Mike McMillan at the beginning of this year.

“Read Beyond the Beaten Path” was the theme of the 2022 Summer Reading Program (SRP) with activities spanning from June through August this summer. The Kids and Teens 4-Week Reading Challenge ran from Friday, July 1-Saturday, July 30 and is the highlight of the program with participants tracking their reading and reading-related activities for prizes.

• Kids 4-Week Reading Challenge: Infants to sixth graders tracked their progress on reading logs to receive weekly prizes in addition to adding their name to prize drawings for a Skippy Jon Jones book and stuffed animal toy or Ice Cream With the Librarian. A total of 83 children registered and 41 participated with a total of 991 activities completed. The top readers in each category received a new book of their choice purchased by the Library Foundation, including the following:

Those who are feeling down or blue should know they are not alone, and that can be especially true now that there is a local group program to help lift their mood. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing recently received a grant from Gundersen Health System of La Crosse, WI to offer a new resource to help adults with low mood called Raising Our Spirits Together.

Raising Our Spirits Together is a technology-assisted, engaging, small group program that provides people who are feeling down with new tools and skills to feel better. The small groups meet in local churches and are led by pastors.

The Iowa Knights of Columbus recently recognized Chad Egeland (right in above photo) from the Waukon Knights of Columbus, Council 1570, as Knight of the Month. He is pictured above receiving from the Iowa Knights of Columbus a personalized shirt and a certificate presented to him by Council 1570 Grand Knight Tyler Plein when his brother Knights recognized him in May as Knight of the Month.

“Chad does not drive, and yet he makes it to most of our monthly meetings and he contributes to our meetings,” Council 1570 leadership praised. “When we have events, such as Tootsie Roll drives or serving meals for various benefits, Chad is the first to volunteer. We are proud to have Chad in our Council.” Submitted photo.
 

What is one thing all successful people have in common? They get comfortable making mistakes - and learn from them!

Allamakee County residents are invited to attend “The Secret of Success: Learning from Mistakes”, a free community workshop co-hosted by Mental Health Today - a Matt Howe Tribute (MHT) and the nonprofit, Worldmaker.

“This session offers practical ways to set and communicate high expectations using the three elements of growth,” says Dr. Mollie Marti, Worldmaker CEO and developer of the THRIVE Resilience Model that serves as the foundation for the program. “Importantly, this includes action steps for learning how to use mistakes to improve relationships and outcomes.”

Saturday, August 20, Felty E. Yoder, age 22, of Waterville was arrested following an investigation conducted by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a reported assault. Following further investigation, Yoder has been charged with one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (Class C Felony), five counts of Iowa Sex Offender Registry violations (Class D Felony), and one count of Domestic Abuse Assault, second or subsequent offense (Serious Misdemeanor).

Yoder was booked into the Allamakee County Jail. Bond was set in the amount of $36,500 cash or surety. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 31 at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon.

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors have proclaimed to take a stand and join a statewide coalition to end human trafficking in Iowa. The Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) initiative is spearheaded by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. The goal is to have Iowa’s business community raise awareness and help prevent human trafficking.

IBAT was launched by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate in January 2022. Membership in IBAT is open to any business or entity that operates in the state of Iowa and shares a commitment to taking steps to promote awareness of human trafficking and the Iowa Safe at Home program. Safe at Home is an address confidentiality program for survivors of human trafficking and other violent crimes.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 22 to address a full agenda of items including an update from the County Medical Examiner, approval of the Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) Anti-Human Trafficking Proclamation and the Second Reading of Amendment #10 to Zoning Ordinance L.

During Public Comment, Waukon City Manager Gary Boden provided a brief update relating to street resurfacing. Boden noted that some street work near the Allamakee County Courthouse may be taking place later this week with a non-working curb machine causing delays at this time.

The best Iowa produced butters and cheeses were chosen in the Iowa Quality Dairy Products competition, judged prior to the start of the 2022 Iowa State Fair and on display during the Fair at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. WW Homestead Dairy of Waukon dominated the competition by placing within the top three in all the divisions the family-owned dairy competed in, including sweeping the top three placewinnings in the Cheese Curd division, doing likewise with the top two spots in the Cow Cheese division and winning Best of Show honors with the dairy’s Ranch Peppercorn cheese curds (as depicted in the submitted photo above).

Judging is not on a head-to head competition basis, but is based on set quality criteria for each of first, second and third places. The Best of Show award is given to one product out of all the products submitted to the competition.