Community News

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will participate in Waukon Corn Days 2025 Friday, August 1 and Saturday, August 2 with a film presentation both days. The movie filmed in downtown Waukon in the 1940s by the Cote family, owners of the Town Theatre pictured above, will be played. See what Waukon was like in the 1940s, along with other photos and memorabilia from past Corn Days celebrations. No video is available of the Corn Days parades, such as is pictured in the photo below labeled as being from 1928.

Videos will play continually from noon to 4 p.m. this Friday and also from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday in the meeting room of the Allamakee County Veterans Museum, which is located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon. The Veterans Museum will also be open for tours during those same time frames. The museum is air conditioned, there is no admission charge, and the facility is wheelchair accessible. Submitted photos.
 

In his return from a several-year absence, Finney, a tagged wooden fish, did not stay hidden for long in the community of Lansing, as the sibling trio (pictured left to right above) of Nora, Josey and Macklin Wood, children of Brice and Kathy Wood of Lansing, found the elusive fish in this year’s hiding spot, underneath one of the raised community garden beds near the Lansing Fitness Center. The kids say it was a concentrated team effort of talking about the clues, thinking of a location that might fit those clues, and then conducting the search effort together as a family.

For their efforts, the siblings now get to share a bounty of prizes from local supporters of the Find Finney contest conducted as a way to try and help kick off the annual Lansing Fish Days celebration in the Lansing community. Those prizes, some of which are pictured above with the finders of Finney, include a $25 gift certificate to 

Fest will feature author/filmmaker Max Allan Collins as guest of honor

by Lissa Blake

A celebration of film, creativity and community.

That’s what Waukon area native Dr. Katie O’Regan said attendees will experience when the eighth season of the Star City Film Festival returns to Waukon Thursday through Sunday, July 31- August 3.

The Festival will feature 44 films and live script readings, talk-backs and guest filmmakers. Events will take place at various locations around town, including the newly constructed Three Dolphins Theater, Uptown Grill and Waukon High School. The weekend highlight will be a special Red Carpet Event.

The Eitzen, MN Fire Department was called to Wings Supper Club and the home of owners Lennie and Linda Burke in Dorchester at around 8 a.m. Saturday morning, July 19 for a fire that Eitzen Fire Chief Doug Meyer says rendered the interior of the restaurant portion of the building a total loss, while the residential portion in the rear of the building (pictured above) sustained mainly smoke and water damage and the exterior of the entire structure remained standing. The official cause of the fire is said to be undetermined at this point and remains under investigation but is reported by Chief Meyer as “100% non-suspicious”. Chief Meyer also said the fire was contained to the restaurant portion of the building, with no injuries being reported from the blaze or firefighting efforts. The Eitzen, MN Fire Department was assisted by fire departments from Spring Grove, MN and Caledonia, MN, as well as by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office.

Waukon Corn Days is a celebration of agricultural heritage and community, and has a long-standing history in Waukon extending back to what some may remember as “Threshing Days”. The Waukon Chamber of Commerce looks forward to hosting the annual celebration again in 2025 with events starting Friday, August 1. This event, hosted in conjunction with Iowa’s Sales Tax Free Weekend, also encourages local shopping with Waukon “Crazy Days” specials, discounts and deals available at local retailers.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 21 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of a proposal to provide human resource services, discussion on amending City Code relating to specific leash laws, and the consideration of a professional services agreement relating to an engineering services provider.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Steve Wiedner, Nicholas Engrav, Dave Blocker, Tim Smedsrud and John Lydon. There was no Public Comment with the meeting then moving into Department Reports.

Monday, July 14, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird visited Mosaic’s Waukon location. Mosaic is a non-profit organization that serves individuals with disabilities and helps them achieve their goals. Pictured above, Attorney General Bird was joined by Waukon Police Chief Paul Wagner, Mosaic’s leadership and staff, and a Mosaic home provider and a Mosaic client. She heard first-hand how Mosaic pairs home providers and individuals with disabilities and how this system has shown great success. They also discussed the resources that enable Mosaic to continue providing these services. Submitted photo.
 

More than 30 area military Veterans from all eras and branches of service were honored during a Birth of America event hosted Sunday, July 6 at the Sweeney Shelter in Waukon City Park near the Allamakee County Freedom Rock. The event was hosted by Midwest Veterans of America in honor of the Independence Day holiday celebrated July 4 each year and it included a cook-out meal and each of those honored Veterans receiving a plaque and small American flag, in addition to rounds of applause and gratitude from the dozens of family members, friends and other individuals in attendance, for their years of service to their country. Many of those honored Veterans, or representatives from their family, are pictured in the photo above, along with retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Kevin Herman, a 1984 graduate of Waukon High School who served as emcee of the event.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 14 to address a full agenda of matters including the County Treasurer’s Semi-Annual and Annual Report, consideration of a bid for the lease of the Irish Hollow Quarry property, and consideration of the Allamakee County Sheriff’s K9 Scholarship award.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Pro-Tem Dennis Keatley with Supervisor Tom Clark present. Chairperson Dan Byrnes was not present due to a scheduled absence.

Monthly on the second Wednesday, Robey Memorial Library in Waukon offers Grab & Go activity bags on a first-come, first-serve basis for area youth to take part in. Bags include instructions and supplies for at-home activities; are new monthly; and include age appropriate activities for kids and teens.

Contact Robey Memorial Library at 563-568-4424 or www.waukon.lib.ia.us for additional information.