Community News

New York Times bestselling novelist William Kent Krueger is coming to Robey Memorial Library September 13 at 7 p.m.

Krueger will be promoting his new book, Desolation Mountain, coming out later this month.

Krueger is the bestselling author of Ordinary Grace and the Cork O’Connor mystery series involving the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of Irish and Ojibwe heritage. Robey Memorial Library is partnering with Dragonfly Books in Decorah, which will have books available for purchase at the event. Robey Memorial Library is located at 401 1st Avenue NW in Waukon. For more information, contact (563) 568-4424 or www.waukon.lib.ia.us.
 

Waukon Veterinary Service has welcomed a new veterinarian to its staff as of July 9. Dr. Monica Wagner, DVM grew up in rural Lansing and has a strong connection to the area with many friends and family members residing here.

In her high school years, Wagner served as an alternate Dairy Princess for Allamakee County and was involved in milking cows on an organic dairy farm, which was something that sparked her initial interest in veterinary medicine.

During her childhood, Wagner was involved in the care of pets and was familiar with the quality of care provided at Waukon Veterinary Service, making a return to the area for a great career opportunity, a good fit personally and professionally.

The Waukon Police Department reports having several unclaimed bicycles in its possession that have either been left behind, found and turned into the Police Department or recovered after being stolen. Department officials want to inform the public that these bicycles need to be claimed by September 15 of this year or those bicycles will be put up for sale in a public auction scheduled for Saturday, September 22 at 3 p.m. at the Waukon Police Station, located at 104 First Street NW in Waukon.

Anyone wishing to identify and claim a bicycle needs to do so by that September 15 date, and must claim the bicycle through either a description of the bicycle or a proof of purchase. Claims can be made by either calling 563-568-4338 and leaving a message or emailing reports@cityofwaukon.com with the subject line “bike”.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, August 6 to address a full agenda of items including the Plaza Art Project, a modification to Police employment contracts and the 2019 Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) street and sidewalk project. There was no Public Comment.

Under Departmental Reports, Assistant Police Chief Paul Wagner advised that a large number of unclaimed bicycles are stored at the Waukon Police Station. The council agreed that a final attempt should be made to locate owners and if unclaimed a sale or auction would be an option.

Street Superintendent Keith Burrett discussed that new street signs have been going up and that three City parking lots have been resurfaced with some minor touch-up and painting to be accomplished soon.

by Joe Moses

An area near the intersection of First Avenue SW and Spring Avenue in downtown Waukon has been barricaded with orange safety fencing for several weeks this summer as City crews and other professionals have developed and installed a solution to the flow of a freshwater spring that has surfaced in that area over the past several years.

The natural spring flowing under Spring Avenue has been documented throughout Waukon’s history with references dating back to the 1896 installation of a horse trough at the head of Spring Avenue, which took advantage of this natural water source. Due to heavy rainfall in recent years, this freshwater spring has created a bubbling effect near this intersection as spring water would flow from below ground to street level and then into the storm sewer.

by Lissa Blake

An anonymous donation has helped make a new Waukon entertainment venue a reality.

“I had it in a long-range plan of mine,” said Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub of the new amphitheater in the Waukon City Park. “A family came in and asked how they could help with park projects. When I showed them what I was thinking, they liked it.”

The family donated $25,000 toward the construction of the project, which is located at the south end of the park, near the Indian Springs Pond and ball diamond area. It includes a cement stage and three rows of terrace seating with lighting.

“That’s so people can see where they’re walking,” said Strub.

The Allamakee County 4-H members pictured above represent just some of the 28 local 4-H youth who had their projects and exhibits selected for advancement to the Iowa State Fair to be held in August in Des Moines. Pictured above, left to right, are: Front row - Allie Bieber, Brandon Teslow, Thomas Troendle, Logan Brown, Faith Palmer, Diana Davison, Madi Palmer, Jenn Kloke, Tessa Rubendall. Back row - Taylor Howard, Emma Palmer, Mallory Byrnes, Parker Leppert, Memphis Miller, Katelyn Benzing, Madelyn Waters, MaKenzie Marting, Ashley Liddiard, Carley Sweeney, Denzel Decker. Not pictured - Katelyn Monroe, Abbie Brainard, Natalie Byrnes, Austin Schutte, Emily Bieber, Violet Holthaus, Neva Peterson, Katelyn Leiran. Photo courtesy of Allamakee County ISU Extension and Outreach.
 

Pictured in the surrounding photos are the Judges’ Choice Award purple ribbon winners from the Open Class exhibits at the 2018 Allamakee County Fair. Pictured in the photo at immediate right are, left to right, Diana Davison, Jackson Perkins and Pam Christianson. Pictured in center photo is Jackson Moore. Pictured in the photo at bottom are, left to right, Carol Gaunitz, Patsy Kerndt, Becky Estebo, Logan Wood and Dallas Tilleraas. Submitted photos.
 

A pair of local youth were awarded certificates for their winning entries in the 2018 Allamakee County Fair Tall Corn Contest, those awards being distributed at the Tuesday, July 17 Youth Showcase event held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon to help kick off the 2018 Allamakee County Fair. Pictured at right is Bella Grimstad standing with her award certificate in front of her winning entry among some of the other entries in the Tall Corn Contest. Her winning corn stalk measured 142-7/8 inches tall. Pictured below is Brooklyn Moen with her award certificate for the Cutest Bucket among all the buckets decorated by entries in the Tall Corn Contest. Photos courtesy of Allamakee County ISU Extension and Outreach.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 30 to address a full agenda of items including discussion of Amendment 3 to Zoning Ordinance L involving exceptions to towers located in the Bluffland setback area, the Roadway Maintenance Agreement with the City of Waukon and the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the hiring of a full-time employee for the Allamakee County Engineer’s office.

During Public Comment, Maynard Johnson of Lansing briefly discussed communication towers within the county. Johnson also expressed concerns about road maintenance and the absence of white lines on some County roads. In response to the tower discussion, Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick provided details about the Alliant Energy tower and the proposed tower near New Albin for FirstNet, the First Responders Network, a nationwide interoperable network for fire, police and emergency personnel.