Community News

by Brianne Eilers

In February of this year, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon began switching over its electronic medical records and financial records to AthenaHealth. VMH Administrator Mike Myers noted that during the most recent board of trustees meeting, a financial report for the month of March was not available to share due to some initial "hiccups" in the process of switching over those records.

Myers noted that the hospital did have someone coming in to help sort out the issue and get things back on track to be able to generate reports. The hospital is also looking at putting in a time attendance system to merge with AthenaHealth to try and streamline payroll.

Assistance from local businesses helps latest creation take first place in Sport Custom class

Following an initial custom motorcycle creation in 2015 that earned high accolades, Kent Sweeney of Side Street Cycles in Waukon was hoping to build on that momentum, and seems to have been able to do just that. A second such creation has already earned a first-place award in the Sport Custom Class of the 30th Anniversary Donnie Smith Bike & Car Show held in Minneapolis, MN March 25-26.

Sweeney once again teamed up with the local motorcycle enthusiast he had joined forces with to modify a 2003 Harley-Davidson Super Glide Sport in 2015 into a winner of two other Donnie Smith Bike & Car Show awards and high honors from Hot Bike Power Tour. With their follow-up creation, the pair chose a 2007 Harley-Davidson FXDSE, which Sweeney describes in plain words as a Screaming Eagle CVO Dyna.

The Corner of Hope Foods Resource Bank local growing project held its annual Blessing of the Seed and Soil on a blustery Saturday morning, April 29 to kick off the growing season. The event was held at the Mt. Olivet food plot north of Waukon, and Father Mark Osterhaus of St. Patrick Catholic Church gave the blessing. Submitted photo.
 

The Waukon Fire Department responded to a blaze at 204 Fifth Street SW in Waukon just prior to midnight Saturday, April 29, finding an unattached garage owned by Vickie Larson of Waukon fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. Crews were at the scene of the fire for several hours. The garage and its contents were a total loss, but the two houses adjacent immediately to the north and to the south of the garage were both saved from any serious damage by the efforts of the responding fire crew. The cause of the fire has been determined to be electrical in nature. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, May 1 to address a full agenda of items, including an update regarding the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®), issues concerning parking on Main Street and Allamakee Street and an expansion at Reelcore.

During Public Comments, Howard Van Ruler of Howards Home Furnishings complimented the City Council and specifically Councilman Dwight Jones for following up with Town & Country Sanitation and helping resolve his concerns. Van Ruler was previously informed that he would need to have recyclables and garbage containers moved to the street for collection, rather than being left in the alley behind his business. Van Ruler indicated that garbage and recycling collection has been accomplished in the alley without any problem.

The Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) awarded $91,500 to area nonprofits Tuesday, April 18 at its annual grant award celebration held at Empty Nest Winery in Waukon. Many of those grant recipients are pictured in the photos surrounding this article.

The ACCF receives funds each year from the Iowa Department of Economic Development County Endowment Program. Seventy-five percent of the money received is granted out each year. The other twenty-five percent is maintained in a permanent endowment with the income to be distributed in future years.

Msgr. Cletus J. Hawes will be celebrating his 65th Jubilee and 90th birthday at Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford this Sunday, April 30. The 65th Jubilee Mass has been scheduled for 11 a.m. at Wexford.

"Switchback" is planning to lead the music for the Mass April 30. The “Hibernian” Mass setting will be used during the Jubilee Mass.

In addition to celebrating 65 years as a priest, Monsignor Hawes is also celebrating his 90th birthday. There will be an Open House in the parish hall from 12-3 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.

Cletus Joseph Hawes was born March 28, 1927 to John and Ellen (Conway) Hawes of Wexford, rural Lansing. He was baptized March 29, 1927 in Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. Following the tragedy of his father's sudden death May 9, 1935,  his mother raised him and his siblings on the family farm.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 24 to address a full agenda of items, including setting a letting date for two box culvert replacement projects, consideration of the Fiscal-Year 2018 health insurance recommendation and the Resolution to Vacate the Easement on Road #663. There were no public comments.

Volunteers needed to assist

Waukon Trees Forever will hold its annual spring tree planting this Saturday, April 29. Volunteers are asked to gather at the large parking lot at the Waukon Wellness Center at 10 a.m. Plans call for planting about 80 trees at several sites around the city. Shovels, rakes and work gloves are about the only tools needed. Work will consist of planting trees and mulching them. Everyone is invited to help with the project.
For more information contact Kenneth Olson at 563-568-4612. Rain date will be Saturday, May 13.

Volunteers and community leaders in Waukon are partnering with Trees Forever and Black Hills Energy to plant trees that save energy, improve air quality, and reduce stormwater run-off. Black Hills Energy and Trees Forever's Power of Trees 25-year partnership awarded Waukon with $1,000 for a tree-planting project.

"We're looking forward to working with Trees Forever and Black Hills Energy to grow our tree canopy in Waukon," says project volunteer Ken Olson. "With their help, we are adding trees to improve the environment while making Waukon healthier, more vibrant and more energy efficient."

Trees break up cold winter winds and reduce heating energy needs in the winter months. In summer months, trees shade surfaces such as homes, businesses, streets, sidewalks and parking lots, therefore, reducing the heat those surfaces absorb. Trees also cool the surrounding air; both of these things lead to a reduction in cooling energy and peak energy demand.