Community News

Numerous Allamakee County 4-H members had the projects they were exhibiting at the Allamakee County July 19-23 selected for advancement to the Iowa State Fair to be held August 10-20 in Des Moines. Some of those State Fair exhibitors are pictured at right: Left to right - Front row: Katherine Hagen, Allie Bieber, Katelyn Leiran, Samantha Berryman, Neva Peterson. Middle row: Katelyn Monroe, Denzel Decker, Andrew Mellick, Abbie Brainard, Victoria Waters. Back row: Daytona Miller, Diana Davison, Miranda Reinhardt, Devin Bieber, Abby Wiemerslage. Not pictured: Teddy Holthaus, Sam Jacobs, Emma Palmer, Natalie Byrnes, Cheyanne Troendle, Ashley Liddiard, Tessa Rubendall, Austin Schutte, Carley Sweeney, Madalyn Palmer, Maddy Waters. Submitted photo.
 

The Allamakee County Veterans Services Office has received a shipment of specially-published books in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The initial limited shipment of books is being made available to any veteran who served in a “Boots on Ground” capacity in Vietnam or as “Brown Water Navy” on the inland waters of Vietnam. The book is also available to any surviving spouses of these specifically-listed veterans.

Waukon State Bank made a donation in support of the Harpers Ferry Splash Pad project, a planned youth-friendly water activity to be located near the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center in Harpers Ferry. A donation of $2,500 was presented to Lindsey Deason, representing the Harpers Ferry Boosters. Pictured in the above photo, left to right, are: Back row - Amy McCormick of Waukon State Bank and Lindsey Deason of Harpers Ferry Boosters. Front row - Keira McCormick, Kennedy McCormick, Kaylin Deason and Mitchell Deason. For more information on the Harpers Ferry Splash Pad project, contact Lindsey Deason at 563-880-3225. Anyone interested in supporting the project can mail donations to Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. (Splash Pad), P.O. Box 162, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146. Submitted photo.
 

In partnership with Allamakee County 4-H, the Waukon VFW Auxiliary #4117 awarded citizenship awards to 4-H members at the 2017 Allamakee County Fair Youth Showcase held Tuesday, July 18 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion. Allamakee County Fair 4-H entries that show “The Way Our Youth Honor Their Veterans” were eligible for recognition by VFW Auxiliary #4117. First place was awarded to Diana Davison for her participation in Quilts of Valor that are presented to Allamakee County veterans. Second place was bestowed upon Ainsly Lydon for her American flag string art project. Two third-place awards were given to Sean Liddiard, for his photograph of Arlington Cemetery, and to Ashley Liddiard, for her Iwo Jima Memorial photograph. Certificates were presented by Auxiliary President Sherry Bechtel to the winning entries, along with a cash award. Pictured left to right, are Ainsly Lydon, Sean Liddiard, Ashley Liddiard, Diana Davison, Sherry Bechtel. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 24 to address a full agenda of items, including a Public Hearing for an Ordinance to establish a Pioneer Cemetery Commission, an update on the Iowa Partnerships for Success grant and a Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) Public Safety Plan briefing. The Supervisors moved into Public Comment, with Brad Herman of Waukon discussing local crop conditions following recent severe weather.

Amy Johnson of Waukon, an instructor at the Waukon Wellness Center, noted for the last several years while attending grandstand events at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon that each time she heard the National Anthem being played for an event and looked around to acknowledge the flag, there was no flag.

"It always bothered me that there was no flag when the National Anthem was playing," Johnson shared. "My father was a Vietnam veteran, so this was very important to me and dear to my heart."

After attending numerous events with no flag to acknowledge and this sort of "troubled" feeling concerning her, Johnson recalled a quote she tries to live by: "Be the change you want to see." She thought, "I'll just do it," and took action.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 17 to address a variety of matters, including the Allamakee County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Aveka noise and smell, and the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®).

Mayor Duane DeWalle called the meeting to order with approval of the current agenda and minutes from the July 3 meeting. The Public Hearing for the 2017 Trenchless Storm Sewer Improvements Project was opened and closed without any written or verbal comments.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 17 to address a full agenda of items, including the discussion of handicapped signage, a proposed half marathon and relay running event, and quarterly reports for Planning and Zoning and the Relief Office. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order.

The Supervisors moved into Public Comment, with Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker offering to provide a presentation at the July 24 meeting regarding the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) safety plans and protocols for Allamakee County, including plans for severe weather, emergency shelters, railroad safety, law enforcement, medical and fire safety. The Supervisors discussed their recent tour of the Agri Star meat and poultry facility in Postville.

Take the journey up to the Marching Bears mound group with a Ranger at Effigy Mounds National Monument Thursday, July 27. Marching Bears is a late woodland mound complex that is thought to be amongst the most important preserved effigy mound groups in North America. This four-mile guided interpretive hike will take approximately three hours to complete. The moderately strenuous walk will focus on the lifestyles of American Indians who built the mounds between 1,250-900 years ago. Visitors should wear sturdy walking shoes, bring plenty of water and meet the Ranger at 9 a.m. at the Marching Bears trail access located across the railroad tracks off Highway 76, a quarter mile south of the headquarters of Effigy Mounds National Monument. Reservations are required, space is limited to 20 people, and no pets are allowed. To register, call 563-873-3491, ext. 123 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Participating in the Thunder Rode Drill Team event during the Winneshiek County Fair Wednesday, July 21 were a pair of Waukon residents. Justin Berns of Waukon is pictured above riding Buddy, who is being led by Meg Sessions with the assistance of sidewalker Rebecca Anderson. TJ Vobr of Waukon is pictured below riding Lilly, who is led by April Kruse with assistance from sidewalker Rose Hansen. The Waukon pair made up half of this year's Thunder Rode Drill Team event at the fair, a therapeutic horseback riding program based in rural Decorah. Photos by Lissa Blake.