Community News

Waukon State Bank recently made two donations in support of the new 4-H Food Stand located at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. A donation of $2,500 was presented to the Allamakee County Fair Board in support of the new food stand construction and $500 was donated to the ISU Allamakee County Extension Office for the purchase of appliances and kitchen fixtures. The new 4-H Food Stand will open with the 2017 Allamakee County Fair, which runs July 19 through July 23 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds. Pictured above in the photo, left to right, are Gail Prestemon of Waukon State Bank, Miranda Reinhardt of the Allamakee County 4-H County Council, Teresa Myers of the Allamakee County Fair Board, Erika Johnson of the Allamakee County 4-H County Council and Justin Sweeney of Waukon State Bank.
 

Family of the late Karilyn Lenth recently commemorated her cherished time spent at the Waukon City Park, as well as her affection for cats, by donating a bench in her memory. The memorial bench, attractively engraved with feline images, is precisely located in one of Karilyn’s favorite spots, between the dam and ball diamond at the Waukon City Park, where she was able to look across the pond to the “Memory Garden.”

The Waukon RAGBRAI Youth Art Contest was held for local kindergarten through sixth grade students in conjunction with RAGBRAI's July 28 overnight visit to Waukon. The contest offered area youth the opportunity to use their creativity to make original artwork that reflects their impressions of RAGBRAI®. Winners in each of three different grade categories, along with an overall winner, were announced at the June 28 town meeting held at Iron Ridge Church in Waukon. Photos of those winning entries are pictured surrounding this article. One entry was chosen as the overall local winner and will now compete for a $350 prize in the Statewide RAGBRAI Art Contest. Willa Troendle, age nine, was selected as that overall local winner and will now compete against overall winners from each of the other overnight stop communities along this year's RAGBRAI route.

Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation’s (NEICAC) Board of Directors, at its regularly scheduled board meeting June 26, regretfully accepted the letter of pending retirement from the agency’s Executive Director, Mary Ann Humpal. Humpal has been with NEICAC since August of 1972 and has been the Executive Director since June of 1989. She has set December 21, 2017 as her last working day.

By that time she will have served the residents of northeast Iowa for 45 years and four months. NEICAC Board Chairman Les Askelson credits Humpal's dedication and leadership for establishing NEICAC as one of the top Community Action Agencies not only in Iowa but also nationally recognized. Askelson, says that the board of directors will be working with the Iowa Community Action Association (ICAA) in the search for a new Executive Director.

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.