Community News

Allamakee County will be taking part in the 2017 Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon once again this year, inviting people to read 30-minute or more segments of the Bible Thursday, July 6 throughout an 8 a.m.-8 p.m. timeframe. This is the second year Allamakee County has participated in the event, with some changes in location and longevity of the event taking place this year.

This year’s event for Allamakee County will take place at the Waukon City Park at the small shelter between the wooden playground and the ball diamond, a different setting than the Allamakee County Courthouse lawn used last year. The timeframe of this year’s event has been pared down from a three-day event to just a 12-hour format on a single day.

Those wanting to participate are asked to bring a Bible and a lawn chair to that Waukon City Park shelter house and local volunteers will meet them with a portion of the Bible to read aloud on their own in the park.

by Brianne Eilers

Last fall, TNT Gymnastics opened up its first Iowa facility in Waukon. Owner Tracy Troxel explained that the gymnastics company has been in business for 17 years, and also has facilities in several Wisconsin locations: Richland Center, Mauston, Spring Green and Prairie du Chien.

"We had people commuting from all over to our classes in Prairie du Chien," Troxel said. One of the parents of a student suggested that Troxel look at opening up a facility in Waukon.

Troxel explained that TNT Gymnastics offers classes for all skill levels in fully-equipped gyms. She noted that there aren't a lot of additional things that parents need to purchase in order for their kids to participate in gymnastics.

"The only requirements are that long hair is pulled back, the kids are wearing comfortable clothes and they can bring a water bottle," Troxel noted.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 26 to address a full agenda of items, including the need for a fireworks resolution or ordinance, the renewal of a Veterans Counselor's contract and bids for the County Line Bridge replacement on Ferris Mill Road. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order.

During Public Comment, John Roe, head of maintenance at the Allamakee County Courthouse, discussed the retaining wall near the parking area by the Allamakee County Historical Society Museum. The Supervisors discussed the repair work needed and that Attorney Jim Garrett, President of the Allamakee County Historical Society, will be contacted and Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer will research the ownership of the retaining wall.

During the June 11 gathering of the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Network, 13 farmers and individuals involved in food businesses visited WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon. Network members took a break from their farms and businesses to learn about the dairy’s story and network with other farmers and business owners.

The gathering started at the Tom and Angela Weighner dairy farm in rural Dorchester with a tour led by Tom Weighner and his daughter, Stephanie Iverson. The Weighners are milking about 100 cows and hauling milk to the WW Homestead Dairy processing plant in town on a daily basis. The mix of farmers was able to tour the farm's milking parlor, loafing barn and calf shed. Some attendees had extensive backgrounds in livestock and dairy, but others hadn’t spent much time on dairies and had many questions about infrastructure, herd management and production systems.

Allamakee County Farm Bureau (ACFB) recently held a food drive to help stock the Allamakee County Food Shelf. Collection bins were placed at Quillin’s and Fareway grocery stores in Waukon. At the end of the drive, 80 pounds of food was collected. ACFB also donated one dollar for every pound of food collected. Pictured above, ACFB Vice President Lars Palmer (left) delivered the food to the Allamakee County Food Shelf, where Food Shelf Co-Director Wayne Burk (right) was on hand to accept the donation. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, June 19 to address a variety of matters, including the Spring Avenue spring leak, Aveka noise and smell concerns and Hairball’s pyrotechnics display during the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®).

During Public Comments, Jesse Delaney of 403 Seventh Avenue SE in Waukon addressed the Council regarding the paving of his street. Delaney commented that his home is one of the few, if not only, homes on a gravel  road within city limits. Delaney expressed interest in improving and paving his driveway and connecting it to a paved street in front of his property. The Council agreed to research and consider the matter.

by Lissa Blake

Local radio station KNEI will celebrate 50 years of entertaining local residents next week with an open house Tuesday, June 27 at the current KNEI location on Main Street in downtown Waukon.

The station was started by the late Ralph Sweeney and Dave Hogendorn in 1967. “I remember it took Dad three to four years to get licensing, he had to put up bonding and have the financial backing,” said Ralph’s son, Jack Sweeney. “I remember it (the license) was really hard to get and you had to have a licensed engineer on staff."

When asked what he thinks motivated his dad to start the station, Sweeney said, “Dad was an entrepreneur. He just thought Waukon needed a radio station.”

Sweeney started working as a DJ at the station when he was just 16 years old. His girlfriend, Bonnie Blake, who later became is his wife, worked there as well.

Shawver Well Company was founded in 1937 by George Shawver, who, at the time, lived in Kirkville, located just northwest of Ottumwa in southeast Iowa. During his high school years, George earned money hauling water with teams of horses to help local prospectors drill test holes for coal in the newly discovered coal areas of southern Iowa.

After high school, jobs were hard to find, so George decided to do the only thing he knew, drill test holes for coal. When local prospectors came to town looking for coal, George hired out to do their drilling. He built his first rig from wood and powered it from a power take-off of a tractor.

When prospecting for coal diminished, George turned to drilling for water. His first company was called Midwest Drilling but changed to Shawver Well Company shortly after.

David Martin of Martin Funeral Home in Waukon was honored for 40 years of dedication to the funeral service industry during the 137th Annual Iowa Funeral Directors Association (IFDA) Convention held May 16-18 at the Prairie Meadows Hotel & Conference Center in Altoona. Martin was one of 10 funeral directors from around the state to receive recognition by peers and colleagues for 40 years of service to Iowa communities.

Martin was born and raised in Waukon, and is a fourth generation funeral service professional. He attended Oklahoma State University and the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, TX. Martin has a great sense of humor and shared that he was inspired to become a funeral director during his junior year of college due to his poor putting skills on the golf course. He has been a funeral director at Martin Funeral Home since 1976.

Identity theft is a significant problem and if it has not happened to someone personally, then odds are they probably know someone who has been victimized. While identity theft can happen to anyone, there are some things individuals can do to reduce the risk of having it happen to them. Proper disposal, at the right time, of documents and items that contain personal, confidential information is key to protection.