Community News

Several Waukon High School alumni among the many talented performers

A holiday voice recital featuring area musicians, some of whom have graced this area in the past with their talents and others who continue to do so, will be held this Sunday afternoon, December 23 at 2:30 p.m. at Zalmona Presbyterian Church, located at 371 State Highway 9, Waukon.

The performance is being held in an effort to raise money to fund a music scholarship in memory of Faith Ericson, a local pianist/musician who passed away this past fall. Ericson was well known for her musical accompaniment and other performances throughout the area, and she provided accompaniment for more than half of those who are performing at this Sunday’s event.

Those participating include the following:

Tuesday, December 11 at 11:37 a.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a liquid manure tanker that had overturned on Highway 9 approximately three miles north of Waukon. A report from the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office indicates that Jason Michael Sweeney, age 22, of rural Waukon was traveling southbound on the shoulder of State Highway 9 driving a tractor/tanker combination when the tanker began to slide on the icy shoulder and entered the ditch. The tanker overturned in the ditch spilling approximately 1,500 gallons of liquid manure in the ditch (as seen in the left foreground of the photo). The Iowa Department of Natural Resources was notified of the spill and efforts were made to recover spillage. No injuries were reported. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, December 17 to discuss a full agenda of items including police compensation, sidewalk snow removal and bids received for the new Wastewater Treatment Plant. The meeting began with a pair of public hearings.

The Public Hearing to review an application for a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan and to make available contents of an Environmental Information Document (EID) and the City’s project plan was opened and closed without written or verbal comment. The Public Hearing for the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project was also opened and closed without written or verbal comment.

There was no Public Comment on any other matters either, and the council moved into Departmental Reports. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett indicated that tree trimming and vehicle maintenance have been ongoing.

The Iowa Area Development Group (IADG), on behalf of Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities and independent telecommunication companies, honored eight distinguished Iowa companies with the Iowa Venture Award at a luncheon held in conjunction with the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives’ annual meeting in West Des Moines December 6-7. Among those honored companies is Trinity Fabricators, Inc., located near New Albin.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 10 to address a full agenda of items including the signing of a letter requesting breach planning and design assistance from the NRCS for the English Bench Watershed #9, consideration of quotes for replacing a tag trailer for the Secondary Roads Department and the consideration of the Allamakee County 2019 holiday schedule. There was no Public Comment.

LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Allamakee County, discussed a letter presented to the Supervisors requesting breach planning and design assistance from the NRCS for the English Bench Watershed Site #9. Rolling indicated that commissioners met last week and have signed the letter requesting assistance.

by Brianne Eilers

At its November 27 monthly meeting, the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Board of Trustees learned that the month of October ended on a positive financial note for the hospital, with a net income of $55,668, which translates to a 3.4% profit margin. Acute patient days volume for the month was up 10% while skilled patient days were up 41.7% in comparison to last year at this same time. Total surgeries were up 20.8% and most outpatient areas were up as well. Emergency room visits were down 11.4% and deliveries were down 16% in comparison to October 2017. Expenses were also down, 3.1%.

Allamakee County Economic Development Director Val Reinke (right in photo at right) was recently presented with a financial contribution from Northeast Iowa Realtors Association Representative Stacie Cooper (left) for the completion of the Allamakee Countywide Housing Assessment. This assessment was a $20,000-plus project. Allamakee County Economic Development is extremely grateful for all of the financial partners who assisted in making the assessment possible, including Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund, Alliant Energy, Black Hills Energy, Allamakee Clayton Electric/Dairyland Power, the cities and Allamakee County, as well as the Northeast Iowa Realtors Association. The final assessment has been shared throughout the county with city councils, the board of supervisors, school boards, organizations and more.

Monday, November 12, a Veterans Day program at Waukon High School was hosted by the school’s National Honor Society chapter. Quilts of Valor were awarded as part of the program to area veterans.  Two Quilts of Valor were also presented at the St. Patrick School Veterans Day program and then also recognized at the Waukon High School program. A special Gold Star Quilt of Valor was presented to Jamie Riley in honor of his father, James F. Riley, who lost his life while serving in Vietnam. Lunch for the recipients, their families and guests was provided by the Allamakee Community School District lunch program following the Veterans Day presentation. Pictured above following the Quilts of Valor presentation are: Left to right - Front row: Tom Leiran, Ron Roese, Gary Ward, Jim Fossum, Tom Houdina, Donald Aldrich, Lloyd Schultz, Darrell Mitchell, Elliott Wolfson, Roger Martin, Lee McGovern. Back row: Dr.

by Joe Moses

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, December 3 to discuss a full agenda of items including the Walk-On Waukon sidewalk project, a Water/Sewer Department hiring and revisions to city code involving delinquent utility accounts. There was no Public Comment and the council moved into Departmental Reports.

Police Chief Phil Young indicated that it was a busy weekend and discussed the response to a fire in the trailer court. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett discussed a recent snow maintenance class that he attended in Dubuque and that Blake’s Excavating had completed creek dredging work.