Community News

First Baptist Church of Waukon held its 2017 AWANA Grand Prix car race April 5 at the church. Larry Gelo welcomed those in attendance and Pastor Duane Smith gave the AWANA Challenge. A flag ceremony preceded the race, with Aislinn Goettel singing the National Anthem to kick off the event.

Grand Prix chairman was Dale Roney and starter chairman was Randy Van Ruler. Larry Gelo announced the race and Chris Kerndt was the chart keeper. Judging the cars on design were Pam Kerndt, Paul Promnitz and Kari Roney. Weigh-in judges were Craig Schrick and Dale Roney. Finish line monitors were Logan Van Ruler and Morgan Van Ruler, and weigh-in judges were Dale Roney and Craig Schrick.

Ushers for the evening were Michael Smith and Kyle Smith, and JoAnn Gelo was in charge of decorations. After the award presentation and photos, refreshments were served by Brenda Promnitz, Michele Wood, Jean Buntrock and Cindy Kuhens.

by Brianne Eilers

Thornton Manor, located in Lansing, will be celebrating a big milestone for the facility this month - 40 years of service to Lansing and the surrounding area. An open house will be held at Thornton Manor this Sunday, April 23 from 2-4 p.m. in honor of the 40th anniversary.

Thornton Manor accepted its first resident April 21, 1977 and has continued to change and grow to meet the needs of the community since that time. The original facility was named for Dr. John Thornton, a well-known physician in the Lansing area.
Administrator Sam Kuhn noted that the nursing home has always been licensed for 60 beds. In 2003, the Thornton Heights Assisted Living apartments and the Thornton Manor Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinic were added to the facility. "It was a great way for us to expand our services to keep pace with growing trends," Kuhn said.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in both a special session, Tuesday, April 11, and its regular bi-monthly session, Monday, April 17. Coverage of both meetings appears below.

APRIL 11 SPECIAL SESSION
The Waukon City Council met for a special session Tuesday, April 11 to discuss several items, including street repairs and sidewalks, the review of water rates and the review of Water Department employment applications. In Mayor Duane DeWalle's absence, Mayor Pro-Tem Dwight Jones called the meeting to order.

Waukon Trees Forever was recently honored as an Outstanding Community Organization by the Iowa Urban Tree Council. The award presentation was made Thursday, April 6 at the 27th Annual Urban Forestry Awards Luncheon in Des Moines. Pictured above at that award presentation are, left to right, Paul Tauke, State Forester; Dr. Ken and Sharon Olson and Mary and Joe Cunningham, representing Waukon Trees Forever; and Heath Ellis, President of the Iowa Urban Tree Council.

Waukon Trees Forever will hold its annual spring planting Saturday, April 29. Volunteers are asked to gather at the large parking lot at the Wellness Center at 9 a.m. Plans call for planting about 80 trees at several sites around the city. A shovel  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.

New recyclable bins to be delivered within next two weeks for May change

Town & Country Sanitation, contracted collector of garbage and recyclables with the City of Waukon, will be introducing the new One-Pass Automated Collection process to the community of Waukon starting in May of this year. Pick-up of recyclables will experience the greatest change, although pick-up scheduling for both garbage and recyclables will see a change for most all residents, with further details to be publicized as they become available.

Each time they recite the 4-H pledge, 4-H members promise to use their "hands to larger service." Now, Iowa 4-H members are taking that pledge to a new level as they use citizenship to improve the communities in which they live.

Citizenship Regional Focus is a 4-H citizenship program for middle school and high school youth. A selection of 4-H delegates from Allamakee and Winneshiek Counties committed and participated in a two-year program, as well as attended a seven-day trip to Springfield, IL, Gettysburg, PA and Washington, D.C. during the final week of March into early April. The program is aimed at enriching young people’s lives by expanding their appreciation and respect for themselves and others in the world. They learn and practice skills that will make them better citizens and more successful individuals.

The annual P.E.O. reception for girls from the graduating class at Waukon High School was held Monday, April 3 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, marking the 54th anniversary of the event. The evening began with refreshments served. After a welcome by Chapter President DiAnne Haler, introductions by members and guests were made. Karen Carlton then presented the program on "Diversity in Today's World." The graduating young ladies from Waukon High School's Class of 2017 then shared memories from their high school years. Submitted photo.
 

Breelyn Dahlstrom, third grade student at St. Patrick School in Waukon, was selected as the Youth of the Month by the St. Mathew’s Council #1570 of Knights of Columbus. The award is given to a student “for setting a good example of Catholic values.” Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, April 3 to address a full agenda of items, including an update on the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®), setting a date for spring clean-up and a review of City insurance rates. There were no public comments and the Council moved into Departmental Reports.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell discussed equipment expenses and working through recent power outages. Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussed that park employees started back to work Monday with their focus on the soccer field in anticipation of Youth Soccer starting this Saturday, then their focus shifting to park clean-up projects.

Marilyn Larson of Waukon presented a program on her teapot collection at the Tuesday, March 21 Allamakee County Farm Bureau Women meeting held at the Farm Bureau building in Waukon. Larson has a collection of over 200 teapots and has been collecting them for more than 20 years, saying she considers them a reflection of her travels and times in her life. She said many of the teapots are gifts from family members and friends but she has also picked up many at thrift shops and flea markets. Larson has taken her collection to care centers in the area including Good Samaritan Society in Waukon and Thornton Manor in Lansing, and she anticipates going to Northgate Care Center in Waukon in the near future. When not traveling with them for program presentations, Larson says the teapots are on display in her home and in her hair salon on shelves and three old wood stoves she has in her home. Standard photo by Joe Moses.