Community News

(Editor’s Note: A previous article regarding follow-up to a Veterans Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees meeting may have given the wrong the impression that Veterans Memorial Hospital is no longer able to offer mammograms at its facility in Waukon. What was trying to be explained was that follow-up mammograms may need to be referred to another facility due to Gundersen Health Systems currently experiencing a shortage in its radiology personnel. The Standard regrets any confusion caused by any previous articles and welcomes the further explanation below offered by Veterans Memorial Hospital.)

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon continues to offer state-of the art 3D mammography. The advanced breast tomosynthesis technology installed less than two years ago, provides exams that are clinically proven to significantly increase the detection of breast cancers, while simultaneously decreasing the number of women asked to return for additional testing.

Representatives of Black Hills Energy, pictured above at far left, Operations Supervisor Ivan Hackman and second from right, Service Technician Arvid Hatlan, thank contractors for practicing safe digging during the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Street and Sidewalk Project in Waukon. In early August, Black Hills Energy teams across Iowa have delivered 811 logo coolers filled with water and Gatorade to local construction crews who comply with 811 digging laws. No matter what the date, the law requires that you call 811 to have underground utility lines marked before you break ground. That’s true whether you’re a homeowner setting a fencepost or a contractor conducting a large excavation. You can also enter your request at http://www.iowaonecall.com/.

Waukon High School 1970 graduate Gary Schwartzhoff, a long-time music educator and retired Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, conducted the Paris Choral Festival Concert at Eglise de la Madeleine in Paris, France Monday, July 8 in celebration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Schwartzhoff was listed as the Artistic Director for that Paris Choral Festival, and he conducted more than 350 vocalists involving 13 separate choirs from across the United States during the concert, including his own UW-Eau Claire Alumni Choir. He can be seen in the top submitted photo at right in the center of the photo foreground facing the choir he conducted.

The family of former Allamakee County Sheriff Leonard J. Bulman recently donated a memorial bench to the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office in memory of their late father, Leonard J. Bulman, who was killed in the line of duty as Allamakee County Sheriff January 19, 1946. Sheriff Bulman’s daughters, Charlotte Reeder and the late Edith Feuerhelm, and son, the late Charles Bulman, made the memorial bench donation possible, and Stacey Quam was also instrumental in procurement of the bench. Pictured above is the bench plaque memorializing Sheriff Bulman and pictured at right with the bench, left to right, are Charlotte Reeder and her daughter, Lori Quam.

“The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office very much appreciates this donation and as a reminder of the service and sacrifice by Sheriff Leonard J. Bulman and his family,” Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick shared. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, August 5 to address a full agenda of items including discussion of downtown trash cans, a potential police department building remodel and the city manager position. During Public Comment, Director Ardie Kuhse of Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) thanked City Manager Dean Hilgerson for his work for the City and assistance with WEDC and invited those in attendance to stay after adjournment for cookies and punch in honor of Hilgerson’s upcoming retirement.

John Kerndt with Trees Forever discussed that efforts should be made to save the trees that will be removed for the sidewalk project along the industrial park area and suggested transplanting them elsewhere within Waukon. Council member John Ellingson discussed the use of a tree spade as a possibility in transplanting trees if utilities are not an issue.

The Hartig Drug Waukon location hosted an open house event Thursday morning, August 1 that allowed members of the local community to meet three members of the Hartig family - Dick and his sons, Charlie and Wes - involved in the business and in a current transition within the company’s corporate leadership. Pictured in the photo above during the open house, left to right, are: Front row - Waukon Hartig Drug Pharmacists Samantha Collins and Erin Iverson; Back row: Waukon Hartig Drug Store Manager Casey Larson, newly appointed Hartig Drug Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charlie Hartig, Hartig Drug Chairman Dick Hartig, and Wes Hartig, CEO of MedOne, a pharmacy benefit administration business founded by Dick Hartig.

Judges’ Choice Award winners from Open Class exhibits at 2019 Allamakee County Fair ...  Pictured in the photos at right are the Judges’ Choice Award purple ribbon winners from the Open Class exhibits at the 2019 Allamakee County Fair. Pictured in the photo above is Kristi Kuzma, who won the Judges’ Choice in Flowers - Blooms. Pictured at left and listed with their classes of competition are: Left to right - Front row: Marlin Hager, Age 5-10 Arts & Crafts; Charlotte Christianson, Antiques & Collectibles and Flowers - Plant or Arrangement; Dallas Tilleraas, Age 5-10 Garden & Baked Goods; Amy Henry, Adults Arts & Crafts. Back row: Judy Egeland, Agricultural Products; Lisa Berger, Textiles & Fabrics (tie); Regan Lubahn, Age 11-18 Garden & Baked Goods; Diana Davison, Age 11-18 Arts & Crafts; Bev Bakkum, Textiles & Fabrics (tie). Submitted photos.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in special session Thursday morning, July 25 to address a short agenda of items including the hiring of a city manager and a police department personnel matter. Mayor Pat Stone called the meeting to order with a change in the agenda being approved allowing the police department personnel item to be addressed first.

This year’s Waukon Corn Days meal date and location have been set for Friday, August 16 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. The Waukon Chamber of Commerce will be serving a meal of sweet corn and pork loin sandwiches from 4-8 p.m. that evening near the 4-H building at the Fairgrounds. A variety of other activities will also be taking place that same Friday evening at the Fairgrounds location, including face painting, glitter tattoos and Inflatibles kids toys to play on.

The crowning of the Corn Days Royalty will also take place, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Additional community events will also be happening throughout Waukon both Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and 18, including the annual VMH Cardiac Classic Run/Walk and WW Homestead Dairy Car Show Saturday, and the Knights of Columbus Fly-In Breakfast Sunday morning at the Waukon Airport.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in special session Monday, July 22 to address several matters including the hiring of a police officer and a revised Anticipatory Warrant relating to Veterans Memorial Hospital’s General Fund.

Mayor Pat Stone called the meeting to order. The council approved the meeting agenda and moved into discussion of the Resolution issuing a revised Fiscal-Year 2019-2020 Anticipatory Warrant relating to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) General Fund. This matter relates to the approved renewal of the $750,000 loan for the hospital with a one-year extension that took place at the July 1 council meeting following a presentation from VMH CEO Mike Myers. At that meeting, Myers provided an overview of steps being taken to improve VMH’s profitability, including the hiring of a CFO with experience in making a distressed critical access hospital profitable again.