Community News

by Lissa Blake

At first glance, 11-year-old Addie Gralund may look like any other girl her age.

She’s competitive, driven, and enjoys being in charge.

But according to her mother, Kris (Zimmerman) Gralund, Addie is much older than her years.

That’s because Addie has been through a lot for a girl her age - or any age - including four open-heart surgeries.

CHD
Addison “Addie” Gralund, the granddaughter of Dave and Jeannine Zimmerman of Waukon, was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) called Truncus Arteriosis, which means she had three valves in her heart instead of the usual four. The Gralunds, who live in Cedar Rapids, did not know Addie had anything wrong with her until the day after she was born.

Information from the Allamakee County Housing Needs Assessment dealing specifically with the Waukon area will be presented at the Waukon City Council meeting taking place Monday, February 19 in the City Council Chambers located at Waukon City Hall. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m., with the housing study information to be presented as an agenda item during the regular council session.

Information such as population and its demographics, employment and income, and housing characteristics will be among the items presented upon. Historical trends and future projections are also part of the survey that could be discussed during the presentation.

For more information about the survey or the scheduled presentation, contact Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism Executive Director Val Reinke at 563-568-2624 or stop by the Allamakee County Economic Development Office at 101 West Main in Waukon.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 12 to discuss a variety of matters, including the Canvass for the Postville Community School District special election, consideration of Green Valley Bridge bids and discussion of the language for the E-Cigarette Ordinance. Supervisor Dennis Koenig was not in attendance. There was no Public Comment.

The Supervisors convened as the Board of Canvassers to address the Canvass of the Postville Community School District special election held February 6. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer provided the election results with 100 No votes and 33 Yes votes for the Public Education and Recreation Levy (PERL). Based on those results, the Supervisors declared the public measure would not be adopted. The Supervisors adjourned as the Board of Canvassers and reconvened as the Board of Supervisors.

As February begins, Have A Heart Day is not an unfamiliar event to run across in newspapers and on the radio as many individuals and families in the area have welcomed this event dedicated to providing free services to the communities youth. For 28 years, Waukon Dental and Family Dentistry Associates of Monona (Dental Associates of Prairie du Chien, P.C. is celebrating 24 years) have continued this service and are excited for the upcoming celebration this year.

Over the years, the doctors and staff have provided this opportunity for many area residents. It then was evolved into focusing on area youth ages four to 18 who have not recently seen a dentist, in order for them to receive free dental work. This year will be no exception as the event is scheduled for this Saturday, February 10 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

The 2018 Adult Reading Challenge hosted by Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is underway and will continue throughout the entire year. Area patrons can participate at any time throughout the year.

Participants can receive a prize drawing entry for reading from one of each of 12 pre-selected categories, including: book in a series; tragedy - fiction or non-fiction; funny - fiction or non-fiction; graphic novel; recommended book - fiction or non-fiction; learn something new; cross-cultural author or theme; written under a pseudonym; LISTEN to an audiobook; genre or subject never read before; holiday theme; or music theme. Participants can also receive a bonus entry for reading a book with a song lyric in the title.

Robey Memorial Library patrons were invited to “Build a Better World” and read something new last year, with the library's 2017 Reading Challenge ending December 31. Participating patrons entered monthly drawings after reading from one of 12 pre-selected categories: how to, teaches you something; “tall” tale, legend or 500+ pages; set in the future; travel or adventure; short story; someone you admire; bestseller; with a structure or building on the cover; religious, spiritual or inspirational; with a place in the title; published in the decade you were born; or picked from a random library shelf.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 5 to address a full agenda of items including the former Tierney Building grant application, the Waste Water Treatment Facility financing and repairs to the Waukon Wellness Center heating system.

Mayor Pat Stone called the meeting to order with Council member Gayle Decker motioning to approve the consent agenda with a change to the January 15 meeting minutes to reflect that Decker voted against moving forward with the pre-grant application for the former Tierney building. There was no public comment.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, January 29 to address a full agenda of items, including the Secondary Roads Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) Annual Report and funding requests from regional service providers. There was no Public Comment.

County Assistance Program Director David Boss and Executive Director Trisha Wilkins of Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) provided an overview of the organization's annual report and the Fiscal-Year 2019 funding request. Boss indicated that NEICAC has served 685 Allamakee County households with 1,801 individuals being served by the organization's programs, accounting for 12.9% of the county's population of 14,038.

In an ongoing effort to promote Robey Memorial Library’s (RML) early literacy program 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten (1,000BBK), the library and Library Foundation are observing their first anniversary in partnership with Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon to reach out to families delivering babies at the hospital.

Through a generous purchase by the Robey Memorial Library Foundation, a literacy care package is gifted to each newborn, including the board book "Rock-A-Bye Baby Reader" by Carole Olson (2018 book selection), a tri-fold brochure highlighting the 1,000BBK program plus the many other programs and activities available to families at Robey Memorial Library and coupons for a library tote bag and the Library Foundation Book Sale.

The phrase "laughter is the best medicine" is played out in a new picture book by Waterville native and Minnesota author Mary Evanson Bleckwehl. Following the success of her first two award-winning children’s books, the daughter of the late Melbourne and Helen Evanson of Waterville has now written "Claire’s Hair," just released from Beaver’s Pond Press.

In the new book, Claire loves her tangled tresses where little critters romp and live, and wants nothing to do with her mother’s insistence to comb, wash or cut it. In fact, her hair is a source of giggling delight for Claire and her best friend until he gets sick and the laughter goes missing. Claire looks beyond herself and together with her “big hairy idea” finds a way to bring the laughter back.