Community News

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, January 19 to address a short agenda of matters including the discussion and consideration of changes to the City Facade Improvement Grant Program, discussion on a sidewalk replacement program, among other routine matters. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Steve Wiedner, Nicholas Engrav, Cassie Handke, Tim Smedsrud and John Lydon.

There was no comment during the first Public Comment portion of the meeting. The council moved into Department Reports with Police Chief Paul Wagner providing an overview of 2025 totals relating to department activities and responses, crime statistics, among other data for the calendar year. In response to a question from Wiedner, Wagner noted that the number of reported telephone scams has continued to increase with in-person scams and fraud increasing as well.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon invites area adults to embark on a literary adventure with the 2026 Adult Reading Challenge, “Plant a Seed, Read”. Underway as of January 1, and running through December 31, this year-long challenge encourages adults to explore new genres, themes, and authors while earning chances to win prizes.

Participants are encouraged to challenge themselves to read one book from each of the 12 categories for this year’s Challenge, which include the following:
• Agriculture-themed; 
• Book from your Childhood;
• Cross-Cultural;
• Family-themed;
• Foodie/Cookbook;
• Garden-themed;
• Health-themed;
• History;
• Humorous;
• Midwestern Author or Theme;
• Recommended;
• Set in Summer.

Participants receive a prize drawing entry for every category completed. Finish all 12 categories and earn a bonus entry.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, January 12 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of appointments to the Pioneer Cemetery Association and Compensation Commission, the consideration of the National Mentoring Month Proclamation, and a funding request from Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Dan Byrnes present. There was no Public Comment during the time allotted for that agenda item.

Saturday, January 17 at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present a video program on the 35th Anniversary of “Operation Desert Storm” - the Allied response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Museum Tours will also be offered from 9 a.m. to 12 noon that Saturday at the museum location, 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon.

The public is invited to attend. There is no admission charge.

In August of 1990, Iraqi armed forces under the leadership of Saddam Hussein invaded the country of its neighbor Kuwait and seized its oil fields. Iraq also threatened to invade Saudi Arabia to seize its oil fields.

The U.S.A. initiated Operation Desert Shield to respond to the crises and pursued a diplomatic solution through the United Nations. Diplomacy failed and military action was taken against Iraq’s forces beginning January 17, 1991.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met Friday, January 2 for its annual organizational meeting in addition to its Monday, January 5 regular session meeting. The Standard’s coverage of those two meetings is below.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors organizational meeting Friday, January 2 was called to order by County Auditor Denise Beyer. The appointments of Tom Clark as Board of Supervisors Chairperson and Dan Byrnes as Chairperson Pro-Tem were approved. Supervisor Dennis Keatley was present in addition to Clark and Byrnes for this first Supervisors meeting of the new calendar year.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, January 5 to address a full agenda of matters including discussion of the City Facade Grant Program, consideration of change orders relating to the 4th Avenue NW Addition and discussion of the agreement relating to the Allamakee Child Care Solutions Fund. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Steve Wiedner, Nicholas Engrav, Cassie Handke, Tim Smedsrud and John Lydon. There was no comment during the first Public Comment portion of the meeting.

A new drop site has been started locally for a natural health food distributor bringing bulk and specialty health foods to communities all across the nation. Initiated in December, an Azure Standard drop site has been established in Waukon for more convenient access to healthy organic foods and natural products at family-friendly and bulk prices in a unique approach.

Azure Standard is a family-owned company that specializes in organic, non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism), and natural foods and products. They offer a wide variety of items including bulk grains, flours, beans, snacks, baking supplies, spices, household goods, and wellness products. Instead of shipping directly to individual homes, Azure uses a community drop-site system, allowing customers to order online and pick up their items once a month at a local location - an effort that helps keep costs affordable.

Drake Hankes, the newest Eagle Scout from Boy Scout Troop 64 in Waukon as of this year (2025), completed a trail entrance project at the Waukon City Park Campground as his Eagle Scout Project this fall. Hankes is pictured at center in the individual photo following his recent official Board of Review for Eagle Scout. He is a senior at Waukon High School this year and is the son of Chris and Renee Hankes of Waukon.

Eagle Scout is the highest ranking that can be achieved in Boy Scouts. One of the final requirements before earning the rank of Eagle Scout is to plan, supervise and execute a service project that will benefit any religious institution, school or community. This requirement gives the Scout the opportunity to put into practice many things they have learned on their journey to Eagle Scout and helps them gain valuable experience in organization and leadership.

submitted by Nancy J. Walleser, President
Harpers Ferry American Legion Auxiliary

The Harpers Ferry Legion Auxiliary Scenic Unit #722 has been hard at work with many projects. Many of those activities, events and projects are depicted in the submitted photos surrounding this article.

As an Auxiliary member and Director of the Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library in Harpers Ferry, Jody Delaney posted fliers and collected community donations for the Auxiliary’s “Boxes from Home” initiative. Together, the Auxiliary collected enough money and goodies to fill 14 “Boxes from Home” that have been sent to local active duty service members.

In addition, as part of the Auxiliary’s ongoing “Letters from Home” project, members are continuing writing letters year-round. Active service members have expressed many thank you messages for all letters and packages that have been received.

Four churches and one municipal government in Allamakee County recently completed significant solar energy projects with assistance from free energy planning services provided by the Allamakee Energy District (AED).

The City of New Albin recently finished construction of an 83-kilowatt (kW) ground-mounted solar photovoltaic array to help power its new, award-winning Algaewheel® wastewater treatment facility. The solar array was installed by Blue Sky Solar and financed by New Albin Savings Bank. The system is sized to generate approximately 100–110% of the facility’s annual electricity consumption.

George Blair, New Albin City Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem, emphasized both the economic and environmental rationale behind the project. Blair said, “Solar is the cheapest form of energy - with or without subsidies. The cost savings will reduce the infrastructure cost for the citizens of New Albin.”